Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Baroness Neville-Rolfe speech at Import Export Show [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 15 November 2023.

Speech delivered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, at the Import Export Show on 15 November 2023.

Good morning, everyone, it’s a pleasure to be here with you all today…

…and may I thank the Institute of Export for organising this: their inaugural Import Export Show.

We should be encouraging forums like this…

…forums where businesses can openly discuss the opportunities and the challenges of trading in the 21st Century.

As the Prime Minister has said, we are determined to take the long term decisions needed to change this country for the better.

The Government has been clear that we want the UK to have the most effective border in the world…

…and recently, the UK was presented with an opportunity to improve our borders…

…which resulted from two simultaneous events – Brexit and the rise of innovative technology.

Leaving the European Union presented us with an opportunity to scrutinise our entire trading system…

…not just how we organised trade deals, but the practicalities of that trading.

We wanted to design a system that was as minimally burdensome as possible without compromising our security.

At the same time, the computer systems and software we used for shipping and trading could be improved by emerging technology…

…all positive changes which could make trading smoother and more straightforward.

We are seizing this joint opportunity to improve everything about borders…

…not just what comes through them, but how those goods enter and leave our shores.

Of course this is just as much about building on what works already, as it is introducing innovations.

Just look at the last twelve months, we’ve traded four-hundred-and-thirty-two-billion pounds worth of goods…

…that’s more than ever before.

At the same time, any innovation we bring to our borders must recognise just how complex an operation the borders are…

…dozens of Government departments are involved…

…there’s over one hundred inspection points…

…thousands employed to keep the border safe…

…and tens of thousands more throughout the supply chain.

There are conflicting considerations…

…but we know that we must have a system that both encourages the free-flow of trade…

…and provides security from smuggling, weapons, drugs and plant and animal diseases.

I believe that we have struck that balance in our Border Target Operating Model.

It’s an integral part of the Government’s 2025 Border Strategy…

…and it is this Model which will make a lot of the aspirations in that Strategy a reality.

It both adheres to the Windsor Framework – ensuring that Northern Ireland benefits from the same VAT and duty rates as the rest of the UK…

…and it builds on Brexit freedoms to make trading more straightforward than ever before.

The new Model will use new technology to reduce paperwork for UK importers, saving businesses over five-hundred-million pounds a year…

…it will introduce a new global regime for security and biosecurity…

…as well as bring practical changes to the way trade is managed through our borders for the benefit of businesses and customers.

First, I will focus on safety.

We have all seen and heard the horror stories of when trade comes with some unforeseen risks attached to it.

Right now, many countries are dealing with the fall out of African Swine Fever…

…which is a blight not only on livestock but the livelihood of the international agricultural sector.

I witnessed with horror the foot and mouth outbreak at the turn of the century. That cannot be allowed to happen ever again.

But how do you police these risks?

Well, we want to support global trade and have one set of regulations for businesses importing into the UK…

…whether or not they’re from the European Union.

That’s why the Operating Model includes a new global risk-based model.

It focuses on what food and plant goods are actually at risk – what kind of products they are, and where the risk is geographically located…

…and assigns them a risk factor.

This replaces the old model of subjecting some products to costly, rigorous controls and checks that were overburdensome relative to their risk.

We will also be trialling an ambitious ‘trusted trader’ scheme for animal and plant products…

…where specific traders will provide guarantees and – through greater access to new data and technology – this will help form trusted relationships…

…all decreasing the burden on individual traders.

Our safety checks will not significantly hinder trade, nor will they add to inflation…

…in fact, our current modelling shows that the new Operating Model would have a negligible impact on food prices.

But what would have an impact is a major disease affecting our food and vegetables…

…I mentioned foot and mouth earlier – if that occurred today, it would have an impact of over thirteen-billion pounds.

That’s a cost we cannot take, and it’s a cost which our Operating Model will help avoid.

The second part of this work is being more strategic – using technology and new ways of working to streamline trade…

…and ensure that when goods are imported, that they are handled in an efficient way.

Technology is the foundation that the Operating Model is built on…

…and we’ll be using new tech to reduce the volume of paperwork for UK importers.

We have partnered with industry to test the whole border process…

…to see how we can use technology to cut costs and save time.

Whether that’s using ledger technology to ensure that everyone – from trader to border staff – are quite literally on the same page…

…or using GPS trackers on goods to ensure that anything lost becomes found.

We are also addressing the fundamentals of trade…

…as the new operating model will not only introduce new routes into Liverpool ports…

…but also help resolve delays in goods travelling through Heathrow.

We are also solving one of the most long-standing complaints that new traders have…

…that when they apply for licences or submit other trade data to the government, the system can be multifaceted, repetitive and, frankly, confusing.

That’s why we’re introducing the new UK Single Trade Window.

When fully operational, it will provide one digital gateway for users…

…one where they can provide all the data needed to trade, as well as apply for licences and authorisations for trusted trader schemes.

All of the changes I’ve described today will be introduced steadily throughout 2024.

It will begin at the end of January…

…with the introduction of health certification on imports of medium risk animal products…

…as well as plants, plant products…

…and high risk food and feed of non-animal origin from the European Union.

By the end of April, imports of sanitary and phytosanitary products from the rest of the world will benefit from the new risk based model.

And, by the end of October, safety and security declarations for EU imports will come in to force…

…as well as introducing a reduced need for data for imports.

Ladies and gentlemen, these are significant positive changes…

…and I believe we can look forward to this future with great confidence.

The Government wants nothing less than the most effective border in the world…

…one which embraces innovation to keep citizens and businesses healthy and robust.

I believe we can bring major benefits to our trading communities so well represented here today…

…and I look forward to working with you all to increase UK trade throughout the world.

Thank you very much.

24/11/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Defence Secretary will support UK industry and back firms globally [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 15 November 2023.

UK Defence firms will be championed as positive ambassadors for the UK, in the face of investment threats, the Defence Secretary has told industry leaders.
Commitment made to defend the industry from environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investors trying to immorally defund British defence.

Defence Secretary highlighted the importance of boosting exports and backing business as global champions for Britain.

Importance of delivering programmes on time and on budget emphasised.

UK Defence firms will be championed as positive ambassadors for the UK, in the face of investment threats, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has told industry leaders today.

Maintaining national security and the continued supply of cutting-edge equipment to British Armed Forces and allies were also highlighted in a meeting with key defence sector organisations held at the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in London.

The Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF) brought together senior government personnel with more than a dozen of the UK’s key defence suppliers. These ranged from UK SMEs and trade associations to some of the world’s largest international defence and aerospace companies, with experts convened from military domains covering everything from the ocean’s depths to outer space.

With global security challenges increasing, the forum, which convenes twice a year, was an invaluable opportunity to deepen ties between industry and government. It ensured the short, medium, and long-term plans of government and industry align around the collective objectives of equipping the UK’s Armed Forces and simultaneously deterring international adversaries.

Addressing this influential network, the Defence Secretary made clear he would always champion British industry, particularly in the face of concerns around ESG investing, ensuring they have the financing needed to maintain vital supplies to our Armed Forces and allies, keeping the country safe and protecting our way of life.

Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps said:

Investment in defence is the morally right thing to do, without which the atrocious activities of tyrants like Putin would go unchallenged and undeterred.

A strong UK defence industry is the bedrock of our national security, continuing the supply of equipment that our service personnel use to protect our nation, the weapons we need deter our enemies, and the ability to support our allies’ Armed Forces.

There is no doubt about the critical role that industry plays in our defence and that’s why I will back the firms that protect our nation and help us prosper.

The DSF Main is the primary collaborative forum for the Defence Secretary to engage with a range of senior leaders from across the UK defence sector on strategic issues of mutual interest. Key aims of the DSF include:

Creating a new and closer strategic alliance between the MOD and industry, delivering the ambitions set out in the recent Defence Command Paper Refresh.

Delivering more agile, secure, sustainable, and resilient supply chains by improving visibility of fragility and maximising opportunities for all suppliers, including SMEs.

Forging closer working on defence exports to champion British manufacturers on the global stage.

BAE Systems Chief Executive and DSF Co-Chair, Charles Woodburn said:

In today’s heightened global threat environment, it’s important for the UK’s defence industry and Government to come together to sustain our sovereign capability to deliver the equipment our armed forces need. Investment in our defence industry is vital to ensure our continued ability to support national security and economic prosperity.

Improving the way the government supports UK exports and growth opportunities was also high on the agenda. With more than 200,000 British jobs supported through the Defence industry, the sector is crucial to the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, while also furthering international opportunities for the sale of high-quality British technologies and services to our allies.

Kevin Craven, Chief Executive, ADS said:

Our defence industrial base is a vital pillar of our society, protecting our way of life. Our industry needs to be highly innovative, agile, and responsive to ongoing requirements.

The UK defence financial and operating environment must be grounded in a collaborative approach to strategic planning, that enables the development of the technologies of tomorrow. ADS is a proud convenor of industry, working tirelessly with the DSF and Ministry of Defence to secure UK strategic advantage.

The Defence Secretary also outlined the importance of delivery, stating that while he would be holding the Department to account to avoid unnecessary programme delays and costs, industry partners must play their part in meeting agreed timelines and budgets.
22/11/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Putin fears the emergence of Ukraine as a modern, democratic state: UK statement to the OSCE [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 November 2023.

UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says Putin’s regime has long sought to rewrite public memory and manipulate history.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine is a constant reminder to this Forum of the difficult and dangerous times in which we live. It is all the more tragic that a member of this Forum, Russia, has wilfully threatened security in the region through the illegal invasion of another nation state. This week, we were again confronted with the horrendous consequences of this war in which Russian strikes on Kherson have killed further civilians, including a three-month old baby.

As Russia prepares for its third wave of assaults around Avdiivka, it does so following heavy rain in the area, where the ground has become muddy and in which conditions are difficult to operate. Russia continues to demonstrate a lack of regard for the lives of its own soldiers. In the face of a resolved Ukrainian defence, we can expect further Russian losses on top of the quarter of million casualties Russia has already sustained in this misguided military venture.

Conversely, the Ukrainian military has registered successes in Luhansk striking Russian SA-21 long-range Surface-to-Air Missile launchers, exposing Russia’s struggle to respond to modern precision strike weapons. Ukraine has damaged a newly-built Russian naval corvette in Kerch. It has also diminished Russia’s ability to replenish its forces through the destruction of Russian landing craft, containing armoured vehicles, off the western coast of Crimea. At the same time, Ukraine continues to exert pressure on Russian forces by conducting operations on the left bank of the Dnipro. Ukrainian’s strategic gains stand in stark contrast to Russia’s woeful performance on the battlefield.

Symbolic of Russia’s isolation on the global stage, Russia has turned to other authoritarian regimes in North Korea and Iran for the provision of weapons, violating UN Security Council resolutions including resolutions Russia itself voted for.

We condemn Russia’s repeated violations of international law, including the UN Charter. Russia’s illegal invasion of another sovereign state is also in direct contravention of the Helsinki Final Act and the Budapest Memorandums on Security Assurances.

Madam Chair, Putin’s regime has long sought to rewrite public memory and manipulate history. And has been seeking to persecute and silence all those, including Russian individuals and organisations, that for over 30 years have sought to expose Soviet era atrocities. Most recently, Putin has issued a revisionist history published as a collection of documents entitled, “On the historical unity of the Russians and Ukrainians”. It is a backward-looking narrative because Putin fears the emergence of Ukraine as a modern, democratic state. The United Kingdom and its allies will work to counter such efforts at disinformation. Our resolute conviction and intensity in our support to Ukraine will not falter. We will continue to enhance Ukraine’s long-term security and strengthen its defence while Ukraine fights to regain territory. In the face of Russia’s self-inflicted strategic calamity, we will stand with Ukraine until it prevails. Thank you.

22/11/2023
PRESS RELEASE : William Hogarth’s satirical painting ‘Taste in High Life’ at risk of leaving the UK [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 15 November 2023.

A temporary export bar has been placed on William Hogarth’s painting Taste in High Life.
The painting is valued at almost £2.5 million

Export bar will allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the painting for the nation

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay has placed an export bar on William Hogarth’s satirical painting ‘Taste in High Life’.

The work, valued at £2,468,000 (plus VAT of £93,600 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution), is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found to acquire the work for the nation.

The 18th-century painting provides an important insight into public sentiment during the period, notably the ambivalence and tension that emerged with Britain’s growing commercial and consumer culture, as well as female patronage of the arts.

‘Taste in High Life’ holds an important position in Hogarth’s body of work, helping to elevate satire in the painted form to a high art. Hogarth became prominent in the 18th century for his satirical commentary on the upper classes, which would also feature in his celebrated series ‘Marriage A-la-Mode’.

The painting was commissioned by Mary Edwards (1705–43), an English heiress said to be the richest woman in England at the time. The painting is based on her own experience of high society and is therefore shaped by her personal disenchantment with fashionable life, particularly expressing her scathing attitude to contemporary tastes.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

Hogarth’s Taste in High Life provides us with extraordinary insights into eighteenth-century society with his famously biting satirical edge.

As one of Britain’s most celebrated artists, it is right that a UK buyer has the opportunity to purchase this work so it can continue to be studied and enjoyed as an important part of our history.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest.

Committee Member Mark Hallett said:

William Hogarth’s Taste in High Life is a pivotal picture in the career of one of Britain’s greatest artists, prefiguring as it does the extraordinary achievement of his famous Marriage A-la-Mode series, now housed in London’s National Gallery. The picture is also the product of the unique, highly collaborative relationship Hogarth enjoyed with one of eighteenth-century Britain’s most important female patrons of the arts, Mary Edwards. Packed with the satirical details so closely associated with the artist, and at the same time expressive of the wider anxieties and prejudices of the Georgian age, it is a picture that fully deserves to stay in the UK and to receive further investigation and research.

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the painting met the first and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life and its outstanding significance for the study of art history, the history of 18th-century British cultural life, and female patronage.

The decision on the export licence application for the painting will be deferred for a period ending on 14 March 2024 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the painting at the recommended price of £2,468,000 (plus VAT of £93,600 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for six months.

Notes to editors:

Lord Parkinson discussed the Waverley criteria in a speech.

Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the painting should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk.

Details of the painting are as follows: William Hogarth (1697-1764) Taste in High Life 1742. Oil on canvas, 63.5 x 76.1 cm. Inscribed ‘THE / MODE / 1742’ on the pedestal of Venus. The work is unglazed and appears to be in fair and sound condition.

Provenance: Commissioned from the artist by Mary Edwards (1705-1743) for £60; her sale, Cock’s, London, 28-29 May 1746, lot 49 (as ‘Mr. Hogarth, Taste a-la-Mode’), 5 guineas; bought by Mr. Birch; with John Birch, surgeon of Essex Street, Strand, by 1782 until 1814 or later; the Revd. Robert Gwilt (1811-1889) by 1843; sold by his executors, Christie’s, London, 13 July 1889, lot 95, 215 guineas; bought by Davis for C. Fairfax Murray; Charles Fairfax Murray (1849-1919); Louis Huth (1821-1905), 28 Hertford Street, Mayfair and Possingworth Park, East Sussex; his sale (‘Catalogue of the Highly Important Collection of Fine Pictures and Drawings of Louis Huth, Esq. Deceased’), Christie’s, London, 20 May 1905, lot 104, 1,250 guineas; bought by Agnew, on behalf of Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh; thence by descent; Old Master & 19th Century Paintings Evening Auction, Sotheby’s, London, 5 July 2023, lot.34.

The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Its strategic vision in Let’s Create is that, by 2030, England should be a country in which the creativity of everyone is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. ACE invests public money from the government and the National Lottery to support the sector and deliver the vision. Following the Covid-19 crisis, ACE developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90 per cent coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. It is also one of the bodies administering the government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund.
22/11/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda [November 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 November 2023.

The Prime Minister spoke to the President Paul Kagame of Rwanda this morning.

While he welcomed the Court’s confirmation that the principle of sending illegal migrants to a safe third country is lawful, the Prime Minister expressed his disappointment at the overall outcome and recognised that there are challenges we must overcome.

He thanked President Kagame for his Government’s work over the last 15 months and the extra assurances we have already agreed as they said they would continue to work together to address the Court’s concerns.

Both leaders reiterated their firm commitment to making our migration partnership work and agreed to take the necessary steps to ensure this is a robust and lawful policy and to stop the boats as soon as possible.

22/11/2023
PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Cameroon [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 November 2023.

The UK delivered a statement during Cameroon’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council.
Thank you, Mr President,

The United Kingdom welcomes the government’s publication of an annual human rights report as an important way to raise awareness and increase transparency.

We encourage the government to further strengthen this reporting, including by providing more detail on efforts taken to hold perpetrators to account.

We recommend that Cameroon:

Develop effective measures to prevent and address acts of violence, including attacks and threats against civilians, medical personnel or patients, particularly in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2286.

Introduce stronger legal protections for persons in marginalised and vulnerable situations, including by reinforcing legislation to ensure accountability for acts of violence against persons belonging to ethnic minority groups.

Amend the 2014 Law on the Suppression of Acts of Terrorism to align it with international human rights standards and guidelines issued by the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism.

Thank you.
22/11/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister’s statement on Supreme Court judgement [November 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 November 2023.

The Prime Minister issued a statement following the Supreme Court’s judgement on the Rwanda plan.

We have seen today’s judgment and will now consider next steps.

This was not the outcome we wanted, but we have spent the last few months planning for all eventualities and we remain completely committed to stopping the boats.

Crucially, the Supreme Court – like the Court of Appeal and the High Court before it – has confirmed that the principle of sending illegal migrants to a safe third country for processing is lawful. This confirms the Government’s clear view from the outset.

Illegal migration destroys lives and costs British taxpayers millions of pounds a year. We need to end it and we will do whatever it takes to do so.

Because when people know that if they come here illegally, they won’t get to stay then they will stop coming altogether, and we will stop the boats.

22/11/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Protections for families and crack down on rogue landlords [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 15 November 2023.

Private landlords banned from having ‘no DSS’ and ‘no children’ policies and Decent Homes Standard introduced in the private rented sector for the first time.

Changes put forward to the Renters (Reform) Bill to crack down on rogue landlords, protect vulnerable residents and improve the decency and safety of homes for millions of tenants are being introduced today (15 November).

The Government has tabled amendments to make it illegal for landlords and agents to have blanket bans on renting to people who receive benefits or who have children – ensuring families aren’t discriminated against when looking for a home to rent and protecting the most vulnerable. Landlords will still be able to carry out referencing checks to make sure a tenancy is affordable and have the final say on who they let their property to. This will apply to England and Wales and will be extended to Scotland via a further amendment at Report Stage.

Alongside this, a Decent Homes Standard (DHS) will be applied to the private rented sector for the first time. The new standard will set a clear bar for what tenants should expect from their home ensuring it is safe, warm and decent. It will be set following further consultation and will help to meet the target of reducing non-decency in rented homes by 50% by 2030.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove said:

Everyone deserves a home that is safe, warm and decent. But far too many live in conditions that fall well below what is acceptable. As part of our Long-Term Plan for Housing we are improving housing standards across the entire private rented sector, while also ending discrimination against vulnerable people and families who are being unfairly denied access to a home.

Local Authorities will be given new enforcement powers to require landlords to make properties decent, with fines up to £30,000 or a banning order in the worse cases. Tenants will also be able to claim up to 24 months rent back through rent repayment orders up from 12 previously.

Councils will also be given stronger powers to investigate landlords who rent substandard homes, providing them with the tools they need to identify and take enforcement action against the criminal minority and help drive them out of the sector.

The amendments will now be considered at Committee stage for the Bill in the House of Commons and are a vital next step in delivering a fairer system for both tenants and landlords. The changes will support the majority of good landlords by making existing rules clearer and more enforceable.

The wider reforms in the Bill are a once-in-a-generation change to housing laws to ensure the 11 million tenants across England will benefit from safer, fairer and higher quality homes. This includes a ban on ‘no fault’ evictions to protect tenants and give them the security to call out poor standards without fear of losing their home. It also gives tenants a legal right to ask for a pet and creates a new Ombudsman to resolve issues with their landlords more quickly.

The reforms are part of the Government’s long-term plan for housing that includes speeding up the planning system and reducing delays to ensure we can build the homes that communities want and need.

22/11/2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK attends first CPTPP meeting since signing up to the massive Indo-Pacific trade bloc in July [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 15 November 2023.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch in California for her first in-person meeting with CPTPP countries since she was in New Zealand to sign the deal in July.
Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch in California for her first in-person meeting with CPTPP countries since she was in New Zealand to sign the deal in July

British business welcome membership for supporting jobs, boosting sales and bringing economic growth

News comes as the Bill implementing CPTPP starts passage through Parliament and British businesses gear up to take advantage of opportunities the UK’s membership presents

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch is in San Francisco today [Wednesday 15 November] to meet Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Ministers in-person for the first time since she was in New Zealand to sign the deal on the UK’s membership in July.

CPTPP is a vast global free trade area consisting of 11 countries, home to 500 million people, across Asia Pacific and the Americas, and now the UK. Once the UK joins the group, CPTPP will be worth £12 trillion – 15% of global GDP – and over 99% of UK goods exports to CPTPP countries will face zero tariffs.

The meeting coincides with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference taking place in San Francisco at which world leaders from across the region including President Biden will be present.

The news comes after the government introduced the Bill needed to bring the CPTPP deal into force to parliament as part of the King’s Speech last week.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said:

I’m delighted to be here in San Francisco, meeting my CPTPP counterparts and advancing Britain’s rightful place on the world stage.

As CPTPP’s first ever new member, and the only European member, we are linking the UK to some of the world’s most dynamic economies, giving British businesses first-mover advantage in some of the fastest-growing markets in the world, and supporting jobs and economic growth right across the country.

While in San Francisco, the Secretary of State will also meet with Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, to progress talks on a UK-California Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will aim to boost trade and investment and reach our net zero targets. California would be the 5th biggest economy in the world if it were a country, presenting huge opportunities for UK businesses. The meeting comes just a day after she signed a UK-Florida MoU to boost trade and investment.

UK companies are already thriving in CPTPP markets and planning to expand further once the trade deal is in force.

UK geocoding app what3word’s groundbreaking location technology divides the world into a grid of 3×3 metre squares, each with a unique combination of three words: a what3words address. The tech is being used all around the world, from search and rescue operations to deliveries in Vietnam, and car navigation in Japan.

The business believes the UK’s membership of CPTPP will help increase uptake across the automotive, logistics, e-commerce, and emergency services sectors in member countries.

What3words Business Director for APAC Joe Poynter said:

International expansion and strong cross-border relationships are at the heart of our journey at what3words. It’s how we’ll get everyone, everywhere using and interacting with our technology. We’re thrilled to be part of this dynamic alliance to enhance our operations across the CPTPP member nations and beyond.

British premium chocolate producer and cacao grower Chocolat Madagascar also predicts CPTPP will enable it to grow in new markets, Australia and Singapore, and existing markets, Japan, Canada and New Zealand.

CPTPP countries account for 15% of its current sales but it forecast this will grow to 30% in the next three years thanks to the UK’s CPTPP membership reducing import duties to zero, giving the business a new competitive edge.

Director at Chocolat Madagascar Neil Kelsall said:

The CPTPP agreement has come at a fantastic time for Chocolat Madagascar, as we strategically look to embrace the new opportunities in countries like Australia and Singapore. We are confident that these emerging markets will boost our sales volumes and help the company to grow.

Becoming part of CPTPP will support economic growth and jobs in every region and nation of the UK. Key benefits include:

Eligibility for zero tariffs on more than 99% of UK goods exports to CPTPP countries, including additional access on cheese, chocolate, gin, whisky, and cars.

Potentially cheaper prices for British consumers thanks to reduced tariffs on high-quality imported goods like fruit juices from Chile and chocolate from Mexico.

Less red tape for UK services exporters, who make up almost 55% of UK exports to CPTPP.

Flexible ‘rules of origin’ which allow British companies to trade more freely across the bloc.

Modern rules for digital trade across all sectors which could make exporting cheaper, simpler, and more competitive.

Background

The CPTPP meeting is taking place on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in San Francisco.

To bring this agreement into force, the following must take place:

Parliament will scrutinise the deal under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act.

The Trade (CPTPP) Bill has to be agreed by Parliament.

Necessary secondary legislation has to be passed by Parliament to make the changes required to our procurement regime to meet the terms of the agreement.

In line with our commitment to transparency and scrutiny, the government:

Published the full text as soon as it was signed, along with a full independently scrutinised impact assessment.

Ensured the Trade and Agriculture Commission, a panel of independent experts, had over four months to report on the agreement. The Trade & Agriculture Commission’s report on the CPTPP is expected at the end of November.

International treaties are negotiated and then entered into force by the government. Treaties do not always require legislation to come into force, but on some occasions changes to domestic law might be needed to implement a trade deal.

In this instance, the UK is already largely consistent with the CPTPP agreement. CPTPP preserves the right to regulate to protect human, animal and plant life and health. The UK will continue to uphold our high standards in all our trade agreements, including CPTPP. Decisions on these standards remain a matter for the UK and will be made separately from any trade agreements.
22/11/2023
PRESS RELEASE : New Government Planner to help thousands of disabled university students into work [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 15 November 2023.

Hundreds of thousands of disabled university and higher education students are set to benefit from a new Government planner to help ease their transition into work.
- New Adjustment Planner to be rolled out to all universities and higher education colleges across UK
- The planner collects key information about a student’s adjustment needs which can be easily shared with prospective employers
- Trial results show disabled students using the planner are more confident entering employment
Hundreds of thousands of disabled university and higher education students are set to benefit from a new Government planner to help ease their transition into work.

Following a successful pilot at several top universities, the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Adjustment Planner will be rolled out to all students in higher education in time for the next academic year.

Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said:

“Searching for a job post-university as a disabled student can be stressful but our new Adjustment Planner has been proven to make that process easier, helping more disabled people to start, stay and succeed in work.

“I am delighted this is now being rolled out to higher education institutions across the UK, removing barriers to employment and helping more disabled people reach their full potential.”

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

“Ensuring that people with disabilities have access to the same opportunities to climb the ladder of opportunity is crucial if we are to build a world-class skills nation that benefits everyone.

“As a longstanding champion of social justice, I am delighted that disabled people will now be able to access Adjustment Passports across all higher education institutions. No matter what region or sector, disabled people can feel confident and secure they will be supported both during their studies and when they enter the workplace.”

The voluntary planner will collate the relevant needs of students which can then be simply passed on to employers – negating the need for repeated assessments and conversations for adjustments such as specific desks and chairs, assistive software or arranging travel to the workplace.

The planner will also reduce the need for an Access to Work assessment and enable all students exiting higher education to benefit from the scheme faster. This will ensure disabled people have the equipment they need to work effectively.

The planner also contains helpful advice on what types of funding and government support is available to help employers unlock the potential of millions of disabled people across the UK.

Professor Deborah Johnston, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at London South Bank University (LSBU), said:

“Making the transition from education to the workplace is never easy and for students with a disability it can be even more difficult. Conversations around disability can often be misunderstood by employers and those with a disability can felt frustrated by the system they face which can act as a barrier to employment.

“The Adjustments Planner pilot scheme has overwhelmingly shown that disabled students feel more confident that their needs will be understood and met by their new employers with the planner in place.  The new Adjustments Planner goes a long way to improving the transition from education to the workplace and ensures those with a disability are given the correct support they need.”

The scheme was initially piloted at the University of Wolverhampton, Manchester Metropolitan University and King’s College London. Surveys of disabled students at these sites later showed overwhelmingly positive feedback from students and staff.

Universities Disabilities Access Ambassador, Geoff Layer, said: “I welcome this initiative as it is a key step forward in enhancing the graduate employment opportunities for disabled students.

“The research that was undertaken by the Disabled Student Commission clearly highlighted the need for such interventions to secure greater inclusivity in the workplace.”
22/11/2023