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  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – UK Statement on Children and Armed Conflict [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – UK Statement on Children and Armed Conflict [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2024.

    UK’s Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict. Delivered at the United Nations.

    Thank you Mr President,

    The alarming number of grave violations committed against children is of deep concern. No child should have to endure the suffering, fear and grief that comes with armed conflict.

    Madam Special Representative, the conflict in Gaza is having a catastrophic impact on children.

    30% of casualties are children. 10% of these children did not see their first birthday. Over 17,000 children are left unaccompanied, each with a story of loss and grief. The WHO reports that 10 children have died of starvation in northern Gaza. 1 in 6 children under 2 are acutely malnourished. These harrowing statistics are unacceptable.

    Children are paying the highest price for this conflict. Israel must abide by obligations to protect children under applicable international humanitarian and human rights law, and urgently improve humanitarian access, and increase the flow of life-saving aid. Children should not suffer the consequences of Hamas’ brutality.

    Mr President,

    Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine continues to gravely violate children’s rights. Over 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred or deported to Russia or Russian temporarily controlled territory by Russian authorities. We call for the immediate safe return of all forcibly transferred or deported Ukrainian children and for Russia to cease its aggression.

  • PRESS RELEASE : We can do more to empower women as agents of peace: UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : We can do more to empower women as agents of peace: UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2024.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on conflict prevention.

    Thank you, President, and let me join others in thanking our briefers, USG DiCarlo, Ambassador Danese, Dr Williams and Ms Bhagwan-Rolls for their briefing today.

    In 2014, the United Kingdom led the development of Security Council resolution 2171. That resolution, unanimously adopted, underlined the “moral, political and humanitarian imperative and the economic advantages” of preventing conflict. It called for intensified efforts to prevent conflict, drawing on a range of tools.

    Ten years on, that call is even more relevant. The United Kingdom is grateful to Japan for convening today’s debate.

    President, I will make three points on how this Council and the wider international architecture can better promote conflict prevention, empowering all actors.

    First, we can do more to empower women as agents of peace. Gender equality is a strong indicator of sustainable peace, and peace processes are more durable when women are at the table.

    This Council could be even more robust in advocating for women’s full, equal, safe and meaningful inclusion in peace, development, mediation and decision-making processes. We need to do so from Afghanistan to Sudan. And globally, we should continue striving to increase the proportion of women peacekeepers and peacebuilders.

    Second, we can help generate broad, inclusive national ownership of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Peace is not organic; the need to nurture it is universal. Yes, states have that primary responsibility but the evidence shows that inclusive, nationally-led, and locally-rooted efforts deliver more sustainable results. Young peacebuilders are often best placed to break the cycle of violence in local communities: a principle we apply to our own violence reduction strategies in the UK.

    So, this Council can throw its weight behind inclusive national processes to build and sustain peace, as we have in Colombia. We can empower the Peacebuilding Commission to play its part as a space to mobilise political and financial support. And we can advocate for the Peacebuilding Fund and the UNDP-DPPA Joint Programme on strengthening national capacities for conflict prevention, both of which the United Kingdom is proud to support.

    Finally, we can empower the wider international architecture as a companion in conflict prevention by working to deepen partnerships and advance integrated approaches. We should insist on application of the Secretary-General’s Integrated Assessment and Planning policy in UN Mission settings. We should pursue closer cooperation with regional organisations. And we should continue to encourage collaboration between the UN and the World Bank in countries affected by fragility, conflict and violence. This partnership is increasingly generating peace dividends, from The Gambia to Somalia and beyond.

    President, the Summit of the Future and the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review are opportunities to reinvigorate our collective efforts to prevent conflict. Let us seize them.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : International Labour Organization Governing Body – UK Statement [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : International Labour Organization Governing Body – UK Statement [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2024.

    Statement on report on crisis-related ILO work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

    Thank you Chair, dear brother, for giving me the floor.

    1. Let me start by focusing our thoughts on all Palestinians and Israelis who have suffered or have seen loved ones killed. We are shocked by the sheer scale of people killed and the loss of livelihoods of both Israeli and Palestinians, including workers and employers.
    2. Let’s recall that Israel suffered the worst terror attack in its history on 7th October at the hands of Hamas, and Palestinian civilians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
    3. Like so many others here, we want the fighting to stop now.
    4. In our view, the best way to achieve a sustainable, permanent ceasefire – without a return to further destruction, further fighting and further loss of life – is to start with an immediate pause and agreements to get aid in and hostages out.
    5. The UK wants to open all routes and crossings into Gaza. There is a desperate and immediate need for increased humanitarian support in Gaza. The UK itself has trebled its aid commitment this financial year.
    6. The UK thanks the Director General and the ILO for their vital engagement. And we note the ILO report on ‘crisis-related ILO work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory’. We commend, in particular, the ILO’s staff who are implementing the emergency response programme under immensely challenging circumstances. Both Palestinian and Israeli labour markets have been gravely affected by the crisis and in Gaza there is clearly no effective economy operating.
    7. Like others here, we support a two-state solution that guarantees security, stability and sovereignty for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. The UK and our partners will continue to help by confirming our commitment to a sovereign, viable Palestinian state, including recognition at the UN, and our vision for its composition.
    8. Chair, in these difficult and dividing times, we must all strive for consensus to ensure that the ILO’s vital emergency response programme is unimpeded, and the people of Gaza receive this much needed support that they deserve.

    Thank you, Chair.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £35 million boost for British semiconductor scientists and businesses on international chip research [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : £35 million boost for British semiconductor scientists and businesses on international chip research [March 2024]

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

    British semiconductor researchers and businesses now have enhanced access to research funding backed by the UK government and Horizon Europe, now the UK has joined the EU’s ‘Chips Joint Undertaking’.

    Semiconductor sector to benefit from up to £35 million, plus European funds, in a boost to British leadership in research of cutting-edge chip technology
    UK joins European initiative to access €1.3 billion Horizon Europe funding pot for collaborative semiconductor research projects
    Boost to help push boundary of semiconductor design, improving tech used in all digital devices and advances the government’s plan to secure long term growth
    British semiconductor researchers and businesses now have enhanced access to research funding backed by the UK government and Horizon Europe, now the UK has joined the EU’s ‘Chips Joint Undertaking’.

    The move provides the UK semiconductor sector enhanced access to a €1.3 billion pot of funds set aside from Horizon Europe to support research in semiconductor technologies up to 2027.

    Access to the one of the Chips Joint Undertaking’s funds is being backed by an initial £5 million this year from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and delivered by Innovate UK. An additional £30 million is due to support UK participation in further research between 2025 and 2027.

    By joining the fund and contributing in the same way as all other countries who take part, the UK sector has enhanced access to bid for funding support from the €1.3 billion pot, funded by Horizon Europe.

    Announcing the move at a conference of global semiconductor leaders in London, Technology Minister Saqib Bhatti said:

    Our membership of the Chips Joint Undertaking will boost Britain’s strengths in semiconductor science and research to secure our position in the global chip supply chain.

    This underscores our unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology and cements our important role in shaping the future of semiconductor technologies around the world.

    This follows the UK joining Horizon Europe through a bespoke new agreement with the EU last year. The programme is giving UK companies and research institutions unrivalled opportunities to lead global work to develop new technologies and research projects, in areas from health to AI.

    Tens of thousands of UK companies are now eligible for Horizon Europe grants, which are worth £450,000 to a business on average. UK firms already benefitting from Horizon funding include Nova Innovation, whose consortium won over £17 million to develop tidal energy in Orkney, and South Yorkshire tech firm The Floow who are part of a project awarded just under £3 million, looking into road safety.

    Jari Kinaret, Chips JU Executive Director, said:

    We are very happy to welcome the UK to the Chips Joint Undertaking as a participating state. We are looking forward to working with the UK partners to develop the European industrial ecosystem in microelectronics and its applications, contributing to the continent’s scientific excellence and innovation leadership in semiconductor technologies and related fields.

    This year, the Chips Joint Undertaking fund is well aligned to UK research expertise. In 2024, it includes two focussed calls for funding bids on semiconductors for cars and other vehicles as well as RISC-V, an open-source architecture that aims to accelerate semiconductor innovation by lowering the cost of chip design. It also provides more open opportunities for scientists and firms to bid for research support.

    Sean Redmond, Managing Partner at SiliconCatalyst, said:

    UK Semiconductor startups have a rich history of collaboration with the European Union. Our semiconductor research base is the fourth largest in the world.

    Commercialising these inventions with the help of the EU Chips Joint Undertaking will significantly increase their probability of success, mitigating risks by local collaborations that provide a clear path from lab to fab.

    Jalal Bagherli, Chairman, PTSL, Chair, Williams Advanced Engineering and Co-Chair of UK Semiconductor Advisory Panel, said:

    As the UK Semiconductor Strategy ramps up its implementation phase in support of a thriving industry, I believe this initiative is the next major step enabling engagement with our global partners to advance the state of the art in chip development and innovative packaging technologies in the UK.

    The UK has joined the initiative as a “Participating State”, allowing the country to collaborate more closely with European partners on semiconductor innovation. As a Participating State, the UK will have a role in setting research priorities and funding decisions as the fund evolves in the years ahead.

    This includes the opportunity for the UK to be a part of a new funding opportunity with the Republic of Korea to research ways to combine semiconductor chips to improve performance through advanced packaging – which the UK-Republic of Korea Semiconductor Framework, signed in November last year.

    British research has elsewhere led global efforts to push semiconductor technology forward in fields like “silicon photonics”, which creates faster chips by using light instead of electricity, and compound semiconductors, which enable improved performance over silicon in key applications such as power transmission and radiofrequency communications.

    Martin Kuball, Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering in Emerging Technologies, professor in physics at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, and director of the Centre for Device Thermography and Reliability, said:

    We are excited for the UK to participate in the EU Chips Joint Undertaking. This will enable us to work with key EU partners to advance and commercialize high voltage power electronics we develop within in the IKC REWIRE, as well as high power high frequency RF technology we develop within UK, US and European Space Agency (ESA) programmes.

    This follows DSIT and UK Research and Innovation investing £22 million in two Innovation and Knowledge Centres located in Southampton and Bristol, aimed at reinforcing these key areas of British research leadership. These centres are dedicated to advancing cutting-edge chip technologies, such as silicon photonics and compound semiconductors, toward commercialisation.

    Chris Meadows, Director, CSconnected, said:

    CSconnected, the organisation representing the South Wales Compound Semiconductor sector, warmly welcomes the news that the UK is to join the EU Chips Joint Undertaking.

    Collaboration is at the very heart of our fast growing and rapidly evolving semiconductor sector that underpins technologies of today and is key to enabling our future connected world, AI, robotics, and in meeting global net-zero ambitions.

    Jen Walls, Chief Executive Officer Clas-Sic Wafer Fab, said:

    This is good news for UK Semiconductors, opening up opportunities for UK Companies to compete with our European peers on a more level playing field. The UK has a lot to offer in this sector and we are grateful as this will foster a more supportive environment for innovation.

    Vaysh Kewada, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Salience Labs, said:

    Semiconductors are critical to the UK’s economic and national security. They underpin crucial technologies such as advancement in AI. The UK produces world-leading research in silicon photonics, compound semiconductors and others. This government support is a good step forward to foster growth and to ensure that the UK remains relevant in the critical technologies of tomorrow.

    Martin McHugh, CEO at CSA Catapult, said:

    This is an excellent opportunity for UK researchers and businesses to strengthen links with our EU partners and collaborate on cutting-edge semiconductor projects of national importance.

    Access to the Horizon Europe funds will enable the UK to partner on projects where we have mutual and significant strengths, such as design, advanced packaging and compound semiconductors.

    Dr. Giorgia Longobardi, Founder and CEO Cambridge GaN Devices, said:

    The UK joining the European initiative to access €1.3 billion Horizon Europe fund for collaborative research in semiconductors is an exciting news.

    Semiconductors are at the base of core technologies that can solve important societal challenges, among which net zero and electrification, and significant advancements in the field can be achieved only thanks to collaborative efforts and government support.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Each week we prove that we will continue to support Ukraine and condemn Russia’s invasion – UK Statement to the OSCE [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Each week we prove that we will continue to support Ukraine and condemn Russia’s invasion – UK Statement to the OSCE [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2024.

    Ambassador Neil Holland thanks Cyprus for its calm chairing of the Forum for Security Cooperation, despite Russia’s attempts to distract from its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. And a warm welcome to Permanent Secretary Louka.

    Mr Chair, dear Andreas, I want to start by thanking you for your calm and professional stewardship of this Forum over the past trimester and to thank you and your whole team for ensuring that this Forum has remained relevant and able to fulfil its mandate.

    We fully support your efforts to keep this Forum focused on Russia’s unprovoked, full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine, an invasion in its third year which continues to challenge the foundations of European security; which continues to violate the UN Charter; and which continues to flagrantly disregard the Helsinki Final Act’s core principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force. Under your stewardship, we have shown that these principles and this Forum continue to matter; and that we will keep on defending both. This matters and we do not take it for granted.

    Mr Chair, your Security Dialogues this trimester focused different thematic lenses on Ukraine. On issues including Humanitarian Mine Action, International Humanitarian Law, Environment and Security, and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). I was particularly encouraged by the strong turn out last week for the WPS Security Dialogue and at your Side Event on gender. It remains essential that we continue to champion women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in political and peace processes.

    Since 24 February 2022, we have seen the extraordinary determination of the Ukrainian people to defend their homeland. Each week, we have voiced our unequivocal support for Ukraine. And each week, we have condemned President Putin’s grave miscalculation of invading a sovereign neighbour. Russia thinks it can wait this war out, and that the West will eventually turn its attention elsewhere. Each week, we prove that is untrue.

    Sadly, Russia has continued its destructive path in the OSCE. For a second trimester in a row, Russia blocked consensus on holding formal FSC Security Dialogues on International Humanitarian Law. On both occasions, Russia proposed speakers with no relevant expertise, before incorrectly implying that the Rules of Procedure conferred on it an entitlement to have panellists. Last week, Russia – once again – warned future FSC Chairs to hold what Russia considers ‘balanced’ Dialogues with speakers of its own choosing. The Rules of Procedure are clear – selecting security dialogue topics and speakers remains the prerogative of the FSC Chair. Russia’s threats have no basis in our rules – or indeed in diplomatic etiquette.

    Mr Chair, Russia’s actions in the FSC this trimester are sadly a continuation of what I said last Trimester. The Russian delegation can throw up as much chaff as they like about the work of the FSC and other States’ interactions with this Forum. But there is one simple fact that lies behind any dysfunction in the FSC. And that is that one participating State, Russia, has invaded another and in doing so trampled over the principles of this organisation and of international humanitarian law. Everything else is subordinate to and derivative from that act of brutality. Perhaps that is why Russia continues to do everything it can to avoid a discussion on these issues. Thank you again, Mr Chair, for standing up to such behaviour.

    I wish to conclude by thanking Canada as it leaves the FSC Troika, and to welcome Denmark. The incoming Chair, Croatia, can count on the UK’s full and continued support next trimester – including in its prerogative as Chair. Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – UK Statement on Violence against Children [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – UK Statement on Violence against Children [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2024.

    UK statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children. Delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French.

    Thank you, Mr President.

    We welcome the report and advocacy of the Special Representative to end violence against children around the world, and for bringing our collective attention to the specific vulnerabilities faced by children on the move.

    Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine continues to gravely violate children’s rights. Over 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred or deported to Russia or Russian temporarily controlled territory by Russian authorities. Only 388 children have so far been returned to Ukraine.

    We are also deeply concerned by reports that Ukrainian children forcibly taken from Ukraine are being adopted in Russia. This is a despicable and systematic attempt to erase Ukrainian identity, and with it, Ukraine’s future.

    We are determined to hold to account those responsible for forcibly deporting and attempting to indoctrinate Ukrainian children.

    We call for Russia to cease its aggression and for the immediate, safe return of all Ukrainian children so that they can rightly be reunited with their families and loved ones, where they belong.

    Madam Special Representative,

    In your report you highlight the importance of the right of the child to preserve their identity in the context of conflicts. How can your mandate contribute to our collective endeavour to safely return all Ukrainian children?

  • PRESS RELEASE : Wrongful Post Office convictions to be quashed through landmark legislation [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Wrongful Post Office convictions to be quashed through landmark legislation [March 2024]

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

    Hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal will have convictions quashed following landmark legislation introduced today [Wednesday 13 March].

    • Government introduces new legislation to automatically quash convictions relating to the Horizon Scandal
    • £75,000 redress payment extended to ensure swift and fairer redress for postmasters who weren’t convicted but suffered as a result of the scandal
    • Comes as £179 million paid to around 2,800 victims so far with further measures introduced to accelerate payments

    Hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal will have convictions quashed following landmark legislation introduced today [Wednesday 13 March].

    This blanket exoneration, delivered through the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill, will quash convictions brought about by erroneous Horizon evidence, clearing the names of many people who have had their lives ruined.

    Affected sub-postmasters will receive an interim payment with the option of immediately taking a fixed and final offer of £600,000, so that they can finally begin to rebuild their lives.

    Under the proposed Bill, convictions will be automatically quashed if they meet the following criteria:

    • Were prosecuted by the Post Office or Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
    • Were for offences carried out in connection with Post Office business between 1996 and 2018.
    • Were for relevant offences such as theft, fraud and false accounting.
    • Were against sub-postmasters, their employees, officers, family members or direct employees of the Post Office working in a Post Office that used the Horizon system software.

    Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak MP, said:

    I want to pay tribute to all the postmasters who have shown such courage and perseverance in their fierce campaign for justice, and to those who tragically won’t see the justice they deserve.

    While I know that nothing can make up for what they’ve been through, today’s legislation marks an important step forward in finally clearing their names.

    We owe it to the victims of this scandal who have had their lives and livelihoods callously torn apart, to deliver the justice they’ve fought so long and hard for, and to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”

    The Government has also confirmed it will bring forward enhanced financial redress for postmasters who were not convicted, or part of legal action against the Post Office, but who still suffered considerably due to Horizon failures. These individuals, also known as the Horizon Shortfall Scheme cohort, will have the option to receive a fixed sum payment of £75,000.

    Those who have already settled for less money will have their redress topped up to this level bringing them in line with the successful approach taken for members of the Group Litigation Order group of postmasters.

    The Department for Business and Trade will now be responsible for delivering the new Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme which will make redress payments to those who have had their convictions quashed by today’s legislation. The aim is to have the scheme open for applications as soon as possible once the legislation has been passed.

    Postal Affairs Minister, Kevin Hollinrake MP, said:

    Postmasters have been fighting for justice for years, and I hope the introduction of today’s legislation is the light at the end of the tunnel they have been waiting for.

    It is only right that postmasters have access to swift and fair compensation which is why those with overturned convictions have the option of immediately taking a fixed and final offer of £600,000 and why we are changing the rules for those in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme, so they are entitled to a £75,000 fixed sum award, bypassing the assessment process.

    For those who don’t choose this option, their claims can be assessed as part of the usual scheme process, in which there is no limit to compensation.”

    Business Secretary, Kemi Badenoch MP, said:

    It is absolutely right that we sweep away the convictions wrongly given to postmasters on the basis of bad evidence, and it is a disgrace that they were ever pursued by the Post Office.

    This is just the latest step in the road to delivering the justice the postmasters deserve. Since the High Court ruling in December 2019, this government has established a Statutory Inquiry, paid millions in compensation, supportedlegal fees for victims and announced plans to overturn convictions.

    That is government in action, and we won’t rest until every victim receives the compensation they are entitled to.

    Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk MP, said:

    Today’s legislation is a watershed moment for sub-postmasters who have campaigned tirelessly for justice in the wake of the Horizon scandal.

    These are exceptional circumstances which require an exceptional response to ensure those who were wrongly convicted can not only clear their names but be fairly and swiftly compensated.”

    The Horizon IT Scandal is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation’s history which dates back to the 1990s, and this Government has gripped it to right the wrongs of the past. But this doesn’t come from a standing start – the Government has spent years getting us to this point.

    In February 2020, the Government launched the independent Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry to get to the bottom of what happened and ensure it can never happen again. The first government-funded compensation payment was paid out via the Horizon Shortfall Scheme in March 2021 and – since then – it has paid out around 60% of all claims. This amounts to around £179 million to over 2,800 claimants – but this legislation will speed up justice and get the rightful redress for victims much more rapidly.

    The Bill will extend and apply to England and Wales. The Government will continue to work closely with their counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland as they develop their own plans. Regardless of where or how convictions are quashed, redress will be paid to victims across the whole of the UK on the same basis.

    The Horizon Compensation Advisory Board’s Chair, Professor Christopher Hodges, said:

    The Government has taken rapid and decisive action to address the widespread injustice to which we drew attention in December.

    We also welcome the Government’s decision to take direct responsibility for delivering fair compensation to those whose convictions are overturned.”

    Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham and member of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, said:

    It’s great news that the Government has taken the advice of the independent Advisory Board, on which I sit, and introduced the Post Office Offences Bill.

    This will exonerate hundreds of victims who were convicted as a result of the Post Office Horizon IT system.

    It is essential that we get this Bill passed as soon as possible before Summer recess so that those affected can get the justice and compensation they have fought so long for.”

    The Government acknowledges the risk that this legislation could quash convictions of people who were genuinely guilty of a crime. In line with the wishes of campaigners the Government will make all efforts to ensure this is targeted on those wrongly convicted and make sure nobody who defrauded the system is able to access taxpayer-funded compensation.

    Before receiving financial redress, sub-postmasters will be required to sign a legal statement vowing that they did not commit the crime for which they were originally convicted. Any person found to have signed a statement falsely in order to gain financial redress may be guilty of fraud.

    The Government will continue to push this legislation through Parliament with the aim of achieving Royal Assent as soon as possible ahead of summer recess. Redress will be delivered as swiftly as possible after the quashing of convictions are processed.

    The Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, which includes long time parliamentary campaigners on this issue such as Lord Arbuthnot, Professor Christopher Hodges and Kevan Jones MP, has warmly welcomed the proposed legislation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : 2024 Rohingya Joint Response Plan – UK statement [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : 2024 Rohingya Joint Response Plan – UK statement [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2024.

    On 13 March the UK announced a further £5.2 million to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, at the launch of the 2024 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Geneva.

    UK statement delivered at the launch of the 2024 Joint Response Plan, hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the Government of Bangladesh.

    High Commissioner Grandi, Director General Pope, Foreign Secretary and Principal Secretary, and colleagues.

    I would like to begin by recognising the significant efforts of the Government of Bangladesh in hosting almost one million Rohingya refugees for over six years. I would also like to thank our humanitarian partners, their staff and the volunteers on the ground, for continuing to deliver such a comprehensive response.

    The UK remains deeply concerned by the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh and the worsening situation in Myanmar, including for the Rohingya in Rakhine state. Their suffering has only been compounded by the escalation of the conflict. We will continue to use our role as UN Security Council penholder to seek to address the worsening situation in Myanmar and to push for a long-term solution to the Rohingya’s suffering.

    Until the conditions in Myanmar allow for the refugees to return in a voluntary, safe and dignified manner, the UK remains committed to supporting the Rohingya in Bangladesh, as emphasised in our pledge at the Global Refugee Forum in December.

    I am therefore pleased to announce today that the UK is providing a further £5.2 million of humanitarian assistance, including food and cooking gas, to the Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar. This brings the UK’s support to the Rohingya and neighbouring communities in Bangladesh to £379 million since 2017. The UK has also provided over £30 million for Rohingya and other Muslim communities in Rakhine State in this period, and we commit to providing further assistance in 2024.

    We welcome this year’s Joint Response Plan. The response in Bangladesh continues to provide vital assistance and we welcome the positive progress, including the completion of the Myanmar curriculum rollout, and an increase in skills development opportunities.

    However, we are deeply troubled by the overall deterioration in conditions for the refugees last year. As we have heard today, protection incidents and insecurity rose significantly; two ration cuts pushed malnutrition to emergency levels, the highest since 2017; and the number of Rohingya undertaking dangerous journeys at sea rose by 22%.

    We all know that globally the gap between humanitarian needs and funding continues to grow. It is therefore essential that the response continues to work in the most effective and efficient way possible to meet the needs of those affected.

    We recognise the challenges that the Government of Bangladesh faces in managing this situation. The UK will continue to work supportively and collaboratively with your government, Foreign Secretary and Principal Secretary, taking into account your concerns about the impact of the refugee presence, in order to find a sustainable way forward. This involves:

    • continuing to support the Rohingya and affected Bangladeshi communities;
    • addressing the worsening protection and security challenges in the camps;
    • providing safe shelters that protect the Rohingya against cyclones and fires; and,
    • offering the Rohingya more self-reliance, and less dependence on humanitarian aid.

    Let me end by reiterating the UK’s commitment to the Rohingya, and the communities that host them, and to working with you all to resolve the underlying causes of this tragic crisis.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Urgent call to smokers to make a quit attempt for No Smoking Day [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Urgent call to smokers to make a quit attempt for No Smoking Day [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 13 March 2024.

    Smokers in England are being urged to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day to improve their health and wealth.

    • 5.3 million smokers in England urged to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day, as one of the best things they can do for their health and their wealth
    • With up to 2 in 3 long-term smokers dying from smoking and causing 64,000 deaths in England each year, No Smoking Day remains important 40 years on from its launch
    • “It’s never too late to quit”: presenter Coleen Nolan tells us why she is stopping smoking following a recent health scare and reassures others on taking first steps to a smokefree life
    • It comes as the Prime Minister’s landmark legislation to create a smokefree generation is due to be introduced

    Leading charities, including Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Cancer Research UK and Asthma + Lung UK, are joining forces with the government to encourage the nation’s 5.3 million smokers to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day, 13 March 2024.

    The campaign comes as part of the government’s bold plans to bring about the first smokefree generation and introduce legislation so children turning 15 this year or younger can never legally be sold tobacco.  Almost every minute of every day someone is admitted to hospital in England with a smoking-related disease and in 2022 to 2023 there were over 400,000 hospital admissions in England due to smoking.

    Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health, at any age, and the benefits begin immediately. After 8 hours your oxygen levels recover and the harmful carbon monoxide level in your blood will have reduced by half. After 48 hours all carbon monoxide will have been flushed out, your lungs will clear out mucus and your sense of taste and smell improve.

    Stopping smoking is also one of the best things people can do to save money to spend on other things. The average smoker spends around £47 a week on tobacco, which is around £2,450 a year. More broadly, it costs society over £17 billion per year, which includes a £14 billion cost to productivity and a £3 billion cost to the NHS and social care.

    Public Health Minister, Andrea Leadsom, said:

    Smoking is the biggest preventable killer in the UK and places a huge burden on our NHS. Cigarettes are responsible for 64,000 deaths a year in England – no other consumer product kills up to two-thirds of its users.

    That’s why No Smoking Day is still so important 40 years on from its launch.  We are taking action to prevent our children from ever lighting a cigarette, and our proposed historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill will safeguard the next generation from the harms of smoking and risk of addiction.

    Up to 2 in 3 long-term smokers will die from their smoking. Despite the harms associated with smoking, it’s estimated that nearly 50 million cigarettes are smoked every day in England, with every single one negatively impacting the smoker’s health.

    Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor ​​Chris Whitty, said:

    Cigarettes kill. They cause at least 15 different types of cancers and increase your risk of developing more than 50 serious health conditions.

    Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health – no matter your age or how long you have smoked.

    Today, presenter, singer and TV personality Coleen Nolan – who smoked for over 40 years and is currently on her quitting journey following a health scare – shares her story to encourage others to join her.

    Singer and presenter Coleen Nolan said:

    I smoked for about 40 years and was heavily influenced by my friends and family around me. At such a young age I wasn’t aware of the health risks of smoking and soon found myself becoming addicted.

    Following a recent health scare, I realised how precious life is and became determined to quit, not just for my own health, but so I can be there fully for my children and grandchildren. To anyone out there thinking of giving up smoking, my advice is do it!

    She is joined by ex-smoker and cancer survivor Sue Mountain, who shares her story in a bid to urge smokers to quit smoking before it’s too late. Sue features in a powerful TV advert released by the department as part of a new smokefree campaign, encouraging people to quit smoking.

    Sue Mountain said:

    I never once thought I’d get cancer. Not once. To tell your family you’ve got cancer through smoking is really hard. My kids thought they were going to lose their mam.

    Smoking rates have reduced by two-thirds since the first year of No Smoking Day 40 years ago, but smoking is still the single largest preventable cause of death in England – estimated to account for 64,000 deaths annually.

    Stopping smoking is the best thing people can do for their health, and it can significantly reduce the risk of younger people taking up smoking and becoming addicted. Currently, 4 in 5 smokers start before the age of 20 and smoking from a younger age is linked to being more likely to smoke in later years.

    Better Health offers a range of free quitting support, including a ​​local stop smoking services look-up tool and advice on stop smoking aids, including information on how vaping can help you quit smoking.

    As part of the government’s Swap to Stop scheme, almost 1 in 5 of all adult smokers in England will have access to a vape kit alongside behavioural support to help them quit the habit and improve health outcomes.

    Plans to introduce the most significant public health intervention in a generation and phase out smoking are progressing at pace, with the UK now in the lead to be the first country in the world to create a smokefree generation. The government is proposing the phasing out of the sale of tobacco so that any child born on or after 1 January 2009 can never legally be sold cigarettes.

    Be part of the change and help build a smokefree generation. For free support to quit this No Smoking Day, search ‘smokefree’.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Major humanitarian push as 150 tonnes of UK aid enter Gaza [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Major humanitarian push as 150 tonnes of UK aid enter Gaza [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2024.

    Around 150 tonnes of UK aid, including more than 13,000 blankets and 840 family-sized tents, have entered Gaza today.

    • a UK field hospital will arrive this week to provide life-saving medical care
    • Foreign Secretary also announces further £10 million in aid funding, bringing UK support to more than £100 million this financial year

    Around 150 tonnes of UK aid, including more than 13,000 blankets and 840 family-sized tents, have entered Gaza today, where the United Nations [UNICEF] will distribute them to those in need.

    In addition, a full field hospital, provided by UK Aid funding to UK-Med, will arrive this week. The facility can be adapted according to needs on the ground and usually includes a pharmacy, triage area, major injuries and resuscitation unit, and maternity care tent.

    The field hospital left Manchester on 5 March and is on route to Gaza. This facility can be operational in as little as 48 hours and will be able to treat more than 100 patients a day. It will be staffed by both local health workers and international medics, including many from the UK, on the UK-Med Register.

    Alongside the latest deliveries of aid, the Foreign Secretary has announced a further £10 million in aid funding for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), bringing the total spend to over £100 million this financial year. This funding will support UN agencies on the ground to deliver lifesaving aid and will also provide core relief items, such as tents, for the most vulnerable.

    Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

    Too many people in Gaza are suffering. No one should be without basic amenities like shelter and bedding, and everyone deserves the dignity that basic hygiene kits provide. Our largest aid delivery, combined with a new UK funded field hospital, will save lives.

    But an immediate pause in the fighting is the only way to get aid into Gaza in the quantities desperately needed. This will also allow for the safe release of hostages.

    We could then work towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting or loss of life.

    Today’s additional 150 tonnes of UK core relief items for UNICEF will include 840 family tents, 13,440 blankets, almost 3,000 shelter kits, and shelter-fixing kits, 6,000 sleeping mats and more than 3,000 dignity kits to support women and girls.

    An estimated 3.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the OPTs, with over half a million at risk from famine.

    The UK is committed to ensuring aid reaches those who need it most, as Palestinians continue to face a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary has been clear that Israel must increase capacity to safely distribute aid within Gaza. This includes opening a land crossing in the north and issuing more visas to UN staff who are capable of delivering aid when it arrives in Gaza.

    Ahead of this new funding, the UK had previously trebled its aid commitment to the OPTs. UK funding has supported the work of partners including the British Red Cross, UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) to deliver vital supplies.