Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Rare drawing by 17th century miniaturist Samuel Cooper at risk of leaving the UK [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 15 December 2023.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a rare drawing by 17th century artist Samuel Cooper, valued at almost £115,000, to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the work.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay has placed an export bar on a rare drawing by prominent 17th-century artist Samuel Cooper.

Widely regarded as the finest portrait miniaturist of the seventeenth century, with portraits of Oliver Cromwell and Charles II among his works, only a handful of Cooper’s drawings are understood to remain in existence.

Titled ‘Portrait of a Dead Child’, the drawing depicts the infant grandson of Cooper’s uncle and tutor, John Hoskins the Elder. The work is minutely drawn in a technique characteristic of a miniaturist, with delicate cross-hatching in the face and the shadows cast on his forehead by the edge of his cap.

The work is valued at £114,300 (plus VAT of £4,860), and at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found to save it for the nation.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

This rare and intensely personal drawing by Samuel Cooper – one of the foremost English artists of the seventeenth century – is a deeply poignant work, as well as an important one.

It is right that it should remain in the UK so that it can be studied and contribute to our understanding of Cooper and his period.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

Committee Member Pippa Shirley:

There is something deeply touching about this tender portrait and made even more poignant by the family network which connects the artist and subject. The baby was the son of Samuel Cooper’s cousin, John Hoskins Junior – in whose father’s studio Cooper had trained as a miniaturist, and who is the subject of a lively drawing on the reverse of the same sheet. In depicting his small relative in what must have been a highly emotional moment, Cooper brought all his powers of observation and a scintillating technique to bear. The detailed focus on the fragility of the face and the stillness of the tiny curled fingers, contrasting with the creation of a sense of volume through body colour in the cap and clothes creates an image of immense impact.

Cooper had an uncanny ability as an artist and miniature painter, admired in his own time, to get under the skin of his sitters, and his extraordinary sensitivity and perception is nowhere more clearly demonstrated than in this drawing. Arguably the greatest English-born artist of his time, patrons flocked to Cooper’s studio, and his work was praised by Samuel Pepys as ‘so extraordinary as I do never expect to see his like again’. Although many miniatures by Cooper survive, only seven drawings by him are recorded, making this one particularly precious. This, and the extreme rarity of drawings of a child’s deathbed at this period, the brilliance of execution and the light the drawing throws on artistic practice in the 1650s opens up a number of new lines of understanding and research, making it all the more desirable that it can be kept in this country. It also speaks to us all.

The RCEWA made its recommendation on the grounds of the drawing meeting the second and third

Waverley criteria for its outstanding aesthetic importance and its outstanding significance for the

study of the representation of death and the work of Samuel Cooper.

The decision on the export licence application for the drawing will be deferred for a period ending on 14 March 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 drawing at the recommended price of £114,300 (plus VAT of £4,860). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months

ENDS
1. Lord Parkinson discussed the Waverley criteria in a speech to mark their 70th anniversary, and used the opportunity to invite thoughts on the way they work – for instance, whether the Committee should say more about how it has considered items’ connection to the history of other countries as well as to the UK’s, or whether the items it considers are destined for public display rather than private collection. His full speech can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/lord-parkinson-speech-at-a-reception-to-mark-70-years-of-the-waverley-criteria
2. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the drawing should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk .
3. Details of the object are as follows: Samuel Cooper (1609-1672), Portrait of a Dead Child, the Artist’s Cousin. Pencil and black chalk heightened with body colour on paper prepared with an orange-pink wash, 145 x 185 mm. Verso: Portrait of a Gentleman, traditionally identified as John Hoskins Junior (c. 1617-after 1703), the artist’s cousin. Pencil and red chalk. Verso inscribed Dead Child; and in another hand: Mr S.C. child done by him; and in the same hand lower right NB ye son of: Old Mr Hoskins’s Son.
4. Provenance: possibly Mrs Samuel Cooper (1623-1693), the artist’s wife; possibly Mrs Richard Gibson, nee Anne Shepherd (d. 1707); possibly Susannah-Penelope Rosse (d. 1700), her daughter; possibly Michael Rosse (d. c. 1735), her husband; his sale, Cecil Street, London, 2 or 26 April 1723; possibly Christopher Tower (1657-1728) of Huntsmoor Park, Bucks; possibly Christopher Tower (1692-1771); possibly Christopher Tower (1747-1810); possibly the Revd William Tower (1789-1847), Weald Hall, Essex; certainly Ellen Tower, Mrs William Henry Harford (1832-1907); Hugh Wyndham Luttrell Harford (1862-1920); Arthur Hugh Harford (1905-1985); by descent.
5. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (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.
6. Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Its strategic vision in Let’s Create is that, by 2030, England should be a country in which the creativity of everyone is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. ACE invests public money from the Government and the National Lottery to support the sector and deliver the vision. Following the Covid-19 crisis, ACE developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90 per cent coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. It is also one of the bodies administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund.
December 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Lord Jonathan Caine – Downing Street Declaration set the template for peace [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 15 December 2023.

In an opinion piece, published in the Irish News, The Lord Caine reflects on the 30th anniversary of the Downing Street Declaration.

For much of this year, events have taken place to mark the 25th anniversary of the historic Belfast Agreement, and rightly so. Its importance can never be stressed strongly enough and it remains the bedrock of all that has been achieved in Northern Ireland over the past quarter of a century.

Yet, we should also never forget that the 1998 Agreement did not suddenly appear out of nowhere. It was the result of painstaking efforts, vision and courage over many years of discussions, and negotiations, as the great George Mitchell graciously pointed out at a conference I attended in Boston in September, and included many key moments.

One of these took place 30 years ago this very week when the Prime Minister John Major and Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, signed the Downing Street Declaration. In charting what became known as the peace process, I would contend that next to the 1998 Agreement itself no single event was more ground breaking or important.

It is worth recalling the background against which the Declaration was signed. Northern Ireland politics was in a state of paralysis. The Troubles still raged, with October 1993 seeing 27 people killed in Northern Ireland, including the Shankill bombing and the Greysteel massacre. It was the largest loss of life in a single month since 1976.

John Hume’s discussions with Gerry Adams, facilitated by Fr Alec Reid, had become public, to the dismay of most unionists. In late November, Eamonn Mallie broke the story that a so-called ‘back channel’ had existed for many years between the UK government and the republican movement.

Against this background, the prospect of an imminent political breakthrough seemed remote. Yet, undeterred, both Major and Reynolds persevered, determined to make progress. In so doing they were supported by the then Secretary of State Sir Patrick Mayhew and the Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring, along with some brilliant officials on both sides.

I had a small part in all of this, as the special adviser to Sir Patrick, a man for whom I had the utmost respect. Yet, I can claim very little credit for the final result, having only been brought into the loop in the very late stages. My own role was in helping to frame the subsequent narrative around the Declaration, not least to try and reassure some sceptics within my own party and within Jim Molyneaux’s Ulster Unionists, though Molyneaux and some close to him made contributions to the text.

At its core, the 1993 Declaration sought to address the nationalist aspiration of self-determination for the people of Ireland as a whole, alongside the rock solid constitutional guarantee that there could be no change in the status of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom without the consent of a majority of those who live here.

The Declaration achieved this in language that was replicated in the 1998 Agreement. This is now commonly referred to as the principle of consent, and is widely accepted by all mainstream political opinion in these islands. Ultimately, the Declaration was a powerful statement that Northern Ireland’s future would only ever be determined by democracy and never by violence.

I have little doubt that the Downing Street Declaration led directly to the IRA and loyalist ceasefires in August and September 1994 and was a key staging post on the road to 1998. Of course there was much hard pounding ahead, but the trajectory was set. For that, John Major and Albert Reynolds, and all those involved, deserve our recognition and gratitude for what they achieved on 15 December 1993.

December 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK discusses border security and need to implement UNSCR 1701 [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 December 2023.

Ambassador Cowell expressed his condolences for the death of a LAF soldier in Lebanon and called for restoring calm on the Blue Line.

The British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, the US Ambassador, Dorothy Shea, and the Canadian Ambassador Stefanie McCollum, met the Commander in Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) General Joseph Aoun during the High Level Steering Committee (HLSC) to discuss security on the Lebanese-Syrian border.

The HLSC oversees internationally funded efforts to support the four Land Border Regiments to continue to deliver external security and reinforce the authority of the Lebanese state along its land border with Syria.

Following the meeting, Ambassador Cowell said:

It was an honour to meet General Aoun to discuss positive progress on the border project.

I was saddened to hear about the death of a LAF soldier in south Lebanon last week. I convey my deepest sympathies to his family and comrades.

With General Aoun I stressed the need for a cessation of hostilities across the Blue Line and for a renewed commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Ongoing hostilities in South Lebanon only serve to delay any long-term solution for peace.

I am, as ever, impressed by Lebanese Armed Forces’ outstanding work of its officers and soldiers during this challenging time.

Since 2009, the UK has committed over £99 million to support optimisation of LAF capabilities, including through development and modernisation. We are proud of our contribution to building the LAF’s reputation as a respected, professional armed forces able to defend Lebanon and provide security along its border with Syria.

December 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Statement on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 December 2023.

On behalf of the UK and other states Ambassador Anne-Kirsti Karlsen of Norway reaffirms our commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recalls the impact of Russia’s invasion on human rights in Ukraine.

Madam Chair.

On behalf of the following countries: Albania, Andorra, Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom we will all solemnly reflect and reaffirm our commitment on this 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The past decades have witnessed the transformative power of human rights in improving lives across the globe. Members of civil society and others who stand up for human rights and democracy have played a pivotal role in advancing the respect and protection of human rights. However, today’s challenges remind us that our journey towards upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms is far from over. Respecting human rights of all people is key to our common future, peace, and stability.

In Ukraine, civilians suffer from Russian hostilities. Evidence of atrocities is being collected for accountability and memorialisation purposes.

In Iran, human rights defenders and particularly women continue to face arbitrary detention and lengthy prison sentences.

In Afghanistan, women and girls are facing systemic and institutional discrimination. They have been excluded from public life and banned from secondary and higher education.

In Belarus the practice of incommunicado and lengthy detentions – with a risk of enforced disappearances – continues to increase for members of the political opposition.

In Russia, fear of repression has led protesters to use blank sheets of paper as a symbol of their silenced voices. The assault on LGBTQI+ rights has become a symbol of Russia’s rejection of universal human rights.

Madam Chair.

We face a complex web of conflicts, the lingering effects of the pandemic, climate crisis, disinformation, and attacks on democratic institutions, all stressing our human rights system.

In the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, over 100,000 people had to flee to Armenia and had to leave everything behind.

Recognizing Israel’s right to ensure its security, we also remind the belligerents of their obligations in the conduct of hostilities. In particular that of respecting the principles of international humanitarian law, including humanity, proportionality, distinction, and precaution in all circumstances.

Madam Chair.

Shrinking civic space is a fundamental challenge to the role of civil society in the promotion and protection of human rights. Human rights defenders need protection and support. In particular, we need to defend and promote the rights of all women and girls and to ensure their full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in all spheres of public life.

Without the liberty for media to operate freely, to report and analyse events without fear of censorship or reprisal, true security cannot be achieved.

Nowhere in the OSCE region is media freedom under greater threat than in the Russian Federation and in the parts of Ukraine that Russia has illegally occupied.

Protecting journalists and ending impunity is key to the OSCE’s vision of comprehensive security. And we applaud the OSCE’s Representative on the Freedom of the Media in upholding this fundamental pillar.

Madam Chair.

We acknowledge democratic governance and the rule of law as the cornerstones of stable, prosperous and peaceful societies safeguarding democracy is an important part of that.  We commend ODIHR for conducting an impressive number of 24 election observation missions in 23 OSCE participating States this year alone.

The principle of universality and indivisibility of human rights needs to be upheld. Political shifts and economic progress cannot undermine fundamental freedoms; security should never be prioritized over the rights of individuals; the need for online privacy cannot conflict with our duty to protect children from sexual abuse. Just as managing migratory flows should never be more important than protecting people who need protection.

Madam Chair.

The promotion and protection of human rights is not just a moral imperative or a strategic necessity, it is based on legal obligations. It’s an integral part of a broader approach that recognizes the interdependence of human rights, economic development, and political stability in achieving lasting peace and security.

Violations of human rights serve as early warning signs of greater instability or impending conflict. By monitoring and addressing these violations, the OSCE can take proactive measures to prevent the escalation of conflicts, thereby contributing to the security of the whole region.

As we commemorate this anniversary, we confirm our dedication to these rights and principles, understanding that the path towards a world where every individual’s dignity and rights are respected is a continuous journey, one that we must undertake with unwavering commitment and collective effort.

I thank you.

December 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : England’s first ever kinship care strategy launches [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 15 December 2023.

Backed by £20 million, strategy shines spotlight on the incredible extended family members keeping children out of care.

Thousands of kinship carers are set to be better supported as the government today (15 December) launches the first ever national kinship care strategy, ‘Championing Kinship Care’.

The strategy shines a spotlight on the incredible kinship carers – grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and wider family networks – that provide loving homes to children who cannot live with their parents, and who will now receive greater financial stability and support from local authorities and schools.

Backed by £20 million to deliver the strategy, the government has confirmed it will provide an allowance to many kinship carers to match that received by foster carers – currently between £154 and £270 per week, per child. This is being trialled in up to 8 areas of the country and will help ensure that people do not have to choose between becoming a carer and being able to afford to support their families.

It will also expand the role of virtual school heads – education champions within local authorities – to cover kinship care. They will ensure that the education of children in kinship care is prioritised so they go on to have bright futures.

Foster care has also been bolstered today with an additional £8.5 million. This takes the total government investment across this parliament to £36 million, which is the largest ever investment in fostering in England. The funding will ensure there are more foster carers available to step up and look after children by extending recruitment campaigns, simplifying recruitment processes, and providing better support for existing foster carers to even more local authorities.

The new kinship strategy and extra foster care funding are part of a suite of initiatives launched today, which meet commitments set out in the ambitious children’s social care strategy, ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’, published earlier this year.

Children and Families Minister, David Johnston, said:

Kinship carers do incredible work to support and nurture children who might otherwise go into care and I am very proud that the Government has published the first ever strategy for kinship care today.

I have met kinship carers from so many different backgrounds and with different experiences, but in telling their stories they always stress that they were never expecting to look after a child but they did so out of love.

Kinship carers are often hidden in plain sight and today’s strategy paves the way for them to be given the practical and financial support they deserve for the pivotal role they play in children’s lives.

We are committed to reforming the whole children’s social care system to support families – right from the point they face challenges and need support, all the way to transforming the experience children have when in care.

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

No one should suffer because of their start in life, and the amazing people who open up their homes and their hearts to vulnerable children deserve all the support they need to ensure no child gets left behind.

I’m thrilled this new strategy will give Kinship Carers the recognition and financial support they need, while ensuring as many children as possible can get on and get ahead in life and be able to take the opportunities to have a future they deserve.

Dr Lucy Peake, CEO of leading kinship care charity, Kinship, said:

The publication of the first ever National Kinship Care Strategy is significant recognition of the monumental role kinship carers play in transforming the experiences of hundreds of thousands of children, which has been overlooked and undervalued for too long.

We celebrate that there will now be more support for kinship families than ever before. This is testament to all the kinship carers who have demonstrated, for decades, the value of raising children within their family network. At Kinship, we are proud to have campaigned alongside so many of them as they have battled for long overdue change.

More than 130,000 children live in kinship care arrangements in England and kinship carers make up over a fifth of all foster carers. There are also a range of other formal and informal routes for extended family members to provide additional support to children in kinship care arrangements, including special guardianship.

The strategy sets out a wide range of additional support for kinship carers, from new training and information so they have a better understanding of their rights, to high-quality peer support within local communities.

A key commitment of the government’s wider children’s social care strategy is to improve partnership working across all relevant agencies, including the police, health and education.

That’s why the government has also today updated the guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’. This guidance clarifies the roles and responsibilities of safeguarding partners such as local authorities and the police, embeds new child protection standards and sets out the importance of having a multi-agency response to protect children from harm.

The government has published a children’s social care national framework setting out the core principles and goals of children’s social care. This will ensure all the relevant organisations have a joint understanding of what children’s social care should deliver for the families and children it supports.

The data collected about children and families and the information recorded about their lives and interactions with children’s social care is sensitive and needs to be treated with care. It’s also held in many places which can create challenges. That’s why the government is also embarking on ambitious data transformation across children’s social care. The data strategy published today sets this out, and also commits to improving existing data services and testing innovative and sensitive practice in this area.

Today’s updates are another step towards wide-reaching reform – providing families with the right help, and ensuring children are safe and supported. This is all part of the government’s continued work to reform children’s social care, as set out in, ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love,’ published earlier this year. It set out how the government will help families overcome challenges, keep children safe, and make sure children in care have stable loving homes, long-term loving relationships, and opportunities for a good life.

In another step towards delivering the strategy, the government has also started recruiting young people with experience of care, including those with disabilities and special educational needs, to a new youth advisory board to advise the government on the ongoing reforms.

December 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Reports of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas – Lord Ahmad’s statement [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 December 2023.

Lord Ahmad gave a statement on reports of sexual violence by Hamas, calling for them to be fully investigated to ensure justice for survivors and victims.

Statement from Lord Ahmad, UK Minister for the Middle East and Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict:

Horrifying reports of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October detail abhorrent acts of violence against Israeli women and girls and other civilians. Sexual violence is all too often a tactic to terrorise civilians, shattering lives and leaving brutal and lifelong scars on victims, their families, and communities. The UK stands in solidarity with all of the victims and survivors of these abhorrent acts. The people of Israel continue to experience the devastating impact of Hamas’ terror attack and many families grieve for loved ones who remain hostage. That’s why we are using all channels to facilitate their release. We express serious concern about emerging reports of sexual violence, against both women and men, while they were held in Hamas captivity in Gaza and call for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of those still held. The UK condemns sexual violence unequivocally and without exception. These reports must be fully investigated to ensure justice for survivors and victims.

Conflict-related sexual violence is an abuse of human rights and when perpetrated in the context of an armed conflict, can constitute a violation of international humanitarian law such as a war crime. The international community should be clear in condemning sexual violence wherever it occurs, including in Israel. We stand with all victims and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Through our Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict programmes and dedicated funding totalling £60 million, we are leading work internationally to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and strengthen justice and support for all survivors. It is also why I championed the establishment of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict to ensure we all pull together.

Women and children are paying the highest price in this conflict, and the scale of human suffering is intolerable. The UK has made clear to Israel our shock at the scale of Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza. It is vital that Israel adheres to international humanitarian law and takes all measures to protect civilians. Israel must abide by its obligations to protect children under applicable international humanitarian and human rights law. Palestinian civilians should not suffer the consequences of Hamas’ inhumanity and brutality. Conflict has a disproportionate impact on women, exacerbating pre-existing inequalities and increasing the risk of gender-based violence. The acute needs and vulnerabilities of women in Gaza must be addressed. Palestinian civilians are experiencing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. The UK has announced a further £30 million worth of humanitarian assistance, bringing it to a total of £60 million, to address civilian needs including those of women and children.

This tragedy in the Middle East, unfolding before our eyes, of which the world is seized, needs an urgent solution to end the conflict and a sustainable, long-term resolution. This can only be achieved through the delivery of a two-state solution.

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December 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : More than half a billion pounds in connectivity investment this year to benefit more than 330,000 homes and businesses [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 15 December 2023.

More than £530 million in investment this year will boost broadband for over 330,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses across the country.
- Over £530 million committed to boosting broadband to over 330,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses across the country this year
- family feuds over what to watch at Christmas are a thing of the past, with over 79% of premises in the UK now having access to gigabit capable broadband
- UK government steams ahead with commitment for high-speed internet connections across 85% of the country by 2025
Hundreds of thousands of people across the country will benefit from lightning-fast broadband speeds, thanks to more than half a billion pounds’ worth in funding from the UK government over the course of this year.

Over 17,000 homes and businesses across rural Derbyshire are the latest set to be connected to the fastest broadband speeds on the market, backed by £33 million in new government investment announced today – with spades expected in the ground by next summer.

They join homes and businesses across Shropshire, Cambridgeshire, New Forest, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampshire, North East Staffordshire and Oxfordshire who have been awarded contracts this year to upgrade their broadband – totalling over £530 million invested to benefit over 330,000 properties.

This announcement comes as Building Digital UK (BDUK) issues its latest progress update today, showing the total number of homes and businesses that already have access to fast and reliable gigabit broadband thanks to UK government investment now stands at 929,700.

Gigabit broadband speeds mean households can download a high-definition film in under one minute, stream and download entertainment and shop online across several different devices at once. This will save families from battling over bandwidth, nipping any family arguments in the bud when parents want to tune into It’s a Wonderful Life or the King’s Christmas broadcast, while children want to see Kevin McCallister tangle with would-be burglars at the same time. This new connectivity will also help boost online efficiency and productivity for businesses to pave the way for new opportunities and further economic growth.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan said:

Working hand in glove with industry, the success of our high-speed broadband rollout means more homes have faster, clearer connectivity than ever before.

Whether they are streaming classic Christmas movies or video calling loved ones across the world, this year thousands more families will not have to face feuds over festive films or frustrating buffering, leaving more time to spend enjoying the company of their nearest and dearest.

Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure, Sir John Whittingdale, said:

The progress of Project Gigabit this year has seen us take significant strides in delivering modern connectivity throughout the UK.

As we approach Christmas, I hope the ability to obtain gigabit broadband speeds will bring joy to households, and will continue to deliver new opportunities for generations to come.

Our commitment to advancing digital infrastructure highlights our dedication to creating a connected and thriving future for all.

In the meantime, thousands of homes and businesses are already benefiting from an upgraded gigabit connection. Local residents living in hard-to-reach communities in places such as Staveley in Cumbria, Barnard Castle in Teesdale and Bishop’s Caundle in North Dorset were among the first to get connected this year through the government’s contracts with suppliers in these regions.

The current rollout progress in the UK stands at 79%, and the government is continuing to work at pace with broadband suppliers to achieve 85% coverage by 2025, and then nationwide by 2030.

Notes to editors

The latest Project Gigabit contracts come as Building Digital UK (BDUK) reports that 929,700 premises in mostly hard-to-reach areas of the UK now have access to gigabit connectivity thanks to government investment. The government is working with broadband suppliers to achieve 85% gigabit coverage of the UK by 2025, and then to nationwide coverage by 2030.

Project Gigabit is the government’s flagship £5 billion programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband.
December 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Easier access to historic wills under new government plans [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 15 December 2023.

Genealogists, historians and amateur family archivists will be better able to access historic wills under proposals published today.
- proposals to digitise millions of wills in overhaul to storage system
- historians and ancestry enthusiasts could better access wills dating back to 1800s
- paper wills for notable figures like Darwin and Dickens to be preserved for posterity
The ambitious digitisation programme could see millions of wills dating back more than 150 years moved online and more easily accessible to the public in a bid to improve the current storage system.

Currently about 110 million physical documents are stored costing taxpayers £4.5 million per year. The consultation is seeking views on keeping hard copies for about 25 years, in recognition of their sentimental value to families, while saving them digitally longer term.

Where wills belong to notable individuals or have significant historical interest the physical copies would remain preserved. The wills of Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens and Diana, Princess of Wales are among those currently stored at the Ministry of Justice facility in Birmingham.

Justice Minister Mike Freer said:

Historic wills can provide us with a unique window into the past and we want to make it as easy for amateur and professional historians alike to access these documents.

Digitalisation allows us to move with the times and save the taxpayer valuable money, while preserving paper copies of noteworthy wills which hold historical importance.

Presently where wills are submitted for scrutiny, predominately when people apply for probate, the High Court is required to preserve them permanently – and has done since 1858.

The process of scanning wills and supporting documents is already in place, as routine digitising began in 2021, however this has not extended to any documents submitted before 2021.

If people wish to access these wills or documents, they must apply and wait for them to be removed from storage and digitised so a copy can be sent out. This process can take weeks.

Under the proposals, a programme of working backwards to digitise all older documents will begin. Once digitised, access requests will be serviceable much more quickly.

The consultation also suggests exceptions should be made to preserve the original paper wills of famous people for historic record. It is seeking views on drawing up suitable criteria for those decisions.

The consultation will end on 23 February 2024.

Notes to editors
- The legality of a will is something that needs to be established. In many cases this is done by the courts in granting probate, however, in a very small number of cases wills can be subject to challenge. For example, by an allegation that a fraud was committed, or undue influence exerted on the person making the will. That means the court will need to check the will and it is held in case challenges are made.
- Since 2021, digital copies have been made of wills and supporting documents in all new probate applications. This system has been working well, with more than half a million digitised so far.
- The consultation paper is also seeking views on whether all the supporting documents currently held permanently need to be retained – for example deed polls, affidavits etc.
December 18, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : West Bank settler violence – joint statement [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 December 2023.

The UK and international partners call on Israel to take immediate and concrete steps to tackle record high settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

Joint statement:

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom call on Israel to take immediate and concrete steps to tackle record high settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom express their grave concern about the record number of attacks by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. Since the start of October, settlers have committed more than 343 violent attacks, killing 8 Palestinian civilians, injuring more than 83, and forcing 1026 Palestinians from their homes.

We strongly condemn the violent acts committed by extremist settlers, which are terrorising Palestinian communities. We reiterate our position that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law and remind Israel of its obligations under international law, in particular Article 49 of Geneva Convention IV.

This rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians is unacceptable. Israel, as the occupying power, must protect the Palestinian civilian population in the West Bank. Those responsible for the violence must be brought to justice. Israel’s failure to protect Palestinians and prosecute extremist settlers has led to an environment of near complete impunity in which settler violence has reached unprecedented levels. This undermines security in the West Bank and the region and threatens prospects for a lasting peace.

While we welcomed the Government of Israel’s statement on this issue on 9 November where it conveyed that action would be taken against violent perpetrators, proactive steps must now be taken to ensure the effective and immediate protection of Palestinian communities. Words are important, but must now be translated into action.

December 18, 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Finland – Laura Davies [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 December 2023.

Mrs Laura Davies has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Finland in succession to Mrs Theresa Bubbear OBE.

Mrs Laura Davies has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Finland in succession to Mrs Theresa Bubbear OBE who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Mrs Davies will take up her appointment in September 2024.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Laura Davies

Date	Role
Jan 2022 to present	UNESCO, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate
2019 to 2022	Paris, Head of Politics, Engagement and Public Affairs, British Embassy
2017 to 2018	FCO, Projects Task Force, Special Unpaid Leave (SUPL) Network Coordinator (whilst on SUPL)
2014 to 2017	Colombo, Deputy High Commissioner, Sri Lanka and Maldives, British High Commission
2012 to 2013	FCO, Deputy Head, Migration Directorate
2012 to 2016	Helsinki, Deputy Head of Mission
2012	Maternity leave
2009 to 2011	FCO, Deputy Head, Counter Proliferation Department
2009	Maternity leave
2007 to 2008	Islamabad, Deputy Political Counsellor (Pakistan Policy & Operations), British High Commission
2005 to 2007	FCO, Secretary to the Board of Management
2004 to 2005	FCO, Strategic Policy Adviser
2001 to 2004	Addis Ababa, Second Secretary, British Embassy
2000	First Secretary, External Relations, UK Permanent Representation to the European Union

December 18, 2023

Tag: Press Release

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Curriculum vitae