Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Government takes further action to drive positive change in the tenant farming sector [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 16 November 2023.

This Call for Evidence will explore concerns about poor practice in the tenant farming sector and examine the role of industry and government in addressing them.
A Call for Evidence to explore the proposal for a Tenant Farming Commissioner and encourage more collaborative tenant-landlord and advisor relationships has been launched by the government today (Thursday 16 November).

The Call for Evidence will build on important insights from the Rock Review by seeking industry views on the extent of poor practice in the sector – such as a lack of communication between landlords, tenants and their advisors on key business issues such as tenancy renewal and rent reviews – and how to encourage more collaborative tenant-landlord and advisor relationships.

It will also gather evidence on whether existing ways to register complaints in the industry are effective in addressing poor practice and examine the potential role of an independent Tenant Farming Commissioner who would provide more scrutiny of conduct in the sector and promote codes of good practice.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

Tenant farmers are at the heart of our rural economy. We’ve made significant progress in delivering our response to the Rock Review, including making our Environment Land Management schemes more accessible to tenant farmers, and will continue to work closely with tenants, landlords and the wider industry to drive further positive change.

The Call for Evidence is a further important step forward in achieving this and I encourage farmers, landlords and advisors to express their views to their relevant trade body to make sure experiences from all parts of the sector are heard.

Today’s announcement builds on the significant progress the government has already made to deliver on key recommendations from the Rock Review.

This includes the establishment of the Farm Tenancy Forum in July 2023 to prioritise the delivery of the commitments in the Government response to the Rock Review. This Forum is made up of industry representatives of tenant farmers, landlords and professional advisors and is working to consider the unique challenges facing the sector, facilitate more collaborative relationships between landlords and tenants, and help shape farming policy.

We are also making our Environmental Land Management schemes more accessible to tenant farmers, with thousands of farmers on tenanted and mixed land having expressed an interest in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and over half of applications in the first round of our Landscape Recovery scheme involving tenanted land.

The government is also:

Working with the sector to develop a new Code of Practice setting standards of responsible conduct for all parties to tenancy agreements.

Committed to offering more actions on three-year agreements under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) without requiring landlord consent from 2024.

Encouraging collaboration with a wide range of land managers, including tenant farmers, through our Landscape Recovery Scheme.

Exploring support for New Entrants through a pilot scheme earlier this year where over 80% of participants who took part came from a non-farming family background. The pilots looked at how we can best support people to enter the sector and increase their opportunities to access land and finance, including support on pitching for tenancies.

Tracking data on the amount of land in the tenanted sector to pick up any emerging trends on land resumption and looking for ways to identify drivers of change.

This comes as the government is providing more than £168 million in grants this year across the industry, including tenant farmers, to drive innovation, support food production, improve animal health and welfare and protect the environment.

The Call for Evidence will run for 12 weeks until 8 February 2024. Industry trade organisations and professional bodies representing the views and interests of tenant farmers, landlords and professional advisors, as well as from sector experts and forums who have insights and experience within the industry, are invited to respond.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

This is a targeted Call for Evidence which has been issued to industry organisations and professional bodies representing the views and interests of tenant farmers, landlords, and professional advisors who work in the tenant farming sector. The Call for Evidence will be open for 12 weeks to ensure that industry organisations and professional bodies have time to engage with their wider membership to gather views on the issues we are exploring. We will also invite responses from other sector experts, and organisations who may have insights, experience, and evidence on the issues we are exploring in this Call for Evidence.

The Government Response to the Rock Review was published in May 2023 Government response to the Rock Review: full report – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Rock Review was published in October 2022, led by Baroness Rock and the Tenancy Working Group, with input from all parts of the tenanted sector including tenants, landlords and agents: Rock Review: working together for a thriving agricultural tenanted sector

The joint industry and government Farm Tenancy Forum was established in July 2023 with a key focus on supporting the delivery pf the government response to the Rock Review, the Terms of Reference and membership can be found here: Farm Tenancy Forum: terms of reference – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
November 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : International Day of Solidarity with Belarus: Joint statement to the OSCE [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 November 2023.

The UK and others issue a statement to the OSCE’s Permanent Council on the human rights situation in Belarus, calling for immediate release of all political prisoners.

Mr. Chair,

I am delivering this statement on behalf of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and my own country, Canada.

I want to thank the EU for adding this item to the agenda today in recognition of the International Day of Solidarity with Belarus. We stand in solidarity with the people of Belarus and their hopes for a free and democratic future.

More than three years have passed since the flawed and fraudulent 2020 presidential election, and regrettably, the aspiration of the people of Belarus, expressed during that election and in the peaceful protests which followed, remain unfulfilled.

A desire for democratic change has been met by repression and the persecution of political opponents and dissidents. Belarusian authorities have relentlessly targeted their own citizens, systematically liquidating civil society organizations and clamping down on independent journalists, trade unions, human rights defenders and many other people. Almost all of the independent media has been suppressed, and editors and journalists have been among those targeted for arbitrary arrest.

The number of political prisoners has remained shockingly high with just under 1,500 individuals currently held in detention for exercising their freedom of expression, opinion and association. Many of those in detention face isolation, mistreatment and a lack of medical care. This includes Ales Bialiatski, chair of Viasna Human Rights Center and winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, who is serving a 10-year sentence and was recently placed in a punishment cell and denied access to his lawyer.

As both the 2023 and 2020 Moscow Mechanism reports have documented, there is compelling evidence of widespread, continued human rights violations against all parts of Belarusian society. Adopted legislation has restricted political rights, limited freedoms of assembly, association, and expression, and extended the application of the death penalty. As Professor Ascencio, the rapporteur of the 2023 Moscow Mechanism report, aptly summarized: “The Belarusian government now has a full arsenal of legislation designed to hinder any form of opposition.”

The years since 2020 have also seen a rapprochement between Belarus and Russia which culminated in Russia using the territory of Belarus as a launching point for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Belarus’ complicity in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues, and has been accompanied by the repression of those expressing their opposition to the war or their support for the Ukrainian people.

None of these policy decisions seems to take into account the wishes or interests of the people of Belarus. The people of Belarus deserve their own independent, democratic nation, free of interference from and subservience to Russia.

Mr. Chair,

Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Belarus on 25 February 2024. The next Presidential election will take place in 2025.

We call for free and fair elections in Belarus, to be conducted without interference, intimidation and fear of persecution, in full conformity with international standards. Freedom of expression and association must be respected, including for independent media and for political parties. All potential candidates should be able to run for office without fear of arrest or reprisal. International observers should be invited. Civil society should be allowed to play its role of holding governments and political figures accountable.

We call for the immediate the release of all political prisoners, for an end to human rights violations, and for a dialogue that respects the will and the human rights of the Belarusian population.

We stand in firm solidarity with the people of Belarus, and we will continue to call for Belarus to fulfill its OSCE commitments and respect its international obligations, including protecting the human rights and democratic freedoms of its people.

Thank you.

November 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Address by Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions on Georgia – UK response [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 November 2023.

Ambassador Neil Holland reaffirms UK support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and calls on Russia to cease hybrid tactics against Georgia.

Thank you, Chair. On behalf of the United Kingdom, let me welcome the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) to the Permanent Council and thank you for your remarks.

Georgia has been under continuous hybrid attack from Russia since the 2008 war, which saw the effective annexation of a fifth of Georgian territory. The UK reaffirms its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Russia’s continued military presence in Georgia’s regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is a violation of international law and commitments undertaken by Russia under the 12 August 2008 agreement.

In the past 12 months, the hybrid tactics against Georgia have included the October announcement of the construction of a Russian Navy base in Abkhazia. This is a flagrant breach of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. On 6 November, an innocent Georgian civilian was murdered by Russian troops as he tried to visit a church near the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) in Tskhinvali region. We condemn this incident, the first civilian death since 2018.

We reiterate our previous calls for Russia to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and end all practices aimed at creeping annexation of these territories into the Russian Federation. We welcome initiatives by the government of Georgia to promote reconciliation among the populations separated by the ABL and urge Russia not to obstruct these valuable peace building and people-to-people contacts.

Co-chairs, on 8 September, I spoke on behalf of the 17 states who form the OSCE Group of Friends of Georgia as we marked 15 years since the invasion. Our joint statement reiterated our unwavering support for your work, a message I am very happy to amplify here. The GID is the only international forum that brings together all sides from the conflict, and so plays a vital role in trying to achieve a lasting resolution.

As stated at the 57th round of discussions, we welcome local level collaboration that achieves tangible results for those living within the conflict-affected area through the Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism and partial reopening of the two crossing points in the South Ossetia region.

We welcomed the 58th round of discussions held on 20 July, including the discussions on the humanitarian situation, non-use of force and international security arrangement which are central elements of the GID, but regret the lack of progress made on internally displaced persons and refugees. We hope that during the 59th round, further progress can be made.

We remain grateful to the OSCE for its engagement in the GID and the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meetings, as well as in the implementation of confidence-building measures.

Finally, let me end by reiterating our call on the Russian Federation to immediately fulfil its obligation under the ceasefire agreement to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions, to fulfil its commitments to allow unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and cease all borderisation tactics.

November 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Russia is using food as a weapon of war and attacking Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 November 2023.

Ambassador Neil Holland says that Russia is attacking Ukrainian ports and critical national infrastructure in an attempt to strangle the Ukrainian economy and deprive Ukraine of electricity, heat and water.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Last week a Russian missile struck a civilian ship entering the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa. A 43-year-old harbour pilot was killed, while three Filipino crewmembers and a port worker were injured. Once again, the UK condemns Russia’s unprovoked attacks on Ukraine’s port and grain infrastructure. Such attacks achieve nothing but destruction and devastation.

Since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July, Russia has conducted hundreds of such strikes against Ukraine’s ports. This targeted and relentless campaign of air strikes is not an unfortunate consequence of war; it is a clear attempt by Russia to strangle the Ukrainian economy and prevent Ukraine from exporting its grain, which is crucial to global food security. These attacks on the world’s food supply show the maliciousness of Russia’s intent, where they are willing to use food as a weapon of war. However, Russia’s attempts to hinder Ukraine’s exports will not succeed. We continue to work with Ukraine and our partners to ensure Ukraine is able to export its grain, including through the Danube and Ukraine’s humanitarian corridor.

Mr Chair, not only is Russia continuing its targeting of Ukraine’s ports, but as we anticipated, and with temperatures falling, Russian strikes on other areas of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure have also intensified. Russia is repeating its strategy from last winter to instil terror, break resolve and deprive Ukrainians of electricity, heat, water, and vital medical services. Without these necessities life becomes unsustainable. However, last winter, Russia failed to shutdown Ukraine’s power grid, and with the continued support of UK and international partners, Ukraine can prove resilient once again.

Over the last year, the UK has provided over 1000 generators and solar power units to help the Ukrainian people avoid dangerous blackouts and freezing conditions this winter. My Prime Minister announced at the European Political Community (EPC) meeting in Granada last month, an additional £10 million fund for winter resilience and recovery in Ukraine. The UK also provided a £92 million air defence package, which has strengthened Ukraine’s ability to protect its critical national infrastructure.

The UK is also proud to play a major role in contributing to Ukraine’s energy security, by supporting the supply of vital fuel for Ukraine’s nuclear power plants through a £192 million UK Export Finance loan guarantee. This will strengthen Ukraine’s energy security both in the short term, to enable Ukraine to endure immediate Russian attacks, and in the long term, to secure Ukraine’s independence from Russian nuclear fuel.

As we approach winter, the unity of the international community will endure. The UK will continue to provide vital humanitarian support to those most in need. At the EPC my Prime Minister also announced a £34 million fund for UN agencies and charities providing shelter and warm clothing, to support Ukraine through the winter months.

Mr Chair, the Ukrainian people continue to show an unbreakable spirit and determination in the face of such appalling aggression, but let me reiterate again, that they will not face this threat alone. As my Prime Minister said again this week, ‘We will stand with Ukraine until they prevail’. Thank you.

November 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government takes further steps to tackle disruption if strikes called over Christmas [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 16 November 2023.

The Government has today taken further steps to ensure essential public services remain open during industrial action.
- Government announces further measures to keep public services operating if strikes called over Christmas
- Consultation launched on proposals to allow agency workers to cover striking staff and guidance published to support employers, trade unions and workers on issuing work notices.
- Comes as Prime Minister vowed to continue delivering vital public services and “stop unions de-railing Christmas”.
The Government has today [16 November 2023] taken further steps to ensure essential public services remain open during industrial action.

Following Royal Assent of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act in July, guidance has now been published to support employers, trade unions and workers with issuing work notices.

Where strike action is called and where minimum service level regulations are in place, employers can issue work notices to identify people who are required to work to help ensure the minimum service levels are met. Today’s guidance will support employers, trade unions and workers on issuing these work notices.

Earlier this week, the Government also laid a Code of Practice in Parliament which sets out the reasonable steps trade unions should take to ensure their members comply with work notices and help ensure minimum service levels are met. The government response to the public consultation on the Code of Practice was also published.

The reasonable steps include but are not limited to, clearly identifying members, contacting those named in a work notice and advising them not to strike, and seeking to avoid encouraging those named in a work notice not to cross a picket line.

If a union fails to take these reasonable steps, they will lose their legal protection from damages claims and possible injunctions. Last year we raised the maximum damages that courts can award against a union for unlawful strike action. For the biggest unions, the maximum award has risen from £250,000 to £1 million.

Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

The ability to strike needs to be balanced with ensuring people continue to have access to essential services.

Businesses should also not have their freedoms restricted by burdensome regulations that aren’t justified. This is why we are seeking views on removing such unnecessary rules, so businesses are able to decide for themselves what staffing is required.

Last week, the government announced Minimum Service Levels legislation is to be passed for passenger rail, ambulance and border security staff. This legislation brings us in line with countries like France, Italy, Spain and the US where public services reliably continue during strikes. The International Labour Organisation also recognises Minimum Service Levels as a sensible solution to protect the public from serious consequences of strikes.

The Minimum Service Levels are designed to be effective and proportionate by balancing the ability to take strike action with ensuring we can keep our borders secure, supporting people to make important journeys including accessing work, education, and healthcare, and allowing people to get the emergency care they need.

The Government is also launching a consultation on removing outdated regulations which currently prevent agency workers from covering strikes. Under these proposals, agency workers would be able to provide temporary cover in all sectors. Employment businesses must satisfy themselves that any worker supplied is suitably qualified in order to maintain high standards of service.

Regulation 7 of the Conduct Regulations currently prevents employment businesses (often referred to as agencies) from supplying agency workers to replace workers who are taking part in an official strike or other industrial action. Repealing this regulation would not affect the ability of workers to strike or the protections workers on strike currently enjoy.

It would permit, but not require, businesses to bring in agency staff during a strike if they wish to do so and give employment businesses more flexibility in how they support their clients when faced with industrial action, such as strikes. It would also allow workers the freedom to accept roles that involve temporarily replacing workers taking part in strikes.
November 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Ministerial appointments [November 2023]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 November 2023.

The King was pleased to approve government appointments.
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union

Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP

Cabinet Office

Deputy Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office – Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP

Minister of State (Minister without Portfolio) – Richard Holden MP*

Paymaster General, and Minister for the Cabinet Office – Rt Hon John Glen MP*†

Minister of State (Minister without Portfolio) – Rt Hon Esther McVey MP†

Minister of State (Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) – Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP†

Minister of State – Nusrat Ghani MP (jointly with the Department for Business and Trade)

Minister of State – Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG*

Parliamentary Secretary – Alex Burghart MP

HM Treasury

Chancellor of the Exchequer – Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP

Chief Secretary to the Treasury – Laura Trott MBE MP†

Minister of State (Financial Secretary to the Treasury) – Nigel Huddleston MP

Parliamentary Secretary (Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury) – Gareth Davies MP

Parliamentary Secretary (Economic Secretary to the Treasury) – Bim Afolami MP

Parliamentary Secretary – Baroness Vere of Norbiton

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs – Rt Hon David Cameron

Minister of State (Minister for Development) – Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP†

Minister of State – Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP

Minister of State – Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon*

Minister of State – Rt Hon Lord Benyon* (jointly with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Leo Docherty MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – David Rutley MP

Home Office

Secretary of State for the Home Department – Rt Hon James Cleverly MP

Minister of State (Minister for Security) – Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MBE MP†

Minister of State (Minister for Immigration) – Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP†

Minister of State (Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire) – Rt Hon Chris Philp MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Laura Farris MP (jointly with the Ministry of Justice)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Sharpe of Epsom OBE

Ministry of Defence

Secretary of State for Defence – Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon James Heappey MP

Minister of State – James Cartlidge MP

Minister of State – Earl of Minto*

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Dr Andrew Murrison MP

Ministry of Justice

Lord Chancellor, and Secretary of State for Justice – Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Edward Argar MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Mike Freer MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Gareth Bacon MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Laura Farris MP (jointly with the Home Office)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Bellamy KC*

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology – Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP

Minister of State – Julia Lopez MP (jointly with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport)X

Minister of State – Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP (jointly with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport)*X

Minister of State – Andrew Griffith MP*

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Saqib Bhatti MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Viscount Camrose*

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations – Rt Hon Michael Gove MP

Minister of State – Lee Rowley MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Felicity Buchan MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Jacob Young MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Simon Hoare MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Baroness Penn

Department of Health and Social Care

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Andrew Stephenson MP

Minister of State – Helen Whately MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Maria Caulfield (jointly with the Department for Business and Trade (Minister for Women))

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Markham CBE*

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Lord Benyon* (jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Rebecca Pow MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Robbie Moore MP

Office of the Leader of the House of Commons

Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons – Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP

Office of the Leader of the House of Lords

Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords – Rt Hon Lord True CBE

Minister of State (Deputy Leader of the House of Lords) – Rt Hon Earl Howe GBE*

Department for Business and Trade

Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade, and Minister for Women and Equalities – Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP

Minister of State, and Minister for London – Rt Hon Greg Hands MP

Minister of State – Nusrat Ghani MP (jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Minister of State – Lord Johnson of Lainston CBE*

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Kevin Hollinrake MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Offord of Garvel* (jointly with the Scotland Office)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) – Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP (jointly with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Women) – Maria Caulfield (jointly with the Department of Health and Social Care)

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero – Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Andrew Bowie MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Callanan

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State* – Amanda Solloway MP (and a Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury))

Department for Work and Pensions

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – Rt Hon Mel Stride MP

Minister of State – Tom Pursglove MP

Minister of State – Jo Churchill MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Mims Davies MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Paul Maynard MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Viscount Younger of Leckie

Department for Education

Secretary of State for Education – Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP

Minister of State – Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – David Johnston OBE MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Baroness Barran MBE*

Department for Transport

Secretary of State for Transport – Rt Hon Mark Harper MP

Minister of State – Huw Merriman MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Anthony Browne MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Guy Opperman MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Davies of Gower

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport – Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP

Minister of State – Julia Lopez MP (jointly with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)X

Minister of State – Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP (jointly with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)*X

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP (jointly with the Department for Business and Trade (Minister for Equalities))

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay

Northern Ireland Office

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP

Minister of State – Steve Baker MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State* – Lord Caine (and a Lord in Waiting)

Scotland Office

Secretary of State for Scotland – Rt Hon Alister Jack MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – John Lamont MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Lord Offord of Garvel* (jointly with the Department for Business and Trade)

Wales Office

Secretary of State for Wales – Rt Hon David T C Davies MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State – Fay Jones MP

Whips – House of Commons

Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip) – Rt Hon Simon Hart MP†

Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip) – Marcus Jones MP

Comptroller of HM Household (Government Whip) – Rebecca Harris MP

Vice Chamberlain of HM Household (Government Whip) – Stuart Anderson MP

Junior Lords of the Treasury

Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Rt Hon Dame Amanda Milling MP

Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Scott Mann MP

Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Amanda Solloway MP (and a Parliamentary under Secretary of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero*)

Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Joy Morrissey MP

Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) – Mike Wood MP

Assistant Whips (Commons)

Assistant Government Whip – Ruth Edwards MP

Assistant Government Whip – Robert Largan MP

Assistant Government Whip – Gagan Mohindra MP

Assistant Government Whip – Mark Jenkinson MP

Assistant Government Whip – Mark Fletcher MP

Assistant Government Whip – Suzanne Webb MP

Assistant Government Whip – Aaron Bell MP

Whips – House of Lords

Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (Lords Chief Whip) – Rt Hon Baroness Williams of Trafford

Captain of The King’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (Deputy Chief Whip) – Earl of Courtown

Baronesses and Lords in Waiting

Lord in Waiting – Lord Harlech

Lord in Waiting – Lord Evans of Rainow

Lord in Waiting – Lord Caine (and a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Northern Ireland Office*)

Baroness in Waiting – Baroness Swinburne*

Lord in Waiting – Lord Gascoigne

Law Officers

Attorney General – Rt Hon Victoria Prentis MP†

Solicitor General – Michael Tomlinson MP

HM Advocate General for Scotland – Lord Stewart of Dirleton KC

Key

*unpaid

† attends Cabinet

X Julia Lopez MP has been re-appointed as a Minister of State jointly in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology following her maternity leave.

The Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP will continue to be a Minister of State (unpaid) jointly in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for a short transitional period.
November 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Additional support materials for GCSE exams in 2024 [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 16 November 2023.

The Department has asked Ofqual to make arrangements to continue providing formulae and equation sheets for GCSE exams in 2024.

Students set to sit their GCSE exams in 2024 could receive additional support materials, as the Department for Education (DfE) asks Ofqual to make arrangements to continue providing formulae and equation sheets for one more year.

Following a consultation, the proposal would see students provided with enhanced formulae and equation sheets to support them in mathematics, physics, and combined science GCSEs, as was the case for 2023 exams. This means students will not have to memorise formulae, as they need to in a normal year.

These proposed arrangements recognise the disruption this cohort of students experienced during their secondary education due to national school closures during the pandemic while these pupils were in year 7 and 8.

Ofqual is launching a consultation on this today (Thursday 16 November) to get insight from the sector on introducing this expectation, and it will run for two weeks, ending on 30 November 2023 at 11:45pm.

Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan said:

“Young people taking GCSEs next year will be the last who experienced two years of national closures during secondary school and it’s right that we recognise that with some additional support.

“GCSEs are young people’s passport to their next stage of education and we must ensure students have the opportunity to show what they know and can do, and ultimately meet their potential.”

An Ofqual spokesperson said:

“In response to the Department for Education’s announcement that students taking exams in 2024 will not need to memorise the usual formulae and equations for GCSE maths, physics and combined science, Ofqual is now seeking views on the use of formulae and equation sheets for these exams in 2024.

“Students, teachers, school and college leaders, unions, exams officers, exam boards, employers and further education institutions are encouraged to take part in the consultation.”

2024 will be the final year where enhanced formulae and equation sheets will be available, returning to normal exam arrangements in 2025.

The department’s decision on arrangements for 2025 reflect that those pupils will have had the opportunity to benefit from more time in secondary school with support from teachers and interventions such as the national tutoring programme, compared to students from the previous two cohorts.

In September, Ofqual confirmed its two-year transition to pre-pandemic grading is now complete. Normal grading arrangements will continue for GCSEs, AS, A levels and Vocational and Technical Qualifications (such as Pearson’s BTEC Nationals and OCR’s Cambridge Technicals) in 2024.

The government has invested nearly £5 billion to support students’ recovery from the impact of the pandemic, including £1.5 billion for tutoring programmes and almost £2 billion in direct funding, largely targeted at those that need help most.

November 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Children’s charities and free speech groups could be allowed to submit super-complaints to Ofcom to keep internet safe [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 16 November 2023.

Super-complaints process is designed to help Ofcom stay on top of systemic harmful trends and emerging threats.
- Expert groups, children’s charities and free speech advocates called on to help define who can make “super-complaints” about online safety issues to Ofcom
- consultation will help determine the criteria for eligibility and the procedure for super-complaints
- comes as part of the Online Safety Act which will introduce new powers for regulator to keep the internet safe and protect free
Children’s charities, free speech advocates and other groups could, for the first time, raise online safety and freedom of expression concerns directly to Ofcom through a “super-complaint” under a proposal unveiled by the government today (Thursday 16 November).

Under the Online Safety Act, social media companies have been given new duties to protect children, enforce the promises they make to users and remove illegal content, or they will face huge fines from Ofcom. Individuals will report harmful and illegal content to social media platforms, and it is their responsibility to tackle this within the law.

The super-complaints process is designed to help Ofcom stay on top of systemic harmful trends and emerging threats by letting organisations, such as charities and consumer groups, raise new concerns as soon as they emerge. They will play an essential role in keeping the internet safe by ensuring that Ofcom are made aware of issues in a quick and reliable way, so it can take action in its new role as a regulator of online platforms.

In a consultation published today, the government is seeking views from expert groups to help define who can make super-complaints, the conditions and format of a super-complaint, and expectations on how Ofcom should respond to each complaint.

For example, a super-complaint could notify Ofcom of a new social media feature used on multiple services that subjects children to harmful content, such as violent or pornographic images, or flag that platforms are consistently failing to take down illegal content they have a duty to remove.

Similarly, a campaign group may raise that a social media platform’s content moderation systems are consistently removing legal content that their terms of service don’t prohibit, undermining freedom of expression on the platform.

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

The Online Safety Act makes the UK the safest place in the world to be online, but we need to be sure Ofcom is ready to respond to any emerging online safety issues as soon as they arise.

The super-complaints process will allow organisations to make Ofcom aware of new challenges quickly and efficiently, making sure the ambition and promise of the Online Safety Act can keep pace with evolving trends, protecting people online for decades to come.”

The detail of how this “super-complaints” process will work will be informed by the consultation the government launched today, which will ask for views on the super-complaints process and how this can be managed swiftly and easily.

Organisations that will be allowed to raise super-complaints will meet the criteria established in this consultation, ensuring that the regulator is only made aware of legitimate, considered complaints, allowing it to deal with said complaints in a timely and effective manner, and establishing how Ofcom deals with those complaints.

Super-complaints, which are intended to help Ofcom stay on top of harmful trends and emerging threats, may lead the regulator to act against issues raised by using its new powers under the Online Safety Act. This could include updating Codes of Practice or investigating whether a particular service is complying with the new law, or face fines that reach billions of pounds.

Super-complaints processes already exist in other sectors. For example, the Competition and Markets Authority has a similar process that allows certain consumer bodies to request that regulators investigate markets or market practices that they think are significantly harming the interests of consumers.

Gill Whitehead, Ofcom’s Online Safety Group Director, said:

Protecting children and protecting free speech are key pillars of the UK’s groundbreaking new online safety laws. Campaigners’ voices have helped lay the foundations, and we want to continue hearing from them as we build a safer life online.

We’ve assembled a world-class a team so we can keep a close eye on issues as they emerge, and we’ve already set out our first blueprint for what tech firms need to do to tackle illegal harms. But we won’t be doing this alone, and we’re looking forward to working with a broad coalition of experts.

The Online Safety Act, which received Royal Assent on Thursday 26 October, makes Britain the safest place in the world to live and work online. It protects children from online harm, empowers adults to exercise greater control over what they see on social media, and places legal responsibility on tech companies to prevent and swiftly remove illegal content.

Today’s super-complaints consultation launch follows the publication of Ofcom’s own major consultation last week, that seeks to establish how tech firms will protect their users from illegal harms online.
November 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government joins forces with Liverpool to transform city’s rail network [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 16 November 2023.

Plans for a fully integrated public transport system in Merseyside one step closer as Liverpool’s new, government-funded rail station opens.
- Transport Secretary signs agreement to support the city’s plans for a simpler, more affordable transport network
- comes as Mark Harper officially opens Liverpool’s new, government-funded rail station, served by UK’s first battery-powered trains
- follows the government investing over £1 billion in the city as part of Network North
Passengers in Liverpool could soon benefit from a simpler, more affordable and integrated transport network thanks to an agreement signed by Transport Secretary Mark Harper and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram today (16 November 2023).

The memorandum of understanding commits to the government working in closer collaboration with the city to deliver plans for a fully integrated public transport system in Merseyside. Signatories included the Transport Secretary, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Network Rail and the Great British Railways Transition Team.

The agreement could pave the way for easier, cheaper and more accessible journeys across the city, providing better connectivity to jobs, education and business opportunities in Liverpool. It also supports the government’s commitment to empower local authorities and ensure the needs of local communities are at the heart of decision-making.

It comes alongside £12 billion announced by the government as part of its Network North plan to better connect Manchester and Liverpool. The funding will allow the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail as previously planned, including high-speed lines.

The agreement was signed at the official opening of Headbolt Lane station – the country’s newest train station in Kirkby, funded by £80 million of government funding.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:

Today’s agreement demonstrates this government’s commitment to transforming public transport across the country and empowering elected leaders to make decisions based on the priorities of local people.

This agreement follows over £1 billion of funding committed to the city through our Network North plans and will kickstart transport improvements for people across the city, making journeys affordable and accessible for all.

Headbolt Lane station is the new terminus for Merseyrail and Northern services. Passengers are already benefitting from the station, which offers improved connections to the centre of Liverpool, Wigan and Manchester, as well as better connectivity to the region’s bus services.

It will be served by new state-of-the-art trains equipped with innovative battery technology, which are currently being developed and rolled out across the entire Merseyrail fleet as part of plans to double capacity on the network and deliver greener, more reliable services.

Thanks to government funding, it will soon become the first battery-powered fleet in the UK, opening up the possibility for further expansion of the Merseyrail network.

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said:

This deal signifies not only a massive moment for our region – but the start of a new wave of devolution for the country. It puts us on track to open up the right conversations around how we can improve our rail network for the better and run it in the best interests of passengers.

It’s the Liverpool City Region once again blazing a trail in the revolution of our railways – and I’ll be fighting our area’s corner every step of the way to make sure we capitalise on this opportunity.

As part of the government’s Network North plan, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority also received a further £1 billion from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements, plus a further £600 million made possible through the decision on Phase 2 of HS2. This is more than double the city’s previous allocation.
November 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New £2 million competition launched to help decarbonise local transport [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 16 November 2023.

UK businesses can apply for up to £500,000 to run pioneering trials that tackle local transport challenges.
- government investing in local authorities and businesses to develop green travel schemes
- vital trials will aim to reduce transport emissions in our towns and cities
- competition forms part of wider transport decarbonisation plan
A new £2 million competition is launching today (16 November 2023) to encourage businesses and local authorities to work together to develop and trial transport schemes that cut emissions in the long term.

The Transport Decarbonisation Demonstrators programme, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), will also help to grow local economies by supporting businesses to bring new solutions closer to market.

Any UK business can apply for up to £500,000 to run innovative trials that tackle local transport challenges on the ground. Half of this £2 million fund will be reserved for rural areas, supporting them in unlocking the benefits of technology and innovation to tackle challenges such as access to jobs and reducing loneliness.

The trials will help to develop the green transport systems of the future while improving choice and availability of transport options for passengers.

The competitive grants will be awarded and delivered by Innovate UK – part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – and the UK’s national innovation agency, which helps businesses to grow and develop new technologies. The competition will open on 27 November 2023 and close on 8 January 2024.

Businesses can apply to the Transport Decarbonisation competition online.

Mike Biddle, Executive Director Net Zero at Innovate UK, said:

Taking a place-based approach to decarbonise our transport systems is critical if we are to reach our net zero targets both locally and nationally and prosper from the transition to net zero.

Innovate UK is delighted to be working with DfT to invest £2 million in innovation projects aimed at not only reducing emissions but also building key partnerships between local authorities and businesses, which will ensure maximum impact.

As part of the government’s Transport decarbonisation plan, today’s announcement delivers on driving decarbonisation at the local level and will contribute to making our villages, towns and cities greener.

It builds on the success of last year’s Transport research innovation grants (TRIG) local decarbonisation call, which funded 20 innovators to develop early-stage solutions to local decarbonisation challenges. The latest round of TRIG funding closes for applications on 27 November 2023.

This government is leading the way with green transport having recently set out its world-leading path to reaching zero emission vehicles by 2035, which will require 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain to be zero emission by 2030.
November 24, 2023