Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Belarus [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 September 2023.

UK statement for Interactive Dialogue on interim oral update of High Commissioner on human rights situation in Belarus in run-up to 2020 presidential election.

It’s now three years since the fraudulent August 2020 presidential elections in Belarus. Three years of brutal repression – of civil society groups, political opponents, journalists and ordinary citizens.

Repression that continues to intensify with the introduction of further legislation to restrict freedoms, punish dissent and neutralise democratic opposition.

There are now over 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus, often held in appalling conditions, denied access to basic medical care, starved of contact with their families, and subject to degrading treatment, including torture. Let me highlight the recent tragic death of Ales Pushkin, a prominent Belarusian activist arrested for his political artwork, who died in detention in unclear circumstances.

Once again, we call on the Belarusian authorities to put an end to their policy of repression and immediately to release political prisoners. While they are it, they should also end their support to Russia’s illegal war against their Ukrainian neighbours.

High Commissioner,

Three years on from the flawed and fraudulent elections, how can the international community best support human rights defenders and ensure Belarusian officials are held to account for their crimes?

Thank you.

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Burundi [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 September 2023.

UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, as delivered at the 54th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President.

The United Kingdom thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report, which recognises that the Government of Burundi has taken some steps in line with their commitment to improving human rights. We welcome these, but also note that the Government has further progress to make before this objective is fully realised.

In particular, we remain concerned about the ability of the people of Burundi to access and enjoy their civil and political rights. We call on Burundi to make genuine reforms to guarantee the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association. An active civil society and free media are cornerstones of democracy, and the government of Burundi should work to ensure civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers and other media workers can carry out their work safely and independently.

We were also deeply concerned by Burundi’s decision to withdraw its participation during its recent regular review of its adherence to the ICCPR by the Human Rights Committee.

Special Rapporteur,

Your findings show that continued scrutiny by this Council is both justified, and necessary. We again call on the government to cooperate fully with this Council, with your mandate, and with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other UN bodies working to improve the human rights situation in Burundi, including by reopening the OHCHR country office. What possibility, if any, do you see for a resumption of cooperation through any of these channels?

Thank you.

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Media Advisory Notice – Russell Brand [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 22 September 2023.

The Attorney General confirms the requirement not to publish material which could prejudice any potential criminal investigation or prosecutions.

Following the airing of “Russell Brand: In Plain Sight: Dispatches” on 16 September 2023, there has been extensive reporting about Russell Brand.

The Attorney General, the Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP, wishes to amplify the importance of not publishing any material where there is a risk that it could prejudice any potential criminal investigation or prosecutions.

Publishing this material could amount to contempt of court.

Editors, publishers, and social media users should take legal advice to ensure they are in a position to fully comply with the obligations to which they are subject under the common law and Contempt of Court Act 1981.

The Attorney General’s Office is monitoring the coverage of these allegations.

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government and NHS to help tackle killer heart condition [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 22 September 2023.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay has announced measures to tackle aortic dissection, a heart condition that kills 2,000 people every year.
Aortic dissection takes the lives of 2,000 people a year in Britain

Government and NHS England to look at ways to tackle condition

Health Secretary pledges to build on strong work already being done

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, has unveiled measures to tackle aortic dissection, a life-threatening heart condition that kills 2,000 people every year.

Speaking at a research event to mark Aortic Dissection Awareness Day, the Health Secretary announced the formation of an NHS working group that will bring together clinical experts and charities, to improve diagnosis and treatment of the condition.

The group will review the whole patient experience when it comes to aortic dissections, and pinpoint opportunities for future improvement, including the potential benefits of genetic testing.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay said:

Aortic dissection can be a devastating condition and every year it takes the lives of more people than die on our roads, yet awareness is low. Changing that will save lives.

Developing a holistic approach, from identifying those potentially at risk to providing first class follow-up care, will be life-changing for patients and I’m delighted to be able to build on the good work we’re already doing in this area.

I also want to pay tribute to the tireless work of my colleague Pauline Latham whose campaigning to improve aortic dissection care has kept this issue on the agenda.

The Health Secretary has asked for the working group to report back with options within six months, and aortic dissection charities will input into the work.

Pauline Latham MP, who tragically lost her son to an undiagnosed aortic dissection in 2018, has been a leading voice in campaigning to improve the lives of sufferers and their families, and met with the Secretary of State earlier this year to discuss ways to improve aortic dissection care.

Pauline Latham MP said:

In the wake of losing my son Ben to a missed diagnosis of aortic dissection, I couldn’t sit back and let other families suffer the way we have. That’s why Graham Cooper, Catherine Fowler and I started The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust.

We’ve been pushing hard – asking tough questions in Parliament, meeting with health ministers, and I’m thrilled to say, we have NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care on board.

This will bring in standardised care, genetic screening, and specialised nurses to not only save lives but improve quality of life for everyone affected by this condition. It’s our heartfelt mission to turn tragedy into a safer future for all.

The announcement builds on the progress made on aortic dissection in recent years. NHS England adjusted 111 and 999’s triage systems to better recognise chest pains caused by aortic dissections and is rolling out the Aortic Dissection Acute Toolkit across the regions to speed up diagnosis and improve patient outcomes, while The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has also published a best-practice guide to improve diagnosis in emergency departments.

The Department of Health and Social Care is also funding dedicated research into aortic dissection through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, as part of an annual £50 million investment in cardiovascular disease research.

Researchers are developing a tool to help people at genetic risk of aortic dissection decide if they want screening and, if necessary, preventative treatment and this is just one of the many exciting research projects under way across the country.

Background information

The remit of the working group will be to:

continue to monitor and support the implementation of the acute Aortic Dissection toolkit which has already been produced by NHS England and is currently being rolled out to NHS providers

review the whole aortic dissection patient pathway and identify areas for improvement including the elective pathway

explore the evidence and options for genetic screening including potential cohorts for screening

scope the clinical skills and workforce requirements to support aortic dissection pathway improvement
September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government gives £1 million boost to Forestry skills training [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 22 September 2023.

Funding has been extended to cover new courses in arboriculture, which cover the care, management and safety of amenity trees.

Current and aspiring foresters and arboriculturists are set to benefit from an additional £1 million in funding, which from today (Thursday 21 September), is being allocated to fund training courses in forestry and arboriculture across England, following an unprecedented demand.

The funding is primarily aimed at those considering changing their careers to one in forestry or arboriculture, as well as those already working in the sector. As the industry continues to grow as a result of the Government’s £675 million tree programme, the funding will create more green jobs and boost the workforce where over 30,000 people are already dedicated to expanding and protecting our precious woodlands, contributing more than £2 billion to our economy every year.

The new funding will cover training courses in a range of areas, including in:
- Chainsaw operation;
- Operating heavy machinery;
- Planning and planting new woodland;
- Deer management;
- Marketing and selling timber;
- Aerial tree pruning; and
- Branch removal
The Forestry and Arboriculture Fund – formerly known as the Forestry Training Fund – has received exceptionally high uptake since its launch in February this year, with over 150 short course training providers having registered to offer courses and 1,100 training places already funded for the next two years.

The fund has today been extended to cover arboriculture courses, with £250,000 ringfenced specifically for courses which cover the care, management and safety of amenity trees, through skills such as aerial tree pruning, branch removal, and assisted felling.

Defra Forestry Minister, Trudy Harrison said:

As tree-planting and woodlands across the country increase, so must our forestry workforce.

We are committed to growing the sector and increasing green jobs which will be made possible through this significant funding of Forestry and Arboriculture courses, as we continue to ensure at least 16.5% of the country is covered in trees by 2050.

Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford said:

England’s forestry sector plays an essential part in creating resilient forests and woodlands which improve our natural environment, helping meet net zero carbon emissions, provide a sustainable source of home-grown timber and boost people’s health and wellbeing.

The additional funding provided through the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund, will ensure that more people across the country, from all backgrounds, are able to build and diversify their skills in forestry. I encourage anyone looking to join the sector or upskill to apply today.

The Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund is already playing an instrumental role in helping deliver the government’s England Trees Action Plan, which sets out how we will shape the country for future generations through a significant increase in tree-planting and woodland creation, which is supported by over £675 million from the Nature for Climate Fund.

Early application is encouraged due to the unprecedented demand for courses. Please view our list of training providers and apply for funding on GOV.UK: Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – Joint Statement on Syria [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 September 2023.

Joint Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, as delivered by the UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Mr President,

This statement is made on behalf of a cross regional group of 53 countries.

We support the important work of the Commissioners and the role they play together with the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, in ensuring accountability for the ongoing serious violations of international law in Syria.

We are alarmed by the increase in hostilities resulting in civilian casualties, and by the absence of a long-term solution to ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to all those in need, and call on all parties to facilitate immediate and unhindered humanitarian assistance.

We note with concern, and condemn, the persistence of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture and deaths in detention, including for returnees. We demand that the Syrian authorities cease these violations, ensure the protection of civilians, respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without discrimination. We urge them to engage, in good faith, with the Independent Institution on Missing Persons.

We recall the Commissioners’ findings that Syria does not yet offer a safe and stable environment for returns, and support UNHCR’s call for to the Syrian authorities to create this.

Mr President,

Recent protests demonstrate the despair, and continued bravery, of the Syrian people and we urge Damascus to acknowledge their legitimate demands.

We support all efforts to progress the political process and urge the Syrian authorities, and all parties, to engage meaningfully and, in good faith, to advance all aspects of Security Council resolution 2254.

Joint Statement by the United Kingdom on behalf of 53 countries:

Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, ROK, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, USA,

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Syria [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 September 2023.

Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria. As delivered by UK Ambassador to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Thank you, Mr Vice President,

Thank you, Commissioners for your typically clear and detailed articulation of the human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity that so tragically persist in Syria.

We must heed the evidence: the conflict in Syria is not over. The deaths of thousands in the February earthquakes brought no respite from attacks on innocent people by the regime and its allies.

Life-saving humanitarian aid for the same people who face indiscriminate shelling is at the whim of the regime. Once again, permissions for humanitarian access expire abruptly in the peak of winter. The international community must work together to seek sustainable, unhindered, immediate humanitarian access to those most in need.

Meanwhile, returning refugees face blackmail, arbitrary detention and ill-treatment by Syrian security forces. Many, including children, have gone missing on return. The regime says it would welcome the return of refugees from neighbouring countries. On the basis of this evidence, it cannot be trusted.

Civilian deaths, aid restrictions, arbitrary detention. Bashar al Assad has no regard for the lives of the Syrian people. We must not abandon them. So I urge our fellow members of this Council to join efforts to secure accountability for these crimes.

Thank you.

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Step forward to online lasting powers of attorney [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 22 September 2023.

The most vulnerable in society will be better protected as reforms to simplify and streamline lasting powers of attorney are given Royal Assent.
- Powers of Attorney Act receives Royal Assent
- creates new safeguards to protect against fraud and abuse
- digitalisation to improve processing time and reduce human error
These legal agreements enable a person to grant decision making powers about their care, treatment or financial affairs to another person if they lose mental capacity.

The Powers of Attorney Act fires the starting gun on bringing the existing paper-based process online for the first time. The changes, when introduced, will make the system quicker, easier to access and more secure for the thousands of people who make and rely on a lasting power of attorney every year.

The legislation, which was introduced by Stephen Metcalfe MP and supported by the government, will also strengthen existing fraud protection by allowing checks on the identity of those applying for a lasting power of attorney.

The new online system and the additional safeguards are now being developed by the Office of the Public Guardian. Extensive testing will need to be carried out to ensure the process is simple to use, works as intended and is secure. More information on when it will be available will be published in the coming months.

Justice Minister Mike Freer said:

Millions of people rely on a lasting power of attorney to make sure their care and finances are taken care of should they lose mental capacity.

This Act allows us to modernise the service, introduce new safeguards from fraud and abuse and make it simpler to give people peace of mind their interests will be protected.

The number of registered lasting power of attorneys has increased drastically in recent years to more than 6 million but the process of making one retains many paper-based features that are over 30 years old. Every year, the Office of the Public Guardian handles more than 19 million pieces of paper as a result of their offline system.

The digitalisation will speed up registration time by picking up errors earlier and allowing them to be fixed online rather than having to wait for documents to be posted back and forth between the applicant and the Office of the Public Guardian as currently happens.

An improved paper process will also be introduced for those unable to use the internet.

These reforms build on the success of the ‘Use an LPA’ service which was launched in 2020 which allowed organisations like banks to digitally and securely check the registration of a lasting power of attorney instantaneously. This sped up a process that previously took weeks to conclude while paper copies were shared.

Amy Holmes, the Public Guardian for England and Wales, said:

This is a significant milestone in our plans to modernise lasting powers of attorney and we are one step closer to a quicker, more secure and straightforward service.

Our focus now is on continuing to develop, test and refine a new online platform and improved paper process to ensure we provide a service that will include additional safeguards and suit the needs of all our customers.

In the meantime, the Office of the Public Guardian has increased the number of staff processing applications and the teams are now registering around 19,000 more lasting powers of attorney a month than before the pandemic.
September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Tuberculosis (TB) cases continue to rise in England in 2023 [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 22 September 2023.

Tuberculosis (TB) cases in England increased by 7% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same timeframe in 2022.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates that cases of TB in England increased by 7% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same timeframe in 2022, with 2,408 notifications compared to 2,251 in the first 2 quarters of 2022.

While England remains a low-incidence country for tuberculosis, progress towards elimination has stalled in recent years. Ahead of the United Nations (UN) High Level Meeting on tuberculosis, UKHSA is reminding people that TB is not just a problem for other countries – it is impacting increasing numbers of people at home.

TB notification rates in England remain highest in people who are originally from parts of the world where TB is more common and those in large urban areas in England which are associated with higher levels of deprivation, and in inclusion health groups – a term used to describe people who are socially excluded and typically experience multiple overlapping risk factors for poor health. This includes those experiencing homelessness or contact with the criminal justice system.

TB disproportionately impacts certain people, in part, due to the barriers they may face in accessing the interventions designed to identify clinical onset of TB; access to diagnostic and treatment services; ability to self-administer treatment and attendance at follow-ups.

Dr Esther Robinson, Head of the TB Unit at UKHSA, said:

TB is curable and preventable, but despite significant progress towards elimination in recent years, the disease remains a serious public health issue in the UK.

With treatment, most people will make a full recovery. It is very important that those with relevant symptoms are tested for TB and appropriate treatment is started promptly, both for the individual and for the prevention of onward transmission.

As we head into winter, it is important to remember that not every persistent cough, along with a fever, is caused by flu or COVID-19. A cough that usually has mucus and lasts longer than 3 weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including TB.

Tuberculosis develops slowly, and it may take several weeks, months or even years after you were infected before you notice you’re unwell. Contact your GP if you think you could be at risk so you can get tested and treated.

Multi-drug resistance remains a major concern for TB treatment, but the latest data indicates that the proportion of people with a multi-drug resistant form of the TB bacteria has remained relatively stable in recent years.

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Four non-executive members reappointed to the board of the Independent Monitoring Authority [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 22 September 2023.

The Lord Chancellor has reappointed Ronnie Alexander, Joyce Cullen, Marcus Killick and Leo O’Reilly as non-executive members of the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements (IMA).
The Lord Chancellor has reappointed the following non-executive members, of the IMA:

Ronnie Alexander – member with knowledge about conditions in Wales relating to citizens’ rights – from 17 March 2024 until 16 December 2027

Joyce Cullen – member with knowledge about conditions in Scotland relating to citizens’ rights – from 10 February 2024 until 9 December 2027

Marcus Killick OBE – member with knowledge about conditions in Gibraltar relating to citizens’ rights – from 8 December 2023 until 7 December 2026

Leo O’Reilly CB – member with knowledge about conditions in Northern Ireland relating to citizens’ rights – from 8 December 2023 until 7 December 2026

The IMA was established under the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (EUWAA). Under the provisions set out in EUWAA, the IMA has the power to receive complaints, launch inquiries and initiate or intervene in legal proceedings. The IMA also has a duty to review the effectiveness of the legislative framework relating to citizens’ rights. In exercising its functions, the IMA must have regard to the importance of dealing with general or systemic issues in the implementation and application of citizen’ rights.

Biographies

Ronnie Alexander

Ronnie left the civil service, in 2013, to pursue a variety of other interests; including consultancy. He is currently an Independent Member of Powys Teaching Health Board. In addition, he serves as Independent Chair of the Standards Committees for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and also for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. He has a considerable record of engaging with the public, professionals and politicians at all levels, to influence policy. This follows a civil service career spanning over 20 years and an equivalent period working in local government. Ronnie Alexander has not declared any political activity.

Joyce Cullen

Joyce has practised as a litigation solicitor with Brodies LLP for over 40 years and served as Chair of the firm from 2004 to 2013. In 1995, she was admitted as a Solicitor Advocate in Scotland. She was Convener of the Law Society of Scotland’s Employment Law Reform Sub-Committee from 2006 to 2018. From 2015 to 2021 she was a Non-executive Director of the Joint Management Board of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland. In 2020, she was appointed as Chair of the Board of Governors of George Heriot’s School. She was initially appointed and has served as a Non-Executive member of the IMA since 2021. Joyce Cullen has not declared any political activity.

Marcus Killick

Marcus is also Chairman of the IMA’s Delivery and Impact Committee and a Member of its Audit Committee. Marcus is qualified as: a Barrister at Law (England and Wales); an Attorney at Law (New York) and; a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment,

He is currently Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the law firm ISOLAS LLP. From 2003 – 2014, he served as the CEO of the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (“Commission”).

During his time at the Commission, he was also Chair of the Group of International Insurance Centre Supervisors as well as Chair of both the Gibraltar Investors Compensation Scheme Board and the Gibraltar Deposit Guarantee Board. In 2014, he was awarded an OBE for services to regulation; particularly in Gibraltar. Marcus Killick has not declared any political activity.

Leo O’Reilly

Leo is also Deputy Chair of the IMA. He is a Member of the Senate of Queen’s University Belfast and a member of the Council of the Institute of Professional and Legal Studies in Belfast. He is also a Non-Executive member of the Audit and Risk Committee Member of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. He is a former civil servant, in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, with over 27 years’ experience as a senior civil servant covering a diverse range of functions and activities across government in both NI and GB. These include over 11 years as the Permanent Secretary of three Northern Ireland departments. Leo O’Reilly has not declared any political activity.

The appointment of non-executive members of the IMA are made by the Lord Chancellor and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. These reappointments comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
September 25, 2023