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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government Defence and Security Advocate reappointed [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government Defence and Security Advocate reappointed [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 9 January 2025.

    The Government has reappointed Lord Mark Lancaster as its Defence and Security Advocate, to drive the UK’s defence and security export success until March 2026.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has reappointed Lord Mark Lancaster as the Government’s Defence and Security Advocate, to drive the UK’s defence and security export success until March 2026.

    Lord Lancaster will report directly to the Business and Trade Secretary and will continue his programme of visits both overseas and at home to promote UK defence and security exports.

    By supporting industry to benefit from export opportunities, Lord Lancaster’s work will directly support the defence industry’s position as a growth sector and the Industrial Strategy’s aim to align the imperatives of strong national security with a high growth economy.

    Lord Lancaster was initially appointed in January 2023 and has brought a wealth of specialist defence experience to the role. Major-General, Lord Lancaster, is Director of the Army Reserves and was a Defence Minister between 2015-2019.  He was also previously a Major in the Territorial Army, having served as part of NATO peacekeeping forces in Kosovo and Bosnia.

  • PRESS RELEASE : “Telford is at the heart of UK Defence” – Minister visits site behind next generation of tanks and armoured vehicles [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : “Telford is at the heart of UK Defence” – Minister visits site behind next generation of tanks and armoured vehicles [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 9 January 2025.

    Telford’s skilled manufacturing base is helping equip soldiers with high-tech equipment and drive the government’s growth mission, Defence Minister Maria Eagle has said.

    • State-of-the-art facility in Telford plays a key role in delivering cutting-edge armoured vehicles to the British Army.
    • Investment in defence has attracted over £56 million for defence manufacturing facility in Telford.
    • New Defence Industrial Strategy to help secure Britain’s growth mission and create high value jobs across UK.

    Telford’s skilled manufacturing base is helping equip soldiers with high-tech equipment and drive the government’s growth mission, Defence Minister Maria Eagle has said.

    Her comments came on a visit today to Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL)’s Hadley Castle Works Factory in Telford, where she met crucial defence procurement staff and chaired a roundtable with defence industry leaders from the Telford area, as part of consultation for the new Defence Industrial Strategy.

    The site is at the forefront of producing the Army’s newest tank, the Challenger 3, which is at the heart of the Army’s armoured warfighting force and will serve as the most lethal tank ever used by British Armed Forces.

    Under a £950 million contract, Challenger 3 production has generated nearly 300 highly skilled jobs within RBSL, including 130 engineers and 70 technicians, as well as an additional 450 roles supported across the UK supply chain.

    Contracts like this are a key part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, safeguarding national security whilst raising living standards across the UK with good, skilled, productive jobs.

    Defence investment continues to make a substantial contribution to the local economy, supporting over 1,500 skilled jobs and nearly 40 apprentices and graduates in Telford and Wrekin.

    Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, said:

    Telford is at the heart of UK defence, and I was pleased to witness first-hand how our defence industry is equipping the Armed Forces with 21st-century armoured fighting vehicles.

    In the face of global threats, the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will drive economic growth, boost British jobs, and strengthen national security.

    £5 billion is being invested in equipping the British Army with 148 Challenger 3 tanks and 623 Boxer armoured vehicles, planned to be in service by the end of 2030. These investments continue to solidify the UK’s position as a global leader in defence innovation and manufacturing.

    Will Gibby, Managing Director of RBSL, said:

    We are proud to welcome Maria Eagle MP to our Telford facility. Through programmes like Boxer and Challenger 3, RBSL is committed to providing sovereign capability for the UK, supporting the British Army, and investing in the workforce of tomorrow through our apprenticeship and graduate schemes. Today’s visit highlights the value of UK-based manufacturing and the expertise we bring to the defence industry.

    Nick Taylor, Head of Combat Vehicles at DE&S, the MOD’s procurement agency delivering Challenger 3 and Boxer said:

    This has been a great opportunity for the Minister to experience the close collaboration that exists between RBSL, the Army, and DE&S colleagues to re-establish armoured vehicle manufacturing in Telford and deliver our two major programmes – Challenger 3 and Boxer.

    The Defence Industrial Strategy underlines the government’s commitment to forging long-term partnerships with the defence industry. This strategy will ensure economic growth, regional prosperity, and resilience by supporting skilled jobs and apprenticeships.

    Defence investment continues to make a substantial contribution to the UK economy. Over 1500 (200 RBSL and 1,497 Leidos) businesses across the UK are sustained through the supply chain because of defence investment.

    Findings from the British Army’s Oxford Economic Report highlight the major contributions Armed Forces spending makes to the UK economy. For every £1 directly contributed by the Army, a total of £2.70 is stimulated through multiplier effects.

    There has also been £169 million in R&D investment and the upskilling of over 12,000 recruits through apprenticeship programmes, with 1,400 enrolled in higher education schemes.

    Alongside her visit to the factory and industry talks, Minister Eagle also had the opportunity to tour the cutting-edge Defence Fulfillment Centre (DFC). The £83 million DFC at MOD Donnington plays a crucial role in supporting the UK Armed Forces by ensuring the efficient delivery of critical equipment and supplies across the globe.

    Operated by DE&S in partnership with Leidos, the DFC exemplifies innovation within defence logistics and supports operational readiness. It is one of two major storage and distribution locations for the Ministry of Defence, the other at MOD Bicester, with a new facility at Longtown currently in construction.

    Simon Hutchings, VP Logistics Commodities Services Transformation Programme (LCST) at Leidos, said:

    I am immensely proud of what Leidos has achieved to date on the development of the Defence Fulfilment Centre in Telford and as the prime integrator for LCST. The flexible capacity and strategic network resilience we’ve established have significantly bolstered defence resilience and enhanced our ability to support the war fighters with better, more agile adaptive logistics.

    Since 2015, the LCST, based at the DFC, has delivered over £1 billion worth of products to the UK Armed Forces, getting everything from food rations to boots exactly where they need to be, at the right price and at the right time.

    The LCST contract has helped bring the UK MOD into 21st-century, by identifying how the private sector can be leveraged to support UK Defence in distributing equipment to military personnel so they’re able to carry out their critical duties, all while delivering significant value for money to the taxpayer.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Major housing deal completed, bringing benefits to forces families [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Major housing deal completed, bringing benefits to forces families [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 9 January 2025.

    Taxpayers and military families will benefit from a deal to bring more than 36,000 military houses back into public ownership, which has formally completed today.

    • Landmark deal for more than 36,000 houses formally completed.
    • Significant housing redevelopment and improvements now possible.
    • £600,000 of taxpayers’ money already being saved each day.

    Contracts were exchanged between MOD and Annington in December and today’s formal completion sees taxpayers regaining ownership of 36,347 houses. This landmark deal has ended the £600,000 daily rental bill – totalling more than £230 million a year – and makes major housing redevelopment and improvements possible.

    The estate is now valued at £10.1 billion when not subject to leases and is being purchased for just under £6 billion – providing excellent value for money to the taxpayer and representing one of the largest value commercial housing deals in UK history. The impact on net financial debt is confined to £1.7 billion.

    The agreement frees up our ability to build on the Service Family Accommodation estate with more modern houses, helping reduce maintenance costs and, as part of work facilitated by the deal, programmes to build new houses are being accelerated.

    Planning applications will be submitted in the coming days for 265 new houses and apartments at RAF Brize Norton, and further plans will be submitted in the Spring for around 300 new houses at Catterick Garrison.

    National security is foundational to the Government’s Plan for Change. This deal will help to deliver on the Government’s milestones on kickstarting economic growth and boosting housebuilding across the country, and on our commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:

    By reversing one of the worst Tory privatisations of the 1990s, we have opened up a once in a generation chance to improve homes for our armed forces and their families, who sacrifice so much to keep us safe.

    This deal is already saving the taxpayer £600,000 a day – and will put us back in the driving seat as we renew and rebuild family accommodation. Our forthcoming military housing strategy will draw on leading independent experts to capitalise on these savings.

    This Government is unrelenting in our commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve.

    Work on the new military housing strategy has begun, with plans for its publication later this year. Key principles of the strategy will include: a generational renewal of Armed Forces accommodation; new opportunities for forces homeownership; and better use of MOD land to support the delivery of affordable homes for families across Britain.

    The first steps in the strategy will include the rapid development of an action plan to deliver on the “once in a generation” opportunities unlocked by this deal. This work will involve independent experts, forces families and cross-government input.

    The original sale in 1996 did not strike an appropriate balance of risk and reward, and it is estimated the taxpayer is nearly £8 billion worse off as a result. Money which should have been better spent on maintaining and improving our service family homes.

    Background

    Eliminating the liabilities associated with the leases creates budgetary headroom to partially fund this purchase, meaning that the public expenditure impact of this measure, and the impact on net financial debt, is confined to £1.7 billion.

    Taxpayers being £8 billion worse off as a result of the deal:

    • £4.3 billion spent in rent.
    • 18,000 properties handed back to Annington – with an estimated current market value of £5.2 billion.
    • £1.7 billion income generated in 1996 for the taxpayer as part of the original deal.
    • Total – £7.8 billion worse off.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on the situation in Eastern DRC [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on the situation in Eastern DRC [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 January 2025.

    The UK has issued a statement following the capture of the town of Masisi in DRC by M23.

    A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development spokesperson said:

    “The UK condemns the capture of Masisi, in North Kivu, by the armed group M23.

    “This is a clear violation of the ceasefire and undermines efforts taken through the Luanda process to achieve sustainable peace in Eastern DRC.

    “The UK calls for urgent de-escalation and respect of DRC’s territorial integrity. We urge Rwanda and DRC to return to the negotiating table and to implement all commitments made under the Angolan-led Luanda process. An end to the conflict in Eastern DRC will create peace dividends for all.”

    Media enquiries

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government announces reforms to boost profits for farmers with a cast iron commitment to food production [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government announces reforms to boost profits for farmers with a cast iron commitment to food production [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 January 2025.

    Environment Secretary to set out his vision to boost farmers’ profitability and sustainability as part of the Plan for Change.

    • First steps towards government to use its own purchasing power to buy British food
    • Government to consider new reforms to speed up the planning process on farms to boost food production.

    Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed will today (Thursday 9 January) set out the Government’s long-term vision to make farming more profitable and put more money back in the pockets of British farmers.

    Speaking to farmers and landowners at the Oxford Farming Conference, Steve Reed will set out how the Government will work with farmers to deliver a profitable farming sector and unlock rural growth. This will include a cast iron commitment to food security while introducing reforms to help farmers diversify their income streams to support them during poor harvests.

    As part of the Plan for Change, the Secretary of State will announce a series of reforms, delivering on the Government’s New Deal for Farmers including:

    • Backing British produce: For the first time ever, the Government will monitor food currently bought in the public sector and where it is bought from. This is a significant first step to deliver on a manifesto pledge and make it easier for British farmers to win a share of the £5 billion spent each year on public sector catering contracts.
    • Using planning reforms to support food production: Ensuring our reforms make it quicker for farmers to build the buildings, barns and other infrastructure they need on their farms to boost food production.
    • Diversifying income streams: Helping farmers make additional money from selling surplus energy from solar panels and wind turbines by accelerating connections to the grid and support them during difficult harvests and supply shocks.
    • A fair supply chain: Boosting profitability through fair competition across the supply chain. New rules for the pig sector will come this spring, ensuring contracts clearly set out expectations and changes can only be made if agreed by all parties. Similar regulations for eggs and fresh produce sectors will follow with the government ready to intervene with other sectors if needed.
    • Protecting farmers in trade deals: The government will uphold and protect our high environmental and animal welfare standards in future trade deals.

    Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will set out his vision for the future of farming in three parts – food production, business resilience and nature restoration:

    The primary purpose of farming has – and always will be – to produce the food that feeds the nation.

    Too many policymakers in Whitehall lose sight of that fact.

    This Government is putting food production firmly back on the agenda.”

    He is expected to say:

    We will work in partnership to achieve our vision for the farming sector.

    First, a sector whose primary purpose is food production.

    Secondly, a sector where farmers can access diverse income streams to make a fair profit and ensure their business remains viable in times of challenge.

    And thirdly, a sector which supports farmers to restore nature – the foundations of sustainable food production.

    It is only through pursuing all three that we will achieve long-term food security.

    This Government will work in partnership with the food and farming sectors to deliver the change needed starting now. The recently announced 25-year farming roadmap will act as the blueprint to get there.

    The roadmap, which will be published later this year, will be the most forward-looking plan for farming in our country’s history and involve government and farmers working together to identify solutions to challenges and ensure government support is in place to enable farmers to take the actions that will let their businesses succeed.

    These announcements come alongside the launch of the Accelerating Development of  Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Fund, which will provide grant funding for farmer-led trials of innovative technology and techniques that drive sustainable food production, tackle climate change impacts, and protect nature. Further details on how farmers can apply will be released shortly.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government backs businesses cutting carbon emissions [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government backs businesses cutting carbon emissions [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 9 January 2025.

    25 businesses adopting emissions-cutting projects supported with £51.9 million as part of Plan for Change to drive economic growth and rebuild Britain.

    • Businesses adopting innovative emissions-cutting projects supported with £51.9 million as part of Plan for Change to drive economic growth and rebuild Britain
    • from beer to baked beans, businesses across the UK are slashing emissions with heat pumps, carbon capture and new recycling facilities, helping to decarbonise industry and accelerate to net zero
    • 25 grant-winners based across England, Wales and Northern Ireland

    From beer brewing to baked beans, dairy farms and cement, 25 businesses across the country have received nearly £52 million to reduce their carbon emissions to boost the UK’s mission as part of the Plan for Change to become a clean energy superpower and accelerate to net zero, supporting jobs and economic growth.

    With industry paying for around two thirds of the project costs to cut emissions, this funding will help businesses of all sizes expand and innovate, including supporting new jobs through construction and operations – helping to cut their energy bills and boost local growth across the country.

    Thanks to support from the government, Nestlé’s coffee processing site in Staffordshire, Heinz’s baked bean factory in Wigan, and a specialist craft beer company in Cornwall are among those benefitting from grants, supporting millions of pounds of investment made by winning companies, with many being small and mid-size businesses, to deliver emissions-cutting technology such as heat pumps and carbon capture – with projects worth £154 million in total.

    This delivers the government’s Plan for Change to make Britain a clean energy superpower, driving economic growth and rebuilding Britain. The upcoming Industrial Strategy will also give investors and industry confidence to plan for the next decade and beyond, with clean energy industries a key sector identified to reignite the UK’s industrial heartlands and grow the economy.

    Heinz, which received over £2.5 million and invested nearly £5 million of their own funding in the project, will use the funding to switch its dependence on fossil fuels to heat water, needed to blanch beans and boil spaghetti hoops, by installing heat pumps that reuse waste heat from other processes in the factory – improving energy efficiency to cut emissions and bills for the business, allowing them to invest more in other areas.

    Hanson Cement in North Wales will use its £5.6 million grant to support its multi-million-pound carbon capture and storage project – creating hundreds of jobs during construction and capturing 800,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year once operational – the equivalent of taking 320,000 cars off the road.

    As well as support for individual businesses, setting them up for a more sustainable future as well as cutting energy costs and streamlining production, the government recently confirmed that contracts have been signed for the UK’s first carbon capture project in Teesside, marking the latest milestone in the government’s mission to reignite its industrial heartlands, tackle the climate crisis and turbocharge growth for decades to come.

    Minister for Industry Sarah Jones said:

    Helping businesses of all sizes to reduce their emissions is core to our Plan for Change to achieve net zero while growing the economy.

    These companies represent some of the best of business innovation – using new technologies to improve how we do things, become more sustainable, and continue to make the British products we love – from baked beans to beer.

    Other winners include Paul’s Malt and Verdant Brewing company, 2 businesses leading the way in decarbonising beer production, as well as Warrington-based Novelis who received nearly £14 million to expand its recycling capacity – part of a £63 million project that will reduce the company’s carbon emissions by over 350,000 tonnes.

    The government also continues to invest in renewable energy projects, with a record number of projects secured earlier this year, to ensure homes and businesses benefit from clean, homegrown electricity – protecting them from the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets.

    Saji Jacob, Head of West Europe Supply Chain, Heinz, said:

    The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund has enabled this energy efficiency project to become a reality at our largest food manufacturing plant in Europe.

    It represents a critical step in our decarbonisation journey towards Net Zero. The UK business recognises the significance of the investment and is committed to further utilising this technology across our company.

    Simon Willis, CEO Hanson UK, said:

    I would like to thank government and all those that supported us in our bid to receive funding, which will enable us to help decarbonise the construction industry and meet our overall ambition to become a net zero business.

    This global exemplar project will provide net zero construction materials for major projects across the country, from new offshore wind farms and nuclear power stations, to clean transport infrastructure, as early as 2028.

    Notes to editors

    The funding awarded is part of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF), a government fund that supports the development and deployment of technologies that enable businesses with high energy use to transition to a low carbon future.

  • PRESS RELEASE : More support for victims of antisocial behaviour [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : More support for victims of antisocial behaviour [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 9 January 2025.

    Victims of antisocial behaviour (ASB) are to get better information and access to support as the government continues to implement its Plan for Change and cracks down on ASB in local communities.

    At present when victims of antisocial behaviour believe their case is not being dealt with appropriately by the relevant agencies like councils, police, and housing providers they can ask that their case is reviewed through the ASB case review mechanism.

    Responding to recommendations from the Victims’ Commissioner, the government is to review the statutory guidance on the current system designed to protect victims, to make ASB case reviews more accessible and effective for those victims who need it.

    This will include giving victims a voice within the process by encouraging all agencies involved to communicate the progress of their case and giving victims the opportunity to shape action plans to tackle the antisocial behaviour they have been victims of.

    The government will also recommend independent chairs oversee case reviews so that victims feel confident that their case will be dealt with fairly and objectively, while victims will be given one person to turn to rather than dealing with multiple agencies.

    A new victims’ code will be published later this year that will make clear that victims of criminal antisocial behaviour fall within the scope of the code, including an entitlement to expect to be able to access support services.

    Minister for Crime and Policing Dame Diana Johnson said:

    For victims of antisocial behaviour, the impact on their lives can be devastating, but for too long their needs have not been met, with varied levels of support and poor access to information.

    These changes will help ensure that the needs of victims are at the forefront of how police and local authorities respond to antisocial behaviour and are another vital step in our mission to deliver safer streets, as part of our Plan for Change.

    To improve how the police identify and respond to persistent antisocial behaviour and the harm it causes, new bespoke training for neighbourhood officers is to be included in the Neighbourhood Policing Pathway programme.

    This follows the government’s commitment for every force to have a dedicated antisocial behaviour lead to work with local communities to tackle the issue under the new Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

    The guarantee will see the restoration of visible police patrols, an additional 13,000 police officers, PCSOs and special constables in dedicated neighbourhood policing roles and a named officer for every community to turn to.

    The government will also work with police and crime commissioners to ensure that they are promoting access to support services for antisocial behaviour victims locally within communities.

    Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, said:

    We thank Baroness Newlove for her unwavering advocacy of victims of antisocial behaviour. This is a blight on our communities, disrupting lives and causing significant harm.

    The changes announced today come ahead of legislation – as announced in the King’s Speech – to strengthen the Victims’ Commissioner’s powers to ensure greater accountability when the needs of victims are not being met.

    The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said:

    More must be done to support victims of antisocial behaviour, and I welcome the government’s response to my report as a positive first step.

    My report highlighted the transformative impact of a single point of contact (SPOC) to ensure victims feel heard and supported, so I’m pleased this recommendation is being taken forward.

    It is so important victims of ASB are given a voice and are listened to. Planned reforms to strengthen statutory guidance for the ASB case review process are a welcome measure to build trust and empower victims. For these reforms to have the greatest impact, changes to the law will be the crucial next step.

    I look forward to working with the government to bolster protections and the law. The upcoming consultation on the victims’ code offers a key opportunity for progress. It is essential we get this right, as there is still much more to be done for lasting change.

    New respect orders are to be introduced through the Crime and Policing Bill which will enable agencies and courts to place tough restrictions on the behaviour of persistent antisocial behaviour offenders, with tough enforcement and sentencing options if orders are breached.

    Harvinder Saimbhi, ASB Help CEO said:

    ASB Help fully endorse the recommendations made in the report and are supportive of the government’s response. The report addresses victim’s experiences and pleas for help, which we at ASB Help are inundated with on a daily basis.

    The most fundamental tool victims have is the ASB case review and this report clearly highlights that victims are unaware of their rights or how to access the case review.

    We need to ensure that partners tackling ASB across England and Wales are appropriately trained to use the tools and powers available within the ASB Crime and Policing Act, and to tackle ASB effectively, bringing respite to those experiencing ASB.

    We therefore welcome the government’s response and look forward to continuing to work with them, and other partners, to tackle ASB and ensure better protection and support for victims.

  • PRESS RELEASE : 30,000 new drones for Ukraine in boost to European security [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : 30,000 new drones for Ukraine in boost to European security [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 9 January 2025.

    It comes as a further £190m for the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine was announced following further pledges from allies.

    30,000 drones will be sent to Ukraine after £45 million worth of contracts were placed by the international Drone Capability Coalition, co-led by the UK and Latvia as the UK steps up leadership supporting Ukraine in 2025.

    Defence Secretary John Healey announced this milestone alongside Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group held at Ramstein Air Base today [Thursday 9 January].

    Healey arrived last night for talks with the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the US Air Base.

    The Drone Capability Coalition supports Ukraine with uncrewed surveillance and attack capabilities. Funding for the new 30,000 drones comes from UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Latvia and Sweden.

    These state-of-the-art, first-person view drones will help Ukraine fight against Russian aggression, allowing Ukraine’s Armed Forces to manoeuvre past Russian air defences to target enemy positions and armoured vehicles.

    Today’s announcement follows the UK’s £7.5 million investment for the Drone Capability Coalition’s Common Fund, set out in November, and brings the UK’s total investment in the fund to £15 million to date. So far, the fund has raised around £73 million from the UK and partners.

    As well as this, the Defence Secretary confirmed that the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine now stands at over £1.3 billion, of which the UK has contributed £500 million.

    He also outlined the Ministry of Defence’s plan for Ukraine’s Defence in 2025 to more than 50 allies and partners gathered for the meeting. John Healey discussed the plan with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov in Kyiv in December.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    The fierce courage of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire the world, and this meeting of more than 50 nations sends a clear message to Putin about the international community’s unwavering support for Ukraine.

    I am proud of the UK’s leadership in supporting Ukraine. From heading coalitions which are delivering essential equipment alongside allies, to training recruits, we’re standing strong with Ukraine against Putin’s aggression.

    Our commitment to provide £3 billion a year of military aid for as long as it takes will ensure Ukraine can defend themselves and is essential to protect the security of the UK – because the defence of the UK starts in Ukraine.

    In a further sign of the strength of international support for Ukraine’s efforts to repel Russia’s illegal invasion, more than £190 million of extra funding has been committed to the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine by allies and partners, with Portugal and Germany contributing for the first time.

    The fund uses financial contributions from international partners to rapidly procure priority military equipment for Ukraine. The new contributions include:

    • £67 million from Denmark for capabilities including drones, air defence systems and training equipment
    • £59 million from Norway for specialist capabilities including drones and maritime training
    • £43 million (€52 million) from Portugal for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones
    • £20 million from Sweden to fund the repair of Archer self-propelled artillery systems and maritime training
    • £4 million from Germany for maritime training
    • £1 million from Iceland to fund coastal radars

    Since taking office in July, the government has stepped up international leadership supporting Ukraine and demonstrated its ironclad support, committing to £3 billion of military support to Ukraine every year for as long as it takes. In October, an extra £2.26 billion was announced, using the profits from seized Russian assets.

    The meeting of allies and partners at Ramstein follows the Defence Secretary’s visit to Kyiv last month, where he met with his counterpart Rustem Umerov, to discuss the priority areas for UK defence support and announced a new £225 million package, including £186m from the International Fund for Ukraine, of military support.

    The government is clear that the UK’s defence starts in Ukraine, and that providing military support is essential to promote both the UK’s national security and stability in Europe.

    As part of the Plan for Ukraine’s Defence in 2025, the UK’s continued leadership on the war in Ukraine throughout 2025 will see an increase to Ukraine’s military capability; will build on the success of Operation Interflex by enhancing the training offered to Ukraine; will strengthen defence industrial cooperation; will increase cooperation with our allies to support Ukraine; and will increase pressure on Russia.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Any nation’s refusal to condemn North Korea’s actions represents direct complicity in furthering its illegal weapons programme – UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Any nation’s refusal to condemn North Korea’s actions represents direct complicity in furthering its illegal weapons programme – UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2025.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on North Korea.

    The DPRK has begun this year again by defying multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

    The United Kingdom strongly condemns the DPRK’s latest intermediate-range ballistic missile launch.

    Colleagues, this latest launch follows a year of provocative and brazen violations by the DPRK, which saw the testing and firing of fifty missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile as well as their craven support to Russia, supplying weapons and troops, for Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.

    These actions should concern us all.

    Our collective response is an important test for this Council’s authority and our commitment to defending the Council resolutions voted for in this Chamber.

    Yet we are unable to unite against the DPRK’s continued flouting of the global non-proliferation architecture.

    We should remain clear-eyed on the cost of this Council’s silence.

    The DPRK continues to develop its nuclear and ballistic capabilities representing an unequivocal threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the wider Indo-Pacific.

    Russia’s veto of the mandate renewal of the Panel of Experts has given the DPRK a green light to commit such provocations unchecked.

    And drawing false equivalence between the legitimate security concerns of Indo-Pacific nations and the illegal and provocative actions of the DPRK, as some Council members have done in the past, is wrong and dangerous.

    I want to make clear that any nation’s refusal to condemn decisively the DPRK’s actions, represents direct complicity in furthering DPRK’s illegal weapons programme.

    We want to see a prosperous and stable DPRK, whose people flourish in a secure neighbourhood.

    So I urge DPRK to abandon its missile programmes and destructive partnership with Russia which is already reported to have cost DPRK lives, and refocus on the wellbeing of the people of the DPRK. To allow access to the international community, to accept repeated and unconditional offers for meaningful dialogue.

    And to allow diplomacy to give the citizens of DPRK a peaceful, stable and prosperous future.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Home Office requests review of ketamine classification [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Home Office requests review of ketamine classification [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 8 January 2025.

    The government will seek expert advice on reclassifying ketamine to become a Class A substance, after illegal use of the drug reached record levels in the year ending March 2023.

    Ketamine is currently controlled as a Class B substance and the maximum penalty for supplying and producing it is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

    The prevalence of the drug in England and Wales has risen significantly in recent years. In the year ending March 2023, an estimated 299,000 people aged 16-59 had reported ketamine use in the last year – the largest number on record.

    It can cause serious health problems, such as irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys, and is one of the most detected drugs in incidents of spiking.

    Recent reports have shown Ketamine is often an ingredient included in ‘pink cocaine’, the dangerous synthetic drug cocktail taken by users without knowing what mix of substances it contains.

    The policing minister, Dame Diana Johnson will write to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to commission advice on ketamine and to consider whether it should remain controlled as a Class B substance or become a Class A drug.

    Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson, said:

    Ketamine is an extremely dangerous substance and the recent rise in its use is deeply concerning.

    Through our Plan for Change and mission to make the nation’s streets safer, we will work across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use and stop those who profit from its supply.

    It is vital we are responding to all the latest evidence and advice to ensure people’s safety and we will carefully consider the ACMD’s recommendations before making any decision.

    Independent experts will now assess the evidence of the health and social harms of ketamine when misused and will submit their findings to Home Office Ministers for review.

    The Home Office has a statutory duty to consult the ACMD under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 before any amendments to legislation are made.