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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : £12.4 million to help change choices about work [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : £12.4 million to help change choices about work [February 2024]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 19 February 2024.

    Six ground-breaking projects including an investigation looking at how endometriosis impacts women in the workplace have been awarded £12.4 million, the government has announced today, Tuesday 12 September.

    • £12.4 million awarded to six innovative new projects to understand barriers to getting into work
    • projects include investigating the impact of endometriosis on women’s work choices and how programmes to reduce obesity and type 2 diabetes can improve workforce participation
    • funding will help overcome barriers facing those who need the most support getting into work

    The projects comprise the first round of the Labour Market Evaluation and Pilots Fund, and take place over the next two years. The results will help to transform the government’s approach to the jobs market and drive forward research into best practice in employment.

    While the UK’s employment rate is higher than a number of other advanced economies, the government is committed to ensure that those who most need help getting into the workplace are supported.

    The Chancellor announced a range of interventions to address this at Spring Budget 2023 – including a significant expansion of childcare support, making 30 hours of free childcare a week available to parents from children aged 9 months. The Labour Market Evaluation and Pilots Fund is part of that and will be used to test new approaches and generate better evidence to help specific groups back into work or to work longer hours.

    Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Victoria Atkins, said:

    “Our jobs record is incredibly strong, with high employment that means millions of people are benefiting from work. But for some, that’s not happening.

    “We need to look for solutions that are tailored to help people thrive in the jobs market. This analysis is the first step towards that – looking at specific health conditions or living arrangements to find out what works to help people work.”

    Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression Mims Davies MP said:

    “The vital opportunities and confidence employment gives, helps to transform lives. This is why we are determined to support all those who want to progress to do so, while also driving down inactivity and importantly growing the economy.

    “This key new funding for our pilots will enable us to support even more people to move forward in work, including vitally those in supported accommodation and more disadvantaged communities, to help people to break down any barriers to work, so more people can fulfil their employment potential.”

    National Statistician, Sir Ian Diamond, said:

    “The ONS welcomes the opportunity to shine light on this important area with these projects. This new analysis will provide crucial insight for decision makers in helping to understand how health conditions impact on people’s working lives and what interventions can help people stay in work.”

    Minister for the Women’s Health Strategy Maria Caulfield said:

    “Endometriosis can be a debilitating condition that stops women and girls from living their lives to their fullest potential.

    “Through the Women’s Health Strategy we have set an ambition for all women and girls with severe endometriosis to experience better care, with reduced waiting times for diagnosis and providing funding for key research into the condition.

    “The support doesn’t stop at health, and today’s announcement demonstrates how we’re taking a cross-government approach to help women with endometriosis get back to living their best lives.”

    One of the projects includes a first-of-its-kind Office for National Statistics (ONS) evaluation which will investigate the impact of endometriosis on women’s participation and progression in the workforce. Endometriosis can affect around 1 in 10 women, with symptoms including chronic pain and fatigue which can disrupt daily routines, fertility and mental health and time off work may be needed for coping with symptoms. Previous work has shown that women with the condition often take this into consideration when making career choices, including the likelihood they will need to take significantly more sick leave. This project will improve understanding and help inform government plans to support women with the condition in their careers.

    A second project by the ONS will evaluate whether programmes to reduce the risk of developing type two diabetes and obesity improve people’s ability to join the labour market. Around 3.8 million people in the UK have type 2 diabetes and 2.4 million are at high risk of developing the disease which can have a strong effect on quality of life, including the ability to work. The evaluation will include reviewing the impact of the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP), a large scale nine-month, evidence-based lifestyle change programme aimed at people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

    There will also be a new pilot to address barriers to work faced by those aged 18-24 living in supported housing, which is accommodation provided alongside care, support or supervision to help people live as independently as possible in the community and can act as a pathway to transitioning into work.

    To support young people in making that transition, DWP and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have developed a Proof of Concept that will test financial support and simplification of the benefits system for 18-24 year olds living in supported housing who move into work or increase their working hours. This will help them to build their employment prospects further, work towards becoming financially independent and progress into move on accommodation in a planned way.

    Funding will also be allocated to two HMRC projects to evaluate the impact of Tax-Free Childcare on parents’ work choices and women’s return to work after maternity leave. In addition, funding will be provided to DWP to trial employment support and rent incentives to move people out of work or on low earnings into work or onto higher earnings.

    Further information

    • At Spring Budget, the government announced a comprehensive employment package designed to remove the barriers preventing people from working and support them into the UK’s labour market, to boost economic growth, unlock the UK’s productive potential, and raise living standards. It is estimated to move 110,000 more individuals into the labour market by 2027-28, the largest supply-side policy adjustment the OBR have made to their forecast since 2010.
    • Bids for the first round of the Labour Market Evaluation and Pilots Fund were assessed collaboratively by the joint HMT and Cabinet Office Evaluation Task Force.
    • Further rounds of funding will be allocated in due course to evaluate new and existing labour market measures, move people into work and increase productivity. The results of these projects will inform future labour market policy.
    • The Rent Simplification and Support Proof of Concept scheme is led by the Department for Work and Pensions and would mean young people in supported housing, who start work or increase their hours, would only have to pay up to a capped amount towards their rent (e.g. Local Housing Allowance equivalent rent amount) as opposed to the full rent liability.
    • Jobs Plus is an innovative model that combines wrap-around support, intensive employment support and financial incentives in the heart of the community; reaching the most disadvantaged people whose access to employment and wider support is limited and disjointed.
    • DWP will be testing Jobs Plus in England. The pilot assigns a key role for social housing providers to contribute to improving support and outcomes in some of our most socially and economically deprived communities. Delivered in a community hub setting, it is open to all residents; adopting a community-led approach which encourages residents to volunteer, champion, and drive engagement amongst their peers. Through the use of financial incentives, the pilot aims to not only support entry into employment but also aid in participant’s transition to wages to foster long-term positive and sustainable outcomes.
    • For further information on government action to improve healthcare quality and access for women, please see the Women’s Health Strategy for England, and what we’ve achieved so far over the first year of the strategy.
  • PRESS RELEASE : New railway station backed for the Vale of Glamorgan [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New railway station backed for the Vale of Glamorgan [February 2024]

    The press release issued by Department for Transport on 19 February 2024.

    Plans for a new station at St Athan will restore services to the area for the first time in 60 years and reconnect thousands to jobs, education and business opportunities.

    • Transport Secretary visits South Wales to announce the UK government’s support to develop new station in St Athan
    • new station would improve connectivity to the Cardiff Airport Enterprise Zone and planned green energy park, driving new jobs and prosperity
    • move would support local growth and reconnect the village to the rail network for the first time in 60 years

    Passengers in South Wales could soon benefit from better connectivity as the Transport Secretary visits the Vale of Glamorgan today (19 February 2024) to announce the UK government’s support for plans to improve rail links in the region.

    As part of his visit, he will join local people including Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns to announce the UK government’s commitment to fund the development of a business case to look at options for a new station in St Athan. This could offer thousands of people better access to the region’s growing number of homes, jobs and business opportunities.

    A new station would restore services on the Vale of Glamorgan line to the area for the first time in 60 years, reconnecting thousands to jobs, education and business opportunities. It is part of the government’s long-term plan to grow the economy, support business and help people into work.

    Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

    The return of services to St Athan for the first time in 60 years would be key to unlocking the area’s huge potential for growth, encouraging more businesses to invest in the area and opening up job opportunities for thousands of people.

    That’s why the UK government is unlocking funding to explore options for a new station, part of our plan to continue investing in local transport and help grow the economy.

    Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said:

    The UK government has invested millions directly in Wales’ transport infrastructure, better connecting communities and creating greater opportunity for people across the country. This potential improvement to rail links in the Vale of Glamorgan is fantastic news.

    Together with the planned £1 billion electrification of the North Wales Main Line, £50 million for Cardiff cross rail and other investments from the South Wales Valleys to Aberystwyth, the UK government is delivering better rail infrastructure and improving journeys for passengers in every part of Wales.

    As part of today’s announcement, the Department for Transport has pledged to work with both the local authority and Transport for Wales in funding and developing a business case for the new station to explore its benefits. This will include assessing passenger demand and forecasts as well as options for train services.

    If approved for full delivery, the station would also provide an additional transport option for hundreds of staff at the nearby Aston Martin manufacturing and development facility, while attracting more businesses to invest in the growing Cardiff Airport-St Athan Enterprise Zones.

    On top of this, it would support Cardiff Capital Region’s plans to regenerate the decommissioned Aberthaw Power Station into a green energy park. This will spark the creation of specialist jobs in the aerospace, defence, automotive, manufacturing and engineering sectors, and drive economic growth in the region.

    A new station would also support the local authority’s ambitions for growth by improving access to planned housing developments in the region.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government launches crackdown on mobile phones in schools [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government launches crackdown on mobile phones in schools [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 19 February 2024.

    Schools will receive new guidance on prohibiting mobile phone use during the school day.

    Mobile phones are set to be prohibited in schools across England as part of the government’s plan to minimise disruption and improve behaviour in classrooms.

    New mobile phones in schools guidance issued today (19 February 2024) backs headteachers in prohibiting the use of mobile phones throughout the school day, including at break times.

    Many schools around the country are already prohibiting mobile phone use with great results. This guidance will ensure there is a consistent approach across all schools.

    By the age of 12, 97% of children have their own mobile phone, according to Ofcom. Using mobile phones in schools can lead to online bullying, distraction and classroom disruption which, in turn, can lead to lost learning time.

    Last year, Unesco called for smartphones to be banned from schools as evidence showed it was linked to reduced educational performance and that excessive screen time had a negative impact on children’s wellbeing.

    Schools will be supported to prohibit mobile phone use with examples of different approaches including banning phones from the school premises, handing in phones on arrival at school, and keeping phones securely locked away at school.

    The guidance will respond to concerns from parents about mobile phones, with the latest data from ParentKind’s National Parent Survey, revealing that 44% of parents are concerned about the amount of time their children spend on electronic devices, rising to 50% of parents of secondary school children.

    Driving high expectations of behaviour is a priority for the government, building on our £10 million investment in behaviour hubs which will support up to 700 schools over 3 years, as well as existing behaviour in schools guidance.

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

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

    Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

    Schools are places for children to learn and mobile phones are, at a minimum, an unwanted distraction in the classroom.

    We are giving our hard-working teachers the tools to take action to help improve behaviour and to allow them to do what they do best – teach.

    Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

    Growing up in today’s digital world provides immense opportunities but this should not come at the expense of our children’s wellbeing or education. That is why we have passed world leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world for young people to be online.

    Today’s announcement will support parents and educators further, helping give the next generation the best chance to realise their potential.

    Lead behaviour advisor to the department Tom Bennett said:

    Mobile phones may be ubiquitous, but we have a strong and growing understanding of how damaging they can be for a child’s social and educational development. And it’s the least advantaged who suffer most. Many schools already have some kind of policy on phones, but this guidance provides a clear steer for everyone, including parents, about what’s right and what’s not for the wellbeing of the child.

    Heads can know that they’ll be backed in their attempt to build safe and nurturing cultures, and they’ll find advice about how to make schools a phone-free environment.  And when that happens, everyone wins.

    Chief executive of Parentkind Jason Elsom said:

    The government is right to be taking decisive action on the use of phones in schools with our research indicating that 44% of parents are concerned about the amount of time their children spend on electronic devices and more than three quarters of parents support a ban on phones in schools. This is the number one concern for parents, according to the National Parent Survey.

    Society has sleepwalked into a position where children are addicted to harmful ‘electronic drugs’, and have no-escape from their digital dealers, not even within the relatively safe grounds of their schools.

    The latest government data finds around a third (29%) of secondary school pupils reported mobile phones being used when they were not supposed to in most, or all, lessons.

    Schools have seen success in prohibiting mobile phones through tactics such as introducing lockers with charging points for students to ensure they don’t come into classrooms.

    One school referenced in the guidance introduced this change and saw a positive impact overnight and within one year the whole culture of the school had changed. Without access to mobile phones, pupils have the headspace and calm environment to learn, and staff have the quiet and focus to teach in.

    The move will bring England in line with steps taken by other countries who have restricted mobile phone use including France, Italy and Portugal.

    Our behaviour hubs enable schools across the country with exemplary positive behaviour cultures to work closely with schools that want and need to turn their behaviour around.

    Alongside this, we have taken steps to improve behaviour through the appointment of a behavioural taskforce led by DfE’s behaviour tsar Tom Bennett, with the aim of improving behaviour culture and spread good practice across the country.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government launches new UK-based environmental science network on deep-sea mining [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government launches new UK-based environmental science network on deep-sea mining [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 February 2024.

    Experts and academics are invited to join a new science network that will help to provide evidence on the environmental impact of deep-sea mining.

    The UK Government has today (Monday 19 February) launched a new UK-based environmental science network, to gather scientific data, and carry out world-class research to help assess the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining.

    Eligible applicants can now apply to join the network and share their expertise to help fill in the current evidence gaps in understanding the consequences of deep-sea mining on our ecosystems. Bringing together the UK’s environmental science expertise to share internationally will help the UK ensure that the highest environmental standards are enforced on deep sea mining.

    The network will work alongside the UK’s recent decision to support a moratorium on the granting of exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects by the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

    The moratorium means the UK will not sponsor or support licences until sufficient scientific evidence is available to assess the impacts of deep-sea mining activities on marine ecosystems and strong, enforceable environmental regulations, standards and guidelines have been developed and adopted by the ISA.

    Marine Minister Lord Benyon said:

    The UK is committed to protecting the world’s ocean and improving the conservation of our marine ecosystems, so it’s important that we ensure the best environmental standards are in place so damaging activities like deep-sea mining are strongly regulated.

    This new network is a further step in showing how we can use the scientific expertise that is on offer to protect and improve the conservation of our marine biodiversity.”

    Professor Daniel Jones from National Oceanography Centre said:

    The new DSM Environmental Science Network is an excellent way to harness the skills of the UK community with expertise on environments of interest for deep-sea mining. It will enable the very active research being carried out by UK scientists to be communicated quickly and effectively to the government to support evidence-based decision making on this topic.

    Dr. Adrian Glover, Merit Researcher at the Natural History Museum, said:

    In joining the environmental science network, we are pleased to continue our research on the deep-sea to provide free, critical biodiversity data to everyone. At this crucial time in our planet’s history, it is important all activities that impact the natural world are informed by robust, evidence-based science.

    The UK is committed to protecting and driving ocean conservation. Over recent years, the UK has:

    • Committed to protecting at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030 through a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and driven this forward through UK-chaired Global Ocean Alliance
    • Supported developing countries to protect the marine environment through projects to protect and restore habitats such as mangroves, coral reefs and seagrasses through the £500 million Blue Planet Fund
    • Tackled the scourge of plastic pollution, recently consulting on a ban on wet wipes containing plastic, as part of efforts to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042.
    • Designated the first three Highly Protected Marine areas in English waters, enabling nature to fully recover by removing all harmful activities including fishing, construction and dredging, increasing marine biodiversity and supporting climate-resilient ecosystems to thrive.
    • Created a comprehensive network of marine protected areas, in English waters there are 181 sites protecting 40% of our seas.
    • Recently implemented a byelaw that restricts bottom towed fishing gear over rock and reef habitat in a further 13 MPAs.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to visit Paraguay [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to visit Paraguay [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 February 2024.

    Lord David Cameron to make historic visit to Paraguay on the first official visit by a UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

    The former Prime Minister and current Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The Lord David Cameron of Chipping Norton, will make history with his first official visit to Paraguay, marking a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Paraguay. This visit represents the deepening friendship and partnership between the two countries.

    The Foreign Secretary will arrive in the country on 20 February. During his visit, he will meet with President Santiago Peña and Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, exploring ways to further cooperation in the areas of trade, environment, education, and human rights.

    In recent years, Paraguay and the UK have experienced a significant convergence of interests, which has led to a deepening of their ties. The visit of the Foreign Secretary represents the commitment of both nations to strengthen their partnership, opening new avenues of collaboration that contribute to mutual prosperity and global progress.

    The British government has stated its intention to increase its engagement with Latin America, strengthen trade and investment relations and help the region amplify its voice in multilateral for a. This visit solidifies the UK’s continued dedication to fostering close partnerships across Latin America.

    As Paraguay increasingly asserts itself on the international stage, this visit is an opportune moment to collaborate on issues of regional and global concern. Paraguay has demonstrated its economic resilience in recent years, in a difficult global economic context, which presents enormous potential for increased collaboration with the UK.

    This is a historic occasion as it is the first official visit to Paraguay by a British Foreign Secretary. The Foreign Secretary’s visit aims to strengthen existing ties between the two nations and represents the UK’s commitment to the nations of the region, building bridges and fostering diplomatic relations based on mutual respect and shared values.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government extends stay for Ukrainians in the UK [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government extends stay for Ukrainians in the UK [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 19 February 2024.

    Government provides certainty and stability for Ukrainians, with visa holders now eligible to stay for an additional 18 months.

    Ukrainians who sought sanctuary in the UK in the aftermath of Russia’s illegal invasion have been provided with certainty, as the government announces a new visa extension scheme.

    From early 2025, all those in the UK under one of the Ukraine visa schemes will be able to apply to stay here for an additional 18 months and continue to have the same rights to access work, benefits, healthcare, and education throughout their stay. This will mean that those who came on the first visas under one of the Ukraine visa schemes could now stay in the UK until September 2026.

    When the conflict began, the government very quickly established 3 generous Ukraine schemes – the first of their kind to be made operational anywhere in the world. Under Homes for Ukraine, the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme, visa holders were granted 3 years leave in the UK, which would have meant the first visas were set to expire in March 2025.

    The 18-month extension delivers on the government’s long-term commitment to Ukraine and comes as the world approaches 2 years since Russia’s reprehensible full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since the launch of our Ukraine schemes, the UK has offered or extended sanctuary to more than 283,000 Ukrainians, in part thanks to the immense generosity of the British public.

    That generosity is in addition to the major package of military, humanitarian and economic support given to Ukraine by the UK, which now totals £11.8 billion.

    Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, Tom Pursglove MP, said:

    The UK Government, together with our partners and allies, stands in solidarity with Ukraine and unequivocally condemns Putin’s unprovoked, premeditated and illegal war against Ukraine.

    Almost 2 years on from the start of this brutal war, over 200,000 Ukrainians and their family members have arrived in Britain. Families across the country have opened their homes and their hearts to the people of Ukraine, showing extraordinary generosity, including offering shelter to those fleeing from the horrors of war.

    This new visa extension scheme provides certainty and reassurance for Ukrainians in the UK on their future as this war continues, and we will continue to provide a safe haven for those fleeing the conflict.

    Minister for Housing and Communities, Felicity Buchan, said:

    This is brilliant news for Ukrainians who have found refuge in the UK and are contributing so positively in our communities.

    I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary generosity shown by sponsors across the country. The government continues to provide them with ‘thank-you’ payments in recognition of their support.

    As more families arrive, we will need more sponsors to come forward. I encourage anyone interested in hosting to check their eligibility and apply as soon as they can.

    Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK, Eduard Fesko, said:

    We welcome the announcement by the UK Government of the decision on the future functioning of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. It is a clear signal of the continuous support by the HM Government of Ukrainians, fleeing the war, through the provision of a temporary protection status in the UK until they can return home.

    We appreciate all the help and assistance that our UK friends so generously provide for the temporarily displaced Ukrainians.

    The 18-month visa extension will help Ukrainians plan ahead, if they choose to remain in the UK, when committing to work, study or to rent a property, for example.

    It is also underlines the government’s strong belief that Ukraine will be safe again, and the hope of the Government of Ukraine that their citizens will eventually return to the country, when it is safe to do so.

    Applications will be open online from early 2025, with those who have come to the UK holding, or having held, permission to remain under the Homes for Ukraine, the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Ukraine Extension Scheme eligible.

    Those who were granted leave outside the rules because they required sanctuary in the UK from Ukraine will also be eligible. Individuals will be able to make their applications within the last 3 months of an existing visa.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with EU Commission President Von der Leyen [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with EU Commission President Von der Leyen [February 2024]

    The press release issued by 18 February 2024.

    The Prime Minister spoke to European Commission President, Ursula Von der Leyen, this afternoon.

    Ahead of the second anniversary of Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they underscored the importance of providing continuing support to the Ukrainian people. The Prime Minister welcomed the recent announcement that the EU will provide €50 billion support to Ukraine, and outlined the work the UK is doing through our security cooperation agreement.

    The Prime Minister and President Von der Leyen expressed their outrage at the death of Alexei Navalny, and underscored the utmost importance of holding those responsible within the Russian system to account.

    The Prime Minister updated President Von der Leyen on his recent conversations with the Israeli Prime Minister and the King of Jordan about the situation in Israel and Gaza. The Prime Minister and President Von der Leyen agreed on the paramount importance of significantly more aid reaching people who desperately need it in Gaza, and expressed their deep concern about the loss of civilian life occurring there.

    The leaders also agreed on the importance of freedom of navigation and condemned the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. They welcomed efforts such as Prosperity Guardian and Operation Aspides to restore stability and keep people safe.

    The leaders welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on a new working arrangement between UK agencies and Frontex, which should be formalised in the coming days, as part of wider cooperation between the UK and EU on tackling illegal migration.

    The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary visits Falklands Islands [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary visits Falklands Islands [February 2024]

    The press release issued by Foreign Office on 18 February 2024.

    Foreign Secretary David Cameron is in the Falklands Islands during the first part of his first visit to the South Atlantic, South America and New York.

    • the Foreign Secretary will meet Falkland Islanders and see their work to build a thriving community and protect their natural environment
    • he will reiterate the UK’s commitment to uphold the Islanders’ right of self-determination
    • he will then travel onwards to Paraguay, Brazil for the G20 and New York for the UN

    Foreign Secretary David Cameron will visit the Falkland Islands during the first leg of his first visit to the South Atlantic, South America and New York.

    David Cameron will meet leaders of the Falkland Islands Government and see the range of communities that form part of the British family when he visits Stanley and other sites around this Overseas Territory.

    In the 2013 referendum, Falkland Islanders overwhelmingly voted to retain their status as a self-governing UK Overseas Territory.

    Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

    The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion.

    The Falkland Islanders should be proud of the modern, prosperous community they have built. The Islands are a thriving economy, where as well as farming and fishing, there is a priority given to conservation and sustainability.

    The Foreign Secretary will pay his respects to all those British personnel who served and those who lost their lives during the conflict in 1982 and thank the UK military personnel serving on the Islands today.

    He will see the Islanders’ work to protect their natural environment and see some of the million penguins that live across the Islands.

    He will then travel on to Paraguay, where he will be the first UK Foreign Secretary to ever visit the country. After that, he is due to go on to the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brazil where he will discuss G20 agendas on tackling hunger and climate change and work with partners to advance efforts towards peace in the Middle East and support for Ukraine.

    And lastly, he will head to New York for the UN ahead of the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    Background

    • details of the environmental protection projects: Darwin Plus funding is used to enhance training for wildfire prevention and response. FCDO funding is used to restore the native tussac grass habitats
    • the Falkland Islands is thought to be home to around 20% of the world’s tussac grass and it is the most important wildlife habitat on the Islands – home to seals, birds, and invertebrates
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK and Qatar announce funding initiative to support least developed countries and humanitarian crises worldwide [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK and Qatar announce funding initiative to support least developed countries and humanitarian crises worldwide [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 February 2024.

    The Minister for Development is in Qatar to launch a $50 million co-funding initiative to help tackle the most pressing humanitarian and development crises.

    • UK and Qatar partnership launch $50 million co-funding initiative to help tackle the most pressing humanitarian and development crises around the world, including in Gaza
    • funding announced in Doha by UK Development Minister Andrew Mitchell and Qatar Minister for International Co-operation Lolwah Al Khater
    • Minister Mitchell spoke with partners about the UK and Qatar’s commitment to supporting the humanitarian response in Gaza, and secured a date for the inaugural UK-Qatar Development Dialogue

    The UK and Qatar have announced a joint $50 million global humanitarian and development co-funding initiative today (18 February) as a part of their partnership to help crises around the world, including Gaza.

    UK Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell’s has spoken with key figures in Qatar about working hand in hand to respond to humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He was also able to secure a date for the inaugural UK-Qatar Development Dialogue which the UK will host in May. The minister discussed this with Qatar’s Minister for International Co-operation HE Lolwah Al Khater and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Al Khulaifi.

    Minister Mitchell announced the joint funding alongside HE Lolwah Al Khater. Under this initiative, the UK and Qatar aim to build on our existing co-funding programmes in the Middle East and Africa by increasing bilateral projects and work through multi-lateral partners globally.

    The 2 countries are working closely together to get humanitarian aid into Gaza. Earlier this month, through Qatar Fund For Development, a joint consignment of 29 tonnes of tents was delivered to Gaza, and the initiative announced today aims to deliver significantly more aid to civilians.

    Speaking in Doha, UK Development Minister, Andrew Mitchell, said:

    I’m delighted to be back in Doha to reinforce the UK’s commitment to our development partnership with Qatar. Together, we have supported countries in need right across the world, including recently providing 29 tonnes of lifesaving aid to support the humanitarian response in Gaza.

    Today we have agreed to commit an initial $50 million in joint funding to continue to support the world’s poorest people, and together we intend to go further and faster to alleviate the most pressing global development challenges.

    This initial funding is an outcome of the Strategic Development memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Minister Mitchell at last year’s United Nations Least Developed Countries Conference in Qatar.

    The UK and Qatar have also agreed to hold an inaugural Development Dialogue, to drive forward further funding commitments. Both countries have co-funded development projects in the Middle East and Africa through our partnership the Qatar Fund For Development.

    In Somalia, as part of famine prevention efforts in response to the country’s longest ever drought, the UK and Qatar provided $6.5 million support to humanitarian consortium ‘Building Resilient Communities in Somalia’ in April 2023. This delivered emergency cash assistance to 7,700 families to buy food and water, primary healthcare services to over 200,000 Somalis, including lifesaving vaccinations, and provided lifesaving treatment for over 17,000 severely malnourished children.

    In Syria, the 2 countries supported the ‘Syria Education Programme’ which helps over 625,000 children across Northwest Syria to access safe, inclusive and quality education. The programme targets have been exceeded; providing over 16,000 teachers with pay, getting classrooms and toilet blocks refurbished, and ensuring that over 400 schools have sufficient heating to keep children and teachers warm over winter.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Global humanitarian and development co-funding initiative – UK and Qatar joint statement [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Global humanitarian and development co-funding initiative – UK and Qatar joint statement [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 February 2024.

    The UK and Qatar have issued a joint statement launching a new co-funding initiative for international development cooperation and humanitarian response.

    Statement by the governments of the UK and Qatar:

    As part of a joint collaborative humanitarian effort between the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom, the 2 states are launching a formally led Qatar-UK co-funding initiative.

    Under the initiative, the UK and Qatar will work towards an initial $50 million target to address the most pressing humanitarian and development challenges globally. This marks a significant milestone in the partnership between the 2 countries that underscores our shared commitment.

    Through this cooperation, Qatar and the UK will combine their expertise, resources, and networks to implement impactful projects that address both the immediate and long-term challenges faced by communities in these critical areas. This collaborative effort reflects our unwavering dedication to promoting sustainable progress and resilience, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of millions of people.

    Recently, the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom have worked together to deliver 29 tonnes of urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip within the framework of joint humanitarian and development cooperation. In addition, the 2 countries are actively working together to implement several co-funding opportunities, with 2 focused on Syria to bolster crucial humanitarian and educational initiatives, and one aimed at addressing food insecurity in Somalia.

    The 2 countries reaffirm their commitment to accelerating progress on these vital initiatives through the inaugural Development Dialogue in London in May 2024. This event will solidify further co-funding opportunities, promote collaboration on development issues and enhance aid delivery capabilities.

    Together, the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom are dedicated to addressing the most urgent development challenges with greater urgency and effectiveness.