Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Northern professionals urged to apply for top public sector roles [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 28 September 2023.

Professionals in the North of England have been urged to apply for senior public sector roles in a bid to increase the regional diversity of the UK’s top public sector appointments and level up the UK.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, came to Darlington on Thursday 28 September to speak to local professionals about applying for public sector appointments which govern over 300 public institutions in the UK.

There is a wide variety of public appointments, from those at local levels, monitoring the operation of national parks or flood defences, to others that help steer the direction of well-known national institutions like the NHS and some of the country’s largest museums.

Over 50 local professionals signed up to attend the event at the Darlington Economic Campus, in one of the Government’s Places for Growth locations, hosted by the Cabinet Office.

As of September 2023, the Government has nearly 50 public sector appointments available across a range of sectors. The vast majority of these roles can be carried out from anywhere in the UK.

Current roles on offer include: Board Members of Natural England; Non-Executive Directors of Homes England; Members of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales; Non-Executive Director of the Insolvency Service; and Chair of the Senior Salaries Review Body.

These appointments are typically part-time, requiring varying time commitments of a few days a year, several days a month or just 2 to 3 days per week.

Speaking at the event, Baroness Neville-Rolfe said:

“Public appointees get the chance to improve vital public services, get more involved with their communities, work with a wide range of talented people and make a difference to society. They are extremely rewarding roles and can help accelerate people’s careers.

“People from all backgrounds and areas are essential to govern our public institutions in a way that works for the whole of the UK.

“I thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone who attended the event today and would strongly encourage them to consider applying for a public appointment.”

The Minister was joined at the event by Elizabeth Passey, Chair of The Rural Payments Agency, and past Board Member of The National Lottery Community Fund. Elizabeth was appointed as Chair of the Rural Payments Agency by the Government in 2018, and to the Board of the National Lottery Community Fund in 2014. She has a number of years’ experience in the financial services, public, university, conservation, rural charities and leisure sectors.

Also speaking at the event, Elizabeth said:

“I would offer enormous encouragement to anyone considering a role on a Public Board. The wide diversity of the UK is reflected across these entities, and the roles require local, national and, occasionally, international insight coupled with a large dose of common sense.

“These are skills which so many people acquire during their lives and have the potential to share via a public board, but perhaps don’t think to do so. They are hugely inspiring roles with the potential to help the many many lives which these entities serve. I would encourage anyone to consider what they can offer.”

This event is the first in a series of events to encourage local professionals to apply for public appointments. Subsequent events are planned in Exeter and Edinburgh.

September 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement under Item 4 General Debate [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 September 2023.

Statement under Item 4 General Debate. Delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French, on 26 September 2023 at the UN’s 54th Human Rights Council.

Thank you Mr President,

We have long had concerns about human rights in Russia. But it is deeply disturbing to see the return of Soviet-era violations. Neighbour denouncing neighbour, politically motivated detentions, and mass forced deportations. We will continue to shine a spotlight on Russia’s repression of its own people and its systematic crackdown on civil society. It’s time to end the illegal aggression against Ukraine.

China continues to disregard human rights. Constraining civil society, denying freedom of expression, and of religion or belief. Systematic violations persist in Xinjiang and Tibet, where the UN reports a million Tibetan children have been separated from their families to assimilate them into Han culture. In Hong Kong politicised prosecutions against Jimmy Lai, the ‘NSL 47’, and journalists exemplify authorities’ targeted campaign to repress criticism. We urge China to uphold its human rights obligations, and the rights of its own people enshrined in its own Constitution.

One year after the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, Iran continues repressing women and girls. Through the new Hijab and Chastity Bill, the authorities seek to police what women wear and how they behave. Iran must listen to its people and respect women’s rights. Woman, Life, Freedom.

We welcome the recent releases of a number of opposition and rights activists in Egypt. We call on Egypt to continue on this positive path and release other human rights defenders, including Alaa Abd El-Fattah, as soon as possible. We continue to urge Egypt to ensure independent media and civil society can operate freely.

Finally, decisive action is needed to ensure accountability in Sudan for the horrific violence being inflicted on the people of Sudan by both parties to the conflict, particularly in Khartoum and Darfur.

We expressed our concerns about Afghanistan and Myanmar and other situations in other statements to this Council.

September 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Thousands more pupils to receive support to improve attendance [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 28 September 2023.

Government announces four new attendance hubs, widening the support to a total of 400,000 pupils.

Thousands more pupils will be supported in schools as the Department for Education today (28 September) announces four more attendance hubs.

Hubs are led by schools with excellent attendance which share practical ideas with other primary, secondary, alternative provision and special schools in England who need support to boost their attendance.

The Government has been clear that attendance is everyone’s business. Regular attendance is vital for children’s education, wellbeing and long-term development and evidence shows pupils with higher attendance tend to have higher attainment across all key stages.

The four new attendance hubs announced today are in Nottinghamshire, Grimsby, and two in Swindon and they will support schools across the country.

The new hubs are St Giles Special School in Nottinghamshire, John Whitgift Academy in Grimsby and Ridgeway School and Sixth Form and The Croft Primary School both in Swindon.

This brings the total number of hubs to 14 – which will support around 800 schools across the country responsible for the attendance of 400,000 children, and will start working with schools over the next two weeks for the rest of the academic year.

Lead hub schools share practical approaches to improving attendance with other schools. This could include advice about how to make their school warm and welcoming, building strong relationships with families, working effectively with wider services where there are complex reasons for absence, and using data to identify pupils at risk of not coming in, to intervene early.

Hub schools also share ideas for how to use extra-curricular activities such as school trips, sports teams or breakfast clubs to create a positive culture where children want to attend.

This term, the Department will also be looking for more schools to establish new attendance hubs.

Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan said:

Being at school helps children grow in confidence and ensure they get the education they need to reach their full potential.

That is why we are doing everything in our power to ensure children don’t miss out on these precious years that only happen once in a lifetime.

We are delighted to expand our ground breaking attendance hubs and continue to work with the wider sector through the Attendance Action Alliance to further reduce absence.

The first attendance hub was set up by Rob Tarn, CEO of Northern Education Trust and members of the Attendance Action Alliance, to provide other schools with techniques, resources and advice on how to improve attendance, as successfully trialled in Northern Education Trust’s North Shore Academy.

CEO of Northern Education Trust, Rob Tarn said:

Securing excellent attendance continues to be a day-to-day challenge for all schools around the country.

I am delighted to see the launch of 4 additional attendance hubs supporting hundreds more schools around the country– building on the hub model that we created at North Shore Academy.

Attendance hubs give school leaders more opportunities to learn from others, share best practice and engage in an ongoing professional dialogue about improving attendance.

As part of the Government’s mission to tackle barriers to attendance, the Government announced the expansion of the attendance hubs and the attendance mentoring programme in May, to support more schools in England to improve their attendance.

The Department for Education also established the Attendance Action Alliance of national leaders from education, children’s social care and allied services to work together to raise school attendance and reduce persistent absence.

Last month, Schools Minister Nick Gibb urged parents to play their part in continuing to support pupils to go to school, including when they have a minor cough or cold.

The Department also recently published a toolkit for schools providing tips and evidence-based adaptable templates for communicating with parents and carers on attendance. This is in addition to work with children’s charity Barnardo’s to deliver the attendance mentors programme – which works directly with persistently absent children and their families to help overcome their specific barriers to attendance and support them back to school.

September 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £80 million funding delivered to improve and protect bus services [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 28 September 2023.

Funding will protect essential bus services and allow local authorities to make the improvements that would most benefit their communities.
- funding allocated to local authorities to support local services, ensuring passengers can continue to use the bus to get to work, shops and important appointments
- investment will continue to help lower fares, improve bus reliability and punctuality while preventing service reductions
- part of £3.5 billion investment since 2020 to protect and improve bus services while keeping fares low, helping people to save money on travel and grow the economy
Millions of people across England will benefit from lower fares, improved reliability and better bus services, as the government delivers a further £80 million to support buses into 2025.

Today (28 September 2023), Roads Minister Richard Holden confirmed allocations for 64 local authorities across England from the £80 million investment in the bus service improvement plan+ (BSIP+) for 2024 to 2025.

Local authorities can use the funding to improve local buses in several ways, such as by bringing in new services or routes, extending timetables through new morning or evening buses or making tickets cheaper through reduced fares for elderly or young people, depending on what will be most valuable in their local area.

The investment could also be used to protect hundreds of bus services with low passenger numbers so that people who rely on them for essential services can continue to access their local bus.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said:

Buses are the most popular form of public transport and millions of people across the country from the Tees Valley to Torbay rely on their local service to get to work, attend medical appointments and see loved ones.

We are providing a further £80 million to help local authorities improve and protect essential services, delivering for local communities across the country by enhancing transport connections, supporting passengers and growing the economy.

The funding follows the first £80 million BSIP+ investment for 2023 to 2024, and the previous £1 billion from the first BSIP funding announced in 2022.

It comes on top of a further £140 million announced in May from the extension of the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), taking the total to continue supporting and protecting bus services across England to £300 million into 2025.

To help people with the cost of living and save on everyday travel costs, the government also invested £200 million to extend the bus fare cap, with single bus tickets capped at £2 outside London until the end of October 2023 and then at £2.50 until 30 November 2024.

The £2 fare cap has cut travel costs, particularly in rural areas, where buses are crucial for so many people to get around, with the average fare dropping by 10.8% in rural and non-metropolitan parts of England.

The measures take total government support to protect and improve bus services while keeping fares low to £3.5 billion since 2020.

While it is the responsibility of bus operators and local transport authorities to ensure an adequate provision of bus routes, the government continues to work closely with the sector to support local areas in dealing with changing travel patterns while managing pressures on the taxpayer.

Janette Bell, Managing Director of First Bus, said:

We welcome the certainty provided by today’s confirmation of the next tranche of local authority funding allocations. We look forward to working together with our local authority partners to deliver the best services possible for our customers.

At First Bus, we are driven by a passion to get more people using the bus and we welcome any funding that makes taking the bus an easier travel choice.

Today also marks the publication of the £2 Bus Fare Cap Second Interim Evaluation Report, analysing the initial impact of the cap in January and February 2023, the first 2 months of the measure.

According to the report, the “Get Around for £2” scheme has so far encouraged people to get back on the bus, with almost half of respondents saying the fare cap is the main reason they are using the bus more. Over 50 million single bus tickets were sold in England over January and February 2023, two-thirds of which were capped.

Silviya Barrett, from Campaign for Better Transport, said:

We’re pleased the £2 bus fare cap we campaigned for has been a success, reducing fares and boosting passenger numbers.

The additional funds for local authorities announced today are also welcome and we hope that this is just the start of ongoing investment in bus networks across the country.

In addition to the £3.5 billion to support buses since 2020, the government has provided £5.7 billion to 8 mayoral combined authorities in England to support integrated, cross-modal transport networks over the next 5 years through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), including supporting bus infrastructure.

The Department for Transport has also recently confirmed £129 million to roll out hundreds more zero emission buses, with the first £25 million prioritised specifically for rural communities. This brings total government investment in new zero-emission buses to almost £500 million.
September 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Action taken to help promote no and low-alcohol drinks [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 28 September 2023.

More people could be encouraged to purchase alcohol-free drinks under government proposals to make alternatives to alcoholic drinks more widely available.
- Government consults on encouraging more people to choose no and low-alcohol drinks to help those looking to live healthier lives while supporting businesses
- Drinks containing 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) could be labelled alcohol free, in line with countries like the USA, New Zealand, Germany and Australia
- Potential changes will make no and low-alcohol drinks more popular and easier to buy, helping shift the market to healthier alternatives
More people could be encouraged to purchase alcohol-free drinks in pubs, restaurants, shops and venues under government proposals to make alternatives to alcoholic drinks more popular and widely available.

The public consultation launched today (28 September 2023) will seek views on whether to raise the threshold for describing a drink as ‘alcohol free’ to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). This is in line with other countries around the world including the USA, Denmark, Germany, Australia, Sweden, Portugal and Belgium. The threshold in the UK is currently 0.05%.

A higher threshold could see more no and low-alcohol products on the market – increasing availability in retail and hospitality and expanding product ranges, giving consumers more options. This could encourage thousands more people to choose an alcohol-free or low-alcohol drink to make healthier choices, moderate alcohol intake and normalise alternatives to alcohol.

The potential changes could drive the productivity of businesses, help remove red tape and allow them to more easily manufacture these drinks to benefit from the multi-billion-pound alcohol-free drinks market.

Public Health Minister Neil O’Brien said:

No and low-alcohol drinks are getting more and more popular, and we are looking to further support their growth. Many other countries around the world already allow more freedom over this. Liberalising labelling guidelines could also help people make more informed choices about the drinks they buy.

We want to encourage the growth of no and low alcohol alternatives for those looking to moderate their alcohol intake.

The government is clear these products should not be marketed to children or consumed by them. Through the consultation, the government is seeking views on measures it can take with industry to prevent children and young people from accessing and consuming these products, including potential age restriction warnings on products.

Views are also being sought on whether to update labelling guidelines, so that manufacturers display the alcohol percentage on any no or low alcohol product clearly on the bottle.

‘Low alcohol’ refers to any product 1.2% ABV or below. Currently, alcohol-free is 0.05% ABV but the government is seeking views on whether to raise this to 0.5% ABV.

Marcos Salazar, CEO of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association, said:

As the no and low alcohol category continues to grow and provide greater choice for consumers looking to reduce their alcohol consumption, it is essential that there is consistency between the UK, European and other international markets in terms of labelling.

The Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA) welcomes the Department of Health and Social Care’s decision to launch this consultation today, and will continue to work closely with the government to help support its aims of increasing the availability of alcohol-free products for consumers.

Matt Lambert, CEO of The Portman Group, said:

We welcome the new consultation, which we hope will help result in greater clarity on labels and encourage further uptake of low and no alcohol alternatives.

Our annual polling repeatedly shows that these products are already helping UK consumers moderate their drinking and avoid harms such as drink driving. It is also an important opportunity to highlight the continued commitment of producers to market and sell these products responsibly to adult consumers.

Emma McClarkin OBE, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said:

The BBPA has been calling on government to review low alcohol descriptors for many years. We welcome proposals to align low alcohol descriptors with those of nearly all other global markets. This will create a fairer trading environment for British brewers and pub operators, stimulate innovation and growth in the low and no alcohol category, and provide much needed clarity for British consumers. Labelling of low-alcohol drinks must be relevant and clear, and not risk confusing consumers.

British brewers are leading the charge in the development of low and no alcohol beer, with over 85% of pubs already offering at least one alcohol-free beer. I am proud to have been able to take this even further by working with our members and government on a series of voluntary commitments that I hope will drive even greater awareness of the category and promote availability of low and no alcohol options in pubs across the UK, cementing their vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve.

A fifth of adults in England currently drink above the low-risk guidelines of 14 units per week – significantly increasing their risk of ill-health, poorer quality of life and even premature death. Views are being sought on how to support those looking to moderate their alcohol consumption and provide them with greater choice when looking for alternatives to alcohol.

The multi-billion-pound alcohol-free drinks market has increased rapidly in recent years, predominantly driven by alcohol-free beer, which has been described as one of the fastest-growing drinks trends in the UK.

Minister for Regulatory Reform, the Earl of Minto, said:

We want the public to know exactly what they are drinking which is why the potential changes are so important. This consultation will help bring about smarter regulations to ensure that businesses aren’t over-burdened, allowing firms to focus on growth and innovation.

Today’s consultation forms part of the government’s wider plans to introduce smarter regulation to grow the economy.

Smarter regulation is about improving regulation and guidance for businesses across the board, ensuring it is as clear, proportionate and does not unnecessarily impose burdens on businesses which restrict innovation and growth. The government will be considering the impacts on businesses of any potential changes to guidance alongside our primary aim of delivering improvements to public health.

This supports a strong programme of work under way to reduce alcohol-related health harms and their impact on life chances.

As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, the government has invested £27 million to establish specialist alcohol care teams in the 25% of hospitals with the highest rates of alcohol-related mortality and deprivation. This is estimated to prevent 50,000 admissions over 5 years and will reduce demand on the NHS.

The government also published a 10-year strategy for tackling drug and alcohol-related harms in 2021, backed by £532 million of new funding over 3 years (to 2024 to 2025) to rebuild drug and alcohol misuse treatment and recovery services in England, as well as increase the availability of inpatient detoxification beds.
September 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government funding to train 500 new youth workers [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 27 September 2023.

Young people will get better support and services as the Government supports the training of youth workers with £800,000 of new funding, the Culture Secretary has announced today.
- New bursaries for 500 youth workers to get skills and qualifications to better support young people
- £800,000 in government funding will mean more vulnerable children and teenagers have someone trained to talk to outside school
- Extra funding so local organisations can work together better to improve their youth offer
- Clearer government guidance to make it easier for local authorities to provide more opportunities and services
- Builds on the Government’s ‘National Youth Guarantee’, backed by an investment of more than £500 million
Young people will get better support and services as the Government supports the training of youth workers with £800,000 of new funding, the Culture Secretary has announced today.

More than 500 youth workers and volunteers, who would otherwise be unable to undertake training, will have their course fees fully paid for by the Government.

The funding will allow adults to access a Level 2, 3 or 4 youth worker qualifications, meaning more vulnerable children and teenagers will have someone trained to talk to outside of school, providing a guiding hand to keep them on the right path and unlock their potential.

Funding for youth qualifications in 2020 enabled one youth worker in Leicester to complete the Level 3 Diploma, allowing him to continue delivering music sessions and providing mentoring as a qualified youth worker rather than a volunteer.

In Norwich, another youth worker who delivers creative writing workshops for young people struggling to engage in education, was unable to access qualifications due to their cost. Thanks to a Government bursary, she was able to undertake the Level Two Youth Work Certificate, enhancing her practice.

The Government is also announcing more funding for youth services delivered at a regional level to help youth groups, local authorities and businesses work together more effectively and give young people the best start in life.

The move builds on Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer’s aim to give young people ‘someone to talk to, something to do and somewhere to go’, outlined in a recent keynote speech at the Onward Think Tank.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

I want every young person to have the best start in life and part of that is having a trusted adult and mentor who they can turn to for advice and guidance. For many this will be their parents or family member but for others it will be the Youth worker they meet at their local club.

Youth workers provide an invaluable role for tens of thousands of young people when the school day ends, which is why we are funding 500 more youth workers and volunteers to get qualified.

This funding builds on our investment in the youth sector, with more than £300 million to build or refurbish up to 300 youth centres across the country via the Youth Investment Fund.

The plans announced today include over £300,000 to support and improve the delivery of youth services at a regional level. Existing regional youth work units will receive £40,000 over the next two years to facilitate greater coordination between youth services across eight regions, making sure the sector is well-informed, skilled and able to meet young people’s needs. Regional units also unlock additional funding opportunities to provide more young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.

The funding comes in addition to £250,000 being allocated to encourage local partnerships as part of the Local Partnerships Fund, which will be used to improve services on a more local level. The fund is designed to encourage partnerships between youth services and councils, schools, local sporting and smaller community based organisations so they can provide a more holistic experience for young people.

Partnering with The Young People’s Foundation Trust, the funding will be allocated to ten areas to support partnerships between local organisations. This will help to attract additional funding, such as through match funding by local authorities, raising the standards of local youth services.

Martin Hartley-Smith, CEO Young BWD Foundation said:

DCMS funding via Local Partnerships Fund has been the cornerstone in establishing the Young BWD Foundation in Blackburn with Darwen, enabling us to develop a borough-wide strategic plan in close partnership with the local authority.

Our collaboration has not only positioned the BWD Foundation and its members as a key strategic partner but has also facilitated the securing of additional funding for a pivotal youth justice project.

Building on the latest financial support for the sector, the Government has also updated the statutory duty guidance which outlines how local authorities should secure services for young people in their area.

Developed in collaboration with the youth sector, local authorities and young people, the updated guidance includes more detailed information on how to work with other local organisations to best meet the needs of young people.

The updated guidance includes:
- Clarifications on what local authorities must do under the duty;
- Suggested activities and examples of best practice;
- Ways local authorities can work with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, youth workers, school and colleges, businesses and employers and other agencies and bodies;
- Guidance on taking views of young people in their area into account on current and future provision.
Michael Bracey, Chief Executive of Milton Keynes City Council said:

Youth work can make a hugely positive contribution to helping younger residents thrive and, in turn, the wider community. The guidance is a helpful reminder of the opportunity it presents for council’s as they work to build successful places

Today’s announcement supports the Government’s ‘National Youth Guarantee’ that every young person aged 11-18 in England will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home, and volunteering opportunities by 2025. It is backed by an investment of more than £500 million. This includes the Government’s Youth Investment Fund of more than £300 million, of which £160 million has been delivered. This will support up to 300 youth centres across the country to be rebuilt or redeveloped, and help 45,000 more young people access regular, positive activities every year.

This follows the announcement earlier this week that 7,500 disadvantaged young people are to be given access to adventures away from home as part of Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer’s vision that all young people have something productive to do.
September 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : A more sustainable approach is needed for lifesaving cross-border aid into Syria – UK statement at the Security Council [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

Thank you, President, and I thank Special Envoy Pedersen, Director Wosornu, and IRC Vice President Jarbawi for their briefings. With humanitarian needs in Syria at their highest in years, it is critical that the Council have before us the facts, as well as the insights from your teams.

First, the UK welcomes the news that aid is once again reaching the people of north-west Syria, 70 days after Russia vetoed the cross-border resolution. We are clear that those deliveries must be secure and unhindered, and delivered in accordance with the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

But once again the UN is having to develop contingency plans for when permissions for Bab al-Rai and Bab al-Salam expire in 45 days’ time. Short-term agreements are not a sustainable solution for the people of north-west Syria who rely on the UN’s life-saving aid.

And those short-term arrangements distract humanitarian teams on the ground with constant contingencies and planning for worst-case scenarios when their most pressing priority is to engage with the people who need their support. We do need a more sustainable approach for the lifeline of cross-border assistance.

Turning to political developments. We are following closely the demonstrations in Sweida in defence of their political and economic rights. It is disappointing that despite readmission to the Arab League, Syria refuses to abide by the decisions of this Council and to engage meaningfully in the political process. The trafficking of large quantities of captagon across the region continues unabated: this month we have seen some of the largest captagon seizures on record.

We therefore urge the regime to begin to engage seriously in the political process established by UNSCR 2254, including the early convening of the Constitutional Committee.

The peace and stability of the region depend on it.

September 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : British Ambassador presents credentials to President of Ukraine [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2023.

Today, the new British Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Harris CMG OBE presented his Letters of Credence to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and reiterated the UK’s unflinching support.

Speaking at a ceremony in historic St Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, Martin Harris said:

I’m honoured to lead the UK’s Embassy as we support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy. Ukraine is defending the international principles underpinning the UK’s security, as well as its own.

The courage and resolve of the Ukrainian armed forces and people are a constant inspiration. It is a privilege to be here in Ukraine standing alongside them.

Our relationship has never been closer or more important. Together we are stronger.

September 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK government and island community leaders to discuss connectivity [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 27 September 2023.

The third Islands Forum will take place on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland on 9-10 October, chaired by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up.

The forum will focus on connectivity, recognising the importance of physical and digital connectivity to islands, particularly those with no fixed links to the mainland.

The UK government has invited eligible council leaders and chief executives of island communities in all parts of the UK to take part in the third forum. The devolved administrations will also have a key role, with ministers from the Scottish and Welsh governments invited and the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

The Islands Forum helps to level up island communities by encouraging collaboration to tackle common challenges such as skills, connectivity and infrastructure, as well as to explore shared opportunities including the transition to net zero. It also allows the UK government to hear and learn from island communities to inform future policy.

October’s forum follows successful forums in Orkney in September 2022 and on the Isle of Wight in May 2023, where members agreed to collaborate further on net zero and skills. The Orkney forum also included a discussion with the energy regulator, Ofgem, leading to further direct engagement, unlocking important investments for island communities.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove MP said:

The Islands Forum is a significant bi-annual event bringing together island communities who contribute so much to the UK.

The first two forums in Orkney and the Isle of Wight clearly demonstrated the strong appetite for us to all work together to benefit communities. I look forward to meeting again on the Isle of Lewis, to discuss connectivity, reflecting the physical and digital connectivity challenges islands face.

I know the Isle of Lewis’ geography, heritage and language traditions will provide a thought-provoking location to discuss the unique issues facing our incredible islands across the UK.

Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) Paul Steele said:

People in the Western Isles and other UK islands face unique challenges and the next Islands Forum presents another opportunity for us all to collaborate further, finding potential solutions with government ministers. I look forward to meeting with Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove MP and discussing connectivity alongside future funding and growth opportunities.

September 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls for a de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Palestine – UK statement at the Security Council [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Middle Eastern Peace Process.

Mr President,

I have three areas I wish to highlight since our last meeting in August.

Firstly, September 15 marked the third anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords. The UK celebrates the success of the accords and we are unabashed in encouraging more countries to normalise their relations with Israel and seize the opportunities it presents. We are also committed to making sure that normalisation delivers concrete benefits for the Palestinian people.

Second, from 11 to 13 September, the British Foreign Secretary visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Foreign Secretary spoke with Israeli and Palestinian leaders where he called for a de-escalation of tensions, emphasised the importance of holding long-overdue elections in the OPTs, and made crystal clear the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution as the only way to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. The 30th anniversary of the Oslo Accords is a poignant reminder that we must work together to achieve lasting and sustainable peace in the region.

During his visit, the Foreign Secretary met the commissioner-general of UNRWA and he went to Jalazone refugee camp to see, first hand, the impact of the agency’s work to protect the most vulnerable. This brings me to my third point.

We have previously discussed the funding crisis that UNRWA faces. The UK was proud to announce an additional ten million pounds during the visit to help address the crisis. Other states also pledged more funds to UNRWA during high-level week, we must make sure those funds are available quickly and we must maintain efforts to put the agency on a more sustainable financial footing.

Separately, I want to highlight a UN OCHA report published last week showing that 1,105 Palestinians were displaced from their communities since 2022. A major and rising concern is the increasing settler violence in the OPTs, largely unchallenged, renders Palestinians at risk of forcible transfer. We call on the Israeli government to tackle this threat.

Tragically, 2023 has already seen at least 193 Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank and 31 Israelis have died at the hands of terrorists. We must end the cycle of violence.

September 29, 2023