Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Welsh Secretary sees community renewal projects in Torfaen [September 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Welsh Secretary sees community renewal projects in Torfaen [September 2022]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Office on 30 September 2022.

    Secretary of State for Wales Robert Buckland has viewed two community projects in Torfaen which are receiving UK Government funding to increase the amount of locally-produced food and combat food poverty.

    The Welsh Secretary was in Cwmbran on Wednesday 28 September to see how £618,403 allocated to the Food4Growth initiative under the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund, was being used in the community.

    The launch of the Community Renewal Fund in Autumn 2021 saw £46m granted to 160 projects across Wales, including £3.8m allocated to seven different local initiatives in Torfaen, including Food4Growth.

    On Wednesday, Robert Buckland visited two of Food4Growth’s projects – radio station Able Radio which has opened a community food shop and food distribution scheme Tasty Not Wasty.

    Secretary of State for Wales Robert Buckland said:

    It was fantastic to be in Cwmbran to see how the injection of funding we made a few short months ago is doing good in our communities.

    We want to unlock the potential of all our local areas and target significant funding to places that need it and where it can make a real difference to people’s lives.

    Councillor Joanne Gauden, Executive Member for Skills and Regeneration, said:

    We were thrilled that the Secretary of State for Wales came to visit two projects in Torfaen.

    We are really proud of these projects. They have worked so hard to get these projects off the ground and are dedicated to helping the community.

    The costs of living crisis really is being felt by all, so it’s lovely to see projects like this helping people. It would be wonderful to see more projects like these in Torfaen.

    Shaun O’Dwyer- Managing Director, Able Radio, said:

    The Food4Growth grant has allowed Able to provide suitable opportunities for those we support.

    Importantly it has allowed Able to redevelop our site and install poly tunnels, a sustainABLE shop that operates a pay as you feel model.

    Supporting the community is an important objective for Able, the engagement opportunities and relationships fostered from this funding has created strong network in Torfaen, allowing communities to access fresh, sustainable produce whilst recognising the abilities and strengths of the people with learning disabilities we support.

    Sabrina Cresswell, Director, Tasty Not Wasty, said:

    With support from the Food4Growth project we are now able to increase usage and train local volunteers. It has enabled us to provide healthy food at a lower cost whilst helping to reduce food waste and bring the community together.

    Last year UK Government launched three new funds including the Levelling Up Fund which saw £121m allocated to 10 major projects in Wales and the Community Renewal Fund which saw £46m allocated to 160 new programmes in Wales that invest in people, boost skills and support local business.

    The £200 million UK-wide funding through the Community Renewal Fund will help local areas prepare for the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the scheme that will see UK-wide funding at least match EU money, reaching around £1.5 billion a year.

    Food4Growth is a cooperation project between Torfaen, Caerphilly and Monmouthshire with the aim to find new ways to help develop food supply chains and create a whole system approach

    With a huge rise in numbers of people in food poverty the project also launched a Community Food Scheme, where third sector organisations, community groups or public sector services were encouraged to apply for a grant to help create sustainable solutions to food poverty.

    The Food4Growth project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.

  • PRESS RELEASE : North Korea ballistic missile launch – FCDO statement [September 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : North Korea ballistic missile launch – FCDO statement [September 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 September 2022.

    A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

    The UK is deeply concerned by North Korea’s decision to carry out further ballistic missile tests on 29 September in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions.

    We urge North Korea to refrain from provocations and take concrete steps towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation. Alongside our allies and partners, the UK is committed to peace on the Korean Peninsula, upholding the rules-based international system and securing an end to North Korea’s unlawful activities. We strongly encourage North Korea to return to dialogue with the US.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British airman laid to rest 78 years after fatal flight [September 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : British airman laid to rest 78 years after fatal flight [September 2022]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 30 September 2022.

    Brydie Hurrell from outside Melbourne and other family members attended the service for for RAF pilot Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) William Robert Stephen Hurrell, at Jonkerbos War Cemetery on Thursday 29 September. Also there were representatives of the RAF, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, and dignitaries from the municipality of Lochem. Members of the RAF’s Queen’s Colour Squadron (QCS) bore his coffin.

    The ceremony was led by Rev. (Squadron Leader) Josephine Critchley, Chaplain at RAF Honington, and organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’.

    The remains of Flt Sgt Hurrell were discovered in 2019 after an excavation of an aircraft by the Joint Aircraft Recovery Team of the Netherlands MoD on farmland near the village of Eefde in the municipality of Lochem, as part of the Netherlands WWII National Aircraft Recovery Program, of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

    Working alongside the Recovery and Identification Unit of the Royal Netherlands Army and The RAF Air Historical Branch, JCCC reviewed documents confirming the plane recovered was from a Typhoon MN582 of No. 175 Squadron RAF which crashed on 26 September 1944. Flt Sgt Hurrell was flying in a formation of six aircraft on an armed reconnaissance north of Arnhem when they were attacked by up to 60 enemy ME109’s.

    Tracey Bowers, JCCC said:

    It has been an absolute privilege to arrange this ceremony for Flt Sgt William Hurrell and I am grateful for the help given by the community of Lochem. I am honoured to stand alongside his military and blood family to pay him this final tribute.

    William Robert Stephen Hurrell was born on 1 May 1923 in London to Sydney and Daisy Hurrell. His enlistment service records from March 1941 state his religious denomination as “C of E” and show he lived in the East Ham area of London. Prior to his RAF career he was an apprentice fitter and turner. After joining the RAF, he served in India and America before receiving his pilot’s wings in 1942. He was promoted to Flt Sgt a year later.

    Brydie, Flt Sgt Hurrell’s great niece, said it was important she travelled to the Netherlands:

    We grew up knowing that Bill was shot down at the end of the war and that his parents had never found him. We knew he was in the Netherlands – we just weren’t sure where exactly. When we heard about the salvage project we were over the moon. Representing the rest of my family back home means a lot. Bill’s parents and his brother, my grandfather, died never knowing where he was , but we know have closure for them and for ourselves.

    The ceremony included poems and readings by serving RAF personnel, family, and dignitaries from Lochem; a town instrumental in the recovery of Flt Sgt Hurrell’s remains.

    Rev.Critchley, said:

    As we have committed Bill’s body to the ground, we go from here knowing that his selfless actions ensured the security of so many; as he laid down his life, we are assured that he rests in God’s loving presence and is at peace.

    Director for the Central and Southern European Area at the CWGC, Geert Bekaert, said:

    We are privileged to host this ceremony today, dedicated to Flt Sgt Hurrell and the ultimate sacrifice he paid fighting for his country 78 years ago. It is our honour to commemorate him and care for his grave in perpetuity.

     

  • PRESS RELEASE : Readout of the Prime Minister and Chancellor’s meeting with the OBR [September 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Readout of the Prime Minister and Chancellor’s meeting with the OBR [September 2022]

    The press release issued by the Treasury on 30 September 2022.

    • This morning the Prime Minister Liz Truss and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng met with the OBR’s Budget Responsibility Committee, including the Chair Richard Hughes, at No10 Downing Street.
    • They discussed the process for the upcoming economic and fiscal forecast, which will be published on 23 November, and the economic and fiscal outlook.
    • They agreed, as is usual, to work closely together throughout the forecast process and beyond.
    • The Prime Minister and Chancellor reaffirmed their commitment to the independent OBR and made clear that they value its scrutiny.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK strongly condemns all attacks on journalists and media workers – UK statement to the OSCE

    PRESS RELEASE : UK strongly condemns all attacks on journalists and media workers – UK statement to the OSCE

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 September 2022.

    Ms Saffienne Vincent-Neal highlights at OSCE’s Human Dimension Conference that independent media and journalists are essential to keep governments accountable.

    Mr Chair, strong, independent media and journalists are part of the bedrock of democratic societies and are essential to hold governments to account. We support the vital work of ODIHR and the Representative on Freedom of the Media as an early warning mechanism when fundamental freedoms are challenged.

    In times of war, the media’s role in providing timely and accurate information is even more important. As Ukraine liberates more territory, journalists expose the atrocities caused by Russia’s military aggression.

    We are appalled by the findings of the Moscow Mechanism reports on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Journalists have been subjected to unlawful detentions, abductions, enforced disappearances and torture. At least 15 killed so far; with reports that hundreds more have been shelled, shot, or detained. In the parts of Ukraine temporarily controlled by Russia, the information space has been severely restricted. We share the condemnation by the UN and other international organisations of the cyber-attacks on Ukraine’s media and internet infrastructure.

    The Moscow Mechanism report on Russia’s internal repression exposes a systemic and repressive war against the freedom of the Russian people. Propaganda, repressive legislation, and violence have created a climate of fear and intimidation. From 1992-2021 reportedly at least 58 journalists were killed in Russia for their work.

    Since February, legislation has suppressed freedom to express dissent and criminalised the “discrediting” of Russia’s Armed Forces. How is this legislation and practice compatible with the human dimension obligations that Russia freely signed up to as an OSCE founding member? And, what message does this send? Be quiet or be persecuted.

    As we have seen, most independent journalists and media outlets have left Russia or closed. The Russian government is isolating the Russian people from credible information, from the world outside of Russia’s borders. Those reporting accurately on Ukraine, face jail, including dual British-Russian national Vladimir Kara-Murza. As the Moscow Mechanism report clearly says, “this is military censorship”. We remind the Russian Government of the Milan Decision on Safety of Journalists in 2018, and urge them to comply with the 1991 Moscow Declaration which stressed the importance of protecting vulnerable groups in armed conflict, including journalists.

    And we call for accountability – for Ukrainians persecuted in occupied territories and for Russians seeking simply to be able to tell the truth.

  • PRESS RELEASE : GREAT campaign drives growth across the four corners of the UK [September 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : GREAT campaign drives growth across the four corners of the UK [September 2022]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 30 September 2022.

    • The Great Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign (GREAT) is the UK’s flagship international marketing programme.
    • GREAT’s ‘Study UK’ campaign is set to generate £407m of investment right across the UK, from international students registered in 2021/22.
    • Students from 121 countries around the world have been attracted to UK universities by the campaign; driving impressive growth for local economies.

    International students attracted to UK universities by the GREAT ‘Study UK’ campaign and enrolled in 2021/22 will generate £407m for the economy during the course of their degrees.

    The campaign, delivered in partnership with the British Council, uses a combination of marketing channels and scholarship opportunities to promote the quality and opportunities of UK higher education to students worldwide; highlighting reasons why the UK is a first-choice study destination.

    Across the four nations, the estimated economic benefit of international students attracted to the UK by the GREAT campaign is:

    • England £339.1m
    • Scotland £44.4m
    • Wales £18.4m
    • Northern Ireland £5.1m

    The campaign supports the government’s levelling up ambition, with many parts of the UK benefiting economically and culturally from international students.

    Projected economic benefit across cities in the UK include:

    • Greater Manchester £13.3m
    • Liverpool £4.7m
    • Newcastle £6.0 m
    • Leeds £7.7m
    • Sheffield £7.1m
    • Birmingham £11.6m
    • Bristol £4.0m
    • Edinburgh £8.5m
    • Glasgow £9.1m
    • Cardiff £5.0m
    • Belfast £1.6m

    The success of the GREAT ‘Study UK’ campaign is well evidenced, for example Teesside University experienced a 40% increase on 2020/21 international student enrolments from markets where GREAT scholarships were offered.

    Cabinet Office Minister Jake Berry said:

    “The GREAT ‘Study UK’ campaign attracts and supports international students to study in the UK. International students drive growth in local economies across the country, they also enrich the university experience, bringing greater diversity and an international viewpoint for all students.”

    Higher education is a significant export for the UK. The 2018/2019 cohort of international students generated £28.8 billion for the UK economy according to a report by the Higher Education Policy Institute .

    Maddalaine Ansell, Director Education, British Council said:

    “International students not only make our universities vibrant and cosmopolitan but also, through getting to know and understand us, can become life long ambassadors for not only UK Education but our values and way of life.

    “Many international graduates go on to play important roles in the political, economic, scientific and cultural life of their own countries and their knowledge of, and affection for, the UK means we have friends in many places.”

    Minister for Skills Andrea Jenkyns said:

    “Attracting the brightest students from around the world is good for our universities and delivers growth at home, as well as supporting the creation of more places for UK students.

    “We’ve already smashed the target set in our International Education Strategy to attract 600,000 international students per year to study here – hitting it for the first time almost ten years early – and we are now focusing on bringing in £35bn from our education exports by 2030.”

    Doug W Pearce, International Recruitment, University of Leeds

    “The wider UK HE sector sees great value in the British Council’s efforts including the GREAT campaign to continue to build a strong brand profile of the UK as one of the top study destinations worldwide.”

    Shonagh Maak, International Recruitment Manager, University of Glasgow

    “Our international students enhance the learning environment of our campus, contribute to research output and add immense value to the cultural vibrancy of our campus and the wider community in Glasgow.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Security Council must not be distracted by tactics designed to protect the Syrian regime from accountability [September 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Security Council must not be distracted by tactics designed to protect the Syrian regime from accountability [September 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 September 2022.

    Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Political Coordinator at the UN at the Security Council meeting on chemical weapons in Syria.

    Thank you, Mr. President.

    I’d like to thank the High Representative for her very clear briefing once again and all the efforts of the UN team.

    Month after month, we hear the same story.

    Syria is refusing to make any progress on its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and under Resolution 2118.

    This is a crystal clear reminder of Assad’s disregard of international norms and of the threat his regime poses. This is not a dormant issue. This is an active refusal to implement this Council’s resolutions.

    We’ve heard countless excuses for Syria’s noncompliance. None stand up to scrutiny. We must all be clear that given Syria’s behaviour and the many inconsistencies in its declarations to the OPCW, there is a real and ongoing risk from its chemical weapons programme to international peace and security.

    We also all know that Syria’s failings are only part of the story. The actions of Russia in continuing to protect the Assad regime in its use and stockpile of chemical weapons show that they have no genuine interest in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention or protecting international security.

    We’ve just sat through another assault on the integrity of the OPCW. But this is not just about disinformation and distraction in the Security Council. Russia has also systematically blocked or attempted to block mechanisms related to the investigation of chemical weapons use in Syria over many years.

    • They blocked the Joint Investigative Mechanism from operating 2017 and 2018.
    • They tried to block the creation of the IIT in 2018.
    • They tried to block the OPCW budget that funded the IIT.
    • And in 2018, they blocked the adoption of the outcome document at the OPCW RevCon over references to the Joint Investigative Mechanism and the IIT.
    • They tried to block the OPCW budget again in 2019.
    • They voted against an Executive Council decision on Syria in 2020.
    • They tried to block the OPCW budget again in 2020.
    • They voted against the Conference of States Parties decision on Syria in 2021.
    • They tried to block the OPCW annual report that mentioned the IIT in 2021.

    This Council must not be distracted by tactics designed to undermine the international system and to protect the Syrian regime from accountability for their crimes. We must not accept any erosion of the rules. We have all agreed. We must continue to work together to push Syria to meet its obligations in full.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Media Advisory Notice – The fatal police shooting of Chris Kaba [September 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Media Advisory Notice – The fatal police shooting of Chris Kaba [September 2022]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General on 29 September 2022.

    The Attorney General confirms the requirement not to publish material which could prejudice ongoing criminal investigations and potential prosecutions.

    Following the fatal police shooting of Chris Kaba on 05 September 2022 a homicide investigation has commenced in respect of the officer who fired the fatal shot.

    HM Attorney General, the Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP, wishes to amplify the importance of not publishing any material where there is a risk that it could prejudice any ongoing criminal investigation or potential prosecution. Publishing this material could amount to contempt of court.

    Editors, publishers and social media users should take legal advice to ensure they are in a position to fully comply with the obligations to which they are subject under both the common law and statutory regimes in relation to publications.

  • PRESS RELEASE : HM Law Officers sworn in [September 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : HM Law Officers sworn in [September 2022]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 29 September 2022.

    The Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP was sworn in as His Majesty’s Attorney General for England and Wales in a joint ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice today.

    His Majesty’s Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP was also sworn in at the ceremony. Speaking after the ceremony, His Majesty’s Attorney General, the Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP said:

    I am honoured to be sworn in after returning as His Majesty’s Attorney General for England and Wales. As the Government’s chief legal adviser, my focus will be upholding the rule of law and strengthening our justice system.

    I also warmly welcome Michael Tomlinson MP to his role as His Majesty’s Solicitor General. Michael brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to the role.

    Commenting on his new appointment, HM Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP said:

    It is a privilege to be sworn in as His Majesty’s Solicitor General for England and Wales.

    There are important responsibilities that come with this unique role which has been part of our constitution for centuries, and I look forward to working with His Majesty’s Attorney General to play my part in upholding the rule of law and carrying out the public interest functions of the Attorney General’s Office.

    HM Attorney General is the Government’s chief legal advisor and also attends Cabinet. As well as providing advice to government, HM Law Officers (the Attorney General and Solicitor General) oversee the Law Officers’ Departments which include the Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office, Government Legal Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

    HM Law Officers carry out a number of functions in the public interest, such as considering unduly lenient sentences and taking action when there has been a contempt of court. These functions are carried out independently of their role as government ministers.

    The Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP was first appointed Attorney General on 2 March 2021 and held office until 10 September 2021. He was reappointed on 6 September 2022.

    Michael Tomlinson MP was appointed as Solicitor General for England and Wales on 7 September 2022.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Up to £200,000 available to test security of smart devices used by nearly all UK businesses [September 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Up to £200,000 available to test security of smart devices used by nearly all UK businesses [September 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 29 September 2022.

    • Successful bidder will research potential vulnerabilities in popular devices to better protect against cyber risks
    • Findings will help make sure current security measures and guidance are robust enough for evolving threats

    Organisations can now apply for funding to support research into the cyber security of office devices which can connect to the internet, such as printers, cameras, and room booking systems, to ensure they are properly protected against hackers.

    Thousands of UK businesses rely on these products, known as enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) devices, to increase productivity and enable hybrid working. The government is funding new research to uncover vulnerabilities in these commonly used enterprise IoT products and assess the cyber resilience of these devices.

    Smart devices in the workplace can collect sensitive data which can be accessed by other users, making them an attractive target for cyber criminals to exploit. While devices may have some protections built-in, products with poor cyber security can leave companies using them at risk.

    For example, in 2019 Microsoft’s researchers found Russian hackers were compromising conference phones and office printers in organisations across many sectors, though Microsoft was able to successfully block the attacks before they could cause any damage.

    The successful bidder will be awarded up to £200,000 to test popular devices and help identify if current security measures and guidance, such as international standards and NCSC device security principles, are robust enough to protect businesses from evolving threats.

    Cyber minister Julia Lopez said:

    Technology played a pivotal role in keeping British businesses going during the pandemic, helping the pivot to hybrid working and boosting productivity ever since.

    This research will ensure we have the right measures in place to protect our economy and keep our offices and workers safe from cyber security threats.

    The grant is part of the government’s £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy to protect the UK from cyber threats and grow the digital economy. It supports the UK’s objective to take the lead in the technologies vital to cyber power and secure the Internet of Things and connected technologies used by consumers and enterprises.

    This work complements the Product Security and Telecommunications infrastructure bill (PSTI) going through parliament which strengthens the cyber resilience of consumer IoT devices, such as smart speakers and smart TVs.