Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister – ‘Major surgery, not sticking plaster solutions’ needed to rebuild NHS [September 2024]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 11 September 2024.

The Prime Minister will pledge the ‘biggest reimagining of our NHS since its birth’ in a speech this morning [12 September 2024], following the publication today of a full and independent investigation into the state of the NHS.
- PM to set out plan for long term, fundamental reform to fix broken NHS
- Lord Darzi’s independent investigation concludes NHS is in ‘critical condition’
- Findings provide a diagnosis of the challenges facing the health service, which will inform government’s 10 year plan to reform the NHS
The PM will pledge the ‘biggest reimagining of our NHS since its birth’ in a speech this morning [12 September 2024], following the publication today of a full and independent investigation into the state of the NHS.

Lord Ara Darzi’s probe has concluded the service is in a ‘critical condition’ amidst surging waiting lists and a deterioration in the nation’s underlying health, identifying serious and widespread problems for people accessing services.

The PM will say that the scale of the damage done to the NHS revealed by the report is “unforgivable”, recognising the tragic consequences for too many patients and their families:

People have every right to be angry. It’s not just because the NHS is so personal to all of us – it’s because some of these failings are life and death.

Take the waiting times in A&E. That’s not just a source of fear and anxiety – it’s leading to avoidable deaths.

People’s loved ones who could have been saved. Doctors and nurses whose whole vocation is to save them – hampered from doing so. It’s devastating.

He will also address the causes behind the state of the NHS, including the long term impacts of the 2012 Health and Social Care Act which is described in the report as “a calamity without international precedent” which “proved disastrous”, as well as the far reaching consequences of underinvestment throughout the 2010s. The PM is expected to say:

Our NHS went into the pandemic in a much more fragile state.

We had higher bed-occupancy rates, fewer doctors, fewer nurses and fewer beds than most other high income health systems in the world.

And let’s be clear about what caused that…a “scorched earth” approach to health reform, the effects of which are still felt to this day.

Lord Darzi describes [the 2010s] as “the most austere decade since the NHS was founded”. Crumbling buildings, decrepit portacabins, mental health patients accommodated in Victorian-era cells infested with vermin.

The 2010s were a lost decade for our NHS…which left the NHS unable to be there for patients today, and totally unprepared for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.

As well as recognising the cost to people’s health, the PM will also address the inextricable link between the state of the NHS and the nation’s economy:

It’s not just the state of our National Health Service in crisis – it’s also the state of our national health.

There are 2.8 million people economically inactive due to long term sickness, and more than half of those on the current waiting lists for inpatient treatment are working age adults.

Getting people back to health and work will not only reduce the costs on the NHS, it will drive economic growth – in turn creating more tax receipts to fund public services.

In the face of these dire findings and the growing pressures on the NHS from an ageing society and preventable illnesses, the PM will set out his belief in the ‘profound responsibility’ of government to do the hard work necessary to tackle them:

What we need is the courage to deliver long-term reform – major surgery not sticking plaster solutions.

The NHS is at a fork in the road, and we have a choice about how it should meet these rising demands.

Raise taxes on working people to meet the ever-higher costs of aging population – or reform to secure its future.

We know working people can’t afford to pay more, so it’s reform or die.

Rooted in Lord Darzi’s diagnoses of the challenges facing the NHS, the PM will outline three fundamental areas of reform and the imperative to work with staff and patients throughout this process. He is expected to say:

This government is working at pace to build a Ten-Year Plan. Something so different from anything that has come before.

Instead of the top-down approach of the past, this plan is going to have the fingerprints of NHS staff and patients all over it.

And as we build it together, I want to frame this plan around three big shifts – first, moving from an analogue to a digital NHS. A tomorrow service not just a today service.

Second, we’ve got to shift more care from hospitals to communities… And third, we’ve got to be much bolder in moving from sickness to prevention.

Only fundamental reform and a plan for the long term can turn around the NHS and build a healthy society. It won’t be easy or quick. But I know we can do it.

The challenge is clear before us; the change could amount to the biggest reimagining of our NHS since its birth.

Lord Darzi is an independent peer and practising surgeon with 30 years’ experience in the NHS. He examined over 600 pieces of analysis from DHSC, NHS England and external organisations during his investigation. His report will inform the government’s 10-year plan to reform the health service.

Lord Darzi said:

Although I have worked in the NHS for more than 30 years, I have been shocked by what I have found during this investigation – not just in the health service but in the state of the nation’s health.

We want to deliver high quality care for all but far too many people are waiting for too long and in too many clinical areas, quality of care has gone backwards.

My colleagues in the NHS are working harder than ever but our productivity has fallen.

We get caught up frantically trying to find beds that have been axed or using IT that is outdated or trying to work out how to get things done because operational processes are overwhelmed. It sucks the joy from our work – we became clinicians to help patients get better, not to go into battle with a broken system.

We need to rebalance the system towards care in the community rather than adding more and more staff to hospitals. And we need a more honest conversation about performance – the NHS is now an open book.

In the last 15 years, the NHS was hit by three shocks – austerity and starvation of investment, confusion caused by top-down reorganisation, and then the pandemic which came with resilience at an all-time low. Two out of three of those shocks were choices made in Westminster.

It took more than a decade for the NHS to fall into disrepair so it’s going to take time to fix it. But we in the NHS have turned things around before, and I’m confident we will do it again.

Despite the damning analysis, Lord Darzi insists the NHS’s vital signs ‘remain strong’ and he praised staff for their ‘shared passion and determination to make the NHS better for our patients’.

In carrying out the review, Lord Darzi brought more than 70 organisations together in an Expert Reference Group and sought input from NHS staff and patients through focus groups and frontline visits.

Responding to the report, Secretary of State Wes Streeting said:

I asked Lord Darzi to tell hard truths about the state of the NHS. He has produced an honest, expert, comprehensive report on the appalling state our health service is in.

Today’s findings will inform our 10-year plan to radically reform the NHS and get patients treated on time again.

The damage done to the NHS has been more than a decade in the making. We clearly have a long road ahead. But while the NHS is broken, it’s not beaten. We will turn the NHS around so it is there for you when you need it, once again.

Today’s report has been welcomed by NHS England and health organisations who have pledged to work closely with the government on its mission to rebuild the NHS.

Amanda Pritchard, NHS England Chief Executive, said:

As this report sets out, staff are the beating heart of the NHS with a shared passion and determination for making the NHS better for patients – but it is also clear they are facing unprecedented challenges.

Our staff are treating record numbers of patients every day despite ageing equipment and crumbling buildings, a surge in multiple long-term illnesses, and managing the long-lasting effects of the pandemic.

While teams are working hard to get services back on track, it is clear waiting times across many services are unacceptable and we need to address the underlying issues outlined in Lord Darzi’s report so we can deliver the care we all want for patients.

As Lord Darzi rightly points out, many of the solutions can be found in parts of the NHS today. That is why we are fully committed to working with government to create a 10-year plan for healthcare to ensure the NHS recovers from Covid, strengthens its foundations and continues to reform so it is fit for future generations.

Key findings from Lord Darzi’s 142-page report include:
- Deterioration: The health of the nation has deteriorated over the past 15 years, with a substantial increase in the number of people living with multiple long-term conditions.
- Spending: Too great a share of the NHS budget is being spent in hospitals, too little in the community, and productivity is too low.
- Waiting times: Waiting lists have swelled and waiting times have surged, with A&E queues more than doubling from an average of just under 40 people on a typical evening in April 2009 to over 100 in April 2024. 1 in 10 patients are now waiting for 12 hours or more.
- Cancer care: The UK has appreciably higher cancer mortality rates than other countries, with no progress whatsoever made in diagnosing cancer at stage one and two between 2013 and 2021.
- Lasting damage: The Health and Social Care Act of 2012 did lasting damage to the management capacity and capability of the NHS. It took 10 years to return to a sensible structure, and the effects continue to be felt to this day.
- Productivity: Too many resources have been being poured into hospitals where productivity had substantially fallen, while too little has been spent in the community.
September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Landmark reforms to give greater security for 11 million renters [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 11 September 2024.

Section 21 evictions banned to protect renters from key driver of homelessness and empower them to speak up against discriminatory treatment.

No fault evictions will be banned, and renters will receive greater protections and security from eviction thanks to historic legislation to level the playing field between tenants and landlords.

The Renters’ Rights Bill, introduced to Parliament today, will ban Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions for new and existing tenancies, extend Awaab’s Law into the private rented sector and end blanket bans for those on benefits or with children.

Banning Section 21 alone will reassure tenants they can challenge bad practice without the fear of retaliatory eviction, as landlords will need to provide a valid cause to end a tenancy early. Going further than ever before, the Bill will abolish Section 21 evictions for both new and existing tenancies at the same time, giving all private renters immediate security and assurance.

Last year alone, nearly 26,000 households faced homelessness as a result of a Section 21 eviction and had to go to their council for support. Greater security will give renters peace of mind, so they can build their lives in their communities.

Standards will also be driven up, as the Decent Homes Standard will be applied to the private rented sector for the first time. Currently 21% of privately rented homes are considered non-decent and more than 500,000 contain the most serious of hazards. Clear expectations will be set so tenants can expect safe, well-maintained, and secure living conditions.

Good landlords who provide these standards will benefit from clear regulation. This will eliminate unfair competition from those who, for far too long, have got away with renting out substandard properties to tenants.

Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said:

Renters have been let down for too long and too many are stuck in disgraceful conditions, powerless to act because of the threat of a retaliatory eviction hanging over them.

Most landlords act in a responsible way but a small number of unscrupulous ones are tarnishing the reputation of the whole sector by making the most of the housing crisis and forcing tenants into bidding wars.

There can be no more dither and delay. We must overhaul renting and rebalance the relationship between tenant and landlord. This Bill will do just that and tenants can be reassured this Government will protect them.

Other measures introduced in the Bill include:
- Applying Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector. This will ensure that all renters in England are empowered to challenge dangerous conditions.
- Apply a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector for the first time. Landlords who fail to address serious hazards can be fined up to £7,000 by local councils and may face prosecution for non-compliance.
- A ban on rental bidding wars, by cracking down on those who make the most of the housing crisis by forcing tenants to bid for their properties. Landlords and letting agents will be legally required to publish an asking rent for their property. They will also be banned from asking for, encouraging, or accepting any bids above this price.
- Ban on in-tenancy rent increases written in to contracts to prevent landlords implementing too high rents mid-tenancy, often to push out the current tenants. Under these reforms, landlords will only be allowed to raise the rent once a year, and to the market rate.
- Abolishing blanket bans on tenants with children or those in receipt of benefits to ensure fair access to housing for all.
A new Private Rented Sector Database will also be created to help landlords understand their obligations for compliance and provide tenants the information they need to make informed choices for new tenancies. It will also enable councils to focus enforcement where it is needed most.

Earlier this week, the Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook met with landlord and tenant groups and committed to engaging with them as the Bill progresses, to ensure the sector is ready for the changes.

We will ensure homes in the private rented sector meet minimum energy efficiency standards by 2030, more detail will be set out in due course.

The Bill is a crucial step towards ending the housing crisis, along with a commitment to deliver 1.5 million homes over this parliament. Work is already underway to get Britain building, with the introduction of new mandatory housing targets and ‘golden rules’ which will ensure developments build more affordable homes.
September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New bill introduced in Parliament to clarify crypto’s legal status [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 11 September 2024.

Tech-savvy owners of Bitcoin and other digital assets will benefit from greater legal protection thanks to an important clarification to the law.
- Bitcoin and other digital assets can be considered personal property under new draft law introduced in Parliament today (11 September 2024)
- Owners to benefit from increased legal protection
- Changes will keep English and Welsh law at the forefront of the global tech industry
The Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill, introduced in Parliament today, will mean that for the first time in British history, digital holdings including cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens such as digital art, and carbon credits can be considered as personal property under the law.

The Bill will also ensure Britain maintains its pole position in the emerging global crypto race by being one of the first countries to recognise these assets in law.

Previously, digital belongings were not definitively included in the scope of English and Welsh property law – leaving owners in a legal grey area if their assets were interfered with.

The new law will therefore also give legal protection to owners and companies against fraud and scams, while helping judges deal with complex cases where digital holdings are disputed or form part of settlements, for example in divorce cases.

Justice Minister Heidi Alexander said:

Our world-leading legal services form a vital part of our economy, helping to drive forward growth and keep Britain at the heart of the international legal industry.

It is essential that the law keeps pace with evolving technologies and this legislation will mean that the sector can maintain its position as a global leader in cryptoassets and bring clarity to complex property cases.

Today’s news also means the UK legal sector will be better equipped to respond to new technologies, attracting more business and investment to the legal services industry which is already worth £34 billion a year to the economy.

It is estimated that English law governs £250 billion of global mergers and acquisitions, and 40 per cent of global corporate arbitrations, so keeping the law up to date is vital to ensuring that the UK remains the law of choice internationally.

Notes to editors
- Digital asset is an extremely broad term, encompassing a variety of things such as digital files, digital records, email accounts, digital carbon credits, cryptoassets and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The Law Commission’s recommendations only apply to a subset of digital assets, of which the main one is cryptotokens.
- Currently there are two categories of property, “things in possession” (e.g. gold, money, cars) and “things in action” (e.g. debts, shares). This Bill introduces a third category of “thing” to allow for certain digital assets to attract personal property rights.
- The action being taken on digital assets is in response to the Law Commission’s report in 2023. The MOJ commissioned the report to identify any barriers to the recognition of digital assets as property under English and Welsh private law and to recommend solutions.
- The Law Commission’s report summary can be found here.
September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : IAEA Board of Governors on the JCPoA [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2024.

France, Germany and the UK (E3) gave a joint statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Iran’s implementation of its nuclear commitments under the JCPoA.

Chair,

On behalf of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, I thank Director General Grossi for his latest report on Iran’s nuclear programme.

The E3 are very grateful to the Agency for the professional, independent and impartial work of their team of inspectors and for their objective reporting on Iran’s nuclear programme. We encourage the Director General to keep the Board informed of all relevant activities and developments.

Once again, the IAEA reports the continued expansion of Iran’s nuclear activities, in increasing violation of its JCPoA commitments. The Agency recalls once again that it is not able to ensure Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful, and highlights that Iran is the only state without nuclear weapons to undertake production and accumulation of high enriched uranium.

Chair,

In the reporting period, Iran has continued to enrich uranium far beyond its JCPoA commitments :
- It has been blatantly violating all JCPoA limits on both enrichment and accumulation of enriched uranium. Its stockpile of high enriched uranium up to 60 % has continued to grow significantly, without any credible civilian justification;
- Iran now has almost four IAEA significant quantities of high enriched uranium, which the IAEA defines as the approximate amount of nuclear material from which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded;
- Over the last three months, Iran has also substantially expanded its overall production capacity by installing and operating new advanced centrifuges;
- For the first time in years, the DG also reported that Iran undertook some construction work at the Khondab Heavy Water Research Center, without communicating all the needed information to the Agency.
We also recall previous IAEA reports of Iran’s uranium metal-related work. The production of Uranium metal is a key step in the development of a nuclear weapon and we urge Iran not to undertake this work again.

Chair,

Iran continues obstructing the IAEA, which has detrimental implications for the Agency’s ability to provide assurance of the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme :
- For more than three and a half years, Iran has seriously hindered effective JCPoA verification and monitoring;
- As a result of this lack of transparency, the Agency has lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate;
- Iran refuses to reverse its decision to withdraw the designation of several experienced Agency inspectors. We condemn this decision, which seriously affects the Agency’s ability to conduct its verification in Iran, particularly at the enrichment facilities;
- The DG also notes that it has been more than three years since Iran stopped applying its Additional Protocol.
Chair,

We would like to remind this Board of the statements made in Iran about its technical capability to produce nuclear weapons and the possibility of changing its so-called nuclear doctrine.

We again call on Iran to urgently:
- Halt and reverse its nuclear escalation and refrain from making threats to produce nuclear weapons;
- Return to the limits imposed by the JCPoA, in particular those regarding enrichment;
- Implement the March 2023 Joint statement and the commitments it made regarding transparency and cooperation with the IAEA including re-applying all transparency measures that it stopped in February 2021;
- Allow the Agency to install surveillance and monitoring equipment where requested;
- Re-implement and swiftly ratify its Additional Protocol; and
- Reverse its September 2023 decision to withdraw the designations of experienced inspectors.
Chair,

Iran’s escalating nuclear activities significantly harm international security and undermine the global non-proliferation architecture. We will continue consultations, alongside international partners, on how best to address collective doubts of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. In 2022, Iran twice refused a negotiated outcome and instead chose to escalate and expand its nuclear programme to alarming levels. We remain committed to a diplomatic solution and stand ready to use all diplomatic levers available to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Finally, we ask the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed on the status of Iran’s nuclear programme. We ask for the report to be made public.

Thank you.
September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 57 – UK Statement for Item 2 General Debate [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2024.

UK Statement for Item 2 General Debate. Delivered at the 57th Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President.

The continued growth in this Council’s agenda reflects more, not less, human rights violations and abuses throughout the world.

Russia continues to disregard the UN Charter through its illegal invasion of Ukraine. As the Commission of Inquiry concluded, many Russian atrocities amount to war crimes. Those responsible must be held accountable.

The UK condemns, and demands full investigation of, all alleged violations and abuses committed in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories including sexual violence. We are shocked at ongoing deaths, including the killing of six hostages by Hamas. The ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza is appalling. We call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and rapid humanitarian aid into Gaza.

High Commissioner,

We welcome your engagement with Venezuela. Elections cannot be credible without the National Electoral Council publishing full results. The Venezuelan people have the right to protest and decide their future. We urge dialogue and an end to repression.

And finally, China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghurs and Tibetans, restrict civil society and independent media, and target human rights defenders and lawyers. Two years after the Office of the High Commissioner’s Assessment on Xinjiang, it is time for China to implement its recommendations and engage meaningfully with the Office.

Thank you.

September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : FCDO summons Iranian Chargé d’Affaires over transfer of Ballistic Missiles to Russia [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2024.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has today summoned the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires in London in response to Iran’s transfer of Ballistic Missiles to Russia.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

Today, in coordination with European partners and upon instruction from the Foreign Secretary, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Iranian Embassy in London was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Mr. Ali Matinfar was summoned over Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine.

The UK Government was clear that any transfer of Ballistic Missiles to Russia would be seen as a dangerous escalation and would face a significant response.

The summons follows yesterday’s announcement where the UK, alongside international partners, outlined significant new measures against Iran and Russia, including cancelling our bilateral Air Services Arrangement with Iran. The United Kingdom has also sanctioned a number of key individuals and organisations for their involvement in Iran’s military support to Russia, including those involved in weapons supply chains that enable Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.

September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor announces £8 billion Amazon Web Services investment, as she vows to make every part of Britain better off [September 2024]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 11 September 2024.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves secures a planned £8 billion investment from Amazon Web Services which is estimated to support around 14,000 jobs per year across the UK.
- The Chancellor will welcome the announcement as part of the Government’s mission to boost growth, unlock investment and make every part of Britain better off
- Reeves will say the Government’s mission to ‘fix the foundations of our economy has only just begun’
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has today [11 September] confirmed an £8 billion investment from Amazon Web Services which is estimated to support thousands of jobs across the UK.

The Chancellor secured the planned five-year investment last week at a meeting with Amazon Web Services. The investment is estimated to support around 14,000 jobs per year at local businesses, including those across the company’s data centre supply chain such as construction, facility maintenance, engineering and telecommunications, as well as well as other jobs within the broader local economy. AWS estimates that these investments in the UK will contribute £14 billion to the UK’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 2024 to 2028.

Rachel Reeves will welcome the announcement as part of the government’s long-term mission to boost growth, unlock investment and make every part of Britain better off.

Speaking from a University Technical College in Silverstone today, which works with Amazon Web Services to introduce students to the skills required to enter the digital infrastructure industry, the Chancellor will warn that ‘change cannot happen overnight’ and ‘two quarters of positive economic growth will not make up for fourteen years of stagnation under the previous government.’

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: 

I am under no illusion to the scale of the challenge facing our economy and I will be honest with the British people that change will not happen overnight. Two quarters of positive economic growth does not make up for fourteen years of stagnation under the previous government.

However, this £8 billion investment marks the start of the economic revival and shows Britain is a place to do business. I am determined to go further so we can deliver on our mandate to create jobs, unlock investment and make every part of Britain better off. The hard work to fix the foundations of our economy has only just begun.

Amazon Web Services Vice President and Managing Director, Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), Tanuja Randery said:

The next few years could be among the most pivotal for the UK’s digital and economic future, as organisations of all sizes across the country increasingly embrace technologies like cloud computing and AI to help them accelerate innovation, increase productivity, and compete on the global stage.

AWS is proud to announce our plans to invest £8 billion in digital and AI infrastructure over the next five years to help meet the growing needs of our customers and partners, and support the transformation of the UK’s digital economy.

The investment announcement comes ahead of this year’s UK International Investment Summit on 14 October, where the UK will bring together the world’s most important companies and investors, demonstrating how the UK’s offer is the best in the world, with political and economic stability, a strategic government partnering with businesses, a proper trade strategy, and policies designed to enable growth.

Today [11 September] the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published their biennial surveillance of the UK economy, which provides analysis and insight of the state of the UK economy and policy challenges. HM Treasury have worked closely and collaboratively on the Economic Survey with the OECD.

The Survey recognises the UK’s weak growth and poor productivity growth over the past decade. This is partly the result of low investment, particularly since the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016. It highlights the importance of stability and certainty for business investment, as well as reforming the planning system.

The government welcomes the OECD’s analysis and recommendations. The government’s number one priority is to deliver a sustainable increase in growth, based on stability, investment and reform, as part of a decade of renewal. The government has already announced plans to reform the planning system and unlock further investment, including through a new National Wealth Fund.
September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Russia must end its war and re-engage with the Forum for Security Co-operation – UK statement to the OSCE [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2024.

Politico-Military Counsellor, Ankur Narayan, thanks Denmark as the incoming Chair for upholding the Forum’s mandate of holding a weekly politico-military dialogue, including on risk reduction.

Thank you, Mr Chair, and to the Foreign Minister for setting out Denmark’s priorities for the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) this Trimester. You can count on the UK’s full support, as you execute the mandate of this Forum at this important time for European Security.

As we return from the Summer break, the Ukrainian people have had no respite. Today marks 930 days of their ongoing defence of their homeland, from an invasion which continues to violate the UN Charter and to contravene the Helsinki Final Act’s core principles. Principles including those on sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force.

That is why each week, we have met in the Forum to support Ukraine and to hold Russia accountable. And that is why we welcome Denmark’s proposed FSC agenda topics, on the Code of Conduct, the Helsinki Decalogue and on Women, Peace & Security. These issues remain pertinent for our Euro-Atlantic region.

Mr Chair, the UK continues to support the Forum. Our Ministers mandated the Forum to hold a weekly politico-military dialogue, with tasks that include risk-reduction. They mandated the Chair to ‘ensure the good order and smooth running of meetings’. To set the agenda. And to select and invite guest speakers. We support the Chair’s prerogative to execute these tasks.

Unfortunately, at the closing session last Trimester, we had to condemn the Russian delegation – for a third Trimester in a row – for its attempts to undermine FSC meetings. Russia did not join consensus not only the formal FSC Security Dialogues, but also the standard weekly FSC sessions. Russia demanded exceptional treatment, without any basis in the Rules of Procedure and without articulating any issues with the mandated Agenda.

As we said last time, there remains another path. Russia claims that it wants peace. Peace is in its gift – by withdrawing all of its forces to outside of Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders. Russia claims that it is serious about dialogue and risk reduction. If that is true, it must re-engage seriously and professionally with an FSC that meets, as mandated by our Ministers, each week.

I wish to conclude by welcoming Spain to the FSC Troika, and to thank Cyprus for their work as they leave the Troika. And most importantly, I wish you, Mr Chair, and your able teams here in Vienna and in Copenhagen the best of luck this Trimester. You can count on the continued full support of the UK delegation.

September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Ministers discuss Make Work Pay plans with small business leaders [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 11 September 2024.

In the latest series of meetings on the Make Work Pay plan, the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will today [Wednesday 11 September] host a Small Business Breakfast in Downing Street to discuss the upcoming legislation.

Ministers are reaching all parts of the business community – large and small, and across a range of sectors – to discuss the government’s plans to Make Work Pay. It follows a meeting last week with leading businesses including John Lewis, Sainsbury’s and McDonalds to discuss the Bill.

This meeting will be an opportunity for Ministers to set out the ambition for the Employment Rights Bill and wider Make Work Pay programme, which will modernise the world of work by ending exploitative zero-hour contracts, extending day one employment protections on unfair dismissal and delivering a genuine living wage.

Ministers will update small businesses on the progress made so far and what to expect over the coming weeks and months, and ministers are also expected to reassure small business leaders that they will be heard loud and clear.

The Business Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister will continue to have engagements with businesses of all sizes, industry representatives and trade unions with increasing frequency, up to and beyond the introduction of the Employment Rights Bill.

The UK currently has one of the least protected labour markets compared to our international partners which is why we are working with business and civil society to deliver meaningful reforms that will transform the world of work and benefit businesses of all sizes.

We are committed to delivering our plan for small businesses which includes reforming outdated business rates, tackling the scourge of late payments, getting more small firms exporting around the world, boosting access to finance and re-vitalising our high streets to support small businesses to thrive.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:

We have so many brilliant small businesses across the country which are the lifeblood of our economy and provide opportunities for so many.

Delivering our plan to Make Work Pay means working with employers to modernise the world of work. That’s why coming together to hear their views is so important, so we can implement the plan together in partnership and make it a success.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

Small businesses across the UK make a huge contribution the economy and our communities – and we value the perspective they bring to the Make Work Pay Plan.

Small business owners don’t always face the same challenges as big business, so it is vital we talk to them directly on policies that will impact them to ensure their feedback helps shape our plan, so we can boost productivity and create the right conditions for their businesses to grow.

List of attendees:
- Tina McKenzie – Policy Chair, FSB
- Shevaun Haviland – Director General, BCC
- Carly Canning – Founder, Happy Business School
- David Hudson – Founder, The HR Dept
- Kirsty Davies- Chinnock – Managing Director, Professional Polishing Services Ltd
- Roxanne Goodman – Founder, Female Founder Finance
- Chris Goodfellow – Managing Director, Inkwell
- Ian MacLean – Managing Director, John Smedley
- Jane O’Riordan – Chair, Caravan Restaurants
- Nick Mackenzie – CEO, Greene King
- Andrew Phillips – Managing Director, Carreg Construction
- Ruaridh Hesketh – Founder, Galloway Lodge
- Ben Knowles – CEO, Pedal Me
- Clive Price – Manager, Barons Pubs
September 13, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Government puts workers at the heart of new and improved Port Talbot deal [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 11 September 2024.

The government has announced a new, improved Port Talbot deal for workers which has been agreed with Tata Steel and Trade Unions.
- Negotiations deliver improved redundancy terms and a skills package for employees who want to earn whilst they retrain
- Commitment from Tata Steel to work with the Government to evaluate future investment opportunities
- Government to publish a Steel Strategy next Spring, developed with industry, to ensure bright and sustainable future for UK steelmaking
The workers of Port Talbot are set to get a better deal after co-operative negotiations between Tata Steel and Trade Unions – marking a new, grown-up era in industrial relations.

The new and improved deal goes much further than the previous government’s agreement – delivering a minimum voluntary redundancy payout of £15,000 for full-time employees plus a £5000 ‘retention’ payment and offering paid-for training to give workers a steady income and upskill them for the jobs of the future.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

Port Talbot has always been and will always be a steelmaking town. This deal does what previous deals failed to do – give hope for the future of steelmaking in South Wales.

Steel is fundamental to the UK’s economy, sovereignty, and communities, but previous government inaction has blighted the steelmaking industry. That’s why this Government is taking strong action through a new deal and strategy which will reverse the industry’s stagnation and set out a long-term vision for a bright and sustainable future.

We know that a cleaner, greener future for UK steelmaking is vital to the industry’s long-term economic stability. The road ahead is not without its challenges but our steel strategy will set forth a positive vision for the future of the industry, backed by our manifesto commitment to £3 billion of government investment.

Under the new deal:
- Alongside making the largest investment in the UK steel industry in decades, Tata Steel has also committed to work with the government to evaluate new investments in steel.
- Tata will offer staff at risk of compulsory redundancy a comprehensive training programme as an alternative, providing recognised qualifications in sought-after skills.
- Employees on this training programme will be on full pay for the first month and £27,000 per annum for 11 months following. These salary costs will be funded by Tata Steel, which also anticipates that at least 500 new jobs will be created to support the construction of the Electric Arc Furnace.
- A minimum redundancy payment of £15,000 pro-rota plus a ‘retention’ payment of £5,000 will be received by employees leaving the business. The Business and Trade Secretary stressed the need to reduce compulsory redundancies where possible, and 2,000 staff members have expressed interest in voluntary redundancy under this deal.
- Tata has offered its most generous voluntary redundancy package ever for a restructure of this size. Employees who choose redundancy will be paid 2.8 weeks’ earnings for each year of service, up to a maximum of 25 years.
The new deal will come at no additional cost to taxpayers and the government’s contribution to the construction remains £500 million. Watertight conditions within the grant funding agreement will ensure that the government can claw back investment should Tata Steel not fulfill its commitments. This includes increased penalty payments should the company not retain 5,000 jobs across its UK business post transformation.

The future of Port Talbot and the steel sector is a shared priority of the UK and Welsh governments. The government is taking a new approach to relations with the nations and regions – resetting the relationship with the Welsh Government to one of close partnership that will deliver a prosperous future for steel in Wales.

The Business and Trade Secretary will also announce today that a new strategy for the steel sector will be published in Spring 2025 after consultation with industry and stakeholders.

It follows Tata’s decision in January to close both blast furnaces at its Port Talbot site, putting 2,800 jobs at risk.

In early July, the future of the site was thrown into doubt as the deal threatened to collapse in polling week, which could have led to more serious consequences for the long-term viability of the whole company. The renegotiation, delivered at pace in the government’s first ten weeks, will enable the transformation project to proceed.

The deal with Tata Steel – agreed on Tuesday 10th September in a meeting between the Prime Minister, the Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Tata’s Chair Natarajan Chandrasekaran – represents only the beginning of government’s ambitions for the industry. It is the start of a bright future that harnesses industrialisation and decarbonisation as pillars for a long-term and clear strategy.

Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, said:

This improved deal secures the immediate future of Port Talbot steelworks, lays the foundations for future investment, and enhances protections for the workforce across South Wales, all without further cost to the taxpayer.

As well as negotiating a better deal than the previous government, we have already released millions of pounds of funding from the Transition Board to support businesses and workers in Port Talbot and across south Wales.

While this is a very difficult time for Tata workers, their families and the community, this government is determined to support workers and businesses in our Welsh steel industry, whatever happens.

With the help of independent experts, the government will review the viability of technologies for the production of primary steel including Direct Reduced Iron (DRI). More information about the review will follow in due course.

In an oral statement in the House of Commons the Business and Trade Secretary is also expected to commit to using the new Procurement Act to help deliver value for money, economic growth, and social value through public procurements, including for the steel sector.

ENDS

Background
- £2.5 billion of government investment, in addition to the £500 million allocated to Port Talbot, will rebuild the industry and help it decarbonise.
- As part of deal, Tata Steel will also be releasing 385 acres of their site for redevelopment, valuable real estate which will help bring in more companies and employers not just from the steel sector but from a whole host of other industries.
- 500 job roles are expected to be created to construct the Electric Arc Furnace.
- An Electric Arc Furnace uses an electric current to melt scrap steel or iron and produce steel, whereas blast furnaces use coke, a carbon-intensive fuel made from coal to produce steel.
- Tata Steel’s transformation project will reduce the UK’s overall CO2 emissions by around 1.5%.
- The Steel Strategy will examine how the government can increase steel capacity and capability in the UK. It will identify gaps in current capabilities, assessing future UK steel demand and helping to inform investment decisions which will support economic growth.
- Tata Steel will work with HMG to explore the business case for further investment opportunities in upstream and downstream assets, subject to feasibility.
September 13, 2024