Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Work to deliver Midlands Rail Hub set to begin with £123 million [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 29 February 2024.

Millions of people will benefit from more frequent rail services from central Birmingham and upgraded stations across the Midlands.
- design work on £1.75 billion Midlands Rail Hub project set to begin
- rail hub set to benefit millions of people with improved journey times and more frequent rail services
- investment demonstrates Network North commitment to deliver the Midlands Rail Hub with reallocated HS2 funding to benefit more people, in more places, more quickly
- comes as Midlands set to benefit from £2.2 billion through Local Transport Fund to improve local transport connections
Work on the Midlands Rail Hub is set to begin after ministers provided an initial £123 million funding injection.

The transformational upgrade project is part of the government’s plan to improve transport across the region and beyond, boosting the capacity and frequency of rail services for passengers while upgrading stations across the Midlands.

More than 50 stations – covering 7 million people across the region – will benefit from the plans, made possible by reallocated HS2 funding. The first phase of the Midlands Rail Hub will mean an additional train every hour in both directions between central Birmingham and locations including:
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Cheltenham
- Worcester
This first wave of funding will enable design work to begin on creating space for extra services. This includes preparing detailed designs for the infrastructure improvements required, finalising operating plans for the new services, while continuing to move the rest of the programme forward.

The investment comes as part of the government’s Network North transport plan, which committed £1.75 billion to deliver the Midlands Rail Hub in full.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:

The Midlands Rail Hub will bring huge benefits to passengers in the region and beyond, so it’s great to be in Birmingham with Mayor Andy Street to kick start this important project.

Today’s announcement is part of the government’s plan to invest in transport projects with reallocated HS2 funding, helping to grow the economy and better connect communities across the Midlands.

More London to Birmingham services will be extended from Moor Street to Snow Hill station meaning the Chiltern line will also serve Birmingham’s Snow Hill business district.

In addition, Kings Norton station will be made more accessible, while platforms at Snow Hill, Moor Street, and Kings Norton stations will be upgraded. Passengers will also have greater access to HS2 services via Curzon Street station, meaning easier travel across the country.

When delivered in full, the hub will see services on most routes increase by between 50% and 100%. Birmingham’s Cross-City line will be given a ‘turn-up-and-go’ service with a train every 10 minutes.

The number of trains between Birmingham and Leicester will be doubled from 2 to 4 per hour, while additional trains are planned between Birmingham and Nottingham, and the new Birmingham to Worcester trains extended to Hereford.

Andy Street, Mayor of West Midlands and chair of the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE), said:

The Midlands Rail Hub will deliver a revolution in public transport for our region opening up more capacity on the routes in and out of central Birmingham which will allow us to run more services to more places both locally and nationally.

Midlands Rail Hub will also provide an opportunity for us to open more new stations and lines across our network as well as deliver faster journey times into central Birmingham from the new Camp Hill line stations that are currently under construction at Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road.

This investment will not only better connect communities to convenient and rapid public transport services but also attract further investment into our region, delivering jobs, growth and greater prosperity.

It’s important not to forget that this new funding comes on top of the billions of pounds worth of transport investment we have already secured for the West Midlands. That funding is really significant and will help turbo-charge our plans to improve public transport across the region, connecting local people to education, training, health and leisure services as well as job opportunities.

Maria Machancoses, Chief Executive of Midlands Connect, said:

This announcement marks a major milestone in this transformational, nationally significant project.

The Midlands Rail Hub programme is the result of years of collaboration and determination by cross-party leaders from all corners of the Midlands.

Today’s £123 million announcement is a clear sign of government’s trust in our partnership – getting us closer to finally delivering much need east-west connectivity across the region.

We will continue to work with government to progress the plans and ensure, as set out in Network North, Midlands Rail Hub is delivered in full, extending the benefits to towns and cities like Hereford, Nottingham, Derby and Leicester.

The Midlands Rail Hub announcement comes as the British Business Bank launched its £400 million Midlands Engine Investment Fund II today (29 February 2024), unlocking additional funding to help smaller businesses in the Midlands prosper and thrive.

The fund will drive sustainable economic growth by supporting new and growing businesses across the whole of the Midlands, increasing the access and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses in the region. It includes a range of finance options with loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investments up to £5 million to help small and medium-sized businesses start up, scale up, or stay ahead.

The Midlands Rail Hub announcement also comes shortly after the government announced the Midlands will receive £2.2 billion from April 2025 to improve local transport connections in areas outside the city regions. The investment will give local authorities long-term certainty to invest in transport improvements such as building new roads and installing or expanding mass transit systems.

Over the 7 years as a whole, this funding will be on average at least 9 times more than these local authorities currently receive through the local integrated transport block, which is the current mechanism for funding local transport improvements in their areas.

Subject to future decisions, this first phase of the Rail Hub could be completed by the early 2030s.
March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK and France to deepen research and AI links following Horizon association [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 29 February 2024.

New funding to boost research collaboration and a new partnership to further global AI safety are part of measures announced by the UK and France.
- French Minister for Higher Education and Research meets DSIT Secretary of State to deepen UK-France research and AI ties
- £800,000 joint funding announced to support more UK-French bids for research funding, like Horizon Europe
- UK-France AI partnership builds on plans to work together ahead of the AI Safety Summit that France will host later this year
New funding to boost research collaboration and a new partnership to further global AI safety are part of measures announced by the UK and France today (Thursday 29 February).

The French Minister for Higher Education and Research Sylvie Retailleau will visit London today for her first face-to-face meeting with Secretary of State Michelle Donelan since the UK’s association to Horizon Europe.

The two ministers will build on the already extensive links between British and French scientists, researchers, and businesses – which historically has led innovations like the Concorde making commercial supersonic flight a reality and the engineering marvel of the Channel Tunnel – by endorsing a joint declaration to strengthen UK-French research ties even further.

This includes a commitment to £800,000 in new funding towards joint research efforts both the UK and France are already involved in, such as Horizon Europe, to unlock more UK-France joint bids for grants to support cutting-edge R&D. This could spearhead research that improves lives around the world; under Horizon’s predecessor, British and French experts worked together to bring potential HIV–AIDS vaccines to the clinical trial stage.

They will also announce a landmark new partnership between the UK AI Safety Institute and France’s Inria (The National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology), to jointly support the safe and responsible development of AI technology. This comes ahead of France hosting the next in-person AI Safety Summit later this year, which will build on the historic agreement on frontier AI testing struck between world leaders and businesses at the UK’s world-first Summit, last year.

The French-British joint committee on Science, Technology and Innovation – which meets for the first time today – also represents a unique opportunity to bring key influencers from across both countries’ research sectors together, to work on shared and promising opportunities for R&D teamwork across the Channel: from low-carbon hydrogen and space observation, to AI and research security. It will meet every two years with a view to boosting UK-France scientific cooperation in priority fields such as emerging technologies like AI and quantum.

UK Secretary of State Michelle Donelan said:

The links between the UK and France’s brightest minds are deep and longstanding, from breakthroughs in aerospace to tackling climate change. It is only right that we support our innovators, to unleash the power of their ideas to create jobs and grow businesses in concert with our closest neighbour on the continent.

Research is fundamentally collaborative, and alongside our bespoke deal on Horizon Europe, this deepening partnership with France – along with our joint work on AI safety – is another key step in realising the UK’s science superpower ambitions.

French Minister of Higher Education and Research, Sylvie Retailleau, said:

This joint committee is a perfect illustration of the international component of research, from identifying key priorities such as Hydrogen, AI, Space and Research Security, to enabling collaborative work and exchange of ideas and good practices through funding.

Doing so with a trusted partner as the UK, who just associated to Horizon Europe, is a great opportunity to strengthen France’s science capabilities abroad, and participate in Europe’s strategic autonomy openness.

The UK-France joint declaration reinforces the campaign that is underway to supercharge UK researchers’ opportunities to collaborate with colleagues in France, across Europe, and beyond through Horizon Europe: the world’s largest programme of research collaboration. This push is emphasising the opportunities for European firms and researchers to collaborate with the tens of thousands of UK companies eligible for Horizon Europe grants. The UK is also participating in the Copernicus component of the EU space programme, providing a host of opportunities for our Earth observation sector, researchers, and the public.

Besides AI safety, the agreement looks at joint work on space, hydrogen and research security.

The AI partnership between the UK and France’s AI institutes brings France into a growing global network that is collaborating on AI safety testing. The UK has already agreed similar partnerships with the US AI Safety Institute, as well as the government of Singapore.

As the UK’s nearest continental neighbour and a science and tech world leader, France is a natural partner for UK researchers – while the UK, as home to 4 of the world’s top 10 universities, and a larger share of its own research among the world’s most highly-cited than any other G7 country, brings its own exceptional research and innovation strengths to the table.

In the past, pooling our expertise achieved things that were previously thought impossible – from Concorde making commercial supersonic flight a reality, to the engineering marvel of the Channel Tunnel. Today that work continues at the cutting edge of science and research, such as through the MicroCarb joint satellite project, and both countries’ membership of CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics. And all of this comes alongside 2024 marking the 120th anniversary of the UK and France signing the Entente Cordiale.

This is the latest in a series of bilateral international science deals the UK has signed recently, which include partnerships with the Republic of Korea, Israel, India, Switzerland and South Africa, as well as recent international digital deals such as the UK-Japan Digital Partnership.

These bilateral agreements, alongside Horizon association, demonstrate the UK’s global ambitions to deepen collaboration with leading lights in science right across the globe. The government is determined to open up the broadest range of opportunities, for the brightest British minds to unlock breakthroughs with colleagues, the world over.
March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Defence Minister praises Scottish shipbuilding apprentices [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 29 February 2024.

The Minister for Defence Procurement met with Scottish apprentices to discuss their positive experiences, ahead of Scottish apprenticeship week.

The important role apprentices play in driving innovation in British shipbuilding was recognised during a ministerial visit to key defence sites in Scotland this week.

Visiting Govan and Rosyth, Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, met apprentices and workers, witnessing first-hand the construction of several new Royal Navy ships, including HMS Cardiff, HMS Glasgow, HMS Venturer and HMS Active.

The Minister received a full briefing regarding the progress on the build of the Type 26s currently happening in Govan and Scotstoun, and met with Babcock CEO, David Lockwood for a look at the Type 31s being built in Rosyth. Over the course of the build, Babcock will take on more than 500 apprentices.

Through the National Shipbuilding Office, the Government is committed to working closely with British industry to help the shipbuilding sector maximise its potential, creating more skilled jobs and levelling up communities in Scotland.

Touring the sites of BAE Systems and Babcock, the Minister spoke with workers and 180 apprentices and thanked them for their crucial role in building the future fleet of the Royal Navy.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said:

It was great to meet and chat with the skilled workers and apprentices who are working hard to design, manufacture and build the future fleet for our Royal Navy.

I’m pleased that a career in the defence sector can provide these unique opportunities and skilled technical training for young people, whilst making a huge contribution to the Scottish economy.

Babcock currently have more than 180 apprentices and 3,500 people employed in Scotland, with these numbers only set to grow in the coming years. In addition to this, Babcock have 1030 apprentices and more than 360 graduates across the UK. Babcock has invested £35 million in a new digitally enabled build hall at its Rosyth facility, with the Venturer Building capable of housing two Type 31s frigates side by side for parallel build and assembly, supporting increased productivity gains through improved access to the platforms and digital connectivity.

BAE systems in Glasgow currently have 3,750 employees and around 600 apprentices and graduates in Glasgow. In 2024, they are set to recruit almost 2,700 apprentices and graduates across the UK, with 300 based in Glasgow. In addition, construction has begun on a new £12m Applied Shipbuilding Academy at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun shipyard, which will develop the existing workforce and attract new talent to the historic profession of shipbuilding.

Additionally, construction of a modern shipbuilding hall in Govan is underway and, together with a range of additional investments in technologies and equipment, it forms part of an overall £300m investment in the two sites in Glasgow over the next five years.

David Lockwood CEO, Babcock said:

We were delighted to host the Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge MP, at our Rosyth site ahead of Scottish Apprenticeship week.

Apprenticeships play a really important role in workforces across the UK, ensuring we can sustain the technical skills needed to continue to deliver critical national defence programmes, while offering exciting opportunities with direct benefits to local communities.

Simon Lister, Managing Director of Naval Ships at BAE Systems said:

We have a proud tradition of equipping our apprentices with the skills and training needed to develop long and rewarding careers. They are the next generation of shipbuilders that will design and build ships for the Royal Navy for decades to come.

Training a world-class workforce requires world-class facilities. That’s why, as well as our new Ship Build Hall, we are building our new Applied Shipbuilding Academy here in Glasgow, working closely with our regional partners to build sector skills.

March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New regulations for schools in next stage of attendance drive [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 29 February 2024.

Every state school in England will now share their daily attendance registers across the education sector – including with the department for education, councils, and trusts in the next stage of the government’s drive to reduce pupil absence in school.

The sharing of daily school registers will form a new world-leading attendance data set that will help schools spot and support children displaying worrying trends of persistent absence or those in danger of becoming missing in education.

Schools, trusts and councils will be able to access this data via an interactive secure data dashboard maintained by the department for education. This will allow them easy use of the data to not only spot pupils in need of support but also to understand how their attendance position compares locally and nationally so they can look at where they might need to drive improvements.

These reforms are the next phase in the government’s plan to improve attendance following the pandemic which has seen a worldwide rise in absence and persistent absence driven by broken habits of attendance, and new and exacerbated barriers like mental ill health.

The government’s plan to improve attendance has included expanding the attendance hubs programme to 32 hubs across the country, which share best practice to schools supporting more than one million pupils, plus piloting attendance mentors, who work directly with pupils to tackle their barriers to attendance alongside a national awareness campaign aimed at helping parents. Our plan is already working, with 380,000 fewer pupils persistently off school over the course of last year.

Parent fines for unauthorised absences will also be brought under a national framework to help tackle inconsistencies in their use. A fine to parents must be considered if a child misses 5 days of school for unauthorised absence. Alongside this, costs for fines will go up from £60 to £80 if paid within 21 days and from £120 to £160 if paid in 28 days which will ensure all parents are aware of when they might face a fine to ensure all councils are issuing fines appropriately.

Today the Department for Education has also announced Rob Tarn, CEO of Northern Education Trust and the founder of England’s first attendance hub, as the new national attendance ambassador. Rob will work with schools and school leaders to champion attendance, share effective practice, and support the ongoing development of the attendance hubs programme nationally.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

Our fantastic schools and teachers unlock children’s imagination, potential and social skills which is why improving attendance is my number one priority.

Today we are taking that next step to further boost attendance and I want to thank those who are working with us including teachers and heads.

Education standards have risen sharply across the country, with Ofsted ratings up from 68% to nearly 90% since 2010 – and pupils’ performance is ranked as some of the best globally – so it has never been more valuable to be in school.

Key guidance setting out how schools and local authorities must take a ‘support-first’ approach to help pupils and their families to tackle barriers to attendance will be made statutory from August 2024. The working together to improve school attendance guidance sets expectations including regular meetings between schools and local authorities to agree plans for the most at-risk absent children.

It particularly emphasises the importance of support for pupils with SEND and mental ill health who often need more individual consideration due to wider barriers. It asks schools, local authorities and wider services to work together to support these pupils, encouraging early intervention and close working with families to address their individual needs.

Rob Tarn, CEO of Northern Education Trust said:

Attendance is one biggest challenges facing the school system today, so I’m pleased that the Department has announced this package of important measures including making the attendance guidance statutory.

I am also delighted to have been named as the Department for Education’s attendance ambassador. I look forward to working with attendance hub schools around the country to share effective practice and support school leaders to improve attendance locally and nationally.

Today’s announcement is the next step in the government’s national drive to improve attendance and tackle persistent absence, launched in January.

This sits alongside the national communications campaign raising awareness of the importance of attendance, which is running until Easter. Under the strapline ‘Moments Matter, Attendance Counts’ it outlines the importance of attendance for attainment, wellbeing, and development as well as signposting to advice for further support for parents and carers.

Steve Wilkinson, President of the Association of Education Welfare Management who run attendance support in local councils said:

We welcomed the opportunity to work closely with the DfE to share the vast expertise of our members with improving attendance in schools and other educational provisions.

Putting these measures on a statutory footing helps reinforce the importance of school attendance and the need to ensure families receive the support they need, when they need it, working together to ensure any barriers to attendance for children are removed.

This government is making long-term decisions to ensure all pupils have world class education. Improving attendance builds on that work which has delivered 89% of schools rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, up from just 68% in 2010.

School standards are rising across the board and England has catapulted up the international rankings for academic attainment through our multimillion-pound maths and English hubs programme and phonics screening check. Thanks to reforms introduced since 2010 England is now one of the top performing countries in the world for maths, reading and science, and the government will continue to build on this progress by delivering crucial reforms including by creating the Advanced British Standard.

March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Putin’s vanity project for his imperial ambitions has come at enormous cost to the Russian people: UK statement to the OSCE [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 February 2024.

Two years on, the international community’s support of the principles of democracy and freedom, and the Ukrainian people’s bravery and resilience, remain steadfast.

Thank you, Mr Chair. We have recently passed 2 landmark dates in Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine. Over a decade ago, on 20 February 2014, Russia illegally, and unacceptably sought to annex Crimea. While, last week, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine entered the third year. That President Putin supposedly intended his full-scale invasion to be a 3-day operation is a testament to many things; to Putin’s arrogance and hubris, to his strategic miscalculation, to the international community’s steadfast support of the principles of democracy and freedom, and to the enormous bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people.

Although the land war in Ukraine continues to be strongly contested, any territorial land gains come at enormous strategic cost to the Russian armed forces, for limited tactical gains. Russia originally deployed 130 Battalion Tactical Groups for its invasion of Ukraine, comprising 1,300 tanks, over 5,000 infantry fighting vehicles and armoured personnel carriers (IFVs and APCs), and at least 100,000 personnel. In 2 years of conflict, Russia’s losses now match – and in many cases surpass – those that comprised its original force. Confirmed Russian losses include over 2,700 tanks and 5,000 IFVs and APCs, whilst Russia’s killed and wounded stand at over 350,000 personnel.

20% of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has now been destroyed. Further losses were sustained on 14 February 2024 when Ukrainian forces conducted a successful Uncrewed Surface Vessel attack on the Russian Ropucha-class landing craft ‘Tsezar Kunikov’. As a consequence, 3 of 10 Ropucha-class vessels have now been destroyed by Ukrainian strikes and the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, has been removed from his post.

In the air domain, Russia has lost its second A-50 MAINSTAY early warning and airborne control aircraft in 6 weeks. NATO now has more member states as a direct consequence of Putin’s illegal war of aggression. In contrast Russia’s military alliances are diminishing in recognition of the security proposition on offer.

Mr Chair, this all matters because Russia would love for nothing more than to deflect from the realities of its strategic errors. It would like for us to debate the technical wranglings of arms control, perversely attempting to obfuscate the key point that Russia invaded another country. Russia’s continual efforts to focus on the tactical to deflect from the strategic bigger picture. This is a reinforcement of the very behaviour that enabled it to send a generation of Russian boys into the meat grinder. This has all been done as part of Putin’s vanity project to realise his imperial ambitions, the sole aim of which is to preserve power for himself and a narrow Russian elite as part of his despotic regime.

When we reflect on where things stand, 2 years after the start of the full-scale invasion, we see a stronger NATO, a defiant, democratic Ukraine, the consolidation of an international community drawn together around the principles of democratic institutions and the respect for law and sovereignty. The vast majority of members in this Forum have aligned with these principles and will stand up against a nation that believes it can invade another with impunity. The vast majority of nations recognise, that for all of Russia’s attempts to divide us, to sow misinformation, to deflect, we will remain focussed on the strategic reality that Russia invaded its neighbour, Ukraine, and we will stand by Ukraine now and for as long as it takes. Thank you.

March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : His Majesty The King honours Mr Katsusada Hirose, former Governor of Oita Prefecture [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 February 2024.

His Majesty King Charles III has approved the award of Honorary Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) to Mr Hirose in recognition of his exceptional contribution to furthering UK-Japan relations.

Mr Katsusada Hirose has had a long and distinguished career as a public servant, including as former Vice-Minister at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and as Governor of Oita Prefecture in Kyushu Japan from 2003 to 2023. During his time as Governor, Mr Hirose was instrumental in building deep and lasting links between Oita Prefecture and the United Kingdom, and with Wales in particular. His vision for closer collaboration between Wales and Oita began with the warm hospitality shown to the Welsh rugby team and fans when Oita hosted two of the Wales matches during the Rugby World Cup 2019; and it culminated in the signing in 2022 of a Memorandum of Understanding between Oita Prefecture and Wales. Focused on developing people-to-people links, through Arts and Culture, Sport, Academia, Tourism and Food and Drink, the MOU has laid the foundation of a relationship that continues to grow from strength to strength.

The British Embassy in Tokyo and Consulate General in Osaka look forward to building on Mr Hirose’s legacy over the coming years. We are committed to working with our partners in Oita to strengthen existing links and create new opportunities for collaboration in areas such as decarbonisation and innovation. We look forward to continuing to grow our economic, cultural and social links for the benefit of the people of both nations.

March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : £31m committed to protect democratic process [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 28 February 2024.

£31 million of new funding to protect democratic processes and enhance security measures for elected representatives.

The investment will be used to enhance police capabilities, increase private sector security provisions for those facing a higher risk, and expand cyber security advice to locally elected representatives.

It will also ensure all elected representatives and candidates have a dedicated named police contact to liaise with on security matters, significantly expanding the support provided under current policing arrangements.

Home Secretary James Cleverly will hold a roundtable with police chiefs today (Wednesday 28 February) to discuss what more can be done to better ensure the safety and security of elected representatives and protect democratic processes from intimidation, disruption or subversion.

The government recognises the importance of upholding the UK’s democratic processes following the impact of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and in advance of a general election.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

The government will take every possible step to safeguard the people, processes and institutions upon which our democracy relies.

I take the safety and security of all members of the House with the utmost seriousness. None of us should have to accept that enduring hate crimes, harassment, or threats is part of the job.

I will continue to work closely with my police counterparts to provide elected representatives with the support they need.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

Over the past few weeks we’ve seen disgraceful attempts to intimidate MPs and undermine our democratic processes.

That behaviour is a threat to our democracy, and toxic for our society.

We will do whatever is necessary to protect those who’ve been elected to represent their local communities, and to defend our democratic freedoms.

As part of the additional funding announced today, a new communities fund will be established to support the deployment of additional police patrols each week in England and Wales, in response to increased community tensions.

Local police forces will be able to draw upon the fund to surge policing presence in local areas in response to specific events. This will increase support available to vulnerable communities, bolstering police visibility, and increasing public confidence.

The UK’s protective security system has undergone significant reform in recent years, most notably following the murders of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, with the latter resulting in the MP security review.

Improvements made under the review include the delivery of enhanced security advice and training, substantive improvements to existing security measures at members’ homes and offices, and the delivery of new security measures including the deployment of additional private sector delivered protective security.

Parliament, police, and the Home Office will continue to improve, adapt, and deliver security and risk reduction measures, as MPs and elected representatives’ requirements develop.

March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 55 – UK National Statement [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 February 2024.

UK National Statement, delivered by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, the UK’s Minister of State (Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth).

Mr President,

The United Kingdom is proud to stand up for freedom and democracy.

We welcome the spotlight the Human Rights Council shines on the worst violations and abuses of human rights, and its work to hold those responsible to account.

I welcome the opportunity to reflect on three key areas of concern.

Ukraine / Russia
Beginning with President Putin’s barbaric assault on Ukraine, which has been marked by some appalling violations of human rights.

Within the last week, we have seen reports from the Ukrainian authorities of their soldiers being executed by Russian forces.

The independent Commission of Inquiry has uncovered mounting evidence of war crimes, and possible crimes against humanity.

From acts of torture and sexual violence to the killing and forced deportation of innocent civilians… it is vital to establish the full facts and gather evidence.

Only then can we bring those responsible to justice.

It is imperative that this session renews the Commission’s mandate.

Turning to matters within Russia, we were appalled by the news of Alexei Navalny’s death, and hold the Russian authorities fully accountable.

We offer our deepest sympathies to Mr Navalny’s family and are pleased that his body has finally been returned.

There must be a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his death.

We reiterate our call for the release of all those imprisoned in Russia on political grounds, including British dual national Vladimir Kara-Murza.

Israel / OPTs
Now turning to Israel, the immediate priority must be a humanitarian pause in the fighting, which is the best route to secure the safe release of hostages and significantly step up the aid reaching Gaza.

We want that pause to lead to a sustainable ceasefire without a return to further fighting.

That remains the focus of our diplomatic efforts.

There must be a reduction in civilian casualties, and we call on all parties to act within international humanitarian law.

We are particularly concerned about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s people are sheltering.

We urge Israel to take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.

Meanwhile, we have sanctioned extremist Israeli settlers involved in some of the most egregious abuses of human rights in the West Bank.

The UK remains committed to a two-state solution, guaranteeing security and stability for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

We must generate momentum now towards a permanent peace.

The UK wants to see all countries face appropriate scrutiny of their human rights record, but opposes the disproportionate focus of Item 7, which damages efforts to achieve peace.

China
Meanwhile, the UK will continue to press the Chinese authorities to improve their human rights record, including in multilateral institutions, where last year we led another record statement at the Third Committee on Xinjiang.

In Hong Kong, we urge the authorities to repeal the National Security Law, and release Jimmy Lai.

Mr President, I have only reflected on three of the many areas of concern.

We also continue to watch developments closely in Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar and other countries where citizens’ most basic rights are being trampled.

Also South Sudan, where we have witnessed horrendous cases of sexual and gender-based violence as well as the targeting of journalists.

It is vital that the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights is extended.

Those who abuse or violate those rights must be held to account.

We will continue to support all efforts, including through this Council, to ensure that is the case.

March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Takeaway owner Zaman Shaa banned as company director for abusing Covid loan [February 2024]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 28 February 2024.

The takeaway owner applied for a Bounce Back Loan and did not use the funds as declared in his application.
- Zaman Shaa fraudulently secured a £30,000 Covid Bounce Back Loan during the pandemic
- He illegally applied to dissolve his business and failed to inform creditors of his actions
- Shaa was handed a suspended sentence, banned as a company director for two years, and ordered to pay costs of £6,000
An Indian takeaway owner who used the funds from a Covid Bounce Back Loan for his own personal gain and ignored company law has been sentenced.

Zaman Shaa was sentenced to 36 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, when he appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 23 February.

He was ordered to pay £6,000 in costs, at a rate of £250 per month, at the same hearing.

The 53-year-old was also disqualified as a company director for two years.

Pete Fulham, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

Zaman Shaa exploited a scheme intended to help businesses during a national emergency for his own personal gain.

His actions cannot simply be dismissed as something he did in the spur of the moment. They required a degree of planning and sophistication over a number of weeks to execute.

The sentence and disqualification order for Shaa demonstrate we will not hesitate to take action against directors who have abused Covid financial support in such a manner.

Shaa, of Woodside Road, Salisbury, applied for a £30,000 Bounce Back Loan in August 2020 when he was the director of Shaa Ventures Ltd.

His company used to manage the Chutneys Indian takeaway on Estcourt Road, Salisbury.

Shaa broke company law before securing the loan by applying to dissolve his business, even though it had been trading in the previous three months.

He also failed to fulfil his legal requirement to inform creditors that he had applied to dissolve the company.

Insolvency Service analysis of Shaa’s transactions indicated he transferred the funds into his personal accounts, sent some of the money abroad using a remittance service, and withdrew significant amounts in cash.

The disqualification order prevents Shaa from becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court before February 2026.

Shaa no longer has any involvement at the takeaway.

Further information
- Zaman Shaa is of Woodside Road, Salisbury. His date of birth is 1 July 1970
- Sentenced for: Unlawful application for voluntary strike off, contrary to section 1004 of the Companies Act 2006; Failure to inform a creditor of striking off application, contrary to section 1007 of the Companies Act 2006; Fraud by false representation, contrary to section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006
- Shaa Ventures Ltd (11320134)
March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Homes and beds to help hundreds of rough sleepers off the streets [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 28 February 2024.

Nearly £220 million given to councils across the country to help deliver over 800 homes for rough sleepers and help prevent families from becoming homeless.

Hundreds of families will be prevented from becoming homeless and rough sleepers will be helped off the streets thanks to over £220 million of government funding being given to councils today.

The Minister for Housing and Homelessness Felicity Buchan has announced the funding boost which targets areas most in need and includes specialist support for the most vulnerable who require mental health or substance misuse support.

Further funding includes:
- £107 million to provide more than 800 homes for rough sleepers. The money is being made available immediately to councils to purchase or rent properties to give rough sleepers a safe space to stay whilst they rebuild their lives off the streets.
- A £109 million boost to the Homelessness Prevention Grant, the funding can be used by councils to prevent evictions before they occur or fund temporary accommodation. Bringing the total fund to £1.2 billion, with more than 160,000 people supported since the scheme opened in 2022.
- A further £6 million to boost the number off-street spaces for rough sleepers in winter, to provide warm and safe places to sleep and access services.
This brings total government investment to £2.4 billion over three years (2022-25) to tackle homelessness and end rough sleeping for good.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Felicity Buchan said:

We are working alongside councils and charities to do all we can to help rough sleepers off the streets and to prevent homelessness.

Today’s announcement brings the total funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping to an unprecedented £2.4 billion, meaning we can help thousands of the most vulnerable people and give them the support they need to rebuild their lives.

The councils receiving additional funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping include:
- London boroughs will receive a combined £38 million for extra homes, beds and specialist mental health and substance misuse services for rough sleepers.
- Sheffield City Council will be given over £3 million which will include providing 10 properties for those with a history of rough sleeping.
- City of Liverpool will receive over £2 million to deliver 20 homes for single homeless young people to help them live independently to prevent a repeating cycle of homelessness.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has partnered with councils to design tailored support for the issues in their area.

Government departments are working hand-in-hand with the homelessness sector and its partners in local government to tackle homelessness, including:
- Delivering 6,000 homes through the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme giving stable, long-term accommodation to those sleeping rough.
- Introducing the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant has helped over 10,600 vulnerable people access the help they need.
- Providing accommodation for Ex-Offenders programme which has supported 2,750 ex-offenders into their own homes in the private rented sector.
Today’s funding boost builds on the Government’s strategy to tackle homelessness and end rough sleeping for good.

Further information

City of Liverpool YMCA

YMCA Together have be given over £2 million to deliver 20 homes for single homeless young people across Liverpool. The funding will enable young people to move on to more independent living, equipped and empowered with the tools to prevent a repeating cycle of homelessness.

Jon Metcalf (Deputy Chief Exec City of Liverpool YMCA ):

We’re delighted with the announcement of SHAP funding in Liverpool which will enable us to create much needed homes for younger people experiencing homelessness and together with support that we will be able to provide we aim to help people develop their social capital so that they’re able to navigate safely through a challenging time in their lives.
- The Homelessness Code of Guidance is being updated to make it explicit that temporary accommodation should not be considered suitable for a family with children under two if there is not enough space for a cot and that housing authorities should support families to secure a cot where needed. This will help to ensure families can follow safer sleeping guidance and help prevent avoidable infant deaths.
- The StreetLink campaign is now running which enables members of the public to alert local council outreach workers if they see someone sleeping rough. Investment from government has made it simpler than ever for people to support a person sleeping rough off the streets and into safe accommodation.
March 18, 2024