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  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister unveils £29.5bn of investment at historic Global Investment Summit [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister unveils £29.5bn of investment at historic Global Investment Summit [November 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 27 November 2023.

    Thousands of jobs will be created across the UK in our most innovative sectors, including tech, life sciences, renewables, housing and infrastructure.

    • PM announces world’s leading investors have committed £29.5bn in new UK projects and capital, triple the sum raised at the last Global Investment Summit in 2021.
    • Thousands of jobs will be created across the UK in our most innovative sectors, including tech, life sciences, renewables, housing and infrastructure.
    • More than 200 top CEOs and investors join leading lights in UK science, tech and creative industries at Hampton Court Palace.
    • Multi-billion-pound investments seal UK reputation as one of the best places in the world to do business after £20bn business tax cut and new Investment Zone for North-East.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has today (Monday 27 November) unveiled £29.5 billion of new investment for thriving UK sectors, as the world’s A-list CEOs and investors arrive at the Global Investment Summit at Hampton Court Palace.

    Backing some of the fastest growing and most innovative sectors in the UK, the transformative investments have been secured for projects in tech, life sciences, infrastructure, housing and renewable energy – creating thousands of new jobs and driving growth across the country.

    The summit marks a huge step forward for levelling up, with more than 12,000 jobs being created from just some of today’s investments. This follows the government’s new £4.5 billion Advanced Manufacturing Plan, a £2 billion investment from Nissan which will secure thousands of jobs in Sunderland, and a new Investment Zone in the North East which will create 4,000 jobs.

    Nearly 9,000 jobs were created last year alone in the North West and North East from inward investment projects, with over 7,000 in Yorkshire and The Humber and 11,000 in the Midlands.

    The summit will be opened by the Prime Minister and Business & Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, with notable CEOs in attendance including Stephen Schwarzman from Blackstone, Amanda Blanc at Aviva, David Soloman from Goldman Sachs and Jamie Dimon at JP Morgan Chase.

    Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds Bank will also attend as Principal Partners of the Summit, which will celebrate “British Ideas – Past, Present and Future”, from the steam train to quantum computing. It will be followed by a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by His Majesty the King.

    The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    Today’s investments, worth more than £29 billion, will create thousands of new jobs and are a huge vote of confidence in the future of the UK economy. Global CEOs are right to back Britain – we are making this the best place in the world to invest and do business.

    From giving businesses the biggest tax cut in recent history last week, to our culture of innovation and thriving universities producing some of the finest minds in the world, ours is truly a nation of opportunity.

    Attracting global investment is at the heart of my plan for growing the economy. With new funding pouring into key industries like clean energy, life sciences and advanced technology, inward investment is creating high-quality new jobs and driving growth right across the country.

    The new wave of investments come after the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled the biggest business tax cut in modern history at last week’s Autumn Statement with a permanent extension of capital allowances, £4.3 billion of business rates support and a £7 billion Growth Fund.

    It was also confirmed that Freeport tax reliefs would be extended from five to 10 years, with new government data confirming that UK freeports have attracted nearly £2.9 billion of investment in just two years, creating 6,000 jobs.

    In a huge boost for Net Zero and the UK’s world-leading renewables sector, Iberdrola have confirmed £7 billion of investment as part of a total £12 billion programme for 2024-28, with North Star, owned by Partners Group in Switzerland, also committing £500 million and 400 new jobs to offshore wind infrastructure.

    Fellow portfolio company Gren has also recently acquired a network of waste and biomass assets, which play a key role in baseload energy production and reducing waste to landfill. The company plans to invest up to £1 billion in district heating and local energy systems that will deliver affordable green energy to over 200,000 homes and thousands of businesses in the UK, with sites among others in Wick, Sheffield and Nottingham.

    The lucrative projects come on the back of a huge spike in inward investment for renewables in the UK, rising from £19 billion in 2021 to £55 billion in 2022, with 11,500 jobs being created in the industry last year alone.

    Business & Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said:

    The £29.5 billion pledged today is yet another huge vote of confidence in our dynamic, pro-business and highly innovative economy and proves that our plan for growth is working.

    The numbers speak for themselves: we have the third highest levels of inward investment in the world at $2.7 trillion, we’re number one in Europe for new investment projects, and last year alone we created 107,000 jobs through inward investment.

    People want to invest in a country with vision, ideas and growth, and our Summit showcases all these qualities and proves why the UK is the most exciting and innovative place in the world to invest.

    Australia’s IFM Investors also intend to invest £10 billion over the next four years for large-scale infrastructure and energy transition projects.

    IFM will sign an MoU with the Department for Business & Trade at the summit to identify commercially viable opportunities, with potential projects including Nala Renewables, a UK-based portfolio company within IFM, which is actively seeking investment opportunities in the UK as it looks to achieve a renewable capacity target of 4GW by 2025.

    David Neal, CEO of IFM Investors said:

    Australia’s ‘super funds’ system can be a trusted long-term partner with the United Kingdom. We’re proud to sign this Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Government, which is a signal of the confidence IFM and Australian super funds have in the UK as a place to invest.

    Our presence in the UK continues to grow and we look forward to working closely with the Government to drive investment into large-scale infrastructure and energy transition projects across equity and debt funding.

    Partnerships between governments and long-term investors are necessary to unlock the potential of pension funds to invest in system-level risks such as climate change.

    And in a further boost from Australia, Aware Super have committed more than £5 billion for projects in energy transition, affordable housing, life sciences, innovation, technology and digital infrastructure, just days after opening their new UK office.

    Aware Super Chief Executive Officer Deanne Stewart said:

    We are thrilled to announce our commitment to the UK, one of the world’s most important and vibrant capital markets, with the opening of our first international office.

    The benefits arising from the Australia – UK Free Trade Agreement, the ease of doing business in the UK, closely aligned culture, proximity to Europe and Northern America, and warm support from both the Department for Business & Trade and the City of London were also compelling factors in our decision to invest here.

    The summit will also see billions for the UK’s burgeoning tech sector, which already attracts the highest levels of investment in Europe and last year became the third in the world to be worth $1 trillion.

    Following the success of the UK Government’s first-ever AI safety summit, Microsoft has pledged £2.5 billion to build critical AI infrastructure, bringing more next-generation AI datacentres and thousands of graphic processing units to the UK. This will boost the UK’s AI Superpower status, which generated over £10 billion of revenue from AI companies last year.

    The UK’s R&D scene will also see a £1 billion investment from the Ellison Institute of Technology into their recently announced Oxford Campus, bringing together global innovative thinkers through a new interdisciplinary research and development facility to help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges.

    Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), which is showcasing at the GIS, has also announced it is raising $106 million (£85 million) for R&D projects. Quantum computing is a rapidly growing sector that has the most start-ups in Europe, and is destined for £2.5 billion of public and private investment under the Government’s National Quantum Strategy.

    Ilana Wisby, CEO of Oxford Quantum Circuits, said:

    To solve the world’s most pressing challenges – from climate change to accelerated drug discovery – we need to put quantum computers in the hands of humanity and at the fingertips of our most brilliant minds.

    We’re proud to be pioneering enterprise ready quantum with our customers, partners and investors.

    And BioNTech, an international leader in the biotechnology industry and developer of the first mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, has announced it intends to expand its global R&D activities with a new laboratory in Cambridge as well as a centre of expertise for Artificial Intelligence in London.

    This will be implemented through a rolling 10-year investment of approximately £1 billion, creating an additional 400 highly skilled jobs. It follows a major agreement between the Government and BioNTech SE this summer to provide up to 10,000 patients with precision cancer immunotherapies by 2030.

    Sean Marett, Chief Business Officer & Chief Commercial Officer at BioNTech SE, said:

    BioNTech and the UK Government share a common goal – to improve the life of people by advancing healthcare.

    Today’s news underlines that both BioNTech and the UK Government care about improving the outcomes for patients in the upcoming years as well as for generations to come.

    A £1 billion investment from Dutch company Yondr will also turbocharge the UK’s tech and data capabilities, with a new 30MW datacentre in Slough that will create over 3,500 jobs, and clean energy-tech company Aira will also spur levelling up across the country by investing £300 million into heat pump rollouts, new jobs and upskilling.

    The investment will support their goal of helping one million UK customers switch from gas boilers to heat pumps, create 8,000 green jobs and expand their Aira Academies to train and upskill plumbers and electricians for product installation.

    Martin Lewerth, Aira Group CEO, said:

    The UK is a crucial market to decarbonise, being one of Europe’s most populated countries and with the lowest heat pump penetration rate of just 1%.

    We are excited to introduce Aira’s innovative home energy solution in the UK, and we are confident that our offering and value proposition, which includes substantial consumer cost savings, no need for lifestyle changes, and a zero upfront payment model, will be well-received.

    Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:

    The UK is a world-leader in renewable energy and green industries. We have attracted £200bn in low carbon investment since 2010, with another £100bn expected by 2030, as we lead the second industrial revolution.

    Aira’s £300m investment in the UK heat pump industry and creation of 8,000 jobs is a helpful contribution to our green ambitions, offering a cleaner heat source for our homes and growing the economy.

    Families will benefit from lower heat pump prices with more trained installers and £7,500 grants through one of the most generous schemes in Europe.

    And in a further boost for communities, PATRIZIA have announced £100 million for the development of highly sustainable affordable and social housing in England to increase supply of quality housing at affordable prices around London and the south east of England.

    The programme has commenced with an investment to fund the development of 70 affordable homes in Milton Keynes.

    Wolfgang Egger, Founder of PATRIZIA, said:

    As a global real assets investor, PATRIZIA is thrilled to announce plans to invest £100 million into the development of highly sustainable, affordable housing in England.

    The programme will help address the acute shortage of good quality, affordable, EPC A rated family housing for renters, and provide additional investment in social infrastructure. The investment strategy is a joint venture between PATRIZIA’s dedicated impact fund, PATRIZIA Sustainable Communities, and Man Group’s UK Community Housing business.

    In a move to spur even more innovation and investment, the Government is also announcing the creation of three new regulatory sandboxes for hydrogen-powered aviation, autonomous marine vessels and drones, with Innovate UK launching a £110 million Investor Partnership for UK science and tech SMEs.

    The Department for Business & Trade have also convened an expert panel chaired by Professor Vanessa Knapp to explore options for a UK corporate re-domiciliation regime to make it easier for foreign companies to relocate to the UK.

    Further information

    The full list of investments secured for today’s summit are as follows:

    • £10bn – IFM Investors (Australia) – owned by Australian pension funds, the IFM MoU intends to invest in large-scale infrastructure and energy transition projects over the next four years.
    • £7bn – Iberdrola (Spain) – With more than £2bn already invested in the UK as part of its previously announced £6.7bn programme for the years 2023-25, the company has announced today plans for over £7bn more in the years 2026-28. This amounts to a £12bn investment programme for 2024-28. Around two-thirds of the 2024-28 investments will be dedicated to transmission and distribution electricity networks, driven by regulatory arrangements in place (RIIO T2 and RIIO ED2), as well as projects like the innovative £2.7bn Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) subsea transmission cable, which received regulatory approval this month.
    • £5bn – Aware Super (Australia) – for projects in energy transition, affordable housing, life sciences, innovation, technology and digital infrastructure, with a new UK office being opened last week.
    • £2.5bn – Microsoft (USA) – critical AI infrastructure, including next generation AI datacentres and thousands of graphic processing units in the UK. More details will be announced later this week.
    • £1.5bn – Companies owned by Partners Group (Switzerland) on behalf of its clients – Portfolio company North Star have committed £500m for offshore wind infrastructure over the next five years, creating 400 jobs in the UK, following a £200m investment for critical maritime infrastructure to Dogger Bank – the UK’s largest offshore wind farm. Additionally, portfolio company Gren have committed £1bn to support their ambition to invest in district heating and local energy systems that will deliver affordable green energy to over 200,000 homes and thousands of businesses. This is building on their network of 11 newly acquired waste and biomass fuelled assets, which play a key role in delivering baseload energy to customers, reducing waste and waste wood volumes to landfill.
    • £1bn – BioNTech SE (Germany) – intends to expand its global R&D activities with a new laboratory in Cambridge as well as a centre of expertise for AI in London. This would be implemented through a rolling 10-year investment of approximately £1 billion, creating an additional 400 highly skilled jobs. It follows a major agreement between the Government and BioNTech SE this summer to provide up to 10,000 patients with precision cancer immunotherapies by 2030. BioNTech currently employs more than 5,700 employees globally and conducts clinical trials in over 30 countries worldwide. Today’s news reflects BioNTech’s ambition to expand in the UK, subject to finalising terms, and follows BioNTech’s acquisition of UK-based InstaDeep Ltd. BioNTech could employ more than 500 people in the UK by 2033.
    • £1bn – Ellison Institute of Technology – investment at their recently announced Oxford Campus that will bring together global innovative thinkers to help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. This includes the creation of a new scientific campus with AI GPU Supercluster lab, as well as the creation of the Ellison Scholars program to support up to 20 students per year at the University of Oxford including tuition, fees, and living expenses.
    • £1bn – Yondr (Netherlands) – a new datacentre in Slough, which will progress from being a 30MW site to 100MW. Over 1,000 direct jobs created during construction phase, 2,500 indirect jobs for the whole project.  Around 50 full time roles will be created during the operational period.
    • £300m – Aira Heat Pumps (Sweden) – investment over the next three years to progress work on helping one million UK customers switch to heat pumps. Over the next decade, Aira will create 8,000 new green jobs and invest in Aira Academies to upskill plumbers and electricians to install products.
    • £100m – PATRIZIA (Germany) – for the development of highly sustainable affordable and social housing in England to increase supply of quality housing at affordable prices around London and the south east of England. The programme has commenced with an investment to fund the development of 70 affordable homes in Milton Keynes.
    • £85m ($106m) – Oxford Quantum Circuits (UK, Reading) – will be the UK’s largest Series B in quantum computing, enabling industry-leading R&D that will further OQC’s ability to bring next generation platforms of hundreds of qubits to businesses globally.
    • £10m – MediaTek (Taiwan) – combined investment between MediaTek Research and MediaTek Capital in innovative UK tech companies over the next 5 years.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Government offer to NHS consultants to pave way to end strikes [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government offer to NHS consultants to pave way to end strikes [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 27 November 2023.

    The offer will invest in modernising the consultants’ pay structure – reducing the number of pay points and the time it takes to reach the top.

    • The government has put forward an offer that will modernise the consultant contract and reform consultants’ pay structure
    • The British Medical Association and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association will put the deal to their memberships
    • Agreement by union members would see the end of consultant strike action – benefiting patients and helping to cut waiting lists

    The government and unions representing consultant doctors in England have reached an agreement to put an offer to union members following constructive negotiations.

    Talks were opened with the British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) last month to find a fair and reasonable way forward.

    All parties strived to find a fair deal for NHS consultants but also one that acknowledges the wider economic pressures facing the UK and the need to continue to bring down inflation.

    The government was clear that the headline pay uplift for 2023 to 2024 was settled through the pay review body process. This offer builds on that and focuses on measures that will address consultant concerns while introducing contractual reforms. The core contract for consultants has not been updated for 20 years and this offer will modernise it, including through offering enhanced shared parental leave, in line with other NHS staff.

    The offer will invest in modernising the consultants’ pay structure – reducing the number of pay points and the time it takes to reach the top, taking effect from January 2024.

    New pay progression arrangements will be introduced to ensure there is a clearer link between pay progression and evidence of skills, competencies and experience.

    The BMA and HCSA will put this offer to their members for a vote in the coming weeks. No further strike action will be called while members are being consulted.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    Ending damaging strike action in the NHS is vitally important if we want to continue making progress towards cutting waiting lists while making sure patients get the care they deserve.

    This is a fair deal for consultants who will benefit from major reform to their contract, it is fair for taxpayers because it will not risk our ongoing work to tackle inflation, and most importantly it is a good deal for patients to see the end of consultant industrial action.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said:

    I hugely value the work of NHS consultants and am pleased that we have been able to make this fair and reasonable offer after weeks of constructive negotiations.

    If accepted, it will modernise pay structures, directly addressing gender pay issues in the NHS. It will also enhance consultants’ parental leave options.

    Putting an end to this strike action will support our efforts to bring down waiting lists and offer patients the highest quality care.

    The pay scale reforms will also help mitigate the gender pay gap by delivering a key recommendation made by Professor Dame Jane Dacre in her review on the gender pay gap in medicine. To enable these reforms, unions have agreed to end Local Clinical Excellence Awards (LCEAs) going forward – an employer-level bonus scheme – which has been seen to contribute to pay inequalities.

    Alongside this, consultants will also be entitled to enhanced shared parental leave, bringing them in line with other NHS staff.

    As part of this offer, the government and unions have agreed to work together to review the operation of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) – the pay review process for doctors. It will examine the appointments of members to the DDRB, the timing of the round, remit letters and terms of reference, and the data provided to the body on which it bases its recommendations. These changes will be implemented for the 2025 to 2026 pay year.

    As part of this provisional deal, the BMA has also agreed to end the use of its rate card – which advises doctors on how much to charge for non-contractual work, including cover during strikes. Until now, the card has increased the cost of finding shift cover during industrial action.

    This reform package is separate from the pay-setting process. It does not affect the 6% pay award consultants received this financial year and it will not interfere with the process for setting pay next year. This is in addition to the significant reforms to pension taxation, the BMA’s number one ask, in the spring budget earlier this year.

    Moving forward, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan will support the NHS to address existing vacancies and meet the challenges of a growing and ageing population by training, recruiting and retaining hundreds of thousands more staff over the next 15 years – backed by more than £2.4 billion in government investment.

    The government has listened carefully to the concerns of consultants, their representatives and employers – particularly around retention, motivation and morale. This offer has been carefully balanced to meet those concerns but also to ensure value for the taxpayer.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK urges the DPRK to cease missile launches and take steps towards peace – UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK urges the DPRK to cease missile launches and take steps towards peace – UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 November 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on North Korea.

    I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing and I welcome the participation of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at this meeting.

    As we’ve heard, we meet because on the 21st November the DPRK made a third attempt at launching a military reconnaissance satellite. It triggered Japan’s local alert system in Okinawa forcing civilians to take shelter. That was followed by a ballistic missile launch on the 22nd November.

    These are clear threats to global peace and security which is the core responsibility of this Council and they violate multiple Security Council resolutions. Moreover, these launches follow increased engagement between Russia and the DPRK, including Kim Jong Un’s visit to Vostochny Cosmodrome in September, where he met President Putin.

    When asked by a reporter whether Russia would help North Korea launch its own satellites and rockets, President Putin responded “that’s exactly why we came here. The leader of North Korea shows great interest in space.”

    We have in addition, credible reports of Russia sourcing weapons from the DPRK.

    All this, as ASG Khiari said, has humanitarian consequences. The North Korean people suffer the most as resources are diverted. So what should this Council do?  Some argue that this Council should remain silent and avoid escalating the situation, but the DPRK shows no sign of restraint in response. In fact, the DPRK has stated its intention to launch more satellites. This follows 29 launches of ballistic missiles so far this year, including four intercontinental ballistic missiles. The DPRK has written its nuclear aspirations into its constitution.

    So what should we do? First, I welcome the participation of the DPRK in today’s debate. Above all, I hope you will report to Pyongyang our concern for the people of DPRK, and in this respect, I encourage the DPRK to reopen its borders and re-engage with UN agencies.

    Second, this Council should reiterate the depth of our resolve to combating proliferation. We urge the DPRK to cease its arms supply and abide by its public commitment not to sell arms to Russia.

    Third, we urge the DPRK to cease these launches, return to dialogue, and take credible steps towards denuclearisation and peace on the Korean Peninsula. President, I urge this Council to demonstrate our commitment to ensure that our resolutions are enforced and to send a united message to the DPRK.

    I thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Fifteen new synthetic opioids to be made illegal [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Fifteen new synthetic opioids to be made illegal [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 27 November 2023.

    Fifteen new synthetic opioids and 5 other drugs will be banned as Class A drugs as the government continues to act to prevent drug deaths.

    Twenty dangerous drugs will be banned to protect people in the UK from overdoses and drug related deaths.

    Following advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), 15 new dangerous synthetic opioids will become Class A drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

    Possession of a Class A drug carries a sentence of up to seven years imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both. If caught supplying, an offender can face up to life imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both.

    Many of these substances are incredibly dangerous and have similar effects to heroin and fentanyl, posing a higher risk of accidental overdose. This has been a widespread problem in other countries.

    Although there is no current evidence to show these substances are prevalent in the UK, there have been some deaths linked to the drugs which is why the government is taking decisive action to safeguard communities.

    Crime and Policing Minister Chris Philp said:

    These new highly dangerous substances have the potential to devastate lives, ruin families and damage local communities.

    We must be one step ahead to ensure we are stopping new drugs from plaguing our streets and endangering the lives of vulnerable people.

    Our strategy is to tackle both the illicit supply of drugs, relentlessly pursuing criminal networks, and to build a world-class treatment system to turn people’s lives around and stop the cycle of crime.

    The fifteen new synthetic opioids to be added to Class A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, subject to parliamentary approval, are:

    • metonitazene
    • protonitazene
    • isotonitazene
    • butonitazene
    • flunitazene
    • metodesnitazene (metazene)
    • etodesnitazene (etazene)
    • N-pyrrolidino-etonitazene (etonitazepyne)
    • N-piperidinyl-etonitazene (etonitazepipne)
    • N-pyrrolidino protonitazene
    • ethyleneoxynitazene
    • N-desethyl protonitazene
    • N-desethylisotonitazene
    • N-desethyl-etonitazene
    • brorphine

    The ban comes as part of the government’s continued efforts to tackle the supply of dangerous drugs and clamp down on crime. Since April 2022, we have:

    • closed over 1,700 county lines
    • delivered over 4,900 organised crime group disruptions
    • delivered 12,000 more treatment places

    compared to March 2020.

    Five other drugs will also be controlled as part of the recent ban, including cumyl-PeGaClone, a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA) which can cause complications such as seizures and liver failure.

    Three stimulants which create similar effects to ketamine – diphenidine, ephenidine and methoxyphenidine – will also be controlled as Class B drugs.

    Finally, a short acting benzodiazepine drug named remimazolam will also be controlled as a Class C drug. Its legitimate medical uses will then be enabled through amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Leasehold reforms give more rights and protections to homeowners [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Leasehold reforms give more rights and protections to homeowners [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 27 November 2023.

    Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill introduced to Parliament today will give homeowners a fairer deal, and greater rights and protections.

    Millions of homeowners in England and Wales will be given greater rights, powers, and protections over their homes as part of the most significant reforms to the leasehold system for a generation.

    A key part of the Government’s Long-Term Plan for Housing, the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, introduced to Parliament today, will make it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to buy their freehold, increase standard lease extension terms to 990 years for houses and flats, and provide greater transparency over service charges. The Bill will also rebalance the legal costs regime and remove barriers for leaseholders to challenge their landlords’ unreasonable charges at Tribunal.

    The new powers will also help more leaseholders take over the management of their property if they wish to, instead of being stuck with the freeholder’s management choice, and we will make this process cheaper for leaseholders.

    The Government will also bring forward further reforms which will extend access to redress schemes and make it easier and cheaper to get the information needed to sell a leasehold home.

    Ahead of the Bill’s introduction, the Housing Secretary, Michael Gove said:

    People work hard to own a home. But for far too long too many have been denied the full benefits of ownership through the unfair and outdated leasehold system.

    That’s why liberating leaseholders forms a vital part of the Government’s Long-Term Plan for Housing.

    So today marks a landmark moment for millions of leaseholders across the country, as we unveil laws to deliver significant new rights and protections, slash unfair costs and crack down on exploitation.

    The Bill addresses one of the longest-term challenges that the country faces – fairness in the housing market. The measures in the Bill will put the country on the right path for the future by addressing the historic imbalances between leaseholder and freeholder to give homeowners a fairer deal, greater protections, and more rights.

    The Bill will strengthen existing, and introduce new, consumer rights for homeowners by:

    • Making it cheaper and easier for people to extend their lease or buy their freehold so leaseholders pay less to have more security in their home.
    • Increasing the standard lease extension term to 990 years for houses and flats (up from 50 years in houses and 90 years in flats), so leaseholders can enjoy secure ownership without the hassle and expense of future lease extensions.
    • Giving leaseholders greater transparency over their service charges by making freeholders or managing agents issue bills in a standardised format that can be more easily scrutinised and challenged.
    • Making it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to take over management of their building, allowing them to appoint the managing agent of their choice.
    • Making it cheaper for leaseholders to exercise their enfranchisement rights as they will no longer have to pay their freeholder’s costs when making a claim.
    • Extending access to redress schemes for leaseholders to challenge poor practice. The Government will require freeholders, who manage their building directly, to belong to a redress scheme so leaseholders can challenge them if needed – managing agents are already required to belong to a scheme.
    • Making buying or selling a leasehold property quicker and easier by setting a maximum time and fee that for home buying and selling information.
    • Granting homeowners on private and mixed tenure estates comprehensive rights of redress, so they receive more information about what charges they pay, and the ability to challenge how reasonable they are.

    The Government will also give greater rights to those in mixed-use blocks of flats. Currently leaseholders in these buildings are barred from taking over the management of the site or buying its freehold if more than 25% of its floor space is commercial – such as shops or offices on the ground floor. The Government will now increase the floor space limit to 50 per cent, so that more leaseholders can access the Right to Manage or the right to a collective enfranchisement.

    It will also level up the rights of residents of freehold estates by granting freehold homeowners on private and mixed tenure estates the same rights of redress as leaseholders and equivalent rights to transparency over their estate charges.

    The Bill will also rebalance the housing system for leaseholders by:

    • Scrapping the presumption that leaseholders pay their freeholders’ legal costs when challenging poor practice that currently acts as a deterrent when leaseholders want to challenge their service charges.
    • Banning opaque and excessive buildings insurance commissions for freeholders and managing agents, replacing these with transparent and fair handling fees.
    • Banning the sale of new leasehold houses so that, other than in exceptional circumstances, every new house in England and Wales will be freehold from the outset.
    • Removing the requirement for a new leaseholder to have owned their house or flat for two years before they can extend their lease or buy their freehold.

    The Bill brought to Parliament today forms part of the Government’s long-term plan for housing and delivers the Government’s manifesto commitments on leasehold reform. As announced in the King’s Speech, the Government will introduce some measures at first reading and others as amendments as the Bill makes its way through Parliament to deliver on the full range of commitments set out above. These will include measures to amend the Building Safety Act 2022 to make it easier to ensure that those who caused building-safety defects in enfranchised buildings are made to pay, and that the leaseholder protections are not unfairly weighted against those who own properties jointly.

    The Government is also already consulting on options to cap ground rents for existing leases that will protect leaseholders from facing unregulated ground rents for no service in return. The consultation closes on 21st December and the Government will respond shortly afterwards.

    Further information

    • These reforms have been prepared using detailed reports to the Government provided by the Law Commission and have been extensively consulted on with the sector.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Bluetongue virus detected in Kent [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Bluetongue virus detected in Kent [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 November 2023.

    The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has urged farmers to remain vigilant for bluetongue virus after the disease was found in five cows in Kent.

    The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Pirbright Institute identified the first case of the disease earlier this month through Great Britain’s annual bluetongue surveillance programme. A 10km temporary control zone has been put in place around the affected farms, restricting the movement of susceptible animals except under licence.

    Bluetongue does not affect people or food safety. The virus is transmitted by midge bites and affects cows, goats, sheep and other camelids such as llamas. The midges are most active between April and November and not all susceptible animals show immediate, or any, signs of contracting the virus. The impacts on susceptible animals can vary greatly – some show no symptoms or effects at all while for others it can cause productivity issues such as reduced milk yield, while in the most severe cases can be fatal for infected animals.

    Through additional surveillance, the Chief Veterinary Officer has today (25 November) confirmed four additional cases of bluetongue virus at two premises in Kent within the temporary control zone. The infected animals will be culled to reduce the risk of onward disease transmission.

    Strict rules on the movement of livestock from regions affected by bluetongue are already in place and farmers are reminded that animals imported from these regions must be accompanied by the relevant paperwork to clearly show they meet certain conditions designed to reduce disease risk, such as correct vaccination.

    Following confirmation of BTV in a non-imported animal in England, some trading partners may restrict exports of bluetongue susceptible animals or their products. The latest information on availability of individual export health certificates can be found on Gov.uk.

    NI and GB ruminants cannot be exported from an GB Assembly Centre to the European Union or moved to Northern Ireland until further notice.

    Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

    “Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety, but the disease can impact livestock farms, and cause productivity issues.

    “This detection is an example of our robust disease surveillance procedures in action and it is also a clear reminder for farmers that the disease remains a threat, despite coming towards the end of the midge activity season.

    “Farmers must remain vigilant and report any suspicions to APHA.”

    BTV is a notifiable disease. Suspicion of BTV in animals in England must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301

    More information about bluetongue is available here.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Industry leaders welcome landmark plan for UK Advanced Manufacturing [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Industry leaders welcome landmark plan for UK Advanced Manufacturing [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 26 November 2023.

    Industry leaders from across UK advanced manufacturing have welcomed the Government’s landmark Advanced Manufacturing Plan (AMP) backed by billions to boost Britain’s manufacturing sector, announced by Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch today (26 November).

    The package of measures will build on our existing strengths in manufacturing and offer certainty to business by building on our successful programmes and committing more than £4.5 billion to 2030 in targeted funding to back the long-term future of the UK’s world leading industries as well as supporting SMEs through extending and expanding our Made Smarter digital adoption programme through this decade.

    The Plan outlines key measures to improve the business environment and attract investment, including faster grid connections, full expensing and more apprenticeships.

    Manufacturing Sector Organisations

    Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation said:

    A battery strategy is very welcome and much needed. Having a joined-up battery plan in place will be critical for the UK economy to benefit fully from new technological opportunities going forward, and we must ensure that manufacturing involves the entire supply chain, right from design to manufacturing and recycling, closely connecting car and battery industries.

    Recycling will also be very important to recover those critical materials that are essential for the low-carbon economy, and this joined up Advanced Manufacturing Plan will help deliver better coordination across the whole of the clean energy sectors.

    Make UK and industry will continue to work with the government on the practicalities of this plan, including how to incorporate manufacturing supply chains. These supply chains have a key role in supplying components and services for clean energy in the future low-carbon economy and we must ensure that the full potential is delivered to enable our companies to compete on the global stage.

    Karen Betts, Chief Executive, The Food and Drink Federation said:

    The advanced manufacturing plan will provide critical support to the UK’s largest manufacturing sector in helping to unlock innovative investments in food and drink businesses. The £4.5billion of funding will help to derisk and incentivise investments focused on the transition to net zero and strengthening food security while the expansion of Made Smarter will particularly help SMEs. Making full expensing permanent will support businesses across the sector, boosting productivity and growth.

    Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said:

    We’ve long believed that the UK’s has the potential to be a world leader in advanced and sustainable medicines manufacturing. This £520 million in support announced by the government will supercharge UK life sciences manufacturing, combatting the increasing international competition to attract major manufacturing investment.

    Added to our existing strengths and technical expertise in manufacturing innovation, this announcement is a major step forward in delivering on our shared ambitions for long term growth.

    Automotive

    Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said:

    Decarbonising road transport is essential if net zero is to be achieved, and that transition must be ‘built in Britain’. The government’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan sets out measures to support the UK automotive supply chain as it undergoes the most significant transition in its history.

    The plan, together with a new battery strategy to support the development and production of this critical technology, is essential if the UK is to compete in the face of fierce global competition. These initiatives can only help to attract the investment necessary to seize the growth opportunities a Net Zero economy offers.

    Richard Kenworthy, Managing Director, Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK said:

    We welcome the announcement of a new Advanced Manufacturing Plan and the priority the Government is giving to the automotive sector.

    Our industry is undergoing a significant transition as we make the changes and investments required to secure a zero-carbon future. It is important for manufacturers to continue to work together with the Government to deliver on this goal and ensure the global competitiveness of the UK automotive industry.

    This new Plan will help prepare British businesses and the Government to maximise the opportunities this period of change will bring.

    Guillaume Cartier, Chairperson, Nissan Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania, said:

    We welcome the Advanced Manufacturing plan for the long-term approach presented for the UK automotive industry.

    It addresses a number of important topics that will support our wider electrification strategy as we move to 100% electric vehicles, and also with the demands we’re seeing from consumers for cleaner, smarter, safer cars on the roads.

    Jaguar Land Rover said:

    JLR welcomes this package of investment and policy announcements for the Advanced Manufacturing sector. The Advanced Manufacturing Plan and UK Battery Strategy is an important first step and we look forward to working with the Government to create the right environment to ensure an innovative and internationally competitive sector.

    Aerospace

    John Pritchard, President of Civil Aerospace for GKN Aerospace said:

    GKN Aerospace welcomes the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan. To maintain its position as a global leader in aerospace manufacturing, the UK needs close collaboration between Government and Industry and significant investment to maintain our competitive advantage. This Plan is a step forward, providing important guidance for building resilience and increasing productivity in our manufacturing supply chain.

    Coupled with the announcement to extend the funding of the Aerospace Technology Institute out to 2030/31, the Plan also provides further confidence and a stable base for international businesses to invest in the UK.

    The Hydrogen Task Force is a particularly important and welcome development. Hydrogen will be at the core of future sustainable flight, as well as the UK’s wider economy and energy infrastructure. It is critical that Government and Industry collaborate now in order to develop and invest in the supply chain and position the UK as the destination of choice for investment in the future.

    Dr Rob Watson, President-Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce said:

    We warmly welcome the ATI budget extension and the recognition of advanced manufacturing, and aerospace in particular, as priorities for the UK. The ATI extension provides long-term stability in aerospace funding that will allow for investment in technologies that will make our sector more competitive.

    The ATI has been instrumental in accelerating the next generation of aerospace innovation since 2013, helping sustain the UK as a global leader in aerospace. The pace and scale of progress on our UltraFan demonstrator, the world’s largest and most advanced jet engine, would not have been possible without the ATI. This additional 5 year commitment to the ATI will give the aerospace industry confidence in the UK’s desire to grow and export.

    Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said:

    ADS and our members welcome today’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan publication, reaffirming long-term backing for our world-leading advanced manufacturing sectors, including UK aerospace. This is a very timely intervention given the growing pace of aerospace recovery, huge aircraft order backlog and industries’ continued commitment to net zero.

    Our aerospace sector provides high-skilled jobs throughout the country, and set against a backdrop of increasing global competition, the continued commitment towards aerospace R&D is significant. These measures will provide a boost to continued investment in innovation and advanced manufacturing in the UK, in turn securing the future advantage of our industry.

    BATTERY

    Dame Professor Clare Grey, Co-Chair of the UK Battery Strategy Team and professor at Cambridge University, said:

    I – as both an academic working to optimise battery function and understand failure modes and a cofounder of the fast-charging battery company Nyobolt – welcome the publication of the UK battery strategy.

    Clarity in the commitments, along with announcements of significant funding out to 2030, will be welcomed by the many industry sectors in the UK working towards achieving next zero, where certainly is key to making key business decisions and investments.

    The continued funding is also critical for building on the momentum already achieved in the laboratory, to move some of the early-stage research out into commercial, manufactured products.

    The breadth of the strategy – from skills, manufacturing, critical mineral supply chains, financing, recycling and the circular economy, to regulation and speeding up grid connections – along with the commitments towards implementation – will be critical in building battery- and related industries in the UK.

    Tom Flack, CEO of Agratas said:

    Through our multi-billion-pound investment, Agratas is building the UK’s largest battery cell manufacturing facility and pioneering next-generation battery technologies, powering the transition to net zero and creating thousands of green economy jobs. The Advanced Manufacturing Plan and the UK’s Battery Strategy outline the vision, collaboration and support required to deliver on that ambition. We look forward to working closely with the Government to grow a globally competitive UK battery sector.

    Brian Holliday, Managing Director, Digital Industries at Siemens:

    The new investment clearly says that UK manufacturing matters. It represents a tremendous boost for our makers that will enable the confidence to invest in innovation, productivity and sustainability.

    Key sectors benefit but so does the long tail of small and medium firms which is really important to directly address our recent challenges of weak overall productivity and investment.

    The business benefits of digitalisation are now clear, while being an enabler for industrial decarbonisation too – the package of measures announced in bolstering Made Smarter, targeted regulatory reform and sector support, along with our world-class Catapults and Universities now makes the UK one of the best countries on the planet to sustainably design, make and export goods.

    Merlin Hyman OBE, Chief Executive, Regen and Electricity Storage Network, said:

    The Electricity Storage Network welcome this strategy to develop the UK’s capability in the vital area of battery storage. The UK is leading the way in putting electricity storage at the heart of a high renewables, flexible power system with over 3GW now installed and world leading expertise in battery optimisation.

    Developing a UK grid scale storage supply chain, environmental standards, and recycling facilities will be key to the resilience of the sector and to achieving our goals for secure, net zero power and high value jobs in the low carbon industries of the future.

    Nicholas Beatty, Founder Director of Zenobē said:

    I am delighted to support the Taskforce’s vital work to develop the UK’s domestic battery industry.

    As the UK’s largest independent owner of battery storage, Zenobē welcomes these efforts to cut planning and grid connection delays, develop innovative financing for the battery industry, and introduce new models to increase the use of second life batteries.

    These measures will help to secure the UK’s green supply chain as we transition to a decarbonised energy and transport system. With the right government support, the UK can be a leading global player in the future battery industry.

    Nyobolt said:

    We welcome the publication of the first UK Battery Strategy, which highlights the importance of the sector. Long-term commitment is critical for providing the confidence to invest and ensure that the UK plays a leading role in the transition to Net Zero.

    As a growing UK battery company making fast charging a reality, we look forward to working with Government to realise this commitment and bring the batteries of the future to the UK today.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Business and Trade Secretary launches landmark plan for UK Advanced Manufacturing backed by £4.5bn in Autumn Statement [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Business and Trade Secretary launches landmark plan for UK Advanced Manufacturing backed by £4.5bn in Autumn Statement [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 26 November 2023.

    Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has launched the landmark Advanced Manufacturing Plan (AMP) backed by billions to boost Britain’s manufacturing sector.

    • Kemi Badenoch launches Advanced Manufacturing Plan (AMP) with over £2bn earmarked for the automotive industry, including batteries, and £975m for aerospace.
    • New plan set to build on recent investment wins including up to £2bn from Nissan, £600m from BMW and £4bn from Tata to build a gigafactory.
    • Hundreds of thousands of UK jobs on offer in battery sector alone, as new Battery Strategy includes £50m newly allocated government funding to deliver a globally competitive battery supply chain by 2030.
    • Plan backs British industry, ensuring the long-term success of the advanced manufacturing sector and reinforces the UK as one of best places in the world to invest and do business.

    Plans to build on British excellence in advanced manufacturing to secure long-term private investment and create high-paid jobs have been unveiled by the Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch today (26 November).

    The landmark Advanced Manufacturing Plan (AMP) sets out the government’s initiative to ensure the UK is the best place in the world to start and grow a manufacturing business.

    As outlined by the Chancellor last week, the government will offer certainty to business by committing more than £4.5 billion in targeted funding to back the long-term future of the UK’s world-leading manufacturing industries – automotive, aerospace, clean energy and life sciences. This includes support for batteries and industries undergoing fundamental changes to remain at the forefront of the global transition to net zero.

    The plan outlines the key measures to improve the business environment and attract investment, including faster grid connections, full expensing and more apprenticeships.

    It will ensure the UK uses its competitive advantage in manufacturing to become a world leader in the development of zero emissions technology, taking advantage of the thousands of jobs on offer. Our world-leading track record of decarbonisation makes us well placed to seize opportunities in the new global green economy.

    This package builds on recent investment wins including up to £2 billion investment from Nissan in Sunderland, the £4 billion Tata gigafactory, the £600 million Electric Mini investment from BMW and Boeing unlocking £80 million of aerospace manufacturing investment in Sheffield, and ensures that the government can continue to help create jobs, grow the economy, and secure the future of great British manufacturing.

    Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: 

    The UK recently overtook France to become the world’s eighth largest manufacturing economy. The Advanced Manufacturing Plan will build on that success by targeting funding at where we have a competitive advantage.

    Industry wants a stable, long-term plan that has support for cutting edge technologies and a trade policy that delivers. The Advanced Manufacturing Plan does precisely that, securing the highly-skilled jobs of the future and driving economic growth.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: 

    We are going full throttle to back British businesses and make the UK a world leader in manufacturing – which already makes up over 43 percent of all our exports and employs 2.6 million people across the country.

    Today’s plan will not only give the industry the long-term certainty they need to grow and invest further in the UK, but it will also lay the foundations to create more jobs and opportunities for people across the country.

    As we bring together the world’s biggest CEOs and investors together for the global investment summit tomorrow, this plan – backed by £4.5 billion – and the record sums of investment we’ve already attracted, make undoubtedly clear that the UK is open for business and is a vital part of our plan to grow the economy.

    The battery sector alone could create 100,000 highly paid and skilled jobs in the UK and the Government has also today published the UK’s first ever Battery Strategy, outlining our plan for the UK to attract investment and achieve a globally competitive battery supply chain by 2030.

    Global companies are already choosing to invest in the UK and for every pound of Government investment in the future of manufacturing, we are leveraging five pounds of additional private sector investment, providing a welcome boost for industry ahead of next week’s Global Investment Summit.

    The Advanced Manufacturing Plan will build on this success and ensure we’re creating the right conditions for manufacturing to flourish, and that bureaucracy does not get in the way of investment.

    To boost growth in small and medium sized manufacturing businesses more widely, it has also been announced that the government will expand the Made Smarter Adoption programme, offering the scheme to all English regions in 2025-26 before working with the Devolved Administrations to explore expanding the programme further from 2026-27.

    Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani said:

    Growing the battery industry is vital to positioning the UK as the best location in the world to manufacture electric vehicles, and building on the confidence we’ve given our supply chain through recent successes such as the investments from Tata, BMW and Nissan, plus the wealth of government support available to businesses.

    I wanted to be ahead of the curve in working with Industry to produce a Battery Strategy. This will help businesses become more innovative and productive, future-proofing our economy and supporting our ambition towards a cleaner, greener future, and forms a crucial part of our Advanced Manufacturing Plan to back British industry for the long term.

    The plan focuses on:

    Investing in the future of UK manufacturing

    A new Hydrogen Taskforce will maximise investment opportunities for the UK manufacturing of hydrogen propulsion systems. Hydrogen is expected to represent a crucial part of the UK’s future net zero energy system and is critical to supporting the UK’s energy security.

    The Government’s Hydrogen Strategy sets out ambitions to reach up to 10GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2030, with at least half coming from electrolytic or ‘green’ hydrogen.

    Building supply chain resilience

    The prize in getting our battery industry right alone is worth 100,000 jobs by 2040, with thousands of further jobs available in the wider sector.

    The UK’s Battery Strategy will seek to invest £50 million in developing the UK’s battery world-class capabilities, emphasising the importance of developing the batteries of the future by leveraging the UK’s world-leading research and innovation, securing a resilient UK manufacturing supply chain, and enabling the development of a vibrant and sustainable sector.

    Reducing costs and barriers to business

    At the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced further measures to back businesses and remove barriers to investment. This includes making the Full Expensing scheme permanent so businesses can invest for less – delivering an effective permanent tax cut of £11 billion a year for businesses who invest in IT equipment, plant and machinery. The move is set to boost business investment by £14 billion and help grow the economy.

    With the tax cut now permanent, the UK will continue to have both the lowest headline corporation tax rate in the G7 and the most generous capital allowances in the OECD group of major advanced economies, such as the United States, Japan, South Korea and Germany.  Since the introduction of the super deduction – the predecessor to full expensing – in 2021, investment in the UK has grown the fastest in the G7.

    The Advanced Manufacturing Plan also builds on existing support for the sector that includes the British Industry Supercharger ensuring energy costs for key industries like steel, metals, chemicals, and paper producers are in line with other major economies around the world and the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund supporting the deployment of technologies that is enabling hundreds of businesses with high energy use to transition to a low carbon future.

    Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said:

    Decarbonising road transport is essential if net zero is to be achieved, and that transition must be ‘built in Britain’. The government’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan sets out measures to support the UK automotive supply chain as it undergoes the most significant transition in its history.

    The plan, together with a new battery strategy to support the development and production of this critical technology, is essential if the UK is to compete in the face of fierce global competition. These initiatives can only help to attract the investment necessary to seize the growth opportunities a Net Zero economy offers.

    Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said:

    ADS and our members welcome today’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan publication, reaffirming long-term backing for our world-leading advanced manufacturing sectors, including UK aerospace. This is a very timely intervention given the growing pace of aerospace recovery, huge aircraft order backlog and industries’ continued commitment to net zero.

    Our aerospace sector provides high-skilled jobs throughout the country, and set against a backdrop of increasing global competition, the continued commitment towards aerospace R&D is significant. These measures will provide a boost to continued investment in innovation and advanced manufacturing in the UK, in turn securing the future advantage of our industry.

    Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK said:

    A battery strategy is very welcome and much needed. Having a joined-up battery plan in place will be critical for the UK economy to benefit fully from new technological opportunities going forward, and we must ensure that manufacturing involves the entire supply chain, right from design to manufacturing and recycling, closely connecting car and battery industries.

    Recycling will also be very important to recover those critical materials that are essential for the low-carbon economy, and this joined up Advanced Manufacturing Plan will help deliver better coordination across the whole of the clean energy sectors.   > Make UK and industry will continue to work with the government on the practicalities of this plan, including how to incorporate manufacturing supply chains. These supply chains have a key role in supplying components and services for clean energy in the future low-carbon economy and we must ensure that the full potential is delivered to enable our companies to compete on the global stage.

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

    If we are to seize the enormous potential for advanced manufacturing to create jobs and grow the economy in every part of the UK, it is critical that we support our brightest minds in turning brilliant ideas into marketable products, and even entire businesses.

    The £61 million investment we are making in battery R&D will help UK manufacturers grow this burgeoning industry, by ensuring they can access the skills, infrastructure and early investment that they need to flourish.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Up to £600 winter support for pensioners arriving in bank accounts [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Up to £600 winter support for pensioners arriving in bank accounts [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 25 November 2023.

    Payments of up to £600 are landing directly in the bank accounts of around 11.5 million UK pensioners for the second year running.

    • Comes as part of extensive Government package helping people of all ages, including recent £300 Cost of Living payments to more than seven million eligible households.
    • After meeting our pledge to halve inflation, the Government this week also confirmed an 8.5 percent increase to the State Pension next year.

    Pensioners across the country have started to receive up to £600 to help with energy bills this winter.

    Winter Fuel Payments – boosted again this year by an additional £300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment – will land in bank accounts over the next two months, the vast majority automatically.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said:

    We have delivered on our promise to halve inflation and will continue to support people right across the country, including pensioners who may be facing particular challenges over the colder months.

    As well as up to £600 to help our pensioners stay warm this winter, we’re boosting pensions through the Triple Lock – increasing the full rate of the New State Pension by over £900 next year.

    The money will appear in bank statements with the payment reference starting with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’ for people in Great Britain, or ‘DFC WFP’ for people in Northern Ireland.

    The overwhelming majority of Winter Fuel Payments are paid automatically but some people need to make a claim, such as those who qualify but do not receive benefits or the State Pension and have never previously received a Winter Fuel Payment. The payments deliver additional support to pensioners, the majority of whom are on fixed incomes and also are unable to raise their incomes through fixed employment.

    The start of the Winter Fuel Payments season comes hot on the heels of the recent £300 Cost of Living payments made by the DWP to more than seven million eligible households across the UK.

    This latest payment is the second of up to three Cost of Living Payments being made this financial year. These payments – which are all tax-free and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards – demonstrate the Government’s commitment to supporting low-income families with financial pressures.

    Pensioners getting Pension Credit also qualify for this extra support. The average Pension Credit award is now worth £3,900 per year and there is still time for those who are eligible to apply and receive the £300 Cost of Living payment.

    This is because an eligible claim for Pension Credit can be backdated by three months provided the entitlement conditions are met throughout that time.

    Including measures announced in the Autumn Statement this week, our total commitment to ease cost of living pressures has risen to £104 billion. That includes paying around half the cost of the average energy bill since last October and amounts to an average of £3,700 per household.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Environment Secretary Steve Barclay – UK stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine to protect global food security [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Environment Secretary Steve Barclay – UK stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine to protect global food security [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 November 2023.

    Environment Secretary addresses Kyiv conference and announces further support for Ukraine food security initiatives.

    Environment Secretary Steve Barclay set out a package of support for Ukraine while addressing the international community at the Kyiv International Summit: Grain from Ukraine today – showing the UK’s solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unprovoked assault.

    In his video address to the conference, the Secretary of State reaffirmed the UK’s support for President Zelenskyy’s Grain from Ukraine initiative, with £3 million of additional funding to enable shipments of Ukrainian grain to Nigeria in 2024, coordinated through the World Food Programme. This follows £5 million that the UK contributed to the initiative in 2022, which facilitated lifesaving grain shipments to Kenya.

    The event comes on the day Ukraine marks Holodomor Memorial Day – the famine caused by the Soviet government forcibly seizing grain and other food from Ukrainians in 1932-33 leading to the deaths of at least 3.9 million people.

    After tearing up the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia destroyed over 280,000 tonnes of grain in one month, which could have fed over 1.25 million people for a year. In the face of these relentless and targeted attacks on ports and grain infrastructure, the initiative ensures Ukrainian grain still reaches those most in need while protecting global food security, keeping prices down and strengthening markets.

    Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    From our government to our farmers, our solidarity with the people of Ukraine remains cast iron. The UK is committed to ensuring Ukraine can continue to export grain to those most in need.

    I am also proud we will be able to share the UK and Defra’s expertise to help Ukraine’s farmland and nature recover from the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka Dam and the impact of the conflict.

    Environment Secretary Steve Barclay also updated the conference on the development of our Grain Verification Scheme, which is being backed with £2 million in UK funding. The scheme will use cutting edge science to determine where grain has been grown and harvested – supporting Ukraine’s efforts to trace and stop theft of grain from occupied regions. Further information on the scheme will be unveiled early next year.

    Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has also had a disastrous impact on Ukraine’s natural environment. During his speech, the Secretary of State noted the UK’s support to help restore contaminated agricultural land and nature in Ukraine that have been devastated from both flooding and conflict. This includes in June when the Environment Agency provided £16 million of flood equipment, including pumps and temporary barriers, following the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam which led to widespread flooding and damage.

    As part of the Grain from Ukraine programme, Ukraine has sent 170 thousand tonnes of grain to countries experiencing the greatest food insecurity, including Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen. The programme is planned to be expanded to other countries in need with the UK providing a further £3 million, which was previously announced by the Prime Minister at the G20 Summit, to fund a shipment of Ukrainian grain to Nigeria.

    The Kyiv International Summit: Grain from Ukraine brought together more than 60 leaders of countries and organisations, covering strengthening Ukraine’s humanitarian role with global food security, expanding the Grain from Ukraine initiative, both in terms of funding and recipient countries, encouraging business involvement in the initiative, coordinating activity to end blockage of and attacks on Black Sea ports by Russia.