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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with President el-Sisi of Egypt [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with President el-Sisi of Egypt [November 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 November 2023.

    The Prime Minister spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi this evening about the situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East.

    He welcomed the opening of the Rafah crossing today for the first British and other nationals and injured Palestinians to leave Gaza. The Prime Minister thanked President Sisi for his efforts and said the UK would continue to work closely with Egypt and Israel to ensure all British citizens can leave Gaza safely.

    The leaders talked about urgent work to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the Prime Minister updated on plans for a second UK aid flight to support the work of the Egyptian Red Crescent. He said ensuring life-saving aid and medical treatment reaches civilians by all available routes is a top priority and the UK stands ready to provide further support.

    The Prime Minister and President Sisi also discussed diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, prevent escalation in the wider Middle East and achieve long-term peace and prosperity for the Palestinian people.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris [November 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 November 2023.

    The Prime Minister welcomed the United States Vice President Kamala Harris to Downing Street for the first time this afternoon.

    Ahead of travelling to the AI Safety Summit tomorrow, they discussed the need for global collaboration on the novel opportunities and risks presented by frontier AI, including issues like bias and disinformation. The Vice President thanked the Prime Minister for hosting the first summit to take forward these discussions.

    The Prime Minister welcomed the shared focus on AI safety, including the announcement of a new US institute that will work closely alongside the UK’s AI Safety Institute to boost research into the capabilities and risks of this technology.

    The Prime Minister and Vice President also spoke about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Prime Minister reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself against terror as well as the need to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza and to free hostages taken by Hamas. Both agreed that the UK and US were aligned in these efforts and would continue to work with partners in the region to ensure stability.

    The Prime Minister and Vice President also stressed the importance of continued support for Ukraine and close collaboration on the fight against Russian aggression.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government to deliver 160 community diagnostic centres a year early [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government to deliver 160 community diagnostic centres a year early [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 1 November 2023.

    The community diagnostic centre (CDC) programme is largest central cash investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS.

    • The government has announced 3 of the final CDC locations which will serve tens of thousands of patients in London, Sussex and Yorkshire – offering patients greater choice on where and how they are treated
    • Over 5 million tests, checks and scans have been delivered for patients so far, as part of efforts to bring down waiting lists

    The government will meet its target to open 160 community diagnostic centres a year early, the Health and Social Care Secretary will announce today (31 October 2023).

    All 160 centres will be open by March 2024, a year ahead of the original March 2025 target – speeding up access to potentially lifesaving tests and checks.

    In a speech to the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, he will confirm the rollout of the one-stop shops following the hard work of NHS staff and the government’s efforts to maximise use of the independent sector – backed by the £2.3 billion in capital funding.

    Based in a variety of settings including shopping centres, university campuses and football stadiums, 127 of the community healthcare hubs are already open – including 40 brought forward earlier than planned. They offer patients a wide range of diagnostic tests closer to home and greater choice on where and how they are treated, reducing the need for hospital visits and helping them to receive potentially life-saving care sooner.

    The programme constitutes the largest central cash investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS and has already delivered more than 5 million additional tests, checks and scans across the country. The new centres will provide capacity for 9 million more by 2025 as part of the NHS and government’s plan to recover services following the pandemic.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Patients deserve the highest quality care, and community diagnostic centres have been instrumental in speeding up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease to ensure patients are treated more quickly.

    I’m delighted we will open 160 CDCs a year early, allowing greater access to high tech scans and diagnostics in communities across England.

    This has been made possible by using all capacity available to us and drawing on the independent sector – helping us to cut waiting lists, one of the government’s top 5 priorities.

    The government has announced 3 of the final locations which will serve tens of thousands of patients, with all set to open in December 2023. They are:

    • Queen Mary’s Sidcup CDC – based in south-east London, the facility will offer CT, MRI and ultrasound checks, along with blood tests – providing at least 58,000 additional checks once fully operational
    • Halifax CDC – based at Broad Street Plaza shopping centre in the Yorkshire town, this CDC will offer ultrasound checks, blood tests and heart scans – delivering at least 90,000 tests once fully operational
    • Chichester University CDC, Bognor Regis – this facility will offer CT and MRI scans along with ultrasound checks and blood tests to patients, and deliver at least 18,000 additional tests once fully operational

    In total, 13 of the CDCs are led by the independent sector, with 8 of these already operational. There are a further 22 CDCs located on the NHS estate where the independent sector is providing diagnostic services. They function like NHS-run CDCs but by making use of the available capacity in the independent sector patients can access additional diagnostic capacity free at the point of need.

    Alongside this, as the Prime Minister originally announced in May, hundreds of thousands of NHS patients who have been waiting longer than 40 weeks for treatment will today be offered the opportunity to travel to a different hospital as part of ambitious measures set out in the elective recovery plan.

    Any patient who has been waiting longer than 40 weeks and does not have an appointment within the next 8 weeks will be contacted by their hospital via letter, text or email. The 400,000 eligible patients will then be able to submit their details, including how far they are willing to travel.

    Thanks to this and wider measures, the government successfully met the first target in its elective recovery plan to virtually eliminate waits of over 2 years and has cut 18-month waits by over 90% from the peak in September 2021.

    Earlier this year, the government’s Elective Recovery Taskforce set out a plan to maximise independent sector capacity to treat NHS patients more quickly. Chaired by Health Minister Will Quince and made up of academics and experts from the NHS and independent sector, the taskforce looked for ways to go further to bust the COVID-19 backlogs and reduce waiting times for patients.

    Its recommendations will ensure patients have the right to receive care at a provider of their choice, encourage the system to work together to deliver a post-pandemic recovery, and monitor the contribution of the independent sector to delivering health services and developing the workforce.

    Earlier this month, the government also invested £200 million to boost resilience in the NHS and help patients get the care they need as quickly as possible this winter. The new funding came after the Prime Minister and Health and Social Care Secretary met clinical leaders and NHS chiefs to drive forward planning to ease pressures in urgent and emergency care while protecting waiting list targets this winter. Alongside this, £40 million was invested to bolster social care capacity and improve discharge from hospital.

    Background information

    DHSC and NHS England count CDCs delivering tests and accessing national funding as open. This may include temporary sites while the full CDC is completed.

    We are now recruiting for an independent chair of the choice panel, who will help promote compliance with rules on patient choice.

    In September, NHS England confirmed that 4 other CDCs had been approved – 2 in Wiltshire, one in Thanet and one in Cheshire.

    The full list of open CDCs can be found below:

    • Andover CDC
    • Barking Community Hospital CDC
    • Barnsley Glassworks CDC
    • Bexhill CDC
    • Bishop Auckland CDC
    • Blaydon CDC
    • Bolton CDC
    • Bradford District and Craven CDC
    • Bath Somerset and Wiltshire Banes Locality CDC
    • Buckland Community Hospital CDC
    • Cannock Chase CDC
    • CDC Poole @Dorset Health Village with spoke CDCs:
      • Poole, Beales CDC
      • South Walks CDC
      • Boscombe AECC CDC
      • Weymouth CDC
    • CIOS Bodmin CDC with spoke CDC:
      • West Cornwall CDC
    • Clacton CDC
    • Clatterbridge Diagnostics CDC with spoke CDCs:
      • Ellesmere Port CDC
      • Liverpool Women’s Hospital CDC
    • Paddington CDC
    • Corbett CDC with spoke CDCs:
      • Guest CDC
      • Merry Hill CDC
    • Corby CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Kings Heath CDC
    • Coventry City Community CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Rugby St Cross CDC
    • Crawley Collaborative CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Caterham Dene CDC
    • Devon Exeter Nightingale CDC
    • East Somerset CDC
    • Eltham Community Hospital CDC
    • [Ely CDC (hub) – not open yet] with spoke CDC:
      • Wisbech CDC
    • Finchley Memorial Hospital CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Wood Green CDC
    • Florence Nightingale Community Hospital CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Sir Robert Peel CDC
    • Gloucestershire Quayside CDC
    • Grantham CDC
    • Hereford City CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Kidderminster Treatment Centre CDC
    • Hinckley CDC
    • Huddersfield CDC
    • Ilkeston Community Hospital CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Whitworth Hospital CDC
    • Island CDC
    • [James Paget CDC – not open yet] with spoke CDC:
      • East Norfolk CDC
    • Leeds CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Armley Moor Health Centre CDC
    • Leicester CDC
    • Leigh CDC
    • Lymington New Forest Hospital CDC with spoke CDCs:
      • Hythe CDC
      • Romsey CDC
    • Manchester and Trafford CDC
    • Mansfield CDC
    • Mile End Hospital CDC
    • Milford Community Hospital CDC
    • Montagu Hospital CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Rotherham Diagnostics CDC
    • New QEII Hospital CDC
    • [North Bedfordshire CDC (hub) – not open yet] with spoke CDC:
      • Whitehouse Health Centre CDC
    • North Bristol CDC
    • [North Lincolnshire CDC (hub) – not open yet] with spoke CDCs:
      • Askham Bar Community Care Centre CDC
      • East Riding Community Hospital CDC
      • Selby War Memorial CDC
    • North Solihull CDC
    • Northern Care Alliance Oldham CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Salford CDC
    • [NWL Ealing CDC (hub) – not open yet] with spoke CDC:
      • Wembley CDC
      • Willesden CDC
    • Oxford CDC
    • Penrith CDC
    • Portsmouth CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Fareham CDC
      • Oak Park CDC
    • Preston Healthport CDC
    • Queen Mary’s Hospital Roehampton CDC with spoke CDCs:
      • Kingston CDC
      • Purley CDC
    • Queen Victoria Hospital CDC
    • Rossendale CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Burnley General Hospital Spoke CDC
    • Royal South Hants CDC
    • [Slough CDC (hub) not open yet] with spoke CDC:
      • Heatherwood CDC
    • Somerset West CDC with spoke CDCs:
      • Bridgwater CDC
      • South Petherton CDC
      • Taunton Central CDC
      • West Mendip CDC
      • Yeovil CDC
    • South Warwickshire CDC
    • Southlands Hospital CDC with spoke CDCs:
      • Bognor Regis WMH CDC
    • Brighton CDC
    • St Helens CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Southport CDC
    • Shrewsbury Telford and Wrekin CDC
    • Swale CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Medway CDC
    • [Tees Valley CDC – not yet open] with spoke CDCs:
      • Lawson Street CDC
      • Friarage CDC
      • Hartlepool CDC
      • Redcar CDC
    • Thurrock CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Braintree CDC
    • Victoria Infirmary Northwich CDC
    • Warrington and Halton CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Shopping City CDC
    • Warwickshire North CDC
    • Washwood Heath CDC
    • West Berkshire Community Hospital CDC with spoke CDCs:
      • Amersham CDC
      • Bracknell CDC
    • West Essex CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Bishop’s Stortford CDC
    • West Kent CDC
    • Westmorland CDC with spoke CDCs:
      • Crossland Day Hospital CDC
      • Heysham CDC
    • Weston CDC
    • Whitegate Drive CDC with spoke CDC:
      • Fleetwood CDC
    • Woking Community Hospital CDC
  • PRESS RELEASE : Scottish Secretary responds to GDP figures for August 2023 [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Scottish Secretary responds to GDP figures for August 2023 [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland on 1 November 2023.

    Alister Jack welcomes economy’s resilience while remaining committed to halving inflation for long-term growth.

    Scotland’s onshore GDP is estimated to have increased by 0.1% in August, following the figures increasing by 0.2% in July (revised up from 0.1% in the previous publication)

    In the three months to August, GDP is estimated to have remained constant (0.0% growth) compared to the previous three month period. This indicates an increase in growth during the third quarter of the year so far, relative to the fall of 0.3% in 2023 Quarter 2 (April to June)

    Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said:

    While this month’s figures indicate a resilient economy, we are still absolutely committed to halving inflation to achieve sustained long-term growth.

    Not only are we encouraging trade and boosting investment with more than £2.5 billion invested directly into all parts of Scotland, we also continue to help families with the cost of living, with the second of three £300 payments going out from this week to those who need it most.

    The UK has grown faster than France and Germany since the pandemic and we will continue to prioritise growing the economy for the benefit of people all over the UK.

    Additional information:

    • Since 2010, the UK has grown faster than France, Japan and Germany.
    • Recent figures have shown that by 2021 the UK had recovered faster than France, Germany, Italy and Japan, with the economy 0.6% above pre-pandemic levels by 2021 Q4.
    • Through measures announced at the Spring Budget, the Chancellor is tackling two of the biggest issues for UK growth – employment levels and business investment – while also supporting households with cost-of-living pressures.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Russia aligns with authoritarian regimes out of desperate necessity – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Russia aligns with authoritarian regimes out of desperate necessity – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 November 2023.

    UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine is a tragedy for Ukrainians but an unmitigated disaster for Russia.

    Thank you, Madam Chair. Once again, Ukrainian civilians have paid the price for Russia’s illegal war of aggression on its sovereign neighbour. In the town of Izium, in Kharkiv Oblast, Russian missiles struck a fire station, injuring eight personnel. It is a feature of the depravity of the Russian campaign that Russia continues to cause damage to targets, such as ‘first-responders’, whose very role it is to preserve life.

    On 26 October, Russian one-way-attack UAVs struck near Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant, 280km west of Kyiv. 20 people were reported injured by falling debris in a town nearby, windows at the plant were shattered and power was temporarily cut to off-site radiation monitoring stations. The attack also downed power lines near the facility. Thankfully the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the plant’s operation continued to be unaffected. Alongside the unacceptable military control of Zaphorizhzhia Power Plant by Russia this acts as another example of Russian recklessness and the risks this brings to nuclear safety and security.

    No doubt, in a moment, we will hear from the Russian Delegation in another attempt to draw equivalence with Ukraine. But we should be in no doubt that there is no equivalence. Russia is the aggressor. Ukraine did not illegally invade its neighbour; Russia did. In what has historically been a monologue of disinformation, Russia may proclaim a new world order; but this is a world order in which Russia invites the Hamas terrorist group to Moscow, following Hamas’s brutal murder of over 1400 Israeli citizens; it is the world order of allying with Iran, the provider of Shahed one way attack drones which have been used extensively by Russia to kill Ukrainian civilians and attack critical infrastructure; and the development of North Korea as Russia’s new strategic arms partner and provider of military aid. Madam Chair, this is not a new world order, but a grouping of authoritarian States that have aligned out of desperate necessity.

    Mixing with such regimes mark the depths to which Russia has sunk in an effort to maintain its military in the field. Russia does this while it continues to suffer devastating losses both around the town of Avdiivka and in the campaign more broadly.

    Madam Chair, Russia’s horrendous war against Ukraine has now lasted 200 times longer than Russia had predicted it would.  The incredible defence of Ukraine is the result of the tremendous courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people. It is quite plausible that Russia will once again try this winter to directly target Ukrainian energy infrastructure, if it can replenish its diminished stockpile of long-range cruise missiles. This would be in keeping with the cynical way in which Russia has chosen to fight its illegal war to date. And Russia will continue to mask its myriad military failures to enable this debacle to continue. Even in this diplomatic Forum, Russia will threaten to destroy Ukrainian aircraft, whilst at the same time Russia continues to shoot its own aircraft out the sky; it will talk of military advances whilst now only having control of half of the Ukrainian territory it did at the beginning of the campaign; and it may even show a handful of NATO vehicles on the obligatory slideshow, never acknowledging that Russia has now lost 5000 tanks in this calamitous campaign.

    Madam Chair, Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine is a tragedy for Ukrainians but an unmitigated disaster for Russia. The sooner Russia recognises its folly and withdraws from internationally recognised Ukrainian territory, the better. Until that time, the United Kingdom will continue to support Ukraine, to help it become ever more capable of defending itself and, assist in the reconstruction that Russia has necessitated. As for Russia, those responsible will be held accountable for the destructive and catastrophic campaign; the longest ‘lightning strike’ in military history at over 600-days and counting. Ukraine will win this war. Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Environmental principles duty comes into force [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Environmental principles duty comes into force [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 November 2023.

    Under the duty set out in the Environment Act 2021, ministers and policy makers must consider the environmental impact of new policies.

    A new environmental principles duty – a measure to ensure the environment is at the heart of governmental policy making – comes into force today (Wednesday 1 November).

    The duty reflects the government’s commitment to leaving the environment in a better state for future generations, ensuring that green issues are taken into account throughout the decision-making process. This will help the government to meet the targets outlined in the Environmental Improvement Plan and will ensure that environmental impacts are always given due consideration when policy is drafted.

    Under the duty, ministers and policy makers must consider the environmental impact of new policies, following a framework of key principles:

    • The integration principle, which is the principle that environmental protection should be integrated into the making of policies.
    • The prevention principle, which states that government policy makers should aim to prevent environmental harm.
    • The rectification at source principle, which means that policy should address environmental damage at the source, to avoid the need to remedy its effects later.
    • The polluter pays principle, which states that where possible, the costs of environmental damage should be borne by those causing it, rather than the person who suffers the effects of the resulting environmental damage, or the wider community.
    • The precautionary principle, which provides that where the threat of serious or irreversible environmental damage exists, a lack of scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.

    The duty applies to new or revised policies made across government, with exceptions for national security and spending decisions, and delivers on commitments included in the Environment Act 2021 for Ministers of the Crown to have legal due regard to these principles.

    Nature Minister Trudy Harrison said:

    This government has gone further and faster to protect nature than any other, and the introduction of this duty further reaffirms our commitment to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.

    Considering the environment across government policy will support our wider efforts to restore halt species loss and protect our much-loved landscapes, green spaces and the marine environment.

    The principles are designed to guide policymakers towards opportunities to prevent environmental damage and enhance the environment. These are internationally recognised as successful benchmarks for environmental protection and enhancement.

    The duty is outlined in detail in the Environmental Principles Policy Statement, published earlier this year, which outlines how to interpret and proportionately apply the principles. Ministers and the officials advising them on policy need to thoroughly consider these principles throughout the policy development process.

    Work has been underway to implement the new duty across government, including working with policymakers, lawyers and analysts.

    The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) will monitor and report on implementation of the duty across government.

    Environmental protection is devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, subject to a small number of reserved areas. Therefore, each devolved administration can legislate individually for the Environmental Principles in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment to the Youth Justice Board [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment to the Youth Justice Board [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 November 2023.

    The Secretary of State for Justice has approved the reappointments of Susannah Hancock, Jacob Sakil, and Louise Shorter as members of the Youth Justice Board.

    The Secretary of State has reappointed Susannah Hancock, Jacob Sakil, and Louise Shorter as members of the Youth Justice Board (YJB) for 3 years from 1 December 2023 until 30 November 2026.

    Susannah Hancock is the Chief Operating Officer for the National Fire Chiefs Council. She was previously Chief Executive of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners. Before that she was Assistant Chief Executive of Victim Support and Chief Executive of the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in Essex. Between 2004-2008, she served as Head of London for the YJB.

    Jacob Sakil: Since 2017, Jacob has been a passionate advocate for youth social action and community engagement. He is the founder of American Bites start-up, Youth Justice Service representative and sits on the Business in the Community’s (BITC) Place Taskforce supporting the collaborative potential of business to strengthen communities around the UK.

    Louise Shorter is founder and investigator of Inside Justice; a registered charity which investigates alleged miscarriages of justice on behalf of prisoners who maintain their innocence. She is also a Board member of Inside Time; a not-for-profit newspaper for prisoners and an Associate Tutor at the School of Law, University of East Anglia.

    All 3 have not declared any political activity.

    The YJB is a non-departmental public body, responsible for overseeing the youth justice system in England and Wales. Its primary function is to monitor the operation of the youth justice system and the provision of youth justice services.

    Reappointments to the YJB are made by the Secretary of State for Justice and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. These reappointments comply with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Nations and AI experts convene for day one of first global AI Safety Summit [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Nations and AI experts convene for day one of first global AI Safety Summit [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 1 November 2023.

    Leading AI nations, organisations and experts meet at Bletchley Park today to discuss the global future of AI and work towards a shared understanding of risks.

    • The US, France, Singapore, Italy, Japan and China among nations confirmed to attend Bletchley Park Summit
    • historic venue will play host to crucial talks around risks and opportunities posed by rapid advances in frontier AI
    • Secretary of State Michelle Donelan to call for international collaboration to mitigate risks of AI

    Leading AI nations, businesses, civil society and AI experts will convene at Bletchley Park today (Wednesday 1 November) for the first ever AI Safety Summit where they’ll discuss the global future of AI and work towards a shared understanding of its risks.

    Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan will open the event by welcoming an expert cast list before setting out the UK government’s vision for safety and security to be at the heart of advances in AI, in order to enable the enormous opportunities it will bring.

    She will look to make progress on the talks which will pave the way for a safer world by identifying risks, opportunities and the need for international collaboration, before highlighting consensus on the scale, importance and urgency for AI opportunities and the necessity for mitigating frontier AI risks to unlock them.

    The historic venue will play host to the landmark 2-day summit, which will see a small, but focused group comprising of AI companies, civil society and independent experts gather around the table to kickstart urgent talks on the risks and opportunities posed by rapid advances in frontier AI – especially ahead of new models launching next year, whose capabilities may not be fully understood.

    The US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and China are among nations confirmed as attendees at the AI Safety Summit. Representatives from The Alan Turing Institute, The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Ada Lovelace Institute are also among the groups confirmed to attend, highlighting the depth of expertise of the delegates who are expected to take part in crucial talks.

    As set out by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week, the summit will focus on understanding the risks such as potential threats to national security right through to the dangers a loss of control of the technology could bring. Discussions around issues likely to impact society, such as election disruption and erosion of social trust are also set to take place.

    The UK already employs over 50,000 people in the AI sector and contributes ​​£3.7 billion to our economy annually. Additionally, the UK is home to twice as many AI companies as any other European country, and hundreds more AI companies start up in the UK every year, growing our economy and creating more jobs.

    As such, day one of the summit will also host several roundtable discussions dedicated to improving frontier AI safety with key UK based developers such as Open-AI, Anthropic and UK based Deepmind. Delegates will consider how risk thresholds, effective safety assessments, and robust governance and accountability mechanisms can be defined to enable the safe scaling of frontier AI by developers.

    Secretary of State for Technology, Michelle Donelan MP said:

    AI is already an extraordinary force for good in our society, with limitless opportunity to grow the global economy, deliver better public services and tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.

    But the risks posed by frontier AI are serious and substantive and it is critical that we work together, both across sectors and countries to recognise these risks.

    This summit provides an opportunity for us to ensure we have the right people with the right expertise gathered around the table to discuss how we can mitigate these risks moving forward. Only then will we be able to truly reap the benefits of this transformative technology in a responsible manner.

    Discussions are expected to centre around the risks emerging from rapid advances in AI, before exploring the transformative opportunities the technology has to offer – including in education and areas for international research collaborations.

    The Secretary of State will be joined by members of the UK’s Frontier AI Taskforce – including its Chair, Ian Hogarth – which was launched earlier this year to evaluate the risks of frontier AI models, and by representatives from nations at the cutting-edge of AI development.

    They will also look at what national policymakers, the international community, and scientists and researchers can do to manage the risks and harness the opportunities of AI to deliver economic and social benefits around the world.

    Day one will conclude with a panel discussion on the transformative opportunities of AI for public good now and in the long-term, with a focus on how it can be used by teachers and students to revolutionise education.

    Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan will also take to the podium to deliver closing remarks to delegates, before the curtain falls on what is hoped will be an historic first day of the first ever global AI Safety Summit.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK unites with global partners to accelerate development using AI [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK unites with global partners to accelerate development using AI [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 November 2023.

    UK unites with global partners to accelerate development in world’s poorest countries using artificial intelligence (AI).

    • UK and partners to fund safe and responsible AI projects for development around the world, beginning in Africa, with £80 million collaboration announced at AI Safety Summit
    • funding will support home-grown AI expertise and computing power in Africa and help the continent’s AI innovators boost growth and support the continent’s long-term development
    • the UK AI for Development Programme will contribute £38 million to the collaboration which shows UK investing in partnerships which are using cutting-edge technology to solve global challenges. A new global partnership to use AI to solve some of the developing world’s most pressing challenges will be unveiled in the UK today at the AI Safety Summit

    Along with Canada, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the USA and partners in Africa, the UK is helping to fund a £80 million ($100 million) boost in AI programming to combat inequality and boost prosperity on the continent.

    The goals of the UK government’s AI for Development programme include:

    • unlocking the benefits of AI to the 700 million people who speak 46 African languages
    • making 5 or more African countries globally influential in the worldwide conversation on AI including in using AI to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
    • creating or scaling up at least 8 responsible AI research labs at African universities
    • helping at least 10 countries create sound regulatory frameworks for responsible, equitable and safe AI
    • help bring down the barriers to entry for African AI innovators with the private sector

    The initiative will initially focus on sub-Saharan Africa ensuring that this ground-breaking technology will be accessible to all.

    AI could have a transformative impact on a range of challenges, including speeding up drug discovery, helping people who are deaf or blind to access education, and improving access to clean energy.

    Over the next 5 years, the UK’s collaboration with global partners will:

    • fund post-graduate training and fellowships in AI in African universities
    • invest in innovators building models with data that accurately represents the African continent, using home-grown skills and computing power
    • foster responsible AI governance to help African countries mitigate the risks of AI and adapt their economies to technological change
    • help sub-Sahara African countries have a bigger voice in influencing how AI is used to further the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a series of targets to make the world a healthier, fairer and more prosperous place by 2030

    This collaboration is part of a wider UK commitment to harness the opportunities of AI and ensure its use as a force for good, as the UK hosts the first ever AI Safety Summit in Bletchley Park this week.

    James Cleverly, the UK Foreign Secretary, said:

    The transformative power of AI should have a global benefit. AI can change lives for the better around the world, including helping to develop new treatments for diseases and to tackle food insecurity.

    The AI for Development programme, alongside the AI Safety Summit hosted in Britain this week, are a testament to how we and our partners will use cutting-edge technology to create a more equitable and prosperous future.

    Eliud Owallo, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information Communications and Digital Economy said:

    Through this broad coalition of partners, AI potential benefits will open opportunities and the risks preparedness broadened. This partnership will benefit all countries and ensure that developing countries are not left behind in the AI revolution.

    Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation said:

    Africa has historically lagged behind in previous technological revolutions due to a lack of local production and value addition capacity. Rwanda is fully committed to harnessing the transformative power of AI to drive our nation’s and continent’s social and economic development agenda by becoming the proof of concept hub that Africans produce from, for the continent.

    This collaborative initiative is of paramount importance as it empowers African countries to become producers, not just consumers, in the AI revolution, ensuring that we are at the forefront of shaping our own future and driving sustainable progress across the continent.

    Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said:

    From accelerating medical breakthroughs and expanding access to health care to boosting learning outcomes and increasing agricultural production, AI has the potential to help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

    But impact is only possible if the benefits of the technology are relevant, affordable, and accessible to everyone. The commitments announced today underscore the importance of supporting locally-led innovation to ensure AI can be used by communities around the world as a powerful and equitable tool for good.

    François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Science, Innovation and Industry, said:

    International collaboration is essential to ensure AI is used safely and responsibly around the world. Our government makes a point of working with like-minded partners and innovators to harness the potential of AI for sustainable economic development, aligned with global efforts to develop and use AI safely and responsibly.

    Christopher Burns, USAID Chief Digital Development Officer and Director for Technology, said:

    As development practitioners and donors, we have a moral obligation to ensure AI is designed and deployed in a responsible and ethical manner to the benefit of all, particularly underserved communities. USAID looks forward to working alongside our partners to advance this vision.

    James Manyika, Senior Vice President, Research, Technology & Society, Google said:

    Getting AI right – that is, harnessing its potential to benefit society while addressing the complexities and risks – requires approaching it in a way that involves and benefits everyone. That means mobilising regional expertise, expanding infrastructure, supporting nonprofit innovators using AI, and making sure individuals can develop needed skills. Google has been supporting innovation and growth in Africa since 2005 when we made a big bet on the Seacom Cable, and we look forward to working with this consortium, the African Union, and other key stakeholders across the continent to unlock the promise of AI for all.

    Justin Spelhaug, Vice-President, Tech for Social Impact, Microsoft said:

    We at Microsoft are proud to partner with the UK government and other international development organisations in the launch of the joint AI for Development initiative. This initiative aligns with our own vision for digital development and our commitment to using technology to drive social impact. We look forward to being an active partner in this collaboration and to working with African countries to realise the opportunities of AI for development and social impact. By leveraging our Digital Development Program and working together, we can coordinate our efforts for maximum impact on the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria said:

    Artificial Intelligence offers an unprecedented opportunity to appropriate knowledge more quickly and seamlessly in addressing some of our pressing socio-economic challenges. Our duty as policymakers is to ensure that our nation can participate and mainstream value creation from AI.

    As we embark on this journey to accelerating our investment in the use of AI for good, it is essential to collaborate with long-standing allies to deepen our capacity and knowledge.

    In supporting all aspects of AI ecosystems in Africa, the programme will include investment in post-graduate AI research skills and inclusive and locally focused datasets in Nigeria, and it will support innovation and scaling in Kenya to accelerate impact on the Sustainable Development Goals.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Boost to ASEAN-UK cooperation with first UK visit by Secretary General of ASEAN [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Boost to ASEAN-UK cooperation with first UK visit by Secretary General of ASEAN [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 November 2023.

    Secretary General of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) His Excellency Dr Kao Kim Hourn is visiting the UK to further the ASEAN-UK Partnership.

    • The Secretary General of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet senior leaders from Government, business, and academia to advance ASEAN-UK Cooperation
    • Discussions will focus on priority areas outlined in ASEAN strategies including in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and reflected in the 2022-2026 ASEAN-UK Plan of Action.

    The Secretary General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn begins a three day visit to the UK today (1 November), during which he will discuss the breadth of the ASEAN-UK relationship with Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and four other UK Ministers. It will mark the first time the Secretary General has visited any European country in his role.

    With Indo-Pacific Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Secretary General will discuss the UK and ASEAN’s shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific and the UK’s bids to join regional security and defence organisations. The Minister and Secretary General will join a maritime roundtable to discuss a new UK-ASEAN Maritime Programme to boost regional resilience in responding to maritime challenges.

    ASEAN-UK cooperation on science, technology and health will also be celebrated at a reception hosted by Minister for Health and Secondary Care Will Quince and Minister for Science, Research and Innovation George Freeman.

    Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

    The UK’s relationship with ASEAN is central to our long-term commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. As an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, we are growing our trading links – worth over £46bn a year – and deepening cooperation on areas like cyber security and resilience. I was delighted to further this work with Deputy Secretary-General Michael Tene in Jakarta in September, and today with Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn in London.

    Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

    Our Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN provides boundless opportunities to collaborate with our friends in Southeast Asia.

    Through the ASEAN–UK Plan of Action we are developing programmes of cooperation to advance a wide range of shared goals, from economic reform and financial sector development to maritime sustainability and adapting to climate change. We look forward to further deepening our friendship over the many years to come.

    The Secretary General will also meet UK Government International Education Champion Sir Steve Smith and British Council CEO Scott McDonald to discuss the UK’s International Education Strategy and creative economies, and support for advancing girls’ education in the region. During the visit, the UK will announce 10 new UK-ASEAN Scholarships for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and an ASEAN Chevening Programme to be launched in 2024.

    Infrastructure, trade and supply chain resilience will also be an important focus of the visit. The Secretary General will meet Minister of State for International Trade Nigel Huddleston to discuss UK-ASEAN trade including cooperation on digitalisation and financial services. He will also visit Battersea Power Station and the London Stock Exchange and discuss opportunities for strengthening UK-ASEAN collaboration with senior leaders in business, including the UK-ASEAN Business Council, think tanks and academia.

    The visit follows the Foreign Secretary’s travel to the ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta in July, where he met ASEAN Leaders including the Secretary General, and the Minister of State for International Trade’s attendance at the Third ASEAN Economic Ministers-UK Consultation in August.

    The UK became an ASEAN Dialogue Partner in 2021, in recognition of the bloc’s central role promoting co-operation and shaping the wider Indo-Pacific regional order.