Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Universal Periodic Review 46 – UK Statement on Vietnam [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 May 2024.

Statement from the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley, at Vietnam’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council.

Thank you, Mr President. Welcome Minister.

The UK recognises Vietnam’s progress on economic, social and cultural rights, including on Women, Peace and Security.

But we remain concerned by the targeting of environmental and public policy experts and NGOs.

We recommend that Vietnam:
1. Clarify the legal and financial obligations on national and international NGOs when receiving funding of any kind; grant a grace period for compliance; and ensure fair treatment before the law for any violations.
2. Reduce the number of crimes punishable by the death penalty.
3. Take steps to guarantee and protect the right to freedoms of expression, association, and religion through reforming Articles 117 and 331 of the Penal Code.
Thank you.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK Government announces extra £4.6 million to support UK islands [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 8 May 2024.

Ahead of the fourth UK Islands Forum hosted on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales today, the UK Government has announced new funding to support island communities.
- Island communities across the UK to benefit from new £1.6 million UK Government funding to help improve vital transport links
- The UK Islands Forum Connectivity Project will deliver an enhanced evidence base, improving capability for island local authorities
- A further £3 million also awarded to Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre – the world’s first and leading wave and tidal energy testing facility
- Announcements come ahead of 4th UK Islands Forum chaired by Michael Gove on Anglesey today, building on the millions of pounds already invested by UK Government to level up island communities across the UK
Island communities across the UK will benefit from a new £1.6 million project funded by the UK Government to improve vital transport links, helping to support local jobs and grow the economy.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove made the announcement as local authorities from islands across the UK gathered for the fourth UK Islands Forum in Anglesey.

The UK Islands Forum Connectivity Project will look at identifying options to improve transport in these distinct parts of the UK, which are often reliant on air and ferry services due to their geographical location. Good transport connectivity is essential for the prosperity of island communities and the local economy, but there are significant challenges and gaps in the island transport data and evidence needed to support investment cases.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and Department for Transport (DfT) are leading the project jointly, combining local and levelling up knowledge with specialist transport skills and expertise.

Together they will create the first-ever UK-wide evidence-base on island transport connectivity, providing the UK’s islands with new data and insights to improve capacity and capability. The project will also provide better evidence to support future investment decisions to drive innovation and levelling-up to meet shared priorities.

The UK Government is also providing £3 million to the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) over two years – the world’s first and leading wave and tidal energy testing facility, with a further role in green hydrogen development.

Ministers visited its facilities at the inaugural Islands Forum hosted in Orkney in 2022. This new funding will help EMEC to deliver the UK’s Net Zero ambitions, increase innovation and investment in research and development, and drive the levelling up agenda and green growth.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

Our islands contribute so much to the UK, and we value everything that’s distinct about them.

These projects have been made possible by the successful collaboration through our UK Island Forum, with our fourth event taking place on the Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn today.

The forum gives island leaders the chance to discuss the unique issues that matter most to their communities, and I am thrilled to see our discussions paving the way for vital change in areas like transport and driving forward green growth on islands.

These new projects are the direct result of fruitful discussions at past Island Forums hosted by the UK Government.

Island transport connections were a key theme at the last Islands Forum on the Isle of Lewis last October, and discussions resulted in the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove proposing a new ‘task and finish’ group to explore the topic in-depth.

The group, which includes representatives from UK and devolved governments and member councils, have since met regularly to identify common transport issues and potential solutions – and now, with the launch of this new £1.6 million project, the UK Government will be empowering and equipping these island leaders to spearhead change.

Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said:

The Islands Forum has been a wonderful innovation that has helped to put our island communities at the heart of UK Government policy-making and make sure that their voices are heard.

Being in North Wales this week has allowed me to see for myself the levelling up investment that is already making a difference and to hear from local leaders and residents on Anglesey about the issues that matter most to them.

The forum comes alongside the UK Government’s levelling up support for island communities across the UK, such as:
- £20m Levelling Up Partnership with Argyll and Bute part of which will support island communities there
- £20m Levelling Up Partnership with the Western Isles
- £20m Towns Funding and £13.6m Green Link funding on the Isle of Wight
- £20m Towns Funding for Kirkwall and £282,000 Community Ownership Fund for The Pund, Ronaldsay in Orkney
- £26m for Fair Isle ferry works and £550,000 Community Ownership Funding for the Fair Isle Bird Observatory in the Shetland Islands
- £6m capital funding for a museum and cultural centre in the Isles of Scilly
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Clampdown on non-paying parents Child Maintenance consultation [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Work and Pensions on 8 May 2024.

A clampdown on parents who refuse to take financial responsibility for their children has been set out by the government today.
- Changes will make system fairer by speeding up enforcement action and getting money to children
- New action to detect non-paying parents proposed as part of shakeup of Child Maintenance Service.
- Work and Pension Secretary Mel Stride: We are clamping down on those who try to shirk their financial responsibilities
In a shakeup of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), the Department for Work and Pensions aims to improve the system so more children get the financial support they are due.

This includes ending the option of direct payments between parents through the CMS, meaning if parents do not pay it will be detected and enforcement action can be taken sooner.

It also asks what further support the CMS can provide to help separated parents make family-based arrangements, which are agreed by parents, without state intervention, and how the CMS can better support victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

The proposals come on the back of new laws which will fast track enforcement powers on wilfully non-paying parents including seizing cash and assets, forcing the sale of property and in the most serious cases, imprisonment – ensuring every child of separated parents is financially supported.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said:

Most parents strive to give their children the best start in life, but sadly this isn’t always the case.

This is why we are clamping down on those who try to shirk their financial responsibilities. This and tough new laws will help ensure every child gets the financial support they deserve.

DWP Minister Viscount Younger of Leckie said:

The majority of parents want to do the right thing and support their children.

However, in the case of the minority of parents who fail to meet their responsibilities, avoiding paying what they owe, these plans along with new enforcement powers will enable us to act faster.

DWP’s proposals include:
- Stop the Direct Pay service and deal with all cases via Collect and Pay with CMS collecting and transferring all payments. This would allow the CMS to tackle non-compliance faster and, when necessary, take enforcement action more quickly.
- Exploring the best way to support family-based arrangements with an enhanced calculation tool, along with signposting to conflict resolution support.
- Asking how the CMS can better support victims of domestic or economic abuse, building on recommendations from Dr Samantha Callan’s 2023 Independent Review of the Child Maintenance Service.
This follows recent reforms to the liability order process, which will give the CMS more powers to recover money faster to crack down on parents who repeatedly fail to take financial responsibility for their children.

The Government has also removed the £20 application fee to use the CMS, making all applications to the CMS free, to ensure no child misses out on vital support.

Further information
- Our service is arranging more money than ever to support children of separated parents. In the 12 months to December 2023, the CMS arranged over £1.3 billion in child maintenance payments and in the quarter ending December 2023, managed 700,000 arrangements for 960,000 children.
- The consultation period begins on 08 May and runs until 31 July. [LINK]
- Child maintenance payments from both CMS and family-based arrangements help to keep 160,000 children out of poverty each year
- 100,000 through non-statutory arrangements and 60,000 through the Child Maintenance Service.
- A minority of the maintenance arranged through the Child Maintenance Service is not paid.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Sue Wilkinson is reappointed as a Commissioner of Historic England [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 8 May 2024.

The Secretary of State has reappointed Sue Wilkinson as Commissioner of Historic England for a second term.

Sue Wilkinson

Appointed for a second term of three years and 3 months from 1 June 2024 until 31 August 2027.

Sue is a trustee of English Heritage and deputy chair of the Churches Conservation Trust. She is also vice chair of the Medical Research Foundation.

Sue was an executive board director at the National Trust until the end of 2016 and the lead director on tourism. During her time there she led much of the charity’s income generation and oversaw membership growth to nearly five million members.

She was previously a board director of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, a trustee of the Canal & River Trust and chair of the Living Waterways Awards. Prior to this she was a trustee at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and served on the Visit England Board and as a trustee of the Institute of Fundraising.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Commissioners of Historic England are remunerated at a rate of £4,133 per annum. Sue’s first term was initially extended by 9 months; she has subsequently been reappointed for a second term of 3 years and 3 months.

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Sue Wilkinson has not declared any significant political activity.

May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New 5-year plan to combat antimicrobial resistance [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 8 May 2024.

The government has announced its new national action plan on antimicrobial resistance to protect people and animals from the risk of drug-resistant infections.
- New national action plan on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) launched to protect people and animals from the risks of drug-resistant infections
- Plan supports the government’s 20-year vision to contain and control AMR by 2040
- Plan builds on the progress made in the previous 5-year national action plan and lessons learned from COVID-19 and sets ambitious targets to drive down inappropriate use of antibiotics and stimulate further development of new drugs and vaccines
A new plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance, a global issue that makes infections difficult or impossible to treat, has been launched today (8 May 2024).

The national action plan will commit the UK to reducing its use of antimicrobials – such as antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals – in humans and animals, strengthen surveillance of drug-resistant infections before they emerge and incentivise industry to develop the next generation of treatments.

It commits to continue to innovate through initiatives such as indicating that that the world-first ‘subscription model’ for antimicrobials, which was launched in 2019 as a pilot, could be expanded. This will see more companies paid a fixed annual fee for antimicrobials based primarily on their value to the NHS, as opposed to the volumes used.

The plan will build on progress towards the UK’s 20-year vision for antimicrobial resistance, which will see AMR contained, controlled and mitigated – protecting public health by increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death.

Health Minister Maria Caulfield said:

Almost 8,000 people in the UK die from drug-resistant infections every year. If this continues to spread, common infections and injuries that were once easily treatable become harder, and in some cases impossible, to treat.

Our 5-year action plan outlines our commitment to leading the way in tackling AMR, including through expanding our world-first subscription model to accelerate research into new treatments.

In a world recovering from the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, international collaboration and preparedness for global health challenges have taken on an unprecedented level of importance.

This is the second of a series of 5-year national action plans that will ensure sustained progress by tackling the global threat of AMR.

Learning from the achievements and challenges faced in delivering the previous plan, which was launched in 2019, this new national action plan will run from 2024 to 2029. It embeds lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and will include specific commitments focusing on infection prevention and control, and the development and use of diagnostics and vaccines.

Action has already been taken across sectors, including the medical and farming industries, to decrease the number of infections and prevent AMR from spreading.

The new plan has 9 strategic outcomes organised under 4 themes:
1. Reducing the need for, and unintentional exposure to, antimicrobials – this includes activity to prevent infections arising in the first place (through good infection prevention and control, including vaccination), to monitor the emergence and spread of AMR through strengthened surveillance, and to minimise release of antimicrobials and resistance into the environment.
2. Optimising the use of antimicrobials – through ensuring antimicrobials are only used when needed in humans, animals and the environment.
3. Investing in innovation, supply and access – by supporting and incentivising the development of new vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics (including alternatives to antimicrobials), making them accessible to those who need them, and ensuring our work on AMR is informed by cutting edge research.
4. Being a good global partner – maintaining the UK’s role as an international leader on AMR and supporting low and middle income countries to respond to the threat of AMR through research, good supply chains and access to antibiotics.
AMR occurs when bacteria, and other microorganisms, develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics, making them less responsive or unresponsive to treatment. Avoiding unnecessary antibiotic usage in humans and animals is crucial to slowing the development and spread of antibiotic resistance.

In 2022, the government invested £210 million to partner with countries across Asia and Africa to tackle AMR and reduce the threat posed to the UK, through the Fleming Fund.

It is estimated that in 2019, 1.27 million deaths globally were caused by infections resistant to antibiotics. The UK is committed to playing a central role in the global effort to confront AMR by taking a comprehensive approach that leverages the country’s expertise and domestic experience.

The scale of the AMR threat, and the need to contain and control it, is widely acknowledged by governments, international agencies including the World Health Organization and World Bank, researchers and private companies alike.

Chief Medical Officer Professor, Chris Whitty, said:

Antibiotics are one of the most powerful tools we have against infection. Resistance to these drugs therefore poses a significant threat to the lives of many people in the UK and around the world.

AMR is not just a matter for clinicians – it is important to work across sectors to help preserve these vital medicines to minimise the impact of AMR.

UK Special Envoy on AMR, Dame Sally Davies, said:

It is incomprehensible for any of us to imagine a world without effective antibiotics.

But we are facing an antibiotic emergency already. And this menace is deeply unfair – with the burden disproportionately falling on the world’s most vulnerable, in low and middle income countries and also children.

We have to work together, across the world, with those countries that need action the most, to make progress and contain AMR.

Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said:

Antimicrobial resistance is a threat to all of us – simple lifesaving interventions in the form of antimicrobials are in danger of becoming ineffective.

Through our priority AMR programme, including One Health surveillance, collaborative working with the health service, international collaborations and novel approaches to therapies and diagnostics, UKHSA has risen to meet this active threat – but it will take collective action across government, industry, academia and the public to ensure that antimicrobials remain available for ourselves and our communities, now and in the future.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, said:

AMR is the invisible threat we must tackle to protect the welfare of our society and safeguard the NHS.

I am pleased to see the publication of this second national action plan, which fulfils our commitments in the Biological Security Strategy to progress towards the vision of a world where AMR is effectively contained, controlled and mitigated by 2040.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, said:

The UK has made fantastic progress in the past 10 years to reduce AMR in animals, working between government, farming industry, vets and animal keepers to reduce the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals by more than half.

The new national action plan will build upon these achievements, and I urge vets and animal keepers to continue to support the UK’s 20-year vision to contain and control AMR.

Richard Torbett, Chief Executive, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said:

AMR is a pressing health challenge which requires urgent global action. The UK has been proactive in finding practical solutions to this problem, and this new national action plan sets a precedent that countries worldwide should follow.

Expanding the pilot of the innovative antibiotic subscription model is a crucial next step with our industry’s full support. This type of innovative thinking is needed to address the issues associated with AMR and safeguard public health from this shared threat.

James Anderson, Executive Director, Global Health at the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and Chair of the AMR Industry Alliance, said:

Tackling the rising threat of AMR will depend on having a continuous pipeline that delivers new, innovative antibiotics.

To do this, society needs to take bold action to redefine the value we place on them and attract more R&D investment.

The successful results of the UK’s pilot programme provide an important reference point ahead of this year’s UN high-level meeting on AMR. As a truly global challenge, we need to see countries working together to make a step change in how the world is addressing AMR.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, said:

Effective antibiotics are fundamental to providing the best care and treatment for patients both in the NHS and globally, so it is only right that we move to tackle the major issue of antibiotic resistance.

We welcome this new strategy by the Department of Health and Social Care, as the NHS continues to lead the world by developing a new subscription-style payment model to create greater incentives for new antibiotics to help tackle this issue, with both national and global partners.

Background information

See the UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029.

The UK will continue to innovative and influence with expansion to the subscription-style model, piloted in 2019, to more antimicrobials across the UK.

The Fleming Fund is a UK aid programme supporting up to 25 countries across Africa and Asia to tackle AMR.

There has already been progress made towards reducing antibiotic use in animals – sales of antibiotics for use in food-producing animals fell by nearly 10% in the last year and have more than halved since 2014.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Pioneering free therapy pilot to support jurors [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 8 May 2024.

First-of-its-kind counselling and 24/7 support for jurors following difficult cases.
- Six free sessions for jurors who hear disturbing evidence, including murder, abuse and cruelty
- Targeted pilot to roll out across 15 Crown Courts in England and Wales
Jurors who have experienced mental and emotional strain following difficult cases, such as the Lucy Letby trial, will be entitled to free counselling sessions as part of plans announced today (8 May 2024).

Many people find their experience of jury service to be fulfilling and are supported throughout by full-time court staff. But for those who do experience upset, further help is currently limited to signposting to a GP or the Samaritans – this can leave some to feel isolated following their civic duty.

The new pilot would provide specialist expert support for jurors offering 6 free counselling sessions – alongside a 24/7 telephone helpline for round-the-clock triage support, advice and information.

The justice system depends on the public joining a jury when they are called, and today’s news will provide further reassurance that those who hear distressing evidence of murder, abuse and cruelty will get the support they need, when they need it.

The programme will be piloted in 15 courts across England and Wales from Summer 2024.

Justice Minister Mike Freer said:

Juries are the cornerstone of the criminal justice system, and sitting on a trial is rightly regarded as the ultimate responsibility of an honest, law-abiding citizen.

This pilot is an important step in assessing how we can best support jurors, who perform such a vital civic duty, often in complex, high-profile cases.

Crown Courts in London, Liverpool, Mold, Birmingham, Bristol and Teesside are among the regions selected for the scheme.

Welcoming the announcement, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University, Dr Hannah Fawcett said:

This pilot project is a positive first step in recognising some of the potential psychological challenges of participating in jury duty and supporting those who have been affected by distressing cases.

I welcome the introduction of specialist wellbeing support for jurors, who play such an important role in creating a safe and fair society for us all.

The pilot will be funded by the Ministry of Justice and will run for approximately ten months, during which time HMCTS will identify how best to direct resources on an ongoing basis to support the jurors who give their time to serve the criminal justice system.

This announcement comes during Juror Appreciation Week, to mark the country’s gratitude for everyone who gives up their time to ensure justice is done.

Note to editors

The pilot is due to be launched in Summer 2024 following the standard department procurement process.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment to the Legal Services Board [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 8 May 2024.

The Lord Chancellor, after consulting the Lady Chief Justice, has approved the reappointment of Dr Gary Kildare as a lay member of the Legal Services Board.

Dr Gary Kildare is the former Chief HR Officer Europe and Global Head of Labour Relations for the IBM Corporation. He is also: a Non-Executive Director (NED) to the Insolvency Service; a NED for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (MOD) and Chair of the People Committee; a board member of the British Quality Foundation; an Independent Non-Executive for Crowe UK LLP a leading Tax and Advisory Services firm; a member of The Court of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and; a Board Advisor and mentor for Criticaleye Network of Leaders.

Gary is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a visiting professor in Business at Edinburgh Napier Business School.

LSB is the independent body overseeing the regulation of lawyers in England and Wales. Its goal is to reform and modernise the legal services marketplace by putting the interests of consumers at the heart of the system. It is independent of government and the legal profession and oversees the approved regulators which themselves regulate lawyers.

LSB also oversees the Office for Legal Complaints and its administration of the Legal Ombudsman scheme that resolves complaints about lawyers.

Appointments and reappointments are made by the Lord Chancellor, under the Legal Services Act 2007, and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. These reappointments have been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Three Commissioners appointed to the Judicial Appointments Commission [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 8 May 2024.

His Majesty The King, on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, has approved the appointment of the 3 Commissioners to the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC). All are appointed for a term of 3 years. Details of the appointees and their appointment dates are listed below.

Those appointed are:
- Her Honour Judge Angela Rafferty KC (Judicial Commissioner) – commencing 9 June 2024;
- Nicolina Andall (Professional Commissioner) – commencing 1 July 2024; and
- Tom Cross (Professional Commissioner) – commencing 1 July 2024.
The JAC is an independent body that selects candidates for judicial office in courts and tribunals in England and Wales, and for some tribunals with UK-wide jurisdiction. Candidates are selected on merit, through fair and open competition.

JAC Commissioners are appointed, under Schedule 12(1) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, by His Majesty The King on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor. Commissioner appointments comply with the provisions of the Judicial Appointment Commission Regulations 2013.

Biographies

Her Honour Judge Angela Rafferty KC

Since 2019, Her Honour Judge Rafferty KC has sat as a Senior Circuit Judge at the Central Criminal Court. Her other current judicial roles include, since 2018, training Metropolitan Police Officers in serious sexual offences and, since 2019, training judges in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England.

Nicolina Andall

Nicolina is a Solicitor with a long history of working in the City and International Engineering companies. She is also a Non-Executive Director and has served on a range of corporate, advisory, charity and not for profit boards for over 10 years. Nicolina has recently been promoted to Deputy Chair of the London Recruitment Advisory Committee, Lord Chancellors Department.

Tom Cross

Called to the Bar in 2007, Tom practises from 11KBW Chambers specialising in a range of areas including public and regulatory law, civil liberties and human rights, education, professional discipline, and employment law. Much of his work concerns issues of equality law. His current appointments include the Attorney-General’s ‘A’ Panel of Crown Counsel.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK first in Europe to invest in next generation of nuclear fuel [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 8 May 2024.

£196 million for high-tech nuclear fuel facility and new measures for fusion energy.
- UK to build first high-tech nuclear fuel facility in Europe to shut Putin’s Russia out of the global market and create hundreds of jobs to improve energy security at home and abroad
- high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) will power the UK’s future civil nuclear power stations, support 400 highly-skilled jobs and boost Cheshire
- announced competition for up to £600 million in contracts to build the world’s first commercially viable fusion power station prototype
The UK will be the first European nation to produce advanced nuclear fuel – a market currently dominated by Russia – to help fuel nuclear power plants at home and abroad. This is part of the government plan to push Putin out of the global energy market and drive down energy bills.

The UK will build Europe’s first facility to power future nuclear reactors – helping to isolate Russia from global energy markets, boost British energy security and provide reliable, affordable energy.

The government is awarding £196 million to Urenco to build a uranium enrichment facility. This will produce fuel by 2031 that would be ready to export or use domestically, and could power UK homes in the next decade. It will put an end to Russia’s reign as the only commercial producer of high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) and ensure other countries are not reliant on Russian exports.

The new facility will support around 400 highly-skilled jobs, helping to boost the local supply chain and grow the economy. Located at Capenhurst in Cheshire, this will cement the status of the North-West of England as a world leader in nuclear fuel production. This builds on the Prime Minister’s ‘national endeavour’ to secure the future of the UK’s thriving nuclear industry – investing at least £763 million in skills, jobs, and education.

In the 2 years since Putin illegally invaded Ukraine, the UK has led the way in cracking down on Russian oil and gas imports. Now, the UK is working with its nuclear allies to build a secure global uranium supply chain free from Russian influence.

The UK is also leading the way in fusion energy development, as engineering and construction companies will be invited on to bid for up to £600 million to build the first commercially viable fusion prototype power plant at a former coal plant in Nottinghamshire. Fusion could generate a near limitless source of clean electricity, securing the UK’s long-term energy independence.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

Building our own uranium enrichment plant is essential if we want to prise Putin’s blood-soaked hands off Europe’s energy market.

Russia has been the sole provider of this powerful nuclear fuel for too long and this marks the latest step in pushing him out of the energy market entirely.

The wider future of British nuclear remains a critical national endeavour – guaranteeing nuclear and energy security, and reducing energy bills for Brits.

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, said:

We stood up to Putin on oil and gas, and we won’t let him hold us to ransom on nuclear fuel.

Backing Urenco to build a uranium enrichment plant here in the UK will mean we are the first European nation outside Russia to produce advanced nuclear fuel.

This will support hundreds of new jobs, bring investment for the people in Cheshire and is a huge win for energy security at home and abroad.

HALEU is needed to power most advanced modular reactors which are crucial to meeting the UK’s ambition to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050 – the biggest expansion in 70 years. Like small modular reactors, they can be made in factories and transform how power stations are built by making construction faster and less expensive.

These advanced reactors are more efficient and use novel fuels, coolants, and technologies to generate low-carbon electricity. Their high heat output means they can also be used to decarbonise industry, produce hydrogen for transport or heat for homes.

Meanwhile, the UK was the first country in the world to legislate for commercial fusion regulation, giving companies the confidence to invest here in the UK. New simpler planning measures will provide certainty to industry and strengthen the UK as a competitive location for companies to invest – putting the nation on the front foot before the technology is ready to be deployed.

A consultation launched today proposes designating all fusion plants nationally significant infrastructure projects that will be assessed by the Planning Inspectorate and ultimately decided on by the Secretary of State for energy.

Fusion power creates nearly 4 million times more energy for every kilogram of fuel than burning coal, oil or gas. Investment in the fusion technology of the future will help to create jobs, grow the economy, and strengthen the country’s energy security – delivering a cleaner energy system that will benefit future generations and bring the UK even closer to connecting fusion energy to the grid by the 2040s.

Separately, investment in high-tech nuclear fuel will unlock the market for advanced nuclear reactors and help the UK’s allies to build up their own nuclear capabilities without relying on Russia – bolstering Western energy security.

Urenco’s facility will have the capacity to produce up to 10 tonnes of HALEU per year by 2031. When fabricated into fuel, 10 tonnes of HALEU could contain as much energy as over one million tons of coal.

The funding is part of the £300 million HALEU programme announced in January this year. Urenco, which is part owned by the UK government and renowned for nuclear enrichment services, will co-fund the facility.

The programme builds on commitments made at COP28 which saw the G7 nuclear nations or ‘Sapporo 5’ – Canada, Japan, France, the UK and US – commit to increasing uranium production, as they are responsible for 50% of the world’s nuclear fuel conversion and enrichment capability.

Boris Schucht, CEO of Urenco, said:

The responsibility the nuclear industry has to help governments and customers to achieve climate change and energy security goals is clear.

We welcome this government investment, which will help accelerate the development of a civil HALEU commercial market and in turn the development of the next generation of nuclear power plants. These plants will have even higher safety standards and lend themselves to quicker licensing and construction processes.

Urenco has the knowledge and experience to play a leading role in the production of HALEU and other advanced fuels, operating securely under inter-governmental treaties to ensure the peaceful use and safeguarding of nuclear technology.

Paul Methven, CEO, UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, responsible for the delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), said:

We are looking towards a very significant milestone for STEP in the next 2 weeks as we are set to launch our search for industrial partners in engineering and construction who will join us in designing and delivering the STEP prototype plant at West Burton. This will demonstrate that fusion energy can work, and through that endeavour, we will develop an industry that can deliver commercial fusion for decades beyond.

The launch of formal consultation on a National Policy Statement for fusion energy is very welcome and an important milestone in the journey towards a new energy source, deployed in the right way. It reflects the UK’s proactive leadership in fusion energy by putting in place the critical enablers that all fusion developments will need, and in a way that will bring communities and the public along.

Zara Hodgson, Director of the Dalton Institute, said:

This is the biggest single investment in UK nuclear fuel production capability in decades, and it is especially welcome as it will accelerate the supply of the next generation of fuels that are vital for this new net zero nuclear era.

Urenco Capenhurst’s HALEU Enrichment capability will help hugely to unlock the deliverability of advanced nuclear projects, opening the door to sustainable electricity and heat for industries from nuclear, across the UK and overseas.

North West of England is the home of the UK’s fuel production capability, and the Dalton Nuclear Institute celebrates this HMG and Urenco partnership that will be a catalyst for nuclear skills here and across the UK supply chain.

We look now towards to how we can support this important project through training and innovation.

Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association said:

This investment will enable the UK to fuel advanced reactors around the world, building on our existing capabilities to strengthen energy security for our allies while reducing their reliance on Russia.

Urenco at Capenhurst is at the very forefront of the UK’s capability, with this new facility bringing opportunities for the supply chain, new jobs and investment in the North West of England.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK to expel undeclared Russian spy in response to growing threat [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 8 May 2024.

The move is part of a major package of measures to tighten defences against alleged malign activity by Russia across the UK and Europe.

A major package of measures to target and dismantle Russian intelligence gathering operations in the UK will be rolled out today, the Home Secretary has announced.

Today, the UK government will:
- expel the Russian defence attaché, an undeclared military intelligence officer
- remove diplomatic premises status from several Russian properties in the UK, including Seacox Heath – a Russia-owned property in Sussex – and the Trade and Defence Section in Highgate, which are believed to have been used for intelligence purposes
- impose new restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas, including capping the length of time Russian diplomats can spend in the UK
The UK has today summoned the Russian Ambassador to replay these measures and to reiterate that Russia’s actions will not be tolerated.

These actions, the latest in a string of robust measures taken against Russia to protect the UK, follow a pattern of malign activity carried out both here and abroad in the past year, which is believed to be linked to Russia.

That includes 5 Bulgarian nationals charged with conspiring to commit espionage activities in the UK on behalf of Russia. A sixth individual was later charged and legal proceedings for all are ongoing.

Last month, a further 5 individuals were the first to be charged in connection with an investigation into alleged offences under the National Security Act. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed at the time it related to alleged ‘hostile activity in the UK in order to benefit a foreign state – namely Russia”.

The UK and its allies have also attributed a number of malign cyber activity incidents in the UK to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in recent years, such as targeting UK parliamentarians through spear-phishing campaigns, hacking and leaking UK-US trade documents and interference against a UK think tank working on defending democracy against disinformation.

In Europe, the Russian government has allegedly planned sabotage activities against military aid for Ukraine in Germany and Poland and carried out alleged espionage activity in Bulgaria and Italy; cyber and disinformation activities; air space violations; and GPS jamming with impact on civil aviation.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

These activities bear all the hallmarks of a deliberate campaign by Russia.

We are taking action to send a strong deterrence message to Russia and to further reduce the ability of the Russian Intelligence Services to threaten the UK.

We will stand firm in the face of the Russian threat to the UK and our way of life.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said:

Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s attempts to undermine UK and European security have become increasingly brazen.

These measures are an unequivocal message to the Russian state – their actions will not go unanswered.

Alongside our friends and partners we will continue to stand with Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its malign activity.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

In addition to the major uplift in our support for Ukraine to £3 billion this year, we are taking robust action to prevent Russia’s malign activity from threatening the UK.

Together with our allies, we continue to send a powerful message to Putin that we will not tolerate his disruptive efforts and are not cowed by his threats – we will continue to stand up for freedom and democracy for as long as it takes.

Following Russia’s state-backed attack in Salisbury in 2018, the UK and its allies took unprecedented measures to make Europe a harder operating environment for the Russian intelligence services, including expelling 23 undeclared Russian intelligence officers from the UK.

Security is a top priority for this government and the National Security Act 2023 has delivered a range of measures to strengthen the UK’s efforts to detect, deter and disrupt state threats, including by enhancing police powers to investigate state threats activity to protect our people.
May 11, 2024