Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : 15,000 Afghans housed or matched to a property [September 2023]

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

The government has successfully ended the use of bridging hotels for people evacuated from Afghanistan.

The vast majority of families have moved into housing or been matched to a property, enabling them to rebuild their lives here.

All 55 hotels being used to house around 8,000 Afghans at the end of March were no longer being used as bridging accommodation by 31 August. This followed a significant cross-government effort to help families find homes, working closely with Local Authorities and third sector partners. These hotels are now being retuned for use by their communities, acting as a boost for local economies.

From April, the government served notice to quit to all Afghans living in bridging accommodation. As of 31 August 2023, there were no families remaining in bridging hotels. 85% of families had been moved or matched to settled accommodation, with the remainder being supported by Local Authorities or in interim accommodation due to medical reasons.

The government have used innovative and generous schemes, which has resulted in many Afghans moving into the private rental sector and others moving into reappropriated Service Family Accommodation.

The government also provided a £250 million expansion of the Local Authority Housing Fund to address immediate pressures and increase the supply of permanent accommodation. This is on track to deliver over 1,200 homes for Afghan families across England this year, alongside homes for other cohorts, building a sustainable stock of affordable housing for the future.

Hotel accommodation was never intended to be a permanent solution. It was costing UK taxpayers around £1 million per day, and preventing Afghan families from moving on with the next chapter of their lives. With many families living in hotels for around two years, some of whom struggled to put down roots as a result, Local Authorities and NGOs agreed that moving Afghans into housing was the right thing to do.

Local Authorities were supported with a generous £35 million government funding package to increase the support available to Afghans and help overcome the specific barriers they face in accessing the housing system.

In addition, a dedicated housing portal was established to allow private landlords to offer their properties to families and empower Afghans to search for their own housing. Having come to the UK through safe and legal routes, all those under ACRS and ARAP have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, the right to work and access to benefits and public services.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:

Two years ago we undertook one of the largest evacuations in recent history, bringing 15,000 people from Afghanistan to safety in the UK at short notice.

Through the tireless work of our dedicated Home Office staff we have now provided these Afghans with the homes they need to begin the next chapter of their life in the UK. Not only can Afghan families now fully integrate, find employment, and provide their children with stability, ending the temporary use of hotels will save the hardworking taxpayer millions of pounds and return them to their proper use by the community and local businesses.

Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said:

Ensuring those who stood side by side with us in Afghanistan can rebuild their lives in homes across the UK has been a matter close to my heart, and I’m proud of the significant cross-government effort that has achieved this welcome outcome.

Families can now look towards a stable future, whilst taxpayers can be assured that they are no longer footing the bill for 55 costly bridging hotels.

This is a government committed to delivery, that will always act in the best interests of families and the public.

Shamal, who was resettled in North Wales with his family, said:

The Home Office suggested a house up in North Wales to me, and the moving process was really smooth. My family and I have adjusted to life here and we’re really happy in our new home. The local community and especially our new neighbours have been really welcoming and have shown us real kindness. When I think back to a year ago, I can’t believe how different our lives are.

As Minister Mercer announced in July, the government will continue to provide interim accommodation to a minority of resettled Afghans up until the end of the year, where they are either waiting to move into a property which is not currently ready, or a family member requires medical treatment at a specific hospital.

As of 31 August, over 80% of those staying in time-limited interim accommodation were already matched to a property that will be ready to move into before the end of December, with families moving out each week.

Despite the substantial support available, some Afghan families have been unable to make their own arrangements and have made homelessness applications to Local Authorities. Some councils have moved these families into their own temporary accommodation instead of utilising the government’s interim accommodation offer.

As a result, Local Authorities in England reported that 188 households were living in temporary accommodation, as of 31 August. This accounts for less than 10% of those living in bridging hotels at the time notices to quit were issued. Of those in homeless temporary accommodation, around one quarter have said they have a property lined up to move into over the coming weeks.

The government will continue to offer generous support to all households in temporary accommodation, so they can move into permanent accommodation and rebuild their lives here. However, it is only right that families are made a maximum of one accommodation offer through the Home Office matching process.

For those who present as homeless, legislation under the Housing Act 1996 provides a safety net, placing a duty on Local Authorities to ensure families are not left without a roof over their heads. £9,150 per household has been made available to councils from the government for families who present as homeless to support with temporary housing and administration costs. This is in addition to the £2 billion available over 3 years to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping more broadly.

The government has so far brought over 24,600 individuals to the UK from Afghanistan, who all deserve every opportunity to rebuild their lives here.

September 23, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary’s meeting with Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama [July 2023]

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

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly held a meeting with Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, on 18 September 2023 during the UN General Assembly in New York.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama discussed UK-Albania co-operation on key areas of mutual interest such as Ukraine, Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) and illegal migration at a meeting during the UN General Assembly in New York.

They recognised the strength of the current partnership and the progress the two countries have made on shared priorities, particularly on migration and the new prisons returns arrangement, since the Prime Minister’s visit to the UK in March.

The Foreign Secretary welcomed Albania’s leadership on European and international security, including through the Berlin Process meetings in Tirana, as well as NATO and the UN Security Council.

September 23, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK support for Somalia’s security forces [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 September 2023.

The UK Government announced a further £5 million in funding to support Somalia’s Security Forces.

The UK Government has announced a further £5 million in funding for the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) Trust Fund to support Somalia’s Security Forces.

The new funding was announced during a meeting between Somalia’s National Security Advisor, Hussein Sheikh Ali, and the UK’s Deputy National Security Adviser for International Affairs, Dame Sarah MacIntosh during her visit to Somalia last week.

The funding builds on the UK’s substantial contributions to date through the UNSOS Trust Fund, which provides non-lethal logistical support to the SSF, which will include food, shelter and lifesaving medevac support. UK funding will provide ongoing support to the operations against al-Shabaab, but also assist Somalia Security Forces to build capacity as they take on greater responsibility for security.

Deputy National Security Adviser, Dame Sarah MacIntosh, said:

The UK and Somalia security partnership is important for bringing stability and security to Somalia and the region.

The UK will continue to support Somali-led efforts to combat terrorism and restore stability in recaptured areas of the country.

The UK continues to support the Somali Government as they pursue a more stable and secure Somalia. UK-Somali collaboration across the security, economic and development sectors is delivering a brighter future for Somalis.

Notes to Editors
- Significant progress has been made in Somalia over the last decade. The international community must remain committed in support of Somalia’s aims for a sustainable, affordable and accountable security sector. The transition from ATMIS to Somali-led security remains our collective goal.
- The UK is providing bilateral support to Somalia as it steps up the fight against al-Shabaab. The UK is a partner of both the Somali Security Forces (SSF) and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) through the UNSOS Trust Fund.
- Since 2022 the UK has committed over £10 million in support of Somali Security Forces via the UNSOS Trust Fund.
- The UK also provides bilateral voluntary contributions for military stipends to ATMIS, providing over £47 million since 2022.
- Further information on the UK-Somalia development partnership can be found here.
September 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Military Expert appointed as part of UN’s crackdown on sexual violence in conflict [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 September 2023.

The UK has appointed Lieutenant Colonel Héloïse Goodley to support the UN’s mission to eradicate sexual violence in conflict. The appointment forms part of the UK Government’s commitment to preventing conflict related sexual violence.
Today the UK Ministry of Defence has appointed a military expert to support the UN’s Office of the Special Representative to the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN SRSG-SVC).

Lieutenant Colonel Héloïse Goodley will provide practical guidance to develop Human Security reforms to prevent and support the global response to conflict related sexual violence (CRSV).

The appointment is another step in the UK’s commitment to being a global leader on tackling conflict related sexual violence and leading the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.

The job recognises the indispensable role of the UN’s Office of the Special Representative to the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict in advocating for justice and accountability, supporting conflict affected states through her team of experts and enabling states to deliver justice for survivors.

Conflict related sexual violence is not a new phenomenon, and it continues to be widespread in situations of conflict around the world, with incidents of conflict related sexual violence reported in 17 countries in 2022.  Devastating effects have been seen in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, during the Balkan wars in the 90s, and now in Ukraine at the hands of Russian aggression. It leaves profound and lasting scars on survivors, their children and their communities.

Minister for the Armed Forces, RT Hon James Heappey, said:

When Pramila asked me to provide a UK military officer for her team, she made clear her admiration for the expertise developed within our Armed Forces on Human Security

Lieutenant Colonel Goodley is one of our most accomplished officers in this field and I’m delighted she’ll now be able to support Pramila in doing this crucial work.

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, said:

This appointment will strengthen our collective efforts to build a world free from sexual violence in conflict. A Human Security approach which places survivors at the heart of our efforts is essential not only for the empowerment of individuals and communities, but to break cycles of impunity and prevent further CRSV. The UK stands alongside the United Nations in delivering on this important agenda.

Lieutenant Colonel Héloïse Goodley is both a NATO qualified Gender Adviser and a UN qualified Human Security advisor. She has previously deployed overseas as the UN Gender and Child Protection Adviser to the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). She holds a PhD in Defence with a specialist focus in security sector reform and has been a Chatham House contributing expert on issues of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI).

Following the launch of Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative over ten years ago, the UK has demonstrated sustained leadership including:

The Foreign Secretary launching the UK’s new Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative strategy focused on strengthening a global response and how we will promote justice and support survivors, aided by up to £12.5m of new funding at the November 2022 PSVI Conference

The UK has provided £60m of funding since the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative launch in 2012. This has included funding of £7.85m to the Global Survivors Fund since 2019, supporting over 90 deployments of the UK PSVI Team of Experts, and contributing to the development of key international guidance, such as the Murad Code and the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

In the past year we have imposed sanctions, designating thirteen perpetrators of conflict related sexual violence.

The UK has committed up to £8.6 million for ACT for Survivors, a programme focused on strengthening accountability, including through increased prosecutions, This includes a partnership with UN SRSG – SVC’s UN team of experts to increase capacity for investigation and prosecution in affected states to support effective justice and accountability measures.

As part of a wider commitment to strengthening its approach to Human Security, which includes conflict related sexual violence, the MOD has introduced Human Security Advisers to provide support and guidance during strategy, policy and operational planning ensuring that all opportunities to eradicate conflict related sexual violence are identified. UK Defence is also undertaking a Training Needs Analysis to map and plan how Human Security will be trained across the whole of the Defence institution, ensuring appropriate levels of understanding and application from leadership to new recruits.

Focusing on prevention, striving for justice, ensuring accountability, and providing support to the survivors of conflict related sexual violence are pillars of the UK’s approach. To prevent conflict related sexual violence and make a real impact, we must use our influence with militaries to make change, raise awareness of what it is and how to respond to it when it is encountered. This builds upon existing work by the UK to develop our own response to conflict related sexual violence as well as across the globe:

Launching the UK’s fifth National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in February 2023, which has specific commitments related to the UK MOD understanding the applicability of the Murad Code in its activity and strengthening CRSV response and capabilities by Defence Medical Services.

Supporting the Bosnia and Herzegovinian Armed Forces to establish their own Human Security policy with the aim of becoming a regional Human Security centre of excellence and training other countries in the same manner.

Delivering training on Human Security to the Vietnamese Armed Forces prior to a UN peacekeeping deployment.

Training over 10,000 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel on Human Security through Operation INTERFLEX.

The British Peace Support Team based in Africa deliver peacekeeping training and capacity assistance to partner nations across sub-Saharan Africa including delivering bespoke Human Security courses annually on conflict related sexual violence, Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SBGV), Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEA&H) and Child Protection.
September 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – Statement on Contemporary Slavery [September 2023]

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

UK statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of Slavery. Delivered at the 54th UN Human Rights Council.

Thank you, Mr President,

We thank the Special Rapporteur for his ongoing efforts and his latest report on homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery.

Women and children are disproportionately affected by forms of exploitation and homelessness. Discriminatory laws and practices significantly increase the risks that they face. And as the report states: female-headed households constitute a staggering 70% of the world’s homeless or inadequately housed population.

The UK fully recognises that individuals who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, may be more vulnerable to becoming victims of modern slavery. Particularly where they have associated support needs. We are fully committed to working with all partners to raise awareness, to prevention, and to protecting victims of modern slavery.

This year, the UK updated our Guidance on providing homelessness services to victims of modern slavery. This will help local authorities more effectively support victims. We hope that these efforts will improve understanding of the National Referral Mechanism and its interaction with statutory homelessness duties.

Special Rapporteur,

What more can be done to raise awareness and enhance our understanding of the linkages between homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery?

September 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Millions get more power over working hours thanks to new law [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 September 2023.

Workers right across the country will be given more say over their working patterns thanks to new laws supported by the Department for Business and Trade.
Millions of workers will have a say over their working patterns as Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill achieves Royal Assent.

Government-backed law gives all workers the legal right to request a predictable working pattern encouraging workers to begin conversations with their employers.

Follows a wave of wins for workers after a record National Minimum Wage uplift and boosts to employment protections for parents and unpaid carers.

Workers right across the country will be given more say over their working patterns thanks to new laws supported by the Department for Business and Trade.

Receiving Royal Assent overnight, the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill, brought forward by Blackpool South MP Scott Benton and Baroness Anderson and supported by the Government, gives individuals on atypical contracts – including those on zero hours contracts – more predictable working hours. It delivers on a 2019 Manifesto commitment to introduce a right for workers to request a more predictable contract.

Zero hours contracts – and other forms of atypical work – are an important part of the UK’s flexible labour market; however, the Government is determined to tackle unfair working practices.

The Predictable Working Act introduces a right for workers to request a more predictable working pattern, intending to redress the imbalance of power between some employers and workers in atypical work, encouraging workers to begin conversations with their employers about their working patterns.

Business and Trade Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

Although zero hours contracts can often suit workers who want to work flexibly and employers whose needs vary, it is unfair for anyone to have to put their lives on hold to make themselves available for shifts that may never actually come – this Act helps to end the guessing game.

A happier workforce means increased productivity, helping in turn to grow the economy, which is why we’ve backed these measures to give people across the UK more say over their working pattern.

If a worker’s existing working pattern lacks certainty in terms of the hours they work, the times they work or if it is a fixed term contract for less than 12 months, they will be able to make a formal application to change their working pattern to make it more predictable. Once a worker has made their request, their employer will be required to notify them of their decision within one month.

As well as clear benefits to workers, the measures are also good for British business. In cases where requests are accepted, workers will have more predictable terms and conditions that better suit their individual circumstances, leading to higher job satisfaction.

This can lead to a range of benefits for businesses, including better staff retention as a worker will not need to look for a new role to secure a working pattern to meet their needs.

Acas Chief Executive Susan Clews said:

With the passing of the new Act, many workers will have the right to request more predictability around their working pattern should they wish to.

Acas is producing a new Code of Practice that will provide clear guidance on making and handling requests. This will help workers and businesses understand the law and have constructive discussions around working arrangements that suit them both. Our draft Code will be available for public consultation in the coming weeks and we encourage all interested parties to respond and let us know their views.

The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 comes as part of a package of Private Member Bills this government has backed over the last few months, cementing the UK’s prevalent worker’s rights laws. These include:

supporting employee parents of new-born babies who are admitted into neonatal care with up to 12 weeks of paid neonatal care leave

requiring employers to ensure that all tips, gratuities, and service charges received are paid to workers in full

offering pregnant women and new parents greater protection against redundancy

entitling employees who are also unpaid carers to a period of unpaid leave

providing millions of employees with a day one right to request flexible working, and a greater say over when, where, and how they work

This package of new laws builds on the UK’s flexible and dynamic labour market and gives businesses the confidence to create jobs and invest in their workforce, allowing them to generate long-term economic growth.

Ben Willmott, Head of Public Policy at CIPD said:

This new right will ensure that atypical workers can request a more predictable working pattern if they need more certainty, for example, over the hours they work each week.

It should also prompt more employers to ensure that the flexibility in non-standard employment arrangements works for both the business and workers wherever possible, boosting their efforts to recruit and retain staff.

Background:

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK is the best place in the world to work and grow a business. To do this, we need a strong and flexible labour market, which supports participation and economic growth. The Government has made this clear since announcing its intention to legislate on this and confirming its support of the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill.

We expect the measures in the Act and secondary legislation to come into force approximately a year after Royal Assent, to give employers time to prepare for the changes.

Matthew Taylor’s 2017 review of modern working practices and the gig economy recommended the introduction of this policy, noting that it would support many workers who currently experience ‘one-sided flexibility’.

Subject to parliamentary approval, all workers and employees will have this new right once it comes into force, however, they must first have worked for their employer a set period before they make their application. This period will be set out in regulations and is expected to be 26 weeks. Given the proposals aim to support those with unpredictable contracts, workers will not have had to have worked continuously during that period.

In response to this legislation, the Government has asked Acas to prepare a new statutory Code of Practice to help workers and businesses understand the law and to provide guidance on how requests should be made and considered. Acas will launch a public consultation on a draft Code this autumn.
September 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Pension saving boost for millions receives Royal Assent [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 19 September 2023.

A Private Members’ Bill to help millions save more into their pension and start saving sooner has cleared Parliament and been granted Royal Assent.
- A Private Members’ Bill to help millions save more into their pension and start saving sooner has cleared Parliament and been granted Royal Assent.
- The Bill introduces powers to reduce the age for being automatically enrolled and enable pension saving from the first pound earned.
- Since its introduction in 2012, Automatic Enrolment has transformed UK pension saving, with nearly 11 million people enrolled.
Millions of people, including low earners and younger workers, will be helped to save more into their pension and look after their financial futures as a Private Members’ Bill completed its passage through Parliament and received Royal Assent.

The Bill, introduced in the House of Commons by Jonathan Gullis MP and taken through the House of Lords by Baroness Altmann, creates powers to scrap the lower earnings limit and reduce the age for Automatic Enrolment, the landmark pensions policy which sees eligible employees made members of their workplace pension scheme without needing to ask.

The changes to Automatic Enrolment, combined with the Mansion House Reforms announced by the Chancellor in July, could see the average earner’s pension increase by nearly 50% if saving across their entire career, while a minimum wage earner could see their pension pot increase by over 85%.

Benefitting savers and society – the reforms will unlock investment into pioneering UK businesses, grow the economy, and help the record number of people saving into a pension to achieve the retirement they want.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride said:

Thanks to Automatic Enrolment, we are empowering a record number of British workers to invest in their financial futures – with an additional £33 billion saved in 2021 compared to 2012.

This Bill will mean millions across the country can save more and save earlier – boosting security in older age and helping people achieve the retirements they’ve worked so hard for.

Jonathan Gullis MP said:

I am delighted that the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill has received Royal Assent. Auto-enrolment is a significant step forward and will dramatically improve financial resilience in retirement for young people, women and lower earners.

Nearly 25% of people in Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke are not yet auto-enrolled on a pension plan, and this piece of legislation will ensure part-time, women, apprentices and young people have financial stability in the long-term.

Before the introduction of Automatic Enrolment in 2012, just 55% of eligible employees saved into a workplace pension. By 2021 this had risen to 88%, with an additional £33 billion saved in real terms in 2021 compared to 2012.

Automatic Enrolment has particularly benefitted women, young people and lower earners – once poorly served or excluded from workplace pensions. The proportion of eligible women in a workplace pension has increased from 59% in 2012 to 89% in 2021, while the proportion of eligible 22 to 29-year-olds has more than doubled – from 35% in 2012 to 86% in 2021.

Minister for Pensions Laura Trott said:

Automatic enrolment has been a phenomenal success, and we are determined to go further. It’s great news that the Private Members’ Bill has successfully passed through Parliament and received Royal Assent.

This will mean younger workers and those in lower paid employment will be able to fully participate in Automatic Enrolment. For the first time, every eligible worker will benefit from an employer contribution from the first pound earned – which will make a huge difference to their eventual pension.

James Goodman, Tesco UK People Director said:

We know it’s important that colleagues save for their retirement and Tesco Stores already offers the option of a retirement savings plan for all our colleagues from the age of 16, regardless of how much they earn. We match their contributions up to 7.5% of their salary and the vast majority of colleagues stay in our scheme once they have joined.

We welcome the government’s intention to reduce the age that colleagues will be automatically enrolled into pension schemes and believe that this will help younger people to get into the savings habit.

Pensions saving rates have increased in all corners of the country. The largest increase in private sector participation rates has been in the West Midlands, rising from 39% in 2012 to 87% in 2021.

Lowering the age at which eligible workers must be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme by their employers from 22 to 18 will make saving the norm for young adults and enable them to begin to save from the start of their working lives.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will launch a consultation on implementing the new measures.

Further Information
- The introduction of Automatic Enrolment in 2012 turned the tide on the number of people saving for their retirement, with over 10.9 million people being automatically enrolled since 2012.
- The reforms being brought forward by the Government – including changes to Automatic Enrolment – could see the average earner’s pension increase by nearly 50% if saving across their entire career and a minimum wage earner could see their pension pot increase by over 85% if saving across their entire career: Chancellor’s Mansion House Reforms to boost typical pension by over £1,000 a year – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- The Bill includes a statutory requirement to consult on the implementation approach and timing, along with reporting on the outcomes to Parliament. This will help ensure the strong consensus that underpins the success of Automatic Enrolment is maintained.
September 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government considers minimum service levels in hospitals during strikes [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 19 September 2023.

The government is considering introducing regulations that would require some doctors and nurses to work during strikes, to protect patient safety.
Minimum service levels (MSLs) could be extended to protect patient safety during strikes

Nurses and doctors could be covered by new regulations

Comes as government once again urges BMA to call off strike action as doctors receive their pay rise this month, backdated to April

The government is considering introducing MSL regulations that would require some doctors and nurses to work during strikes, in order to protect patient safety, the Health and Social Care Secretary has announced.

The consultation, launching today (Tuesday 19 September 2023), considers introducing MSLs that would cover urgent, emergency and time-critical hospital-based health services – which could cover hospital staff including nurses and doctors – and seeks views on a set of principles for setting MSLs in regulations. It will also seek evidence to inform decisions on the expansion and scope of MSLs. This follows the consultation earlier this year on introducing minimum service levels in ambulance services and brings the UK in line with countries like France and Italy whose services continue in times of industrial action.

The consultation comes in a week where both consultants and junior doctors are taking strike action, having significant impact on patients, NHS colleagues and efforts to cut waiting lists – including through almost 900,000 rescheduled appointments or procedures. While voluntary agreements between employers and trade unions can be agreed ahead of time, they can lead to inconsistency across the country, come with significant uncertainty as they are based on goodwill and are not always honoured or communicated in sufficient time. This creates an unnecessary risk to patient safety.

MSLs will provide a better balance between supporting the ability of workers to strike with the safety of the public, who expect vital services to be there when they need them. They will ensure that essential and time-critical care can continue during periods of strike action, for those who need care the most. The government could introduce MSLs in key hospital-based services next year.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

This week’s co-ordinated and calculated strike action will create further disruption and misery for patients and NHS colleagues.

My top priority is to protect patients and these regulations would provide a safety net for trusts and an assurance to the public that vital health services will be there when they need them.

Doctors who started their hospital training this year are receiving a 10.3% pay increase, with the average junior doctor getting 8.8% and consultants are receiving a 6% pay rise alongside generous reforms to their pensions, which was the BMA’s number one ask.

In the face of ongoing and escalating strike action, we will continue to take steps to protect patient safety and ensure the health service has the staff it needs to operate safely and effectively.

More widely, the government continues to recognise the crucial role of NHS staff and remains committed to working constructively to end disruption for patients.

Around 150,000 NHS doctors in England, including doctors in training and consultants, start to receive their pay rise this month, backdated to April 2023. Accepting the recommendations of the independent pay review bodies in full means first year doctors in training will receive a 10.3% pay increase, with doctors in training getting an average 8.8% increase. Consultants will receive 6% following an increase of 4.5% last financial year, alongside the most generous pension schemes in the country which allow them to accrue pension pots worth over £1 million tax-free.

More than one million NHS staff in England, including nurses, paramedics and 999 call handlers, have already received a pay rise. This means a newly qualified nurse has seen their salary go up by more than £2,750 over 2 years and staff also received 2 significant one-off payments totalling at least £1,655.

The Health and Social Care Secretary has been clear his door is always open to discuss how to improve the working lives of NHS staff and non-pay issues and ministers continue to engage with staff and talk about their concerns through round tables discussions with a range of NHS professions.

Background information

The consultation on minimum service levels in event of strike action: hospital services opened on 19 September 2023.

We ran a public consultation on minimum service levels in the event of strike action in ambulance services which closed on 9 May 2023. We will publish our response in due course.
September 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : NI Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act receives Royal Assent [September 2023]

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

Statement by Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, following Royal Assent of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.

“The legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland has always been one of the key issues left unaddressed since the signing of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

“Yesterday’s Royal Assent of the Northern Ireland (Troubles & Reconciliation) Act marks a significant milestone as the Government aims to deliver on our pledge to deliver better outcomes for those most affected by the Troubles, while helping society to look forward.

“I recognise getting to this juncture has been a hugely difficult task for all. The legislation contains finely balanced political and moral choices.

“It presents us all with a real opportunity to deliver greater information, accountability and acknowledgement to victims and families, moving away from established mechanisms that have left far too many empty-handed. I am confident that this Act provides a framework to enable the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) that it establishes to deliver effective legacy mechanisms, while complying with our international obligations.

“The delivery of those mechanisms will be led by Sir Declan Morgan KC as Chief Commissioner, who will be supported by Peter Sheridan as Commissioner for Investigations. I know Sir Declan and his team of Commissioners will approach the task with the rigour, integrity, and professionalism required.

“If we are truly to provide greater information, accountability and acknowledgement to victims and families of the Troubles and help society to move forward in the spirit of reconciliation, we must build a legacy process founded on integrity, expertise and fairness.

“Now that the legislation has become law, the UK Government will do all it can to support the ICRIR, consistent with its operational independence, as it establishes itself and seeks to deliver effectively for victims and families. I hope that others, including the Irish Government, can do the same.”

September 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Transformative student finance bill becomes law [September 2023]

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

The Lifelong Learning Bill becomes law, paving the way for a radical transformation of the student finance system.

New measures have been enshrined in law that will transform the student finance system, allowing colleges and universities to charge different fees for different courses for the first time and opening up opportunities for adults to study in a way that works for them.

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) (formerly the Lifelong Loan Entitlement) will give all adults from 2025 access to loans, worth up to £37,000 in today’s fees, that they can use flexibly over their working lives to upskill or retrain.

The LLE will mean people will be able to take out a student loan to pay for full-time courses such as university degrees or higher technical qualifications (HTQs), as well as for some individual modules of courses.

People who have already taken out a loan for a degree will also be able to use the rest of their entitlement to study subjects that will help them gain additional skills that employers are looking for, making it easier for people to build up their skills over time. This includes studying individual modules of degree courses or HTQs to help them to do this in a way that fits round their lives and commitments.

To prepare for the introduction of the LLE, a new £5 million scheme has launched to encourage universities and colleges to develop and offer individual modules of HTQs in a flexible way. Under the scheme students will be offered the opportunity to study in-demand modules of HTQs, such as digital, health and science and construction, ahead of the launch of the LLE from 2025.

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

Giving people the chance to access education and training over the course of their working lives, in a way that suits them, is crucial to enabling those from all backgrounds to climb the ladder of opportunity.

From higher technical qualification modules in cyber security to short courses in accountancy and university degrees in engineering, this new Lifelong Learning Entitlement will allow people to hop on and off their educational journey throughout their lives with a single ticket, towards the destination of rewarding, skilled employment. This will plug skills gaps and give employers access to a pipeline of talent to help them grow.

The new measures in the Lifelong Learning Act will allow universities and colleges to use a new method of calculating the maximum level of tuition fees they can charge for different courses. This will make the pricing of modules and short courses proportionate, so people can access education and training at a fair price.

Chair of the Post-18 Education and Funding Review Philip Augar said:

This legislation gives us a framework that fits our modern, fast-changing jobs market. The potential now exists for adults to transform life opportunities through lifelong learning and I hope universities, colleges and employers respond constructively in ensuring that this potential is fulfilled.

Policy Advisor at Coventry University Dr Elizabeth Norton said:

The Lifelong Learning Bill has not only provided the foundation for a radical overhaul of the student tuition fee loans system in England, but has also asked the entire higher education sector to look carefully at how and when students decide to learn on a timeline convenient to them.

Coventry University Group has prioritised and pioneered “life shaped learning” for many years, and with this bill receiving Royal Assent, legislation is reflecting the flexibility people need in accessing higher education funding throughout their careers.

Vice Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University Edward Peck said:

From initial discussion within the Augar Review Panel in 2018 through to Royal Assent in 2023, the idea of a Lifelong Learning Entitlement has built universal support because it will make higher education available to those who could benefit throughout their adult working lives.

Everybody who is committed to enhanced social mobility within an ever higher skilled economy will welcome the successful passage of this Bill onto the statute book.

Executive Director of Finance at Salford University Julie Charge said:

The Lifelong Learning Bill is an important tool to support the skills development of individuals over their careers helping them reach their full potential. The ability to access module learning will open up opportunities to those who can’t commit to full time education and otherwise would be excluded.

This Bill is a significant step in embedding life long learning in the UK which will help address employer’s skills and productivity needs as well giving students access to high quality courses throughout their lives.

David Hughes, chief executive of Association of Colleges, said:

I am pleased to see the Lifelong Learning Bill gain Royal Assent, having given written and oral evidence as it made its way through parliament. The Lifelong Learning Entitlement has the potential to be a game-changer, and I hope that this is the beginning of a significant cultural shift in the way post-18 education and training is delivered and taken up in England.

The need for a new lifelong learning culture and the system of funding and opportunities behind it is clear – with an ageing population, the skills needed by employers rapidly changing with technological change and the move to a net zero economy, we need every adult to have the capacity, motivation, and opportunities to carry on learning throughout their lives.

Vice Chancellor of Bath Spa University Professor Sue Rigby said:

Opening up higher education by allowing learners to dip in and out of study throughout their career is a dramatic and transformational move. It will increase the skills base that drives the economy and allow people to learn what they need to thrive when they are ready to do so.

Higher technical qualifications – that sit between A levels and T levels, and degrees – give adults the skills employers need and are available in a range of in demand subjects including Digital, Construction, and Health and Science with more coming on board over the next few years. From this September, HTQs have been put on par with degrees with students able to access maintenance loans, especially for those studying part time, helping learners fit study around work and other commitments as we move towards the flexibility envisioned by the LLE.

Following engagement with the higher education sector, the government has decided to change the name of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, so it better reflects its core purpose of offering learning opportunities throughout people’s working lives, making education and training more accessible to people from all backgrounds.

September 21, 2023