Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : New Chair appointed to Historic England [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 9 August 2023.

The Secretary of State has appointed Neil Mendoza as the new Chair of Historic England for a term of four years commencing 01 September 2023.

Lord Neil Mendoza

Appointed from 01 September 2023 until 31 August 2027.

Lord Mendoza was appointed Provost of Oriel College, Oxford, in 2018, following a career building businesses in the creative and finance sectors. He is focused on successfully sustaining Oriel’s 700-year history for the College’s 550 students and 250 academic and support staff.

Lord Mendoza was previously the government’s Commissioner for Culture and chaired the Culture and Heritage Capital Board at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Prior to that, he served four years as a non-executive director at DCMS. He is Chair of The Illuminated River Foundation, Chair of Civic Future and on the board of the Ashmolean Museum. He is a member of the House of Lords.

Prior to joining Oriel College, Neil led the year-long Mendoza Review of Museums in England on behalf of DCMS (2016-17). He was formerly Chair of Children and the Arts, Vice Chair of Soho Theatre, and Chair of The Landmark Trust (2011-2021). He joined the Board of MeiraGTx, a US-based gene therapy company, in 2015. He co-founded Forward Publishing in the late 1980s, now a part of WPP plc.

Lord Mendoza is an advocate of building and supporting talent, creativity and enterprise through high quality educational, cultural and heritage engagement. He is a mentor to young professionals across a range of sectors. He graduated from Oriel College, Oxford with an MA in Geography.

Remuneration and Governance Code

The Chair of Historic England is remunerated £40,000 per annum. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Lord Mendoza declared that he takes the Conservative Whip in the House of Lords.

August 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK and Türkiye strengthen partnership to help tackle illegal migration [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 9 August 2023.

The UK and Türkiye have agreed a new partnership to enhance cooperation on tackling the illegal movement of migrants, and keep both countries safer.

UK and Turkish law enforcement officers will step up joint operations to tackle organised immigration crime and disrupt the supply chain of boat parts and other materials used as part of illegal migration journeys.

The move follows Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick’s visit to Türkiye last month, the latest in a number of strategically important international visits to strengthen cooperation on the challenge of tackling illegal migration and disrupting the routes used by smugglers.

This has included visits to Belgium, Tunisia, Italy and Türkiye, where he visited the Turkish-Bulgarian Border Check Point at Kapikule – the largest and busiest border crossing point in Europe – and saw first-hand the joint operational work to target organised crime, and the importance of close collaboration between the UK and its international partners on this issue.

This enhanced partnership also follows recent agreements with countries including Bulgaria and Georgia, as well as strengthened partnerships with France and Albania which have resulted in a 90% drop in Albanian small boat arrivals in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the same period last year, and a 40% increase in the number of illegal crossing attempts prevented by the French last year, compared to the year before.

The deepened partnership between the UK and Türkiye includes support by the UK for a new centre based in Türkiye to be established by the Turkish National Police, which will act as a new operational “Centre of Excellence” to tackle organised immigration crime. The centre will build on existing collaboration between our law enforcement agencies and increase alignment of UK and Turkish intelligence, allowing operational staff to act more quickly on information.

A new memorandum of understanding will also cover the increase and quicker exchange of customs data, information and intelligence feeds between the UK and Turkish authorities, to further support our joint efforts to disrupt the small boats supply chain.

The 2 countries are also bolstering their resources to pursue these common goals. The centre will strengthen collaboration between NCA and Home Office Intelligence staff based in Türkiye and their Turkish counterparts; and the UK will deploy more officers in Türkiye to enable collaboration on joint operations to disrupt the criminal gangs who are facilitating illegal journeys.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

As I’ve made clear, we must do everything we can to smash the people smuggling gangs and stop the boats.

Our partnership with Türkiye , a close friend and ally, will enable our law enforcement agencies to work together on this international problem and tackle the small boat supply chain.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:

Illegal migration is a global challenge, and this new partnership with Türkiye cements our 2 countries as foremost strategic partners, working together in the fight against organised immigration crime.

We will be intensively sharing intelligence, people and technology to disrupt and dismantle people smuggling gangs and the manufacture and supply of materials which enable small boat crossings.

Having met our partners in Europe, North Africa and indeed Türkiye recently, I’ve seen first-hand the benefits our increased cooperation has on stopping the boats. I am determined that the UK is a leading force in tackling illegal migration and a partner to all those allies who share our determination to defeat it.

The export of small boats and boat parts across the continent of Europe in order to facilitate illegal crossings to the UK is a vital element of people smugglers’ tactics. It is estimated that hundreds of small boats and boat parts are transported through Europe each year for this purpose.

This will be supported through strengthened UK-Turkish engagement at a working level including through the next UK-Türkiye Migration Dialogue meeting taking place this autumn in London. Both countries also committed to raise the issue of illegal migration in international platforms.

This partnership marks the next step in the UK’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with international partners on the global challenge of illegal migration. This joint work with allies is a key strand of the Prime Minister’s plan to stop the boats, driving efforts upstream to clamp down on the criminality that enables illegal crossings to the UK.

August 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Third anniversary of the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus – Minister for Europe statement [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 August 2023.

Minister for Europe Leo Docherty calls for the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners in Belarus.

On the anniversary of the start of a brutal crackdown against peaceful protestors in Belarus following the flawed 2020 presidential election, Minister for Europe Leo Docherty said:

Three years ago, the Belarusian regime unleashed violence on peaceful protesters, civil society groups, journalists and political opponents for seeking to pursue their desire for freedom and democracy.

Alexander Lukashenko continues a repressive campaign against his own people, aimed at depriving ordinary Belarusian citizens from exercising their fundamental democratic rights. His regime’s support for Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine further demonstrates its complete disregard for international norms.

The UK Government has already introduced sanctions targeting those responsible for the suppression of human rights in Belarus and will continue to work alongside our international partners to hold Lukashenko’s regime to account for its appalling actions.

The close to 1,500 political prisoners who remain detained in Belarus today must be released immediately and unconditionally. We stand in solidarity with the Belarusian people.

August 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Consultants in England announce prospective September strike dates [August 2023]

The press release issued by the BMA on 7 August 2023.

Consultants in England will go on strike on 19th and 20th September if the Government continues to refuse to agree to pay talks and present the profession with a credible offer, the BMA announces today.

Following a two-day strike in July, the BMA has once again written to the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay,¹ to invite him to discuss pay and reform of the doctors’ pay review body, the DDRB, and put an end to strikes.

Currently, with the Government refusing to even to talk about pay – let alone any kind of credible offer being put on the table – consultants in England are already planning to take industrial action on 24th and 25th August. In keeping with the BMA consultants committee’s aim to ensure that hospitals and colleagues have sufficient time to prepare and prioritise patients who need care the most, dates for September have been announced well in advance. Once again, the September days will consist of “Christmas Day” cover, whereby all emergency services will remain in place. The fact that further dates have been announced also demonstrates consultants’ resolve and commitment to securing a better deal that begins to address the huge real-terms pay erosion they have experienced since 2008/09, and resetting the pay review process to its original principles so that the NHS can recruit and retain its most senior doctors.

Dr Vishal Sharma, BMA consultants committee chair, said:

“It is now 133 days since the Secretary of State last met with us – demonstrating the Government’s complete disregard for the expertise and value of consultants, and the very future of the health service and its patients.

“We are once again appealing to the Health Secretary to return to the table and discuss both pay and reform of the rigged pay review process, so that we can reach a point where strikes are not necessary.

“Consultants will go out on strike at the end of this month, and for a further two days in September – demonstrating our resolve and clearly signalling to Government that we’re in this for the long haul. However, neither of these strikes need to take place at all if the Government drops its intransigent position.

“The Prime Minister has blamed the record waiting lists in the NHS on staff taking a stand for their pay and conditions – a claim that has backfired spectacularly. Waiting lists were rising steadily due to the Government’s underfunding of the NHS and were at a record high before any industrial action started and even before the pandemic.

“He says that everyone must play their part to bring the waiting list down but his refusal to negotiate a deal that would ensure the NHS can recruit and retain doctors to address the current workforce crisis is the biggest barrier to achieving this.

“No consultant wants to take strike action but unless we take a stand, we risk losing our most experienced doctors, putting the very future of the NHS at risk. It’s not too late to avert these strikes and we call upon the Health Secretary to meet with us urgently.”

August 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Expansion of independently run community diagnostic centres is not a substitute for investment in NHS workforce, BMA says [August 2023]

The press release issued by the BMA on 4 August 2023.

Responding to the Government’s announcement¹ of further investment into the expansion of community diagnostic centres in the independent sector to tackle NHS waiting lists in England, BMA workforce lead Dr Latifa Patel said:

“It is crucial that more is done to help patients on waiting lists with whatever capacity is available given just how many people are waiting for treatment and procedures. While this additional support should hopefully go some way towards patients having more efficient access to tests, concerns remain over how plans for the expansion of the use of the independent sector to cut diagnostic waiting lists will work.

“We do not have enough staff working in the NHS or the private sector. Doctors working in the private sector are also under pressure, so there is no guarantee that diverting more patients to the independent sector will cut NHS backlogs. Any expansion of community diagnostics centres needs to be carefully implemented to ensure that it does not just shift the problem – resulting in longer waiting times for private patients needing treatment and still not making a significant difference to the NHS backlog.

“This situation is really a result of a failure to adequately resource the NHS and to address the workforce crisis which is fundamental to having the capacity to deal with waiting lists. The Government’s goal should ultimately be long-term investment in the NHS to ensure the best possible value for public money and a sustainable healthcare system that avoids an overreliance on the independent sector.

“We currently have a situation where both consultants and junior doctors are taking industrial action over years of pay erosion. It makes little sense to invest more into the independent sector but ignore the major crisis facing the current NHS workforce who can actually care for these patients and help to cut waiting lists.

“Diagnostics is just one part of the problem, and even with an earlier diagnosis, there is still the issue of how we treat those patients who are referred for treatment. It is also crucial that we see more evidence of how current community diagnostic centres have performed before making plans to maximise their capacity along with details on how plans to increase the use of the independent sector in training junior NHS staff will work.”

Notes to editors

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-boosts-use-of-independent-sector-capacity-to-cut-nhs-waits

August 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : ‘Short-sighted’ cuts to Covid vaccine programme will leave patients and GPs in despair, says BMA [August 2023]

The press release issued by the BMA on 4 August 2023.

The BMA says a decision by NHS England to significantly reduce the fee that GPs are paid to deliver Covid vaccines undervalues general practice and threatens the safety of vulnerable patients.

The decision comes after a series of talks between the Association and NHS England, in which the BMA made clear that many practices would find it difficult to deliver the Covid vaccination programme this autumn, with a 25% fee reduction.

Responding to the news Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA’s GP Committee for England said: “During Covid, GPs and their practice teams demonstrated that they could deliver an effective world beating vaccination programme in challenging circumstances. Patients and GPs alike will despair that NHSE has announced substantial cuts to funding and resource of this national vaccination programme on the same day as news stories detail the arrival of a fresh Covid variant.

“At a time when we should be learning from history, particularly around the importance and value of protecting our patients and minimising hospital admissions this winter, it is disappointing that practices will be put in a position where they are no longer able to deliver this, though no fault of their own due to short-sighted cuts.

“The Covid vaccine delivery process is twice as long as administering ‘Flu jabs, and NHSE knows this. Our patients and communities need to be protected, and our practices resourced and supported to undertake this important work.”

August 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : NHS diagnostic plans will only increase GP workload without adequate funding, BMA warns [August 2023]

The press release issued by the BMA on 3 August 2023.

Responding to plans by NHS England to allow GP practices to directly order diagnostic checks, Dr Kieran Sharrock, acting chair of GPC England at the BMA, said:

“While we acknowledge NHS England’s efforts to tackle winter pressure demands, the notion that it can do so by increasing the GP workload is frankly counteractive. These kinds of fast-tracked diagnostic referrals come with the expectation that additional work, such as performing complex investigations not part of a normal GP service, will be done prior to referral and NHSE has provided no details on how already overstretched GPs will undertake the extra work required.

“Patient referral is a complex process, and many GPs report that their referrals are being returned or blocked by the advice and guidance system with demands for further investigations, treatments, information. GPs then must re-refer and this not only increases workload but causes further delays for patients. While NHSE suggest they want to enhance GP access to direct diagnosis and shift the workload from hospitals it makes no reference to how it plans to fund the new work that will now be placed on already overwhelmed general practice.

“Wanting to free up consultant’s time is sensible but to do so by overburdening another part of the health service is illogical. It’s time our politicians stop playing whack a mole with our NHS. The entire health service is struggling to cope with demand and the only way to fix the issues at hand is to provide the NHS with adequate funding. Only then will patients be able to receive the care that they deserve in good time.”

August 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : BMA responds to Rishi Sunak’s “ultimatum” to striking doctors [August 2023]

The press release issued by the BMA on 3 August 2023.

Responding to Rishi Sunak’s comments in today’s Daily Express, Dr Emma Runswick, BMA deputy chair of council, said:

“We could not agree more with the Prime Minister when he says that ‘Most doctors just want to get on with their life’s work, caring for patients.’ But they cannot do that without proper pay, and without a properly staffed and properly resourced NHS. For him to blame the ever rising waiting lists on NHS doctors’ and nurses’ demands for fair pay shows what a poor grasp he has of the origins of the crisis facing the NHS.

“Waiting lists stood at 7 million patients even before industrial action started this year. They stood at 4 million even before the pandemic. He cannot escape the fact that his government’s failure to properly staff the NHS has led to this disaster, however much he wants to scapegoat NHS workers. This is why doctors are taking industrial action: so that we don’t lose more medics to other countries like Australia and New Zealand that pay fairer wages.

“He says he wants to be fair and reasonable, but it is not fair or reasonable for doctors to have faced pay cuts of more than a third since 2008 and be facing another real terms pay cut this year. Nor would any serious economist agree that public sector pay rises fuel inflation, no matter how many times the Government repeats it.

“He says the Government cannot tackle waiting lists alone – he is right, it can’t – but his Government can provide the doctors who will help manage those lists with a credible pay offer. Mr Sunak is at least finally addressing us directly after months of ignoring our calls to talk. But calling an end to negotiations without having once stepped in the room with us is talking at us, not to us. And given that he has already seen the determination of doctors to keep up the fight for fair pay, that is profoundly irresponsible.

“Mr Sunak is right that he can’t address his waiting lists pledge alone: he is going to need to cooperate with doctors. Our door for talks is always open.”

August 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : DSIT to showcase innovative UK businesses at new headquarters [August 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology on 9 August 2023.

Organisations have been invited to showcase their innovations as part of the department’s plans to champion the work of UK industry and academia.
- The very best of British innovation, design, technology and science to be showcased in the heart of Whitehall
- Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) marks six-month anniversary with an open invite to businesses and organisations across the UK to exhibit at the department’s new headquarters from early 2024
- Showcase forms part of DSIT’s mission to build a pro-innovation culture across government as key to delivering on priority to grow the economy
Leading innovation firms, technology businesses and research organisations have today (9 August) been invited to showcase their innovations at the entrance to the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) headquarters, as part of the Department’s plans to champion innovation and the pioneering work of UK industry and academia.

The department is marking its six-month anniversary with an invite to businesses and organisations from across the country to exhibit within its new headquarters, giving their work prominence and visibility to ministers, businesses, government officials, and influential individuals who will visit the area.

It gives the department another opportunity to showcase the very best of British innovation, design, technology and science. Those selected to exhibit will be promoted across the department’s social media channels as well as at internal events, highlighting their work to the innovators and decision makers who are leading the push to cement the UK’s status as a science superpower.

Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

UK businesses, universities and research organisations are already world leaders in their fields, from life sciences and engineering biology to quantum computing and AI. To seize on the potential for science and technology to keep our nation secure, our people prosperous, and our planet healthy, it is essential we place this work at the very centre of what we do in government – and hosting them in our new headquarters demonstrates our commitment to working hand-in-hand with the sector while opening up one more avenue for collaboration.

These exhibitions will give us another opportunity to see first-hand how these technologies are improving the lives of everyone in the UK, and it will give those exhibiting a new platform to showcase their work, right in the heart of government.

The dedicated Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is the force behind the Prime Minister’s commitment to growing the economy, and to improving the lives of everyone in the UK through new discoveries that advance the health and prosperity of society whilst protecting our values both at home and abroad.

The government has set out its aim to be a science and technology superpower by 2030, to meet this ambition it has identified five technologies of tomorrow – quantum, AI, Engineering Biology, semiconductors and future telecoms. Together with life sciences, space, and green technologies, these technologies have been identified as most critical to the UK in the coming decades.

DSIT is celebrating its six-month anniversary since it was formed to deliver on the clear mission set by the Prime Minister, to ensure the UK is the most innovative economy in the world. During those six months, the department has launched the Science and Technology Framework, backed by over £370 million to boost investment in innovation, to bring the world’s best talent to the UK, and seize the potential of ground-breaking new technologies like AI. The AI Taskforce, backed by £100 million in government funding, was also launched to accelerate the UK’s generative AI sector and keep pace with rapid advances in these technologies.

Other highlights from the last six months include the 10-year national quantum strategy backed by £2.5 billion of public funding, and the International Technology Strategy which lays out our plan to support tech investment, encourage international collaboration, and strengthen the UK’s cyber security defences. More recently we announced up to £50 million of government investment in new UK Research Ventures Catalyst to encourage greater private and philanthropic backing for UK science, research and innovation.

The Department is due to move into its new headquarters in the estate known as the ‘Admiralty Buildings’ later this year, physically positioning science and technology at the core of Whitehall. The new offices will see all London-based DSIT officials located in the same building, as the beating heart of science and technology in Westminster.

The first exhibitions are expected to begin early in 2024 and interested participants will be asked to outline how they are helping the UK to cement its position as a science and technology superpower. They will also be asked to show how their organisation will deliver improved public services, create new better-paid jobs, and grow the economy. Each exhibit will be in place for around one month.

Businesses and organisations who are interested in exhibiting at our London headquarters, can contact exhibit@dsit.gov.uk for more information.
August 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The Syrian regime is failing to meet its chemical weapons obligations and is a serious threat to international security – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 August 2023.

Statement by Deputy Political Coordinator Tom Phipps at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

Thank you, President.

Let me begin by thanking Deputy High Representative Mr Ebo for his briefing and in particular Dr Katoub, not only for his briefing today, but also for his work responding to the horrific chemical attack in Ghouta in 2013 and for his ongoing efforts to fight impunity on behalf of all of the victims of chemical weapons.

Colleagues, Dr Katoub’s briefing is a reminder of why this issue deserves the Council’s ongoing attention.

In the decade since Syria acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention, internationally mandated organisations have confirmed that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons against its own people on at least nine occasions.

As Dr Katoub said, there have been many more attacks.

The human impact of these attacks has been horrific – the UN Joint Investigative Mechanism and OPCW’s reports have provided undeniable and direct evidence of the Syrian state’s shocking track record of murdering its own civilians using chemical weapons.

We collectively owe it to the thousands of victims to pursue justice and hold those responsible for these crimes to account.

President, Syria continues to fail to meet its obligations under resolution 2118 and the Chemical Weapons Convention. Despite concerted efforts by the OPCW to get to the truth, Syria’s chemical weapon stockpile declaration is still not accurate.

Syria has failed to declare and destroy all its chemical weapons and continues to present a serious threat to regional as well as international security.

We therefore once again reiterate our calls on the Syrian regime to fulfil its obligations under the convention and under resolution 2118 and to engage meaningfully with the OPCW. It must fully declare and destroy all aspects of its chemical weapons programme.

It is our collective responsibility to defend and uphold the integrity of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the non-proliferation architecture, and the global consensus that these weapons should never be used.

Thank you.

August 9, 2023