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  • PRESS RELEASE : British AI pioneers share £1 million in prizes as government unveils inaugural Manchester Prize finalists [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : British AI pioneers share £1 million in prizes as government unveils inaugural Manchester Prize finalists [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 21 May 2024.

    Ten teams from across the country have been chosen as finalists of the inaugural Manchester Prize.

    • Ten teams driving forward the next AI innovations in energy and the environment awarded £100,000 each to develop their solutions
    • the multi-year challenge prize is rewarding UK-led breakthroughs in artificial intelligence for public good as the global AI community gathers for the AI Seoul Summit
    • one of the finalists will go on to win the £1 million grand prize next spring

    Ten teams across the country have been chosen as finalists of the inaugural Manchester Prize, a prestigious challenge prize rewarding breakthroughs in AI for public good.

    Announced by the Prime Minister as the AI Seoul Summit gets underway today (Tuesday 21 May), the finalists will each receive a share of £1 million to develop their solutions over the next eight months.

    Focusing on energy, environment, and infrastructure in its inaugural year, teams in the running for the final £1 million prize are working on breakthroughs in artificial intelligence which could help address food security, improve how solar energy flows into the electricity grid, and revolutionise battery manufacturing.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

    With over 50,000 people already employed in the sector and billions expected to be generated for the UK economy over the next few years, the potential of AI innovation to help power our growth is huge.

    That’s why this funding is one of the best investments we can make.

    Viscount Camrose, Minister for AI and Intellectual Property said:

    This prize puts brilliant British AI innovation at the heart of addressing some of our biggest shared challenges. A decade-long commitment by the government, we are supporting our peerless AI talent with an annual £1 million grand prize to bring through the next wave of game-changing technological solutions.

    I look forward to seeing our finalists develop their solutions further over the coming months, as we look to harness the incredible potential of AI to bring about transformative change in the fields of energy, the environment, and infrastructure.

    Among the finalists of the Manchester Prize are:

    • Quartz Solar AI Nowcasting by Open Climate Fix: Leveraging AI to forecast cloud formation, enhancing the integration of solar energy into the electricity grid.
    • CRE.AI.TIVE by Phytoform Labs: Addressing food security challenges through AI-driven discovery of crop traits resilient to climate change.
    • Greyparrot Insight by Greyparrot.ai: Employing AI waste analytics to map global waste flows, driving improvements in recycling and packaging design.
    • Polaron by Polaron: Revolutionizing battery manufacturing through AI-driven analysis of advanced materials.

    In its inaugural year, the Manchester Prize called upon the ingenuity of innovators, academics, entrepreneurs, and disruptors to submit their solutions utilising AI for public benefit. The prize garnered nearly 300 entries from UK-led teams, showcasing a diverse array of groundbreaking ideas.

    The finalists will each receive prizes of £100,000 to further develop their projects over the next eight months. Additionally, they will benefit from comprehensive support packages, including funding for computing resources, investor readiness support, and access to a network of experts, positioning them for success in the pursuit of the £1 million grand prize in spring 2025.

    The potential of AI-powered innovation to fuel economic growth is immense, with estimates suggesting it could generate £400 billion for the UK economy by 2030. Already, over 50,000 individuals are employed in the AI sector, and with projected market growth exceeding 15% in the next six years, there are vast opportunities for new businesses to thrive and contribute to the nation’s prosperity.

    The UK is already seeing the results of how AI can drive investment in its economy, with the recent announcement that British AI company Wayve has received a $1.05 billion investment to develop the next generation of AI-powered self-driving vehicles.

    Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Manchester Prize judge said:

    British innovators have been pivotal to the advancement of computer and information technology that has transformed the world we live in. AI has the potential to support productivity, improve delivery of public services, make our national infrastructure work better, and accelerate the transition to a net zero economy. Choosing only ten finalists from such a diverse field of applications was tough; picking a winner will be even harder. I’m looking forward to seeing how the ideas develop in the next few months.

    With AI already starting to unlock enormous opportunities in tackling climate change, transforming healthcare, and beyond, the Manchester Prize looks to spark more cutting-edge innovations in using AI for good, which will deliver real change for people across the country.

    The UK is committed to fostering innovation and harnessing the transformative power of AI for the betterment of society. As these projects continue to evolve and make strides towards tangible impacts, they serve as testament to the UK’s position at the forefront of AI innovation on the global stage.

    To find out more about the Manchester Prize and follow the progress of all ten finalists, visit manchesterprize.org.

    Notes to editors

    Full list of Manchester Prize finalists

    Aiolus (by the University of Warwick)

    The UK aims to have 50GW of wind energy capacity by 2030 – however digital and control technologies have not kept pace to maximise the operational efficiency of wind farms. Aiolus leverages AI and creates digital twins to enhance wind farm operations and predict maintenance needs, boosting energy capacity, lowering the average cost of electricity for people and accelerating the UK towards its Net Zero target. Aiolus projects a 10-20% increase in power production, and a 3-5% rise in annual energy output.

    AssetScan

    Using AI to find and track defects in infrastructure and large buildings (by CC Informatics) – AssetScan by CC Informatics is an AI system which aims to identify defects in buildings and infrastructure assets from large photographic datasets, such as those collected by uncrewed aerial vehicles (drones), using an image-to-image processing technique. Manual review of these large datasets would be expensive and time consuming. AssetScan automatically detects changes in structure condition to target effective maintenance at the earliest opportunity.

    CRE.AI.TIVE (by Phytoform Labs)

    With the impacts of climate change threatening global food security, Phytoform Labs uses its proprietary CRE.AI.TIVE platform to discover drought tolerant, disease resistant and yield boosting traits for a diverse variety of crops. CRE.AI.TIVE is a ‘foundational genomics model’, that learns about the genome of plants and accelerates the search for useful mutations to increase the resilience of crops.

    EvoPhase Explore (by Evophase)

    EvoPhase Explore, is an innovative AI-driven solution designed to optimise the design and operation of industrial equipment. It leverages evolutionary algorithms to reduce energy consumption, minimise waste, and enhance overall efficiency in manufacturing processes. HARPPP (Highly-Automated Rapid Prototyping for Particulate Processing) is the proprietary AI technology behind EvoPhase Explore, employing evolutionary algorithms and four-dimensional modelling to optimise equipment designs and processing conditions. Allowing for scalability through new equipment design and retrofitting existing equipment for enhanced performance.

    gAIn Water (by UKCRIC)

    gAIn Water leverages advanced predictive AI technologies to integrate real-time sensor data from the UK’s water network with environmental and demographic inputs, including weather, soil conditions, pipe integrity, and population trends. This facilitates precise water demand forecasts, timely alerts for system failures, and identification of potential supply shortages. The system dynamically optimises water flow and maintenance schedules to significantly reduce leaks and lower energy consumption, offering measurable benefits to water utilities, governing bodies, and communities across the UK.

    Greyparrot Insight (by Greyparrot.ai)

    The Greyparrot AI waste analytics system “sees’’ and tracks every piece of waste entering a sorting or recycling plant via monitoring units positioned over conveyor belts. The AI identifies seven layers of detail about each waste item – including the material type, brand and carbon footprint based on its end of life – and does this faster, more accurately, and around 250 times cheaper than manual alternatives. It aims to create a complete digital map of the world’s waste flows to track what happens when waste is discarded and support the value chain to improve packaging design, policy making and recycling rates.

    Polaron

    Accelerating the design of advanced materials with generative AI (by Polaron) – Developing advanced materials is a traditionally slow and inefficient process. Polaron uses AI algorithms to rapidly analyse potential material designs and identify the best manufacturing processes to maximise performance. Applied to battery electrodes, Polaron’s technology can yield a 10% increase in power, while reducing the cost by more than 50%, revolutionising battery manufacturing and unlocking the next-generation of materials.

    Quartz Solar AI Nowcasting (by Open Climate Fix)

    Due to cloud cover, solar power generation can be unpredictable. This entry uses AI to forecast cloud formation hours ahead of time, allowing solar energy to be more efficiently integrated into the electricity grid through better prediction of periods of intermittent supply. By leveraging satellite imagery and live solar generation data, it helps better manage solar energy resources and balance a renewables heavy grid. This more efficient approach to renewable energy management can help the UK to decarbonise faster.

    Sapphire

    Improving river and bathing water quality (by HR Wallingford) – Increasing urbanisation and changes to rainfall patterns due to climate change are putting greater pressure on the UK’s wastewater network, impacting water quality in our rivers. Sapphire, created by HR Wallingford, will be an AI tool to help reduce water pollution from storm overflows, agriculture, and urban spaces. It will integrate observed data and computer model outputs into an AI platform, incorporating more sources of pollution, and producing faster results than traditional methods. It aims to enable water companies to better understand the impact of storm overflows and manage flows more effectively, ultimately resulting in better water quality across the nation.

    TraffEase (by Transhumanity)

    Cities generate vast amounts of transport and urban mobility data, but too often its complexity means little is done with it. TraffEase AI integrates this multi-source data to provide predictive traffic analytics to inform decision making for efficient and green mobility. The platform supports intuitive natural language queries, making it accessible for non-experts. This empowers city authorities to effectively manage transport to enhance the journey experience for the public.

    About the Manchester Prize

    The Manchester Prize is a multi-million-pound challenge prize from the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) that rewards UK-led breakthroughs in artificial intelligence for public good. Every year for a decade, it will reward innovations that will help to transform the lives of the people across the UK and continue to secure the UK’s place as a global leader in cutting edge innovation.

    The Manchester Prize delivered by Challenge Works, a global leader in designing and delivering high-impact challenge prizes that incentivise cutting-edge innovation for social good – part of UK innovation foundation Nesta. Visit: manchesterprize.org.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Farmers will be able to convert their unused buildings into new homes and shops [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Farmers will be able to convert their unused buildings into new homes and shops [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 21 May 2024.

    Planning rules coming into force today make it easier to convert unused farm buildings into new homes, farm shops and gyms.

    Farmers will be able to convert their unused buildings into new homes and shops thanks to new planning laws coming into effect today.

    The major changes give farmers across England greater freedoms to diversify and grow their business, without having to spend time and money submitting a planning application.

    They will be able to convert agricultural buildings and land into new lucrative business opportunities, such as outdoor sports facilities, larger farm shops and farm training centres, as well as housing, thanks to the changes to permitted development rights coming in today.

    These new powers come in a week after the Farm to Fork Summit, where the Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to backing farmers who keep this country fed. The changes coming into force will give them new freedoms to diversify if they choose to.

    Minister for Housing, Planning and Building Safety Lee Rowley said:

    Farmers are the lifeblood of communities, and these changes give them the freedom to grow their businesses, and plan for their futures.

    This is all part of our Long-term Plan for Housing to deliver more homes for rural communities and reform the planning system, removing unnecessary barriers to development.

    Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

    I am extremely pleased to support our farmers and provide them the freedom to decide the best uses for buildings on their land, without needless bureaucracy holding them back.

    We are listening to farmers and putting them at the heart of future development of our rural areas. Helping farmers secure their businesses and get on with the important job of producing food is our top priority.

    Permitted development rights provide more freedoms to develop without applying for planning permission.

    From today, the Government is extending these rights to give farmers greater freedoms to diversify and convert agricultural buildings to commercial uses, as well as up to 10 homes, without needing to submit a planning application. These rules are subject to space and natural light conditions, to ensure homes are suitable. This will help turbocharge rural housing development, with just 5,000 homes delivered on farming land since April 2014*.

    The changes will:

    • Double the amount of floorspace that can change from agricultural to ‘flexible commercial use’ from 500 square metres to 1,000 square metres.
    • Increase the size of new buildings or extensions that can be built on farms over 5 hectares from 1,000 square metres to 1,500 square metres.
    • For smaller farms increase the size of such development from 1,000 square metres to 1,250 square metres.
    • Double the number of homes that can be delivered through the conversion of agricultural buildings from five to 10.
    • Protect nationally important archaeological sites (scheduled monuments) by removing the ability for extensions to be built and new buildings erected in the vicinity.

    The amendments deliver on one of the pledges made by the Prime Minister at the Farm to Fork Summit in May last year, to cut red tape and streamline the planning system for farmers, as well as support the wider rural economy.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK overachieves another carbon emissions target and rejects rollover [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK overachieves another carbon emissions target and rejects rollover [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 21 May 2024.

    Surplus from the UK’s third carbon budget will not be carried forward – proving the UK’s pragmatic approach to net zero is compatible with its climate targets.

    • UK is on track to meet 2050 net zero ambitions, as latest report shows it has again overachieved targets to cut emissions
    • 15% emissions surplus from the third carbon budget will not be carried forward and the government is expected to over-deliver once again in the fourth carbon budget
    • UK continues to meet ambitious climate targets and show leadership towards net zero

    Surplus greenhouse gas emissions cut over the last 5 years will not be carried forward into the next carbon budget, as the UK is set to meet ambitious targets to achieve net zero in 2050.

    This builds on the UK’s success of becoming the first major economy to halve emissions since 1990, while growing the economy by around 80%.

    The UK overachieved in delivering its legally binding emissions target by 15% between 2018 to 2022 as part of Carbon Budget 3. It is also set to overachieve on Carbon Budget 4 between 2023 to 2027 – proving the government’s proportionate approach to net zero is compatible with meeting UK climate targets, without burdening families with unnecessary costs.

    Under the UK’s Climate Change Act, if the country emits fewer emissions than the legal limit, the government has the power to bank the surplus for later carbon budgets.

    The government decision not to carry forward the surplus keeps the UK within its ambitious target with no additional headroom to emit greenhouse gases over the coming years. This is in line with advice provided by the independent Climate Change Committee.

    Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Justin Tomlinson said:

    By deciding not to carry forward our over-performance from the third carbon budget, we are doubling down on our commitment to reach net zero, and we’re already halfway there.

    This will keep the UK at the forefront of global efforts to cut its emissions, but we will do this while also driving down consumer bills.

    Professor Piers Forster, interim Chair of the Climate Change Committee, said:

    The Committee congratulates the government on its decision not to carry forward any surplus from the Third Carbon Budget. It’s the right choice. It shows an understanding of both the climate science and the very real need to accelerate progress on emissions reduction.

    We’ve cut our emissions by half since 1990. The next big challenge is to hit the UK’s 2030 target, which is to decarbonise by 68% against 1990 levels. The government has made a sensible decision, in line with our advice, not to kick the can down the road. Now is the time for more investment in low carbon solutions across the country. We’ll be advising on that more in the Committee’s upcoming Progress Report.

    Today’s announcement confirms the UK has now over-achieved against 3 consecutive carbon budgets. The UK is also one of very few major economies to have a legally binding emissions reduction target covering 2035 – the target of a 77% cut on 1990 levels goes way beyond many other countries.

    Not only are the UK’s carbon budgets some of the most ambitious in the world, but the government has set out more detail than any other G20 country on how they will be met.

    Since 2010, the UK has seen £300 billion in public and private low carbon investment, with a further £100 billion of private investment expected by 2030, helping support up to 480,000 UK jobs in 2030. Since September alone, companies have also announced plans for around £24 billion of new investment, demonstrating their confidence in the UK’s net zero transition.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Home Office confirms changes to the EU Settlement Scheme [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Home Office confirms changes to the EU Settlement Scheme [May 2024]

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

    The changes will ensure that citizens can continue to prove their rights easily, and bring greater clarity for those required to check immigration status.

    Changes to the EU Settlement Scheme announced today will ensure that all those granted pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme can continue to prove their rights easily, and bring greater clarity for those who are required to check immigration status, such as employers and landlords.

    The changes support the Home Office’s practical implementation of the High Court judgment in the judicial review proceedings brought by the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements (IMA).

    In response to that judgment, we announced changes to the EU Settlement Scheme in July 2023 to ensure that nobody loses their immigration status if they do not apply to switch from pre-settled to settled status.

    The Home Office has continued to work closely with the IMA on the implementation of the judgment. Having listened to concerns raised by the IMA and others about the potential implications for those affected by the judgment, the changes announced today will ensure it remains easy for status holders to demonstrate their rights in the UK.

    The Home Office will change the duration of pre-settled status extensions from 2 to 5 years. The Home Office will also remove the pre-settled status expiry date from the digital profiles shown to third parties in the online checking services for Right to Work, Right to Rent and View and Prove.

    Alongside this change, employers, landlords and letting agents will not be required to conduct a further right to work or rent check where the individual remains in their employment or as part of that tenancy agreement.

    The EU Settlement Scheme has been a great success. As of 31 December 2023, 5.7 million people had secured their rights in the UK through the scheme, with 2 million holding pre-settled status and 3.7 million holding settled status.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Deal reached on interim Fiscal Framework for Northern Ireland [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Deal reached on interim Fiscal Framework for Northern Ireland [May 2024]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 21 May 2024.

    Fair deal delivers on commitment made within the Northern Ireland Executive’s restoration financial package.

    • UK Government delivers on plan to support sustainable public finances and services in Northern Ireland with boost to capital borrowing powers and long-term security of needs-based funding to come into effect this year.
    • Interim framework provides further clarity on delivery of funding within the unprecedented £3.3 billion spending settlement confirmed by the UK Government in February.

    The UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive have today, 21 May, reached agreement on an interim Fiscal Framework.

    Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott met with Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald this afternoon to sign the deal, which represents an early and significant step in realising the commitment towards new funding arrangements for the Northern Ireland Executive and investment in its future – as committed in the UK Government’s Northern Ireland Executive restoration financial package and Safeguarding the Union Command Paper.

    The deal gives the Executive greater security in funding public services while enabling investment in infrastructure to grow the economy, driving jobs and opportunity across Northern Ireland.

    It is headlined by a new needs-based funding formula which will also mean that Northern Ireland will get a 24% uplift in the Barnett formula if its funding falls short of its relative need per head. It also contains an immediate £20 million boost to the Executive’s annual capital borrowing powers, which will rise in line with inflation from 2025-26 onwards.

    Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott said:

    This significant deal will provide the Executive with further certainty and resources to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.

    We’ve moved at speed to deliver our plan to address the most pressing issues facing Northern Ireland’s funding and will continue to work with the Executive to secure a fair and final Fiscal Framework made possible by the strength of our Union.

    The text agreed between the two governments today also provides further clarity on the new approach to support stability, prosperity, and sustainable public services in Northern Ireland.

    The interim Fiscal Framework sets out progress with other elements of the Executive’s restoration financial package. As part of a commitment for the UK Government to write off £559 million in debts incurred while there was a governance gap, the Northern Ireland Executive agreed to publish a plan to deliver sustainable public finances by August 2024. The scope of this plan has now been agreed with HM Treasury ahead of publication in August.

    The Executive is also required to publish a comprehensive and costed long-term Strategic Infrastructure Plan by Autumn 2024. The Framework sets out that the Plan will cover the priority areas for action on infrastructure and how it will support prosperity and growth.

    A new Public Service Transformation Board, comprising officials from the Northern Ireland Civil Service and UK Government supported by independent experts will provide approval on £235 million ringfenced funding for the purpose of public sector transformation.

    Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, said:

    Our priority has always been to support the stability and fiscal sustainability of Northern Ireland through a restored Executive.

    Today is a significant moment for Northern Ireland and honours this Government’s commitment to a new fiscal framework. It is an example of the better outcomes that are achieved when the UK Government and the Executive work together.

    There’s much work to still be done and we stand ready to support the Executive to deliver on the priorities in both this interim framework, and the financial settlement as swiftly and strategically as possible to ensure the full benefits can be realised.

    The UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive have committed to agreeing a final Fiscal Framework. Today’s meeting marked the inaugural Joint Exchequer Committee between the two governments. As was committed to within the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper, this will be the forum for discussions on further tax devolution going forward.

    Further information

    • All documents connected with the interim agreement on the Northern Ireland Executive’s Fiscal Framework and today’s inaugural Joint Exchequer Committee are available online here.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Children at heart of D-Day 80 with ultimate history lesson [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Children at heart of D-Day 80 with ultimate history lesson [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 21 May 2024.

    30 children visited 10 Downing Street and HMS Belfast for the ultimate D-Day history lesson, transported on a Second World War-era red London bus.

    Schoolchildren were given the ultimate history lesson for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, with a behind-the-scenes tour of 10 Downing Street and Second World War Royal Navy ship HMS Belfast.

    Akshata Murty welcomed 30 schoolchildren to Number 10 as the Ministry of Defence announced a range of initiatives to inspire a new generation with the story and legacy of D-Day.

    The children from Hayfield Cross School near Kettering met two D-Day veterans – George Chandler and Bernard Morgan – during the visit to 10 Downing Street, where they received a tour and a lesson on the role of Prime Minister Winston Churchill in planning the Normandy Landings.

    Following the visit, Akshata Murty said:

    It was a privilege to welcome George and Bernard to Downing Street today. They along with all our brave veterans are truly inspirational. It was wonderful that the pupils from Hayfield Cross Primary School were given the unique opportunity to hear their incredible stories first-hand.

    The team from the Imperial War Museum also provided the kids with a powerful lesson in the Cabinet Room that helped to highlight the unparalleled sacrifice that so many made 80 years ago.

    They then boarded a Second World War-era red double-decker bus adorned with the D-Day 80 logo and travelled to HMS Belfast – the only British ship remaining from the bombardment fleet of D-Day.

    Onboard, they met Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, learned more about HMS Belfast’s role in D-Day, participated in a hands-on Morse code lesson and had the special privilege of asking the two D-Day veterans questions about their experiences 80 years ago.

    As part of a range of new education initiatives, the Ministry of Defence and its partners are working to ensure the inspiring message of D-Day is passed down to a new generation.

    On 3 June, D-Day veterans will gather in Portsmouth to meet local schoolchildren and modern-day Royal Marines personnel to pass on their wisdom to a new generation.

    At the national commemorative event in Portsmouth on 5 June, a total of 900 schoolchildren and cadets will hear directly from the veterans of D-Day. They will hear powerful testimonies from D-Day veterans and military personnel, as well as musical performances by a military orchestra.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps highlighted the importance of the commemorations:

    Remembering D-Day is a crucial step to ensuring we appreciate the hard-earned peace and freedom we enjoy today.

    It was an honour to speak with George and Bernard, and to meet the inquisitive class from Hayfield Cross School.

    I hope the ultimate history lesson has worked to highlight the significance of D-Day and to help keep the memory of those that fought alive.

    The Normandy Memorial Trust has published a D-Day 80 Teacher Resource Pack which was compiled in collaboration with the British Council and GCHQ.

    The printed pack will be handed to schoolchildren taking part in D-Day 80 activities in Portsmouth on 3 June, ahead of the veterans’ departure to Normandy. Packs will also be available at The D-Day Story Museum in Portsmouth, thanks to generous funding from The Spirit of Normandy Trust.

    The Normandy Memorial Trust’s ambition to share the lessons of the past with generations of the future will be fulfilled by The Winston Churchill Centre for Education and Learning, thanks to funding from principal sponsor BAE Systems, the Ministry of Defence and others.

    The new facility, at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France, will officially open on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

    As part of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission ‘Lighting Their Legacy’ programme of events, a torch of commemoration is being passed from veterans to young people to represent the passing on of the legacy of D-Day to a new generation.

    Three Canadian mechanical engineering students at McMaster University in Ontario designed the torches as part of a degree project allowing them to reflect on why the commemoration is important, and why the Second World War continues to be relevant for future generations.

    The torch will now travel to the capital cities of the Home Nations and cities up and down the country including Manchester and Plymouth, before joining veterans on a ferry to Normandy for the 80th anniversary.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK strengthens ties with Finland in vow to support Ukraine [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK strengthens ties with Finland in vow to support Ukraine [May 2024]

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

    The UK and Finland have signed a strategic partnership declaring Russia as the most significant and direct threat to European peace and stability.

    • UK and Finland set out commitment to bolster ties and highlight risk of Russian aggression for European security
    • Foreign Secretary will sign new Strategic Partnership with Finnish counterpart to deepen bilateral cooperation
    • Declaration sets out the 2 countries’ ambition to work together on global security challenges and support Ukraine until the war is won

    Finland and the UK will declare Russia as the most significant and direct threat to European peace and stability in a new Strategic Partnership signed today.

    The agreement, which will bolster the relationship between the 2 countries, will be endorsed by Foreign Secretary David Cameron and his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen at an event in London.

    The UK and Finland already share a long history of defence cooperation, including through military exercises and training, with the UK instrumental in securing Finland’s NATO accession. Today’s renewed partnership will expand cooperation across a range of other areas.

    Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said:

    As long-standing partners and new NATO Allies, the UK’s relationship with Finland is going from strength to strength.

    As we stand together to support Ukraine, including through providing military aid and training, we are clear that the threat of Russian aggression, following the war it started, will not be tolerated.

    This Strategic Partnership, built on our shared values, will see the UK and Finland step up cooperation to bolster European security as well as seize new opportunities, from science and technology to closer energy ties.

    A joint statement between the 2 foreign ministers will set out how Russia’s illegal, full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally changed the European security environment.

    It will underline the importance of the bilateral partnership, working together to deny Russia any benefit from the war it started, counter Russian disinformation, malicious cyber activities, and hybrid threats, and support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation.

    The text will also outline the shared ambition to scale up collaboration on science and technology, trade and investment and tackling illegal migration.

  • 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.