Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : New laws to safely roll out self-driving vehicles across British roads [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 9 November 2023.

Self-driving vehicles will help make travel more convenient and accessible, improving the lives of millions of people who can not drive.
- new Automated Vehicles Bill puts UK at the forefront of regulation of self-driving technology, in boost to safety, investment and jobs
- an estimated 38,000 new jobs to be created in the UK from £42 billion industry
- self-driving vehicles will make transport more convenient and more accessible, improving the lives of millions of people
New laws introduced into Parliament yesterday (8 November 2023) will put safety at the heart of the roll-out of self-driving vehicle technology and position the UK as world-leaders of this exciting £42 billion industry.

As announced in the King’s Speech on Tuesday 7 November, the government’s new Automated Vehicles (AV) Bill will deliver one of the most comprehensive legal frameworks of its kind anywhere in the world for self-driving vehicles, with safety at its core.

The new safety framework will ensure clear liability for the user, set the safety threshold for legal self-driving and establish an in-use regulatory scheme to monitor the ongoing safety of these vehicles.

Self-driving vehicles could help reduce deaths and injuries from drink driving, speeding and driver tiredness, with 88% of road collisions having human error as a contributory factor. But before these vehicles are allowed on our roads, they will now have to meet or exceed rigorous new safety requirements, set out in law.

The technology will also help make travel more convenient and accessible, improving the lives of millions of people who can not drive.

They can be used to better connect rural communities, improving access to essential services and reducing isolation. They can make last-mile delivery and long-haul freight services more efficient, reduce congestion and they can provide on-demand transport services.

This Bill will help cement the UK’s position as a global leader in this high tech and high growth industry, which could create up to 38,000 jobs.

It comes amid wider government funding and support for trials of self-driving technologies in the UK, like the £66 million Commercialising Connected and Automated Mobility fund which is supporting 20 projects in nearly 50 organisations to develop prototype passenger and logistics self-driving services.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:

Our new Bill ensures safety is at the heart of our plans to see self-driving vehicles on our roads, making the UK a great place to develop this technology.

We have the opportunity to put the UK at the forefront of a fast-growing, multi-billion-pound industry by providing the clarity and certainty for business to develop and invest in this exciting technology.

Transport Minister, Jesse Norman, said:

Today marks a landmark occasion as we usher in the future of transport, aiming at safer, greener and more efficient travel for all.

The AV Bill’s comprehensive legal framework has safety and the protection of the user at its core.

This will be done through:
- creating a rigorous new safety framework: setting the safety threshold for self-driving vehicles in law, while giving government the tools it needs to enforce standards and hold companies to account
- ensuring clear legal liability at all times: making companies responsible for how their self-driving vehicles behave on the road and protecting users from being unfairly held accountable
- protecting consumers and the public: ensuring only vehicles that meet rigorous self-driving standards can be marketed as such
All self-driving vehicles will be required to undergo robust safety testing before they are permitted to drive on UK roads, and the AV Bill will ensure clear legal liability when a vehicle is driving itself by creating new legal entities responsible for self-driving.

Every authorised self-driving vehicle will have a corresponding Authorised Self-Driving Entity– often the manufacturer – which will be responsible for the behaviour of the vehicle when self-driving. Companies will have ongoing obligations to keep their vehicles safe and ensure that they continue to drive in accordance with British laws.

The Bill will prohibit misleading market practices, including around using ambiguous terminology in advertising material around whether their vehicles classify as self driving. Regulations under the Bill will set out specific terminology and symbols which will be reserved for marketing authorised self-driving vehicles. Unauthorised and improper use of this terminology will be against the law and a criminal offence.

The laws implement the recommendations of the review of self-driving vehicle regulation carried out by the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission. This landmark review brings together over 4 years of legal work, 3 rounds of public consultation, and hundreds of responses from a wide range of organisations and individuals.

Alex Kendall, Co-founder and CEO of Wayve, said:

Today’s announcement that the government will bring forward legislation for self-driving signals to the global self-driving industry that the UK government is committed to fostering innovation for the future of transport. By setting out a clear path to commercialisation, new primary legislation for self-driving vehicles gives us the confidence to continue investing in research and development and growing our talent base here in the UK.

We look forward to continuing to work with the government to cement the UK’s role as a global centre of excellence for self-driving technology that will make our roads safer and unlock new growth.
November 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK dairy industry to be boosted by new export programme [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 9 November 2023.

The Department for Business and Trade has launched the Dairy Export Programme designed to help grow agri-food exports in overseas markets.
- New Dairy Export Programme launched to help grow agri-food exports in overseas markets.
- Programme includes UK Dairy Showcase, education sessions and trade missions and follows £1m funding committed to dairy sector exports by the Prime Minister in May at the Farm to Fork Summit.
- Minister for Exports Lord Offord visits Lye Cross Farm in Bristol to launch programme and showcase government support for UK dairy sector, which exported over £2 billion of products to 135 countries in 2022.
The UK’s dairy industry is set to be boosted by a brand-new programme to increase exports, the Government announced today (9 November).

The Dairy Export Programme, which Minister for Exports Lord Offord will formally launch today during a visit to Lye Cross Farm in Bristol, will help UK agri-businesses grow by seizing new export opportunities and exploiting overseas markets for their products through a comprehensive package of export support.

The Prime Minister committed £1 million to the dairy sector at the Farm to Fork Summit hosted at 10 Downing Street in May. The Dairy Export Programme is a direct result of this funding and forms part of a wider package of Government support for agriculture, food and drink. This includes an investment of £2 million to boost DBT’s programme of global tradeshows and missions, which will be delivered in partnership with industry and the Food and Drink Export Council.

The programme will provide a wide range of targeted support for businesses, through education sessions on how to boost exports and target new markets and trade promotion activity, including an inward buyer trade mission and a UK Dairy Showcase.

It will also provide specialist resource in priority markets dedicated to supporting dairy exports and market intelligence support to help businesses exploit overseas opportunities.

Minister for Exports Lord Offord will visit dairy exporter Lye Cross Farm in Bristol, where he will launch the programme and hear about their exporting success.

Minster for Exports Lord Offord said:

Growing the agri, food and drink sector is key to growing our economy, and I am delighted to launch the Dairy Export Programme which will help businesses grasp exciting new opportunities around the world.

Last year our dairy exporters sold £2 billion of products to markets worldwide, and the work we are doing to strike up new trade deals will only see that figure rise further and move us forward in the race to £1 trillion of exports by 2030.

The UK dairy industry is among the best in the world and is renowned for being ambitious and innovative, with SMEs making up a large proportion of the sector and exporting over £2 billion of goods a year to over 135 countries.

The Dairy Export Programme will build on strong existing support for the sector from DBT, which this year has included facilitating buyer tastings at Anuga, the key international food and drink trade show in Cologne, a dairy showcase at Foodex in Japan, and supporting dairy companies exhibiting at the Food and Hospitality China trade show in Shanghai.

Food and drink companies also benefit from support through DBT’s Export Support Service, Export Academy, UK Export Finance and a network of International Trade Advisers.

DBT also has more than 100 advisers overseas who are focused on the agriculture, food and drink sector and who work alongside agri-attachés to tackle barriers and boost exports.

AHDB Chief Executive Tim Rycroft said:

International trade remains critical to the sector. Export development is at the heart of what AHDB does, showcasing our high-quality produce at international trade shows and hosting inward missions for key international buyers.

We welcome today’s announcement of additional government support for the dairy sector and will continue to work collaboratively with government and industry to deliver impactful activities and help maximise global opportunities for our levy payers.

It will support our ambition to help increase market access and international sales by championing the reputation of UK products overseas, as well as encouraging more businesses to export.

NFU Dairy Board Chair Michael Oakes said:

The NFU has been working closely with dairy producers, exporters and government through the Dairy Export Taskforce to examine ways to reduce trade barriers for dairy, improve market access and identify new opportunities for growth.

This new £1m programme shows how industry and government collaboration can help drive UK dairy exports, target new markets and bolster our exporting strength. With the global demand for dairy set to rise significantly, the UK should be leading the way when it comes to the trade of safe, high-quality and sustainable UK dairy products.

Peter Dawson, Policy & Sustainability Director Dairy UK and Chair of the Dairy Export Taskforce said:

Exports by dairy processors make a major contribution to the UK economy and there is considerable potential for growth. We welcome the support package announced today and look forward to continuing to work closely with DBT to maximise its benefit for dairy exporters and the dairy supply chain in general.

Notes to editors:
- The Dairy Export Programme was formed in a collaborative consultation between DBT, the Dairy Export Taskforce and the wider UK dairy industry.
- The Dairy Export Taskforce is an industry-led initiative to boost exports. The taskforce includes NFU, Dairy UK, AHDB and dairy businesses. DBT and DEFRA also participate.
November 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary arrives in Saudi Arabia to drive diplomatic efforts on the conflict in Gaza and Southern Israel [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 November 2023.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has travelled to Saudi Arabia and will hold high-level talks with regional Foreign Ministers.
- Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has travelled to Saudi Arabia after the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Tokyo
- He will hold high-level talks with regional Foreign Ministers in diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation and work towards a two-state solution
- He will push for a collective effort to get lifesaving aid into Gaza as quickly as possible, through as many routes as possible.
The Foreign Secretary will reiterate the UK’s commitment to prevent regional escalation to the crisis and increasing the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza on a visit to Saudi Arabia on 9 November.

James Cleverly will meet with Foreign Ministers from the Middle East, who are gathering in Saudi Arabia ahead of a League of Arab States emergency meeting on Gaza on Saturday.

He is expected to raise efforts to prevent wider regional escalation, including in Lebanon and Yemen, and offer continued UK support to bolster deterrence and counter threats from malign groups in the region.

The Foreign Secretary will also discuss initiatives to significantly increase the volume of aid reaching civilians in Gaza, including medicines, fuel and water, and ensure a pipeline of funds and supplies to support the relief effort. He will reaffirm the UK’s support for further humanitarian pauses in the fighting as soon as possible to deliver aid and provide a crucial window for hostages – including British nationals – to be released.

In his meetings with counterparts, the Foreign Secretary will also reiterate the UK’s condemnation of the rise in settler violence and call for Israel to hold those responsible to account to improve the situation in the West Bank. He will outline the UK’s support for reinvigorating diplomatic efforts towards a achieving a viable two-state solution.

His visit to Saudi Arabia follows on from his attendance at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting, where attendees agreed on the urgent need to allow humanitarian pauses to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement and release of hostages.

The Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly said:

I have been focused on diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages, to ensure that foreign nationals can leave Gaza, to deter any escalation regionally and to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid at scale.

I will continue this essential work in Saudi Arabia where I will meet with a number of my counterparts in the region to explore how we achieve those aims quickly and also look to the future of a lasting, peaceful, and prosperous two-state solution for both Israelis and Palestinians.

His visit follows the UK’s delivery of vital equipment and lifesaving aid to support civilians in Gaza and a £30 million increase in UK assistance to Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Since Hamas’ terrorist atrocities 7 October, UK government ministers have been engaging with countries across the Middle East, as well as the international community. The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary have all visited the region in recent weeks to push for lifesaving aid to get into Gaza, support the return of British nationals, prevent dangerous regional escalation and back Israel’s right to self-defence.
November 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The ICC is an important tool to deliver justice for Libya through transparent investigation – UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 November 2023.

Statement by Chanaka Wickremasinghe, UK Legal Adviser to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

Thank you, Mr President. I would like to start by thanking Prosecutor Khan, for his important briefing today on the occasion of the 26th report of the Prosecutor of the ICC on the situation in Libya.

The United Kingdom gives its full support to the President’s ongoing investigations and we welcome his latest report to the Council.

We welcome the reports of good progress in the implementation of the renewed strategy of the Office of the Prosecutor, in particular the indication from the Prosecutor, that the Office will be in a position to outline a potential roadmap for completion of their activities pursuant to Resolution 1970 in his next report.

We welcome the update from the Prosecutor on the four key lines of inquiry in the strategy. We are pleased to note the increased engagement with witnesses, survivors and civil society, through the Office’s continuous presence in the region. Justice is vital to long-term security and stability.

We note also the progress made by the Office with respect to crimes against migrants and the efforts to work more closely with national authorities to deliver accountability for relevant crimes.

We recognise the Prosecutor’s call for resources to address identified strategic risks and the need to ensure the Office is sufficiently resourced to conclude its investigations.

The ICC is an important tool to deliver justice for Libya, through transparent investigation. We must therefore ensure the ICC is in a position that it can set out and deliver a roadmap to complete investigations, and to do justice for the people of Libya. In this respect, we welcome UNSMIL’s support and engagement with the ICC investigation.

However, we also emphasise the importance of cooperation of the Libyan authorities with the ICC investigation in accordance with the requirements of resolution 1970. Such cooperation includes the issue of visas to ICC staff, the provision of documentation and other evidence to the ICC, and the surrender of individuals subject to arrest warrants.

In conclusion Mr President, we underline that the UK remains committed to working with the Prosecutor’s Office and urge them along with the Libyan authorities, UNSMIL and others to build on the progress to date and to ensure the delivery of justice for the people of Libya.

November 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Investigatory Powers Act 2016 reform announced in King’s Speech [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 8 November 2023.

The government has introduced legislation to update the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.
The Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill was announced in the King’s Speech and will make urgent and targeted amendments to the existing act to ensure our country is kept safe and our citizens protected from harmful threats.

As technology advances and changes, so do the threats that the UK faces. Updating the act to meet modern reality will ensure our intelligence agencies can use and develop more appropriate tools and capabilities to rapidly identify intelligence insights from increasing quantities of data. This will allow them to better understand and respond to threats to the public and keep apace with evolving technology.

These amendments will enhance our national security by keeping the public safer from threats such as terrorism, hostile activity from foreign powers and serious and organised crime. The UK is a world leader in ensuring privacy can be protected without compromising security. The bill will maintain and enhance the existing high standards for safeguarding privacy in the 2016 act.

Suella Braverman, Home Secretary, said:

My priority is and always will be to keep the public safe. I am committed to ensuring that our intelligence agencies and law enforcement have all the tools to do just this.

Backed by safeguards, these reforms will play an integral part in tackling a range of dangerous threats to our country.

The targeted reforms will not create new powers in the act. They will instead modify elements of the existing legislation to ensure it is proportionate, provides agencies and oversight bodies with appropriate resilience mechanisms and maintains and enhances the existing measures. As Lord Anderson noted in his recent review of the act, the UK goes much further than its allies in respect of the current restrictions placed on the intelligence agencies’ use of bulk personal datasets.

The bill will update the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 by:

Making changes to the bulk personal dataset regime, to improve the intelligence agencies’ ability to respond with greater agility and speed to existing and emerging threats to national security. The amendments will improve the quality and speed of analysts’ decision making, improving their ability to keep the public safe in a digital age, whilst adhering to strong, proportionate safeguards and with independent oversight.

Enhancing the existing world leading safeguards to support the Investigatory Powers Commissioner in carrying out oversight of public authorities use of investigatory powers,

Modifying the notices regimes to ensure the efficacy of the existing powers in the context of new technologies and the commercial structures of a modern digital economy. This includes ensuring that the law maintains exceptional lawful access where possible, to ensure the protection of public safety while also protecting the privacy of citizens and the ability of companies to develop cutting-edge technologies,

Updating the conditions for use of Internet Connection Records to ensure that these can be used effectively to target the most serious types of criminal activity and national security threats without a corresponding increase in levels of intrusion, underpinned by a robust independent oversight regime, and

Increasing resilience of the warranty authorisation processes to allow greater operational agility for the intelligence agencies and National Crime Agency. This will help to ensure they can always get lawful access to information in a timely way so that they can respond to the most serious national security and organised crime threats.

The heads of the UK’s intelligence agencies, Anne Keast-Butler, Director GCHQ; Ken McCallum, Director General of MI5; and Richard Moore, Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, said:

The Investigatory Powers Act is fundamental to the agencies’ ability to keep the country safe while maintaining our democratic licence to operate. It provides the investigatory powers we need to detect and disrupt threats to the UK while applying world-leading safeguards consistent with the UK’s democratic values.

From hostile activity by states, to terrorists and criminal groups, all our adversaries are taking advantage of new technologies to further their aims. It is vital the UK is able to keep pace, which is why we are pleased that Parliament will debate a number of vital, targeted changes to the IPA.

With robust and innovative protections – including independent oversight by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and redress through the Investigatory Powers Tribunal – the existing act regulates how investigatory powers are used by public authorities. It makes clear the circumstances in which the various powers may be used and the strict safeguards that apply. This ensures that any interference with privacy is strictly necessary, proportionate, authorised, and accountable.

The measures being taken forward in the bill have been driven by the Home Secretary’s review and recommendations made in the independent review by Lord Anderson published in June 2023.

Graeme Biggar, Director General of the National Crime Agency, said:

Accessing communications data is essential for investigating the most serious crimes and protecting our national security.

As technology and the threats we face evolve in the digital world, we need to ensure the legislation remains fit for purpose to help keep the public safe.

The amendments to the Investigatory Powers Act will enhance law enforcement’s ability to tackle terrorism, state threats and serious organised crime such as child sexual exploitation, drug smuggling and fraud.

The reforms to the act will ensure the powers continue to be subject to robust independent oversight. Access to individuals’ data will happen only exceptionally, where it is necessary to prevent the most serious forms of crime, and with robust protections in place.

Tom Tugendhat, Security Minister, said:

The first duty of government is to protect the British people.

This bill will give our intelligence services the powers they need to stay on the cutting edge as they defend our country against terrorism and hostile state actors, whilst protecting and enhancing the privacy of people across the UK.
November 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government expands list of safe countries allowing more removals [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 8 November 2023.

India and Georgia to be added to the UK’s ‘safe states’ list in a key step in delivery of the Illegal Migration Act.

The Government will add India and Georgia to a list of safe states to speed up process of returning people who have travelled from either country illegally.

Draft legislation laid in Parliament today (Wednesday 8 November) will strengthen the immigration system and help prevent abuse, including by people making unfounded protection claims. This marks another next step in the delivery of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 and Government’s plan to stop the boats.

Indian and Georgian small boat arrivals have increased over the last year despite individuals not being at obvious risk of persecution. Deeming these countries safe will mean that if an individual arrives illegally from either one, we will not admit their claim to the UK asylum system.

Other countries deemed safe by the UK include Albania and Switzerland, plus the EU and EEA states.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman, said:

We must stop people making dangerous and illegal journeys to the UK from fundamentally safe countries.

Expanding this list will allow us to more swiftly remove people with no right to be here and sends a clear message that if you come here illegally, you cannot stay.

We remain committed to delivering the measures in our Illegal Migration Act, which will play a part in the fight against illegal migration.

A country can only be added to the safe states list (known legislatively as Section 80AA), if the Home Secretary is satisfied that there is, in general, no serious risk of persecution of its nationals, and; removal of nationals to that country cannot go against the UK’s obligations under the Human Rights Convention. The Home Office has rigorously assessed India and Georgia and determined that both meet these criteria.

Today’s measures sit within the Illegal Migration Act 2023, which aims to stop the boats by changing the law so that people who come to the UK illegally can be detained and then swiftly returned to a safe third country or their home country. Further measures, including the duty to remove, will be rolled out in the coming months.

The Government remains determined to stop the boats and deter people from making dangerous journeys to the UK. The Act is one important part of our collective effort to break the cycle, end exploitation by gangs and prevent further loss of life. This issue is being tackled on all fronts, including working upstream with international partners, clamping down on the criminal gangs with stepped-up enforcement, and working with the French to prevent more crossings.

November 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £15 million announced for flood recovery in Northern Ireland [November 2023]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 8 November 2023.

Up to £15 million of reallocated funding made available in Northern Ireland to respond to flooding – supporting affected businesses and aiding clean-up costs.
In absence of the Executive, support made possible by reallocating capital funding to resource budgets.

A £60 million switch for the Scottish Government and £35 million switch for the Welsh Government also confirmed.

The UK Government has today, 8 November, announced up to £15 million of support will be available to respond to flooding in areas of Northern Ireland in the absence of the Executive.

The money has been made available through the granting of a request made to HM Treasury jointly by the UK Government’s Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland’s Department of Finance to reallocate funding from capital to resource budgets – recognising the need to be nimble and act swiftly at times of crisis for communities.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, has also confirmed a £60 million switch for the Scottish Government and £35 million switch for the Welsh Government to respond to flooding or allocate to other areas as they see fit.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, said:

The floods have been devastating for all those who have suffered the destruction of their homes and businesses. I have previously seen myself all the hard work that has gone into the areas affected to build facilities, invest and grow businesses and improve the local area.

I can only imagine how people must be feeling to see the destruction these floods have brought to areas they’ve invested so much in. Those who have suffered damage need reassurance that support will be available. This is rightly something which a devolved Executive should be able to deliver.

However, in the absence of the Executive which could have acted swiftly, the UK Government will make available up to £15m of support through the reallocation of existing NI funding. This will help with clean-up costs and support businesses to resume trading.

We will continue to work closely with the NI Civil Service and local councils to ensure that support gets to those who need it as quickly as possible.

Further information

Responding to flooding is a devolved responsibility and the Scottish and Welsh Governments are free to allocate their resources as they see fit.

The £15 million is existing NI Executive funding which will be reallocated from capital spend.
November 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New Testament owned by royalty at risk of leaving UK [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 8 November 2023.

Export bar placed on the manuscript, formerly owned by French and English royalty to allow time for a UK institution to acquire it for the nation.
- The work, which was formerly owned by both King Jean II ‘le Bon’ of France and Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, deemed to be hugely important for the study of Anglo-French cultural exchange
- The manuscript has been valued at £800,000
A New Testament manuscript owned by members of the English Royal Family in the 14th and 15th centuries is at risk of leaving the country unless a UK buyer can be found.

The manuscript, valued at £800,000, was previously unknown to scholars as it has been in private ownership for at least 300 years. It contains the signature of the former king, who ruled France from 1350 to 1364, during the Hundred Years’ War with England.

It is possible that the manuscript, which contains an early translation of the New Testament into French, was captured at the Battle of Poitiers. It has been in England ever since.

Ownership inscriptions made in the book reveal that it has also been owned by members of the English Royal Family, the most prominent of whom was the renowned mediaeval collector and son of King Henry IV, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (1390–1447). It was also owned by his elder brother Thomas, Duke of Clarence (1387–1421), and by Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset (1406–1455).

The manuscript, which is decorated with illuminations, may have been used by the Lancastrians to boost their claims to the French throne.

There are also several erased ownership inscriptions in the volume, as yet undeciphered. Further analysis could allow academics to discover more about the manuscript’s provenance.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

This extraordinarily well-preserved New Testament, with its delightful, intricate decorations, is an exciting opportunity for scholarship as well as a great reminder of the long impact that French culture has had on Britain.

I hope that a buyer comes forward to make sure it can continue to be researched and its revelations shared with generations to come.

Committee Member Caroline Shenton said:

This late-thirteenth-century New Testament is of extraordinary importance to our understanding of English mediaeval royal culture, politics, and diplomacy during the Hundred Years’ War. Although as the work of the Cholet Master its decoration makes it a very attractive object in its own right, it is its textual interest and staggering provenance which make it a national treasure. The manuscript is previously unknown to scholarship, having been in private hands for over 300 years. Excitingly, the particular French translation of the New Testament it contains appears to be unique and ripe for significant philological research. Furthermore, it was owned by Jean II ‘le Bon’, King of France (1350-1364), whose signature – an exceedingly rare survival – is on its final page. It is highly likely that it was seized as war booty when he and his possessions were taken hostage at the Battle of Poitiers by the Black Prince in 1356, and it has been in England ever since.

Even more remarkably, the very recent discovery under ultra-violet light of several erased ownership inscriptions indicates that it subsequently passed through the hands of a number of English royal owners, grandsons of John of Gaunt (1340-1399), including Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. No doubt this was part of a concerted ‘soft diplomacy’ effort by the Lancastrians to bolster the English claim to the French throne. Duke Humphrey is widely regarded as the most important English mediaeval book collector, but only 47 of his original library of some 500 volumes are known to survive. Now a 48th has suddenly come to light. I very much hope that an institution will come forward to save this jaw-dropping manuscript which still has so much to tell us about its story and the stories of those who owned it.

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

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the manuscript met the first and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life and its outstanding significance for the study of Anglo-French cultural exchange, learning and patronage during the period of the Hundred Years’ War, with special relevance to the book collections of Jean le Bon and of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.

The decision on the export licence application for the manuscript will be deferred for a period ending on 7 February 2024 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period, owners will have a consideration period of 15 business days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the manuscript at the recommended price of £800,000. The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for four months.

Offers from public bodies for less than the recommended price through the private treaty sale arrangements, where appropriate, may also be considered by the Minister. Such purchases frequently offer substantial financial benefit to a public institution wishing to acquire the item.
November 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New annual oil and gas licensing rounds to boost UK economy, energy independence and transition to net zero [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 8 November 2023.

New legislation introduced for annual oil and gas licensing rounds.
Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill to safeguard homegrown energy supply

legislation will require annual oil and gas licensing rounds to support UK production

Bill will provide certainty and investor confidence for oil and gas industry, supporting 200,000 jobs across the UK and adding £16 billion to the economy each year

The UK government has introduced the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill to Parliament today (Wednesday 8 November) to boost the UK economy, energy security and transition to net zero.

The legislation will require annual oil and gas licensing rounds subject to stringent new emissions and imports tests.

The domestic oil and gas industry is vital to the UK’s energy security and economy. The introduction of regular licensing for exploration will increase certainty, investor confidence and make the UK more energy independent. This new regime will be subject to 2 key tests being met: that the UK is projected to remain a net importer of both oil and gas; and that the carbon emissions associated with the production of UK gas must be lower than the average of equivalent emissions from imported liquefied natural gas.

Supporting continued production in the UK will also reduce reliance on higher-emission imports – with domestic gas production having around one-quarter of the carbon footprint of imported liquefied natural gas.

The oil and gas industry supports around 200,000 jobs in the UK and adds £16 billion annually to the economy – with fossil fuel producers expected to pay around £50 billion in tax over the next 5 years.

The sector is also playing an important role in helping the UK reach the net zero target by drawing on existing supply chains, expertise and key skills – needed for low-carbon industries such as tidal power, offshore wind, and carbon capture and storage.

Supporting continued domestic production will therefore help deliver on the Prime Minister’s priorities to grow the economy while realising the UK’s net zero target in a pragmatic and proportionate way.

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Claire Coutinho said:

The UK has cut its emissions faster than any of its peers. But as the independent Climate Change Committee acknowledges we will need oil and gas even after we reach net zero in 2050.

As energy markets become more unstable it’s just common sense to make the most of our own homegrown advantages and use the oil, gas, wind and hydrogen on our doorstep in the North Sea. Rather than importing dirtier fuels from abroad, we want to give industry the certainty to invest in jobs here and unlock billions of pounds for our own transition to clean energy.

While the government is scaling up domestic clean energy sources such as offshore wind and nuclear, the UK still relies on oil and gas for its energy needs. This will continue to be the case over the coming decades, and even after 2050, as data published by the independent Climate Change Committee shows.

The new Bill will bolster domestic energy supplies by requiring the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), the independent regulator for oil and gas, to run annual oil and gas licensing rounds, inviting applications for new production licences in the UK’s offshore waters.
November 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Statement on recovery from floods in Northern Ireland [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 8 November 2023.

Up to £15 million of reallocated funding made available in Northern Ireland to respond to flooding – supporting affected businesses and aiding clean-up costs.

Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, said:

“The floods have been devastating for all those who have suffered the destruction of their homes and businesses. I have previously seen myself all the hard work that has gone into the areas affected to build facilities, invest and grow businesses and improve the local area.

“I can only imagine how people must be feeling to see the destruction these floods have brought to areas they’ve invested so much in. Those who have suffered damage need reassurance that support will be available. This is rightly something which a devolved Executive should be able to deliver.

“However, in the absence of the Executive which could have acted swiftly, the UK Government will make available up to £15m of support through the reallocation of existing NI funding. This will help with clean-up costs and support businesses to resume trading.

“We will continue to work closely with the NI Civil Service and local councils to ensure that support gets to those who need it as quickly as possible.”

November 8, 2023