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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Second 2023 to 2024 Cost of Living Payment dates announced [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Second 2023 to 2024 Cost of Living Payment dates announced [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 20 September 2023.

    Millions of households across the UK will receive £300 directly from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between 31 October and 19 November.

    • Millions of households to receive £300 from DWP between 31 October and 19 November 2023
    • This is the second of 3 payments totalling up to £900 supporting eligible people on means-tested benefits with the cost of living
    • Payments make up part of government’s record financial support for the most vulnerable worth an average of £3,300 per household
    • Tax credits-only customers who do not qualify for a payment from DWP will receive £300 from HMRC between 10 and 19 November 2023

    Millions of households across the UK will receive £300 directly from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between 31 October and 19 November.

    This is the second of 3 payments totalling up to £900 for those eligible and on means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or tax credits, in 2023 to 2024, and eligible pensioner households will also receive a further £300 payment later this year as an addition to the Winter Fuel Payment.

    The £300 Cost of Living Payment will be sent out automatically and directly to recipients, meaning those eligible do not need to apply, contact the Government, or take any action to receive it. This includes tax credits-only customers who will receive the payment from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) between 10 and 19 November 2023.

    The payment reference for bank accounts will be the recipient’s National Insurance Number followed by DWP COL or HMRC COLS.

    Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said:

    The best way we can boost bank balances is by bearing down on inflation, but as we get there, we are ensuring the most vulnerable households are cushioned from high prices with a further Cost of Living payment.

    Alongside this, thousands of Work Coaches across the country are helping find work, increase their hours and boost their skills. I encourage anyone who wants to progress their career and strengthen their finances to visit their local Jobcentre to find out what help is available.

    Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, added:

    Halving inflation and getting price rises under control is the best way to support households struggling with their bills. But it is also right that we are helping the most vulnerable in our society, and this latest Cost of Living payment is part of a package of support worth £3,300 per household on average over this year and last to help those struggling the most.

    The full list of benefit recipients that qualify for the second Cost of Living Payment are those who are eligible and receive at least one of the following:

    • Universal Credit
    • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
    • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
    • Income Support
    • Working Tax Credit
    • Child Tax Credit
    • Pension Credit

    To be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment from DWP, you need to have been entitled to a payment for a qualifying benefit between 18 August 2023 and 17 September 2023, or payment for an assessment period, ending between these dates. From HMRC, you need to have received a payment of tax credits for any day in the period between 18 August 2023 and 17 September 2023.

    The DWP continues to encourage low-income pensioners not already getting Pension Credit to check their eligibility, as – thanks to Pension Credit backdating rules – they could still qualify for both the second Cost of Living Payment as well as the third payment due in Spring 2024. Over eight million pensioner households will also receive a further £300 payment later this year in addition to the Winter Fuel Payment.

    Additional information

    • These payments are tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.
    • The 3 means-tested Cost of Living Payments for 2023 to 2024, worth up to £900 in total, are being delivered in three slightly different amounts, each relating to a specific qualifying period before the payment is made. This allows DWP and HMRC to ensure support is targeted at those who need it and are eligible; to determine if a payee received the correct payments and identify the payment value; and to reduce the risk of fraud.
    • To get the £300 payment someone must (subject to a very limited exception) have been entitled to a payment of a qualifying benefit as follows:
      • for Universal Credit, payment for an assessment period ending between 18 August 2023 to 17 September 2023
      • for all other DWP means-tested benefits, payment in respect of any day between 18 August 2023 to 17 September 2023
      • for tax credits-only customers, a payment of tax credits in respect of any day in the period 18 August 2023 to 17 September 2023, or later be paid in respect of any day in this period
      • those on DWP benefits other than Universal Credit who are entitled to less than 10 pence and meet all other qualifying criteria but who do not receive a benefit payment, will still receive a Cost of Living Payment
    • For joint tax credits claimants, where one claimant receives Working Tax Credit and the other claimant receives Child Tax Credit, payments will be made into the same bank account as the Child Tax Credit.
    • Payment windows and eligibility criteria for the third Cost of Living Payment will be announced in due course.
    • For more information on these payments, please visit Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024
    • For those requiring an extra layer of cost of living support, people are encouraged to visit their council website to find out what extra help is available at a local level. Councils in England are continuing to offer various forms of support to cover the cost of essentials thanks to DWP’s £842 million extension to the Household Support Fund this year
    • DWP will pay over seven million households and HMRC will follow with around 830,000 more, bringing the total number of households eligible for the Cost of Living Payment to around eight million
    • Receiving a previous Cost of Living Payment does not mean you will be entitled to a future one. Customers will need to meet the separate eligibility criteria for each payment
    • The number of payments made by HMRC has reduced over time, when compared with the 2022 to 2023 HMRC payments, as people move from tax credits to Universal Credit and may therefore receive their latest payment from DWP if they are eligible
    • Beware of scams targeting Cost of Living Payments. If someone contacts you about this payment saying they are from DWP or HMRC, it might be a scam. Check advice on spotting scams by visiting GOV.UK and searching ‘phishing and scams’
  • PRESS RELEASE : New government research shows ‘lonely’ seems to be the hardest word for students [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New government research shows ‘lonely’ seems to be the hardest word for students [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 19 September 2023.

    As students prepare for freshers’ week, new research has found that nearly half of students worry they would be judged if they admitted to feeling lonely.

    • Nearly all students say they felt lonely at least once during the last academic year, yet almost half have hidden feelings of loneliness because they fear no one will understand
    • 60% said they would strike up a conversation with a friend if they mentioned feeling lonely
    • Government partners with Wingstop, Sporting Wellness and Student Radio to boost campaign to tackle stigma around loneliness
    • Small acts of kindness such as starting a conversation or inviting someone out for a tea or coffee help to combat loneliness

    As students prepare for freshers’ week, new research commissioned by the Government has found that while loneliness is experienced by almost all students (92%), nearly half (43%) worry they would be judged if they admitted to feeling lonely.

    The research, collected by YouGov, has indicated that over half (53%) feel more uncomfortable seeking help for loneliness; a higher proportion than any other concern listed.

    The sample of more than 1,000 students highlighted that concerns about loneliness (52%) came ahead of other major concerns including managing money (49%), course difficulty (49%), finding suitable housing (26%) or even ‘fitting in’ (48%).

    However, the research found there was little judgement from others towards those that admitted to feeling lonely. Almost nine in ten (87%) students disagreed they would judge someone who said they felt this way, while 60% said they would strike up a conversation with a friend if they mentioned feeling lonely.

    This new research comes as the Government partners with international restaurant chain Wingstop.  A free campaign on the chain’s in-store digital screens and social media channels will encourage students to get together at meal times and direct them to the Better Health – Every Mind Matters website which has resources and support for loneliness and mental health issues.

    The Government is also partnering with charity Sporting Wellness, as well as the Student Radio Association, Student Roost and Student Minds, to raise awareness of the campaign and its resources through their channels and university focused activities. This aims to make young people feel more comfortable talking about loneliness, addressing the stigma as well as pointing them to support.

    The latest phase of the Government’s Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign targeted young people. It encouraged those aged 16 to 34 to ‘lift someone out of loneliness’ by carrying out small acts of kindness such as starting a conversation or inviting someone out for a tea or coffee.

    Minister for Loneliness, Stuart Andrew said:

    As these findings make clear, loneliness can affect anyone at any time. While freshers’ week is an exciting time for many, it can often be a daunting prospect for students. Moving away from home and away from friends and family can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially while trying to manage coursework, make new friends and often navigate a new city.

    There are small things everyone can do to help alleviate loneliness and open up the conversation. This includes reaching out to those that might be struggling and spending time volunteering, such as by offering a regular conversation to someone feeling isolated.

    We want everyone to feel comfortable talking about loneliness and to help them find the right advice and support whenever they need it.

    The findings revealed that eight in ten (82%) said they had supported or would support a friend feeling lonely, most often by just starting a conversation and offering reassurance, showing that the issue is far more normal than many perceive.

    When it comes to tackling the issue, research also found that joining a society or club was the most helpful intervention, with nearly half (42%) of those who did this as a result of feeling lonely saying it was the most helpful action they took.

    Research also found that the experience of loneliness at university differs for female students and disabled students, with more than half (58%) of female students saying they don’t feel comfortable getting help for loneliness compared to nearly half (48%) of male students. Similarly, 61% of disabled students say they wouldn’t feel comfortable getting help for loneliness, compared to 51% non-disabled students.

    Findings differ for those who identify as LGB+, with almost half (47%) saying they felt isolated from their peers compared to a third (34%) of heterosexual students. While nearly half (48%) of heterosexual students were concerned about feeling lonely before starting their course, the figure jumps to 62% for LGB+ students.

    Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said:

    Starting university is an exciting time for many young people but the new environment and expectations can be challenging.

    As this research shows, meeting new people and making friends is a top concern for students starting university, but I hope that they can see that they are not alone in this. Not only is this a common feeling for people at any age, but their fellow students are supportive and understanding.

    We have asked the Office for Students to allocate £15 million on a range of mental health support, including for students’ transition to university. If students are struggling, I would encourage them to visit Student Space, which has already supported over 450,000 students with free resources and support on mental health and issues like loneliness.

    Lauryn Davey, Medical Student, Youth Ambassador at Sporting Wellness said:

    Starting university can be such a big step, as many of us are surrounded by new people in new environments. It’s so important to talk about loneliness with those around you and to recognise those feelings as completely normal. For me, joining a sports club was so helpful for my mental wellbeing, physical health and it helped me meet some of my closest friends.

    Jenny Smith, Policy Manager at Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, said:

    This evidence shows that while loneliness is a common concern in our university communities, there’s a lot of sympathy and understanding among students.

    Anybody struggling can look at these figures and know what they’re going through isn’t unusual or uncommon. Of course, this doesn’t mean that any student should have to suffer in silence.

    Loneliness can be detrimental to mental wellbeing and university experience, so it’s crucial that students are empowered to address loneliness and form connections.

    We’re pleased to see the government is raising this issue, and want people to know that help is available. Student Space is here to help you with the uncertainties of student life with a range of resources available to support students dealing with loneliness and worries about making friends.

    Mark Rowland, Chief Executive at Mental Health Foundation, said:

    We know that some groups of people, including young people aged 16-24, are more at risk of loneliness so it’s important that we do more to understand their experiences and provide the right support.

    An important step is to address stigma about who experiences loneliness so that young people don’t feel ashamed about how they feel. Being able to have open conversations is vital but the stigma of loneliness can make it hard to talk about, as we worry about being judged or feeling like a burden.

    Starting college or university is an exciting but nerve-wracking time so we encourage new students to access our Behind the Books resources for expert tips and advice. We welcome any government support for student wellbeing that helps prevent poor mental health.

    Since launching the world’s first government strategy on loneliness, the Government and its partners have invested over £80 million in tackling loneliness. This includes up to £30 million allocated via the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund’ creating volunteering opportunities and helping reduce loneliness in 27 disadvantaged areas.

    Practical tips for students dealing with feelings of loneliness include:

    1. Spend time helping other people, such as volunteering with student groups or by offering a regular conversation to someone feeling isolated
    2. Keep in touch with friends and family over the phone
    3. Join a club or society at university to connect with others who have similar interests
    4. Be open to everyone, as university is a great place to meet people from all different backgrounds
    5. Get in touch with the university’s student services about the welfare and support it can provide

    More information and support can be found on the Better Health website.

  • PRESS RELEASE : E3 representatives meet with Iranian counterpart [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : E3 representatives meet with Iranian counterpart [September 2023]

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

    The UK, France and Germany (E3) issued a statement during a meeting between senior E3 officials and their Iranian counterpart in New York.

    An E3 spokesperson said:

    UK, French and German Political Directors met their Iranian counterpart in New York on 19 September to discuss the nuclear issue and other areas of mutual interest.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Britain makes internet safer, as Online Safety Bill finished and ready to become law [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Britain makes internet safer, as Online Safety Bill finished and ready to become law [September 2023]

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

    Online Safety Bill passes its final Parliamentary debate and is now ready to become law.

    • The Online Safety Bill has been signed off by the Houses of Parliament and will become law soon
    • the bill will make the UK the safest place in the world to be online by placing new duties on social media companies – honouring our manifesto commitment
    • the bolstered bill has been strengthened through debate, with firmer protections for children, more control for adults and clarity for social platforms

    The Online Safety Bill has today (Tuesday 19 September) passed its final Parliamentary debate and is now ready to become law.

    This major milestone means the government is within touching distance of delivering the most powerful child protection laws in a generation, while ensuring adults are better empowered to take control of their online lives, while protecting our mental health.

    The bill takes a zero-tolerance approach to protecting children and makes sure social media platforms are held responsible for the content they host. If they do not act rapidly to prevent and remove illegal content and stop children seeing material that is harmful to them, such as bullying, they will face significant fines that could reach billions of pounds. In some cases, their bosses may even face prison.

    The bill has undergone considerable parliamentary scrutiny in both the Houses and has come out with stronger protections for all.

    Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

    The Online Safety Bill is a game-changing piece of legislation. Today, this government is taking an enormous step forward in our mission to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online.

    I am immensely proud of what we have achieved with this bill. Our common-sense approach will deliver a better future for British people, by making sure that what is illegal offline is illegal online. It puts protecting children first, enabling us to catch keyboard criminals and crack down on the heinous crimes they seek to commit.

    I am deeply thankful to the tireless campaigning and efforts of parliamentarians, survivors of abuse and charities who have all worked relentlessly to get this bill to the finish line.

    Without this groundbreaking legislation, the safety of children across the country would be at stake and the internet would remain a wild west of content, putting children’s lives and mental health at risk. The bill has a zero-tolerance approach to protecting children, meaning social media platforms will be legally responsible for the content they host and keeping children and young people safe online.

    Social media platforms will be expected to:

    • remove illegal content quickly or prevent it from appearing in the first place, including content promoting self-harm
    • prevent children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content
    • enforce age limits and age-checking measures
    • ensure the risks and dangers posed to children on the largest social media platforms are more transparent, including by publishing risk assessments
    • provide parents and children with clear and accessible ways to report problems online when they do arise

    NSPCC Chief Executive, Sir Peter Wanless said:

    We are absolutely delighted to see the Online Safety Bill being passed through Parliament. It is a momentous day for children and will finally result in the ground-breaking protections they should expect online.

    At the NSPCC, we hear from children about the completely unacceptable levels of abuse and harm they face online every day. That’s why we have campaigned strongly for change alongside brave survivors, families, young people and parliamentarians to ensure the legislation results in a much safer online world for children.

    Children can benefit greatly from life online. Tech companies can now seize the opportunity to embrace safety by design. The NSPCC is ready to help them listen to and understand the online experiences of their young users to help ensure every child feels safe and empowered online.

    In addition to its firm protections for children, the bill empowers adults to take control of what they see online. It provides three layers of protection for internet users which will:

    1. Make sure illegal content will have to be removed
    2. Place a legal responsibility on social media platforms to enforce the promises they make to users when they sign up, through terms and conditions
    3. Offer users the option to filter out harmful content, such as bullying, that they do not want to see online

    If social media platforms do not comply with these rules, Ofcom could fine them up to £18 million or 10% of their global annual revenue, whichever is biggest – meaning fines handed down to the biggest platforms could reach billions of pounds.

    Also added to the bill are new laws to decisively tackle online fraud and violence against women and girls. Through this legislation, it will be easier to convict someone who shares intimate images without consent and new laws will further criminalise the non-consensual sharing of intimate deepfakes.

    The change in laws will make it easier to charge abusers who share intimate images and put more offenders behind bars and better protect the public. Those found guilty of this base offence have a maximum penalty of 6 months in custody.

    Former Love Island star and campaigner Georgia Harrison said:

    Violence against women and girls is so common, with one in three women in the UK having experienced online abuse or harassment.

    The Online Safety bill is going to help bring this to an end, by holding social media companies accountable to protect women and girls from online abuse.

    Under the bill, the biggest social media platforms will have to stop users being exposed to dangerous fraudulent adverts by blocking and removing scams, or face Ofcom’s huge new fines.

    The government has recently strengthened the bill even further, by amending the law to force social media firms to prevent activity that facilitates animal cruelty and torture (such as paying or instructing torture). Even if this activity takes place outside the UK but is seen by users here, companies will be forced to take it down.

    Anticipating the bill coming into force, the biggest social media companies have already started to take action. Snapchat has started removing the accounts of underage users and TikTok has implemented stronger age verification.

    Ofcom Chief Executive, Dame Melanie Dawes said:

    Today is a major milestone in the mission to create a safer life online for children and adults in the UK. Everyone at Ofcom feels privileged to be entrusted with this important role, and we’re ready to start implementing these new laws.

    Very soon after the bill receives Royal Assent, we’ll consult on the first set of standards that we’ll expect tech firms to meet in tackling illegal online harms, including child sexual exploitation, fraud and terrorism.

    While the bill has been in progress, the government has been working closely with Ofcom to ensure changes will be implemented as quickly as possible when it becomes law.

    The regulator will immediately begin work on tackling illegal content and protecting children’s safety, with its consultation process launching in the weeks after Royal Assent. It will then take a phased approach to bringing the Online Safety Bill’s into force.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Using technology to improve the effectiveness of public services [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Using technology to improve the effectiveness of public services [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 19 September 2023.

    The Department for Education (DfE) have developed software to sort thousands of emails, reducing the time taken to communicate with the public.

    Background

    DfE receive up to 100,000 comments and enquiries from the public each year. Prior to implementing an innovative computer programme, each email and letter needed to be read by a staff member, logged onto a database, and assigned to the appropriate team for a response. This required hundreds of days of combined labour and meant staff had less time to complete other tasks.

    The knowledge asset solution

    Aware of how Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is used in the private sector and elsewhere in government to make decisions about data handling, DfE investigated how the technology could help them when it came to organising enquiries from the public. They undertook work to programme a robot named ARNOLD – ‘Automated Robot Negating the Onerous Logging of Data’ – to streamline some of their processes.

    This was particularly challenging given that emails are unstructured data, and people do not write in a standard way. ARNOLD scans the content of emails and follows a series of rules to prioritise them based on potential risk. It then enters the data into DfE’s database. ARNOLD has replaced the manual data entry of emails and letters from the public, improving productivity and increasing efficiency.

    Who has this helped?

    • The public: DfE have been able to reduce the time taken to respond to queries and concerns from the public which means they can offer a more efficient customer service.
    • DfE staff: The use of the robot has freed up time for teams to focus on learning and development.

    What impact has this innovation had on the team?

    Owen Roffe, Head of Digital Communications and Public Enquiries at DfE, was delighted that ARNOLD was quickly seen as one of the team. “Everyone is clear about roles and where technology plays its part,” he said. “The robot has taken away the need for manual data entry, which was an area where the team felt they added less value. As a result, they are able to focus on more rewarding work, develop their skills and provide a quicker service to customers.”

    Next steps

    ARNOLD made an appearance at the Civil Service Live roadshow in the summer of 2023 to showcase how data logging can be streamlined and the benefit this knowledge asset might have for other government departments. DfE is continuing to look at different ways for how technology can improve efficiency to benefit staff and the public.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government intention to intervene at Birmingham City Council [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government intention to intervene at Birmingham City Council [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 19 September 2023.

    Proposal to intervene at Birmingham City Council to fix serious problems announced by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.

    Government proposals to tackle serious financial and governance problems at Birmingham City Council were announced today (19 September 2023) by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.

    On 5 September, Birmingham City Council issued a ‘section 114 notice’ – an admission its backdated equal pay liability, currently estimated by the council as being up to £760 million, along with an in-year budget deficit that includes the costs of implementing an IT system was too significant for the council to manage.

    In an oral statement to Parliament, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove outlined the government was minded to intervene at Birmingham City Council, subject to a representation period of 5 working days, in order to protect the residents and taxpayers of Birmingham. The proposals include the appointment of commissioners and a local inquiry to investigate the root of the issues faced by the local authority.

    Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

    Birmingham Council’s record is of ineffective, inefficient and unaccountable government. It is failing in its basic duties.

    Where local leaders fail, it is residents who are let down. This cannot go on.

    I can announce that I am today writing to the council to set out my proposal to intervene and appoint commissioners, and that I intend to launch a local inquiry.

    I do not take these decisions lightly, but we must protect the interests of residents and taxpayers of Birmingham and provide assurance to the sector.

    The package of proposals, if implemented, would see commissioners provide advice and challenge the council whilst making decisions directly, if necessary. They would be handed powers relating to governance, scrutiny of strategic decision making, finance and senior appointments.

    Directions would be issued to Birmingham City Council requiring them to undertake specific actions including the preparation and implementation of an improvement plan within 6 months, to return it to a sustainable financial footing.

    The local inquiry could look at the fundamental questions about how the issues facing Birmingham have developed and would examine the council’s ongoing management of issues identified in Lord Bob Kerslake’s review of the authority in 2014, and the non-statutory intervention afterwards.

    The independent review, commissioned after the ‘Trojan Horse’ investigation into a number of Birmingham schools, found successive administrations had failed to tackle deep-rooted problems – and highlighted a culture of sweeping problems under the carpet, rather than tackling them head-on.

    A representation period for the proposals has been set for 5 working days, until 26 September, to ensure the views of stakeholders are taken into consideration before a final decision on whether to intervene is taken.

    Max Caller CBE, an experienced local government professional and former commissioner, has been named as the preferred candidate to lead the intervention if the package of proposals are implemented.

    The proposal comes after the Minister for Local Government, Lee Rowley, requested the then council leader, Councillor Ian Ward, to commission an independent governance review in April. He acted after governance and service delivery concerns were raised by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, the Housing Ombudsman and the Department for Education’s Commissioner for Special Educational Needs and Disability at the council.

    This review was extended to include the flawed implementation of a new IT system and the council’s handling of its equal pay liability. Another letter was sent in August to the council leader Councillor John Cotton, seeking assurances over whether the council was compliant with its Best Value Duty in relation to decisions on equal pay, of which to date there has been no response.

    Further information

    Max Caller CBE was the Chief Executive of the London Boroughs of Hackney and Barnet, and a Chair of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. He has experience in multiple interventions, including having previously been Lead Commissioner at Slough, Lead Inspector for the Liverpool and Northamptonshire Best Value Inspections, and a Commissioner at Tower Hamlets.

    Max also has experience of working with Birmingham City Council, having been appointed by the Council as one of their Non-Executive Advisors following the non-statutory intervention.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Legislation to clamp down on cruel animal experiences abroad [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Legislation to clamp down on cruel animal experiences abroad [September 2023]

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

    Action reinforces UK’s commitment to delivering better animal welfare standards both at home and abroad.

    The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act passed into law yesterday (18 September), confirming the UK’s position as a world leader in animal welfare standards both at home and abroad.

    The legislation – which was introduced by Angela Richardson MP and Lord Black of Brentwood, supported by the government – allows the government to bring forward a ban on the advertising and sale of specific unethical activities abroad where animals are kept in captivity or confinement, subjected to cruel and brutal training methods, forced to take selfies or are ridden, drugged and de-clawed.

    The independent evidence on these kind of experiences shows that animals used in the tourist trade are often subject to harsh treatment to ensure their compliance in activities. A study by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit published in 2015 concluded that up to 550,000 animals worldwide suffered for tourist entertainment.

    Brutal training methods are often used to ‘break in’ Asian elephants to make them safe to be near tourists and partake in unnatural activities like playing football, painting, tourist rides and excessive bathing.

    Animal Welfare Minister Lord Benyon said:

    We know that some foreign tourist attractions often subject majestic animals like elephants to cruel and brutal training methods.

    The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act is an important step in our commitment to ensure high animal welfare standards both here in this country and abroad, and I encourage holidaymakers to do their research so they can make informed choices that do not encourage poor animal welfare practices.

    Conservative MP for Guildford Angela Richardson said:

    I am thrilled that the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act has received Royal Assent this week.

    This legislation is a world first and will work towards greater protection of vulnerable animals in low welfare settings from being exploited as tourist experiences.

    Duncan McNair, CEO Save The Asian Elephants, said:

    “Save The Asian Elephants and the millions who have supported our campaign hope the passing into law of the landmark Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act will prove a momentous day for animals everywhere. The measures, resolutely implemented and enforced, will help protect endangered and vulnerable species across the world from extreme exploitation, harm and death in tourism. They will also save many lives of humans too, turned on by maddened elephants and other creatures provoked by torture.

    Save The Asian Elephants is hugely appreciative of all who have supported our campaign for these changes, of our government, our Parliament across the party divide, the charity sector and the public. All must now set our hand to starting the transition from brutal and dangerous practices to ethical sanctuaries and wildlife reserves.

    Britain can take pride in this world-first law and we must encourage the world to follow suit whilst time remains for so many beleaguered species.

    The Act – applicable in England and Northern Ireland – means the government, through secondary legislation, can ban the advertising and offering for sale of these cruel experiences and protect these special creatures from unnecessary harm.

    The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) already has published guidelines and a list of activities which they classify as unacceptable. Reputable and responsible tour operators should not be offering activities that support poor animal welfare.

    This new legislation is part of a wider Government effort to build on our existing world-leading animal welfare standards. Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021 we have brought in new laws to recognise animals sentience, introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences, brought forward a ban on glue traps, and introduced tougher penalties for hare coursing.

    Notes to Editors:

    Action we’ve already delivered on animal welfare since 2010 includes:

    • Recognised animal sentience in law and introduced accountability to Parliament for how well all government policy decisions pay due regard to the welfare needs of animals.
    • Ramped up enforcement with:
    • Increased maximum sentences for animal cruelty from six months to five years’ imprisonment.
    • New financial penalty notice powers in addition to other existing penalties under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
    • New protections for service animals with ‘Finn’s Law’.
    • Raised farm animal welfare:
    • Launched the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway with new annual vet visits and grants.
    • Implemented a revised welfare at slaughter regime and introduced CCTV in all slaughterhouses.
    • Banned traditional battery cages for laying hens, permitted beak trimming via only infra-red technology.
    • Raised standards for meat chickens.
    • Significantly enhanced companion animal welfare:
    • Revamped the local authority licensing regime for commercial pet services including selling, dog breeding, boarding, animal displays.
    • Banned the third party puppy and kitten sales with Lucy’s Law.
    • Made microchipping compulsory for cats and dogs.
    • Introduced offences for horse fly-grazing and abandonment
    • Introduced new community order powers to address dog issues
    • Provided valuable new protections for wild animals:
    • Banned wild animals in travelling circuses.
    • Passed the Ivory Act which came into force last year, including one of the toughest bans on elephant ivory sales in the world, and extended it to five further species.
    • Gave the police additional powers to tackle hare coursing.
    • Banning glue traps.
    • Supported the Private Member’s Bill currently before Parliament banning the import of hunting trophies.
    • Supported the Private Member’s Bill banning trade in detached shark fins.
    • Supported the Private Member’s Bill banning the advertising and offering for sale here of unacceptably low animal welfare activities abroad.
  • PRESS RELEASE : New advisory service to help businesses launch AI and digital innovations [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New advisory service to help businesses launch AI and digital innovations [September 2023]

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

    Businesses across the UK will have the opportunity to showcase that their new AI and digital innovations comply with regulatory standards, so they can quickly bring them to market.

    • Businesses to receive tailored advice on how to meet regulatory requirements for digital technology and artificial intelligence
    • new advisory service to launch next year, helping new products and innovations reach the market quickly, safely and responsibly
    • announcement comes as government sets up a new function to identify, measure and monitor existing and emerging AI risks

    Organisations across the country will be able to demonstrate that their new artificial intelligence and digital innovations meet regulatory requirements so they can quickly bring them to market,

    A new pilot scheme set to launch next year will see a number of regulators develop a multi-agency advice service providing tailored support to businesses so they can meet requirements across various sectors while safely innovating – including through innovative technologies such as AI.

    Backed by over £2 million in UK government funding, the streamlined service is intended to make it easier for businesses to get the help they need, by bringing together the different regulators involved in the oversight of cross-cutting AI and digital technologies.

    In turn, businesses will be able to take their new innovations to market responsibly and more quickly, helping to grow the UK’s economy.

    Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

    Digital technology and artificial intelligence are rapidly evolving, and regulation must keep pace – but we don’t want it to be at the expense of stifling the launch of new innovations that can improve our everyday lives.

    While safety is at the heart of our approach to regulation here in the UK, this new service will help businesses navigate the process of making sure they are compliant – supporting safe and responsible innovation.

    We are a nation that backs businesses both big and small, and we want to make sure that as they can quickly get to grips with rules and regulations around emerging technology.

    With digital technologies such as artificial intelligence needing increasingly to demonstrate compliance with a range of regulatory regimes, there is a growing need for joined-up advice across the regulatory landscape. This pilot scheme will meet business demands for coordinated support and help innovators navigate regulations, so they can spend more time developing cutting edge new products.

    The service will be run by members of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF), made up of the Information Commissioner’s Office, Ofcom, the Competition and Markets Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority, and known as DRCF AI and Digital Hub.

    The Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum came together as a voluntary collaboration in 2019, launching formally in 2020, and works to explore emerging regulatory issues which cut across the remits of the four regulators with the goal of making it easier for industry to comply with multiple regulatory regimes.

    The trial is expected to last around a year, and will assess industry take up, service feasibility and how innovators are interacting with it. Innovators and businesses requiring advice will be invited to apply in due course with the DRCF expected to run a competition for innovators to outline where they need support from regulators to ensure innovative new technologies comply with cross-cutting regulatory regimes. Successful applications will be selected against criteria agreed jointly by regulators and the department.

    Today’s announcement delivers on other commitments made as part of the government’s AI Regulation white paper, including the establishment of a central AI risk function within government. Over the last few months, the government has moved quickly to set up the central risk function within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). It will identify, measure and monitor existing and emerging AI risks using expertise from across government, industry, and academia – with a specific focus on exploring the regulatory risks of foundation models and frontier AI.

    In addition, the government is working with UK regulators on how they might need to regulate the technology given its cross-cutting nature and impact on various sectors – many have already started work on this from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to the Office for Nuclear Regulation. Only yesterday, the Competition and Markets Authority published it’s initial review of AI Foundation Models, which set out the opportunities and risks which foundation models could bring for competition and consumer protection.

    Earlier this year the UK government committed to a multiple regulator sandbox, which helps organisations work with regulators to understand how their products interact with different regulatory regimes. Today’s announcement delivers on this, in recognition of the importance of AI innovations that have implications in multiple sectors such as generative AI models, with the potential to expand its capability to cover multiple industry sectors over time.

    On 1 and 2 November the UK will host the first major global AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, building consensus on rapid, international action to advance safety at the cutting edge of AI technology. It will bring together key countries, as well as leading technology organisations, academia and civil society to inform rapid national and international action at the frontier of artificial intelligence development.

    The summit will focus on risks created or significantly exacerbated by the most powerful AI systems, particularly those associated with the potentially dangerous capabilities of these systems. For example, this would include the proliferation of access to information which could undermine biosecurity. The summit will also focus on how safe AI can be used for public good and to improve people’s lives – from lifesaving medical technology to safer transport.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Defence announces New Accommodation Offer for Armed Forces personnel [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Defence announces New Accommodation Offer for Armed Forces personnel [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 19 September 2023.

    New accommodation offer announced to modernise accommodation entitlements to Armed Forces personnel.

    A new accommodation offer to revolutionise housing for service personnel and their families was announced by the Ministry of Defence today.

    The offer, which will be the biggest change to Armed Forces housing for a generation and available from March 2024, will modernise accommodation entitlements, improve the standard of Single Living Accommodation and provide a framework to update overseas accommodation.

    The development and design of this new offer, which delivers on recommendations in the Haythornthwaite Review and the Defence Command Paper refresh has been informed by research and engagement with service personnel and their families, including learnings from a three-year pilot.

    Minister for Defence, People, Veterans and Service Families, Andrew Murrison MP said:

    “As the Defence Command Paper Refresh made clear, our serving personnel are critical to the effectiveness of our Armed Forces.

    “Today’s announcement will ensure that our Defence Accommodation policy continues to meet the needs of today’s armed forces community offering greater flexibility for those that serve.”

    Following the successful pilot, the New Accommodation Offer will include:

    • Needs-based allocation of family accommodation, which will allocate housing based on the size of the immediate family instead of rank.
    • Service personnel registered as being in an established long-term relationship will be entitled to accommodation on the same basis as those who are married or in a civil partnership.
    • Parents who have children with a main home elsewhere can access service family accommodation, providing the children visit for more than 80 nights a year.
    • More flexibility for service personnel to request the type of home that works for their family, allowing them to access homes above or below their entitlement.
    • Improved standards in Single Living Accommodation with a minimum standard for Single Living Accommodation agreed across the estate.
    • In addition to the Forces Help to Buy which offers support to first time buyers to buy a home, a permanent part of our accommodation policy, the New Accommodation Offer will provide further support for Service personnel becoming first time buyers, refunding up to £1,500 of their legal expenses.
    • Providing financial support for weekly commuters who are maintaining a primary home elsewhere irrespective of age or marital status.

    The Ministry of Defence is also committed to learning from the New Accommodation Offer to improve the overseas accommodation offer for service personnel.

    The department is already looking at how we can implement the New Accommodation Offer overseas, including pilots of needs-based accommodation at selected locations.

    As part of these improvements, overseas accommodation policy will be separated from UK policy to make it easier to understand and consider the different realities of living in other countries (such as where air conditioning is more important than loft insulation).

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government enhances support for refugees to find jobs [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government enhances support for refugees to find jobs [September 2023]

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

    A new government programme will help overcome existing barriers for refugees to find work and become self-sufficient in the UK.

    Refugees, including people from Syria, Iran, Eritrea and Sudan, can now apply to a new government programme to gain the skills they need to enter the UK job market and lead independent lives.

    The government’s new £52 million Refugee Employability Programme aims to overcome the barriers faced by refugees to integrate into local communities and society, including language and cultural differences, and speed up their contribution to the UK economy. Afghans resettled in England under either ACRS and ARAP will also be eligible to apply to the programme.

    The programme will operate for two years and will provide enhanced support to refugees and Afghans across employment, English Language training and integration, to build up their confidence and skills to find work and secure better prospects for themselves and their families.

    Through the new Refugee Employability Programme, people will receive a personal development plan that will be tailored to their ambitions and personal circumstances. This will range from skills courses, support with CV writing and job applications, work experience opportunities, and enhanced English language training, including access to formal and informal classes, online learning and resources and conversational classes.

    For people who do not already receive integration support, the programme will help them access public services, including a GP and a job centre, local community groups and mental health support. Doing so will help vulnerable refugees to rebuild their lives in the UK and put them on the path to self-sufficiency.

    This is in addition to eligible refugees having the right to work in the UK, access to public services and claim benefits, including Universal Credit.

    Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:

    We want refugees and Afghans who have come to the UK legally and safely to have every opportunity to enter the world of work and contribute to our economy and society.

    Our new Refugee Employability Programme strengthens the support available to those who have come here on safe and legal routes, giving them the skills and knowledge needed to build a long-term and independent future for themselves and their families, and to fully integrate into their communities.

    Broadly, refugees are over 20% less likely to be in employment than Brits, with this gap significantly widening for refugee women who are 30% less likely to be in work.  The government’s Refugee Employability Programme aims to reduce this gap by providing people with the skills and experience they need to gain employment and give back to society.

    The Programme is open to all those granted refugee status in the UK or those who have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain through one of the government’s safe and legal humanitarian routes. This includes the United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme (ARAP) the Community Sponsorship Scheme, Mandate Resettlement Scheme, and Family Reunion.

    The Refugee Employability Programme was designed in consultation with refugees and organisations in the refugee support sector to complement existing provisions already available to help refugees rebuild their lives in the UK.

    It builds on the significant package of support the government has put in place to help refugees and resettled Afghans. This includes Operation Warm Welcome, which was set up after the evacuation of Afghanistan to provide support for Afghan arrivals, and included additional funding to enable them to access healthcare, rental top-ups and a portal where the public could submit offers of housing and work, amongst others.

    Read more about the Refugee Employability Programme