Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 January 2025.

The UK will benefit from boosts to trade and further cooperation on tackling illegal migration as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani visits Downing Street.

The UK will benefit from boosts to trade and further cooperation on tackling illegal migration as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani visits Downing Street today (Tuesday 14 January) for talks with the Prime Minister.

As part of the closer economic relationship being forged today, the Prime Minister and his counterpart will announce an up to £12.3 billion export package, worth around ten times last year’s trade between the UK and Iraq.  This package is underpinned by a series of export agreements which will boost the growing trading relationship between the UK and Iraq, representing significant opportunities for UK businesses and contributing to the government’s mission to deliver economic growth.

The leaders will also discuss a new specific migrant returns agreement between the UK and Iraq. Once in place, the deal will ensure those who have no right to be in the UK can be returned swiftly.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Today marks a new era in UK-Iraq cooperation, which will deliver mutual benefits from trade to defence, as we continue to work together towards stability in the wider region.

It’s clear that Iraq shares our priority of delivering economic growth and the £12.3 billion export package being unveiled today offers huge opportunities for British businesses, representing a step-change in the trade and investment relationship between our two countries.

Secure borders are a vital foundation of our Plan for Change, so I am also very pleased get started on talks for a bespoke returns agreement between our countries. The deal will help dismantle the people smugglers’ business model by sending the clear message that if you come here illegally, you cannot expect to stay.

The leaders will sign a milestone Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, leveraging UK private sector expertise on water, energy, telecoms, and defence infrastructure to secure future investment projects and major opportunities for British business.

Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds said:

This yet another vote of confidence in Britain. As an open, proud trading nation our trade strategy will build upon deals like this to strengthen our economy. This announcement reflects our evolving bilateral relationship and represents a step forward in our growing trade partnership.

This agreement – a significant £12 billion export package, helped by our UK Export Finance – will give UK and Iraqi business more certainty and help lead to growth and genuine shared benefits for both our economies.

In a further demonstration of how our cooperation with international partners delivers for the UK, the leaders will also mark the export of £66.5 million worth of equipment from the UK to strengthen Iraq’s borders and disrupt smuggling gangs, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change by securing our border and delivering economic growth.

This comes as the government fulfils its pledge deliver the highest rate of removals since 2018 with a surge in returns activity leading to 16,400 people with no right to be in the UK removed. The talks also build on the Home Secretary’s visit to Iraq in November, where she signed agreements including the largest-ever operational package between the UK and Iraq on border security and law enforcement, in order to enhance Iraq’s capability to tackle people smuggling. Today’s talks will strengthen the implementation of this pact.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

When I signed the landmark deal with Iraq in November, it was a clear signal of our commitment to dismantle the criminal smuggling gangs together.

Our world-first security agreement with Iraq is already showing its impact. By strengthening border security with our Border Security Command, enhancing intelligence-sharing, and providing additional funding to support Iraq’s law enforcement capabilities, we’re targeting people smuggling gangs where it hurts.

Today is the next step in ensuring this important partnership with Iraq goes from strength to strength. As a result, we are making it harder for criminals to exploit vulnerable people, and ultimately we are bringing them to justice.

Last week, the UK also launched the world’s first standalone sanctions regime targeting people smugglers. Expected to come into force within the year, the regime will clamp down on illicit financing rings who make huge profits exploiting vulnerable people by facilitating illegal migration.

The meeting with Prime Minister Al-Sudani follows the Prime Minister’s visit to the Gulf in December to support stability in the Middle East and deliver a foundation of security at home.

The Prime Minister will further bolster the UK’s defence relationship with the region today with the signing of a joint statement which will deepen the UK’s cooperation with Iraq a decade on from the establishment of the Global Coalition’s mission in Iraq and Operation Inherent Resolve leading to the territorial defeat of Daesh.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 January 2025.

Artificial intelligence will deliver a decade of national renewal, as part of a new plan announced today (13 January 2025).

• AI to drive the Plan for Change, helping turbocharge growth and boost living standards
• public sector to spend less time doing admin and more time delivering the services working people rely on
• dedicated AI Growth Zones to speed up planning for AI infrastructure
• £14 billion and 13,250 jobs committed by private leading tech firms following AI Action Plan

Artificial intelligence will be unleashed across the UK to deliver a decade of national renewal, under a new plan announced today (13 January 2025).

In a marked move from the previous government’s approach, the Prime Minister is throwing the full weight of Whitehall behind this industry by agreeing to take forward all 50 recommendations set out by Matt Clifford in his game-changing AI Opportunities Action Plan.

AI is already being used across the UK. It is being used in hospitals up and down the country to deliver better, faster, and smarter care: spotting pain levels for people who can’t speak, diagnosing breast cancer quicker, and getting people discharged quicker. This is already helping deliver the government’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future.

Unveiling details of the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan today, the Prime Minister will say AI can transform the lives of working people – it has the potential to speed up planning consultations to get Britain building, help drive down admin for teachers so they can get on with teaching our children, and feed AI through cameras to spot potholes and help improve roads.

Backing AI to the hilt can also lead to more money in the pockets of working people. The IMF estimates that – if AI is fully embraced – it can boost productivity by as much as 1.5 percentage points a year. If fully realised, these gains could be worth up to an average £47 billion to the UK each year over a decade.

Today’s plan mainlines AI into the veins of this enterprising nation – revolutionising our public services and putting more money in people’s back pockets. Because for too long we have allowed blockers to control the public discourse and get in the way of growth in this sector.

The plan puts an end to that by introducing new measures that will create dedicated AI Growth Zones that speed up planning permission and give them the energy connections they need to power up AI.

The UK occupies a unique place in the world. We can learn from the US’s and EU’s approach – delivering the dynamism, flexibility and long-term stability that we know businesses want.

The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said:

Artificial Intelligence will drive incredible change in our country. From teachers personalising lessons, to supporting small businesses with their record-keeping, to speeding up planning applications, it has the potential to transform the lives of working people.

But the AI industry needs a government that is on their side, one that won’t sit back and let opportunities slip through its fingers. And in a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by. We must move fast and take action to win the global race.

Our plan will make Britain the world leader. It will give the industry the foundation it needs and will turbocharge the Plan for Change. That means more jobs and investment in the UK, more money in people’s pockets, and transformed public services.

That’s the change this government is delivering.

It comes as three major tech companies – Vantage Data Centres, Nscale and Kyndryl – have committed to £14 billion investment in the UK to build the AI infrastructure the UK needs to harness the potential of this technology and deliver 13,250 jobs across the UK. That’s on top of the £25 billion in AI investment announced at the International Investment Summit.

Vantage Data Centres – which is working to build one of Europe’s largest data centre campuses in Wales – plans to invest over £12 billion in data centres across the UK – creating over 11,500 jobs in the process.

Kyndryl – the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider and a leading IT consultancy – announces plans to create up to 1,000 AI-related jobs in Liverpool over the next three years. This new tech hub will share the Government’s ambition to roll AI out across the country to help grow the economy and foster the next generation of talent.

Nscale – one of the UK’s leading AI companies – has announced a $2.5 billion investment to support the UK’s data centre infrastructure over the next three years. They have also signed a contract to build the largest UK sovereign AI data centre in Loughton, Essex by 2026.

The plan includes initiatives that will help make the UK the number one place for AI firms to invest, which is vital if Britain is to be at the forefront of this industry and be a changemaker rather than a change-taker. The key changes include:

• forging new AI Growth Zones to speed up planning proposals and build more AI infrastructure. The first of these will be in Culham, Oxfordshire
• increasing the public compute capacity by twentyfold to give us the processing power we need to fully embrace this new technology – this starts immediately with work starting on a brand new supercomputer
• a new team will be set up to seize the opportunities of AI and build the UK’s sovereign capabilities
• creating a new National Data Library to safely and securely unlock the value of public data and support AI development
• a dedicated AI Energy Council chaired by the Science and Energy Secretaries will also be established, working with energy companies to understand the energy demands and challenges which will fuel the technology’s development – this will directly support the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower by tapping into technologies like small modular reactors.

Taken together, the 50 measures will make the UK irresistible to AI firms looking to start, scale, or grow their business. It builds on recent progress in AI that saw £25 billion of new investment in data centres announced since the government took office last July.

This Action Plan is also at the heart of the government’s Industrial Strategy and the first plank of the upcoming Digital and Technology Sector Plan, to be published in the coming months.

Science, Innovation, and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle said:

AI has the potential to change all of our lives but for too long, we have been curious and often cautious bystanders to the change unfolding around us. With this plan, we become agents of that change.

We already have remarkable strengths we can tap into when it comes to AI – building our status as the cradle of computer science and intelligent machines and establishing ourselves as the third largest AI market in the world.

This government is determined that the UK is not left behind in the global race for AI, that’s why the actions we commit to will ensure that the benefits are spread throughout the UK so all citizens will reap the rewards of the bet we make today. This is how we’re putting our Plan for Change in motion.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves MP said:

AI is a powerful tool that will help grow our economy, make our public services more efficient and open up new opportunities to help improve living standards.

This action plan is the government’s modern industrial strategy in action. Attracting AI businesses to the UK, binging in new investment, creating new jobs and turbocharging our Plan for Change. This means better living standards in every part of the United Kingdom and working people have more money in their pocket.

Matt Clifford CBE said:

This is a plan which puts us all-in – backing the potential of AI to grow our economy, improve lives for citizens, and make us a global hub for AI investment and innovation.

AI offers opportunities we can’t let slip through our fingers, and these steps put us on the strongest possible footing to ensure AI delivers in all corners of the country, from building skills and talent to revolutionising our infrastructure and compute power.

Notes to editors:

The plan has 3 main pillars that will lay the foundations for AI to grow, boost adoption in existing private and public sectors, and keep the UK ahead of the pack internationally.

First – laying the foundations for AI to flourish in the UK.

The first ever AI Growth Zones will be set up. These are areas across the country that will speed up planning approvals for the rapid build-out of data centres, give them better access to the energy grid, and draw in investment from around the world.

The first of these will be in Culham, Oxfordshire – home to the UK’s Atomic Energy Authority and some of the brightest scientific minds in the world.

This will also serve a testing ground to drive forward research on how sustainable energy like fusion can power our AI ambitions.

More will be announced in the Summer, with a particular focus on de-industrialised areas of the country with access to power and strong support from local government.

That means local jobs, improved communities, and a growing economy – all of which puts more money in people’s pockets.

Build a brand new supercomputer with enough AI power to play itself at chess half a million times a second. This is part of the plan to increase compute capacity by twenty-fold by 2030 – supercharging our capacity to power AI products.

Our ten-year compute plan also includes a commitment to rapidly develop and implement a long-term compute strategy that will bring together the key ingredients for AI – compute, data, and skills – to keep us at the forefront of the technology and attract the best brains in the world.

That gives the industry the long-term stability it needs to choose the UK as the place to invest – helping drive up growth and deliver our plan for change.

Second – boosting adoption across public and private sectors

A new digital centre of government is being set up within DSIT. This will revolutionise how AI is used in the public sector to improve citizens lives and make government more efficient. It will scan for new ideas, pilot them in public sector settings, then scale them as far as they can go.

Driving adoption across all sectors in the UK. The Prime Minister has personally written to his entire Cabinet, tasking them with driving AI adoption and growth in their sectors, and making that a top priority for their Departments.

Third – keeping us ahead of the pack

A new team will be set up to keep us at the forefront of emerging technology. This team will use the heft of the state to make the UK the best place for business. This could include guaranteeing firms access to data and energy.

Taken together, this package will set us on course to full embrace the potential of AI – making it work for Britain.

Industry reaction to the AI Opportunities Action Plan

Darren Hardman, CEO, Microsoft UK, said:

The scale of this government’s ambition for AI development and adoption in the UK is exactly what’s needed to drive economic growth, transform public services and create new opportunities for all.

Maintaining the UK’s position as a global leader in AI demands innovation and investment across the public and private sectors and Microsoft is fully committed to helping make this vision a reality.

Mike Beck, Global Chief Information Security Officer at Darktrace, said:

The ambitious and wide-ranging recommendations in the AI Opportunities Action Plan have the potential to turn AI into an engine for the UK economy.

As a home-grown AI company, we know that the UK has world-class research talent, brilliant institutions and a strong tech ecosystem. Governments can and should move at a faster pace to help realise the benefits of rapid technological change, and we look forward to the government swiftly implementing this Plan. This will help to turn AI from abstract opportunity to real-world benefit in offices and shop floors across the country.

Companies and consumers also need to be confident that AI innovation is safe and secure. The upcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill offers the opportunity to better safeguard data and AI infrastructure, and it will be important to ensure a more digitised and AI-enabled public sector is secure and trusted.

Dario Amodei, Co-Founder and CEO of Anthropic, said:

The UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan is a bold approach that could help unlock AI’s potential to solve real problems. By combining infrastructure investment with strategic planning, the UK could be among the first and fastest governments in the world to transform how services are delivered to its citizens.

We look forward to working with them to turn this vision into a reality.

Alex Kendall OBE, Co-Founder and CEO, Wayve, said:

Embodied AI in highly regulated sectors, like automated vehicles, will require international regulatory collaboration.

I’m excited to see the government use the levers at its disposal to help make the UK’s leading AI startups winners on the global stage. We now welcome the new targeted support for international expansion for AI scale-ups, and will pursue our global growth goals with the confidence that we have the UK Government’s full support.

Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI, said:

From the locomotive to the Colossus computer, the UK has a rich history of leadership in tech innovation and the research and development of AI.

The government’s AI action plan – led by the Prime Minister and Secretary Peter Kyle – recognises where AI development is headed and sets the UK on the right path to benefit from its growth. The UK has an enormous national resource in the talent of its people, institutions and businesses which together, can leverage AI to advance the country’s national interest.

Aidan Gomez, Co-Founder and CEO of Cohere, said:

With AI unlocking productivity gains and boosting business growth, we welcome the government’s focus and attention to foster this generational economic transformation.

Cohere has long viewed the UK as a hotbed of industry talent and a market highly supportive of technology innovation, which is why we were among the earliest foundational model companies to build a major presence in the country, and why we have doubled down here over the last year.

Tim Bestwick, Deputy CEO, UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), said:

AI and High-Performance Computing are central to UKAEA’s mission to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy.

UKAEA welcomes the AI Opportunities Action Plan and its vision for building cutting-edge AI infrastructure to drive innovation and develop the ‘industries of the future’. As highlighted in the Action Plan, Culham Campus’ high-capacity and connection to the UK’s national electricity grid, coupled with its available land on the Campus, positions it as a prime location for deploying substantial computing facilities.

Julian David OBE, CEO of techUK, said:

Through this announcement the Prime Minister has set out how the Government sees AI as central to their plan for change.

These well thought out initiatives will boost the UK’s AI capabilities with positive effects across our society and economy.

Now that the government has set out its Plan, it is time to act, and at pace. To drive new investment, Industry will want to see more detail on how this plan will be actioned within the next six months, particularly as we face growing competition from other countries.

Further Information:

• the £47 billion estimate is based on IMF figures but derived from separate calculations and assumptions, and as such, is not an official IMF estimate
• estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) show that while the exact economic impact hinges on the wider development and adoption of AI, and realisation could be gradual, the UK could ultimately see productivity gains of up to 1.5% annually
• if fully realised, these gains could be worth up to an average £47 billion to the UK each year over a decade
• the Vantage Data Centres anticipated investment, some of which is subject to planning permission and agreed connection timelines, is expected to support over 10,000 local construction jobs over the next decade, and create over 1,500 operational roles at its data centres

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 January 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait, this morning.

The Prime Minister began by highlighting the close and historic relationship between the UK and Kuwait, which has endured for 125 years.

Across defence, security, trade and investment, the leaders discussed the cooperation between the UK and Kuwait, which they looked forward to strengthening.

The Prime Minister congratulated the Amir for the successful Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in December and reiterated the UK’s commitment to a Free Trade Agreement as negotiations continue.

Discussing investment from Kuwait into the UK, the leaders discussed further opportunities to drive growth in both countries across every sector.

They agreed on the importance of the work of the UN sponsored mission in Iraq (UNAMI), which leads efforts to locate missing people from the First Gulf War. They welcomed the extension of UNAMI’s mandate until 31 December 2025 and to identify a suitable follow-on process for this vital work.

They looked forward to seeing one another at the earliest opportunity.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 10 January 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to Finnish President Alexander Stubb this morning.

The leaders discussed the subsea cable damage that took place on Christmas Day and the Prime Minister welcomed Finland’s response and praised the success of the operation. The two agreed to share findings on the source and intent of this incident and to work together with NATO Allies to prevent sabotage activity against undersea cables in future.

They agreed that collaboration between allies in the region would continue to be vital, including through the work of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), and underscored the importance of respecting international law.

The two discussed their ironclad support for Ukraine and their hopes for a path towards peace on Ukraine’s terms.

Finally, the leaders discussed the UK’s EU reset, and talked about ambitions for closer economic and security ties between the UK and the EU.

They looked forward to speaking again soon.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 10 January 2025.

The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Michal this morning.

They discussed recent damage to subsea cables and Estonia’s response, and the Prime Minister underscored the UK’s commitment to security in the Baltic Sea region. On a related point, they raised concerns about the potential environmental impact of the Russian Shadow Fleet and the risk of oil spills. They agreed upon the importance of continued collaboration.

The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Michal for hosting the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Summit in December. The two reflected on how they welcomed their visit with UK troops in the region together during the Prime Minister’s visit to Estonia.

The leaders went on to discuss their commitment to ensuring Ukraine is in the strongest possible position and reaffirmed their commitment to the country’s future membership of NATO.

They also reflected on ambitions for an even stronger relationship through the UK’s reset with the EU.

The two looked forward to seeing each other again soon.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 January 2025.

Millions of patients will be able to access more appointments closer to home and get the treatment they need faster under a new plan to tackle hospital backlogs.

Millions of patients will be able to access more appointments closer to home and get the treatment they need faster under a new plan to tackle hospital backlogs set out by the PM today [Monday 6th January].

Tackling the 7.5million strong waiting list inherited by the government so that the NHS once again meets the 18 week standard for planned treatment is a key milestone in the government’s Plan for Change. Restoring this standard will mean millions of patients no longer have to have their lives put on hold.

Currently, too many patients face long waits for appointments or surgeries and may be referred to hospitals they don’t choose at inconvenient times, while appointments and staff time are being lost to inefficiencies or inconsistencies in care.

The Elective Reform Plan, published today [Monday 6th January] by NHS England, sets out a whole system approach to hitting the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this Parliament. This includes expanded use of Community Diagnostic Centres so that many more people will be able to access tests and checks while going about their daily lives, and the NHS will also increase the number of surgical hubs, which help protect planned care from the impact of seasonal and other pressures.

The plan will drive forward progress on the government’s first steps commitment to deliver 2 million extra appointments in its first year, equivalent to 40,000 every week. The reforms will put patients first, harness technology to support staff and help the NHS to do things more efficiently.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

This Government promised change and that is what I am fighting every day to deliver.

NHS backlogs have ballooned in recent years, leaving millions of patients languishing on waiting lists, often in pain or fear. Lives on hold. Potential unfulfilled.

This elective reform plan will deliver on our promise to end the backlogs. Millions more appointments. Greater choice and convenience for patients. Staff once again able to give the standard of care they desperately want to.

This is a key plank of our Plan for Change, which will drive growth that puts more money in people’s pockets, secures our borders and makes the NHS fit for the future so what working people live longer, healthier, more prosperous lives.

Up to half a million more appointments a year are expected to be created in total by opening Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) for longer and bringing 17 new and expanded surgical hubs online. Opening Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) 12 hours a day, seven days a week wherever possible will mean people can access a broader range of more appointments closer to home in their neighbourhoods. This will make sure they are treated more quickly and more conveniently, rather than having to rely on hospitals.

The plans also involve increasing the availability of same-day tests and consultations so that patients don’t have to wait for weeks in between different stages of care. They will also expand the range of tests available at CDCs so people get better access to treatment, and enabling GPs to direct patients straight to diagnostic testing so that they receive their tests quicker, before having to see a specialist – in turn saving them time and travel.

Alongside the extended hours for CDCs, 14 new surgical hubs will be created within existing hospitals by June and three others expanded – with more expected in coming years supported by the £1.5bn capital investment confirmed at the Autumn budget. These will bring together the necessary expertise, best practice and tech under one roof to focus on delivering the most common, less complex procedures. The new hubs will be ring-fenced from winter pressures and will cut waiting lists for standard surgeries, in turn freeing up beds in acute wards needed for more complex cases.

Under the plan, 65% of patients will be treated within 18 weeks by the end of next year. Based on the size of the current waiting list, that would mean a fall of more than 450k people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

We inherited record long waiting lists, impacting patients’ lives and their livelihoods. Only the combination of investment and radical reform can turn this around, as we’re setting out today.

Our Plan for Change set an ambitious target to cut maximum wait times from 18 months to 18 weeks, and we will achieve it by bringing care closer to home and give patients more choice over their treatment.

The NHS should work around patients’ lives, not the other way around. By opening community diagnostic centres on high streets 12 hours a day, seven days a week, patients will now be able to arrange their tests and scans for when they go to do their weekend shopping, rather than being forced to take time out of work.

The reforms we’re launching today will free up millions of appointments, so the NHS can be there for us when we need it once again.

NHS chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, said:

NHS staff have worked tirelessly to bring down the longest waits, treating record numbers of elective patients last year, but with one in nine people currently on a waiting list it is right that we now go further and faster.

This ambitious blueprint will build on our progress and support hard working NHS staff to deliver faster routine care for patients with the aim of treating nine in 10 within 18 weeks by the end of this Parliament.

The radical reforms in this plan will not only allow us to deliver millions more tests, appointments and operations, but do things differently too – boosting convenience and putting more power in the hands of patients, especially through the NHS app.

The reforms set out today are focused on doing things differently by putting patients first, looking at their treatment in the round and empowering them with more choice and control so that care is more convenient and fits better into their lives.

Further measures include:

• Using the NHS app to give patients greater choice and control over their treatment. This includes making sure patients can get better access to information via the app, such as the details of their appointments, results and waiting times, and use it to book appointments in the location of their choice, with information about waiting times and patient satisfaction.
• Preventing unnecessary referrals. GPs will be funded to work with hospital doctors to get specialist advice before making referrals, so that more patients get the care they need without being referred onto the waiting list.
• Giving patients choice over non essential follow up appointments as part of a drive to free up around 1 million appointments a year for those who need them.
• Making more appointments available in the community instead of hospitals. More treatment for five specialties with particular pressure on waiting lists will also be made available outside of hospital through targeted reforms, including Ear Nose and Throat services, where around 30% of referrals currently made to secondary care could be provided in the community.
• Making convenience for patients a priority through the roll out of innovative ‘collective care’ approaches, for example, one stop clinics where patients can be assessed, diagnosed or reviewed on the same day; where appropriate, offering group appointments where patients with long term conditions may benefit from being supported together; opening ‘super clinics’ which bring together a wider range of clinicians to oversee patient care under the oversight of a consultant, increasing the number of patients seen in a day.
• Driving up patient experience through a set of national standards for elective care. We will publish minimum standards that patients should expect to experience in elective care, including giving patients a shortlist of providers to choose from and clarity on how long they are likely to wait. In turn these standards will make it easier to identify where performance is falling short and how to improve it.

Harnessing the benefits of new technology and AI is a central part of the government’s mission to rebuild the NHS. Healthcare providers will be supported through these reforms to use technology to tackle inefficiencies holding up appointments.

For example, focused action across the healthcare system – including drawing on predictions by AI on which appointments are most likely to be missed – will help save up to 1 million missed appointments. Remote monitoring technology – for example, using wearable tech to collect vital health data on patients without them having to see a healthcare professional face to face – will also be deployed more widely to help provide more personalised and more efficient care, ensuring appointments are scheduled because of clinical need, not just at routine intervals.

Reform will also tackle deep seated structural issues which have held back improvements to date by bringing funding mechanisms, performance oversight and delivery standards together with incentives for positive change. This will ensure the system is set up in a way that rewards and actively drives improvements.

Trusts who make the fastest improvements in cutting waiting times will be rewarded with additional funding for capital projects tailored to local needs. This could include investment in cutting edge AI diagnostic equipment or hospital ward maintenance.

There will also be greater transparency on performance and support in place for providers facing the greatest challenges, and new support for clinical and operational leaders on how to deliver more effective elective pathways.

The plan will also provide greater funding certainty, to help commissioners deliver their operational planning with more stability over their finances.

Tackling waiting lists is the first step in the government’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future, as set out in the Plan for Change.

At the heart of this mission are three big reform shifts, which will be central to the 10-Year Health Plan currently being developed in consultation with NHS staff and the wider public and set to be published in spring 2025: hospital to community; analogue to digital; and sickness to prevention.

These are fundamental and necessary reforms in the way our health services deliver care and address the inherited challenges facing the NHS that Lord Darzi identified in his report published last year.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 December 2024.

The Prime Minister spoke to President-elect Donald Trump this afternoon from Downing Street.

The Prime Minister began by congratulating President-elect Trump on his recent team appointments and President-elect Trump warmly recounted his meeting with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in Paris earlier this month.

Both agreed on their joint ambition to strengthen the close and historic relationship between the UK and the US. They looked forward to working together on shared priorities, including international security and delivering economic growth and prosperity.

Turning to global conflicts, the Prime Minister reiterated the need for allies to stand together with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and to ensure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.

On the Middle East, the Prime Minister underscored the need to work together to ensure peace and security in the region.

They agreed to keep in touch and looked forward to seeing one another at the earliest opportunity.

The press release issued by Downing Street on 18 December 2024.

A business delegation of 13 Indian companies met with the UK’s Prime Minister and senior Cabinet Ministers in a curated visit to enhance the UK-India partnership.

• Boosting investment, creating jobs, and delivering on the shared ambition of economic growth were on the agenda.
• The companies have collectively invested over £10 billion into the UK and employ tens of thousands of people across the country.

The Prime Minister has hosted a group of Indian investors and CEOs to harness perspectives on opportunities for investment and economic growth between the UK and India.

The visit follows the Prime Minister’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi at the G20 where they committed to take forward an ambitious UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with collaboration opportunities on economic growth, security and defence, technology, climate, health, and education.

The delegation, supported by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), discussed deepening the bilateral partnership with the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds and Minister of State Douglas Alexander also met with the delegation to discuss opportunities under a UK-India trade deal.

With total trade already worth £42 billion and supporting over 600,000 jobs across both economies, the UK and India are negotiating a trade deal that can further economic growth and deliver on the Prime Minister’s plan for Change.

Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer said:

India is a vital partner for the UK and we have huge ambition to unlock more opportunities together, building on our already strong relationship. I’m delighted to welcome some of India’s most senior business leaders to Downing Street and to outline the UK’s ambitious focus on economic growth and innovation.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

As one of the most globally connected economies in the G20, the UK provides unmatched opportunities for Indian businesses to thrive.

India already accounts for the second highest number of FDI projects into the UK, and this Government is committed to deepening our trade and investment links with India even further.

Boosting investment is a mission at the heart of this government. It was great to hear first-hand from Indian business leaders on why so many of them have given us a vote of confidence and chosen to invest here.

Sunil Bharti Mittal KBE, Leader of the Delegation, Past President, CII and Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises said:

This business delegation comes at a pivotal moment, as India stands as the fastest-growing large economy and is on track to become a USD 5 trillion economy by 2027. Over time, India-UK relations have developed into a robust, multifaceted partnership built on historical ties, economic synergy, and increasing geopolitical alignment.

The India-UK Free Trade Agreement negotiations present significant opportunities for mutual growth and cooperation. We are optimistic that this delegation will pave the way for numerous successful business collaborations. We shall seek guidance from Prime Minister Starmer on the sectors that may exhibit better collaboration opportunities.

The delegation finished the day at an evening reception hosted by the High Commission of India in London.

Further information

• Pictures are available on Flickr here.
• The business delegation of leading Indian companies includes: Bharti Enterprises, Bharat Semi Systems, Biocon Group, Blue Star Limited, Essar Group, Hero Enterprise, Jet Synthesis, Piramal Group, Reliance Industries, Tata Steel, TVS Motor Company, TVS Supply Chain Solutions, and UPL Limited.
• On 18 November 2024, Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he announced that UK-India trade talks will relaunch in the new year.
• Foreign Secretary David Lammy met External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Prime Minister Modi in July 2024 in New Delhi. His visit saw the launch of the UK-India Technology Security Initiative (TSI).
• According to Grant Thornton, there are 971 Indian companies in the UK employing 118,430 people and 667 UK companies in India, employing 523,460 people.
• In 2023-24, India was the UK’s second largest source of investment in terms of number of new projects for the fifth consecutive year; total 108 projects creating 7,533 new jobs.
• Prime Minister Starmer made a speech on the government’s Plan for Change on 5 December 2024, available here.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 December 2024.

The Prime Minister met the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, and the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, in a trilateral meeting following the Joint Expeditionary Force summit today.

The leaders reflected on a broad range of shared global challenges, including how to shore up European security in the face of an increasingly aggressive Russia.

It was vital to consolidate and increase support for Ukraine, as the frontline of European security, the Prime Minister said.

Reflecting on the JEF, the Prime Minister said it was a prime example of greater cooperation and collaboration to meet the threats of the 21st century.

The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 December 2024.

The Prime Minister met Ulf Kristersson, the Prime Minister of Sweden, in Tallinn this afternoon following a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force.

The UK and Sweden were great Allies and strong partners, with a shared approach to global challenges, the leaders agreed.

Turning to Ukraine, the leaders underscored the need to put the country in the strongest possible position, so they could fight through 2025.

The deployment of DPRK soldiers to the frontline in Russia further emphasised the global nature of Putin’s war and the indivisibility of Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security, the leaders noted.

The Prime Minister also updated Prime Minister Kristersson on his EU reset.

Across defence, security, trade and growth, there was an opportunity to be ambitious about a new relationship with the EU that would deliver a better Brexit for the hardworking British people, the Prime Minister said.

The leaders looked forward to seeing each other again soon.