UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : The United Kingdom will continue to offer honest and reliable development support around the world – UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The United Kingdom will continue to offer honest and reliable development support around the world – UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 November 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on peace through common development.

    Thank you, President. I am grateful to China for convening this meeting and to all our briefers for framing the challenge.

    As the Secretary-General reminded us, development, peace and security, and human rights, are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. Conflict is an obstacle to sustainable development. A lack of development can drive fragility and insecurity. Breaking this cycle is one of the biggest challenges we face.

    The United Kingdom is committed to development partnerships founded on mutual respect that support national efforts to reduce poverty and instability. Today, my Government launched an ambitious new international development ‘White Paper,’ setting out the re-energised agenda for the UK to work with partners and accelerate progress towards the SDGs.

    Under this new framework, we will champion action to address conflict and fragility and to build resilience. Crucial to this, we will be standing up for the values of open and inclusive societies, and promoting gender equality.

    We are already working with partners around the world to do just that. In Somalia, we are supporting community reconciliation in areas recovered from al-Shabaab. From Ethiopia to Colombia to Myanmar, the United Kingdom is working for sustainable development and peace, bilaterally and with our partners.

    President, there are profound risks when development efforts are not undertaken with great care. To sustain peace, we need to identify and address risk factors, such as horizontal inequality and discrimination, and strengthen protective factors that mitigate risks.

    As a decades-long international development player, the United Kingdom has learnt that effective prevention efforts engage multiple stakeholders, at all levels, in multi-sector responses.

    At the UN, this means working better ‘across pillars’, and in the institutions of peacekeeping, peacebuilding and development. And with partners such as the World Bank. It also means using holistic analysis to generate integrated solutions that get at the root causes of conflict and violence and establish sustainable development on strong foundations.

    President, The United Kingdom will continue to offer honest and reliable development support around the world. We will support work to tackle climate change and other issues that threaten development and peace. And we will take a patient, smart, and long-term approach with partner governments to put in place the institutions and policies that can bring about long-term peace and resilience.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : World Children Day – Joint Statement by Group of Friends for CAAC in Ukraine [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : World Children Day – Joint Statement by Group of Friends for CAAC in Ukraine [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 November 2023.

    On World Children’s Day, the Ukraine Group of Friends for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) raises the devastating effects of Russia’s war of aggression on the children of Ukraine.

    The Group of Friends – active since July 2023 – has been listening as we are presented with the dire reality of children during this war. Today, we want to draw attention to this reality, speaking on behalf of children who do not have a voice as a result of Russia’s aggression.

    We are appalled by persistently high levels of killing and maiming of children. We are dismayed that almost 3,800 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed.

    Schools are under a constant threat of Russian attacks. With limited shelters in schools, children often cannot physically attend class. Frequent power cuts also lead to children not being able to study online. And, in the Ukrainian territories, temporarily occupied by Russia, students are taught Russian-imposed curriculums and are not allowed to learn in Ukrainian.

    We applaud Ukraine for endorsing the Safe Schools Declaration, which notes that every child has the right to education without fear of violence or attack. We therefore welcome the fact that over 95 percent of students are registered in the school system – a significant achievement during wartime.

    We vehemently condemn the large-scale, illegal forced transfer and deportation of children to Russia or temporarily occupied territories within Ukraine. We take note of and are following the arrest warrants for Russian President Putin and Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova issued by the International Criminal Court. We urgently call on the Russian Federation to return Ukraine’s children. All violations of human rights and international humanitarian law against children must be investigated and perpetrators must be held accountable.

    Children’s whereabouts need to be established and effective communication with guardians facilitated. Children need to be informed that Russian propaganda is false and that they are wanted back home. We commend those who have facilitated returns and we support further efforts to return more children.

    War leaves profound physical and psychological scars. Children should receive long-term, survivor-centered and gender-responsive recovery and rehabilitation that includes mental health and trauma support and care for children with disabilities. To this end, we welcome Ukraine’s focus on family-based care.

    The Group of Friends will remain engaged on child protection issues and will continue to advocate that they stay on relevant agendas, with a focus on the best interests of the child.

    We stand with Ukraine as it protects its future generations.

    Embassy of Austria to Ukraine

    Embassy of Belgium to Ukraine

    Embassy of Canada to Ukraine

    Embassy of Chile to Ukraine

    Embassy of Denmark to Ukraine

    Embassy of Estonia to Ukraine

    Embassy of Finland to Ukraine

    Embassy of France to Ukraine

    Embassy of Germany to Ukraine

    Embassy of Ireland to Ukraine

    Embassy of Italy to Ukraine

    Embassy of Japan to Ukraine

    Embassy of Latvia to Ukraine

    Embassy of Lithuania to Ukraine

    Embassy of the Netherlands to Ukraine

    Embassy of Norway to Ukraine

    Embassy of Poland to Ukraine

    Embassy of Romania to Ukraine

    Embassy of Slovenia to Ukraine

    Embassy of Spain to Ukraine

    Embassy of Sweden to Ukraine

    Embassy of Switzerland to Ukraine

    Embassy of the United Kingdom to Ukraine

    Embassy of the United States of America to Ukraine

    Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK’s agri-food and drink attachés backing British food and drink [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK’s agri-food and drink attachés backing British food and drink [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 November 2023.

    The UK’s agri-food and drink attachés were welcomed to 10 Downing Street this morning, marking the start of a week meeting ministers and the nation’s food producers.

    The eleven attachés based in British embassies and consulates around the world – in Canada, Mexico, USA, Brazil, Kenya, The Gulf, India, Japan, China, Thailand and Vietnam – work to remove trade barriers, identify emerging international markets and tap into growing demand worldwide for quality goods from UK farmers and producers.

    In 2023 alone, the attachés have supported the government in resolving 42 agri-food barriers worth an estimated £340 million per year, with 141 new market access agreements delivered since 2020. Their recent successes include securing market access for poultry to Tunisia, sheep embryos to the USA, pork to Chile, trout ova to China and pet food to South Korea.

    This week they will tour the UK, from meeting with producers of whisky and seafood in Scotland to visiting egg farms and meat processors in Shropshire. The attachés will gain first-hand experience of food production and deepen their understanding of the farmers and producers whose interests they represent overseas.

    Secretary of State for Food and Farming Steve Barclay said:

    Backing British farmers is one of my priorities at Defra and our attachés do vital work to ensure they get the best possible deals to export their world-class produce.

    We are expanding the attaché network even further next year, so that our excellent food and drink can continue to reach all corners of the globe.

    While in the UK, the attachés will meet with Food and Farming Minister Mark Spencer and attend an industry brunch hosted by NFU President Minette Batters, in addition to further meetings with the Scotch Whisky Association, Seafood Scotland, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the Food and Drink Export Council.

    The week provides an opportunity for the attachés to build their relationships with these key stakeholders and share learnings and insights with each other.

    Food and Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

    I look forward to meeting with our agri-food attachés in Westminster this week and thanking them for the brilliant work they do on behalf of our farmers and food producers.

    The best of British food and drink is now being enjoyed around the world, from Canada to Vietnam – in part thanks to their skilled negotiating and dedication to seeking out new export opportunities.

    Minister for Exports Lord Offord said:

    Growing the agri, food and drink sector is key to boosting our economy and will be vital in our race to reach £1 trillion of exports by 2030.

    Thanks to the work of our agri-food attachés, we’re helping more businesses break into new markets and benefit from exciting new opportunities across the world.

    Defra’s agri-food attaché for Africa said:

    Africa is poised to be one of the world’s biggest global consumer markets, with a growing middle class and a keen appetite for UK products.

    I am thrilled to take part in the attaché engagement week and look forward to meeting with farmers and food producers to discuss how I can help send Scottish salmon to Morocco, whisky to Kenya, poultry to West and Central Africa, and renowned British confectionary to Egypt.

    At the Prime Minister’s Farm to Fork Summit in May, it was announced that five additional attachés would be recruited to expand the network further – attachés covering the regions of Australia and New Zealand; North Europe; South Europe; South Korea and an additional attaché in Africa are expected to be in post by May 2024.

    NFU President Minette Batters said:

    Agri-food attachés play a vital role in delivering our shared ambition of boosting high-quality, climate-friendly British exports abroad which is why we campaigned to grow their number. I’m delighted this network has increased in recent months and I hope it will continue given the incredibly important work they do.

    I look forward to working directly with the attachés this week to share the passion and knowledge within our sector, and ultimately help give them the tools to be the best ambassadors possible for great British produce overseas.

    Dr Phil Hadley, AHDB International Trade Development Director, said:

    We are delighted to play a part in hosting the visit of the government’s agri-food attachés. AHDB recognises the valuable role they play in helping drive export growth. We applaud the government’s continued efforts to expand the agri-food attaché network further to maximise opportunities for our products in global markets.

    One of AHDB’s key strategic objectives is export development, working collaboratively with industry and government, to cultivate further opportunities for our red meat and dairy sectors. The visit of the agri-food attachés will help cement our shared ambition to continue delivering export growth for our high-quality produce.

    Donna Fordyce, CEO of Seafood Scotland said:

    The attachés will visit a Bakkafrost salmon farm, which will include a boat trip to see the pens and discover how the fish are carefully reared in a healthy environment.  Scotland’s aquaculture sector is of great importance to our nation’s economy and we are proud to showcase best practice in action.

    This is a fantastic opportunity for the industry – and us – to engage with attachés from around the world, who each do so much to support our sector with market access and development opportunities.

    Ian McKendrick, International Director at the Scotch Whisky Association, said:

    Supporting our member companies to reduce and remove barriers to trade in established and emerging markets is a key priority, and we work closely with the agri-food and drink attachés and DEFRA to secure the best possible international environment for Scotch Whisky.

    The placement of attachés in key markets around the world, means their input, analysis and market intelligence is a vital channel of information for the industry.

    We are pleased to be able to host them on a fact-finding mission to Scotland, so they can deepen their knowledge of Scotch Whisky and the industry’s priorities so they are better able to speak with authority on issues which impact the industry, and help drive export growth.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £1 billion boost for levelling up – government backs 55 transformational local projects across the UK [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £1 billion boost for levelling up – government backs 55 transformational local projects across the UK [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 20 November 2023.

    55 local projects awarded share of nearly £1 billion from Round 3 of government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund, to spread opportunity, create jobs and revitalise local communities.

    New levelling up funding will provide a major boost to high streets and improve transport links with £1 billion awarded today to 55 transformational projects in communities across the UK.

    These include upgrades for the fishing sector and sustainable jobs in Torbay, breathing new life into treasured heritage and culture buildings in three former mining communities in Doncaster and essential funding needed to transform Blackpool town centre’s transport network.

    As part of this, £150 million will be allocated to develop better transport links across the country with £825 million to kick-start regeneration in town centres. This will create new jobs and opportunities, power economic growth and revitalise communities.

    Levelling up Secretary Michael Gove said:

    Levelling up means delivering local people’s priorities and bringing transformational change in communities that have, for too long, been overlooked and undervalued.

    Today we are backing 55 projects across the UK with £1 billion to create new jobs and opportunities, power economic growth, and revitalise local areas.

    This funding sits alongside our wider initiatives to spread growth, through devolving more money and power out of Westminster to towns and cities, putting in place bespoke interventions to places that need it most, and our Long-Term Plan for Towns.

    Funding is spread across all corners of Great Britain, with the North West receiving £128 million, the North East £59 million, Yorkshire and the Humber £169 million and the Midlands £171 million in total.

    The government has drawn on the impressive pool of bids which narrowly missed out on funding in round two but were assessed as high-quality and able to deliver quickly.

    It is testament to how many excellent projects have been submitted, and championed by local MPs and councillors, that this round of funding was awarded within the pool of previously submitted bids.

    This will drive forward the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by levelling up and provide the foundations for building a better future in communities across the UK.

    Since 2021, the Levelling Up Fund has helped drive prosperity and pride in place in communities across the UK. Across the first two rounds of the Levelling Up Fund, £3.8 billion has been awarded to 216 projects which are underway.

    For example, with the support of £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund round one, the Bolton College of Medical Science plans to welcome students from September 2024, providing a new facility to support young people in Bolton and attract talent from outside the town.

    And in Portsmouth, a brand new, carbon neutral ferry terminal was opened earlier this year as part of money from round one of the fund, which will provide a significant economic boost by helping the International Port to manage an additional 250,000 passengers a year.

    Today’s announcement follows the £1 billion Long-Term Plan for Towns unveiled last month, to empower communities across the UK to take back control of their future through local priorities; reviving high streets, tackling anti-social behaviour, improving transport and growing the local economy.

    This commitment to towns follows other initiatives designed to support towns, including driving economic growth in 101 areas through the Towns Fund, and the £1 billion Future High Streets Fund, which is creating thriving high streets.

    Further information

    The government has drawn on the impressive pool of bids submitted at round two which we were not able to fund earlier in the year but were assessed as high-quality and able to deliver quickly. We will work closely with local authorities to ensure that the projects allocated funding can make a difference to communities as quickly as possible.

    The full list of projects is available to view online here

    We have targeted funding at the places most in need across Great Britain, as assessed through our Levelling Up Needs metrics, which take into account a wide array of metrics including skills, pay, productivity and health. We have also taken care to ensure that every part of Great Britain benefits from this round of funding. A full methodology note has been published.

    In Northern Ireland, given the current absence of a working Executive and Assembly, the Government is not proceeding with this round of the Levelling Up Fund at this time. We will continue to work closely with projects and places in Northern Ireland that were awarded a total of £120 million in the first two rounds of the Fund.

    Levelling up commitments

    Today’s allocations also come on top of significant action already taken by the government to level up communities across the country. This includes opening 12 Freeports, signing 5 devolution deals, connecting 740,000 homes and business with gigabit broadband, and helping 195 community groups take ownership of their cherished pubs, clubs and local landmarks at risk of closure.

    Town Deals have been providing funding of up £25 million, to 101 towns in order to boost local economies outside of big cities and deliver vital infrastructure. Projects are now in delivery and the funding has already boosted towns centres and local high streets.

    The government also announced last month that 55 towns will be given £20 million endowment-style funds each over 10 years to invest in local people’s priorities through the Long-term Plan for Towns.

    Revitalising towns and cities

    In this round of the Levelling Up Fund, over £825 million from round three is being provided to regenerate towns and cities in nearly 50 projects, helping boost high streets and grow local businesses.

    Pembrokeshire will see over £10.5 million to improve public accessibility across Pembroke town, focusing on Westgate, Eastgate and overall improvements to the environment.

    In South Tyneside, £20 million will be given to South Shields Riverside to be used for three projects. This includes the redevelopment of the Grade II listed Customs House cultural hub, a ground-breaking Centre for Excellence at the Holborn Renewable Energy Network and accommodation as part of the relocation of South Tyneside College.

    Billingham Town Centre in Stockton-on-Tees will be receiving £20 million to create a vibrant, modern town centre that safeguards its retail businesses and levels up its high street.      The town of Elgin in Scotland will receive £18 million to transform it into an urban hub and help the region attract and retain high productivity businesses.

    £150 million from the Levelling Up Fund has been allocated to eight projects across the United Kingdom to improve transport links. All of these projects are in Levelling Up Priority Places.

    This includes £48 million for major upgrades to the Penistone line in Yorkshire to help reliability of rail travel between Sheffield and Huddersfield. The funding will also help provide enhanced station facilities such as electric vehicle charging points, car clubs, cycle hire and parcel delivery lockers.

    Scotland will receive £13.8 million in levelling up funding to improve transport connectivity in Dumfries and Galloway, including new EV charging for cars, electric buses and charging infrastructure, cycle route improvements, and new transport hubs in five towns in the region.

    The Isle of Wight will get £13.6 million to deliver the Island Green Link, providing cycle and walking infrastructure extending from Ryde in the East to Yarmouth in the west of the island. This will help residents and visitors to get across the island and will unlock potential for new housing and jobs.

    Delivering for the North

    19 projects across the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber will be receiving a total of £356 million in levelling up funding, almost a third of the allocations provided in total in this round.

    Known for its history in textiles such as wool and cotton processing, Keighley in Yorkshire will be receiving £19.8 million to boost its strong manufacturing heritage. Levelling up funding will contribute towards a new Advanced Robotics and Engineering Institute to support the expansion of the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry.

    £15.4 million will transform Blackpool town centre, improving traffic flow, access to public transport, and infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.

    In Newcastle Upon Tyne, £19.4 million of funding to create a restoration facility, aimed at sustaining the use of the river and access to quays to support economic activities, unlock hundreds of new jobs, meet the needs of the offshore energy sector and increased international trade.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Vision for the future of civil and family courts and tribunals [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Vision for the future of civil and family courts and tribunals [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 20 November 2023.

    Today the Lord Chancellor and senior judiciary launch a shared vision for the future of the civil and family courts and tribunals system.

    People rely on our civil, family and tribunals justice system to protect and enforce their rights. This applies to  individuals with complex needs grappling with debt and housing issues, and to business owners who need to navigate complicated contractual disputes.

    We want to make it easier for people experiencing legal problems to access high quality information and support at the right time and in the right way. This will allow them to understand their options and to take the right steps to prevent their problems from escalating. We will use advances in technology to support delivery of this, including exploring safe and appropriate uses of AI.

    We want to enable people to resolve their problems earlier and at less cost, for example through mediation or online dispute resolution. They should be safe in the knowledge that if this is not successful, it will be straightforward to take the next step of seeking judicial determination through the courts or tribunals. We will encourage and build online and offline connections between different parts of the system to achieve solutions.

    Providing a joined-up process will require the effective and safe transfer of people’s data. We have established the Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC) to provide governance and develop data standards for the system. We will support the OPRC to embed these standards with the third and private sector organisations that deliver information, support and dispute resolution services.

    This is a broad and ambitious vision for the future of civil, family and tribunals justice. And we will only deliver it working together with stakeholders across the system. With this collaboration, we will ensure that our justice system supports people from the earliest point they begin to experience a legal problem. It will provide people with the right information and support to understand all their options. It will empower them to resolve their problem in a way that meets their needs and is proportionate to the matter in dispute. A judicial determination provided through our courts and tribunals will always available where necessary.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Culture Secretary and creative industries to discuss AI [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Culture Secretary and creative industries to discuss AI [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 20 November 2023.

    Culture Secretary brings creative industries together to discuss impact of AI.

    • Music, film and publishing bosses among industry leaders meeting with Lucy Frazer to discuss the impact of AI on creative industries
    • Roundtable will focus on how government and industry can address the risks AI poses to artists’ intellectual property and explore how AI can help grow the sector, supporting jobs and talent
    • Attendees include Warner Music, Universal, Getty Images and visual effects studio Framestore

    The future of artificial intelligence in film, music and television will be discussed today (Monday 20 November 2023) at a roundtable led by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer and attended by key figures in the creative industries.

    Senior bosses from the UK’s creative sectors – such as Warner Music, Getty Images and the Publishers’ Association – will join representatives from the Intellectual Property Office and Creators’ Rights Alliance to explore the opportunities and challenges AI presents to creative industries.

    Central to the discussion will be concerns about copyrighted material being used without permission to train AI models like ChatGPT, and the risk that content created by AI can potentially infringe creative’s intellectual property. The meeting is also expected to cover necessary protections for artists’ likenesses and voices.

    The conversations will also consider how AI can be used positively to achieve the goals set out in the Government’s Creative Industries Sector Vision to boost these industries by £50 billion, create one million extra jobs, and build a pipeline of future talent by 2030. Further AI adoption can allow artists to perform in new ways, like ABBA Voyage which brings together avatars and a live band. AI can also streamline experimentation, generating new edits of songs or footage in minutes which would usually take creators hours. Increasing creativity and productivity can drive further growth in these industries, which contribute £108 billion to the economy annually.

    Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

    The UK’s strengths and accomplishments in art and entertainment mean we are well placed to take advantage of developing technologies in this field. But creatives rightly have concerns – and proposals – about how their work is used by artificial intelligence now and in the future, and I want to hear them.

    As Culture Secretary I want to maximise the potential of our creative industries and grow them by £50 billion by 2030, creating one million new jobs. I believe that AI can help delivering these goals, but only if opportunities are developed responsibly and in lock-step with industry, which is the ambition behind today’s meeting.

    The meetings follow the publication of the AI Regulation White Paper, which set out the UK’s context-based, pro-innovation approach for the regulation of AI, and are part of a wider sector engagement plan for the government to understand how this revolutionary technology impacts different industries.

    The meetings will cover the Intellectual Property Office’s work to develop a new code of practice, aiming to ensure appropriate protections for copyright material while making content licences to develop AI models more available.

    Notes to editors

    The discussion points raised in the meetings will be carefully considered and engagement with the sector is ongoing.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Landmark deal to boost nation’s health and save NHS £14 billion [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Landmark deal to boost nation’s health and save NHS £14 billion [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 20 November 2023.

    New voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth (VPAG) will boost nation’s health, save NHS £14 billion and support research investment.

    • Deal agreed by government, NHS England and pharmaceutical industry will improve access to cutting-edge treatments for NHS patients, support financial sustainability of the health service and advance UK life sciences sector
    • Pro-innovation and pro-competition agreement will introduce a new mechanism to support lower industry payment rates for more innovative and pioneering branded medicines
    • Significant industry investment in UK clinical trials, manufacturing and health technology assessments strengthens UK’s global competitiveness

    A landmark deal has been agreed that is set to save the NHS £14 billion over 5 years in medicines costs, enable patients to access the latest lifesaving treatments more consistently and boost the UK’s position as a global superpower in advanced healthcare, technology and clinical research.

    The new deal secures savings for the taxpayer-funded health service that are double those under the current medicine pricing agreement, which expires at the end of this year.

    The agreement will save billions more pounds that can be used to provide the best possible treatment and care for NHS patients, grow the workforce and cut waiting lists – one of the Prime Minister’s 5 priorities.

    The voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth (VPAG) has been agreed by the government, NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and will run for 5 years until 31 December 2028.

    As well as helping to keep the price of vital branded medicines affordable for the NHS and fair for taxpayers, the deal will help to ensure the NHS can continue to improve the speed it secures and adopts the newest treatments.

    An additional £400 million of life sciences investment by industry will accelerate work on clinical trials, manufacturing and in health technology assessments agencies, encouraging UK economic growth, collaboration and innovation in the sector.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said:

    Millions of NHS patients will benefit from this momentous, UK-wide agreement.

    Not only will it save the health service billions of pounds every year, it will allow more patients to quickly access the latest life-saving medicines and treatments.

    This deal will also ensure the UK remains a world leader in driving forward innovative healthcare while boosting our economy, with hundreds of millions of pounds invested in vital research, clinical trials and manufacturing.

    Medicines represent the second highest proportion of NHS spend, worth £19.2 billion in England in the 2022 to 2023 financial year. Fourteen billion pounds of this was branded, with the industry paying the NHS back £2 billion in rebates that year. This agreement, however, sets a yearly cap on the total allowed sales value of branded medicines to the NHS each year. Sales above the cap are paid back to the government via a levy.

    The level of annual allowed growth in sales of branded medicines will double from 2% in 2024 to 4% by 2027.

    The agreement also introduces a new affordability mechanism for older medicines. Older medicines which have not seen price reductions, will have to pay a top-up rate of up to 25% in addition to the older medicines base rate of 10%. The top-up tapers down for older medicines that have already seen significant price reductions, ensuring we recognise when competition has worked effectively to makes savings for the NHS.

    The income from this mechanism will support lower payment rates for more innovative medicines, making the agreement explicitly pro-innovation and pro-competition.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

    This landmark agreement will not only save the NHS money, but help patients get access to the very best medicines and treatments for years to come. With significant new industry investment in research, clinical trials and manufacturing, this deal will bolster Britain’s position as the largest life sciences hub in Europe and support a sector so critical to our country’s health, wealth and resilience.

    Under the agreement which comes into force in 2024, the pharmaceutical industry will also invest £400 million over 5 years through the Life Sciences Investment Programme to drive forward UK innovation, sustainability and growth. The programme will be ringfenced to support work in:

    1. Pioneering clinical trials – bolstering the NHS’s capacity to deliver commercial clinical research.
    2. Manufacturing – positioning the UK at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing by driving innovative advancements in environmental technologies and cultivating strategic partnerships.
    3. Innovative health technology assessments – supporting access to innovative medicines by developing novel approaches to health technology assessment challenges.

    This comes as the government committed to £520 million for life sciences manufacturing to build resilience for future health emergencies and capitalise on the UK’s world-leading research and development.

    The programme will be targeted on improving clinical research, manufacturing and the value assessment of new medicines across the 4 nations and will attract more investment to the UK – delivering a net benefit to the economy overall.

    For over 65 years the government and the pharmaceutical industry have worked together to help manage the affordability of medicines for the NHS and ensure rapid access and uptake of new medicines for patients, while also supporting the UK’s life sciences sector so that it can continue to deliver new innovations and economic growth.

    Robert Kettell, NHS England’s Director of Medicines Negotiation and Managed Access, who led day-to-day negotiations:

    This 5-year agreement will enable NHS England to build on our track record of securing innovative, life-changing treatments for millions of patients across the country at a fair price for taxpayers.

    In leading the negotiations, I was clear that any deal had to enable patients to have rapid access to cutting-edge medicines and incentivise the medical research that will provide the treatments of tomorrow. I am confident this agreement delivers these aims.

    To ensure NHS patients across the country can continue to rapidly access innovative medicines, the new agreement highlights how the government, the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry will commit to piloting new approaches for paying for ground-breaking advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), such as personalised cancer therapies and life-saving ‘one shot’ gene therapies.

    This new approach to ATMPs will build on the NHS track record of using its commercial capabilities to secure cutting-edge treatments for patients and deliver innovative medicines access and uptake programmes.

    Earlier this month, NHS England announced that expanding and accelerating uptake of anticoagulant drugs had prevented 4,000 deaths and an estimated 17,000 strokes over the past 18 months.

    During the period of the current VPAS (voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access) agreement, the NHS has also led the world in the development of commercial incentives to tackle antimicrobial resistance and more recently the world-first rollout of a cancer jab that cuts patient treatment time by 75%, to as little as 7 minutes.

    Richard Torbett, Chief Executive at the ABPI, said:

    This is a tough deal which underlines the essential role innovative medicines and vaccines will play in addressing the health challenges of the future. The industry supports this agreement, despite its restrictions, as it provides important support for patients and the NHS and commits to giving them access to the transformative treatments they need.

    Allowing the sector to grow faster than it has under the previous scheme should increase the UK’s international competitiveness over time. Importantly, it also recognises the pressing need to invest more in building NHS capacity to partner with industry on science and research to support innovation and economic growth.

    The deal includes exciting commitments that will see NHS England establish a data driven approach to the use of medicines across the NHS, ensuring the latest medicines are reaching patients with the highest need as quickly as possible; supporting wider commitments to reduce health inequalities. The development of a local formulary national minimum dataset will provide a tool to address variation in the implementation of NICE guidance to improve equity in access to clinically and cost-effective treatments.

    The agreement also details how NHS England will work with companies to create a new patient support programme (PSP) database to encourage local NHS services to partner with manufacturers and encourage the wider use of novel approaches to patient support post treatment.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Boost for UK’s life sciences sector as West Yorkshire hosts England’s third Investment Zone [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Boost for UK’s life sciences sector as West Yorkshire hosts England’s third Investment Zone [November 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 20 November 2023.

    The government has today (20 November) launched England’s third Investment Zone in West Yorkshire focussed on Huddersfield, Bradford and Leeds, which will help to create more than 2,500 new jobs across the region over the next five years, and could unlock £220 million in investment.

    • West Yorkshire’s new Investment Zone focused on Huddersfield, Bradford and Leeds could create more than 2,500 new jobs over five years across the region and unlock over £220 million of investment.
    • Initial investment from a health tech company that supports patients to minimize hair loss during chemotherapy.
    • Chancellor to extend the programme of Investment Zones from five to 10 years and double the envelope of funding and tax reliefs on offer.

    The Chancellor is also confirming the Investment Zones programme in England will be extended from five to 10 years, with the envelope of government funding and tax reliefs on offer now doubled to £160 million.

    Growing the economy and making the long-term decisions to deliver the change the country needs is a priority for the Prime Minister. The announcements today are part of wider plans expected in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement this week where he will reveal reforms to reignite growth by unlocking more private investment and getting people back into work.

    West Yorkshire will host one of 12 Investment Zones across the UK. It’s based around the region’s universities in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield and the cluster of life sciences businesses thriving in the area.

    This includes the pioneering health tech company, Paxman Scalp Cooling, which supports patients to minimise hair loss during chemotherapy by manufacturing specialist hair caps. It is investing £5 million to bring their innovative health tech products to global markets and alongside it, the digital healthcare company Dedalus is investing £21 million to deliver digital and diagnostic tools for the NHS.

    As a result of the Investment Zone, revamped sites specialising in health tech and digital will open up around West Yorkshire, unlocking over 2,500 jobs and over £220 million of investment across the region over the next five years.

    This can be used flexibly between spending on interventions such as skills, research and development and local infrastructure, dependent on local need, and tax incentives such as 100% Stamp Duty Land Tax relief, an enhanced structures and buildings allowance at a rate of 10% per annum, an enhanced 100% first-year capital allowance, employer National Insurance Contributions relief, and 100% business rates relief.

    Alongside this, the window to claim Freeport tax reliefs in England will be extended from five to ten years until September 2031, providing greater certainty to businesses looking to invest, delivering growth and jobs, and levelling up the economy.

    The UK Government will work with the Scottish and Welsh governments with the intention of delivering the same extension to Investment Zones and Freeports in Scotland and Wales and will continue to work with stakeholders on how best to support investment in Northern Ireland.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

    “We are changing our country for the long term, driving economic growth across all corners of the UK.

    “It will mean thousands more jobs in the exciting industries of the future backed up by better infrastructure, and communities to be proud of.”

    The Chancellor launched West Yorkshire’s Investment Zone alongside West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin at Paxman Cooling where they met executives and discussed the future growth of the company.

    West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said:

    “We know that devolution is working for West Yorkshire and this new investment zone is further recognition of that from the government.

    “Home to NHS England, our region’s digital and health tech businesses are driving forward innovation and transforming the lives of patients world-wide.

    “This investment is a massive vote of confidence in our top-tier universities and talented graduates and will help our mission to build a stronger, brighter region that works for all.”

    The West Yorkshire Life Sciences Investment Zone will benefit from a range of interventions which include skills training and business support to encourage more business investment. The plan will boost innovation in the area’s thriving healthcare sector and create a talent pipeline at the forefront of technological advances.

    Richard Paxman OBE, CEO of Paxman Scalp Cooling, said:

    “This news is incredibly exciting for the region and our health tech sector, and will only further attract investment in a sector that changes lives and makes a real impact commercially and socially.

    “Paxman has invested significantly in the region over the past 5 years, attracting over £10 million of foreign direct investment. Now, we are more committed than ever before in increasing our presence and investment in Huddersfield – providing further employment growth and delivering additional investment in research and development.”

    Daryll Goodall, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Dedalus, said:

    “We are delighted to be a key part of the West Yorkshire Investment Zone. As a Global Healthcare company, Dedalus work closely with local Universities and Hospital Trusts in the West Yorkshire area to help bring new products from Europe to the UK healthcare market, and using our team in Leeds we develop products specifically for the UK.

    “We are excited about the future, having the opportunity to implement our ORBIS electronic patient record (EPR) in the UK, and continuing to develop local healthcare applications like OneResponse, a mobile EPR for ambulance services in the UK, and PatientAide, a mobile app for clinicians providing them with access to key services and patient information.”

    John Naybour, CEO of Eventum Orthopaedics, said:

    “With £4.5 million raised so far, including investment from the Northern Powerhouse, Eventum is celebrating the successful launch of Quadsense, a groundbreaking product developed with invaluable support from the Universities of Leeds and Bradford.

    “Recognized as the new frontier in total knee surgery at the American Association of Knee and Hip Surgeons, Quadsense has attracted huge interest in the global orthopaedic community, and has set the benchmark for our second innovative product which we are developing in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University.”

    Businesses set to benefit from the investment zone include health tech companies like Eventum Orthopaedics, which works to improves patients’ experience of knee surgeries and is setting up 5 major orthopaedic hospitals in the UK, as they look to expand to markets in the US and New Zealand.

    The government will continue to work with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and local authorities to co-develop the plans for their Life Sciences Investment Zone, including agreeing specific interventions to drive long-term growth, ahead of final confirmation of plans.

    With over 600 life sciences companies, 250 MedTech firms and over 90 digital health enterprises, West Yorkshire is a place where ideas come to fruition and innovative products and solutions are tested, embedded and scaled locally and internationally.

    Building on this strength, the region’s Investment Zone includes four universities and is part of the government’s vision to drive growth in the sectors of the future including advanced manufacturing, green industries, digital and technology.

    At Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced eight places in England as eligible to host an Investment Zone. Each was invited to identify an Investment Zone that offered an imaginative partnership between local government and a university or research institute in a way that catalyses emerging innovation clusters.

    Five more Investment Zones are still to be announced in England – ensuring that there are engines for growth and opportunities for talented people across the country.

    Today’s news follows the first Advanced Manufacturing Investment Zone in South Yorkshire, announced in July, which has backing from Boeing and partners with an investment worth over £80 million. Liverpool City Region was also confirmed as being England’s second Investment Zone, focussed on Life Sciences.

    There will also be two Investment Zones in Scotland, in the Glasgow City Region and the North East of Scotland. Work is ongoing between Scottish Government and the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities to commence the development of these Investment Zones in Scotland jointly with local partners.

    The government is also working in partnership with the Welsh Government to deliver the Investment Zone programme in Wales and will continue to work with stakeholders on how best to deliver the benefits in Northern Ireland.

    Further information

    Freeports

    • 8 successful English Freeports locations were announced at Spring Budget 2021. 23 of 24 English Freeport tax sites have now been designated, with the majority of tax sites being designated in late 2021 and early 2022.
    • Earlier this year, the government announced two Green Freeports in Scotland and two Freeports in Wales. We are continuing to engage stakeholders about how to bring the benefits of the Investment Zones and Freeports programmes to Northern Ireland.
    • The window to claim Freeport tax reliefs will be extended for English Freeports, is conditional on agreement of delivery plans with each Freeport.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Minister Docherty underlines commitment to peace and security during visit to South Caucasus [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Minister Docherty underlines commitment to peace and security during visit to South Caucasus [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 November 2023.

    UK Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty visits Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan to underline the UK’s unwavering support for sovereignty and regional security.

    • UK Minister for Europe will underline the UK’s unwavering support for sovereignty and security during a visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan
    • Minister Docherty will emphasise the urgent need for direct peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach a long-term settlement for peace and stability
    • his third visit to the region this year, he will discuss Armenia and Georgia’s democratic reform agendas, and promote UK expertise in aiding Azerbaijan’s transition to renewables

    The UK is stepping up its cooperation and support for peace and stability in the South Caucasus as UK Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty, will underline on his tour of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan which commences today (Monday 20 November).

    The region, located on Russia’s southern border, remains vulnerable to external interference as it recovers from the impacts of conflict and attempts to press ahead with reform agendas in support of democratic choice for freedom and independence.

    Building on the formal Strategic Dialogues with all 3 countries earlier this year, Minister Docherty will extend the UK’s offer of increased trade and security cooperation to help the countries to diversify their and reduce European reliance on Russia.

    Ahead of arriving in Yerevan, Minister for Europe Leo Docherty said:

    The South Caucasus faces significant security challenges, both internally and from its neighbours which threaten to destabilise the region.

    In a volatile region, the UK is a reliable partner for reform, peace and stability.

    The Minister for Europe arrives in Yerevan ready to build on the momentum of last week’s UK-Armenia Strategic Dialogue in London, during which both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, security and on the rule of law.

    In Tbilisi, he will reaffirm the UK’s unequivocal support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and back its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, in line with the will of the Georgian government and people.

    The UK is working with the Georgian government to build its resilience against Russian aggression, including through the Tailored Support Package agreed at the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid.

    Following recent events in Nagorno-Karabakh, Minister Docherty will urge the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage meaningfully in internationally-mediated negotiations to reach an historic agreement and secure lasting peace for the region.

    In September, the UK contributed £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to support the humanitarian response to the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the wider region.

    The UK became one of the first countries to provide demining support to Azerbaijan, providing world-leading equipment and delivering mine clearance training to local authorities.

    Minister Docherty visits Baku just as the UK is building on that partnership – extending its offer for specialised courses in explosive ordnance disposal which will provide the skills needed to operate in a high threat environment.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Canning House 80th anniversary celebrations: David Rutley’s keynote speech [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Canning House 80th anniversary celebrations: David Rutley’s keynote speech [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 November 2023.

    Minister for Americas and the Caribbean David Rutley spoke at Canning House to mark 80 years of building relationships between the UK, Latin America and Iberia.

    Thank you, Jeremy. It is my very great honour to be here tonight as you celebrate and reflect on the remarkable work of Canning House and everything it has achieved over the last 80 years and as you, and we, look to the future.

    Can I begin by saying a big ‘thank you’ to Canning House – particularly to Jeremy Browne and his team – for bringing us together this evening.  And, on this 80th anniversary celebration, I know that everyone will want to join me in saying ‘well done’.

    I know how much James Cleverly was looking forward to being here this evening, the more so after his time in Brazil, Chile and Colombia in May.  I will only say that one constant in politics is that circumstances change! And David Cameron has asked me to say that he is sorry that he is not able to come this evening.

    In my 13 months as the Minister for Latin America, I have travelled to the region 16 times and visited 25 countries in the Americas. Everything that I have done and seen has further reinforced my views not only about the region’s extraordinary people and potential, but about the importance to us here, in the UK, of these relationships, as we look to the future.

    It is 200 years since British veterans volunteered to help the people of Latin America in their struggles for independence. The great George Canning, after whom Canning House is named, was instrumental in shaping our diplomatic recognition and economic support to the young nations that emerged.

    Our early relationships were characterised by the pioneering spirit of those involved.  Knowing how much our relationships with almost all the countries of Latin America matter today, we need that same pioneering spirit, as much now as then.

    In this new and turbulent era of geopolitical competition, we in the UK need to keep close to our old friends and offer them the partnership they need to prosper. The threats and challenges are very real.

    ‘Russia Today’, ‘Sputnik’ and their ilk are expanding their Spanish-language content and their reach. China is keen to exploit its economic heft to push values quite different from those we in the UK, Europe and Latin America all share.

    But I have no doubt that, through working together, our shared values will prevail, precisely because the values and freedoms we espouse are decent and principled. They are ones that people everywhere deserve.

    This government is determined to be constant in our offer of partnership with Latin America. We are committed to constantly renewing it, as a partnership founded on shared values of democracy, human rights, and self-determination; and on mutual interest and trust.

    Our ambition needs to be propelled by a shared desire to act, help build capacity and genuinely make a difference.

    Of course, this is easy to say but more difficult to deliver.  I am proud how much we have achieved since our former Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, spoke in Chile in May this year and outlined the UK’s ambition for future relations with the region.

    In the United Nations, we have voted together from positions of principle on resolutions that go to the heart of some of the biggest challenges in the world today. I was proud of the UK’s work in the Security Council on a resolution expanding the mandate of the Colombia Verification Mission, whose work is so important to support the peace process there.

    And last month, we signed a renewed partnership agreement with Chile on Antarctica, a region of the world where we need international cooperation to continue.

    We have signed a ‘Partnership on Green and Inclusive Growth’ with Brazil and held bilateral trade dialogues with Chile, Colombia and Peru.  We had ministers from 6 Central American countries in London last month for the first Ministerial Council of the UK-Central America trade agreement. We have also made progress with the political and cooperation pillars of our Association Agreement with them.

    The UK’s joining CPTPP sets the stage for deeper trade and investment ties with several Latin American partners. The expert technical assistance we have provided has helped Panama achieve its goal of getting off the Financial Action Task Force’s grey-list.

    We are working with the Lithium Triangle countries – Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. Recognising the vital importance of Latin America’s critical minerals for the global transition to a green economy.

    On protecting the environment, Latin American countries will be big beneficiaries from the UK’s $2 billion contribution, announced in September by the Prime Minister, to the Green Climate Fund, our largest single climate funding commitment.

    Helped by the British Council, we have also been busy on the education front. Learning English is not just a rich source of goodwill, it opens doors for millions to career opportunities in science and technology.

    The Youth Mobility Scheme we have agreed with Uruguay will allow young Uruguayans to spend two years in the UK. This will further strengthen ‘people to people’ links that are so vital to developing our partnerships.

    Yesterday, voters in Argentina chose their new President – my congratulations to President-elect Milei.  He will take office at what is an exciting, and a challenging, time.

    Ours is an old and close friendship, but it has been bruised in recent years. As all of you know, we will be constant in our support for the Falkland Islanders, in our support of their freedoms and their rights, particularly that right of self-determination.

    With Javier Milei’s election we have an opportunity to take forward our partnership and to work together on the global challenges we both face.

    There is so much here for us to take pride in tonight. But we will all want to see more in the year and years ahead.

    In particular, we want to see Latin America have a stronger voice within the international order. Two centuries after Canning foresaw these young nations’ rising influence in the world, we have a part to play in making sure their voices are heard.

    The UK has therefore made absolutely clear our support for Brazil sitting as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. We are looking forward to the coming year, with Brazil chairing the G20 from next month. We’re also looking forward to 2025, as Belém hosts COP30: a very appropriate ‘first’ for a city in the Amazon region.

    Together we need to make progress in the reform of ‘international financial institutions’ and international tax. You will all have seen that we are working hard to broaden the global debate on AI, making sure the regulation of this incredible technology reflects our values and the views countries and regions around the world.

    As we support Latin America’s voice on the world stage, we are working too to support all Latin Americans to have a voice at home.

    Women’s and girls’ rights everywhere matter to us.  Women’s voices in much of Latin America are already strong. I am encouraged by the record numbers of women MPs across Latin American legislatures. We are working to see the violation of women’s and girls’ rights addressed, including through our recent contribution to the Organisation of American States programme tackling sexual violence against migrant women and girls.

    Every one of you will, I’m sure, have spent time thinking and talking about the instability and difficulties we are facing today in the international arena. Whatever the capacity we are here in this evening, we will share the sense that the world is ever more connected, that what is happening far away is having direct consequences for us, our families, our businesses.  The need for international partners to work together is as great as it has ever been.

    As I stand back, I find it helpful to think of what we are working to do in and with Latin America, now and in the future, in 4 strategic ‘pillars’: one ‘values’, a second ‘climate action’, a third ‘trade’, and the fourth ‘security and defence’.  These don’t all stand apart from each other.  Rather, each supports the others.

    First, our values make us what we are – as democracies committed to rights and freedoms, free trade, the rule of law and international principles.  And it is these same values that we are seeing under attack from state actors whose self-interests are not served by democracy, free speech or independent courts.

    Second, climate.  Latin America’s biodiversity makes the region nothing short of extraordinary.  We all need that biodiversity to be protected, and the peoples who protect it to be supported.  It is crucial we put support for marine conservation and the protection of the Amazon at the forefront of our agendas.  Success is a key to our realising the global climate goals all of us need – in the UK, Latin America and around the world. Climate is a huge priority.

    Third, trade. Today we need global supply chains to be more resilient and more secure.  As the UK we are determined to work with Latin partners to diversify our and your trade and create conditions that will encourage new and increased investment. There is so much potential to do more.

    And our fourth pillar, security. I commented that, wherever in the world we are, we are all increasingly affected by what is happening in other places, often far away.  This connectivity is only going to increase, including in areas like security, organised crime, drugs or illegal migration. We need our friends to be safe from the threat of organised crime and that will help us keep our own streets free of the blight of drugs. We are strongest when we fight these threats together.

    In the UK, we will focus our efforts on keeping and strengthening a set of reliable relationships, based on shared values, that lead to opportunities and deliver value, for us and for Latin America.

    We want and need to be a partner of choice where we have genuine advantage or interest.  We know that we will need to invest, working with you in order to achieve this.

    Each of the parts you play – as businesses, universities, think tanks, representatives of other governments, as friends of and stakeholders in the UK’s relationship with Latin America – will help to determine how successful we can be.

    The work you are doing to draw the UK closer to Latin America, and to inform, encourage and support these important relationships, is invaluable.

    Ladies and gentlemen, I conclude where I began.  Latin America and the UK have been friends for 200 years. Our friendship matters, and as we look at the geopolitical landscape, it needs to continue to matter more than ever.

    Thank you.