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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Construction company Costain civil sanction sees charity get cash boost [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Construction company Costain civil sanction sees charity get cash boost [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 17 August 2023.

    Construction company Costain Limited will donate £55,000 to Tyne Rivers Trust after polluting the River Don during a major upgrade to the A19 in South Tyneside.

    An investigation by the Environment Agency found that the company had breached its environmental permit when contaminated water was washed down highway drains and into the River Don.

    It submitted an Enforcement Undertaking to the Environment Agency, which has now been accepted.

    An Enforcement Undertaking is a voluntary offer made by companies and individuals to make amends for their offending, and usually includes a donation to a wildlife charity to carry out environmental improvements in the local area.

    Costain Limited had an environmental permit which allowed it to discharge water treated by a sediment treatment facility into the River Don during work to the A19 at Testos roundabout.

    Plume of sediment seen in the river

    On 6 December 2019, whilst works were being carried out, an Environment Agency officer in the area reported a plume of sediment in the river.

    Following a dry spell of weather, Costain Limited had decided to jet wash and sweep the road surface to remove a build up of mud. However, the road sweeper was not powerful enough to suck up all of the dirty water and instead the contaminated water ran directly into highway drains, bypassing the company’s sediment treatment measures, and into the River Don.

    The silt in the water was vastly in excess of what the permit allowed, and it caused discolouration for at least 500 metres.

    After the incident the company introduced a new monitoring and maintenance regime as well as training for site staff, and no further incidents occurred. There was no long-term ecological impact on the river.

    Environment Agency investigating officer Josh Laidler said:

    Companies carrying out any major development work have a responsibility to ensure they abide by their permits to protect the local environment, and we will take action when pollution occurs.

    While we will always take forward prosecutions in the most serious cases, Enforcement Undertakings are an effective enforcement tool to allow companies to put things right and contribute to environmental improvements.

    They allow polluters to correct and restore the harm caused to the environment and prevent repeat incidents by improving their procedures, helping ensure future compliance with environmental requirements.

    Tyne Rivers Trust will use the donation on projects that will improve water quality in the River Don catchment.

    The Tyne Rivers Trust is a registered environmental charity dedicated to improving the River Tyne and its catchment through education, tackling pollution and practical conservation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government invites football bodies to strengthen collaboration [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government invites football bodies to strengthen collaboration [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 17 August 2023.

    The football authorities in England have been invited by the government to meet on an annual basis to agree on appropriate access to the best global players.

    The Home Secretary and Culture Secretary have invited the Football Association (FA), the Premier League, and the English Football League to formalise the way in which they would meet every year, before the summer transfer window, to agree immigration criteria for clubs.

    This collaboration will see football bodies advise government on the best way to make sure clubs can access players from abroad and ensure English football maintains its world leading reputation.

    As part of the initial process, the government has recommended that the FA launches a consultation of the football community to gauge its views.

    The group of football authorities are being encouraged to follow terms of reference aligned with the Home Office’s code of practice for sports governing bodies, and would discuss and continually improve the immigration criteria for transfer targets.

    This closer collaboration would deliver a whole game solution that maintains opportunities for young domestic players to develop from the grassroots level upwards, supports the national team, and ensures the Premier League can maintain its status as a world-leading competition that attracts elite international players.

    Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

    It is a privilege that we have men’s and women’s national teams that continue to do the country proud, as well as world-leading football leagues that are the most watched across the globe.

    Millions of fans want to ensure England remains at the pinnacle of global football. Home grown players must be able to develop but we know promising and quality footballers also lie outside the UK and we want to attract the very best for fans to watch week in and week out.

    By following these proposals, I’m confident that the football authorities will ensure our domestic game continues to flourish for fans across the country.

    Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

    English football leagues are watched and loved by people all over the world, and this government will do everything possible to keep this success going long into the future.

    Formalising how the football authorities reach criteria for clubs’ access to players will help us ensure English football remains one of the go to destinations for international talent, while creating opportunities for homegrown players.

    The International Sportsperson route, for elite sportspeople to enter the UK, requires footballers to obtain a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE), the criteria of which is set by the FA as the sports governing body for football before every season.

    The GBE strikes a fine balance between ensuring English players get the opportunities to play, supporting the prospects of the national team, while making sure our leagues remain competitive and globally renowned.

    Closer collaboration between the 3 bodies has led to the announcement of additional criteria for clubs to obtain GBEs for international players in this summer’s transfer window, with the elite and significant contribution proposal. The proposals announced today will guarantee this process continues.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Dean of Truro [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Dean of Truro [August 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 August 2023.

    The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Simon Robinson, Residentiary Canon and Interim Dean at Truro Cathedral, for appointment as Dean of Truro, in succession to The Very Reverend Roger Bush, following his retirement.

    Background

    Simon was educated at Warwick University and trained for ministry on the Southern Theological Education Training Scheme. He served his title in the Parish of Freshford, Limpley Stoke and Hinton Charterhouse in the Diocese of Bath and Wells and was ordained priest in 2013. Simon was appointed Vicar of the Parish of Minehead in 2015. In October 2022, Simon took up his current role as Interim Dean and Canon Missioner at Truro Cathedral.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government praises students as grading system returns to normal [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government praises students as grading system returns to normal [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 17 August 2023.

    Grades this summer are expected to be lower than last year due to the way they were assessed.

    Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has praised the resilience and hard work of young people, as hundreds of thousands prepare to collect A and AS level, T Level and Level 3 vocational and technical exam results today (17 August).

    The results mark the culmination of years of hard work for young people and their teachers, and pave the way for students’ next steps to university, further training, or into work.

    This is the first year that AS and A Levels have largely returned to normal. During the pandemic, results were higher as exams could not go ahead. As the normal grading system returned this summer, grades will be lower than last year but similar to 2019 levels. That means, for example, a student whose work would have earned a C grade at A level in 2019 is just as likely to get a C this year, opening the same exciting doors to life after school.

    The return to pre-pandemic grading is important for students – it means that universities and employers understand their performance, have confidence in their qualifications, and can use them to help students progress into opportunities that match their achievements, now and in the future.

    This is also the second year the Government’s flagship new qualifications, T Levels, have been awarded, with thousands of students waiting to receive their results today. These new qualifications – the technical counterpart to A levels – are designed in collaboration with leading employers and offer a high quality technical education.

    Universities have made sure entry requirements and offers reflect the grades students were expected to receive – as they do every year – and the number of places at top universities is not affected by the number of top grades.

    Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

    I’m incredibly proud of all students receiving their results today. For many, this will have been the first set of formal exams they have ever taken, having faced unprecedented circumstances in the years building up to this summer.

    I know young people will have risen to the challenge, and thousands will get the results they need to take hold of their future, whether at university, through an apprenticeship or in the world of work. There are more options than ever before and a huge amount of support available, whether pupils get the results they wanted or not.

    Congratulations to each and every young person taking their next step and thank you to the teachers who helped them get there.

    By sitting exams, students have a fair chance to show their knowledge and understanding of a subject and ensure a level playing field.

    For GCSEs and A levels, senior examiners will have made allowances where national performance was found to be slightly lower than before the pandemic. This will create a level of protection for students as grading returns to normal, following the disruption of recent years.

    The Government has made almost £5 billion available to help children and young people recover from the impact of the pandemic, including £1.5 billion for high quality tutoring to support students taking exams this year and in the future. Nearly four million courses have been started through the National Tutoring Programme since 2020, including 1.3 million so far this academic year.

    In cases where a student does not achieve their predicted grades, it is very common for them to still be offered a place by their preferred universities. In 2019, only 20 per cent of English 18-year-old applicants with a minimum of 3 A Level predictions met or exceeded their predicted grades, but almost 90 per cent of the same group still got a place at a UK university. Almost 65 per cent of those were accepted to their firm choice.

    There’s a huge amount of support on hand for students:

    • Students’ school or college – or the admissions team at the university which they are applying – should be their first port of call.
    • Experts at the National Careers Service will be available throughout the results period.
    • UCAS’s Clearing hotline is open to help students understand their options.
    • The online ‘Clearing Plus’ service will help match students to courses with entry requirements that align with the grades they achieved.

    There is also a variety of high-quality technical options open to students, including degree apprenticeships and higher technical qualifications, that will enable them to gain the skills they need to kickstart great careers. Students can explore their options through the Get The Jump website.

    GCSE grades will be released on 24 August 2023.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK is deeply concerned about the ongoing disruption to aid delivery through the Lachin corridor – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK is deeply concerned about the ongoing disruption to aid delivery through the Lachin corridor – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 August 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Armenia and Azerbaijan.

    Thank you, President, and thank you Ms Worsornu for the helpful update. I also welcome the participation by Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and the representatives of Azerbaijan, Turkey and the European Union at this meeting.

    The United Kingdom remains deeply concerned at the ongoing disruptions to the Lachin corridor, which threatens the supply of life-saving medication, health care, and other essential goods and services – resulting in humanitarian consequences for the local population.

    It is therefore crucial that the ICJ order of February 2023 is respected to ensure unimpeded movement along the Lachin corridor in both directions.

    We strongly urge parties to allow the ICRC access along all available routes – including via the Lachin corridor – for the organisation to be able to undertake its vital work. All parties must refrain from the politicisation of humanitarian aid in order to meet the needs of the civilian population.

    We warmly welcome the ongoing, internationally-mediated negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan toward a historic peace agreement, hosted most recently by European Council President Michel last month. We also welcome the efforts of the United States in this regard, with high-level engagement from Secretary Blinken.

    We urge all parties to redouble their efforts in these talks towards a lasting settlement. It is only diplomacy, in the spirit of the UN Charter, that will bring both sides closer to peace.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Minister David Rutley visits Paraguay for the second time [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Minister David Rutley visits Paraguay for the second time [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 August 2023.

    The British Embassy in Asuncion welcomed David Rutley MP, Minister for Americas and the Caribbean, who attended the Presidential inauguration in Paraguay.

    UK Americas Minister David Rutley returned to Paraguay to attend the ceremony of the presidential inauguration of President Santiago Peña – a significant milestone in the democratic history of Paraguay.

    As a testament to the close and friendly relations between the United Kingdom and Paraguay, the Minister’s presence at the inauguration symbolises the UK government’s continued commitment to strengthening relationships with countries in Latin America.

    Minister Rutley’s attendance at the inauguration not only displays the UK’s support for Paraguay’s democratic process but also signifies the importance of collaboration and partnership in addressing global challenges.

    Americas Minister David Rutley said:

    It is an honour and privilege to make my second visit to Paraguay this year and represent the UK on this historic occasion.

    Democracy is the foundation of prosperity and I wish President Peña and the Paraguayan people every success in the years ahead.

    The UK and Paraguay have been friends and allies for the past 170 years and you can count on our support in meeting the challenges and opportunities ahead.

    Minister Rutley also met with the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano.

    Paraguay presents immense potential for increased collaboration with the United Kingdom. Minister Rutley’s visit aims to strengthen the existing ties between the two nations and underscores the UK’s commitment to engaging with nations in the region, building bridges, and fostering diplomatic relations based on mutual respect and shared values.

    In March of this year, Minister Rutley visited the country for the first time in the framework of the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Paraguay and the United Kingdom, where he had the opportunity to meet then candidate for President of Paraguay. Among the priorities of his visit were climate change, business, energy and education. Minister Rutley also participated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to increase bilateral exchange.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Local communities welcome hundreds of refugee families [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Local communities welcome hundreds of refugee families [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 16 August 2023.

    Over 1,000 vulnerable refugees, fleeing conflict and instability, have so far been supported by local communities through the community sponsorship scheme.

    Over 1,000 vulnerable refugees fleeing regions of conflict and instability, including Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Eritrea, Iran, Somalia and Afghanistan, have been welcomed under one of the UK’s safe and legal routes by local communities across the UK, so they can start their new lives here.

    The government has some of the most generous safe and legal routes anywhere, and since 2015 the government has offered a range of safe and legal routes to the UK to over half a million men, women and children seeking safety, as well as family members of refugees. This includes the community sponsorship scheme which allows members of the public to support the most vulnerable refugees who have been assessed as in need of resettlement here.

    The UK is 1 of 10 countries operating a community sponsorship scheme through which the UNHCR refers vulnerable refugees. Thanks to the public’s generosity and good will, refugees have so far been supported with housing and integration support by over 200 community groups, including charities, faith groups, sports clubs, schools and universities.

    The UK has a long history of supporting refugees in need of protection and members of the public are upholding this tradition by coming together and partnering with a charity or community interest group to welcome a refugee family to their local area.

    To become sponsors, communities will need to commit to providing integration support to a refugee family for their first year in the UK, including learning English, and accessing education, benefits, healthcare and employment so they can become self-sufficient and contribute to the community. Sponsors will also need to identify and secure suitable accommodation for at least 2 years.

    Those interested in setting up a community group to support a refugee family can find out more information.

    Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:

    The UK is one of the few countries with a community sponsorship scheme that allows communities themselves to help settle individuals and families directly at risk in conflict zones around the world.

    Community sponsorship reduces the burden on the state, offers the best prospect of integration and bypasses the smuggling gangs to focus our finite resources on the most vulnerable.

    Today’s announcement shows the power of society and generosity of communities in the UK to help those in need who come here legally.

    Abdulrahman Zakaria, who was resettled in Warwick with his family last year under the community sponsorship scheme, said:

    This scheme has gifted my family and me the dignified life we’ve dreamt of for so long. Owing to the love and support that they group has given me; I’ve found success in my profession and launched my own business. Today, we genuinely feel an integral part of the community here in Warwickshire. We’ve received the finest care and backing, and mere words of gratitude hardly do justice to how thankful I am.

    Set up in 2016, community sponsorship was the first scheme in the UK to enable the public to come together and support refugees directly, so they feel welcome and can readjust to a new life here.

    Before welcoming a refugee family, community groups will need to apply to the Home Office for approval, demonstrating their ability to support and safeguard vulnerable people. Groups will receive training and support from the government’s partner, Reset, so they have the tools to prepare to welcome refugees and to help them settled and integrate once they have arrived.

    Community groups are asked to raise £9,000 to support families with their resettlement and integration needs, therefore helping to keep costs down for UK taxpayers.

    Eligible refugees are referred by the UNHCR, which assesses their need for resettlement in the UK, through the government’s established resettlement schemes, including the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). Refugees are then matched with a sponsor group based on the support they can provide.

    Julia Fitzsimons from Warwickshire Circle of Friends who have been supporting Abdulrahman and his family, said:

    “We thought this [community sponsorship] would be a great opportunity to help, and welcome a family into our town. When we first started it seemed like a huge challenge but I was amazed by how many really enthusiastic people came forward to help, with different backgrounds and expertise. We did not all know one another to begin with, but as a team we had so much to offer.  Those of us who came together to create the group also found that it strengthened our own communities – building new friendships and networks. We’d all love to see more communities benefit from this amazing scheme.

    “It has been fantastic to be involved with community sponsorship and we have all found it very rewarding. Watching Abdulrahman and his family settle in has been a joy.”

    Emma Harrison, Director of Strategy at Reset, said:

    “Community sponsorship is a transformative scheme which allows communities to welcome refugees – and in doing so develops and strengthens community networks. Reset are proud to have played a key role in building capacity among the groups up and down the country that have welcomed families to their areas. We are looking forward to supporting many more groups, welcoming even more families this way and hitting the next big milestone!”

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK urges all parties to build on truce-like conditions in Yemen and pave the way for a UN-led Yemeni-Yemeni peace process – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK urges all parties to build on truce-like conditions in Yemen and pave the way for a UN-led Yemeni-Yemeni peace process – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 August 2023.

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

    Thank you, President, and I would like to start by thanking Special Envoy Grundberg, Director Worsornu and Ms Amat Al-Salam for their briefings.

    I would also like to join others in condemning the murder of WFP staff member Moayad Hameidi, and echo briefers’ condolences to his family and his friends.

    I also want to join others in congratulating the United Nations, the Dutch Salvage company, SMIT, and all who were involved in the successful transfer of oil from the SAFER tanker to the Yemen. The successful completion of this operation demonstrates what can be achieved when all actors work together in the interests of Yemen and its people.

    Taking encouragement from the achievement, the UK urges all parties to work together to build on the truce-like conditions in Yemen and pave the way for a UN-led Yemeni-Yemeni peace process. In particular, it is essential that the Presidential Leadership Council remain united towards one common goal: a lasting and inclusive peace for the Yemeni people. An inclusive peace process under UN auspices is the only pathway to end permanently this war.

    Madam President, Houthi attacks and continued threats to prevent oil exports from Government controlled areas are severely impacting Yemen’s economy. These attacks on the economy are attacks on the livelihoods and services for some of the most vulnerable people in Yemen. And we urge the Houthis to stop these attacks.

    The UK welcomes the recent deposit of $250 million from Saudi Arabia, as the first tranche of a generous $1.2 billion pledge of economic support.

    As Director Worsornu said, the Government of Yemen will remain dependent on external financing to provide basic services and pay public salaries until the Houthis stop their economic warfare and the Government can generate its own revenues.

    Colleagues, in spite of the relative peace in Yemen over the last 18 months, the humanitarian situation remains dire. We continue to see impediments to the free movement of female aid workers to deliver assistance to women in need; to independent monitoring and assessment missions; and to the fair selection of humanitarian service providers. The humanitarian response is already severely underfunded. These impediments pose additional, and entirely avoidable, burdens on the humanitarian effort and ultimately on the Yemeni people. We urge the Houthis to lift restrictions and allow unfettered access of humanitarian aid.

    Finally, President, the UK reiterates its call for the unconditional release of all Baha’i’s detained by the Houthis.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Safety of valproate – new study on risks in children of men taking valproate [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Safety of valproate – new study on risks in children of men taking valproate [August 2023]

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

    No action is currently needed from patients. No one should stop taking valproate without advice from their healthcare professional.

    As part of our ongoing monitoring of valproate safety, we continue to rigorously review all emerging data on valproate. This includes a new study on outcomes in children whose fathers took valproate at the time of conception commissioned by the European Medicines Agency.

    Sanofi, the brand leader company, has recently informed us of errors in the study that may impact the results. As a result, the researchers from the original study are conducting a full re-analysis before any final conclusions can be drawn.

    The government’s expert scientific body, the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), has advised that further guidance in respect of risks in children of men taking valproate should be based upon data that are accurate and complete.  As soon as the revised study analysis is available, it will be carefully re-assessed by the MHRA. Any further guidance will be communicated to patients and healthcare professionals as soon as possible.

    In December 2022, in light of data showing ongoing exposure to valproate in pregnancy, as well as growing information about potential risks in male patients from preclinical studies and data on infertility, the CHM recommended strengthened safety measures for valproate. The implementation of these new measures has been carefully considered by the CHM’s Valproate Implementation Group.

    Further communications on the new safety measures will be issued in due course.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Gabon – Jo McPhail [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Gabon – Jo McPhail [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 August 2023.

    Ms Pamela Joanne (Jo) McPhail has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Gabonese Republic in succession to Dr Christian Dennys-McClure. Ms McPhail will take up her appointment in September 2023.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Pamela Joanne McPhail

    Married to: Dr Alastair McPhail CMG OBE

    Children: 2 sons

    Place of Birth: Aldridge, West Midlands, UK

    Date Role
    2021 to 2023 Djibouti, HM Ambassador
    2018 to 2020 FCO, Head of Talent, Performance (Diversity) and Leadership, Human Resources Directorate
    2017 to 2018 Cabinet Office, Head of Business and Performance, Civil Service Group
    2014 to 2017 FCO, Head of Engagement and Learning, Knowledge and Technology Directorate
    2010 to 2014 FCO, Head of Overseas Passport Management Unit, Consular Directorate
    2009 to 2010 The Hague, First Secretary, Head of Political and Communications Teams
    2008 to 2009 FCO, Project Manager, Global Out of Hours Programme, Consular Directorate
    2008 Banjul, Acting British High Commissioner
    2006 to 2007 FCO, Head of Nigeria and Central Africa Team, Africa Directorate
    2004 to 2005 FCO, Change Manager, Organisation Project
    2002 to 2004 FCO, Head of Workforce Planning, Human Resources Directorate
    2000 to 2002 FCO, Deputy Head of Peacekeeping (lead on Africa), UN Department, Global Issues Directorate
    1997 to 1998 Ankara, Community Liaison Officer
    1995 to 1996 FCO, Project Officer – Personnel Policy and Manpower Planning, Personnel Policy Unit
    1992 to 1994 Moscow, Third later First Secretary – Press & Public Affairs
    1990 to 1992 FCO, Desk Officer, Narcotics Control and AIDS Department