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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : New taskforce to tackle teacher workload [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New taskforce to tackle teacher workload [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 18 September 2023.

    Government announces membership of taskforce working towards reducing teacher and leader workload, alongside support to embed flexible working.

    Work is underway to support teachers and leaders to tackle unnecessary workload, as the government establishes a new taskforce of unions, teachers, and sector leaders. The taskforce will help support the government’s wider ambition to reduce working hours for teachers and leaders by 5 hours per week within 3 years.

    The launch of the workload reduction taskforce follows the 6.5% pay award announced in July when the Education Secretary committed to reducing teacher and leader workload.

    The group of 14 includes representatives from all 4 teaching unions, as well as teachers, leaders, academics and other sector experts. The variety of expertise within the group will provide insight from across all parts of the education sector, from on the ground perspectives to those in positions of management and leadership. The first meeting will take place later this week.

    Alongside measures to tackle workload, the Department for Education is also planning an update to its teacher recruitment and retention strategy to continue to attract, support and develop the highly skilled teachers needed to inspire the next generation.

    Schools Minister, Nick Gibb said:

    We’ve seen rising schools standards over the last decade, and that wouldn’t be possible without the work of great teachers. We do, however, continue to hear the concerns of teachers and school leaders about workload, which is why we want to build on the past successes in reducing workloads and continue to remove additional burdens, so that teachers can focus on what they do best: teach.

    This builds on the generous pay rise agreed earlier this year, as part of the government’s continued commitment to building a highly skilled, well supported teaching profession.

    This builds on a report from earlier this year that found two-thirds of teachers reported that they spent over half of their working time on tasks other than teaching, rising to 77% of secondary teachers.

    School leaders will also receive support to embed flexible working in their schools, as a new toolkit is set to be launched later this month with practical resources to help them implement practices including job shares, part-time working and ad-hoc flexibility such as the occasional personal day. A further 5 new flexible working ambassador multi-academy trusts and schools (FWAMS) have today been announced, complementing the 7 announced in June this year.

    The FWAMS appointed are Lapal Primary School of Hales Valley Trust, Newport Girls’ High School Academy Trust, Aspire Alternative Provision School, the Halifax Academy of Impact Education Multi-Academy Trust, and the Reach Academy Feltham of the Reach Academy Trust.

    Michael Scott, of Newport Girls’ High School said:

    Newport Girls’ High School is delighted to be re-designated as the flexible working ambassador multi academy trust and school for the west midlands region. Having helped a number of trusts to improve their flexible working offer during phase one of the project in 2021-2022, we look forward to spreading the word further and wider over the next 2 years.

    The FWAMS will champion flexible working and provide bespoke peer support in how to implement it within the profession. This delivers on the commitments in the teacher recruitment and retention strategy.

    Since its launch nearly 5 years ago, the department has made considerable progress in delivering its teacher recruitment and retention strategy to attract, retain and develop the highly skilled teachers needed to inspire the next generation. This includes implementing a ‘golden thread’ of professional development, ensuring all teachers have access to high-quality training and support at every stage of their career.

    This winter, the department will publish a strategy update that builds upon its commitment to give every child a world class education delivered by great teachers. The update will provide an update on delivery of previous commitments, and set out priorities for the coming years.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK appoints new HM Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific to strengthen trade and investment links [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK appoints new HM Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific to strengthen trade and investment links [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 18 September 2023.

    The Department for Business and Trade has appointed Martin Kent as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Asia Pacific.

    • Martin Kent appointed as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific
    • With total UK-Asia Pacific trade worth more than £120 billion, the region offers huge potential for UK businesses
    • Kent joins department’s team of nine HM Trade Commissioners encouraging UK trade and investment and promoting Global Britain across the world

    Martin Kent has today [18th September] been appointed as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, succeeding Natalie Black CBE.

    As the new Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, he will generate business opportunities for the UK while contributing to the growth of sustainable, resilient, and productive economies across the region.

    Prior to his new role, Martin Kent was the Minister and Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy Tokyo, a Director within the Department for Business and Trade, and also HM Deputy Trade Commissioner for Africa. He started his career with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and has worked across the Asia Pacific region, including in BCG’s Singapore and Australia offices.

    Alongside trade and investment, Kent will pursue regional security priorities in his new position, protecting free trade and supply chains and continuing the progression already made by the AUKUS security pact.

    Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, said:

    Our network of HMTCs bang the drum for Britain across the world, promoting UK trade, investment, and export finance.

    I am delighted to welcome Martin to this role and am confident he will build on our outstanding track record on trade in Asia Pacific, expanding opportunities for British businesses in one of the world’s fastest growing markets.

    With total UK-Asia Pacific trade worth more than £120 billion, the region offers huge potential for UK businesses.

    The recently signed trade deals with Australia and New Zealand are set to deliver an economic boost by driving trade up by 53% with Australia and 59% with New Zealand and could also mean reduced prices for UK consumers on favourites such as wine, Tim Tams and kiwi fruit and lowered costs on machinery parts for UK manufacturers.

    Further benefits are to be expected following the signing of the UK’s assession to CPTPP in July. Being part of the bloc will mean that more than 99 per cent of UK goods exports to CPTPP countries will be eligible for zero tariffs.

    HM Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, Martin Kent, said:

    I am delighted to be appointed as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific. The region is the engine room of the global economy and is a major driver of global economic growth and opportunity for UK businesses.

    I will be focused on securing and implementing high-quality Free Trade Agreements, attracting investment to all parts of the UK, opening markets for UK exporters, and positioning the UK as a beacon for free trade in the Asia Pacific region.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Commission recommends how Covid pandemic should be remembered across the UK [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Commission recommends how Covid pandemic should be remembered across the UK [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 18 September 2023.

    The UK Commission on Covid Commemoration’s final report on how the Covid pandemic should be remembered across the UK has been published.

    The Commission has made 10 recommendations to the Government on how to make sure the events of the pandemic and the experiences we all went through are not forgotten.

    The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will now work with other government departments and the Devolved Administrations to consider carefully the Commission’s wide-ranging recommendations and respond in due course.

    The Commission’s recommendations include preserving existing memorials, including the National Covid Memorial Wall in central London, holding a national day of reflection every year and identifying green spaces across the UK to serve as Covid memorial spaces.

    The Chair of the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, Nicky Morgan, said:

    The Covid pandemic changed the lives of everyone across the UK and its impact is still felt very deeply by those who lost loved ones and those who are still suffering from the effect of the virus.

    That’s why it is so important that we don’t let this vitally important period in our history be forgotten and we hope our recommendations will mean that the loved ones we have lost and the sacrifices made by so many during the pandemic will be remembered for years to come.

    The Commission made their recommendations following a period of public consultation which saw thousands of people from across the UK give their views on how the pandemic should be remembered.

    Groups consulted included bereaved families, young people, the scientific community and the social care, transport and retail sectors.

    The Commission has also recommended that a national symbol be created to represent the pandemic, and a Covid commemoration website be set up to promote the proposed day of reflection and provide details of local memorials.

    Cabinet Office Minister, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, said:

    It is right that we mark the extraordinary sacrifices made during the pandemic and continue to recognise the contributions of all those who helped shape the UK’s response. I want to thank the Commissioners and the Chair for their important work.

    Communities across the UK have already started to find ways of commemorating those unprecedented times, and the Government looks forward to considering the Commission’s wide-ranging recommendations and how we may support these efforts going forward.

    Education also sits at the heart of the Commission’s recommendations, with the suggestion that schools and colleges teach future generations about the pandemic, highlighting people’s experiences, the role of science and the importance of a resilient society. Oral histories would also continue to be collected from groups including bereaved families, frontline workers, volunteers, the scientific community and young people.

    Further recommendations include creating a funding scheme for local authorities to establish commemorative spaces in existing parks or green spaces, the creation of a specific body to coordinate a day of reflection and other Covid commemoration activities, and the development of a postdoctoral fellowship to enable researchers to support preparedness for risks posed by natural hazards.

    Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

    The impact of Covid will never be forgotten and we must find a fitting way to remember and reflect on the pandemic for generations to come.

    The Commission has made a number of valuable recommendations and my department will now consider the best ways to commemorate this unprecedented period in our history.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Portugal [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Portugal [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 September 2023.

    Ms Lisa Bandari has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Portuguese Republic in succession to Mr Chris Sainty.

    Ms Lisa Bandari has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Portuguese Republic in succession to Mr Chris Sainty. Ms Bandari will take up her appointment during January 2024.

    Curriculum vitae

    Dates Role
    2021 to 2022 FCDO, Deputy Director for India and HMG India Coordinator
    2017 to 2020 Department for Exiting the EU, Deputy Director for Ongoing EU Business and Third Country Preparation
    2014 to 2016 Nairobi, Director of Corporate Services
    2011 to 2014 FCO, Policy Planners, Team Leader for Asia Pacific and Africa Strategy
    2010 to 2011 Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan, Director of Policy and External Relations
    2008 to 2010 Kabul, Head of Internal Political Section
    2007 Pre-posting training (including Farsi language training)
    2005 to 2006 FCO/Home Office, Head of UK Government Forced Marriage Unit
    2004 to 2005 FCO, Bosnia & Herzegovina Desk Officer
  • PRESS RELEASE : Sizewell C starts private investment process [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Sizewell C starts private investment process [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 18 September 2023.

    Government opens process for partners to express interest in investing in nuclear revival.

    • Prospective partners can register interest in Sizewell C from today
    • Sizewell C is at the heart of the UK’s civil nuclear revival and will house 2 of the most powerful reactors in the world
    • When finished, Sizewell C could power as many as 6 million homes and create 10,000 jobs across the country

    Private investors will have their first chance to come forward and qualify to invest in Sizewell C power station, a key component of the UK’s nuclear revival, from today (Monday 18 September).

    Today, the Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho confirmed the next stage for the investment process – opening applications for partners to register their interest in being part of the project.

    The government, the Sizewell C Company and EDF, the project’s lead developer, are looking for companies with substantial experience in the delivery of major infrastructure projects. This builds on engagement undertaken as the Sizewell C project has developed.

    Any investment will also be subject to strict national security checks.

    Sizewell C is expected to house 2 of the most powerful nuclear reactors in the world.  It will generate reliable, low-carbon power for up to 6 million homes over 60 years, avoiding 9 million tonnes of carbon each year. At peak construction, it is expected to support 10,000 jobs across the country.

    In a show of support, the government has already invested £700 million in the project – the first such direct public investment in a nuclear project for a generation. Ministers have also made £511 million available to continue project development and prepare the Suffolk site for construction, ahead of the planned private equity raise for the project in advance.

    The government is delivering a revival of nuclear power by investing in large scale reactors as well as emerging technologies, such as Small Modular Reactors, with the ambition of having up to a quarter of the UK’s electricity generated by nuclear by 2050.

    Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, said:

    Investing in Sizewell C is an exciting opportunity to be a part of the UK’s nuclear revival – delivering clean, reliable, and affordable power for generations to come.

    This project will create thousands of jobs, power 6 million homes and will boost our energy security.

    We are focused on securing good value for taxpayers and look forward to seeing strong and competitive bids to be a part of this exciting project.

    Sizewell C Company Joint Managing Director, Julia Pyke, said:

    The launch of the formal equity raise opens another exciting phase for the project, following a positive response from investors during market testing.

    Investors who participate in Sizewell C would be contributing to one of the biggest clean energy projects in the UK.  They should feel confident in our proposals as we are building a replica project with government backing, a mature reactor design and a workforce ready to build it.

    We look forward to starting the main site construction and delivering this vital project which will reduce costs for consumers and help to create a future-proof low-carbon energy system for Britain.

    The initial process launched today invites partners to complete a pre-qualification assessment. Companies will have to demonstrate that they meet the key criteria for entering negotiations on a potential equity stake in Sizewell C, including experience in delivering major infrastructure projects.

    The process has been designed following market testing with a cross-section of partners.

    While details of the investors who come forward and get involved cannot be provided at this stage given the need for commercial confidentiality, ministers will be looking for private investors who can add value to the project and will only accept private investment if it provides value for money, while bolstering energy security.

    Minister for Nuclear and Networks, Andrew Bowie, said:

    Sizewell C is at the heart of the UK’s nuclear revival and our ambition to provide up to a quarter of the UK’s electricity from homegrown nuclear energy by 2050.

    This will provide reliable and abundant energy, boost economic growth and jobs across the country and underpin the UK’s path to Net Zero.

    Following the first government direct public investment in a nuclear project for a generation, I look forward to seeing strong and competitive bids from potential investors to bring new expertise and experience into the company to help deliver this critical piece of national infrastructure.

    CEO of EDF Energy, Simone Rossi, said:

    EDF is pleased to support the development of the Sizewell C nuclear plant and the launch of this equity raise.

    The very significant investment that EDF continues to make in Britain at Hinkley Point C benefits Sizewell C through replication of the design and construction, and a proven UK supply chain.

    Together, Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will be the bedrock of Britain’s new nuclear fleet, a critical part of ensuring Britain has the clean, affordable energy it needs.

    Alongside support for Sizewell C at Suffolk, and Hinkley Point C in Somerset, the government has also launched Great British Nuclear, which will further drive the UK’s nuclear revival through the development of new and emerging technologies.

    This includes Small Modular Reactors, which can be constructed more quickly having been partially built in factories; and Advanced Modular Reactors, which are also smaller and can generate high temperatures which can help power industry.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK sets out “AI for Development” vision at UN General Assembly [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK sets out “AI for Development” vision at UN General Assembly [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 September 2023.

    Foreign Secretary to outline vision at UNGA for using Artificial Intelligence to speed up development in the world’s poorest nations.

    • Foreign Secretary to outline vision at UNGA of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help increase the impact of international development
    • “AI for Development” programme will boost skills, innovation and computing power in Africa and will launch around the UK-hosted AI Safety Summit this November
    • UK also announces at UNGA over £1 million to harness the power of AI to help predict conflicts and humanitarian crises, accelerating delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

    The UK will set out an ambitious vision for how the enormous potential of AI technology can be harnessed to speed up development in the world’s poorest nations at UNGA today.

    The Foreign Secretary will call on international partners to come together to coordinate efforts for AI development in Africa and accelerate progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. In leading the way, the UK will launch the ‘AI for Development’ programme, in partnership with Canada’s International Development Research Centre to focus on helping developing countries, initially in Africa, build local AI skills and boost innovation.

    The announcement coincides with the UK co-convening an event on AI in the margins of the UN General Assembly, where the Foreign Secretary will attend as part of our efforts to drive the global conversation on AI. The session, chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will bring together governments, tech firms and NGOs to discuss how AI can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals – a series of targets to make the world a healthier, fairer and more prosperous place by 2030.

    Today the UK is also announcing £1 million of UK investment in a first-of-a kind fund that, working alongside international partners, will harness the power of AI to help countries and global organisations prevent crises before they happen. The Complex Risk Analytics Fund (‘CRAF’d’) will also respond to emergencies when they occur, and help countries recover onto the path of sustainable development.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    The opportunity of AI is immense. It has already been shown to speed up drug discovery, help develop new treatments for common diseases, and predict food insecurity — to name only a few uses. The UK, alongside our allies and partners, is making sure that the fulfilment of this enormous potential is shared globally.

    As AI continues to rapidly evolve, we need a global approach that seizes the opportunities that AI can bring to solving humanity’s shared challenges. The UK-hosted AI summit this November will be key to helping us achieve this.

    Julie Delahanty, President of the International Development Research Centre President said:

    IDRC is pleased to announce a new collaboration with FCDO, a key ally in tackling the most pressing development challenges. The AI for Development program will build on existing partnerships, leveraging AI’s capacity to reduce inequalities, address poverty, improve food systems, confront the challenges of climate change and make education more inclusive, while also mitigating risks.

    This investment is also part of a wider UK commitment to use AI innovation to address global challenges, including the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.

    On 1 and 2 November the UK will host the first major global AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, building global consensus on the rapid, international action needed to advance safety at the cutting edge of AI technology.

    Further information

    The UK joins Germany, the United States, the Netherlands, the European Commission and Finland, as partners in investing in the Complex Risk Analytics Fund (‘CRAF’d’), working with the United Nations.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Panel named for independent review into civil unrest in Leicester [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Panel named for independent review into civil unrest in Leicester [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 18 September 2023.

    Final 3 panellists named to work on review to establish the facts and identify the underlying causes of last year’s unrest and make recommendations.

    Communities Secretary Michael Gove has appointed 3 expert panellists to sit on an independent review into the unrest that occurred in Leicester last year.

    In September 2022 community tensions led to a spate of vandalism, assaults, and attacks on places of worship and other properties in Leicester, in some cases highlighting divisions between different groups across the city and beyond.

    During the height of the unrest, the government worked closely with the local police force, Leicester City Council and other local partners to bring calm to the situation and protect communities from across the city.

    Communities Secretary Michael Gove commissioned an Independent Review into the disorder appointed Lord Ian Austin as chair earlier this year. The following 3 expert panellists will work alongside Lord Austin:

    1. Dr Samir Shah CBE: a former Commissioner for the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, former chair of the independent race equality think tank The Runnymede Trust for 10 years and was a member of the Holocaust Commission.
    2. Professor Hilary Pilkington: Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester and Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences. She coordinated the H2020 DARE (Dialogue about Radicalisation and Equality) project, and her research includes focus to the study of youth participation, activism, stigmatisation and extremism in the UK.
    3. Dr Shaaz Mahboob: Head of Digital Development NHS England and trustee of British Muslims for Secular Democracy for 10 years until 2018, including its Vice Chair for a number of years.

    Lord Austin said:

    Leicester has a proud history of diversity, tolerance and community cohesion which makes what happened last year all the more troubling.

    We want to listen to people in Leicester to understand last year’s events, what can be learned from them and how communities in the city can work together to prevent problems in future.

    It is therefore vital that the review is comprehensive and even-handed and that this aim is reflected in the panellists we appoint.

    The diverse panel brings together a wealth of experience and knowledge, which should result in an honest, frank and productive review.

    The panel will:

    1. Establish the facts of what took place over the period of unrest, and a sequence of events.
    2. Present an analysis of the causes of the unrest.
    3. Make practical recommendations for how similar events that may arise in future could be prevented.
    4. Set out proposals and ideas for strengthening social cohesion locally.

    The panel is expected to publish the findings of the review next year.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Former Armed Forces personnel training foreign militaries could be prosecuted under National Security Act [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Former Armed Forces personnel training foreign militaries could be prosecuted under National Security Act [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 September 2023.

    Under the National Security Act, former RAF, Royal Navy and Army pilots training foreign militaries may be prosecuted for sharing military tactics.

    Former UK Armed Forces personnel who train foreign militaries around the world can be prosecuted under new offences within the National Security Act.

    It comes after the Ministry of Defence issued a security alert last year, revealing that a number of former Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army pilots had been training the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force, having being contracted through a private South African company and attracted by high salaries.

    Specifically, the new Act includes the section 1 offence of ‘obtaining or disclosing protected information’ and defines ‘information’ to include tactics, techniques and procedures.

    This means that pilots risk being prosecuted for sharing such sensitive information with foreign powers. Once the powers come into force, the Ministry of Defence can pass relevant information to police forces, who can investigate offences under the Act.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    Anyone found to be acting against the UK’s interests by training our competitors’ militaries can now expect to be pursued and brought to justice.

    The government has acted decisively following the identification of this threat, and has made rapid changes to legislation to help shut it down.

    Since the security alert, the Ministry of Defence believes that publicity the practice received has been successful in encouraging these pilots to reconsider their activity, and in discouraging other personnel from taking part.

    At the time of the alert, the MOD recognised that further measures were needed in order to disrupt the activity. One such critical measure was including this activity within the National Security Act, to allow criminal charges to be pressed.

    As well as legislating against the activity, the UK has also been working closely with our allies, some of whom are also seeing similar activity with their former military personnel, to help highlight and tackle this internationally.

    Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

    We face growing threats from foreign states.

    In recent years we’ve seen attempts to harm our people, damage our economy and undermine our democracy. We’ve also seen attempts from countries such as China to solicit national secrets from former Armed Forces personnel.

    This new Act provides our world class law enforcement and intelligence agencies with new and updated tools to tackle security challenges such as these – and hold those responsible to account.

    The National Security Act became law in July this year and has brought together new measures to modernise counter-espionage laws and address evolving threats to our national security.

    With this new legislation, the UK is now a harder target for those states who seek to conduct hostile acts against the UK, which include espionage, foreign interference (including in our political system), sabotage, and acts that endanger life, such as assassination. It provides law enforcement and intelligence agencies with new and updated tools to deter, detect and disrupt modern-day state threats.

    The recently published Defence Command Paper 2023 and the Integrated Review Refresh 2023 sets out the UK’s approach to China as an enduring and epoch-defining challenge to British interests through its increasingly assertive and coercive behaviour. The documents say how the government will respond by increasing protections to national security, deepen cooperation with partners and increase engagement with China.

    Military personnel who have any concerns or are aware of suspicious activity are encouraged to call the MoD confidential crime line.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK to announce action to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals at the UN General Assembly [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK to announce action to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals at the UN General Assembly [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 September 2023.

    The Deputy Prime Minister will head up the UK delegation for the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.

    • Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will head up UK delegation in New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week
    • he and other Ministers will set out how the UK is increasing efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a series of commitments to make the world a fairer, healthier and more prosperous place by 2030
    • Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is due to arrive in New York today (Sunday), and will meet counterparts from the US, France, Egypt, Barbados and Indonesia as well as attend G7 and migration meetings

    The world must recommit to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if we are to achieve them by 2030, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will tell the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week.

    As the halfway point between the launch of the SDGs in 2015 and the target for their delivery in 2030 approaches, he, the Foreign Secretary and the wider UK delegation will make clear countries urgently need to visibly and vocally recommit to the Goals to make the world healthier, fairer, and more prosperous.

    The Deputy Prime Minister will lead the UK delegation and travel to New York on Tuesday – he will attend the UN Security Council session on Thursday. He will attend the UN Security Council session on multilateralism and Ukraine on Wednesday to recommit our steadfast support to Ukraine and to hold Russia to account for its illegal actions, both in Ukraine and its cynical attempts to undermine global food supplies and security, causing worldwide suffering in the world’s poorest nations.

    The Deputy Prime Minister will also deliver the UK’s address to the General Assembly on Friday where he will call on nations to cooperate to ensure the benefits of revolutionary new technologies like AI are felt equally, while also preventing their misuse. He will also hold meetings on AI with leading technology companies and discuss AI regulation with other countries ahead of the UK’s AI Safety Summit.

    He will also attend UN meetings on boosting global health and announce new UK support for strengthening health systems. He will also discuss climate action and growing global investment in Africa.

    The Foreign Secretary, arriving in New York tomorrow (Sunday), will meet key allies and stress the need to keep up the pressure on Russia, making it clear to Putin that he cannot “outlast” the international backing for Ukraine.

    He is due to hold talks tomorrow (Monday) and on Tuesday with, among others, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

    Tomorrow (Monday) the Foreign Secretary will co-convene an event on Artificial Intelligence (AI) chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

    It will bring together governments, tech firms and NGOs to discuss how AI can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The Deputy Prime Minister will also be discussing the challenges and opportunities of AI with global partners and UK and US tech firms operating in the USA during his visit, ahead of the UK hosting the AI Safety Summit in November.

    Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

    “I’m delighted to be leading the UK delegation to the UN General Assembly on behalf of the Prime Minister.

    “The UK has always worked closely with the UN to create a safer, healthier and more prosperous world. I look forward to using this year to discuss the challenges and opportunities of AI, so that the benefits of this revolutionary technology are felt fairly across the world, and how Britain can be at the forefront of that effort.

    “Alongside this we’ll be announcing new support to tackle climate change, boost global economic growth and prevent future pandemics.

    “But the principles of the UN are being challenged by Russia’s appalling actions in Ukraine: deliberately attacking and terrorising civilians and seeking to hold the world to ransom by blocking vital food supplies.

    “I will be challenging Russia at the Security Council and other nations to strengthen international support for Ukraine’s freedom.”

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    “Only a functioning multilateral system can address the complex and interconnected global challenges we are facing. But our system is under strain, particularly from intensifying geopolitical rivalry. The Sustainable Development Goals are seriously off-track, and we need to come together to recommit and accelerate their delivery by 2030.

    “Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, but its invasion of Ukraine is a clear breach of the UN Charter. Our citizens rightly demand that we curb illegal migration and boost economic growth. Climate change and new technologies like AI present extreme risks, but also unprecedented opportunities.

    “Putin is counting on the misguided assumption that he can outlast international support for Ukraine. We will not be deterred. It is in all our interests, to ensure that Russia is defeated and evicted from Ukraine’s sovereign territory as quickly as possible.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government to introduce legal costs cap to support victims [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government to introduce legal costs cap to support victims [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 September 2023.

    Legal costs will be capped in lower damages clinical negligence claims to support victims, speed up justice and protect taxpayers and NHS England cash.

    • Limits to be placed on how much lawyers receive from lower damages clinical negligence claims
    • This will save an estimated £500 million over the next decade which could be spent on patient care
    • Changes will better support victims and preserve access to justice

    Legal costs will be capped in lower damages clinical negligence claims to support victims, speed up justice and protect taxpayers and NHS England cash.

    During the past 16 years claimants’ legal costs have risen four-fold for claims of up to £25,000. The amount spent by NHS England on clinical negligence claims has also risen from £0.6 billion to £2.6 billion despite the number of claims remaining stable.

    This has created a situation where the claimants’ legal costs are disproportionate and on average double what the claimant themselves receives.

    These costs are funded from the core NHS budget. It is estimated that introducing this system of fixed recoverable costs would save NHS England £500 million during the next decade, which could be spent on patient care.

    Minister for Health, Maria Caulfield, said:

    We want a fairer system for victims of clinical negligence which provides speedier justice while also protecting NHS and taxpayer funding.

    Those providing legal representation are due fair remuneration for providing these services but this should not be out of proportion to the claim or be to the detriment of justice or front line services.

    By introducing fixed recoverable costs for clinical negligence claims of £25,000 or below, we’re ensuring a better balance between costs and compensation.

    The decision follows a consultation, which the government has now responded to. It concluded that claimant legal costs are too high and the length and complexity of the legal process can also be disproportionate given the relative straightforwardness of many claims at this level. This also means people who have been harmed are waiting longer to receive compensation.

    Introducing a system of fixed recoverable costs is expected to speed up the process and at a lower and more proportionate cost while protecting victims and ensuring access to justice continues.

    This will not impact on higher value claims and would only affect the level of the claimants’ legal costs, not the compensation for the claimant.

    The rate of fixed recoverable costs under the recommendations are higher than those proposed in the consultation. The bolt-on amounts for those claims involving protected parties or children, will rise from £650 to £1,800.

    The scheme will also give defendants responsibility for paying the costs of neutral evaluation, where an experienced legal professional evaluates the claim to speed up the process without the need to go to court.

    A further 6-week consultation is also being launched to address whether disbursements – legal costs incurred over and above claimants’ legal costs such as court fees – should be included within the fixed costs.

    The new rules are expected to come into force in April 2024.

    Background information

    The National Audit Office report ‘Managing the costs of clinical negligence in trusts’ identified claimant legal costs as a significant driver of the rise in the overall cost of clinical negligence claims in recent years.

    These reforms follow Sir Rupert Jackson’s (then Lord Justice Jackson’s) 2017 recommendation that the Civil Justice Council (CJC) develop a bespoke, streamlined system of fixed recoverable costs. In 2022 we consulted on proposals closely aligned to the CJC’s 2019 report recommendations on the fixed recoverable costs process and developed with extensive input from claimant and defendant representatives.

    Fixed recoverable costs in lower value clinical negligence claims: consultation outcome

    Fixed recoverable costs in lower damages clinical negligence claims – a supplementary consultation on disbursements