Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Ground-breaking cancer and Parkinson’s research team given 5 year funding boost [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 5 September 2024.

Researchers at the University of Dundee are receiving a government funding boost to continue their vital work for a further 5 years.
- Vital work by Dundee-based cell biology researchers, who have already developed a drug to treat skin cancer and attracted £60 million in private investment, to continue thanks to further government backing
- Almost £30 million in government funding could potentially unlock new treatments for conditions, from motor neurone disease to Crohn’s, by supporting research into how signals are transmitted within the body’s cells.
- Science and Technology Secretary will announce funding at the Universities UK conference as he sets out his vision for harnessing the power of higher education to boost innovation and economic growth across the country.
Dundee-based researchers with a track record of devising treatments for deadly diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s – whose work has crowded in £60 million in investment to date – are receiving further backing from the government to continue their vital work for a further 5 years, Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle will announce today (Thursday 5 September).

The Medical Research Council’s Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC PPU) will receive nearly £30 million of funding allocated from UKRI’s Medical Research Council (MRC) to bolster its cell biology research centre as it continues its vital work over the next 5 years.

Currently, the 200-strong scientific community of staff and students based at the University of Dundee are using cutting-edge technology and biochemistry to explore how signals transmitted within the body’s cells are disrupted. Working closely with industry, Dundee’s unit has been a fundamental part of the development and clinical approval of over 40 drugs that are now widely used to treat patients, attracting almost £60 million in private investment. It is just one example cementing Scotland’s place at the forefront of the UK government’s plans to make Britain a powerhouse for life sciences that attracts international investment and drives forward the deployment of discoveries that grow the economy, create prosperity across the country and improve lives and public services.

Improving our understanding of the processes within cells could be the key to unlocking the scientific basis of innovative treatments for a range of diseases – from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to Crohn’s and coeliac disease. Their work has already delivered a drug that is now widely used to treat skin cancer.

The new funding comes ahead of the Science and Technology Secretary addressing higher education representatives at the Universities UK conference at the University of Reading, where he will reflect on his personal experience in higher education and will give his full-throated backing to the sector as a vehicle for much-needed economic growth.

He will also outline his vision for DSIT, and the crucial role universities can play in this, harnessing discoveries and innovations for novel therapies and technologies, like those developed in Dundee, that could transform patients’ lives and drive economic growth.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

“I went to university later in life than most, but when I did it changed everything for me. It was the first time in my life that people saw potential in me that I never knew I had, and gave me the support and focus I needed to build something from it. The value of our universities, to the economy and to the whole of society, cannot be overstated.

“As we embark on a decade of national renewal, the higher education sector has a profound role to play in every piece of work we’ll need to do, to build a Britain that delivers for working people: from seizing the potential of clean energy to rebuilding the NHS. I will always champion our universities. They are society’s most powerful engines for innovation, aspiration, economic growth and the creation of better lives for all – which is why investing in their work, like this £30m in funding, is so important.”

Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

“The work at the University of Dundee, which we are announcing support for today, is proof of how deep expertise, effective links with industry, and the power of curiosity can deliver meaningful improvements to people’s lives, while also driving economic growth across the UK.

“This funding puts the unit on track to strive for still more health breakthroughs, that could help more patients live longer and healthier lives.”

Working with other companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, the team was central to developing a drug now widely used to treat melanoma, and a promising new drug for Parkinson’s disease is in clinical trials as a result of the team’s globally recognise work, investigating the condition to discover potential causes and treatments.

Universities are vital to the government’s mission to boost our economy and transform healthcare services with world-class science and research. They are at the heart of our research strengths, underpinning key sectors including life sciences. Backing university-based researchers, like the team at the University of Dundee, will ensure that they can continue unlocking the technologies and therapies that could be life-changing to patients, and which drive economic growth and productivity.

Professor Dario Alessi, Director of the MRC PPU said:

“We are incredibly grateful for the long-term support that our Unit has received from the MRC over the last 34 years. This has enabled our researchers to tackle the most important questions and greatly contributed to our understanding of how derailment of biological pathways causes human diseases including neurodegeneration, diabetes, cancer, and immune dysfunction.

“Our mission for the next 5 years will be to work with leading research centres, clinicians, and pharmaceutical companies to translate our discoveries into clinical progress and accelerate drug discovery. Whilst doing this research we aim to provide our staff with a unique training opportunity working in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment paying attention to improving culture and development best practices.”

Professor Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council, said:

“The MRC are proud to be investing for a further 5 years in the exceptional research of the MRC PPU in Dundee. They are leaders in conducting rigorous fundamental research and then working with industry to translate those breakthroughs for patient benefit. The MRC PPU have an outstanding culture of collaboration and sharing their leading research expertise, products and techniques with the wider scientific community.”
12/09/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State has permitted the use of three bluetongue vaccines subject to licence [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 5 September 2024.

The Secretary of State permitted the use of 3 unauthorised bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccines within the United Kingdom yesterday (4 September). The vaccines are suppressive, meaning they will reduce some of the clinical signs experienced by animals with the disease. They do not prevent infection.

These vaccines must only be used with an appropriate licence being in place. Available licences to allow use will either be geographically targeted general licences, initially in high risk counties as part of a phased approach, or specific licences which can be applied for through the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA). We will publish these imminently.

Unlike some of the authorised BTV vaccines for other BTV serotypes the BTV-3 vaccines reduce rather than prevent viraemia (presence of BTV virus in the blood). This means that they may not prevent your animals from being infected or infectious, rather depending on the vaccine their claims include reduction or prevention of clinical signs experienced or mortality. For this reason, all movement controls and trade restrictions in place will still apply to vaccinated animals.

Vaccination status will not affect movement restrictions which remain in place and apply to all ruminants and camelids moving out of the restricted zone and to the movement of their germinal products within the zone. Farmers are reminded to only move animals within the extended zone where this is absolutely necessary.

Farmers in England are urged to contact your private veterinarian if you want to use any of the available BTV-3 vaccines.

Following several confirmed cases of Bluetongue virus BTV3 across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer has declared a bluetongue restricted zone across the region to mitigate the risk of further cases of disease occurring.

Biosecurity Minister Baroness Hayman said:

The permitting of these vaccines forms one part of our efforts against this highly infectious disease.

We are working at pace in order to provide farmers with everything they need to protect their livestock and businesses and would recommend they contact their veterinarians for access to the vaccines. Farmers are also reminded that free testing remains available.

Chief UK Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

These vaccines are an important step forward and will aid in reducing clinical signs in animals and the impact of disease on farms but it is not a protective vaccine, so we are still urging farmers to follow all of our guidance in order to prevent the disease spreading to their herds and any further.

I urge farmers to contact their veterinarians if they wish to use the vaccines and to continue monitoring their animals frequently for clinical signs and report suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal Plant Health Agency.

12/09/2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK signs first international treaty addressing risks of artificial intelligence [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 5 September 2024.

Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood signs first legally-binding treaty governing safe use of artificial intelligence.
- strengthens safeguards against risks to human rights, democracy and the rule of law
- Lord Chancellor also outlines support for Ukraine at Council of Europe meeting
Human rights, democracy and the rule of law will be further protected from potential threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI) under a new international agreement to be signed by Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood today (5 September 2024).

The new framework agreed by the Council of Europe commits parties to collective action to manage AI products and protect the public from potential misuse.

AI is likely to bring significant benefits like boosting productivity and increasing cancer detection rates. But the new convention includes important safeguards against its risks, such as the spread of misinformation or using biased data which may prejudice decisions.

The treaty will ensure countries monitor its development and ensure any technology is managed within strict parameters. It includes provisions to protect the public and their data, human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It also commits countries to act against activities which fall outside of these parameters to tackle the misuse of AI models which pose a risk to public services and the wider public.

Once the treaty is ratified and brought into effect in the UK, existing laws and measures will be enhanced.

As the first legally-binding international treaty on AI, the Convention will ensure there is a united front across the world to managing the dangers of the technology in line with our shared values. Countries outside the Council of Europe are also being invited to become signatories, including the United States of America and Australia.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:

Artificial Intelligence has the capacity to radically improve the responsiveness and effectiveness of public services, and turbocharge economic growth.

However, we must not let AI shape us – we must shape AI.

This convention is a major step to ensuring that these new technologies can be harnessed without eroding our oldest values, like human rights and the rule of law.

The new agreement has 3 over-arching safeguards:
- protecting human rights, including ensuring people’s data is used appropriately, their privacy is respected and AI does not discriminate against them
- protecting democracy by ensuring countries take steps to prevent public institutions and processes being undermined
- protecting the rule of law, by putting the onus on signatory countries to regulate AI-specific risks, protect its citizens from potential harms and ensure it is used safely
The government will work closely with regulators, the devolved administrations, and local authorities as the Convention is ratified to ensure it can appropriately implement its new requirements.

The UK continues to play a key role as an international leader in safe, secure, and trustworthy AI, having hosted the AI Safety Summit and co-hosted the AI Seoul Summit, establishing the world-first AI Safety Institute, and playing a key role in the negotiations which have framed the Convention signed today.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle said:

AI holds the potential to be the driving force behind new economic growth, a productivity revolution and true transformation in our public services, but that ambition can only be achieved if people have faith and trust in the innovations which will bring about that change.

The Convention we’ve signed today alongside global partners will be key to that effort. Once in force, it will further enhance protections for human rights, rule of law and democracy, – strengthening our own domestic approach to the technology while furthering the global cause of safe, secure, and responsible AI.

The Lord Chancellor also reiterated the UK’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and ensuring Russia is held accountable for its full-scale invasion. She discussed with international counterparts, the progress on establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression to hold Putin’s Russia to account for its illegal war.

 Notes to editors
- The use of AI to kickstart economic growth and deliver transformative change across the UK’s public services are central pillars of the government’s 5 key missions. The Technology Secretary has recently launched the AI Opportunities Action Plan led by Matt Clifford, which will play a central role in ensuring the UK can reap the benefits of AI across the economy.
- The UK’s AI Safety Institute was launched in November 2023, and is the world’s first state-backed body dedicated to AI safety. It continues to drive forward international collaboration on AI safety research, signing a new agreement on AI safety with the United States earlier this year.
- In the King’s Speech, the government also confirmed plans to introduce highly-targeted legislation which will focus on the most powerful AI models being developed.
Further announcements on this legislation will follow in due course.
12/09/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Home Office will not use RAF Scampton for asylum accommodation [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 5 September 2024.

Plans to house asylum seekers at RAF Scampton axed as latest assessment finds site is not value for money for the taxpayer.

The Home Office has made the decision to end plans to house asylum seekers at RAF Scampton, the former Ministry of Defence site in Lincolnshire.

Opening the site from this autumn as planned would have cost a total of £122 million by the end of its use in 2027, meaning the site no longer represents value for money.

A total of £60 million has already been spent on the site.

Work to close the site will begin immediately with the sale happening in line with the process for disposing of Crown land.

Progress is already being made to clear the backlog of asylum cases, which will save around £7.7 billion in asylum costs over the next decade.

The Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle MP said:

Faster asylum processing, increased returns and tighter enforcement of immigration rules will reduce demand for accommodation like Scampton and save millions for the taxpayer as we drive forward work to clear the asylum backlog and strengthen our border security.

We have also listened to community feedback and concerns about using this site for asylum accommodation.

12/09/2024
PRESS RELEASE : The parties must end the suffering by agreeing to a ceasefire now: UK statement at the UN Security Council [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 September 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

Last week, we heard the news that the bodies of six Israeli hostages were recovered in Gaza. We condemn their murder by Hamas.

My Prime Minister has conveyed his thoughts and prayers for the families and the Israeli people.

The UK supported Israel’s request for this briefing to shine a spotlight on the abhorrent crimes of Hamas and their impact on innocent civilians. It is also entirely right, as Algeria proposed, to focus on recent grave developments in the West Bank and Gaza.

President, of the 253 hostages taken in the horrific October 7th terrorist attacks, 101 hostages remain captive in Gaza and subject to unimaginable horror. We once again condemn Hamas’ terrorist acts in the strongest terms. We reiterate our demand for Hamas to release the hostages immediately. There can be no doubt that Hamas pays not the slightest heed to international humanitarian law. We urge all parties to agree a ceasefire deal which would bring an end to the ordeal of these hostages.

Israel continues to face threats, not only from Hamas, but also from Iran and its range of hostile proxies who openly call for Israel’s annihilation. Iran should be in no doubt of our commitment to challenge their malign and destabilising activity, and our commitment to Israel’s security.

President, the suffering of Palestinians also worsens each day. Over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of whom are women and children. The most basic needs of children and thousands of orphaned children are unmet. A ceasefire deal offers an opportunity to end their suffering.

As we’ve heard, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is beyond appalling, with dire sanitary conditions, a serious risk of famine and now polio. We welcome the polio vaccination campaign and urge Israel to continue to cooperate with the WHO and health agencies to ensure that the full 90% of children who need to be are vaccinated.

More generally, as we’ve heard, humanitarian access remains inadequate with attacks on convoys, evacuation orders undermining operations and aid far below Israel’s stated commitment to ‘flood Gaza with aid’. We urge Israel to do much more to ensure lifesaving food and medical supplies reach civilians in Gaza.

As my Foreign Secretary said this week, we are also deeply concerned by credible claims of mistreatment of Palestinian detainees, which the International Committee of the Red Cross cannot investigate after being denied access by Israel.

President, concerns on the treatment of detainees and humanitarian access were part of my Government’s review into Israel’s International Humanitarian Law compliance. As a result, my Foreign Secretary took the decision to suspend certain UK arms export licences to Israel earlier this week. This decision in no way undermines our unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.

Whilst we recognise Israel’s need to defend itself against security threats, the UK is also deeply worried by the ongoing IDF operations in the West Bank, particularly the reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. Israel must also tackle the accelerating settler violence and end its illegal expansion of settlements which undermine prospects for the realisation of the two-state solution.

President, let me conclude by thanking the US, Qatar and Egypt for their efforts on the ongoing negotiations. The parties have had time to study the deal on the table. The parties must now bridge their differences and end the suffering by agreeing to a deal and immediate ceasefire and rediscover the path to a two-state solution.

12/09/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Celtic gold twisted torc bracelet at risk of leaving the UK [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 4 September 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a Celtic gold twisted torc.
- The bracelet has been valued at £45,000
- Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the torc
A temporary export bar has been placed on a Celtic gold twisted torc bracelet dating back to the Iron Age.

The bracelet is a fine and well-preserved example of a personal ornament particular to Britain in the late first millennium BC known as a ‘torc’.

Personal ornaments, such as this gold torc bracelet are rare finds in Britain and are often closely associated with the identity of ancient Britons prior to the Roman invasion.

The torc was created from two wires twisted and plied together with a single, round, looped terminal at either end. Experts advise that it has been bent to form a bracelet from a larger ring, likely either from an arm ring or a small neck-ring for a child.

The form and style confirms that it originates from Britain, most probably central or eastern England, in contrast to the diverse torc forms that are found across Continental Europe.

Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

“This well preserved item brings our distant past into the present, and an opportunity to understand fashion and metalworking in a period of our history we are still learning so much about.

“I hope placing an export bar on this Celtic torc means a suitable UK buyer can be found so that the public have more opportunities to learn more about the lives of our ancestors.”

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. The RCEWA Committee found the torc met the third Waverley criterion for its outstanding significance to the study of goldsmithing, personal dress and identity in Britain before the Roman invasions.

Committee member Tim Pestell said:

“Torcs have long been associated with Britain’s Iron Age, an image conjured up ever since Roman historian Cassius Dio described Boudica, queen of the Iceni as ‘wearing around her neck … a large golden necklace’. This plied and twisted gold bracelet takes the form of a simple neck torc created from two wires twisted and plied together with single, round, loops at each terminal. Was this small example originally made to be worn around the neck of a child and later folded into a bracelet? Or was it made as a bracelet in the shape of a torc? Examples of jewellery like this are of utmost rarity and outstanding importance for what they can tell us about the early British society that produced them.

“Made of 97% pure gold and conventionally dated to c.150 – 50 BCE, this bracelet is of a form unique to England. Because the production of Iron Age jewellery like this is still imperfectly understood, its study can yield vital information on the use and availability of gold, goldsmithing techniques and decorative styles during this period. I earnestly hope that a museum might be able to acquire this remarkable bracelet and enable the public to enjoy seeing it and learning the new stories that will be told as a result of its further study.”

The decision on the export licence application for the torc will be deferred for a period ending on 3 November 2024 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the torc at the recommended price of £45,000 (Plus VAT). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.

Notes to editors
1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the Bracelet should contact the RCEWA 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk .
2. Details of the Bracelet are as follows: Plied and twisted gold bracelet. The form is that of a simple twisted torc created from two wires twisted and plied together with a single, round, looped terminal at either end. This is a fine and well-preserved example of a personal ornament particular to Britain in the late first millennium BC during a period conventionally described as the Iron Age. Gold alloy. Composition listed in the application is 97% gold. 72mm. Weight: 157.5g. Length along bracelet from end of one terminal to the other: 287mm.
3. Provenance: London art market. Antiquities; Christie’s, London, 7 December 1994, lot 172. Sold at Christie’s, London, 5 July 2023, lot 55.
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by the Arts Council (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
06/09/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Britain takes decisive action to ban ‘zombie drug’ xylazine [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 4 September 2024.

Legislation has been laid in Parliament to ban xylazine and 21 other dangerous drugs as part of the government’s action to prevent drug deaths and crack down on drug dealing gangs.

Xylazine, often known as ‘tranq’, is a high-strength veterinary sedative, which has increasingly been used in combination with opioids such as heroin as a cheap means of stretching out each dose. It has also been found in cannabis vapes.

Xylazine-involved overdose deaths in the United States rose from 102 to 3,468 in the space of just 3 years between 2018 and 2021, and its effects on long-term users – often leaving them immobilised in the street, and prone to non-healing skin lesions – have led to its characterisation as the ‘zombie drug’.

Following a recommendation from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), a statutory instrument has been laid in Parliament this week to control xylazine as a class C drug – a step that has not yet been taken in the United States, Canada, Mexico or other countries in the world affected by xylazine abuse.

Xylazine is one of 22 harmful substances that will be banned under the new legislation, 6 of which will be controlled as class A drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Anyone caught producing or supplying these class A drugs could face up to life in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

Among the drugs covered by the legislation are new variations of nitazenes, highly addictive synthetic opioids, which can be hundreds of times more potent than heroin and therefore carry an increased risk of accidental overdose.

The statutory instrument will also introduce into law a new generic definition of nitazenes, which will prevent drug gangs from attempting to use minor adjustments to their synthetic compound to try and bypass UK drug laws. The changes are expected to come into force later this year or in early 2025, depending on the parliamentary process.

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said:

One of this new government’s central missions is to make our streets safer, and we will not accept the use of substances that put lives at risk and allow drug gangs to profit from exploiting vulnerable people.

We have seen what has happened in other countries when the use of these drugs is allowed to grow out of control, and this is why we are among the first countries to take action and protect our communities from these dangerous new drugs.

The criminals who produce, distribute and profit from these drugs will therefore face the full force of the law, and the changes being introduced this week will also make it easier to crack down on those suppliers who are trying to circumvent our controls.

As well as the 6 substances to be controlled as class A drugs, 16 will also be controlled as class C drugs. If caught producing or supplying class C drugs, potential consequences include an unlimited fine, a prison sentence of up to 14 years, or both.

In April 2023, the White House designated xylazine combined with fentanyl as an ‘emerging drug threat’, which has enabled the implementation of an action plan at the federal level to tackle the threat, and which often precedes scheduling a drug as a controlled substance. Some individual US states, including Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, have already implemented their own bans.

Xylazine will remain available for veterinary prescribing. However, it will be only available if lawfully prescribed and it will be an offence to possess or supply it except in accordance with a lawful prescription or under a Home Office controlled drugs licence.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs provides official guidance on the use of xylazine as a veterinary medicine.

The drugs to be controlled as class A substances include:
- AP-237
- AP-238
- azaprocin
- para-methyl-AP-237
- para-nitroazaprocin
- 2-methyl-AP-237
The drugs to be controlled as class C substances include:
- xylazine
- bentazepam
- bretazenil
- 4’-chloro-deschloroalprazolam
- clobromazolam
- cloniprazepam
- desalkylgidazepam
- deschloroclotizolam
- difludiazepam
- flubrotizolam
- fluclotizolam
- fluetizolam
- gidazepam
- methylclonazepam
- rilmazafone
- thionordazepam
06/09/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Statement on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Regulator of Social Housing on 4 September 2024.

Statement from Fiona MacGregor, Chief Executive of RSH.

“The Grenfell Tower fire was a profound tragedy and our thoughts remain with the victims and survivors, their families, and the local community.

“We welcome the Inquiry’s final report, and it is vital that all social housing landlords read and learn from the findings that apply to them.

“The lessons from the tragedy remain as important today as they were seven years ago. Landlords must ensure tenants are safe in their homes. They must listen to tenants, take their complaints seriously, and treat them with fairness and respect.

“The Social Housing Regulation Act, introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower fire, gives RSH new powers to inspect landlords to make sure they are delivering the outcomes of our revised consumer standards. We will continue with our programme of planned inspections and responsive work and publish gradings for landlords based on our findings.”

06/09/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Defence Secretary backs Britain’s nuclear deterrent for generations to come as he joins returning submarine patrol [September 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 4 September 2024.

New Government pledges the ‘triple lock’ on the nuclear deterrent will safeguard Britain and NATO for “generations to come”, as Defence Secretary John Healey joined Royal Navy submariners on the UK’s nuclear deterrent returning home from at-sea patrol.

In his first visit to Scotland since being appointed, the Defence Secretary boarded the Vanguard-Class submarine for the final leg of its return journey to HM Naval Base Clyde after completing the UK’s latest patrol.

The mission, known as Operation Relentless, or the Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD), ensures that at least one nuclear-powered and armed ballistic missile submarine is at sea at all times to deter potential adversaries and protect the nation and NATO allies. The next vessel in the deterrent cycle is already at sea and patrolling.

During his visit to the 15,000-tonne vessel, the Defence Secretary thanked the crew of 140 Royal Navy submariners for their dedicated service and wished them well as they prepared to reunite with their families. He was also given an operational briefing and toured the submarine, which is armed with the UK’s Trident nuclear missiles.

John Healey also used the visit to reinforce the new Government’s commitment to its ‘triple-lock’ on the deterrent, which includes: building four new nuclear submarines in Barrow-in-Furness, in Cumbria; maintaining our continuous at sea nuclear deterrent; and delivering all future upgrades needed.

The government’s commitment to security is clear, with a Strategic Defence Review already underway that will determine the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century.

Defence Secretary, John Healey said:

Royal Navy submariners make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us all safe and it was an honour to thank the crew on behalf of the British people. As they return home, we salute their courage, dedication, and professionalism.

Our new Government is unwavering in our commitment to our nuclear deterrent, maintained on behalf of the UK and our NATO allies. Our ‘triple-lock’ will safeguard Britain for generations to come.

As the home of our nuclear submarines and major shipbuilding yards, Scotland is central to UK defence. I am determined to make defence a foundation for jobs, growth and prosperity across Scotland.

The Government is committed to the nuclear deterrent triple Lock:
- Building four new nuclear submarines in Barrow-in-Furness, supporting high-quality, high-status apprenticeships and jobs, with the supply chain benefits being felt right across the country.
- Britain maintaining its continuous at-sea deterrent, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – securing protection for both the UK and NATO allies.
- The delivery of all future upgrades needed for those submarines to patrol the waters and keep our country safe.
Joining the Defence Secretary in thanking the returning submariners was First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key; Director Submarines, Rear Admiral Andy Perks; Commodore of the Submarine Flotilla, Commodore Paul Dunn; and Naval Base Commander Clyde, Commodore Sharon Malkin.

The name of the vessel, length of patrol, and its location at sea are all closely guarded secrets. On board, only a select few are authorised to know where in the ocean depths they are operating, with the rest of the crew dutifully carrying out their roles unaware of their location.

It is this secrecy that makes the nuclear deterrent so effective. A potential enemy can never predict where a Vanguard Class is operating, making the cost of attacking the UK or NATO allies far outweigh the benefits.

Thousands of Royal Navy submariners and their families, MOD civilians, and industry partners continue to contribute to maintaining the nuclear deterrent.

For every minute of every day for more than 55-years a deterrent submarine has been on patrol, keeping the nation secure by deterring the most extreme threats to national security and the UK’s way of life – threats that cannot be deterred by other means.

A new class of ballistic submarine – the Dreadnought Class – is currently under construction at Barrow-in-Furness and is expected to replace the Vanguard submarines from the early 2030s, securing the future of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. More than 40,000 UK jobs are supported through defence nuclear work, making it a key area that boosts economic growth.

The UK Government is investing millions of pounds at HM Naval Base Clyde to prepare for the Dreadnought submarines, while at the same time, ensuring that the Vanguard Class can continue the mission until handing over to the next generation of vessels.
06/09/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Boost for UK growth as start-up investment schemes extended [September 2024]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 4 September 2024.

The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT) scheme have now been extended by ten years to 5 April 2035.
- Government extends two leading investment schemes 10 years from April 2025 to April 2035 as part of its relentless pursuit of growth.
- Extensions will support start-ups and entrepreneurs to help them grow and rebuild Britain.
- The change will build on over £41 billion of investment generated over 30 years.
Thousands of entrepreneurs and start-ups are set to benefit from the extension of two leading government investment schemes to help them grow the economy and rebuild Britain.

The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT) scheme were both set to end on 6 April 2025 and have now been extended by ten years to 5 April 2035.

The schemes are designed to encourage investment into new or young companies through tax-relief incentives, encouraging innovation, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.

The government is fully focused on restoring economic stability, taking the tough decisions to fix the foundations of our economy, rebuild Britain and make every part of our country better off.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray, said:

“Startups and entrepreneurs are a driving force for greater investment, more jobs, and economic growth in the UK. By extending these schemes for 10 years, we are providing the stability and support they need to help us make every part of Britain better off.”

The extension, announced via a Written Ministerial Statement today in the House of Commons, will provide the confidence to continue investment into high-risk, early-stage businesses in the UK, supporting long-term growth and the development of their trades.

Industry leaders have praised the announcement.

BVCA Chief Executive Michael Moore said:

“It is excellent news that the government is moving so quickly. This means that investors can now focus on what they do best, investing, safe in the knowledge that these schemes now have the long-term security needed to drive investor confidence.

“The BVCA has long advocated for this move as these schemes play a vital role in supporting early-stage companies that have the highest growth potential and crowding in further investment through the growth cycle.

“As the third largest VC market in the world, the UK has proven the success of EIS and VCT, and with many jurisdictions now following our lead, it is vital that the UK retains its competitive edge in a competitive world and this move is a very positive step in that direction.”

Richard Stone, Chief Executive of the Association of Investment Companies, said:

“VCTs invest in the UK’s most exciting early-stage companies. They help entrepreneurs transform their businesses. Extending the VCT scheme until 2035 will allow the sector to raise further capital and invest with confidence. This will ensure VCTs can help the government secure its ambitions to grow the economy, support innovation and create jobs.”

Both schemes offer incentives to investors of up to 30% upfront income tax relief and an exemption from capital gains tax on any profits made after the sale of shares.

The EIS, introduced in 1994, offers tax relief to individuals that invest in new shares in qualifying companies with investors able to invest up to £1 million, or £2 million if the shares are in knowledge-intensive companies, which focus on research and development.

The government recognises the risk that investment in early-stage companies carries, so investors are offered loss relief through the EIS as long as shares are held for at least two years.

First introduced in 1995, VCTs are companies listed on the UK’s stock exchange that invest in early-stage trading companies on behalf of people, enabling individuals to invest up to £200,000 per year in new VCT shares. Dividends received from VCT’s are also tax-free.

Both schemes have already seen significant success with over £41 billion raised through the schemes since the EIS was launched in 1994. The schemes continue to generate vast amounts of investment, with £2.9 billion of funds raised across the schemes in 2022-23 and 1,280 companies using the EIS for the first time over this period.

The Treasury has made regulations to bring this into effect which have come into force.
06/09/2024