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  • PRESS RELEASE : New counter fraud team saves taxpayers £311 million in first twelve months, beating target by more than £100 million [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New counter fraud team saves taxpayers £311 million in first twelve months, beating target by more than £100 million [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 13 November 2023.

    • The Public Sector Fraud Authority far exceeded its £180m target and saved taxpayers £311 million in its first year, according to its annual report published today
    • The savings come from counter fraud schemes designed to prevent and identify fraud across the public sector – with the Authority created by the Prime Minister when he was Chancellor in 2022
    • Baroness Neville-Rolfe hails the saving as a “fabulous result for taxpayers, which shows the government has the right plan to fight fraud as we take the long term decisions needed to change this country for the better.”

    The Public Sector Fraud Authority has saved taxpayers £311 million in its first year of operation, according to the authority’s first annual report, published today to mark the start of International Fraud Awareness Week. The savings figure compares favourably with the original target of £180 million set when the authority launched last year – meaning more money which could be spent on schools, the health service, policing and more.

    These savings were identified through several activities led by the Public Sector Fraud Authority and working with other public bodies that helped prevent, identify and recover public money lost to criminals, including:

    • National Fraud Initiative saved £170,000,000 by collaborating with more than 1000 public bodies to compare sets of records to identify discrepancies that exposed fraud
    • Covid-19 Loan Schemes Fraud Analytics Programme uses advanced tools combined with public and private sector data to identify and recoup money stolen by fraudsters during the pandemic. The annual report shows the programme delivered respective savings of:
      • £99,476,014 by using government data to identify fraud in the Bounce Back Loan Scheme
      • £40,509,531 from loans that were repaid after the government blocked companies from being removed from the Companies Register due to outstanding loans.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the creation of the Public Sector Fraud Authority while serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer in March 2022. The authority launched just five months later in August 2022, following intensive joint working between the Cabinet Office and His Majesty’s Treasury.

    Since then, the authority’s first annual report shows it has hired more than 30 new counter fraud experts, introduced technical counter fraud training for professionals across the public sector and established a secondee programme to share expertise between private sector businesses such as EY and Deloitte and public sector bodies such as HMRC and DWP.

    The Public Sector Fraud Authority also signed a partnership with the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre, to share best practice and facilitate secondments between the two organisations.

    This month the authority launched a new artificial intelligence tool developed as part of a £4 million partnership with the tech unicorn Quantexa, which was signed in January 2023. The tool, known as the Single Network Analytics Platform, analyses millions of data points from across the public sector to identify patterns and connections that may indicate fraudulent activity. Companies House is the tool’s first user and it will soon be rolled out to other public sector bodies.

    Last week Baroness Neville-Rolfe chaired the authority’s first roundtable with leaders from 12 industry bodies, private businesses and law enforcement agencies, illustrating the government’s continued commitment to learn from and collaborate with experts outside government.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said:

    The £311 million saving is a fabulous result for taxpayers, which shows the government has the right plan to fight fraud as we take the long-term decisions needed to change this country for the better. Every pound stolen by fraudsters is one pound less spent on vital public services, such as schools or hospitals or on reducing the burden of tax.

    In the past year, we’ve transformed the government’s approach to public sector fraud. We’re training new experts across government and giving them the skills they need to prevent fraud from happening in the first place. When fraud does occur, we’ve partnered with the private sector to use the very latest technology to identify criminal networks and recover public money. It is exciting to be rolling out our new fraud busting AI tool in partnership with Quantexa.

    But there’s more work to do. Last week I sat down with industry bosses to discuss further action we can take to reduce the money lost to criminals. By forming partnerships, both within government and across the private sector, we will remain prepared for the ever-changing threat posed by fraudsters.

    Mark Cheeseman OBE, Chief Executive of the Public Sector Fraud Authority, said:

    The strength of our performance this year shows the depth of our commitment to transform the fight against criminals defrauding public money.

    Over the past twelve months we’ve stepped up the government’s use of AI in counter fraud, launched new training courses to upskill public servants, and signed partnerships with businesses to share best practice between the public and private sector.

    All this work is a sure foundation we can build on in the years ahead, as we begin to roll out more tools and programmes across the public sector.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Deputy Prime Minister reviews national security powers to respond to geopolitical and tech threats [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Deputy Prime Minister reviews national security powers to respond to geopolitical and tech threats [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 13 November 2023.

    • Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, the Deputy Prime Minister is calling for businesses’ feedback about the way the government screens investment to protect the UK’s economic security.
    • The National Security and Investment Act, which came into force in January 2022, gives the Deputy Prime Minister the power to scrutinise investment and take action to protect assets that are vital to the UK’s national security.

    13 November 2023: The Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, has today announced the publication of a ‘Call for Evidence’ on potential updates to the National Security & Investment Act to ensure the government’s investment screening powers remain up to date, proportionate and transparent for businesses, while protecting national security.

    The ‘Call for Evidence’ will be open for nine weeks and close on 15 January 2024. In this time, the government expects to receive feedback from a variety of stakeholders, including domestic and international businesses, investors, academia, and advisory firms. None of the changes are expected to require primary legislation.

    All of the responses will contribute towards an internal review of the government’s investment screening powers, including:

    • the scope of mandatory notification requirements, to ensure that businesses and investors only need to notify the government about deals that warrant consideration on national security grounds – including the 17 sensitive areas of the economy subject to mandatory notification requirements, such as Artificial Intelligence, to ensure they remain up to date
    • the notification and assessment processes, to minimise the administrative burden imposed on businesses while ensuring the government gets the information it needs
    • the content of government guidance, to ensure businesses understand the aims of the National Security & Investment Act and how to comply

    The National Security & Investment Act gives the Deputy Prime Minister the power to scrutinise, impose conditions on or block the acquisition of businesses and assets that are vital to the UK’s national security. It has been used in a proportionate and targeted way since coming into force in January 2022.

    As set out in the latest figures published in July, the vast majority of businesses have not needed to interact with the investment screening powers at all. Among those who have, the government has been clearing around 93 per cent of notifications without calling in deals for further assessment, allowing investment to flow.

    Where necessary and proportionate, the government has issued 17 final orders to impose conditions on or block or unwind specific deals to protect national security.

    Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said:

    At a time of rising tensions around the world the UK Government must stay ahead of the game to ensure our legislation to protect economic security keeps pace with rapid technological advances.

    At the same time, the best way to foster economic security is through a strong and open economy. That’s why we’ve been using the powers effectively so far, only intervening when absolutely necessary to protect national security. Yet two years on, it’s right that we formally engage with stakeholders to ensure the process remains as frictionless and effective as possible as we take the long-term decisions for the country.

    The significance of semiconductors and critical minerals is well established, but their importance has only increased since the NSI Act came into force. That’s why we’re considering carving out these industries into stand alone sectors under the National Security & Investment Act.

    I encourage businesses and advisors from any relevant sector, anywhere in the world, to share their experience of the investment screening process.

    Nusrat Ghani MP, Minister of State Responsible for the Investment Security Unit, said:

    The Deputy Prime Minister and I regularly meet with business leaders from around the world, gathering feedback about the government’s approach to national security and economic investment. Our conversations make it clear that effective national security regulations provide a sure foundation for secure growth.

    This Call for Evidence is the natural next step in our engagement with businesses. Against a rapidly changing geopolitical backdrop, I’m pleased that we’re considering ways to ensure the investment screening process remains frictionless for those looking to invest and grow businesses here in the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Op-ed: New procurement rules will strengthen our national security [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Op-ed: New procurement rules will strengthen our national security [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 30 October 2023.

    An Op-Ed by Ministers Jeremy Quin and Alex Burghart, originally published in The Telegraph.

    Under the new rules in the Procurement Act we are throwing complicated and bureaucratic EU rules into the bin. We are stripping back red tape and making it easier for small businesses to win government contracts, delivering on one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities to grow the economy.

    But as well as bringing economic benefits, the new rulebook also strengthens our national security, as part of this government’s commitment to take long term decisions for a brighter future.

    We are all too aware that the UK is a target for state-sponsored spying and that we need to protect it from those who seek to disrupt our democracy.

    Our approach must be scrupulous, with safeguards and deterrents built into every avenue of access to our public services; this is about actions rather than words.

    We have also passed the National Security Act, which gives us stronger legal powers to protect our industries and institutions. But we must go further to ensure we always outsmart those who want to disrupt our everyday lives.

    One important way of keeping public services safe from foreign spies is by securing how they are procured for in the first place.

    We have seen time and again that dangerous actors infiltrate states by giving their operations the camouflage of a company – a company offering essential services like communications or administration assistance. This can allow them to have unhindered access to public services information and potentially give them the capability to interfere with those services.

    Our response to this challenge must be unequivocal. That’s why as part of our landmark Procurement Act we have strengthened the scrutiny facing companies that bid for public contracts.

    Alongside the new rules, we are creating a new National Security Unit for Procurement, sitting within the Cabinet Office. This will work across government, including with our national security community, to investigate suppliers who could pose a risk to national security. The Unit will create a new layer of protection, by assessing whether companies should be struck off from competing to supply goods and services to the public sector where they pose a threat.

    Next week the UK will lead the first ever, and UK-hosted, AI safety summit. As we take action to seize the opportunities of new technology, our new National Security Unit for Procurement will coordinate with the national security community to assess whether public sector use of AI and procurement with emerging tech companies could do us harm.

    This new approach means that we’re strengthening our defences, ensuring that those who seek to use their influence in all areas to undermine our security, cannot prevail.

    So this landmark legislation will not only simplify our procurement rules and help small businesses, it will help us protect our security for decades to come.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Small businesses to benefit from one of the largest shake ups to procurement regulations in UK history [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Small businesses to benefit from one of the largest shake ups to procurement regulations in UK history [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 27 October 2023.

    New procurement rules have today become law, following the Royal Assent of the Procurement Act – and is part of the Government’s work to make long-term decisions that will change this country for the better.

    • The landmark Procurement Bill has today been granted Royal Assent, becoming an Act of Parliament.
    • The Act provides for simpler procurement processes to support small businesses and innovation, and protect against national security risks in public contracts.
    • The new regime is expected to come into force October 2024 delivering lasting change for generations to come.

    New procurement rules have today become law, following the Royal Assent of the Procurement Act – and is part of the Government’s work to make long-term decisions that will change this country for the better.

    The new rules are one of the largest shake ups to procurement rules in this country’s history.

    The Act establishes a new public procurement regime following the UK’s exit from the EU, and helps deliver the Prime Minister’s promise to grow the economy by creating a simpler and more transparent system that delivers better value for money, reducing costs for business and the public sector.

    The new regime will deliver simpler, more effective public sector procurement, and help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) secure a greater share of approximately £300bn of expenditure per year.

    The new rules will protect against national security risks in public contracts.

    Significant new  powers will enable high-risk suppliers to be put on a public debarment list and be prevented from bidding for some categories of goods or services, such as areas related to defence and national security, while allowing them to continue to bid for contracts in non-sensitive areas.

    Minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin said:

    We have taken the long-term decisions that will increase our powers to protect our security in our supply chains and procurement.

    This has included radical steps such as creating a National Security Unit for Procurement and giving Ministers the power to prevent suppliers from bidding for certain products where there is a risk to national security it will deliver lasting change which protects the UK for generations to come.

    The Act places a requirement on contracting authorities to assess the particular barriers facing SMEs throughout the entire procurement lifecycle, and to consider what can be done to overcome them.

    For example, in the area of insurance, procurement processes can unfairly penalise businesses that lack the resources of larger suppliers. The Act makes it clear that contracting authorities must accept evidence that required insurance cover will be in place when a contract is awarded, rather than at the point of bidding. This will save all businesses, including SMEs, from having to incur unnecessary upfront costs.

    Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office Alex Burghart said:

    This Act is all about supporting British business using the opportunity of Brexit, as we change the way government works so it delivers better for people across the country.

    In particular, we draw on the new freedoms available to us by leaving the European Union to embrace and best support our small and medium sized businesses.

    The Act will streamline the way that companies bid for public contracts, while also giving procurers more room for negotiating prices and innovative solutions with these companies.

    These reforms will deliver better value for money, slash red tape, drive innovation and make it easier for suppliers of all sizes to do business with the public sector

    It will also be possible to exclude suppliers from bidding for contracts, not only if they’ve performed badly on other contracts in the past, but also based on modern slavery or professional misconduct grounds.

    The Act introduces a new duty for Ministers to proactively consider suppliers for potential debarment investigations.

    To achieve this, the Government will introduce a new National Security Unit for Procurement. This unit will better protect people across the country by investigating suppliers who may pose a risk to national security, and assess whether companies should be barred from public procurements.

    In addition, the Government is committing to publish a timeline for the removal of surveillance equipment produced by companies subject to China’s National Intelligence Law from central government sensitive sites. Government will also produce an annual written report to Parliament detailing progress on this commitment.

    Cabinet Office Minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe said:

    These new rules will help grow the economy and deliver better and simpler public sector procurement.

    I am particularly pleased to help small and medium sized businesses secure a greater share of nearly £300 billion worth of government contracts.

    The Act draws on newfound Brexit freedoms to create a more transparent procurement system – with clearer and faster competition processes in emergency situations, such as during health pandemics, ensuring that contracting authorities can act quickly and transparently to buy vital goods.

    Contracting authorities will also need to take account of the national strategic priorities set out in the National Procurement Policy Statement. This could include matters such as job creation, enhancing supplier resilience and fostering innovation.

    The changes are expected to come into force once secondary legislation is laid and after a six-month implementation period.

    The Cabinet Office will be providing all public sector contracting authorities with access to a comprehensive, centrally-funded learning and development package and guidance materials to help them prepare.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £45 million to be reinvested in government to boost long-term productivity as the Cabinet Office sells stake in SSCL [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £45 million to be reinvested in government to boost long-term productivity as the Cabinet Office sells stake in SSCL [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 25 October 2023.

    The Cabinet Office is to sell its 25% stake in SSCL for £82.3 million. £45m of the proceeds will be put aside to increase cross-government productivity to deliver for the public in the long-term.

    • The Cabinet Office is to sell its 25% stake in SSCL for £82.3 million.
    • £45m of the proceeds will be put aside to increase cross-government productivity to deliver for the public in the long-term.

    The Cabinet Office has today exercised its option to sell its 25% stake in Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL) for £82.3m, it has been announced today.

    After 10 years of this successful partnership, Sopra Steria Ltd will fully acquire SSCL, a joint venture founded by Sopra Steria and the Cabinet Office, as envisaged in the original contract.

    SSCL provides consolidated digital solutions for the public sector including finance and accounting, procurement, and HR and payroll.

    Of the £57m sale proceeds that will be retained by the Cabinet Office, £45m will be reinvested into accelerating programmes that increase cross-government productivity. This will help to set the country on the right path to strengthen public services by increasing efficiency across government.

    This will include a particular emphasis on digital capability across Government.

    Minister for the Cabinet Office, Jeremy Quin, said:

    The SSCL joint venture was set up to drive greater efficiency.

    The Government is now realising its successful investment, securing additional value for the taxpayer and using it to make the long-term decisions to deliver the best public services and boost productivity across the Civil Service.

    The joint venture has generated significant savings for the public purse, providing more funds for front line public services, and delivering value for money for the taxpayer to help change the country for the better.

    It has also encouraged collaborative working with the private sector. For example, the establishment of SSCL involved the transfer of around 1,100 civil servants to the private sector.

    Finally, SSCL met the government’s goal to consolidate shared services, such as HR and payroll, across numerous departments, including The Department for Work and Pensions, The Home Office and The Ministry of Justice, ensuring services operate at the highest efficiency.

    The Cabinet Office will also channel the proceeds from this sale to continue its work streamlining services and processes across government. The remaining balance will be returned to HM Treasury.

    With the benefits of the joint venture having now been met, the proceeds of the sale will fuel a fresh investment in cross-government efficiency as part of long-term action to create a more productive workforce and stronger services for the public.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Civil Service Fast Stream exceeds target to boost STEM expertise across Government [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Civil Service Fast Stream exceeds target to boost STEM expertise across Government [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 25 October 2023.

    The Civil Service Fast Stream programme has exceeded its ambition to increase the number of hires with a STEM qualification to 50% across all schemes.

    • The Civil Service Fast Stream programme has exceeded its ambition to increase the number of hires with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) qualification to 50% across all schemes.
    • This delivers on Government’s ambitions to change the way the Civil Service does recruitment so it can deliver better for the public by bringing in the brightest minds in data and science.
    • Applications for the 2024 intake of the Civil Service Fast Stream are now live and we encourage people from all backgrounds and disciplines to apply.

    Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics skills are being boosted across the Civil Service, with the Government announcing it has exceeded its STEM fast stream recruitment ambition today. This will bring fresh perspectives to policy making so the Government can better deliver on the people’s priorities and bring lasting change to communities up and down the country.

    In May 2022, the Civil Service Fast Stream set an ambition to increase the number of external Fast Stream hires with a STEM degree qualification to at least 50% across all Fast Stream schemes. The Cabinet Office set out to achieve this in the 2023 recruitment campaign, and new analysis shows that the 50% ambition has now been exceeded, advancing STEM expertise across the Civil Service.

    These findings build on the vision of Minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin to modernise and reform the civil service, as the Government takes long-term decisions to change our country for the better.

    Minister for the Cabinet Office, Jeremy Quin, said:

    We’re taking long-term decisions that will put innovation at the very core of policy making – attracting the best scientists, engineers, technologists and mathematicians from across the UK into the heart of Government.

    Today’s announcement that we have exceeded our STEM recruitment ambition is an important step forward in building a modern civil service which can deliver more efficient services for the British public.

    Whilst the Civil Service has traditionally attracted the best and brightest graduates with a range of backgrounds, such as in humanities, this new drive for STEM talent will bring a fresh perspective into government.

    By putting STEM fast stream entrants into the heart of policy making across different roles and departments, government is diversifying its thinking around key policy decisions, developing innovative solutions to challenges, and advancing understanding in science and technology policy areas.

    STEM skills are also key to meeting the Prime Minister’s priorities: from halving inflation to ease the cost of living and provide people with financial security, to building a stronger economy with better jobs, and ensuring that NHS waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly.

    Applications for the Civil Service Fast Stream 2024 recently opened, encouraging applications from all backgrounds. With 15 specialist programmes, the Fast Stream opens up a range of opportunities across several disciplines.

    The Fast Stream will continue to have an ambition to appoint over 50% STEM Graduates in 2024.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Preferred candidate for Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Preferred candidate for Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 20 October 2023.

    Baroness Ruth Deech has been announced as the preferred candidate for the Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

    Subject to pre-appointment scrutiny, Baroness Deech will commence the role in November 2023, following Lord Bew’s term coming to an end.

    Baroness Deech has a background in law and taught at numerous institutions including Oxford University. She has written extensively about family law and was appointed an honorary King’s Counsel.

    She was Principal of St Anne’s College Oxford and a Pro Vice-Chancellor.

    In addition to her legal and academic background, Baroness Deech took on extensive regulatory roles including Chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and Chair of the Bar Standards Board. She was also the first Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education.

    Baroness Deech was appointed DBE in 2003 and made a life peer in 2005. She sits on the crossbenches as an independent legislator and has chaired committees reporting on the retention of women doctors and on equality and disability.

    The Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, said:

    Baroness Deech will make an excellent Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. Her extensive legal, academic and regulatory experience will be a huge asset and ensure the Commission can continue its crucial, independent advisory work.

    Baroness Deech said:

    As a lawyer and an independent peer, the success of HOLAC is important to me. I want the public to have confidence that the Commission will ensure that nominees for appointment to the House of Lords are outstanding individuals who will make significant and effective contributions to the legislative and scrutiny work of the House.

    It will also be my aim to work towards a membership representing all regions of the UK and from every walk of life. Maintaining public trust in the Commission’s independence and in the quality of new peers is vital for our constitution.

    This announcement follows an open competition for the role.

    The appointment will now undergo a pre-appointment hearing, where the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) will hear evidence from the preferred candidate and publish a report setting out their views on the candidate’s suitability for the post.

    Notes to editors:

    HOLAC was established in 2000. Its functions are to recommend individuals for appointment as non-party political life peers and to vet nominations for life peers, including those nominated by the UK political parties, to ensure the highest standards of propriety.

    The Commission’s Chair is appointed for a non-renewable, five-year term of office. More information about the Commission can be found on the House of Lords Appointments Commission website.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New medical and welfare services for veterans living in Northern Ireland [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New medical and welfare services for veterans living in Northern Ireland [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 20 October 2023.

    A new pilot will improve health and wellbeing services for veterans living in Northern Ireland, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs has announced.

    • Office for Veterans’ Affairs providing £500,000 pilot funding to level up medical and welfare service for veterans in Northern Ireland.
    • The new service will provide timely support and guidance to veterans who require healthcare.
    • Support will be provided in areas such as mental health, advice on musculoskeletal issues and linking with local services.

    A new pilot will improve health and wellbeing services for veterans living in Northern Ireland, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs has announced.

    The service, backed by £500,000 of UK Government funding as part of the Health Innovation Fund, will run for 18 months, and will be led by Defence Medical Welfare Service, an independent charity.

    The support on offer will include:

    • Linking veterans with local services to ensure they are receiving the support available.
    • Providing advice on physical health issues such as musculoskeletal problems.
    • Pain management and lifestyle.
    • Mental health support including help with anxiety, depression, PTSD and bereavement.

    The support will be provided by new staff embedded within the Defence Medical Welfare Service and the staff will work across Northern Ireland.

    Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Rt Hon. Johnny Mercer said:

    If we’re going to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran, we need to make sure that veterans can access the support they need in all four corners of the UK.

    This new pilot service for veterans in Northern Ireland will provide important advice and support in areas such as mental and physical health, as well as where to access the right care.

    Backed by £500,000 from our Health Innovation Fund, I’m proud that this is the first Northern Ireland specific funding from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs.

    The new service will provide assistance in a variety of ways, including linking veterans with local services to ensure they are receiving the help available; advice on physical health issues such as musculoskeletal problems, pain management and lifestyle.

    Mental health support will also be readily available for veterans through the pilot, including help with anxiety, depression, PTSD and bereavement.

    The pilot will also provide anonymised data insight into the health needs of veterans in Northern Ireland, and data on the effectiveness of a medical welfare support service.

    This data will inform future policy making, and ensure any unmet needs are identified and most efficiently addressed.

    The Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland, Danny Kinahan, said:

    The launch of the Defence Medical Welfare Service led NI Health Project, will go some way to helping fill the gaps that exist within our healthcare system in providing support for veterans, while they wait for, or undergo medical treatment for both physical and mental health. I am encouraged that this project will help provide the much needed healthcare and associated wellbeing support for veterans living in Northern Ireland, and ensure veterans living here feel more included and valued for their dedicated and selfless service.

    CEO of The Defence Medical Welfare Service, Mr Paul Gaffney, said:

    DMWS are proud to be working with the support of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs to deliver a new service to veterans in Northern Ireland.

    This independent project will support both the physical and mental health needs of veterans taking account of their specialist requirements. DMWS work collaboratively with existing statutory and third sector provision to build improved health and wellbeing outcomes for veterans.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New fund to improve access to support for female veterans [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New fund to improve access to support for female veterans [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 20 October 2023.

    Women veterans who have suffered sexual trauma in the military will soon have access to improved clinical support within the UK healthcare and charity sector.

    • Government to fund development of support for women veterans who have suffered from sexual trauma in the military
    • Delivers on three reports that give recommendations to service providers on how quality of and access to support can be improved
    • Findings will feed into government’s first Women Veterans’ Strategy, due to be published in spring 2024

    Women veterans who have suffered sexual trauma in the military will soon have access to improved clinical support within the UK healthcare and charity sector thanks to a new £200,000 government fund.

    This funding will support the rollout of dedicated training and guidance for frontline staff to support women veteran survivors of sexual trauma across healthcare services, military and civilian charities.

    The fund has been set up following recommendations in three independent reports commissioned by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA). The reports investigated how the government and charities can improve access to care for female veterans.

    Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Rt Hon. Johnny Mercer MP said:

    “Women veterans make up 13% of the veteran population in England and Wales and so it’s important that we better understand their health and welfare needs.

    “The upcoming Women Veterans’ Strategy will make sure that women veterans have access to support which addresses their unique needs and experiences.”

    The reports fulfil part of the government’s Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan to recognise and champion the contribution of women to the armed forces.

    Findings from reports by Anglia Ruskin University, veteran mental health charity Combat Stress and Robert Gordon University suggest that women’s experiences in the military require tailored support from statutory and charitable services.

    Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, Andrew Murrison MP said:

    “Our service women are an integral part of the Armed Forces community and the sacrifices they make to defend our nation are immense. These reports will give us further insight into the experiences of our female veterans and allow us to continue providing support during their service and beyond.”

    The recommendations for policymakers, service providers and researchers include:

    • Providing staff training across statutory and charity services which focuses on female veterans’ needs, including mental health and sexual trauma
    • Increasing partnerships between service and non-military charities to share best practice and provide more appropriate care for female veterans
    • Improving signposting to support through marketing, newsletters, online directories or peer networks
    • Gathering gendered data across government and charities to ensure more equitable access to support and better outcomes
    • Further researching the experiences and needs of female veterans to improve access to support, including transitioning from service, personal finance, housing, employment and healthcare

    Sarah Atherton MP, Chair of the Advisory Group to the Women Veterans’ Strategy said:

    “These reports improve our evidence base and deepen our understanding of the unique experiences of women veterans. The upcoming Women Veterans’ Strategy is an exciting opportunity to recognise the experiences of women veterans and ensure that we have effective and tailored support to address their needs.”

    The OVA’s Women Veterans’ Strategy will take on a number of the recommendations and are collaborating with the researchers to ensure the key findings of the reports are reflected in the upcoming strategy.

    Anglia Ruskin University has reported on the experiences of tri-service UK female veterans in accessing support in civilian life. Researchers found that female veterans experienced a number of challenges in civilian life, many related to gendered experiences during their military service and these increased their need for support from statutory and charitable services.

    Combat Stress has researched methods on improving access to best-evidenced treatment – such as cognitive processing therapy – for women veterans who had experienced sexual trauma. The report highlighted that women veterans often feel their experiences of sexual trauma are not widely understood by health care professionals or the wider veteran community.

    Robert Gordon University investigated the barriers and opportunities for female veterans in accessing service charities. The universities concluded that as female veterans may not self-identify as veterans, and may have different support needs to male veterans due to different experiences of military service, they may be reluctant to access service charities.

    The Ministry of Defence is clear that is no place for sexual assault or other sexual offences in the Armed Forces and we are committed to stamping it out and supporting anybody impacted by this terrible behaviour.

    As part of the department’s commitment to prevent and address unacceptable sexual behaviour, we have a number of measures in place to tackle this type of offending including zero tolerance policies and strengthen levers to discharge those who are found to have committed sexual offences or unacceptable sexual behaviour.

    We continue to use relevant information about sexual offending in the Armed Forces to consider and develop further interventions and measures to try and tackle this type of offending.

    Notes to Editors

  • PRESS RELEASE : Two members appointed to the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Two members appointed to the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 9 October 2023.

    The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Robert Thomas and Rebecca White as members of the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee representing voluntary organisations.

    The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointments of Robert Thomas and Rebecca White, for 4 years, commencing 1 October 2023.

    The Courts Act 2003 established the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) to make rules governing the practice and procedure of magistrates’ courts, the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division.

    The Act requires the CPRC, which is chaired by the Lord Chief Justice, to make rules that are simple and simply expressed, and that help make the criminal justice system accessible, fair and efficient.

    Biographies

    Robert Thomas is a Trustee of Intermediaries for Justice; a small charity promoting equality of access to justice for vulnerable people. He is also an HMCTS Appointed Intermediary Services Approved Service Provider. Robert’s first career was as a teacher of English, lecturer and senior manager in schools and colleges. He taught across the age and ability range both in this country and overseas. He has not declared any political activity.

    Rebecca White is a Research Associate at the University of Bristol; undertaking research to contribute to improved understanding on the scale and nature of state interventions to tackle female genital cutting/mutilation. She is also a Director of Impact at Supporting Justice; a community interest company that specialises in issues affecting victims and witnesses.

    She is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Bristol; exploring victim participation in the trial proceedings at the International Criminal Court, funded through the Economic and Social Research Council. She has not declared any political activity.

    These appointments are not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The recruitment processes complied with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Appointments to the CPRC are made by the Lord Chancellor in consultation with the Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales.