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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Warring parties must fully comply with international humanitarian law and protect civilians – UK statement at the UN Security Council [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Warring parties must fully comply with international humanitarian law and protect civilians – UK statement at the UN Security Council [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2024.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

    Thank you, President. Let me start by thanking Mozambique for convening this important debate and thank all our briefers, today, for their powerful presentations.

    The Secretary-General’s latest report on the protection of civilians presents a stark picture: a 72% increase in civilian deaths in armed conflict from 2022 to 2023; 117 million people experiencing conflict-related hunger; and a ten-fold increase in persons with disabilities in Ukraine due to conflict.

    The United Kingdom is also concerned about escalating violence in El Fasher, Sudan, the deaths of civilians in Israel and Gaza, and the shocking levels of conflict-related sexual violence in the central Sahel and the DRC, among many other grave situations.

    We should reverse these trends by taking a comprehensive approach to protection.  I wish to make three points today.

    Firstly, warring parties must fully comply with international humanitarian law and uphold their obligations to protect civilians. They must respect the special rights, needs, and vulnerabilities of children affected by conflict. We call on states to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. This includes in Sudan where the UK’s atrocity monitoring work investigates attacks against civilians and infrastructure, and monitors hate speech and incitement of violence across the country.

    Second, we urge all states to take practical steps to improve international humanitarian law implementation, which in turn will enhance protection. The UK is updating our voluntary report on domestic implementation of IHL, with a strong focus on the protection of civilians. We encourage others to undertake similar exercises.

    Third, the protection of civilians should always be prioritised in peacekeeping missions. The UK is supporting peacekeepers with training on preventing conflict-related sexual violence, and our programming is increasing the participation of women in uniformed roles and helping to address misinformation and disinformation about missions. We call on member states to deepen their support to peacekeepers to ensure that UN peacekeeping remains an effective tool to protect civilians.

    President, to conclude, I stress the importance of working to prevent conflict. And I note that in his long list of events in Ukraine, our Russian colleague forgot to mention the fact that this all could have been avoided without the illegal invasion and aggression against Ukraine.

    We must invest in anticipating the risks, working in partnership with national governments and local organisations to address the drivers of conflict. Progress in this area would go some way to ending the harm facing civilians around the world.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Government working hand in hand with Australia to promote trade in legal and tech services [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Government working hand in hand with Australia to promote trade in legal and tech services [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 13 May 2024.

    Legal and technology professionals on opposite sides of the world are set to benefit from bolstered connections between the UK and Australia through the UK Government’s GREAT Legal Services campaign’s latest programme of events.

    • Minister Freer visits Australia as part of GREAT Legal Services campaign to promote the UK legal and tech sectors
    • Trip to build on a free-trade deal between the UK and Australia to reduce trade barriers and promote further economic prosperity
    • Last year’s conference generated millions of pounds of business deals for lawtechs

    Taking place over the next 2 days (13 and 14 May 2024), Justice Minister Mike Freer will lead a delegation of UK professionals specialising in legal tech services – and builds on the success of last year’s conference which resulted in millions of pounds worth of business deals.

    They will interact with Australian professionals through a series of workshops, roundtables and networking events arranged in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade.

    This will support UK lawtechs – companies which make technology or software to provide legal services – to win business and grow their market presence in Australia. Figures show UK legal services providers already exported £88 million worth of business to Australia in 2023.

    The trip will help develop a pipeline of Australian legal tech firms to be set up or expand in the UK, further cement the UK’s position as a world leader in legal services and legal technology and support smaller regional firms to trade internationally.

    Built around Sydney’s annual Legal Innovation and Tech Fest, this is the second year in a row a programme of events to facilitate legal knowledge sharing between the legal sectors of both countries will take place. Companies who attended last May reported business wins of £16.5 million.

    Justice Minister, Mike Freer, said:

    I’m proud of our legal services’ world-leading reputation and that’s exactly why I’m visiting Australia as well as Singapore – so we can continue sharing our expertise with others and learn from them to maintain our competitive edge.

    Importantly, promoting the UK’s legal and tech sectors abroad helps build connections and ultimately bring investment back to the UK – just as we’ve seen from the success of last year’s conference which resulted in millions of pounds worth of business deals.

    The delegation is made up of legal tech firms from across the UK with a range of innovative solutions, including some already turning over £20 million a year. For example, Avvoka, a legal tech firm, are expert in legal document automation – meaning they create automated templates using software for legal documents such as contracts – and already have clients around the world, including in the US, Singapore and Australia.

    Of particular interest to Australian counterparts is learning more about how the UK Government supports innovation in the lawtech sector and whether any initiatives such as LawtechUK – a government-backed initiative dedicated to driving digital transformation in the legal sector – could be replicated, where the UK is seen as a global leader.

    British Consul General and Deputy Trade Commissioner Asia Pacific, Louise Cantillon said:

    I am delighted to welcome Minister Freer and these eight UK legal tech companies, who epitomise the evolution of legal tech in the UK and are eager to understand and engage with the Australian market.

    Australia and the UK have a long legal history together, and we have entered a new and exciting era in our bilateral relations as we approach the anniversary of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement’s entry into force. The FTA has created new legal and professional services opportunities for both countries, and strengthened the exchange of talent, ideas, and innovation.

    A full programme of events is taking place from 9 to 17 May 2024 in Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne. In Singapore, Minister Freer will be looking at the latest technology on probate, court transcripts, AI and discussing how to reduce the legal services regulatory barriers for British lawyers. In Australia, the minister is leading a trade delegation of lawtech companies.

    The visit progresses wider UK Government interests in boosting bilateral trade and cooperation with Australia, including the utilisation of a free-trade deal which came into force nearly a year ago to reduce the barriers to exchanging goods and services.

    This is part of the government being able to secure unprecedented legal services market access commitments in four Free Trade Agreements (EU, EEA-EFTA, Australia and New Zealand) covering £2 billion worth of UK legal services exports.

    Notes to editors

    • The UK-Australia FTA provides certainty for legal-tech companies that UK lawyers can advise on home (UK), foreign and international law in Australia using their UK titles and qualification, without needing to requalify again Australia. The Legal Services Regulatory Dialogue, a forum of key representatives from both countries’ legal sectors which was established in the FTA, facilitates greater knowledge and expertise sharing, and has  committed to exploring closer UK-Australia cooperation on emerging issues relating to legal technology and artificial intelligence. More information can be found on the GREAT website
    • More information on the GREAT Legal Services campaign can be found on Linkedin
    • The GREAT Legal Services campaign works to showcase the UK’s world-leading legal sector around the globe and make connections between UK legal professionals and counterparts in other countries. In the past year, this has included events in Singapore, Kenya, Tanzania, France and South Africa, as well as engagement with the legal sector in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Leeds, and targeted media and social media activity.
  • PRESS RELEASE : New prison punishments introduced to curb bad behaviour [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New prison punishments introduced to curb bad behaviour [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 13 May 2024.

    Prisoners who break the rules while behind bars face new community payback-style punishments like repair work and litter picking, under tough prison rules to be set out this week.

    • community payback-style punishments to be imposed for the first time in prisons
    • repairs, cleaning and litter-picking among new penalties for bad behaviour
    • tougher penalties, including additional prison time, remain for more serious offences

    For the first time, Governors will be able to impose “payback punishments” on prisoners who behave badly in jail, such as damaging prison property or being disrespectful to staff.

    Punishments will vary from prison to prison, but could include repairing broken items, clearing shared or disused spaces, and litter picking. Offenders who refuse to carry out their payback punishment could have their prison work earnings blocked or privileges forfeited.

    These new powers will build on the action Governors can already take if an offender commits a crime while behind bars.

    It will remain the case that in the most serious incidents, for example sexual assault or selling drugs, tougher prison punishments could be handed out. In these cases, the crime will be reported to the police and perpetrators face the prospect of new convictions and time behind bars.

    Prisons and Probation Minister Ed Argar said:

    Discipline is the cornerstone of a prison that is safe for staff and where offenders are put on track to become law-abiding citizens.

    Unruly behaviour is not tolerated and these new punishments will help force prisoners to realise their disruptive actions have tough consequences.

    These punishments are inspired by the community payback schemes running in communities up and down the country where offenders are forced to clean up graffiti or fly-tipping and visibly atone for their crimes.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Defra considers potential new fund in drive to maximise value from R&D and innovation spending on agriculture and nature [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Defra considers potential new fund in drive to maximise value from R&D and innovation spending on agriculture and nature [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 May 2024.

    Experts can now apply to advise Defra on new ways to finance innovation and achieve a return on investment, including the possibility of a dedicated fund.

    The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today (Monday 13 May) announced the launch of a new expert advisory group to explore possible routes to generate commercial returns for the taxpayer from the department’s R&D and innovation spending, including through a potential new fund.

    Defra is inviting leading experts in academia, business and the financial sector to apply to join the group, which will explore how to best deliver funding to support innovative projects while increasing value for money for the taxpayer. Those appointed will provide constructive and open challenge on a range of potential financing mechanisms, including a new dedicated fund supporting groundbreaking initiatives in the agri-tech and environmental sectors. Other arrangements could include joint ventures, revenue sharing arrangements, and the licensing of intellectual property to maximise the benefits of Defra’s agricultural and environmental R&D and innovation spending, while boosting productivity and economic growth.

    Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Science and technology are fundamental to strengthening our food security, enhancing nature and protecting our environment.

    From new technologies driving more productive and sustainable farming to maps and models for managing invasive species, research and development has the potential to transform the way we manage our land and feed our nation.

    We are now recruiting for a specialist advisory group to explore options for a more commercial approach to Defra’s R&D and innovation funding, from revenue sharing to setting up a dedicated new fund for innovation whilst offering the taxpayer a return on their investment.

    I encourage anyone with expertise in the fields of finance, venture capital, intellectual property and innovation to apply.

    Defra’s R&D budget supports the development of new technologies and innovation, often via grants. However, organisations can face challenges accessing finance for scaling up and commercialising their products or services, causing them to miss commercial opportunities or lose out to international competition. The new Advisory Group will explore how Defra can support innovators to overcome barriers such as these, whilst examining how taxpayers could benefit from a share in their commercial success, where this has resulted from public funding.

    A Chair and seven members will be appointed ahead of an inaugural meeting later this year and an expected committee duration of three months. Apply for the Chair’s role here and/or to join the board here. The deadline for applications is midday on Monday 3 June.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK fishing industry to benefit from cutting-edge technology to help manage fish stocks [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK fishing industry to benefit from cutting-edge technology to help manage fish stocks [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 May 2024.

    Use of cameras, gear sensors and GPS units will help improve the sustainability of UK fish stocks.

    The sustainability of UK fish stocks will be better safeguarded through the use of technology to monitor and manage fishing activity in English waters, the government has announced today (13 May).

    The technology – known as Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) – involves using camera, gear sensors and GPS units to make sure that catches are accurately recorded and fish are not unlawfully thrown back into the sea. The data captured will support the fishing industry to manage stocks sustainably and give retailers and consumers greater confidence about the sustainability of our fish.

    Volunteers within five priority fisheries will begin to use REM systems from this summer, with their work helping to refine the UK’s monitoring objectives and ensure the technology works for fishers.

    Once monitoring objectives have been finalised and the REM systems are demonstrated to be working well, REM systems will become mandatory for all vessels in those fisheries – including non-UK vessels.

    The information delivered through REM will support the long-term profitability of the sector and help to build the UK’s food resilience and security.

    Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:

    Leaving the EU has given us the opportunity to take a new approach to fisheries management that is in the best interests of the UK fishing industry.

    By harnessing this technology, we can sustainably manage our fish stocks, to benefit the industry, future generations, and our marine environment.

    A different approach to managing discards will also be adopted in England, with changes to be made to better account for catches. From 2025, landings and discards will both be counted against quota allocations, and the amount of quota used to cover discards will vary and will depend on the type of vessel and gear types used.

    In addition to this, discard reduction schemes will be established to identify ways to reduce unwanted catch in the first instance. Working collaboratively with regulators and the industry, the schemes will identify and resolve barriers to improved gears being used.

    Fishers will start to see both approaches implemented at the start of next year.

    Further information:

  • PRESS RELEASE : World-leading 3D printer used by British Army in the field for first time [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : World-leading 3D printer used by British Army in the field for first time [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 13 May 2024.

    A cutting-edge 3D printer is being used by the British Army for the first time in the field on the largest NATO deployment in Europe in a generation.

    9 Theatre Support Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, are using the technology to make spare parts for vehicles as well as print vital modifications to battle-winning equipment on NATO exercise Steadfast Defender – the largest NATO deployment in Europe in a generation.

    The Army’s use of both metal and plastic mobile printers in the field, which can be easily transported between locations, is the first time in the world the technology has been used by any military in direct support of a large-scale NATO Exercise.

    With the ability to produce metal parts from the back of a truck in less than an hour, 3D cold metal printing can eliminate the need for parts to be shipped out for repair, saving on transport costs and time.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    This world-leading technology is another excellent example of how Britain is at the very forefront of innovation in Defence, providing our exemplary Armed Forces with a faster way to respond flexibly in the field.

    The recent increase in Defence spending is crucial to ensuring that our people have the right kit, at the right time. Examples like this demonstrate that we are leading the way in developing new technologies to empower our Armed Forces and give them what they need to defend our nation.

    The metal printed technology works by using computer-aided design to digitally produce a component. A fine metal powder, such as copper, aluminium, or steel, is then fired through a nozzle at three times the speed of sound as a mechanical arm shapes the component, building the object one layer at a time. Once constructed, the component is then subjected to post-processing such as heat treating, milling, and finishing.

    The printer is currently being used to maintain older vehicles such as the Land Rover by printing harder-to-obtain spare parts. Ambitions for the future include having catalogues of components for new fleets of vehicles such as BOXER and AJAX, so parts can be printed on demand in the field.

    Lieutenant Colonel John Anthistle, Commanding Officer of 9 Theatre Support Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers said:

    This equipment gives the Army the flexibility it needs to make spares, components, and modifications to our equipment in the field, at point and time of need. Not only does it save us weeks and sometimes months of having to wait for replacement parts, it also enables us to print components which aren’t available anymore; conduct battle damage repair, and modify equipment to match changing threats.

    If you have a broken-down vehicle which needs to be back in the field the next day because it’s a vital piece of equipment, that’s where this technology comes in. It can reduce logistical issues, save money and critically, speed up getting battle-winning equipment back into the fight.

    The Australian military were the first to trial the technology on low level exercises, but whereas other countries also utilise 3D printing, it has remained static and employed in laboratory type environments. The British Army, along with industry-leading manufacturers have ‘ruggedised’ the high-tech process so that it can work in the field as a tactically deployed asset.

    The information to make certain metal parts can also be stored in a computer and shared with NATO partners.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government backs record numbers of female offenders into work [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government backs record numbers of female offenders into work [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 13 May 2024.

    More female offenders than ever recorded before are in work 6 months after their release from prison as a direct result of government action – cutting crime and keeping the public safe.

    • female offenders steered away from crime thanks to targeted support
    • over £14 million invested to address root causes of female offending
    • part of government strategy to reduce number of women committing crime

    More than £14 million has been invested into women’s services in the community as part of the government’s Female Offender Strategy and Delivery Plan, helping female offenders get clean, move away from abusive relationships, and find work and stable accommodation.

    One year on since its launch, hundreds of female offenders have been supported into employment after their release from prison – up four per cent on the previous year.

    Specialist services have also provided female offenders with tailored mental health or drug treatment support. The number of female offenders being sent to prison has reduced by over a quarter since 2010.

    This support is key to cutting crime as around one-third of female offenders have a history of drug abuse and more than three-fifths of women have experienced domestic abuse.

    Prisons and Probation Minister, Edward Argar, said:

    We know many female offenders have suffered trauma in their lives or are battling addiction issues and it’s key that we tackle those underlying factors to help stop their offending and to make positive choices about their futures.

    Our approach is clearly working as the number of women serving short sentences is falling and more women are now in work, giving them the best chance to truly turn their backs on crime and keep the public safe.

    Tackling the root causes of female offending and providing women with the specialist support they need is a key part of the delivery plan, which aims to steer women away from prison. The Government has completed over a third of the commitments since it was published last year.

    This is alongside the launch of a new Intensive Supervision Court for women at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court which uses a problem-solving approach to divert low-level female offenders away from short prison sentences.

    The women sentenced through the court will have one-to-one meetings with judges to track their progress as well as access to wraparound multi-agency support to target the root causes of their offending.

    Without this wider support, around half of women who have been in prison will go on to re-offend, hitting taxpayers in the pocket to the tune of a total of £1.7 billion a year.

    Willowdene Residential Women’s Centre in Shropshire is one organisation that is receiving nearly £690,000 in funding between 2022 and 2025 to continue their support for vulnerable women through employment and life-skills training.

    Matt Home, Director of the Willowdene Rehabilitation Centre, said:

    Our approach has demonstrated that when we focus on the reasons why people commit crime or live a chaotic lifestyle then lives are transformed.

    The majority of women referred to Willowdene for committing an offence are victims and we believe that if we can deal with the trauma of their past then lives can be rebuilt – and that everyone should have the opportunity to realise their full potential.

    Notes to editors

    • the publication and the data dashboard can be viewed on GOV.UK
    • in 2022 to 2023, 233 women were employed at 6 months post-release, compared to 164 in 2021 to 2022. This is the highest the number has been since this data was first recorded in 2020
    • over 250 mental health treatment requirements were undertaken between April to June last year; an increase of 53.6% from the same period in 2022
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK joins European super-computing scheme as world-class British researchers now able to bid for funding [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK joins European super-computing scheme as world-class British researchers now able to bid for funding [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 13 May 2024.

    British researchers, businesses and academics will have enhanced access to future supercomputer research funding from today (Monday 13 May) as the UK joins the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC).

    • The UK joins a world-class European supercomputing eco-system and unlocks an enhanced share of the Horizon funded portion, worth £770 million from 2021-2027
    • EuroHPC brings together supercomputing resources from across 35 countries, boasting eight supercomputers based in every corner of the continent, from Portugal to Finland
    • UK scientists can use the facilities to power the discovery of new drugs, targeted medical therapies and advances in clean energy
    • Membership means UK’s brightest minds can now work in partnership with European colleagues, and access EuroHPC Horizon Europe-funded projects.

    British researchers, businesses and academics will have enhanced access to future supercomputer research funding from today (Monday 13 May) as the UK joins the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC). The move will boost the UK’s already world-leading supercomputing research community, to power the discovery of new drugs, harness the full potential of AI and more.

    EuroHPC brings together top-class supercomputing resources from across 35 countries, including Norway, Turkey, and all 27 EU member states, to drive research in the next generation of computing technologies. The UK has secured enhanced access to the Horizon Europe funded portion of the programme, worth over £770 million between 2021 to 2027.

    The move will support our scientists to make use of the cutting-edge European supercomputing facilities the UK gained access to through Horizon Europe. Their ability to solve problems and perform calculations with more speed and power than traditional computers are capable of, make these systems vital to the development of exciting discoveries that will benefit us all, from new medical treatments to novel clean energy applications.

    The partnership aims to boost world-class leadership in supercomputing, as members pool resources and knowledge to develop scientific excellence in this field. By joining the Joint Undertaking, UK scientists will have the opportunity to bid for vital research support, strengthening the UK’s computer capacity.

    In November the UK’s bespoke deal to associate to Horizon Europe secured UK researchers access to future EuroHPC supercomputers. The UK now gains further access to the Horizon Europe-funded portion of EuroHPC, which is worth around £770 million from 2021 to 2027.

    With match funding from the government, UK researchers, businesses and scientists can now bid confidently for further EuroHPC grants, ensuring our brightest minds have access to cutting-edge compute facilities.

    EuroHPC grants require match-funding from the UK on a case-by-case basis, and more information on how this will be made available, will be provided in due course. Researchers can apply for time on EuroHPC systems and for Horizon funded research and innovation grants on the EuroHPC website.

    Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan said:

    I have made it my mission to unleash the benefits of AI for the British public and supercomputers are essential tools that our best and brightest researchers need to deliver breakthroughs that will grow the economy and improve all our lives, from healthcare to energy security.

    This deal will only strengthen the UK’s science and tech superpower credentials, by giving our scientists and businesses even greater access to a leading network of expertise and powerful computing systems from Finland to Portugal.

    I urge researchers to seize this exciting opportunity and bid for EuroHPC support.

    This is the latest deal secured by the government to maximise UK researchers’, scientists’ and businesses’ access to R&D funding and opportunities for international collaboration. Following a bespoke deal signed by the Prime Minister last year, the UK has associated to Horizon Europe, the world’s largest programme of research collaboration, worth around £80 billion in total.

    With a Horizon grant worth £450,000 on average to a UK business, we have launched a campaign to boost UK participation, with a multichannel PR blitz, ‘pump-priming’ grants to support applicants, and a Roadshow of information events taking place around the UK – the next of which will be in Glasgow, on 12 June.

    In March, the UK joined the ‘Chips Joint Undertaking’, providing the UK semiconductor industry with enhanced access to a £1.1 billion pot of funds set aside from Horizon Europe to support research in semiconductor technologies up to 2007.

    Supercomputing has incredible potential to transform our scientific understanding and enable breakthroughs in nearly every scientific field. It is already powering the discovery of new drugs and development of targeting medical therapies for the individual needs of patients suffering with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer.

    Joining EuroHPC further builds on the government’s £1.5 billion plan to deliver world-leading compute facilities for the nation’s businesses and researchers, including backing for the Isambard-AI supercomputer in Bristol and the Dawn supercomputer in Cambridge, both of which will come online this year, and a new national exascale supercomputing facility, to be hosted in Edinburgh.

    Through EuroHPC, UK researchers have access to:

    • LUMI, a pre-exascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Kajaani, Finland
    • Leonardo, a pre-exascale EuroHPC supercomputer in the Bologna Technopole, Italy
    • MareNostrum 5, a pre-exascale EuroHPC supercomputer =located in Barcelona, Spain.
    • MeluXina, a petascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Bissen, Luxembourg
    • Karolina, a petascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
    • Discoverer, a petascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Sofia, Bulgaria
    • Vega, a petascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Maribor, Slovenia
    • Deucalion, a petascale EuroHPC supercomputer located in Guimarães, Portugal.

    Notes to editors

    UK researchers and businesses will not have access to the grants that are funded by Digital Europe and Connected Facilities Europe as the UK does not contribute to those programmes.

    Participation in a limited amount of EuroHPC projects for this year is currently restricted to EU Member States. Where this is the case, any restrictions that apply will be clearly signposted in the eligibility criteria for individual calls.

    As agreed when negotiating a bespoke deal to associate with Horizon Europe last year, the EU will reimburse the UK when any restrictions apply to Horizon funds.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Record number of new bathing sites get the go ahead [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Record number of new bathing sites get the go ahead [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 May 2024.

    Dozens of new bathing water sites in England have been designated ahead of the 2024 bathing season in the government’s largest ever rollout.

    Dozens of new wild swimming spots in England are being designated as bathing waters ahead of the summer and will immediately benefit from regular water quality monitoring, Water Minister Robbie Moore has today announced (May 13 2024).

    Following a public consultation, 27 new bathing water sites will be designated ahead of the 2024 bathing water season, which runs between 15 May and 30 September. The new sites will take the total number of bathing waters to 451 across England – the highest number to date.

    The new bathing waters – which include a dozen river sites – can be found right across the country from Church Cliff Beach in Dorset to Derwent Water in Cumbria, to the River Dart in Devon and the River Nidd in North Yorkshire.

    The Environment Agency regularly monitors water quality at designated bathing water sites and assesses whether action is needed to cut pollution levels – working with local communities, farmers, and water companies to improve water quality at these locations.

    The government will also launch a consultation later this year on proposals to reform the Bathing Water Regulations for England. The proposed changes will drive work to improve bathing water quality, enhance monitoring and enable more flexibility around the dates of the bathing water monitoring season. For example, proposals will include increasing monitoring outside of the bathing water season and preventing automatic de-designation of existing bathing water sites.

    Defra will also seek public and stakeholder views on extending the definition of ‘bathers’ to include a wider range of water users in addition to swimmers – such as rowers, kayakers and paddle boarders. More information on this consultation will be published in due course.

    The next application round will commence in Spring 2025.

    Water Minister Robbie Moore said:

    The value our bathing waters bring to local communities is incredibly valuable – providing social, physical and positive health and wellbeing benefits to people around the country – and I am pleased to have approved a further 27 new bathing water sites for this year.

    These popular swimming spots will now undergo regular monitoring to ensure bathers have up-to-date information on the quality of the water and enable action to be taken if minimum standards aren’t being met.

    I am fully committed to seeing the quality of our coastal waters, rivers and lakes rise further for the benefit of the environment and everyone who uses them.

    Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said:

    The importance of England’s bathing waters for residents and visitors alike cannot be understated, which is why the Environment Agency provides rigorous testing to ensure that bathers can make informed decisions before swimming in one of our 451 sites.

    Overall bathing water quality has improved massively over the last decade due to targeted and robust regulation from the Environment Agency, and the good work carried out by partners and local groups. Last year, 96% of sites met minimum standards, up from just 76% in 2010 – and despite stricter standards being introduced in 2015.

    We know that improvements can take time and investment from the water industry, farmers and local communities, but where the investment is made, standards can improve.

    Last year, 96% of bathing waters in England met the minimum standards, with 90% classified as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, up from 76% in 2010, despite the classification standards becoming stricter in 2015. The government also updated its guidance last year to make the application process clearer and easier to follow.

    Today’s announcement follows recent measures delivered to improve the water environment, including:

    • A new £11m Water Restoration Fund to reinvest water company fines and penalties back into the water environment.
    • Requiring companies to monitor 100% of storm overflows in England – providing a complete picture of when and where sewage spills happen.
    • Removing the cap on civil penalties for water companies and broadening their scope so swifter action can be taken against those who pollute our waterways.
    • Requiring the largest infrastructure programme in water company history – £60 billion over 25 years – to revamp ageing assets and reduce the number of sewage spills by hundreds of thousands every year.
    • Increasing protections for coastal and estuarine waters by expanding the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan, prioritising bathing waters, sites of special scientific interest and shellfish waters.
    • A targeted plan to better preserve and protect the River Wye, including £35m in funding.
    • £11.5m in government support for 180 local projects to boost tree planting, habitat restoration and flood management through the Water Environment Improvement Fund.
    • Speeding up the process of building key water supply infrastructure, including more reservoirs and water transfer schemes.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani [May 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 May 2024.

    This afternoon [13 May 2024] the Prime Minister spoke to the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

    The Prime Minister thanked Qatar for their ongoing efforts to try to negotiate a hostage deal. Both leaders agreed on the importance of a deal that secures the urgent release of hostages – ending the horrific ordeal of those being held and their loved ones – and getting more aid into Gaza, while progressing towards a sustainable and permanent ceasefire.

    The Prime Minister shared his deep concern about the humanitarian impact of a full military incursion of Rafah, and updated the Amir on the UK’s support to ensure more humanitarian aid was flowing into Gaza via land, sea and air.

    Turning to wider regional security, the leaders agreed it was right to continue to work with our allies to focus on de-escalation. The Prime Minister added that this was vitally important and in all our interests.

    The Prime Minister praised Qatar’s recent work to support those in Ukraine who continue to face the devastating consequences of Russian aggression, including its efforts to reunite Ukrainian children with their families.

    The leaders welcomed the already strong bilateral trade partnership and defence cooperation between the UK and Qatar. Both agreed on the importance of continuing to strengthen that cooperation in the future.