UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Tech start-ups boosted by access to skills and science from Exeter to Edinburgh [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Tech start-ups boosted by access to skills and science from Exeter to Edinburgh [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 October 2023.

    Seven organisations to receive funding for programmes supporting tech and digital businesses.

    • Start-ups across Britain given access to research, business coaching and help to secure funding after organisations receive a boost of up to £250,000
    • among them is new support for Sheffield health and wellbeing innovators and Welsh creative tech
    • partnerships with seven organisations including universities across the UK unveiled as part of Barclays Eagle Labs’ Ecosystem Partnership Programme

    Start-ups across the UK will receive access to the latest scientific research, business coaching and help to raise capital from universities and business experts. Announced today (Thursday 19 October), seven organisations are to receive funding to run programmes to support tech and digital businesses.

    Local programmes in cities including Edinburgh, Exeter and Sheffield will be match-funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Digital Growth Grant, delivered by Barclays Eagle Labs. Each organisation has received up to £250,000 to match their investments in new and existing programmes that help local tech businesses.

    Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, Paul Scully said:

    Britain’s innovative tech start-ups span the nation and drive global innovation forward. We are delighted to boost these programmes to provide on-the-ground support for founders in their local areas, giving them the help they need to thrive.

    Directly supporting businesses in this way is the cornerstone of our Digital Growth Grant, which champions a future where every corner of the UK benefits from the job creation and growth technology provides.

    The programmes provide a variety of support including access to digital services, entrepreneurship training, and access to networking and fundraising opportunities.

    Each programme has a specialist focus dependent on local specialisms, with Edinburgh backing “deep tech” start-ups which are converting scientific discoveries into businesses. Other regions are focussing support on tech start-ups helping tackle climate change, those supporting creative industries, or driving innovation in the NHS.

    Some of the successful programmes

    Greentech Accelerator, Wales: Tramshed Tech will run this 12-week programme to help climate tech businesses by providing training, expert advice, network support, with access to funding.

    Advanced Wellbeing Accelerator, Sheffield: With Digital Growth Grant funding, Sheffield Hallam University is able to run its third year of a start-up support scheme for high-potential health and wellbeing tech businesses, building on the regions fast-evolving digital health tech cluster.

    Venture Builder Incubator, Edinburgh: The expansion of this University of Edinburgh programme will give researchers access to a cut of £100,000, access to AI research facilities and a ‘National Robotarium’ to convert their inventions into innovations and businesses across robotics and more.

    Season 2 of the Ecosystem Partnership Programme opens for applications from October 19th, where organisations can apply for matched funding for activity being delivered between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

    Today also marks six months since Barclays Eagle Labs started leading the delivery of the Digital Growth Grant. In this time, Barclays Eagle Labs has initiated nine accelerator programmes, including the Black Venture Growth Programme for underrepresented founders, helping to foster and grow the digital economy.

    Matt Corbidge, Director, Barclays Eagle Labs said:

    We are proud to be able to support these projects which are designed to help early-stage tech entrepreneurs across the UK.  It’s vitally important that start-ups and scale-ups are supported particularly in growing sectors in AI, climate-tech and the digital space.

    Using our Ecosystem Partnership Programme, we’re allocating funding to organisations that are already plugged into their national and regional ecosystems.  We hope these projects will go a long way to supporting start-ups and scale-ups, which are vital to growing local economies throughout the UK.

    Notes to editors

    The full list of partners includes:

    • Conception X
    • Functional Skills UK
    • Sunderland Software City
    • SETsquared Partnership
    • Sheffield Hallam University
    • Tramshed Tech
    • University of Edinburgh

    The £12 million Digital Growth Grant builds on more than £42.2 million invested by the government to support tech startups and scaleups since 2016. The two-year grant, awarded to Barclays Eagle Labs, was launched in April 2023.

    Among a range of support initiatives, including growth programmes, mentoring sessions and learning materials, the grant funds the Ecosystem Partnership Programme, which allocates funding to business support organisations that are embedded in their local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

    The first round of funding under the Ecosystem Partnership Programme opened for applications in April 2023, for activity to be delivered by 31 March 2024. For more information on the Ecosystem Partnership Programme please visit the Barclays Eagle Lab website.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Misinformation and attempts to artificially manipulate information have the ability to impact billions – UK statement at the UN Fourth Committee [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Misinformation and attempts to artificially manipulate information have the ability to impact billions – UK statement at the UN Fourth Committee [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 October 2023.

    Statement by Mungo Woodifield, UK Spokesperson to the UN, at the UN Fourth Committee meeting on information.

    Thank you Chair.

    I would like to start, like others, by thanking the Department of Global Communications for their engagement with Member States and for their work on the development of the Code of Conduct for Information Integrity on Digital Platforms.

    Digital platforms have become crucial tools that have transformed the way in which we access information. Each year, the number of people online increases. And each year, we see developments and changes in digital platforms, from the growth of new social media to the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, which brings with it both immense opportunities, but also serious risks.

    We all see the increased spread of mis and disinformation online. It is a pervasive threat. Mis and disinformation, and attempts to artificially manipulate the information environment have the ability to impact billions. It can threaten our freedoms, and cause harm to individuals and society, and as we have seen in recent weeks, it misleads people in times of crisis.

    Artificial intelligence has the ability to increase the volume, sophistication and spread of misinformation and disinformation online.

    Access to trusted information is the antidote and the UN has a vital role to play in providing accurate, impartial reporting based on facts. But the job is getting harder each year.

    The UK has four points on what we would like to see.

    First, Member States have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the UN as a source of trusted information. This is a Member-State led body and of course, we will have political disagreements and differing views on a range of issues, but when we do agree, we rely on the UN to communicate and implement those decisions. It cannot do that effectively if it is being undermined.

    Unfortunately, some Member States are spreading harmful disinformation at and about the UN. We remain very concerned by disinformation about UN Peacekeeping operations in the field. UN Blue Helmets are asked to do difficult work in the most challenging environments, and the spread of false allegations about their work poses real threats to UN staff and severely impedes their missions. We support plans by the DGC to develop an information integrity lab that can support UN operations in the field and quickly rebut these false allegations.

    Since their illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been exploiting the Security Council as a platform for disinformation. This goes beyond the disagreements and contested debates between Council members. Without any precedent in Security Council history, Russia has invited dozens of individuals as briefers to spread conspiracy theories about what has happened in Ukraine, which has been proven demonstrably false time and time again by UN experts.

    Russia’s disinformation campaign distracts from the awful reality of its crimes on the ground and has degraded the level of discussion at the Security Council. The UK is committed to preventing that. We all need a UN that is trusted and taken seriously, so we will continue to expose disinformation when we see it, and hold Russia accountable for what it is doing.

    Second, Member States and platforms alike have a responsibility to keep pace with rapid developments in technology, to understand them and govern them, in order to keep the billions who use them safe. Platforms should take steps to improve transparency regarding algorithms and content moderation. For our part, the UK passed our Online Safety Bill this year, which we hope will make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. It places new duties on social media companies, improves child protection and increases user empowerment.

    In this vein, the UK strongly supports the development of the UN Code of Conduct for Information Integrity on Digital Platforms as a tool to support similar national efforts around the world. We encourage all Member States to work constructively with the DGC to keep up the momentum on its development.

    Third, the UK supports taking a human-rights-based approach to meeting the information challenge. While it is essential to counter mis and disinformation, we must ensure, as we do this, that we protect the right to freedom of expression. It is important the UN’s Code of Conduct respects the careful balance in international human rights law on the kinds of speech which must be prohibited, and those which must not be restricted.

    Finally, Chair, we must do more to tackle the widening digital divide which exacerbates information inequality. To ensure everyone has access to quality information means equipping users with the digital literacy skills to recognise and challenge mis and disinformation. Digital technologies are a crosscutting accelerator of development and a key enabler to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The UK is playing our part to support an inclusive, responsible digital transformation.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government invests £200 million to drive innovation and get more zero emission trucks on our roads [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government invests £200 million to drive innovation and get more zero emission trucks on our roads [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 19 October 2023.

    New funding will create new jobs and provide crucial infrastructure to help the haulage sector decarbonise.

    • new funding to roll out up to 370 zero emission trucks across the country
    • investment will help deliver on our net zero commitments, create new jobs and grow the economy while also avoiding food price hikes caused by fluctuating petrol costs
    • more than £2 million also set to be given to small and medium-sized businesses in a separate competition to boost innovation and green tech in freight

    More zero emission trucks are set to drive on UK roads thanks to a £200 million boost to decarbonise freight vehicles, drive innovation and create new jobs as part of a week of government action to support the sector.

    With heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) alone contributing 20% to all transport emissions across the UK, the £200 million in government funding announced today (19 October 2023) will be invested across 4 innovative green projects to roll out up to 370 zero emission HGVs and help set road freight on the path towards net zero, driving innovation and creating new jobs.

    Delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the £200 million government investment from the zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme will also deliver around 57 refuelling and electric charging sites, providing the crucial infrastructure to help the haulage sector decarbonise.

    Roads Minister, Richard Holden, visited Voltempo in Birmingham yesterday – one of the recipients of the £200 million – whose eFREIGHT 2030 project is set to create up to 200 new jobs by 2030 and provide Birmingham with one of the UK’s first electric vehicle charging hubs dedicated to HGVs.

    The funding will help popular grocery companies such as Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer lower their transport emissions while protecting them from rising delivery costs associated with changing petrol and diesel prices. This could help prevent price hikes across supermarkets, allowing people to save money on food and groceries to help with the cost of living.

    This funding comes as part of the government’s commitment to make the right long-term decisions for a brighter future. Decarbonising the freight sector is a key part of building a sustainable future for the industry and achieving our net zero commitments in a fair and pragmatic way that lowers costs, creates jobs and grows the economy.

    Further to Voltempo, the other projects that will receive a share of the £200 million boost are Project Electric Freightway by GRIDSERVE, Project Zero Emission North (ZEN) Freight and Hydrogen Aggregated Logistics (HyHAUL) by Protium.

    Roads Minister, Richard Holden, said:

    Freight and logistics are the beating heart of our economy and it is only right that we celebrate the sector so that it gets the recognition and support it deserves.

    From boosting zero emission tech across freight to attracting the future generation of talent to the industry, we are working hard to drive innovation, create jobs and grow the economy by building a brighter, more innovative future for one of our most crucial industries.

    Decarbonisation Minister, Jesse Norman, said:

    The UK is at the forefront of the global transition to net zero and today marks another important milestone to decarbonise freight, one of the economy’s most vital industries.

    That’s why I’m pleased to reveal that we’re investing £200 million to roll out 370 zero emission trucks, and a further £2.4 million to pioneer green tech through the Freight Innovation Fund, as we work closely with the sector to create new jobs, grow the economy and reach net zero by 2050.

    The measures come during a week of action from the government, including ministers visiting multiple freight stakeholders, to understand how the sector can continue to drive innovation and play a crucial role in creating new jobs, growing the economy and helping the UK get closer to net zero.

    Richard Smith, Managing Director of the Road Haulage Association, said:

    We strongly welcome today’s announcement from the government on the zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme.

    The £200 million commitment ministers are putting into this demonstrator significantly helps to de-risk the transition to net zero. The real-world demonstrators will answer many of the practical questions operators have and, in turn, give our members the confidence to invest in the zero emission lorries needed to drive down carbon emissions from our sector.

    This week has also seen the publication of the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. This sets out the percentage of new zero emission cars and vans that manufacturers will be required to produce each year up to 2030 as part of a new pragmatic and realistic pathway to 100% zero emission vehicle sales from 2035.

    Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Innovate UK, said:

    As the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK is committed to supporting innovative UK businesses working to decarbonise the UK’s road freight industry.

    Together with the Department for Transport (DfT), the £200 million in government funding will develop world-leading battery and hydrogen trucks and demonstrate, at a large scale, creating greener jobs and boosting our net zero economy.

    To further drive innovation in freight and logistics, an additional £2.4 million has also been unlocked through the second round of the Freight Innovation Fund (FIF). As part of the fund, the FIF Accelerator – open for applications from today – will help up to 10 small and medium enterprises develop new ways to make freight greener, more efficient and more resilient.

    The £7 million, 3-year FIF aims to scale up and roll out innovative technology across the industry to decarbonise freight. It is at the heart of the Future of Freight Plan, the first-ever cross-modal and cross-government vision to help the industry improve planning, boost innovation in data and technology and facilitate the transition to net zero.

    The first round of the FIF supported a series of groundbreaking projects, from using drones to deliver mail and services to the Orkney Islands, implementing AI and data to reduce costs, to deploying zero-emission technology to track and move freight across London.

    Nicola Yates OBE, Chief Executive Officer at Connected Places Catapult, said:

    Freight is a crucial sector for the UK and contributes around £127 billion to the economy, but it is not without its challenges. Reducing the sector’s carbon footprint, cutting journey times and easing traffic congestion are key areas of focus, alongside the development of efficient and better-connected logistics hubs.

    We are proud to be continuing our work with DfT as we open applications for the second cohort of the FIF accelerator programme. The companies chosen will benefit from access to funding and expert support to develop their technologies and innovations that promise to make the freight sector grow, become greener and work smarter.

    Freight Week will also see the launch of 2 calls for evidence to continue exploring new ways for the freight industry to decarbonise and become more efficient.

    The first is the call for evidence to inform and support the Development of the zero emission HGV and coach infrastructure strategy, which is due to be published in 2024. This will ensure the delivery of the infrastructure required to meet the 2035 and 2040 phase-out dates for non-zero emission HGVs.

    The second is the call for evidence on Volumetric concrete mixers (VCMs), which will consider whether a temporary weight allowance should remain, be removed or amended for the vehicles beyond the current deadline of 2028. It will consider the best options to reduce waste, limit costs and ensure fair competition while taking into account how to continue ensuring road safety.

    With DfT providing approximately £20 million per year in freight revenue grants, the government will also consider how to boost freight across a variety of modes.

    The Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight Grant will be reviewed to explore how to continue helping the sector decarbonise by shifting freight from road to rail or water through the 2 schemes.

    October also marks the start of Year 2 of Generation Logistics, backed by £645,000 in government funding across 2 years, which will be led by CILT and Logistics UK.

    Following a successful first year, Generation Logistics will now focus on raising awareness of the logistics sector and its career opportunities, specifically among young people in schools and colleges, in an effort to boost recruitment and retention of a more skilled and diverse workforce.

    Kate Jennings, Director of Policy at Logistics UK, said:

    Logistics underpins every sector of the UK economy and it is positive to see its importance being championed during Freight Week.

    As an industry committed to decarbonising, we welcome the investment through the FIF, as well as the outcome of the zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme.

    Freight Week follows the decision to extend the fuel duty cut to March 2024 and the 33 unprecedented actions from DfT to support the haulage sector. These include up to £100 million in joint government and industry funding to improve roadside facilities for lorry drivers, and £34 million to create up to 11,000 skill bootcamps and increase the capacity for HGV driver tests by 90% compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.

    Michael Boxwell, Project Director of eFREIGHT 2030, said:

    eFREIGHT 2030 sets us on a journey to net zero within the heavy road freight industry. DfT support kick-starts the transformation, enabling us to create the charging infrastructure and bring in electric HGVs simultaneously.

    By early 2026, we will have 11 fleets deploying electric HGVs and a nationwide HGV charging network using British-built chargers. Each charge hub will provide at least 6 charge bays and 1,000kW charging. This demonstration programme combined with world-class infrastructure will give fleet operators confidence they can deploy electric HGVs at scale.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government agrees scope of inquiry into Lucy Letby’s crimes [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government agrees scope of inquiry into Lucy Letby’s crimes [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 19 October 2023.

    Health and Social Care Secretary publishes terms of reference for inquiry following murders and attempted murders committed by former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby.

    • Inquiry will look at experiences of families of all the babies named in the indictment; conduct of staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital, part of the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; effectiveness of NHS management and governance structures; and NHS culture
    • Inquiry has powers to compel witnesses to produce evidence and is chaired by Lady Justice Thirlwall, one of the country’s most senior and experienced judges

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay has today (19 October 2023) published the terms of reference for the statutory inquiry following the horrific murders and attempted murders committed by Lucy Letby.

    The inquiry is being set up at pace to ensure vital lessons are learned and provide answers to the parents and families impacted as soon as possible.

    Letby was convicted of murdering 7 babies and attempting to kill 6 others at the Countess of Chester Hospital. She committed these crimes while working as a neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Losing a child is the greatest sorrow any parent can experience, and I cannot begin to imagine the hurt and suffering experienced by the families affected by Lucy Letby’s horrific crimes.

    We have a duty to get them the answers they deserve, to hold people to account where they need to be, and to make sure lessons are learned.

    These terms of reference have been agreed following engagement with the families, and I am confident Lady Justice Thirlwall will ensure their voices are heard as the inquiry gets underway.

    The terms of reference are set by the Health and Social Care Secretary after consultation with the chair, who has engaged with the families and other stakeholders.

    The inquiry will cover 3 broad areas:

    • the experiences of the parents of the babies named in the indictment
    • the conduct of clinical and non-clinical staff and management, as well as governance and escalation processes in relation to concerns being raised about Letby and whether these structures contributed to the failure to protect babies from her
    • the effectiveness of governance, external scrutiny and professional regulation in keeping babies in hospital safe, including consideration of NHS culture

    It will not review the jury’s verdicts and will make no findings regarding liability in civil proceedings.

    The government confirmed in August 2023 that the inquiry would be placed on a statutory footing. This means it will have legal powers to compel witnesses, including former and current staff of the Countess of Chester, to give evidence. It also means evidence must be heard in public, unless the chair decides otherwise.

    Lady Justice Thirlwall is one of the country’s most senior judges and currently sits in the Court of Appeal. She has many years of experience as a senior judge and barrister.

    As chair, she will decide on the order in which the inquiry considers issues and how to manage the inquiry alongside any live police investigation and any criminal proceedings – whether that be retrials, trials, or an appeal.

    The chair will provide a final report, and if appropriate, interim reports as soon as practically possible.

    The inquiry is currently setting up its infrastructure at pace so that it can begin its investigations.

    Read the full Thirlwall Inquiry terms of reference.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Welsh Secretary’s statement on Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Welsh Secretary’s statement on Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales on 19 October 2023.

    Welsh Secretary statement following the first meeting of the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board.

    Tata Steel announced proposals in September to invest £1.25 billion, including a UK Government grant worth up to £500 million, to enable greener steel production at Port Talbot. A Transition Board has now been established to support the people, businesses and communities affected by the proposed transition to low-CO₂ steelmaking. An additional £100m from the UK Government and Tata Steel is available for the Transition Board to access to support the people and businesses affected, as well as supporting the longer term regeneration of the local economy.

    The Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board met for the first time on Thursday, October 19 at the company’s Port Talbot site, chaired by the Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies.

    Welsh Secretary, David TC Davies said:

    I’m very pleased that the Transition Board has been established and today’s meeting has been an important first step. It’s vital that all the partners collaborate and work together to achieve the best possible outcome for the communities affected, and we’ve seen that work get underway today.

    We know that there are challenges ahead, but I’m clear that we have the right people around the table who will all be doing their absolute best to facilitate the transition to greener steel and the impact that has on the community.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Mendip Hills to be declared a “super” National Nature Reserve [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Mendip Hills to be declared a “super” National Nature Reserve [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 October 2023.

    Site brings together 31 existing nature sites with more than 400 hectares of additional land.

    A vast new ‘super nature reserve’, spanning the world-famous Cheddar Gorge and the Mendip Hills and encompassing some of the country’s most precious habitats, has been created today (19 October).

    The declaration of the new Mendip ‘super’ National Nature Reserve (NNR) by Natural England and partners will conserve and help restore over 1,400 hectares of steep limestone slopes, traditional wildflower grasslands, ancient wooded combes, spectacular gorges and rocky outcrops. It will bring together 31 existing nature reserves and more than 400 hectares of new land which will now be managed primarily for conservation, as well as creating more space greater access to nature for local people.

    The Mendips are home to a variety of wildlife such as the nationally endangered lesser and greater horseshoe bats, adder, skylark, water vole, hazel dormouse, small pearl-bordered fritillary, black oil beetle, including endemic plants such as Cheddar pink and the nationally rare little robin and purple gromwell.

    Creating larger more joined-up spaces for nature is crucial to halting its decline and bringing about an increase in populations. The site will cover the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, stretching from woodlands in England’s smallest city of Wells, across the southern Mendip slopes and plateau and reaching right out to Brean Down in the Severn estuary.

    Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said:

    Today’s declaration of the new Mendip National Nature Reserve is a huge step for Nature recovery, not just in Somerset but the country as a whole. This treasure trove of ancient woodlands, rich wildflower grasslands and stunning geology is of great national importance and sustains a huge variety of wildlife. There are birds, small mammals, rare butterflies and plants that are found only here.

    Creating this new National Nature Reserve will be a step along the road of enhancing the biodiversity of the Mendip Hills – making it a bigger, better and more joined up place for wildlife to thrive.” It also gives even more opportunities for the local community and visitors to connect with Nature, history and the local heritage.

    Nature Minister Trudy Harrison says:

    This is an important step for people and nature recovery. It will enable precious species to flourish by supporting wildlife corridors and protecting ecologically significant landscapes, such as the iconic gorges and ancient woodlands in the Mendip area. Much of this landscape also hugs the Mendip Way, making it truly accessible for local people and visitors.

    This landmark declaration will support our ambitious plans to halt and reverse nature’s decline, as set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan.

    The site is the second in the new King’s Series of National Nature Reserves. The Series will see the creation of five major National Nature Reserve declarations every year for the next five years – 25 in total.

    The announcement today also supports the Government’s delivery on its Environmental Improvement Plan and key Environment Act targets to halt the decline in our wildlife populations and increase species abundance.

    Along with Natural England, Mendip Hills AONB, the National Trust, Longleat/Cheddar Gorge Caves, Somerset and Avon Wildlife Trusts, Butterfly Conservation, the Woodland Trust and the South West Heritage Trust are all working in partnership to manage the National Nature Reserve with a shared objective for nature recovery.

    Multi-party National Nature Reserves such as Mendip are increasing in number, bringing together the skills, knowledge and long term commitments of different organisations to deliver the three purposes of the designation: nature conservation, environmental science and public access, enjoyment and engagement.

    Further supporting quotes:

    Lord Bath of Longleat Estate said:

    Cheddar Gorge is one of Britain’s most spectacular natural landmarks, comprising a large and significant part of the Mendip Hills’ footprint and bio connectivity. As a private landowner of part of this special piece of Britain, we take our responsibility as custodians extremely seriously. Through the Cheddar Gorge and Caves enterprise, we work to attract many people to this area to enjoy and experience this outstanding part of the world. In addition, we work tirelessly to ensure this amazing mosaic of land is conserved for future generations of visitors to enjoy and populations of diverse wildlife to thrive.

    The formation of the new National Nature Reserve is a ground-breaking opportunity for conservation and land management. We look forward to making a real impact together with the other partners, not least for the species that are native to these habitats – from greater crested newts to dormice, and the extremely rare plants that flourish in abundance in our unique pocket of land.

    Nigel Garnsworthy, National Trust Somerset Countryside Manager, says:

    The National Trust and its partners have been working for many years to maintain a healthy, resilient landscape buzzing with wildlife across the Mendip Hills and the NNR declaration is testament to that success. We are excited about the chance to work in closer collaboration to make a positive difference for nature and climate and ensure the special Mendip wildlife is benefitting from habitats that are bigger, in better condition and better connected.

    Ross Kennerley, The Woodland Trust’s South West Regional Director states:

    The Woodland Trust is delighted that Dolebury Warren is going to be included in this NNR. It forms part of a continuous area of woodland stretching for many miles across the Mendip slopes. The creation of the NNR will strengthen the partnership approach to nature recovery and support the expansion and good management of these woodlands, so they are part of a thriving landscape for people and nature.

    Dr Dan Hoare, Director of Conservation, Butterfly Conservation, said:

    With the majority of the UK’s butterfly and moth species in decline, and climate change and biodiversity loss threatening to push them closer to the brink, now is the time to come together and tackle these challenges at a landscape scale. Increasing the protection for our most precious sites, and ensuring we work together to make them bigger, better and more joined up, is crucial to recover species and restore the habitats they depend on.

    Rachael Fickweiler, Head of Nature Reserves and Land Management at Somerset Wildlife Trust, said:

    Bringing together landowners and land managers to collaborate on a landscape-scale approach across the sites included in the new Mendip ‘super’ NNR is the best way to achieve nature’s recovery and our 30 by 30 ambitions for land under good management for nature. This is essential if we are to tackle the challenges we face, including climate change and the adaptation needed to respond to this threat to key Mendip species such as the adder and greater horseshoe bat; and issues such as the devastating impact that ash dieback disease has had on our Mendip trees and woodlands.

    Ian Barrett, Chief Executive at Avon Wildlife Trust said:

    We’re very excited to collaborate with partner organisations to be part of this new super National Nature Reserve in the Mendips. By working together across this beautiful landscape, we are helping to help enable nature’s recovery across the region so that much loved wildlife can survive and thrive.”

    Jim Hardcastle, manager of Mendip Hills AONB, said:

    This declaration publicly recognises how special the wildlife sites are on the south facing slopes of the Mendip Hills. The new National Nature Reserve will show how all the land managers can work together to help nature recover with the involvement of locals and visitors.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia [October 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 October 2023.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia today.

    The leaders agreed that the loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza over the last two weeks has been horrific. They underscored the need to avoid any further escalation in the region and agreed to coordinate action on this front.

    The Prime Minister and Crown Prince agreed on the pressing need for humanitarian access into Gaza to provide vital water, food and medicine. The Prime Minister outlined the steps the UK has taken to address the increasingly urgent humanitarian situation, including announcing £10 million of further aid.

    The Prime Minister encouraged the Crown Prince to use Saudi’s leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term.

    More broadly, the Prime Minister and Crown Prince looked forward to working together to advance areas of shared interest for the UK and Saudi Arabia, including on upholding regional security.

  • PRESS RELEASE : National pelvic health service to support women [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : National pelvic health service to support women [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 19 October 2023.

    Maternity and neonatal services nationwide will be required to support and inform women who experience trauma during childbirth.

    • Distressing issues like pelvic organ prolapse, perineal tears, pelvic pain and incontinence due to childbirth are too common so government and NHS taking action
    • Boosting women’s health and wellbeing remains a top priority and government continues working and investing in world-class healthcare

    Women who have gone through the often devastating pain and distress of a traumatic birth will receive better aftercare and support, and pregnant women will be better equipped with the information they need as part of their routine antenatal care, as plans are unveiled for the implementation of a nationwide pelvic health service.

    Roughly 1 in 3 women experience urinary incontinence 3 months after pregnancy, and around 1 in 7 experience anal incontinence 6 months after birth. One in 12 women report symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse – which is when one or more of the organs in the pelvis slip down from their normal position and bulge into the vagina. These distressing issues can affect women’s ability to work, their sexual and social relationships, and their mental health.

    But action is being taken on a national level. Backed by over £11 million of government funding from April 2024, plans published by NHS England for the implementation of a new national service will:

    • ensure all women are offered a self-assessment of their pelvic health as early as possible in pregnancy – and by 18 weeks at the latest
    • educate all women on the risk of pelvic floor dysfunction and birth injuries and preventative action they can take to reduce this risk
    • provide additional support to those at higher risk of pelvic health problems
    • reduce NHS waiting times – one of the Prime Minister’s 5 pledges – and minimise administrative barriers to treatment
    • allow affected women to access appropriate physiotherapy assessment and personalised treatment

    Women’s Health Minister Maria Caulfield said:

    For too many women, the joy of pregnancy and birth is tarnished by trauma, and pelvic health problems can have devastating ramifications for women’s lives.

    It’s vital women receive appropriate support, treatment and information. From initial antenatal appointments, right through to mental health care after birth, we are determined to support women throughout their pregnancy and birth journey.

    Kate Brintworth, NHS England’s Chief Midwifery Officer, said:

    For any women that have experienced a traumatic birth, timely access to support is crucial to help address any issues like incontinence that can occur.

    To increase the support available, the NHS is rolling out dedicated pelvic health clinics nationally, bringing together expert clinicians under one roof, so women can seek help quickly and easily – and already thousands of women have been supported through our pilot sites.

    As part of these plans, women will be supported by maternity teams to recognise pelvic health problems and offered a self-assessment of their pelvic health as early as possible in pregnancy, and the NHS is here for women if they need support.

    Perinatal pelvic health services (PPHS) – run by specialist midwives and pelvic health physiotherapists – are already being implemented as pilots right across England. All areas in England are on track to implement these services by March 2024 – helping women everywhere.

    These services work alongside maternity and physiotherapy services to support the prevention, identification and timely treatment of pelvic health problems around birth, and include a clear pathway for referral into mental health services.

    They also reduce the risk of these injuries happening in the first place through close work with midwives and obstetricians and through support for the implementation of the obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) care bundle.

    Developed by a team of UK experts and supported by national professional organisations and women’s groups, the care bundle is a set of interventions likely to improve outcomes for women. Analysis of the effectiveness of this care bundle based on over 50,000 vaginal births found that women’s risk of obstetric anal sphincter injuries decreased by 20%.

    Dr Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), said:

    Too many women currently suffer pelvic injuries during childbirth, which can mean long-term complications including difficulty controlling the bladder and bowel, chronic pain and painful intercourse. This guidance represents an important milestone in the development of vital perinatal pelvic health services, created to improve access to early intervention and support for women and people experiencing symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction.

    We are delighted that this service specification sets out how PPHS will work with maternity units to implement the joint RCOG and Royal College of Midwives’ OASI care bundle. As a college we look forward to supporting the implementation of this important guidance, working with our membership and our NHS partners to help ensure all women have access to high-quality pelvic floor health information, education and care.

    It’s vital women are educated properly about pelvic health problems before and after giving birth. NHS England’s new service specification highlights how every woman using maternity services should receive routine information at every contact antenatally and postnatally about perinatal pelvic health.

    At all routine perinatal appointments, clinicians should discuss with patients preventative measures that can be taken, including pelvic floor exercises, when to get help, where to go for help and potential management options.

    Women who have gone through such physical trauma can also experience devastating mental illness, and it’s vital the proper mental health support is in place.

    The service specification requires maternity and neonatal services to establish strong working links with mental health services – particularly maternity mental health services, perinatal mental health services and psychosexual counselling services. This will ensure women are signposted in an appropriate and timely way, and that they can be referred between pelvic and mental health care as seamlessly as possible.

    Progress is already being seen in this area and by May 2023, an additional 16,000 women per year accessed specialist community perinatal mental health services and maternity mental health services compared to 2 years previously.

    This follows unprecedented levels of funding to grow the maternity workforce and boost neonatal services, including £165 million of additional investment a year to improve maternity and neonatal care, and this will rise to an additional £186 million a year from 2024 to 2025. The NHS recently published the first ever Long Term Workforce Plan, backed by over £2.4 billion in government funding to deliver the biggest training expansion in NHS history to help meet the challenges of a growing and ageing population by recruiting and retaining hundreds of thousands more staff over the next 15 years.

    The government also continues to build on the Maternity Transformation Programme, and continues to work closely with NHS England to implement the Three year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services that was published in March 2023. This plan looks to guide services towards safer and more personalised care for women, babies and families.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Member States need to scale up financial support for ATMIS and Somalia – UK statement at the UN Security Council [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Member States need to scale up financial support for ATMIS and Somalia – UK statement at the UN Security Council [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 October 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Somalia.

    Thank you, President, I thank SRSG Laing and SRCC Souef for their briefings this morning, and for the continued work of their teams and troops in really challenging circumstances. I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Somalia Ambassador Osman in this meeting.

    Let me begin by reiterating the UK’s full support and solidarity with Somalia in the fight against al-Shabaab.

    President, we are approaching a crunch point in the security transition. 2024 will see the transition from ATMIS to Somali-led security continue. It comes as Somalia continues its ongoing offensive operations against Al-Shabaab. This Council and the UN should continue to work closely with Somalia and the African Union to ensure both objectives are balanced and both are successful. Member States need to support ATMIS and Somalia financially. Since 2022 the UK has contributed over $57 million to ATMIS and over $12 million to the Somalia Trust Fund. We urge other Member States to scale up support.

    The UK welcomes the positive collaboration between the Government and ATMIS on the recent, Joint Technical Assessment. By working together, the African Union and the Government of Somalia, with the support of the UN and partners can ensure that the security transition is successful. AMISOM [African Union Mission to Somalia] and ATMIS have made huge sacrifices in enabling Somalia to get to where it is today – we fully support you as you seek to finish the job.

    The UK also welcomes the Government’s commitment to establishing inclusive political processes. Progress on this agenda, including clarity on the Electoral Model and the constitutional review, will underpin medium to long-term stability in Somalia.

    Indeed, progress with state-building and peace-building is also essential to ensure sustained progress in the fight against Al-Shabaab as it will consolidate the military gains. Our top priority in Somalia is to support the Government to take forward state-building and political reform objectives while it continues to address security threats.

    President, let me conclude by commending Somalia on its progress through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. Thanks to Somalia’s hard work, the country is on track to benefit from debt relief, including from the UK. After debt relief, Somalia has the opportunity to continue to increase revenue collection, strengthen fiscal management, and limit the space for corruption.

    Taken together: security successes, accompanied by progress on political and economic reforms should be a cause for cautious optimism.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Eleven illegal workers arrested at Central London hotel – London Marriott Hotel Regents Park [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Eleven illegal workers arrested at Central London hotel – London Marriott Hotel Regents Park [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 19 October 2023.

    The intelligence-led operation uncovered illegal working and exploitation of agency staff at the 4 star hotel in London.

    Home Office teams found 11 people employed illegally as cleaners, porters and maids, working 15 hours a day through third party recruitment agencies.

    The agency staff, of 6 different nationalities, were significantly underpaid and were thought to be working at the hotel for half the normal salary under 2 separate subcontractors.

    Five of the staff encountered were detained pending their removal from the country, while a further 6 were bailed and will be required to report regularly to the Home Office. None of them had the right to work in the UK.

    One of those arrested had been smuggled into the UK illegally.

    The visit took place as part of a Home Office campaign targeting illegal working in the hospitality sector, as the government clamps down on illicit employers.

    It was arranged with support from Marriott Regents Park to ensure those suspected of working illegally at the hotel would be on site when officers arrived.

    Immigration Enforcement visits are at their highest since 2019 and up by 50% on last year.

    Immigration officers across the UK have carried out over 100 visits to businesses in the hospitality sector so far this year.

    Suran Padiachie, Deputy Director of Immigration Enforcement and Compliance at the Home Office said:

    When the British public pay for a hotel room in Central London, they should be confident that the staff serving them are contributing to society through fair and lawful employment.

    I’m grateful to Marriott for their cooperation with this case. Their support allowed my officers to swiftly identify the illegal workers and take action against their third party employers to ensure they face appropriate sanctions.

    Illegal working exploits vulnerable people and damages the economy, which is why we’re using the full weight of the law to clamp down on rogue employers and remove those with no right to be in the UK.

    The employers of the agency staff working at the Regents Park hotel have been handed a civil penalty referral notice, which could result in a fine of up to £20,000 for each illegal worker.

    In August it was announced that fines for employers who allow illegal migrants to work for them will be tripled. This will come into force at the start of 2024.