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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : 93 Pakistanis heading to UK on fully funded Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : 93 Pakistanis heading to UK on fully funded Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 September 2024.

    Pakistani students from every corner of the country have been given British High Commissioner Jane Marriott’s top tips for living in the UK, ahead of a year studying at British universities.

    This year marks the 65th anniversary of the Commonwealth Scholarship programme, and 46 Chevening and 47 Commonwealth scholarships have been awarded to Pakistanis. These long-standing programmes have developed a network of over 1,500 Commonwealth and nearly 2,000 Chevening alumni in Pakistan, who regularly meet to discuss live issues.

    Scholars come from diverse backgrounds, representing the rich cultural tapestry of Pakistan. This year’s cohort come from Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, Pakistan Administered Kashmir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and the Federal Capital Territory. Over 60% of this year’s Chevening scholars are women. The British High Commission strongly encourages people from all backgrounds and across Pakistan to apply.

    British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said:

    “The Chevening programme helps develop a new generation of Pakistani leaders and changemakers. Many of our alumni have gone one to achieve extraordinary things back home. Not only do they get the benefit of studying at some of the best universities in the world, they also get to experience the best of living in the UK. From climate studies to football coaching, I am looking forward to seeing what they achieve, and encourage all those interested to apply early.”

    Fareeha Gull Hashmi, Assistant Manager of Oral History Project Citizens Archive of Pakistan and upcoming Chevening scholar, said:

    “I am thrilled to be joining the University of Essex for my MA in Heritage and Museum Studies. This programme is exactly what I was looking for to help me on my journey to improve heritage and cultural preservation in Pakistan. I can’t wait for my journey to begin.”

    The cohort includes those on a scholarship in Football Science, with the support of Swindon Town Football Club. For the first time, this year’s cohort also saw an additional scholarship for Heritage and Museum Studies with the support of Essex University. This scholarship will cover tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs. This, and a University of Essex Scholarship for Climate Studies, are again available in this year’s application cycle, as are additional scholarships from the University of Birmingham.

    This month, the British High Commission launched Chevening Connect in Karachi, a new debate series bringing together industry experts and Chevening alumni. The first debate, on tackling climate, looked at the technical, economic and political leadership needed to support Pakistan with adaptation and resilience.

    Notes to editors

    • Applications for Chevening Scholarships to study in the UK from 2025-26 will close on 5 November. Applications for the South Asia Journalism Programme, a two-month journalism fellowship with the University of Westminster, are open and will close on 10 October. Applications for the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies fellowship, a five-month fellowship, are open and will close on 5 November 2024. To find out more about eligibility and to apply, visit Chevening
    • Applications for the Commonwealth Scholarships for 2025-26 will open later this year. For more information, visit the CSC website at Homepage – Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (fcdo.gov.uk)
  • PRESS RELEASE : Government secures record pipeline of clean cheap energy projects [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government secures record pipeline of clean cheap energy projects [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 3 September 2024.

    Sixth renewables auction delivers record smashing 131 clean energy projects powering equivalent of 11 million homes.

    • After disappointing results in 2023, new results move Britain forward with mission to become clean energy superpower
    • new wind and solar farms to support mission to bring bills down and boost economic growth
    • offshore wind revitalised in the UK, righting the wrongs of previous auction round

    Millions of homes and businesses across Britain will be powered by a new supply of clean, cheap, homegrown energy as a record number of projects receive funding through the government’s most successful renewables auction to date.

    In a key milestone towards delivering clean power by 2030, the latest auction round delivered 131 new green infrastructure projects. This makes it the biggest round ever with significant numbers for onshore wind, solar and tidal energy, which will power the equivalent of 11 million British homes.

    The results are a marked improvement on the previous auction round in 2023, which saw zero offshore wind projects agreed.

    These successful results come after the government last month moved quickly to increase the budget by 50% – a record funding uplift and 7 times bigger than the previous round’s pot.

    As a result, offshore wind is back for business in UK waters – the backbone of the clean energy mission – with 9 contracts awarded including securing both what will be Europe’s largest and second largest windfarm projects, Hornsea 3 and Hornsea 4 off the Yorkshire coast.

    A new rollout of low-carbon electricity is a key step for UK energy independence and energy security, helping protect families and businesses from spiking global fossil fuel prices.

    Projects have been agreed at well below the upper limit on the price set for the auction – meaning the government has bought a record amount of clean power at much lower cost to consumers than the maximum price – providing value for money and cheap power.

    Funding awarded today will also help support new green jobs across the country, increasing prosperity in industrial heartlands and rural communities, and unlocking green economic growth from the Scottish Highlands to the Suffolk coast.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

    We inherited a broken energy policy, including last year’s disastrous auction round which gave us no successful offshore wind projects.

    Today we have now achieved a record-setting round for enough renewable power for 11 million homes, essential to give energy security to families across the country. It is another significant step forward in our mission for clean power by 2030 – bringing Britain energy independence and lower bills for good.

    These results show that together, this government and the energy industry are securing investment into our country. This auction has produced a record number of solar projects bolstering our mission for a solar revolution, we have powered forward with onshore wind, secured the largest commercial floating offshore wind project in the world and got the offshore industry back on its feet.

    As we accelerate our plan for clean power by 2030 the government will work with the industry on how we can build on this success to ensure we can go even further and faster to deliver the power we need.

    On the back of this successful auction, the Energy Secretary is working with the industry to accelerate ways that the Contracts for Difference system and other energy policies can be expanded, so that more renewable energy, including offshore wind, can be connected to the grid, and quicker.

    The 131 projects this year is the biggest auction to date – exceeding the 92 projects delivered in the last auction round.
    This includes:

    • the largest offshore windfarm project in Europe – the Hornsea 3 project off the Yorkshire coast
    • the largest floating offshore wind project in the world to reach market, Green Volt, which is double the size of Europe’s total installed floating offshore wind capacity
    • 6 new tidal projects, building on the UK’s world leading position, with just under half of the world’s operational tidal stream capacity being situated in UK waters
    • a combined 115 solar and onshore wind projects, which is more than the total number of projects delivered in the last auction round

    Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

    Securing new wind turbines, solar panels and cutting-edge technologies such as tidal will boost growth, catalyse investment and support good jobs across Great Britain.

    We’ve done this while ensuring value for money for billpayers, delivering the biggest auction round to date at competitive prices, helping turbocharge our mission for energy independence and clean power by 2030.

    CEO of Low Carbon Contracts Company, Neil McDermott, said:

    We are delighted with the outcome of Allocation Round 6 (AR6) which has awarded contracts to the largest number of projects ever.

    The results of AR6 increase our total renewable electricity CfD portfolio to 39GW and 372 contracts. CfDs support technologies including offshore and onshore wind, solar, as well as emerging technologies of floating wind, tidal and geothermal.

    The success of this allocation round not only boosts our ability to decarbonise the economy and enhance energy security, but also unlocks exciting new opportunities for innovation and growth. We look forward to working closely with our new generators to deliver these projects, accelerating the delivery of net zero and a sustainable, low-carbon future.

    Today’s announcement is the latest step the government has taken to accelerate the mission for clean, secure power by 2030. In just 3 months the government has:

    • lifted the ban on onshore wind in England
    • launched Great British Energy in partnership with the Crown Estate, backed by £8.3 billion of new money, which is estimated to create up to 20-30GW of new offshore wind developments reaching seabed lease stage by 2030
    • approved 3 major solar farms powering the equivalent of around 400,000 new homes
    • launched its Clean Energy Mission Control centre, led by former Climate Change Committee Chief Executive Chris Stark, to accelerate the deployment of clean power

    All these measures combined will support the mission to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030 and hit net zero in 2050, helping transform the country into a clean energy superpower.

    Notes to editors

    Funding is awarded through the government’s Contracts for Difference scheme which provides developers with subsidies for clean electricity projects across Britain with a built-in design to keep costs low for billpayers.

    When wholesale electricity prices are high, generators pay back into the scheme with money passed back to consumers.  In recent years the cost of renewable energy has fallen below the market price for electricity, meaning that the scheme has paid money back to consumers, helping reduce energy bills.

    This was seen over Winter 2022/2023, when Contracts for Difference payments reduced the amount needed to fund government energy support schemes by around £18 per typical household.

    The homes powered estimate reflects the equivalent number of homes that could be powered based on an estimate of the annual generation from the capacity procured in AR6. It is not possible to continuously power a home through intermittent renewables – this capacity will work alongside the rest of the electricity system to power homes and businesses. The estimate is calculated using household consumption estimates sourced from the published Subnational Electricity and Gas Consumption Report and technology specific load factors published in the CfD Allocation Round 6 Standard Terms Notice. The actual generation will vary based on site specific factors.

    Comparisons of global offshore wind and floating offshore wind project sizes are based on analysis of RenewableUK EnergyPulse global projects data and include projects that have reached market (operational, under construction or secured financing).

    See the full list of Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6 results.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Crackdown to halt rise in phone thefts [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Crackdown to halt rise in phone thefts [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 3 September 2024.

    The government has pledged to crack down on ‘snatch thefts’ after this criminality soared by more than 150 per cent in the last year.

    An estimated 78,000 people had phones or bags grabbed from them on the streets, with policing intelligence suggesting that this is being driven by increased demand for second hand smartphones, both in the UK and overseas.

    To tackle this challenge head on, tech companies and manufacturers will be called to attend a Home Office summit on the issue, looking at the new innovations that could take on the illegal market. This will build on anti-theft smartphone features that some tech firms have already rolled out to protect their customers.

    The government will also task police chiefs to tackle this scourge in neighbourhood theft. Operation Opal, the national police intelligence unit will launch an intelligence probe to gather urgent intel on the criminals who steal mobile phones, and where these devices end up. This will provide a stronger picture of the stolen mobile phone market, and identify what more needs to be done to tackle the problem.

    Local police will also continue to surge police patrols in areas most at risk of serious violence, including robberies at knifepoint, with the government working with forces across the country to ensure that there is visible police presence in these hotspot areas to deter criminals and protect our communities.

    New Home Office analysis commissioned by ministers concerned by growing reports of this issue has revealed the following:

    • Crime Survey data estimates for the latest 12 months indicates the equivalent of more than 200 snatch thefts every day on streets across England and Wales, the highest rate in more than a decade, and almost 60 per cent higher than the annual average since 2012 to 2013
    • the latest Crime Survey estimates showed overall theft from the person, which includes snatch and stealth thefts as well as attempts to steal from the person, increased by more than a third in the past year
    • latest published estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales show that over one third (36 per cent) of theft from the person offences involved theft of a mobile phone in the past year

    Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said:

    With new phones coming to market and young people going back to school and university, many of us will have a new phone in our hands at this time of year. These figures are troubling and the government is determined to do whatever’s necessary to protect people entitled to walk the streets without the threat of robbery.

    As part of our Safer Streets mission, this new government is determined to crack down on snatch theft, knife-enabled robbery, and other crimes that make people feel unsafe in our communities, and we are working to get thousands more uniformed officers into our communities to restore neighbourhood policing.

    Phone companies must ensure that any stolen phones can be quickly, easily and permanently disabled, rather than re-registered for sale on the second-hand market, and we will be meeting them soon to discuss what further action is required to make that happen.

    If we work together, government, tech companies and law enforcement can break the business model of the phone thieves and moped gangs who rely on this trade.

    National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Personal Robbery, Commander Richard Smith, said:

    Personal robbery can have a devastating impact on victims, leaving them with trauma which can be lasting. Criminals often target some of the most vulnerable in society, such as children, with threats that violence may be used, making robbery particularly traumatic. We continue to target those habitual criminals responsible for prolific offending, whilst working to prevent young people from being into this type of offending.

    During Operation Calibre, our national police week of action against personal robbery, police forces targeted their activity in over 1,250 known hotspot areas, increasing our visibility and operational activity and arresting those intent on committing crime. However, we know that we cannot arrest our way out of this problem. Manufacturers and the tech industry have an important role in reducing opportunities for criminals to benefit from the re-sale of stolen handsets.

    There are several tips you can do to reduce the chances of you becoming a victim, included below. I encourage everyone to follow these and share them with family and friends. If in the unfortunate circumstances you are a victim of robbery, report it to the police or contact Crimestoppers.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Transport Secretary fires the starting gun on rail reform as Public Ownership Bill reaches final stages in Commons [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Transport Secretary fires the starting gun on rail reform as Public Ownership Bill reaches final stages in Commons [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 3 September 2024.

    • Louise Haigh launches plan to revitalise Britain’s railways and drastically improve services
    • Shadow Great British Railways to be established to deliver higher performing railway built on reliability, efficiency, and safety
    • it comes as the Public Ownership Bill progresses through Parliament today, putting the railways back in the hands of passengers

    Transport Secretary Louise Haigh today (3 September 2024) fired the starting gun on rail reform – ushering in a new era for our railways which puts passengers first.

    Today’s launch of Shadow Great British Railways (Shadow GBR) will set in motion a huge overhaul of the running of the rail network, bringing together leaders from the Department for Transport, Network Rail and publicly-owned operators.

    Shadow GBR will pave the way for Great British Railways – a new unified arm’s length body responsible for finally bringing track and train back together and overseeing both services and infrastructure.

    Today’s announcement comes as the government’s Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill continues its passage through the Commons, marking further progress in the Transport Secretary’s mission to put rail services back into the hands of the public.

    The landmark legislation reinforces the government’s relentless focus on reversing decades of delays, cancellations and unreliable services on Britain’s railways.

    It will prioritise passengers over private companies, putting the railways back on track, while saving taxpayers up to an estimated £150 million every year in fees alone in the process.

    The Transport Secretary has already started the work to modernise the railways – root and branch – so passengers are put first. She says this programme will save money for taxpayers and passengers and deliver a more reliable railway.

    As part of the plans for reform, the government has recognised the need to speed up training for drivers and is collaborating with the sector to build resilience and improve productivity. Following a consultation this summer on lowering the minimum age for drivers from 20 to 18, the government is reviewing the feedback and will lay out next steps in due course.

    Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said:

    Today, I am firing the starting gun on the biggest reforms to our railways in a generation. I am determined to end the chaos, delay and disruption faced by people on train journeys every day.

    Establishing Shadow Great British Railways marks a significant step towards delivering a unified railway with passengers at its heart by bringing together track and train, and by progressing the Passenger Railways Services Bill we’re one step closer to public ownership which will help put our railways back on track.

    This government will direct every penny into creating a stronger, more reliable rail network that works for everyone.

    This is about making the railways work for the people that use them – putting passengers first and driving up performance.

    Further measures set out by the Secretary of State today include the announcement of a new Rail Sale early next year, to tie in with celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of Britain’s passenger railways. Returning by popular demand, the sale will aim to encourage more people on to the railways by offering up to 50% off train tickets for a specific time period.

    On top of this, tap-in tap-out technology will be rolled out at a further 45 stations next year thanks to nearly £27 million of government funding, meaning simpler and more flexible train travel.

    Among these stations will be London Stansted, allowing smoother journeys for international passengers from train to plane. This follows 47 stations previously announced across the Southeast that are set to benefit from the technology in September.

    The reforms announced today would not be possible to deliver while industrial disputes are ongoing. That’s why the Transport Secretary is prioritising ending the longest national strike in the history of the railways, clearing the way for vital progress on the network.

    Just recently, following a series of positive talks led by government, ASLEF agreed to recommend a new pay proposal to its members which will now be put to members in a referendum.

    Establishing a Shadow Great British Railways, written ministerial statement.

    Rail stations receiving tap-in tap-out technology in 2025

    Rail station Train operating company
    Aylesbury Chiltern
    Aylesbury Vale Parkway Chiltern
    Great Missenden Chiltern
    Little Kimble Chiltern
    Monks Risborough Chiltern
    Princes Risborough Chiltern
    Saunderton Chiltern
    Stoke Mandeville Chiltern
    Wendover Chiltern
    Billericay Greater Anglia
    Bishop’s Stortford Greater Anglia
    Harlow Mill Greater Anglia
    Harlow Town Greater Anglia
    Hockley Greater Anglia
    Prittlewell Greater Anglia
    Rayleigh Greater Anglia
    Rochford Greater Anglia
    Roydon Greater Anglia
    Sawbridgeworth Greater Anglia
    Southend Victoria Greater Anglia
    Stansted Airport Greater Anglia
    Stansted Mountfitchet Greater Anglia
    Wickford Greater Anglia
    Chelmsford Greater Anglia
    Hatfield Peverel Greater Anglia
    Ingatestone Greater Anglia
    Witham Greater Anglia
    Southend Airport Greater Anglia (London Southend Airport)
    Ashtead GTR
    Box Hill and Westhumble GTR
    Dorking (Main) GTR
    Hurst Green GTR
    Leatherhead GTR
    Oxted GTR
    Welwyn North GTR
    Woldingham GTR
    Dormans GTR
    East Grinstead GTR
    Harlington GTR
    Knebworth GTR
    Leagrave GTR
    Lingfield GTR
    Luton GTR
    Reigate GTR
    Watton-at-Stone GTR
  • PRESS RELEASE : Defence Secretary welcomes Ukrainian counterpart to UK and confirms £1bn milestone in UK-administered fund [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Defence Secretary welcomes Ukrainian counterpart to UK and confirms £1bn milestone in UK-administered fund [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 3 September 2024.

    The milestone comes as the International Fund for Ukraine’s largest support package will start delivering this year.

    Urgent work to accelerate the delivery of the UK’s military support for Ukraine will be discussed between the Defence Secretary and his counterpart, Rustem Umerov, during a visit to London today.

    The visit comes during a milestone moment in international support for Ukraine, with eight countries from across the world having now joined the UK to provide more than £1 billion to the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), in a significant show of unity from Ukraine’s allies.

    It comes after the Prime Minister announced the IFU’s largest ever support package at the NATO Summit in July, with a £300m contract to supply 152mm artillery shells to supply Ukraine’s Soviet-era guns. He also confirmed £3bn of UK aid for Ukraine per year for as long as it takes.

    The Defence Secretary confirmed today the £300m contract has now been signed and is expected to deliver thousands of shells before the end of the year – providing a significant boost for Ukraine’s stockpiles and aligning with the Government’s acceleration of military support deliveries.

    Denmark, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Norway all confirmed their intent this summer to invest additional money in the Fund to purchase more drones to help on the frontline, as well as vital air defence capabilities to help shield Ukraine’s people and key infrastructure from relentless Russian bombardment.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey, said:

    UK military equipment continues to prove invaluable for Ukraine’s war effort. The ongoing defensive operation in Kursk underlines the crucial importance of continued support. And today’s milestone for the International Fund for Ukraine shows the value of working with our Allies to deliver that support.

    Our government is stepping up Britain’s support for Ukraine to fight Putin’s illegal invasion. We are speeding up deliveries of aid, with a much-needed ammunition package announced by the Prime Minister at NATO set to begin deliveries within months. We will continue to step up our support to help Ukraine achieve victory.

    In his first days as Defence Secretary, John Healey met President Zelenskyy and Minister Umerov in Ukraine, where he pledged to accelerate the delivery of the UK’s military support for Ukraine.

    The artillery ammunition contract, placed by Defence Equipment & Support – the MOD’s procurement arm – will deliver 120,000 newly-manufactured shells over the next 18 months, and will stimulate industrial capacity in Europe and safeguard reliable supply chains that will continue to provide Ukraine with vital ammunition.

    It follows previous packages of support from the IFU, which have delivered heavy-lift and reconnaissance drones, maritime drones, minefield-clearing capabilities, combat vehicle spares and air defence systems.

    The IFU was first launched by Denmark and the UK in 2022 to provide a more efficient way for countries to pool resources to buy equipment and weapons to support Ukraine’s most urgent capability needs. The UK has donated £500m to the Fund to date.

    With artillery having proved critical to Ukraine’s previous battlefield successes, this new investment will support them in further degrading Russia’s forces and preventing them from making significant breakthroughs.

    Other contributors to the IFU include Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. Further deliveries from the IFU’s other contracts will continue through the coming months.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with the President of the United Arab Emirates [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with the President of the United Arab Emirates [September 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 3 September 2024.

    The Prime Minister spoke to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates yesterday afternoon.

    The Prime Minister said he was pleased to have the opportunity to speak again so soon, following their first call shortly after the election in July.

    The leaders agreed that our countries share a strong and important bond and reiterated their commitment to deepening the relationship going forwards.

    They agreed to find a time to meet in person at the earliest opportunity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK continues reset with Europe as Minister visits Czech Republic and Slovenia to boost security ties [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK continues reset with Europe as Minister visits Czech Republic and Slovenia to boost security ties [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 September 2024.

    During a visit to the region, including Czech Republic and Slovenia, Minister Doughty attended the GLOBSEC forum in Prague and the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia.

    • Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty returns from Central Europe today, following first visit to the region since the election
    • visit focused on countering Russian hybrid threats and defending European security
    • UK reset with Europe also top of the agenda as minister met counterparts from across the region

    Security challenges facing Europe were at the top of the agenda during the first visit by Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty to Central Europe, concluding today (3 September).

    During a dual-leg visit to the region including stints in both the Czech Republic and Slovenia, the minister attended the GLOBSEC forum in Prague followed by the Bled Strategic Forum at Lake Bled in Slovenia.

    European security was front and centre of those conversations, as threats including disinformation, cyber-attacks, organised immigration crime and Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine continue to transpire across the continent.

    The visit comes as the UK continues work to reset the country’s relationship with Europe, an ambition grounded in a new spirit of co-operation intended to strengthen ties, tackle barriers to trade and collaborate in the face of shared global challenges from climate change to illegal migration.

    That reset was emphasised by the Prime Minister during a visit to Germany and France last week, and by the Foreign Secretary during his travels to Germany, Poland and Sweden in recent weeks. It has also been the focus of discussions by the European Union Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds in Brussels.

    Minister Doughty spoke at the GLOBSEC Forum, the premier Central and Eastern European security forum held in Prague this year, alongside counterparts from the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Moldova.

    At a panel event on countering Russian hybrid threats, the minister emphasised work being done by the UK and partners to degrade Russia’s network of spies and take action against Putin’s destabilising activity. This includes the largest and most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on Russia, and joint efforts in countering Russian disinformation intended to negatively influence elections across Europe.

    The minister then travelled to Slovenia for the Bled Strategic Forum, where he made clear that the UK will continue to support Slovenia in tackling the shared challenges of illegal migration and criminal gangs. The UK and Slovenia’s continued co-operation in this field follows discussions at this year’s European Political Community Summit in July, where the Prime Minister met Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, releasing a joint statement committing to further cooperation on tackling organised immigration crime.

    He also focused attention on promoting stability in the Western Balkans, amid increasing tensions and attempted interference from malign actors in the region.

    Speaking at a panel event at the Bled Strategic Forum, Minister Doughty said:

    As a new government to the UK, we are absolutely clear we are committed to multilateral systems, we’re committed to the rule of law, we’re committed to NATO.

    We’re committed to Ukraine; we’re committed to standing up to Russia; to Iran … and we’re committed to working with our allies whether that’s in the EU, whether that’s outside the EU in Europe; whether that’s across the transatlantic relationship or whether that’s around the World.

    Not only on those security challenges, but also on climate change, on growth and prosperity for people, on tackling poverty, on equal rights, on gender equality.

    During the visit, the minister also met Czech and Slovenian counterparts – Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Jan Marian, and Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, as well as Slovenian Foreign Minister Marko Stucin – to emphasise plans to pursue a positive, forward-looking relationship with allies across the region as part of the wider UK-Europe reset.

    The visit also builds upon progress made at Blenheim Palace during the European Political Community in July, where European nations underscored the strength of international support for Ukraine, and joint commitment to regional security.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government support extended to help struggling households with bills and essential costs over winter [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government support extended to help struggling households with bills and essential costs over winter [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 2 September 2024.

    Millions of vulnerable people to receive help this winter as the Work and Pensions Secretary extends the Household Support Fund.

    • £421 million boost for local authorities in England to help people most in need with the cost of their energy, food and water, with £79 million for devolved administrations
    • Immediate support comes alongside the government’s growth mission to rebuild Britain and make every part of the country better off

    Vulnerable households will receive support for the cost of essentials this winter, as the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announces an extension to the Household Support Fund for the next six months.

    The £421m extension gives certainty to Local Authorities across England over the winter months – up until April 2025 – as they work to help those struggling with the cost of energy, food, and water.

    Pensioners and others struggling to heat their homes or afford other essential items over the colder months should contact their local council to see what support may be available to them. Details on the latest scheme for local authorities and councils will be communicated in the coming weeks.

    Many councils also use the Fund beyond emergency support, including working with local charities and community groups to provide residents with key appliances, school uniforms, cookery classes, and items to improve energy efficiency in the home.

    An estimated £79 million will also be given to Devolved Administrations via the Barnett formula as the government leaves no stone unturned in ensuring every person – in every part of the country – has the foundations they need to be financially secure. Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can choose how to allocate this additional funding, as the UK government continues to work closely with them to help support vulnerable people.

    Given the dire economic inheritance, we had to take difficult decisions to put our public finances on a sustainable footing as we tackle the £22 billion black hole.

    1.3 million more people have fallen into poverty since 2010/11, with living standards falling by the largest year-on-year drop since records began in 2022/23. For over a decade people have also been denied the security and dignity that good work affords with more than a near record 2.8 million people out of work due to sickness.

    As we continue our work to deliver growth, make work pay and develop our child poverty strategy in the long term, the extension of the Fund prevents councils and vulnerable households experiencing an immediate cliff edge of support with a tough winter ahead.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, said:

    The £22 billion blackhole inherited from the previous governments means we have to take tough decisions to fix the foundations of our economy.

    But extending the Household Support Fund is the right thing to do – provide targeted support for those who need it most as we head into the winter months.

    Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall MP, said:

    We are extending the Household Support Fund for the next six months because it is a lifeline for people who are struggling with the cost of living.

    The dire inheritance we face means more people are living in poverty now than 14 years ago – and this Government is taking immediate action to prevent a cliff edge of support for the most vulnerable in our society.

    At the same time, we are taking action to fix the foundations of our country through our plans to grow the economy, make work pay, and Get Britain Working again.

    The government is exploring options around how best to provide sustainable support to vulnerable households in the longer term while the ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce develops an ambitious strategy to tackle the root causes of poverty, and the Get Britain Working White Paper, to be set out in the Autumn, will develop measures to reduce inactivity and help people to find better paid and more secure jobs.

    By growing the economy and unlocking investment through the National Wealth Fund; launching Great British Energy to drive home-grown clean energy and lower bills; making work pay and developing a new Child Poverty Strategy to give children the best start in life – the Government is looking at all levers available to unlock the potential of millions across the country and give them the platform they need to thrive.

    Additional Information

    • The Household Support Fund is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions and delivered by Local Authorities in England. It can be used to help vulnerable residents with energy and water bills, food and other essential items.
    • People can find their council here.
    • Barnett consequentials for Devolved Governments will be finalised in due course.
    • In 2022/23, there were 1.3 million more people in relative poverty after housing costs than in 2010/11.
    • In 2022/23, living standards, as measured by RHDI per capita, fell by 2.1 per cent, the largest year-on-year drop since records began in the 1950s.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Single headline Ofsted grades scrapped in landmark school reform [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Single headline Ofsted grades scrapped in landmark school reform [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 2 September 2024.

    Government pushes ahead with reform agenda by scrapping single headline Ofsted judgements for schools with immediate effect.

    Single headline grades for schools will be scrapped with immediate effect to boost school standards and increase transparency for parents, the government has announced today.

    Reductive single headline grades fail to provide a fair and accurate assessment of overall school performance across a range of areas and are supported by a minority of parents and teachers.

    The change delivers on the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and demonstrates the Prime Minister’s commitment to improve the life chances of young people across the country.

    For inspections this academic year, parents will see four grades across the existing sub-categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership & management.

    This reform paves the way for the introduction of School Report Cards from September 2025, which will provide parents with a full and comprehensive assessment of how schools are performing and ensure that inspections are more effective in driving improvement. Recent data shows that reports cards are supported by 77% of parents.

    The government will continue to intervene in poorly performing schools to ensure high school standards for children.

    Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said:

    The need for Ofsted reform to drive high and rising standards for all our children in every school is overwhelmingly clear. The removal of headline grades is a generational reform and a landmark moment for children, parents, and teachers.

    Single headline grades are low information for parents and high stakes for schools. Parents deserve a much clearer, much broader picture of how schools are performing – that’s what our report cards will provide.

    This government will make inspection a more powerful, more transparent tool for driving school improvement. We promised change, and now we are delivering.

    As part of today’s announcement, where schools are identified as struggling, government will prioritise rapidly getting plans in place to improve the education and experience of children, rather than relying purely on changing schools’ management.

    From early 2025, the government will also introduce Regional Improvement Teams that will work with struggling schools to quickly and directly address areas of weakness, meeting a manifesto commitment.

    The Education Secretary has already begun to reset relations with education workforces, supporting the Government’s pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers, and reform to Ofsted marks another key milestone.

    Today’s announcement follows engagement with the sector and family of headteacher Ruth Perry, after a coroner’s inquest found the Ofsted inspection process had contributed to her death.

    The government will work closely with Ofsted and relevant sectors and stakeholders to ensure that the removal of headline grades is implemented smoothly.

    Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind, said:

    We welcome the decision by the Secretary of State to prioritise Ofsted reform. The move to end single-word judgements as soon as practical, whilst giving due care and attention to constructing a new and sustainable accountability framework during the year ahead, is the right balance for both schools and parents.

    Most parents understand the need for school inspection, but they want that inspection to help schools to improve as well as giving a verdict on the quality of education their children are receiving. When we spoke to parents about what was important to them, their children being happy at school was a big talking point and should not be overlooked.

    Parents have been very clear that they want to see changes to the way Ofsted reports back after visiting a school, and it is welcome to see a clear timetable being set out today for moving towards a report card that will give parents greater clarity of the performance of their children’s school. We need to make sure that we get this right for parents, as well as schools.

    There is much more we can do to include the voice of parents in Ofsted inspections and reform of our school system, and today’s announcement is a big step in the right direction.

    Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of National Association of Headteachers, said:

    The scrapping of overarching grades is a welcome interim measure. We have been clear that simplistic one-word judgements are harmful, and we are pleased the government has taken swift action to remove them.

    School leaders recognise the need for accountability but it must be proportionate and fair and so we are pleased to see a stronger focus on support for schools instead of heavy-handed intervention.

    There is much work to do now in order to design a fundamentally different long-term approach to inspection and we look forward to working with government to achieve that.

    Where necessary, in cases of the most serious concern, government will continue to intervene, including by issuing an academy order, which may in some cases mean transferring to new management. Ofsted will continue to identify these schools – which would have been graded as inadequate.

    The government also currently intervenes where a school receives two or more consecutive judgements of ‘requires improvement’ under the ‘2RI’ policy. With the exception of schools already due to convert to academies this term, this policy will change. The government will now put in place support for these schools from a high performing school, helping to drive up standards quickly.

    Today’s changes build on the recently announced Children’s Wellbeing Bill, which will put children at the centre of education and make changes to ensure every child is supported to achieve and thrive.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK suspends around 30 arms export licences to Israel for use in Gaza over International Humanitarian Law concerns [September 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK suspends around 30 arms export licences to Israel for use in Gaza over International Humanitarian Law concerns [September 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 September 2024.

    The government has taken the decision that the UK will suspend arms export licences to Israel for use in military operations in Gaza, following a review of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.

    • government announces immediate suspension of around 30 licences for items used in the current conflict in Gaza which go to the IDF, from a total of approximately 350 licences to Israel
    • UK assessment concludes there is a clear risk certain military exports to Israel might be used in violations of International Humanitarian Law
    • Foreign Secretary underlines our support for Israeli security
    • sanctions announced against 3 individuals within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force and an IRGC unit for threatening the stability of the Middle East

    The government has taken the decision that the UK will suspend arms export licences to Israel for use in military operations in Gaza, following a review of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.

    The UK’s robust export licensing criteria states that the government will not issue export licences if the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law.

    The suspension will not change the UK’s steadfast support for Israel’s security, and the decision will be kept under review.

    On day one in office, the Foreign Secretary commissioned a thorough review into Israel’s compliance with International Humanitarian Law, and has travelled to Israel twice since being appointed to the role to understand the situation on the ground.

    These assessments have led to serious concerns about aspects of Israel’s compliance, and the government has concluded there is a clear risk that items exported to Israel under these 30 licences might be used in serious violations of IHL and is therefore suspending certain exports immediately from today.

    It comes after repeated calls by UK ministers for Israel to do more to ensure lifesaving food and medical supplies reach civilians in Gaza, and for improved treatment and access to detainees.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

    Facing a conflict such as this, it is this government’s legal duty to review export licences.

    It is with regret that I inform the House today, the assessment I have received finds that for certain UK arms exports to Israel there exists a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law.

    Therefore today we are announcing the suspension of around 30 export licences to Israel as required under the Export Controls frameworks.

    The UK continues to support Israel’s right to self-defence in accordance with international law.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    Our world renowned defence industry operates under one of the most robust export licence regimes in the world, and we have a duty to uphold both our domestic and international legal obligations.

    That is why after assessing the latest available advice, I have taken the difficult decision to suspend certain arms licences for exports from the UK to Israel. By suspending these licences, I am fulfilling our commitment to avoiding the risk that UK exports could be used in IHL violations in the Gaza conflict. There will remain however an important commitment to maintaining the F-35 programme which is integral to international security.

    The suspension will apply to around 30 items used in the current conflict in Gaza which go to the IDF, from a total of 350 licences to Israel. The list of suspended items includes important components which go into military aircraft, including fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones as well as items which facilitate ground targeting, that would be used in Gaza.

    There are a number of export licences which we have assessed are not for military use in the current conflict in Gaza and therefore do not require suspension.

    These include items that are not being used by the IDF in the current conflict (such as trainer aircraft or other naval equipment), and other, non-military items.  Export licences cover a range of products including things such as food-testing chemicals, telecoms and data equipment.

    UK components for the multi-national F-35 joint strike fighter programme will be excluded from this decision, except where going directly to Israel.

    Any suspension of those pooled parts is not possible without having a significant effect on the global F35 fleet with serious implications for international peace and security.

    Today the Foreign Secretary has also announced sanctions against 3 individuals within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force and an IRGC unit for threatening the stability of the Middle East.

    These targets seek to destabilise the region by sponsoring and providing weapons to Iranian proxy groups and partners across the region such as Lebanese-Hizbollah.