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  • PRESS RELEASE : UK joins key meetings to help build a stable Syrian future in Saudi Arabia [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK joins key meetings to help build a stable Syrian future in Saudi Arabia [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 January 2025.

    The Foreign Secretary is in Saudi Arabia to meet Arab and international partners to drive forward international coordination on Syria.

    • The UK will attend meetings in Saudi Arabia with international partners to discuss support for the Syrian people to build a hopeful, secure and peaceful future.
    • Reiterating the importance of an inclusive Syrian-led political transition, the Foreign Secretary will offer UK expertise on humanitarian coordination and accountability.
    • David Lammy to hold key bilateral meetings with Saudi counterparts to further work to deliver the Government’s Plan for Change and strengthen our partnerships abroad.

    The Foreign Secretary will meet Arab and international partners today (Sunday 12th January) to drive forward international coordination on Syria at a critical point in the country’s future.

    Discussions in Riyadh will be Arab-led and focus on the next steps the international community can take to support the interim Syrian authorities, including mechanisms to hold the Assad regime to account for the war crimes they perpetrated against the Syrian people.

    Building on the Foreign Secretary’s meeting with France, Germany, Italy, US and the EU on Syria in Rome earlier this week, he will further stress the UK’s offer to provide expertise on the coordination of humanitarian aid. He will also reiterate his concern about continuing hostilities in North East Syria and the urgent need for these to end.

    The UK remains committed to the people of Syria and fully supports a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition process leading to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government. We have been very clear in early engagements with the interim authorities that we need to see action on inclusive governance, facilitation of humanitarian aid and cooperation on chemical weapons and countering the threat posed by Daesh to UK national security.

    Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:

    The international community must come together to stand behind the people of Syria as they build a democratic future and a diverse and modern country.”

    We are united with our key partners from the region and beyond in ensuring the protection of civilians, access to aid and security within Syria and the wider region.

    Syrians deserve a bright and prosperous future – we are here today to support that.

    The meeting will be attended by the interim Foreign Minister of Syria, Asaad al-Shaibani, as well as representatives from Bahrain, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Turkiye, UAE, USA, EU, League of Arab States and UN.

    While in Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Secretary will meet one on one with Saudi Foreign Minister His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan and a number of Arab and European Foreign Ministers.

    Following the Prime Minister’s December visit, David Lammy will continue to deliver on the Government’s Plan for Change as he looks to increase investment, deepen defence and security ties, and boost growth and new opportunities both at home and abroad with one of our most vital partners.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor marks £600m of secure growth for UK economy in Beijing [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor marks £600m of secure growth for UK economy in Beijing [January 2025]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 11 January 2025.

    Closer financial services links with China to support secure and resilient growth in UK as government’s number one mission.

    • Lifting of market access barriers across areas such as agri-food, helping British business compete on level-playing field and grow exports.
    • Pragmatic cooperation results in agreements worth £600 million to the UK economy over the next five years and sets course to deliver up to £1 billion.
    • The UK continues to challenge China on areas of disagreement, with the Chancellor raising concerns over China’s support for Russia’s illegal war, domestic interference and sanctions against British parliamentarians.

    Working people and businesses across the UK will feel the benefits of agreements worth £600 million to the British economy, as agreed in the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD).

    Chancellor Rachel Reeves was hosted by Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing today, in support of a stable and balanced UK-China relationship. Both sides agreed to deeper cooperation across areas such as financial services, trade, investment, and the climate to support secure growth, while being frank and open on areas of disagreement.

    Overall, this government’s reengagement with China sets us on course to deliver up to £1 billion of value for the UK economy.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    The agreements we’ve reached show that pragmatic cooperation between the world’s largest economies can help us boost economic growth for the benefit of working people – a priority of our Plan for Change.

    More widely, today is a platform for respectful and consistent future relations with China. One where we can be frank and open on areas where we disagree, protecting our values and security interests, and finding opportunities for safe trade and investment.

    Britain is a leading financial services partner for China. A range of financial services companies with a substantial presence in the market – HSBC, Standard Chartered, Prudential, Schroders, abdrn, Fidelity International and London Stock Exchange Group – accompanied the Chancellor as a business delegation on the trip. The granting of new licences and quota allocations for UK firms such as HSBC, Schroders, abrdn and Aspect Capital to enhance their business in China will further strengthen these ties.

    Alongside this are initiatives to improve capital market connectivity – including a commitment to further enhance the UK-China Stock Connect and welcoming the launch of UK-China over-the-counter bond business – as well as initiatives on pensions, countering illicit finance and sustainable finance cooperation.

    As part of this, China announced plans to issue an inaugural overseas sovereign green bond – to be used to finance environmentally sustainable projects – in London during 2025. The UK and China will also explore a Wealth Connect programme in recognition of the role asset management has to play in supporting growth. The agreements today in financial services will provide significant value to the UK economy over the next five years.

    Both sides have committed to improving existing channels to discuss more sensitive issues, including the need to speak candidly about national and economic security. In her engagement, the Chancellor made clear UK concerns about imbalances in the Chinese economy, and both sides agreed to discuss industrial policy in support of a global level playing field.

    The UK and China have agreed to further cooperation including through strengthening the existing UK-China clean energy partnership and committing to a dialogue on international development – to work together in tackling shared global challenges.

    The lifting of barriers that restricted export to China across a range of goods and services will support UK exports and innovation, particularly in the agri-food sector where a package headlined by pork, wool, poultry, and pet food stands to boost UK trade with China and support new jobs. China has also agreed to continue to liberalise sectors that restrict foreign investment, such as education and culture, and support a level playing field and fair competition.

    The EFD is also part of a wider programme making substantive progress in improving arrangements for UK exports and investors.  This is reflected in new agreements on vaccine approvals, fertilizer, whisky labelling, legal services, automotives and accountancy which set course for the EFD to unlock £1 billion of value for the UK economy.

    In her meetings with Chinese government counterparts today, the Chancellor was clear on the importance of open channels on areas where we disagree. She urged China to cease its support for Russia’s defence industrial base, which is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war against Ukraine.

    In recognition that upholding national security is this government’s first duty, the Chancellor raised this government’s deep concerns over cases involving interference in our democracy and malicious cyber activity emanating from China. Reeves also raised the case of British National Jimmy Lai and raised UK concerns around the respect of protected rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.

    She raised human rights, including in Xinjiang, and forced labour. The Chancellor made clear that China’s sanctions against Parliamentarians are completely unwarranted and unacceptable.

    Looking ahead, regular dialogues and technical exchanges to progress pragmatic cooperation have been established. This includes further engagement at Ministerial and official level on trade, science and tech, intellectual property, customs, sports and creative industries.

    Notes to editors

    • A full list of outcomes from the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue can be found here.
    • The boost to trade includes estimates from the Department for Business and Trade and industry. Further details on the methodology can be found here.

    Stakeholder reaction

    Sir Mark Tucker, HSBC Group Chairman said:

    We welcome the fact that the UK China Economic and Financial Dialogue – and the Financial Services Summit – are taking place for the first time since 2019.

    China is the world’s second largest economy, the world’s top goods exporter, second largest source of merchandise imports and the UK’s 4th largest trading partner. Deepening the UK-China partnership on trade, investment, finance, health, education and climate change amongst other priority areas, is vital to delivering growth, investment and high-quality jobs for both China and the UK.

    Our focus is to continue contributing to that ambitious agenda and to a mutually beneficial programme of UK-China economic and financial co-operation going forward.

    José Viñals, Group Chairman of Standard Chartered, said:

    The UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue is both valuable and important to us and our clients. As a UK-headquartered bank with a long history in China, we continue to see significant growth potential and opportunities to collaborate, as evidenced by the permission to trade China Treasury Bond Futures and receipt of our Type A Bond Underwriting licence. Looking ahead, we encourage further cooperation between our two markets and are enthusiastic about what we, and partner financial institutions, can do to help deliver impactful initiatives such as those in sustainable and transition finance.

    Richard Oldfield, Group Chief Executive, Schroders, said:

    China has long been an important strategic focus for Schroders; we have been committed to the market for more than 30 years having established our first office in Shanghai in 1994.

    We are honoured to be supporting the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue, further underscoring our commitment to China.

    Over the years, as the market has increasingly opened up, we have been a leader in developing a compelling active investment proposition in the region, grounded in strategic partnerships, supported by a hugely talented team and strong public markets and private assets capabilities.

    More recently, we have started to manage money invested into Chinese renewable infrastructure, enabling our clients to meet their emissions targets through investing in high-quality clean generation in China. It is the largest renewables market in the world, and we are focused on enabling the transition from fossil to renewable generation.

    Lord Sassoon, President of the China-Britain Business Council:

    UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogues have had a significant impact on generating investment, jobs and profitable business for the UK over many years. The resumption of the EFD is welcomed by our members, both in financial and professional services, but also across the wider economy.

    CBBC looks forward to hosting a roundtable in Shanghai tomorrow at which British businesses will share with the Chancellor what further market opening and other support they need to grow their business with China.

    Miles Celic, CEO of TCUK:

    This has been a constructive, practical and ambitious gathering. The British and Chinese financial and professional services industries have a clear and growing role to play in deepening trade and investment between our countries. In the process, we can help as both our societies adapt to ageing populations and move towards Net Zero.

    Sir Douglas Flint, Chairman, abrdn;

    The resumption of high-level ministerial engagement after a gap of five years has been hugely constructive to opening dialogue to explore and fulfil business opportunities for mutual benefit.

    Jonathan Eckley, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Interim International Trade Development Director, said:

    China is our biggest market for pig meat exports which offers significant opportunities for the UK. The re-listing of two UK sites in December to export to China was an incredibly positive end to 2024 and a great example of collaboration between many stakeholders including government departments, industry and AHDB.

    The Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) illustrates the further strengthening of our trade relationship with China which we welcome, and we look forward to continuing working with government and industry to explore opportunities for our sectors in this important market.

    Neil Willis, Cranswick PLC Director said:

    The relisting of UK Pork establishments is a positive step forward and we welcome the effort made by the current UK Government in resolving the approval situation at our Norfolk facility. We look forward to continued collaboration and a proactive approach to safeguarding market access and ensuring uninterrupted trade relationships.

    Alan Vallance, ICAEW Chief Executive, said:

    I am proud and honoured to have attended the Financial Services Summit and I thank the organisers for their invitation to attend.

    Professional and business services have been identified as a growth sector in the UK government’s industrial strategy, so we are delighted by the commitment to accountancy and look forward to working with the CICPA on mutual examination exemptions. Additionally, we’ll continue to work in partnership with our counterparts in China on common areas, like accountancy standards and sustainability, as part of our work in the public interest.

    We look forward to working closely with both governments to help them deliver on their ambition to unlock economic growth.

    A spokesperson for the British Poultry Council said:

    We are thrilled to see the Chancellor prioritising UK poultry meat in the Economic and Financial dialogue with China. Launching discussions on lifting the HPAI ban, introducing regionalisation, restoring trade in high-value breeding stock, and resuming market access talks are key milestones for growth in British poultry meat. These steps are set to drive innovation, create jobs, and boost exports.

    Contributing to food security both at home and abroad, such talks reinforce the UK’s position as a global leader in the sector. Thank you to the Agriculture, Food and Drink Counsellor for your support, along with all the government officials in Defra and DBT involved. Working together means building a robust foundation for growth, ensuring the continued success of British poultry meat.

    A spokesperson for the Pet Industry Federation (PIF) said:

    The Pet Industry Federation fully supports the UK government in committing to a pet food protocol that would enable the export of UK pet food to China. We have seen first-hand the significant enthusiasm from Chinese state officials to facilitate these exports. This presents a major opportunity for UK pet food manufacturers to access one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets for pet products.

    At present, several EU countries and the USA are able to export pet food to China, which gives them a competitive edge. By securing a similar agreement, the UK can unlock substantial economic benefits, bolster the global reputation of our pet food industry, and take advantage of the strong demand for high-quality UK products overseas. We welcome the Government prioritising this protocol to ensure the UK does not miss out on this vital opportunity.

    A spokesperson for UK Pet Food said:

    UK Pet Food welcomes the commitment to sign the pet food protocol as part of the Economic and Financial Dialogue in China. This fundamental agreement represents a major step forward in enabling UK pet food manufacturers to access the Chinese market, reflecting the sector’s commitment to producing high-quality, safe, and innovative products. We are confident that this protocol will strengthen bilateral trade relations and create significant opportunities for the UK pet food industry.

    By fostering partnerships with the Chinese market, this agreement not only supports the growth of our sector but also meets the rising global demand for premium pet food. UK Pet Food is committed to working closely with the UK government and industry stakeholders to ensure the protocol’s successful implementation and to build long-term cooperation.

    A GlaxoSmithKline spokesperson said:

    GSK supports the UK-China Economic Financial Dialogue recognizing its importance in fostering mutual growth in healthcare, getting ahead of disease by preventing it with GSK innovative solutions.

    A spokesperson for the Association of British HealthTech Industries said:

    To ensure equity of access for patients around the world to HealthTech that enhances and saves lives, regulatory harmonisation is a goal we fully support.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rare Iron Age harness brooch at risk of leaving the UK [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rare Iron Age harness brooch at risk of leaving the UK [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 10 January 2025.

    An export bar has been placed on a Sutton Scotney Iron Age brooch that is at risk of leaving the United Kingdom

    • The harness brooch has been valued at £18,500
    • The export bar is to allow time for a UK museum, gallery or institution to acquire the brooch

    An export bar has been placed on an Iron Age harness brooch, which was discovered near Sutton Scotney in Hampshire.

    The brooch is one of only ten such brooches known to have survived for two millennia in the ground and is thought to be a component of the harness from a horse drawn vehicle designed to connect the straps to fabric on the horse’s back.

    Unusually the brooch includes both a hinged pin and strap loops on the back, a combination not found on brooches worn by people at this time. Its decoration with intricate curved shapes and basket weave texture links it with designs found on other metal objects from that time found in Britain and across Europe.

    It exhibits the best casting achievable in the pre-mechanised period, and  is in good condition in comparison to similar brooches from the period, the majority of which are incomplete.

    The brooch was discovered in Sutton Scotney, Hampshire and provides valuable new evidence for the use of horse-drawn vehicles in the nearby Iron Age hillforts towards the end of the first millennium BC.

    Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

    “This harness brooch, dating back to the Iron Age, is a rare artefact that is of major importance to the local history of Hampshire.

    “I hope by placing an export bar on this rare brooch, it will continue to benefit the UK public and researchers in the study of the horse harness, chariotry, and crafting of metalwork, enriching our understanding of our country’s history.”

    Committee member, Tim Pestell said:

    “For Britons in the late Iron Age, horsemanship and charioteering were prized skills both socially and in warfare, as noted by the Roman invaders. This pride led people to decorate their horses with ornate tack and fittings, one of the rarest forms being so-called horse brooches of which only ten are known in Britain, most of them fragmentary.

    “With its exceptional preservation, intriguing basket-weave pattern and outstanding aesthetic design, the Sutton Scotney Brooch is a remarkable survival. Now a bar has been placed upon its export, I hope that a museum will be able to acquire this two-thousand-year-old testament to the British love of horses for public benefit.”

    The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the brooch met the first, second, and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life, its outstanding aesthetic importance, and its outstanding significance to the study of the horse harness, chariotry, the crafting of metalwork and textiles.

    The decision on the export licence application for the brooch will be deferred for a period ending on 9th March 2025 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the brooch at the recommended price of £18,500 (plus VAT of £3,700 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.

    Offers from public bodies for less than the recommended price through the private treaty sale arrangements, where appropriate, may also be considered by the Minister. Such purchases frequently offer substantial financial benefit to a public institution wishing to acquire the item.

    Notes to editors:

    1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the brooch should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk.
    2. Details of the brooch are as follows: A copper alloy harness brooch, also known as a horse brooch or pony brooch, dating from the Late Iron Age in southern Britain. Being an object from the later prehistoric period, the maker and precise date of manufacture are unknown but an approximate date range of c.50 BC to AD 100 is estimated from comparison to finds from known archaeological contexts. This object is in excellent condition. Length: 68.9mm; Height: 8.3mm; Width: 55.2mm; Weight 31.31g.
    3. Provenance: Found at Sutton Scotney, Hampshire. Recorded on Portable Antiquity Scheme no.SUR-738A17. Lot 568, Ancient Coins and Antiquities Auction, 5 December 2023. Noonans Auctions.
    4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Statement Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in South Sudan [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Statement Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in South Sudan [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 January 2025.

    Joint statement from the Governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United States on a peace agreement in South Sudan.

    The 9th of January marked the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).  Our governments welcomed this historic agreement, including its provision for a referendum in which the people of what is today South Sudan would determine their own future.  The CPA was signed amidst great hope that the South Sudanese people would be able to enjoy peace, human rights, and a government responsive to their needs.

    Sadly, this hope has gone unfulfilled.  Despite South Sudan’s tremendous natural resources, the country’s wealth continues to benefit only a small elite.  For years, the transitional government has failed to use public revenue transparently to pay public sector salaries, ensure access to basic health and education services, or create an enabling environment for sustainable development.  Corruption and mismanagement of natural resources are rampant.

    The transitional government has not taken the steps necessary to create the conditions for peaceful and credible elections, including fostering the civic and political space needed to give the people of South Sudan a voice in their country’s future.  We renew our call on the transitional government to act with urgency to meet its long overdue commitments so that South Sudan can finally realise the CPA’s promise of peace and prosperity for all its citizens.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Stubb of Finland [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Stubb of Finland [January 2025]

    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.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with Prime Minister Michal of Estonia [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with Prime Minister Michal of Estonia [January 2025]

    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.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency continues to urge caution following recent flooding [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency continues to urge caution following recent flooding [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 10 January 2025.

    The Environment Agency is continuing to urge people to remain vigilant following the recent flooding, as, while there is an improving picture, combined rainfall and snowmelt could see river flooding continue in some parts of the country.

    Minor flooding along the River Trent is expected to continue on Friday, while new impacts are possible but not expected along rivers in parts of the Yorkshire and the Humber regions on Monday and Tuesday.

    People in affected areas should follow advice from emergency services and take caution, particularly while travelling.

    Environment Agency teams remain on the ground supporting the public and are still operating flood defences and basins to manage possible impacts.

    As of 10:15 on Friday 10 January, there are 24 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 72 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, live across the country.

    Heavy rainfall over the New Year also saw significant river flooding across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and Yorkshire, with the highest river levels on record being reached on the Mersey in Stockport and South Manchester. In total, more than 77,000 properties have been protected from flooding and approximately 1,400 properties have flooded across England since New Year’s Eve.

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed visited Quorn in Leicestershire on Thursday afternoon to see first-hand the impact of recent flooding and meet with Environment Agency teams who are leading on the response.

    Alongside Environment Agency Chief Executive Philip Duffy, he spoke with responders who have been out on the ground, operating flood defences, issuing flood warnings and supporting the community.

    The Environment Agency continues to monitor the forecast and impacts on river levels. Its message to the public remains to check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation.

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:

    My thoughts go out to all those homes, businesses and farms that have been flooded in recent days, including those in Leicestershire.

    I pay tribute to the emergency services and first responders across the region for their tireless work around the clock to keep communities safe.

    There is much more work needed to be done to protect homes, including those in Quorn. That is why we are investing £2.4 billion over the next two years to build and maintain flood defences, protecting homes and businesses across the country.

    Daniel Bond, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

    Minor river flooding is expected to continue along the River Trent today, while combined rainfall and snowmelt means there is a very low likelihood of minor river flooding across parts of the Yorkshire and Humber region on Monday and into Tuesday.

    Environment Agency teams continue to be out on the ground, operating flood defences, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding, issuing flood warnings and supporting those communities affected.

    We urge people to remain vigilant over the next few days, advise anyone travelling to be careful and urge people to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.

    People should search check my flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings, and keep up to date with the latest situation at @EnvAgency on X.

    Floods Minister Emma Hardy has met with Environment Agency Chief Executive Philip Duffy to discuss the nation’s response to the recent flooding events. During the meeting, the Floods Minister was briefed on the current situation on the ground, and the response being led by the Environment Agency and the emergency services. Together, they discussed how to continue to support the collective efforts of the Environment Agency, emergency services, and local authorities in responding to flooding.

    Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

    I have met with the Environment Agency about the ongoing flooding and my sympathies go out to the people, businesses and communities impacted by the recent flooding across the country.

    I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the vital work that the Environment Agency and emergency services are doing to keep people safe. People must continue to follow their advice and sign up for flood warnings.

    This Government is working at pace to accelerate the building of flood defences through our new Floods Resilience Taskforce and investing £2.4 billion, so we can continue to protect people and their homes.

    Lessons learned from these floods will be fed directly into the new Floods Resilience Taskforce to speed up the development of flood defences and bolster the nation’s resilience to extreme weather.

    The Taskforce brings together the Secretary of State and Minister Hardy with representatives from Defra, MHCLG, Home Office, Cabinet Office, the Environment Agency, the Met Office, Local Resilience Forums, Mayoral Offices, emergency responders and the National Farmers Union, among others.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Families to receive £126 million in early years support [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Families to receive £126 million in early years support [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 10 January 2025.

    Thousands of parents and children across England will be able to give their child the best start in life thanks to a £126 million government funding boost.

    • £126 million boost for families to give every child the best start of life and deliver on Plan for Change.
    • Funding will go to areas with high levels of deprivation to provide a range of support to parents, including on mental health and infant feeding.

    Thousands of families and children across England will be able to access pregnancy support, infant feeding advice, parenting classes and other support to give their child the best start in life, following a £126 million government funding boost – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.

    Around £57 million will be made available to 75 local authorities with high levels of deprivation in 2025-26. This will provide a raft of support through Start for Life services to families with babies, from pregnancy up to the age of two. The £57 million for Start for Life services will be given to local authorities and consists of:

    • £36.5 million to improve mental health support for families and promote positive early relationships between babies and caregivers;
    • £18.5 million to improve infant feeding services and provide support with breastfeeding;
    • £2 million to ensure families can access and understand their local Start for Life services and support parents and carers to bring their valuable insight into service design.

    It comes on top of the £69 million announced in the Budget for a network of family hubs, which act as a one-stop-shop for families to get help with infant feeding advice, parenting classes and perinatal mental health support, among other areas.

    Children’s early years are crucial to their development, health and life chances. Antenatal classes, health visitors, parenting support, baby and toddler groups and access to affordable, high-quality early education and childcare – all are vital to guiding parents and supporting child development. Yet over 80% of parents have said they struggled to access services.

    This lack of support in early years can act as a barrier to development and contributes to too many children not being ready to start school, with over a third of children unable to dress independently and 90% of reception teachers saying they have at least one child in the class not toilet trained.

    That’s why, as part of our Plan for Change, we’re committed to strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood and improve long term outcomes for children – including through today’s investment in family hubs and the Start for Life programme.

    By delivering accessible, integrated maternity, baby and family support services, and high-quality early education and childcare, today’s announcement delivers on the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and set every child up for the best start in life.

    To achieve the government’s overall mission objective of closing the opportunity gap, the government has set a milestone as part of the Plan for Change of a record proportion of children starting school ready to learn. Progress will be measured through 75% of five-year-olds reaching a good level of development in the early years foundation stage assessment by 2028 – and today’s announcement marks a first step to delivering this milestone.

    It also delivers on our mission to build an NHS fit for the future by shifting from hospital to community and bringing care closer to where people live. By offering parents extra support, including access to midwifery and health visitor services closer to their home, it will help tackle wider social causes of ill-health, address inequalities and ultimately help ease pressure on hospitals and waiting lists.

    Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said:

    This crucial investment provides a strong foundation to deliver our commitment to raise the healthiest generation of children ever, by giving parents the support they need to ensure their baby has the best start in life.

    The first two years of a child’s life lay the building blocks for their physical and emotional wellbeing into adulthood. That’s why we are investing in early years, as part of our Plan for Change, to improve access to services in deprived areas to ensure no-one is left behind.

    Minister for Children and Families, Janet Daby said:

    Investment in these crucial services will break down barriers to opportunity, support families and get a record proportion of children ready for school.

    Through our Plan for Change, we’ll ensure tens of thousands more children are hitting key early learning goals on personal, social and physical development as well as communication, literacy and maths. That’s because children growing up in our country deserve the best start in life – nothing less.

    The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme is jointly run by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education. There are over 400 family hubs in England, covering half of all upper-tier councils. The hubs offer a range of services tailored to the local community, including midwifery and health visiting.

    The Department for Education also funds parenting and Home Learning Environment programmes. These services support parents to form strong bonds with their babies and develop better home environments which boost children’s social, emotional and cognitive development.

    Staff at family hubs can connect families to a range of health and education services. This includes helping families access information and advice around debt and welfare, housing, domestic abuse, nutrition, and oral health. They have a universal offer while targeting disadvantaged families or those who would benefit most.

    People can get support from a family hub if they are an expectant parent or carer, a parent or carer of a child aged 0 to 19 – or 25 with special educational needs or a disability – or a young person up to the age of 19, or up to 25 with special educational needs or a disability.

    Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:

    We are pleased government has continued investment in Family Hubs and Start for Life services, which play a crucial role in supporting families and giving children the best start in life.

    Long-term, sustainable funding is essential to ensuring all councils can meet local needs effectively and invest in vital staff such as health visitors.

    We look forward to continuing to work with the Government to deliver on its ambition to create the healthiest generation of children.

    Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive of the National Children’s Bureau, said:

    The National Children’s Bureau supports the government’s ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever, and its mission to increase the number of 5-year-olds reaching a good level of development by the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage, before the next General Election.

    That is why we warmly welcome today’s announcement that funding for the Start for Life programme will be extended until March 2026. This compliments commitments in October’s Budget to fund Family Hubs, improve the quality of early education and childcare, and provide £250 million for local authorities to develop a new Family Help offer for those struggling with the greatest adversity.

    The funding announced today is a much needed down-payment that must pave the way for greater investment in the multi-year Spending Review, so that Start for Life can reach all parts of the country.

    Estimates indicate £45.5 billion could be generated for the national economy by investing in early childhood. Creating the healthiest generation of children ever will increase the number of years individuals spend in good health as adults, generating significant improvements to population health.

    NOTES TO EDITORS

    The 75 local authorities receiving family hubs and Start for Life programme funding are as follows, categorised by region:

    • East of England: Bedford; Luton; Norfolk; Peterborough; Thurrock
    • London: Barking and Dagenham; Brent; Camden; Croydon; Enfield; Greenwich; Hackney; Haringey; Hounsow; Islington; Lambeth; Lewisham; Newham; Southwark; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest
    • South East: East Sussex; Isle of Wight; Kent; Medway; Portsmouth; Southampton
    • North East: County Duram; Gateshead; Hartlepool; Middlesborough; Newcastle upon Tyne; Northumberland; Redcar and Cleveland; South Tyneside; Sunderland
    • North West: Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bolton; Halton; Knowsley; Liverpool; Manchester; Oldham; Rochdale; Salford; St. Helens; Tameside
    • Yorkshire and The Humber: Barnsley; Bradford; Calderdale; Doncaster; Kingston upon Hull, City of; North East Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; Rotherham; Sheffield; Wakefield
    • East Midlands: Derby; Leicester; Lincolnshire; North Northamptonshire; Nottingham
    • West Midlands: Birmingham; Coventry; Dudley; Sandwell; Stoke-on-Trent; Telford and Wrekin; Walsall; Wolverhampton
    • South West: Bristol, City of; Cornwall; Plymouth; Torbay

    The Autumn Budget announced £69 million from the Department for Education for a network of family hubs. Of this, the department will provide approximately £53 million in grant payments to the 75 local authorities on the family hubs and Start for Life programme, consisting of:

    • £22.4m for Family Hubs programme and capital funding to consolidate and enhance family hubs and services;
    • £20m for parenting support services to enhance support for expectant parents and those with babies aged 0-2, focusing on promoting bonding and attachment;
    • £10.7m for Home Learning Environment (HLE) services to train practitioners in evidence-based interventions, helping parents create rich home learning environments to support early child development;
    • The remaining approximately £16 million will be used to support the delivery of a network of family hubs.
    • The Start for Life programme has embedded this multicomponent approach to improve infant feeding services. Local authorities are using programme investment to strengthen existing support and introduce new offers to help parents access face-to-face and virtual infant feeding support whenever they need it and in a location that suits them.
    • This includes one-to-one support in hospital wards; proactive offer of support in the immediate post-natal period; peer support in the community and virtually; and training staff to identify complex issues like tongue-tie early.

    The figures below are provisional funding allocations that the 75 programme local authorities will be eligible to receive for the financial year 2025-26. Final figures will be confirmed in due course.

    Local Authority Total
    Hartlepool £939,800
    Middlesbrough £1,102,500
    Redcar and Cleveland £1,010,100
    Halton £1,007,900
    Blackburn with Darwen £1,131,800
    Blackpool £1,038,900
    Kingston upon Hull, City of £1,375,500
    North East Lincolnshire £1,056,700
    North Lincolnshire £1,071,500
    Derby £1,338,300
    Leicester £1,637,100
    Nottingham £1,460,300
    Telford and Wrekin £1,159,300
    Stoke-on-Trent £1,357,600
    Bristol, City of £1,718,900
    Plymouth £1,251,600
    Torbay £965,700
    Peterborough £1,290,600
    Luton £1,402,900
    Thurrock £1,209,000
    Medway £1,415,000
    Portsmouth £1,177,300
    Southampton £1,280,800
    Isle of Wight £956,600
    County Durham £1,684,300
    Cornwall £1,716,500
    Bedford £1,168,000
    Northumberland £1,281,300
    North Northamptonshire £1,519,400
    Bolton £1,474,000
    Manchester £2,115,300
    Oldham £1,381,400
    Rochdale £1,311,300
    Salford £1,423,900
    Tameside £1,251,800
    Knowsley £1,130,600
    Liverpool £1,769,900
    St. Helens £1,115,800
    Barnsley £1,257,000
    Doncaster £1,419,300
    Rotherham £1,322,100
    Sheffield £1,911,100
    Newcastle upon Tyne £1,376,200
    South Tyneside £1,034,200
    Sunderland £1,294,000
    Birmingham £3,664,300
    Coventry £1,583,700
    Dudley £1,441,000
    Sandwell £1,619,700
    Walsall £1,449,400
    Wolverhampton £1,422,800
    Bradford £2,134,200
    Calderdale £1,166,600
    Wakefield £1,505,200
    Gateshead £1,129,100
    Barking and Dagenham £1,417,600
    Brent £1,576,400
    Camden £1,143,000
    Croydon £1,709,000
    Enfield £1,535,700
    Greenwich £1,472,500
    Hackney £1,385,700
    Haringey £1,330,600
    Hounslow £1,443,400
    Islington £1,177,200
    Lambeth £1,342,400
    Lewisham £1,440,400
    Newham £1,744,100
    Southwark £1,379,100
    Tower Hamlets £1,486,800
    Waltham Forest £1,476,800
    East Sussex £1,686,800
    Kent £4,099,400
    Lincolnshire £2,103,000
    Norfolk £2,343,500
  • PRESS RELEASE : Compensation – New Orleans terror attack [January 2025]

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    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 January 2025.

    How to apply for compensation if you were a victim of the terrorist attack in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, on 1 January 2025.

    The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has designated the attack in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, on 1 January 2025 as an act of terrorism for the purpose of the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme 2012.

    People injured and the families of those killed in the attack can apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) for compensation.

    You may be eligible to claim if you have been directly injured or bereaved by the incident and you are a British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who was ordinarily resident in the UK, member of the UK armed forces (or a close relative or family member).

    Other criteria also apply. Our guide to the Scheme has more information on eligibility.

    You can apply using our online form.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment of Commissioners to the Criminal Cases Review Commission [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment of Commissioners to the Criminal Cases Review Commission [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 10 January 2025.

    His Majesty the King, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, has approved the reappointments of Zahra Ahmed, Joanne Fazakerley and Nicola Cockburn as Commissioners of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

    The reappointments are for 5 years from 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2029.

    The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) was established by the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 and commenced operation in 1997. The CCRC considers – on application – cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland where a miscarriage of justice is alleged or suspected. The CCRC decides if there is any new evidence or new argument which raises a real possibility that an appeal court would quash a conviction or reduce a sentence.

    The appointment of CCRC Commissioners is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and recruitment and reappointment processes comply with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Appointments of CCRC Commissioners are made by His Majesty the King on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, who receives advice from the Lord Chancellor.

    Biographies

    Zahra Ahmed is a practising barrister with specialist experience in regulatory, public law, immigration and criminal law, and the court of protection. She has been ranked in the Legal 500 (2024) (category: professional discipline).

    Joanne Fazakerley is a consultant solicitor practising in family and childcare law. She is a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel and represents both parents and children in public and private law matters. She has been involved in cases heard in the High Court and regularly appears as an advocate within the Family Court. She has recently been appointed a Deputy District Judge in Family and Civil.

    Nicola Cockburn currently sits as a Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, Immigration and Asylum Chamber, and as a Deputy District Judge (Civil). She qualified as a Solicitor, in 2005, and practised primarily in the not-for-profit sector, specialising in immigration and asylum law.