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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : New measures unveiled to crack down on subscription traps [November 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New measures unveiled to crack down on subscription traps [November 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 18 November 2024.

    Government publishes consultation on new measures to tackle unfair and costly subscription traps, which cost consumers £1.6 billion annually.

    • Consultation launched on measures to crack down on “subscription traps” and better protect shoppers
    • Proposed measures will stop complicated websites and restrictive call centres preventing refunds and cancellations.
    • Unwanted subscriptions cost families £14 per month per subscription and £1.6 billion a year in total

    New proposals to crack down on subscription traps have been unveiled today as the government launches a consultation on measures to make it easier for consumers to get a refund or cancel unwanted subscriptions.

    “Subscription traps” are instances where consumers are frequently misled into signing up for a subscription through a “free trial” or reduced price offer. In some cases if the consumer doesn’t cancel the trial within a set amount of time, they are often automatically transferred to a costly subscription payment plan.

    It comes as new figures reveal consumers are spending billions of pounds each year on unwanted subscriptions due to unclear terms and conditions and complicated cancellation routes. Nearly 10 million of 155 million active subscriptions in the UK are unwanted, costing consumers £1.6 billion a year.

    Subscriptions can be for anything from magazines to beauty boxes, with many subscriptions having complicated or inconvenient cancellation processes such as phone lines with long waits and restrictive opening hours that can leave consumers feeling trapped.

    The consultation sets out proposals to make the refunds and cancellation processes simpler, with a requirement on retailers for greater transparency on their subscription programmes in a way that is proportionate to balance consumer rights without placing unnecessary burdens on businesses.

    Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    Our mission is to put more money back into people’s pockets and improve living standards across this country, tackling subscription traps that rip people’s earnings away is an important part of that.

    Everyone hates seeing money leave their account for a subscription they thought they’d cancelled, or a trial that unexpectedly gets extended.

    We’re looking to hear from as many businesses, consumer groups, and other interested groups as possible to allow us to set fair regulations that stop this corporate abuse of power whilst retaining the benefits of subscriptions for consumers and businesses.

    The government is committed to working with business and consumers alike to deliver competitive markets that see lower prices, more choice and a fairer deal for all.

    This is why the government is inviting their views on developing proposals on how refunds should work when a consumer wants to exit a contract, how they should be notified about renewals or the ending of a free trial, and the arrangements businesses need to put in place to help customers conveniently cancel a contract. This includes clear websites that signpost them directly to the cancellation process.

    By putting an end to these exhaustive processes and helping consumers take back control of their money, individuals could save on average £14 per month for each unwanted subscription they are able to leave earlier.

    The consultation will seek views from a variety of groups who have an interest in the subscriptions market including businesses who offer subscriptions, consumer groups, and enforcement agencies.

    The consultation follows the Digital Market, Competition and Consumers Act coming into effect earlier this year.

    NOTES TO EDITORS

    • The consultation has been published here: Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime – GOV.UK
    • The government is consulting on the detail of how the regime may work, including:
    • How returns and refunds work if a consumer exercises their statutory 14-day cooling-off right to cancel after signing up or after a trial or long-term contract (12 months or more) auto-renews. This includes how the rules work depending on whether the subscription contract is for goods, services, or digital content.
    • How remedies work if a consumer exercises their statutory right to cancel their contract because a trader didn’t comply with certain duties, which are terms implied into a subscription contract.
    • How contract information and notices must be provided.
    • What arrangements traders must put in place to ensure exit processes are straightforward.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Cruise missile of the future completes firing [November 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Cruise missile of the future completes firing [November 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 November 2024.

    Royal Navy and Royal Air Force pilots will benefit from a cutting-edge new cruise missile, following the first successful guided firing trial of the missile.

    • Cutting-edge missile successfully fires from Typhoon test platform.
    • Ability to hit a range of targets more than 100km away.
    • New missile backs hundreds of UK jobs.

    Royal Navy and Royal Air Force pilots will benefit from a cutting-edge new cruise missile, following the first successful guided firing trial of the SPEAR missile.

    SPEAR, which is a next generation turbojet-powered miniature cruise missile, successfully completed the trial after being fired from a BAE Systems-operated Typhoon jet at Vidsel range in Sweden. This most recent trial was the first time the weapons system had been fired against a target, signifying a major leap forward in the programmes development.

    Each missile can hit targets from 100km away and is designed to be used against a range of targets, including air defences, ships, tanks, defended structures and fast-moving vehicles. Once in service it will be fitted to Britain’s F-35B fighter jets and allow the military to strike targets both from land and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

    SPEAR autonomously navigated to the target via customisable routes before using its advanced all-weather radar seeker to map the target area, and using the radiofrequency imagery to successfully engage it.

    Developed in the UK by MBDA, work on SPEAR supports several hundred jobs among MBDA’s 5,500-strong UK workforce, with design work mainly in Stevenage and Bristol and manufacturing in Bolton.

    Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard said:

    The successful trial of the pioneering SPEAR missile marks a significant leap forward in UK Armed Forces’ capabilities, ensuring our Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel are equipped with cutting-edge technology to protect our nation.

    This achievement not only strengthens national defence capabilities but also boosts the UK economy, by supporting high-skilled jobs and innovation.

    F-35B jets will be able to carry up to eight SPEAR missiles at a time, providing the next generation of long-range air-to-surface missiles. This guided firing trial marks a critical milestone in the development of the SPEAR programme, which provides the next generation of stand-off air-to-surface missiles for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences missions in challenging and complex operating environments.
    The trial, which used a telemetry unit instead of a live warhead, demonstrated the release, gather and long-range free-flight control of the missile following a high-altitude and high-speed release.

    Mike Mew, Tactical Strike Director of MBDA, said:

    SPEAR is a truly unique weapon system – the first to offer the range, flexibility, precision and load-out to defeat modern enemy air defences.

    The success of this trial is thanks to excellent joint working from teams across MOD, BAE Systems and MBDA.

    SPEAR is part of a wider portfolio which supports £6.5 billion of planned investment in the UK weapons industry by the MOD over the next decade – which includes other missile programmes such as Brimstone, CAMM, Sea Viper, Sea Venom and Storm Shadow, putting the UK at the forefront of future weapons development.

    Matthew Brown, SPEAR Team Leader at DE&S, said:

    This trial was a key step on the way to delivering SPEAR to the UK frontline, where it will provide a new capability to defeat the most complex air defence systems, enabling pilots to fly and fight wherever they’re needed in defence of the UK and its allies.

    The SPEAR programme is being managed by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the Ministry of Defence (MOD) procurement executive agency. A joint MOD and industry team conducted this first in a series of SPEAR guided flight trials.

    Chris Moon, BAE Systems’ UK Delivery Director for Typhoon Capability, said:

    This successful firing from Typhoon is as a result of the hard work and outstanding collaboration between MBDA, MoD and BAE Systems personnel over many months.

    We now look forward to the next phase of SPEAR 3 trials, as well as delivering the testing of many other world-leading capabilities in support of the RAF Typhoon Force.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Home Secretary to announce major policing reforms [November 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Home Secretary to announce major policing reforms [November 2024]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 17 November 2024.

    A new Home Office unit to monitor performance of police forces will be announced by the Home Secretary this week.

    A dedicated government unit to improve performance across policing and make our streets safer will be announced by the Home Secretary this week.

    In a speech at the annual conference hosted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Association for Police and Crime Commissioners on Tuesday, Yvette Cooper will outline the new unit as part of a roadmap for major reform that will create a new partnership between the Home Office and police.

    To ensure communities can have confidence in their local police force, the unit will harness national data to monitor performance and direct improvements, building on the existing work of the College of Policing, policing inspectorate (HMICFRS), NPCC and police and crime commissioners (PCCs).

    For the first time in over a decade, a dedicated Home Office unit will be introduced to directly monitor police performance, including in high-priority areas such as tackling violence against women and girls, knife crime and improving neighbourhood policing.

    Officer time spent on the frontline will be monitored as part of the intelligence drive, drawing on local police data. Police response times will also be standardised and measured, a key issue for the public that is currently not consistently monitored and managed. Through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, the government is committed to ensuring officers are spending more time being visible and accessible in our communities, and minimising administrative tasks.

    The Home Office will use police-recorded data on child sexual abuse to help forces understand and tackle the hidden harms in their areas. This will support forces in identifying how they can do more to build victim confidence, draw offending out of the shadows and bring perpetrators to justice.

    There will also be a focus on police standards, with data on misconduct, vetting and disciplinary procedures collected, monitored and acted on to ensure forces are rooting out those who are not fit to serve and help restore the public’s trust in their local officers.

    With a more comprehensive picture of how policing is delivering for its communities, the Home Secretary will take a more hands-on approach to driving improvements, working with policing partners to ensure that the appropriate support, and where necessary, direct intervention is being identified and delivered.

    The new performance unit will complement the current system, with PCCs taking on a renewed focus on strengthening local policing and preventing crime in their areas.

    In her speech, the Home Secretary is expected to say:

    This is a critical juncture for the future of policing. And if as a country we are to remain equipped to fight the fast-changing challenges of today and tomorrow, then we know policing must evolve.

    We have a huge opportunity ahead of us to reset the relationship between government and the police, to regain the trust and support of the people we all serve and to reinvigorate the best of British policing.

    Strong and consistent performance is critical to commanding public confidence. I truly believe that working together we can mobilise behind this mission – and deliver a fairer, safer country for all.

    The Home Secretary is expected to set out her vision for policing, and how this focus on data and performance is just part of an ambitious programme to bring the founding principles of policing by consent and preventing crime to the 21st century.

    The need for reform has the backing of police leaders, with the government committed to working with them to bring the change needed to reconnect policing with the communities they serve. It builds on a government manifesto commitment to give the policing inspectorate (HMICFRS) greater powers to intervene in failing forces and on the important work that they, the College of Policing and PCCs are doing to boost standards and drive improvement.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK doubles aid for Sudan and neighbouring countries facing the worst humanitarian crisis of the decade [November 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK doubles aid for Sudan and neighbouring countries facing the worst humanitarian crisis of the decade [November 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 November 2024.

    The UK has announced an aid package for Sudan and neighbouring countries.

    • UK announces a major aid increase of £113 million for people in Sudan and those who have fled to neighbouring countries
    • Foreign Secretary will call for the Adre border crossing to remain open indefinitely and for immediate action to end the violence
    • Draft UN Security Council resolution introduced to push for the protection of civilians and an unrestricted passage of aid.

    Today [Sunday 17 November] the UK has announced an aid package which will support more than one million people affected by the devastating war in Sudan, providing vital aid for those in need.

    The new £113 million aid package, which doubles the UK’s aid commitment to Sudan and the region this year, will assist over 600,000 people in Sudan and 700,000 people in neighbouring countries who have fled the conflict, including Chad and South Sudan.

    During the Foreign Secretary’s visit to the United Nations Security Council tomorrow [Monday 18 November], he will call on the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to keep the vital Adre border crossing open indefinitely and for the removal of restrictions, which have limited the amount of aid coming through it.  The Foreign Secretary will also call for the SAF and Rapid Support Forces to stop blocking aid convoys.

    After 18 months of violent conflict, Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis of the decade, with over 500,000 people in Darfur in famine conditions. Over 11 million people are displaced, 25 million are in desperate need of aid, and famine is likely to spread.

    The new funding package announced today will support UN and NGO partners in providing food, cash, shelter, medical assistance, water and sanitation.

    Not only is this aid vitally needed, but it will also help people to stay within their home region so they can return to their homes when conditions allow.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

    The brutal conflict in Sudan has caused unimaginable suffering. The people of Sudan need more aid, which is why the UK is helping to provide much-needed food, shelter and education for the most vulnerable.

    But we cannot deliver aid without access. Starvation must not be used as a weapon of war and we can only stop this famine if every border crossing and route is open, accessible and safe.

    As the lead on Sudan in the UN Security Council, I will be using the UK’s Presidency on Monday to press for a resolution that ensures the protection of civilians and an unrestricted passage of aid.

    The UK will never forget Sudan.

    At the UN, the Foreign Secretary will bring together international partners to lead a discussion on steps to push the warring parties to remove obstacles to humanitarian access.

    Humanitarian workers face significant challenges delivering aid to those most in need with instances of aid workers killed, access being blocked by the warring parties, and UN workers unable to move freely. The Adre border crossing re-opened in August and offers a vital lifeline to allow aid to be delivered from Chad into Darfur.

    The Minister of State for Development Anneliese Dodds said:

    During my visit to South Sudan in August, I saw first-hand the heart-breaking impact the violence is having on those fleeing the conflict.

    The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is worsening. Famine and disease are spreading, and by next year, many more will be in desperate need of aid.

    We have to prevent further suffering by acting now. Support announced today will reach over a million people, providing food for some of those most in need and will assist neighbouring countries to continue hosting refugees.

    The UK has also introduced a new UN Security Council resolution which will pressure the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to protect civilians, deliver a ceasefire and allow the safe passage of aid.

    On 22 August, the UK Minister for Development, Anneliese Dodds, announced £15 million to support those fleeing violence in Sudan, including those displaced to South Sudan and Chad.

    Background

    • The conflict in Sudan began last April 2023 when violence erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Tensions between SAF General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) had been escalating for months following disagreements on a transition to a civilian led government.
    • On 18 October, the UK led a joint statement with 10 other donors, condemning the obstruction of aid and called upon the warring parties to comply with obligations under international humanitarian law.
    • Funding announced today includes:
    • £43.5 million for Sudan
    • Funding will also include £69.5 million of support for people affected by the conflict in neighbouring countries including:
    • Chad
    • Sudan
    • Uganda
    • Education Cannot Wait will receive support to provide safe learning spaces and psychosocial support for 200,000 vulnerable children in refugee and host communities in Chad, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan, Central African Republic and Uganda.
    • Libya
  • PRESS RELEASE : Military families deployed overseas to save thousands in childcare costs as part of drive to boost military morale [November 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Military families deployed overseas to save thousands in childcare costs as part of drive to boost military morale [November 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 November 2024.

    Defence Secretary expands wraparound childcare support to service families deployed overseas. They will now receive 20 hours a week of funded before and after-school childcare saving families around £3,400 a year.

    Armed Forces families deployed overseas will save thousands of pounds a year in childcare costs as the government increases support for service personnel, building on its commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve.

    The announcement forms part of a drive to boost military morale from Ministers, ahead of the first Parliamentary debate on the government’s landmark Armed Forces Commissioner Bill on Monday (18 November).

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP is extending a scheme which helps service families in the UK pay for wraparound childcare to those based abroad. Hundreds of families will be able to claim up to 20 hours a week of funded before and after school childcare, saving around £3,400 a year.

    The government is renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve, and have served, and the expansion of the Wraparound Childcare Scheme to families deployed around the world recognises the unique challenges faced by parents serving abroad and the increased cost of living.

    The expansion, expected to cost £3 million over the next 5 years, is testament to the government’s commitment to always putting personnel at the heart of future defence plans.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    We are on a drive to boost military morale and deliver on our manifesto promise to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve – from establishing a strong, independent Armed Forces Commissioner to providing the largest pay rise for personnel in decades.

    We ask our Armed Forces to make extraordinary sacrifices to defend UK interests and keep us all safe.

    We recognise the commitment of service families based abroad and that is why we are stepping up support, with the expansion of wraparound childcare set to save families thousands of pounds a year.

    Tackling the ongoing Armed Forces recruitment and retention challenges also continues to be a key focus for the government.

    As the Ministry of Defence announced earlier this year, it has slashed recruitment red tape to make the process more straightforward for those wanting to join the military. Through the removal of 100 unnecessary medical policies such as blocking some sufferers of hay fever, eczema, and acne, more than 700 applications have been reconsidered.

    These reforms follow the government announcing the largest Armed Forces pay increases for 22 years. The pay rise awarded an average 6% pay rise with new recruits receiving a 35% rise, ensuring all members of the Armed Forces receive at least the National Living Wage for the first time. This acknowledges the extraordinary sacrifices made by personnel to protect and serve the UK and will help address recruitment and retention challenges, especially in light of rising cost of living pressures.

    Minister for Armed Forces Luke Pollard MP said:

    Armed Forces families deployed overseas give up so much to protect the UK and for the first time, the government is ensuring they can access the same level of support as those back home.

    The government will always stand up for the Armed Forces, and we will not rest until we have lifted military morale.

    We inherited a talented yet demoralised Armed Forces and so we are taking direct action to address this head on – ensuring their service and sacrifice are properly recognised and rewarded.

    This extra support comes as landmark government legislation to establish the first ever independent champion for serving personnel and their families returns to the House of Commons on Monday (18 November) for its second reading.

    The Armed Forces Commissioner Bill will deliver a manifesto commitment and help drive improvements to service life by giving those who serve and their families a strong, independent voice that can hold government and the Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force to account.

    The new Armed Forces Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for serving personnel and their families to raise issues that impact service life, including housing and equipment.  They will have powers to visit sites unannounced and report to Parliament through annual and one-off thematic reports.

    The German Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Dr. Eva Högl said:

    It is gratifying to see that Armed Forces Commissioners are introduced in more and more countries.

    With the establishment of a parliamentary military ombudsperson, the institution moves to the centre of society, which is especially important in times when all our armed forces are under enormous pressure.

    Since 1959, the year the German Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed forces has been established, it has become a well-recognized, respected and unchallenged institution in Germany safeguarding the basic rights of our soldiers. I would be delighted if this success story were to be repeated in the UK.

    Today’s announcement also builds on recent government commitments to support and champion veterans.

    In last month’s budget the government extended the National Insurance relief for employers hiring qualifying veterans for a further year until 5 April 2026. And at the start of this month, the government committed £3.5 million for a dedicated wraparound service for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, ensuring they have access to specialist support for employment and independent living.

    The Wraparound Childcare Scheme already supports over 7,000 service children in the UK, and from January 2025, the scheme will be available to personnel deployed across the vast majority of European countries as well as the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and Brunei. The scheme supports forces families with children aged 4 to 11 years, or 4 to 16 years if receiving government disability allowances.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £1 billion government funding boost for bus services across England to help end postcode lottery [November 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : £1 billion government funding boost for bus services across England to help end postcode lottery [November 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 17 November 2024.

    Funding will keep fares down, protect local routes and deliver more reliable services.

    • new funding will support, improve and protect crucial bus services across the country
    • part of more than £1 billion to support buses while keeping fares low
    • government action to end the bus postcode lottery, empower councils to take back control of services, and deliver a bus revolution

    This government is delivering fair funding to ensure better services up and down the country, with £955 million earmarked to support bus services until 2026.

    Marking a further step in the government’s mission to deliver growth across the UK, Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh has confirmed £712 million funding for local authorities to improve bus services, and a further £243 million for bus operators – a longstanding grant paid to keep fares lower and services more frequent than they would otherwise be.

    Every region in England will benefit from the funding – but particularly those areas which have been historically underserved, like rural areas and small towns.

    The funding settlement will mean many more urban areas will be able to maintain their high levels of service – while other areas will be able to offer more services.

    Totalling £955 million, the funding represents a record level of recent investment for bus improvements for the majority of areas, alongside once-in-a-generation reform to deliver London-style bus services to every corner of the country.

    Areas receiving an unprecedented amount of funding for bus services include Leicester, the Isle of Wight, Torbay, and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

    The investment has been designated to enhance popular routes, protect rural services and increase bus use for shopping, socialising and commuting. It will prevent service reductions on at-risk routes and improve punctuality across England, to bring an end to the current postcode lottery of unreliable services.

    In recent years, services have consistently suffered from complicated and inconsistent funding which have ultimately impacted the passenger. Today’s reformed funding settlement marks a departure from that approach with a simplified commitment from the government, giving bus providers the certainty they have long been calling for.

    As part of this investment, the way funding is allocated has been reformed, meaning it will be allocated based on place need, levels of deprivation and population. This will stop areas competing for funding as in previous years, which in turn wastes resources and delays decisions.

    Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said:

    Buses are the lifeblood of communities, but the system is broken. Too often, passengers are left waiting hours for buses that don’t turn up – and some have been cut off altogether.

    That’s why we’re reforming funding to deliver better buses across the country and end the postcode lottery of bus services.

    “And it’s why we’re providing over £1bn of funding to keep fares down, protect local routes and deliver more reliable services.

    “This is part of our wider plan to put passengers first and give every community the power to take back control of their bus services through franchising or public ownership.

    By delivering better buses, we’ll ensure people have proper access to jobs and opportunities – powering economic growth in every corner of the country.”

    This £955 million investment will also ensure that lifeline services between towns and hospitals can continue transporting patients to vital appointments, supporting the government’s ambitions to reform the NHS.

    Across the country, local authorities can use funding to support community events, take the strain off commuters, or boost tourism. The government wants this investment to encourage social mobility by supporting those who need them most. In urban areas, some of the biggest allocations are given to combined authorities representing South Yorkshire (£17 million) and Liverpool City Region (nearly £21 million), while councils covering rural areas have also been allocated large allocations to protect lifeline routes. These include Lancashire (£27 million), Kent (£23 million), Essex (£17 million) and Norfolk (£15 million) county councils.

    See more information about the funding allocations.

    Buses remain the most relied on form of public transport and the government is turning the tide on decades of failed deregulation. The Buses Bill will be introduced in the coming weeks and will give local leaders across England greater control to deliver bus services in a way that suits the needs of their communities. Local authorities will be empowered to deliver modern and integrated bus networks that put passengers at the heart of local decision making.

    Alongside the £955 million, £150 million has already been committed to step in and cap fares at a maximum of £3, with an inflationary limit also set to ensure that other fares are not automatically increased to £3. The cap is designed to help people with the cost of living and everyday travel costs and will now run until 31 December 2025, enabling savings of up to 80% on some routes.

    This is on top of the additional £200 million City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements funding announced in the autumn budget, helping to improve local transport in our largest city regions and drive growth and productivity across the country.

    This government is fixing the foundations and delivering change with investment and reform to deliver growth, with more jobs and more money in people’s pockets, and rebuild Britain.

    Alison Edwards, Director of Policy and External Relations at the Confederation of Passenger Transport said:

    Buses are vital to economic growth – they carry ten million passengers a day. This funding is a valuable investment in journeys that help people to earn, learn and spend in local communities.

    It is encouraging to see that the funding will be shared across every English region. Bus operators look forward to working with local authorities on plans to speed up services, improve co-ordination and enhance frequencies.

    Bus passengers deserve a fair funding deal. Every pound of public money invested in buses delivers a return of more than £4 in benefits to the environment, to public health and to communities.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK backs Bangladesh’s democratic recovery as Minister meets Interim Government [November 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK backs Bangladesh’s democratic recovery as Minister meets Interim Government [November 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 November 2024.

    UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific arrives in Bangladesh, marking the first UK ministerial visit to the country since the formation of the Interim Government.

    • The one-day visit will include key meetings with the Chief Adviser and Foreign Affairs Adviser, as well as political and business leaders and civil society.
    • Rohingya refugees and the communities which host them in Bangladesh will receive essential assistance and services through new UK funding.
    • Bangladeshis affected by natural disasters this year will also receive UK funded assistance.

    The UK shows support for Bangladesh today (16 November) as Indo-Pacific Minister Catherine West meets counterparts in the Interim Government for the first time.

    Since the establishment of the Interim Government in August 2024, the UK has been clear in its support for Interim Government’s work on accountability and creating a pathway to an inclusive democratic future for Bangladesh.

    During her visit to Dhaka, Minister West will discuss the UK’s ongoing support for political and economic reforms, security, trade cooperation and UK-Bangladesh migration with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain.

    She will meet with student leaders and political parties to discuss the UK’s support for Bangladesh’s democratic recovery, and with business leaders to discuss how the UK government can continue to create strong ties and boost mutually beneficial trade and investment.

    The recently announced UK funding has already provided food to 200,000 Rohingya refugees for a three-month period. It will now provide further support to Rohingya refugees with clean water, hygiene and sanitation services, primary healthcare, protection services and shelter materials. It will also provide assistance to those impacted by natural disasters in Bangladesh earlier this year.

    UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West said

    “The UK supports the Interim Government’s work to build a more prosperous and democratic future for the Bangladeshi people.

    “I am proud to announce new UK funding to support Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi communities which host them with essential services and assistance.”

    British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke Said

    “I am delighted to welcome UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West to Bangladesh. This visit will deepen and broaden the UK’s economic and security partnership with Bangladesh.

    “Bangladesh is currently undergoing a transformation, and as a longstanding friend, the UK will assist in the economic and political reforms which will help Bangladesh to continue its social and economic growth as it moves towards an inclusive and democratic future.”

    Protests over the summer saw shocking loss of life and injuries. The UK’s support following this has included the deployment of a specialised medical team to care for some of those more critically wounded during protests over the summer.

    Notes to Editors/Background only

    The £10.3m of new UK support is intended to provide:

    • Clean water, hygiene and sanitation support for up to 11,000 Rohingya refugees, delivered by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
    • Primary healthcare for 8,000 Rohingya refugees; and support to address housing, land and property issues in the Rohingya refugee camps and the communities which host them. This will be delivered by an NGO consortium that includes Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Danish Refugee Council and Humanity and Inclusion (HI).
    • Protection services and shelter materials for Rohingya refugees, delivered by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM).
    • Assistance to support communities recover from natural disasters in Bangladesh earlier this year, as requested in the humanitarian appeal launched by the UN in September.
    • The funding has already provided food to 200,000 Rohingya refugees per month for three months earlier this year, delivered by the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP).

    Since 2017, the UK has provided £401 million to support the Rohingya refugees and communities which host them in Bangladesh with essential assistance and services.

    A UK Emergency Medical Team (EMT) is in Bangladesh to provide specialised medical treatment to students more critically injured during the July-August 2024 protests. This deployment is taking place in response to formal requests from Interim Government of Bangladesh.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Start-up business fund launched for Port Talbot steelworkers [November 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Start-up business fund launched for Port Talbot steelworkers [November 2024]

    The press release issued by the Wales Office on 16 November 2024.

    Welsh steelworkers and their families can access a newly-allocated £13 million fund from the Tata Steel/Port Talbot Transition Board.

    • New grant fund to help workers and their families set up their own businesses.
    • Newly-allocated £13m from the Transition Board will also support local businesses to grow and diversify.
    • Commitment is part of £26.5m announced in four months under this government, part of £80 million in Budget to fully fund the Transition Board and to support workers.

    Steelworkers and their families in the Port Talbot area will be helped to start up new businesses with a new multi-million pound fund launched by the UK Government.

    Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has announced another £13m from the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board to provide non-repayable grants of up to £10,000 for workers, families and businesses affected by the closure of the blast furnaces.

    As well as the business start-up fund, two more new support schemes targeted directly at firms in the Port Talbot area and businesses in the Tata supply chain will be funded by the next £13m, with non-payable grants of £2,500-£250,000 available.

    It is the second announcement of funding and follows the £13.5 million to support supply chain businesses find new markets and workers affected to re-train announced in August.

    The Welsh Secretary made the announcement after chairing her third meeting as chair of the Transition Board earlier this week (Thursday 14 November).

    There are three parts to the new fund launched by the Welsh Secretary:

    • A business start-up fund which will enable Tata Steelworkers, their immediate family members and people in the supply chain to receive support, guidance and to access a grant. People looking to set up new firms ranging from plumbing and electrical to technology companies will be able to access non-repayable grants of up to £10,000.
    • A new business growth fund to support firms already in operation who are seeking to increase their role in the local economy. Grants available will range between £25,001 and £250,000 tailored to the specific needs of each business.
    • A business resilience fundproviding targeted assistance to local businesses affected by the ongoing transition at Tata Steel to diversify into new markets, create new jobs and to find opportunities in emerging sectors such as low carbon energy. The fund can be accessed by small businesses like local shops or cafes or by larger companies like construction firms affected by the Tata Steel transition with grants ranging from £2,500 to £25,000.

    Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said:

    As a government we are determined the Transition Board delivers for the steelworkers of Port Talbot, for the region’s businesses and for the community.

    This remains a really difficult time for workers in Port Talbot and their families. Many of them will have aspirations to set up their own businesses or become self employed and the £13m released today will provide vital backing for them to make their plans a reality.

    We said we would back workers and businesses affected by the transition at Port Talbot and we are doing so with more than £26m announced since July.”

    Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans said:

    We continue to work with the UK Government and local partners to ensure that our targeted support has the broadest and deepest positive impact on those affected by the transition to an electric arc furnace in Port Talbot.

    Speaking to many across the local community, I know what a difference extending available funding to immediate family will make. This is part of our commitment to doing everything within our power to support businesses, households and communities to bounce back and ensure that Port Talbot and the surrounding area continues its proud history as a vital cog in the Welsh economy.

    Neath Port Talbot Council Leader, Cllr Steve Hunt said:

    I keenly welcome the announcement of these funding packages to support both start-ups and existing businesses across our community. The steelworks have been a lynchpin for our economy for over a century and so changes on this scale impact not only directly-affected workers at Tata Steel, but many other closely connected companies.

    Steel will remain very important to Port Talbot moving forwards, but it is also critical that as a Transition Board we enable enterprise across a range of sectors to respond to current circumstances and to opportunities such as the Celtic Freeport

    As well as announcing the first two blocks of funding, the UK Government confirmed in October’s Autumn Budget that it had protected £80 million to fund the Transition Board.

    The UK Government has also reset the relationship with the Welsh Government, as well as with unions and other local partners, to work together to deliver for the workers affected.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Middlesbrough kicks off national roadshow of NHS debates [November 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Middlesbrough kicks off national roadshow of NHS debates [November 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 November 2024.

    The national conversation about the NHS’s future took to the road, as Middlesbrough hosted the first of a series of public debates about fixing the NHS.

    • Hundreds to take part in debates nationwide as 10 Year Health Plan roadshow kicks off in Middlesbrough, attended by Health and Social Care Secretary and NHS England Chief Executive
    • First of series of events around the country will ensure views from local communities shape government plans to build an NHS fit for the future
    • Almost one million visits to change.nhs.uk, after rallying cry was issued to entire nation to help shape 10 Year Health Plan

    The biggest ever national conversation about the future of the NHS has taken to the road, with Middlesbrough hosting the first of a series of public debates about how to fix the health service.

    More than 100 people from the North East and Yorkshire visited the town today (Saturday 16 November) to discuss their views of the NHS, share their experiences and offer suggestions for delivering an NHS fit for the future.

    The Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, and the Chief Executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, both attended. They asked people for their opinions on NHS reform and how the government’s 10 Year Health Plan can help tackle disparities in the wider region.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    The NHS is going through what is objectively the worst crisis in its history. Whether it’s people struggling to get a GP appointment, calling an ambulance and not knowing whether it will arrive in time – particularly the problem here in the North East – or whether it’s turning up to a busy A&E department and waiting longer than people should.

    If we don’t get this right, the NHS may not be there for us, not just where we need it, but as a public service, free at the point of use as it has been for the last 76 [years].

    So we’ve got to grip this now and make the right long-term decisions to get our NHS back on its feet and fit for the future.

    And for me, that means listening to your ideas for our 10 Year Health Plan.

    NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said:

    The 10 Year Health Plan is a chance to help the NHS continue to innovate and adapt, and make the best practice, normal practice across the country.

    So it’s been really positive that so many people have come forward to let us know about their experience of the NHS – good, bad and frustrating.

    We need patients and the public to continue to contribute to the 10 Year Health Plan – and help us build an NHS fit for the future.

    Last month, the government launched change.nhs.uk, issuing a rallying call to the entire nation – including all 1.5 million NHS staff, as well as patients, experts and the wider public – to visit the online platform to share their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS and to shape the plan.

    The Change NHS online portal has already received almost one million visits. It will be live until spring 2025 and available via the NHS App.

    Thousands of ideas to fix the health service have been submitted, with suggestions including:

    • establishing an NHS research health company that can be used to get insights on early prevention
    • digital records, so records from all hospitals are available to view at all GP surgeries
    • pop-up and mobile clinics to meet surge demand for services in areas of need
    • stop giving out paper leaflets and sending letters, and limit this to those who do not have access to IT to reduce waste

    All submitted ideas will be carefully considered as part of the engagement process so that we can better understand the priorities of the public, patients and people working in health and care.

    It comes as this week the government announced a package of tough reforms to cut wasteful spending and ensure the health service delivers greater value for money – so more goes back to the frontline of care to benefit patients and staff everywhere.

    People in the North East and Yorkshire – one of the 7 NHS regions – are being affected by a range of widening health inequalities:

    • at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 18-week waiting lists have risen by nearly 4,300 people (8%) in the past year to more than 53,000
    • within the North East, life expectancy was lowest in Middlesbrough in 2020 to 2022, according to latest available stats
    • in 2023 to 2024, 24.5% of children in year 6 in the North East (aged 10 to 11 years) were living with obesity – the highest in the country
    • between July 2023 and June 2024, 42% of women booking maternity care with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust lived in the 20% most deprived areas of England
    • 10% of adults with serious mental illnesses in the North East have been waiting for a second appointment with community mental health services for over 800 days

    Today’s event in Middlesbrough will be the first of a series of events held in every region of the country to gain insights into the public’s experiences and to make the NHS fit for the future.

    Comments about the event from those who attended included:

    It’s been really eye opening to hear all the different opinions that people have had from around the region.

    We feel really positive that we will come back around again and get back to the communities and have a sense of community that really cares and get those appointments that we need and really, really, really positive about the future.

    It’s really encouraging to see all the different ideas, which is kind of saying different things that are already in play, and the fact that the Health Secretary is here as well really does feel like something is changing with time.

    The public engagement exercise will help shape the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, which will be published in spring 2025 and will be underlined by 3 big shifts in healthcare:

    • hospital to community
    • analogue to digital
    • sickness to prevention

    As part of the first shift from ‘hospital to community’, the government wants to deliver plans for new neighbourhood health centres, which will be closer to homes and communities. Patients will be able to see family doctors, district nurses, care workers, physiotherapists, health visitors or mental health specialists, all under the same roof.

    In transforming the NHS from analogue to digital, the government will create a more modern NHS by bringing together a single patient record, summarising patient health information, test results and letters in one place, through the NHS App.

    By moving from sickness to prevention, the government wants to shorten the amount of time people spend in ill health and prevent illnesses before they happen.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British High Commission marks His Majesty King Charles III’s birthday with “Brilliantly British” celebrations [November 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : British High Commission marks His Majesty King Charles III’s birthday with “Brilliantly British” celebrations [November 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 November 2024.

    British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, welcomed guests to celebrate His Majesty King Charles III’s 76th birthday in Islamabad and Karachi.

    In Islamabad, Ahsan Iqbal the Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Special Initiatives and Inter Provincial Coordination, attended as Chief Guest, and Chief Minister Sindh, Murad Ali Shah in Karachi.

    The UK’s Honourable Artillery Company Regimental Band, the oldest surviving regiment of the British army, visited Pakistan for the occasion, performing in both cities and at the Pakistan Monument. Both events captured audiences with live performances, including by Gharvi Group, who went viral this year for their iconic ‘Blockbuster’ song.

    British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said:

    “Brilliantly British captures everything we love about the UK, a powerhouse of creativity, diversity, and cultural vibrancy. British films, TV dramas, songs and fashion are some of the most renowned things that connect the UK and Pakistan.”

    In Islamabad, rock band Khudgharz left crowds calling for more with their British and Pakistani covers set. In Karachi, the Acton House garden was home to “Actonbury”, a festival featuring 5 artists: Maria Unera, Jermeas Naeem, Alycia Dias, Hussain Dossa and the Honourable Artillery Company Regimental Band.

    2024 marks a significant year for artistic and people-to-people exchanges between the UK and Pakistan. Key moments include the 90th anniversary of the creation of the British Council, a thrilling test cricket series, and the release of a previously undiscovered album by late Qawwali maestro Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, ‘Chain of Light’.

    Through music and art, the events celebrated the UK’s creative sector, which generates over £50 billion in exports, shaping the global art and cultural landscape.