UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK shoots for the stars as space-based solar power prepares for lift-off [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK shoots for the stars as space-based solar power prepares for lift-off [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 13 June 2023.

    London Tech Week will see Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps announce £4.3 million government funding to develop cutting-edge technology.

    • Leading UK universities and tech companies receive multi-million pound government investment to drive forward innovation in rapidly emerging sector
    • space-based solar power collects energy from the Sun using panels on satellites and beaming it safely back to earth
    • huge potential to boost the UK’s energy security, Grant Shapps will tell London Tech Week during keynote speech today

    The UK’s space-based solar power industry is preparing for lift off thanks to a multi-million government investment to develop the cutting-edge technology.

    In a speech at London Tech Week today, Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps will announce the leading UK universities and technology companies receiving a share of £4.3 million government funding to drive forward innovation in the sector.

    Spaced-based solar power collects energy from the Sun using panels on satellites and beaming it safely back to earth with wireless technology.

    The winning projects include Cambridge University, who will develop ultra-lightweight solar panels for the satellites that can function in the high-radiation conditions of space, and Queen Mary University in London, who are working on a wireless system to enable the solar power collected in space to be transferred to earth.

    This technology – which is in the early stages of development – has huge potential to boost the UK’s energy security, reduce the need for fossil fuels and drive down household bills by providing solar power all year round, as the Sun is visible for over 99% of the time.

    An independent study in 2021, found that space-based solar power could generate up to 10GW of electricity a year by 2050, a quarter of the UK’s current electricity demand. It could create a multi-billion pound industry, with 143,000 jobs across the country – supporting one of the Prime Minister’s priorities to grow the economy.

    The UK is among several countries, including Japan and United States, committed to the development of space-based solar power. Earlier this month, scientists at the California Institute of Technology claimed to have achieved a world-first by successfully transmitting solar power to Earth from space.

    Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Grant Shapps said:

    I want the UK to boldly go where no country has gone before – boosting our energy security by getting our power directly from space.

    We’re taking a giant leap by backing the development of this exciting technology and putting the UK at the forefront of this rapidly emerging industry as it prepares for launch.

    By winning this new space race, we can transform the way we power our nation and provide cheaper, cleaner and more secure energy for generations to come.

    The 8 projects to be awarded funding from the government’s Space Based Solar Power Innovation Competition, part of the flagship £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, are as follows:

    • the University of Cambridge is receiving over £770,000 to develop ultra-lightweight solar panels that can survive long periods in high-radiation environments like the conditions in space. This will help increase the lifetime of these satellites, improve energy yields and lower the cost per unit of energy
    • Queen Mary University in London will receive over £960,000 to develop a wireless power transmission system with high efficiency over a long range, to support the technology to beam solar power from the satellites back to Earth
    • MicroLink Devices UK Ltd in Port Talbot, South Wales, has been awarded over £449,000 to develop the next generation of lightweight, flexible solar panels, which could be used for solar satellites
    • the University of Bristol is receiving over £353,000 to produce a simulation of solar space wireless power transfer capability to explore the possibilities of this technology, and provide further evidence on the performance, safety, and reliability of space based solar
    • Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd in Didcot has been awarded over £999,000 for an experiment to test the electronical steering and beam quality of its space satellite antenna technology.  The company are receiving over £424,000 for another project to study how to advance commercial space-based solar power that can provide a reliable source of electricity for the UK
    • Imperial College London is receiving over £295,000 for a study to assess the key benefits and impacts of space solar, including how solar energy from space could be integrated into the electricity grid alongside other low-carbon energy sources
    • EDF Energy R&D UK Centre Ltd will receive over £25,000 for a study to improve knowledge of the value of introducing space based solar power into the UK’s grid

    The UK is already a world-leader in renewable technologies, including the world’s 4 largest wind farms, and more than 99% of the country’s solar power capacity has been installed since 2010 – enough to power over 4 million homes.

    Building on this momentum, the government aims to make space solar a new clean energy industry for the UK, investing in its early-stage development with the £4.3 million funding announced today, including £3.3 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and £1 million from the UK Space Agency.

    This new industry builds on historical links between space technology and the development of solar power as a clean energy source. It is bringing together the UK’s space and energy industries, with the nation’s leading researchers and entrepreneurs in these sectors joining forces to realise the transformative potential of space-based solar power.

    Dr Mamatha Maheshwarappa, Payload Systems Lead at the UK Space Agency, said:

    Space technology and solar energy have a long history – the need to power satellites was a key driver in increasing the efficiency of solar panels which generate electricity for homes and businesses today.

    There is significant potential for the space and energy sectors to work together to support the development of space-based solar power, and the UK Space Agency has contributed £1 million to these innovative projects to help take this revolutionary concept to the next level.

    Professor Xiadong Chen of the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) Antennas & Electromagnetics Research Laboratory said:

    QMUL has been world- leading in the application of radio technology for industrial applications since the laboratory was set up in 1968.

    This NZIP grant gives us the opportunity to extend our work to explore how the latest microwave technology can be used to develop cost-effective solutions to deliver net-zero using the abundant solar energy resources found in outer space.

    We look forward to working with the UK space industry and others to develop solutions that ultimately will be of great benefit to mankind.

    Frank Schoofs, technical lead for the Satellite Applications Catapult’s projects, said:

    We are thrilled to build on the success of our SBSP Enablers project with 2 projects to advance the CASSIOPeiA architecture with our partners in the supply chain.

    These transformative projects within the SBSP Innovation portfolio will play a pivotal role in driving the realisation of SBSP forward, propelling the UK towards the achievement of our ambitious net zero goals.

    We are incredibly excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and the positive impact SBSP will have on our sustainable energy landscape.

    Professor Goran Strbac, Imperial College London, said:

    The core objective of our work is to assess the role and value of the SBSP technologies in supporting cost effective transition to secure zero-carbon energy future in the UK.

    The NZIP funding is enabling us to enhance our analytical modelling tools to analyse quantitatively:
    (a) the whole-system benefits of the emerging SBSP technology designs
    (b) benefits of the ability to transport SBSP energy to different locations in different times
    (c) cost and benefits of SBSP in the operation of future low-inertia power system and
    (d) the impact of the grid reliability on the security of the energy supplied by SBSP.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Boris Johnson Appointed to Three Hundreds of Chiltern [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Boris Johnson Appointed to Three Hundreds of Chiltern [June 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 12 June 2023.

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson to be Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Nigel Adams Appointed to Manor of Northstead [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Nigel Adams Appointed to Manor of Northstead [June 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 12 June 2023.

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Nigel Adams to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Climate and Tech investment to supercharge UK-India development partnership ahead of G20 meeting [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Climate and Tech investment to supercharge UK-India development partnership ahead of G20 meeting [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 June 2023.

    International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell is in India for the G20 and to announce new climate and tech partnerships.

    • announcement of new climate and tech partnerships to benefit all by tackling global challenges, as Development Minister Andrew Mitchell attends the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting in Varanasi today (Monday)
    • he will join India and G20 partners in calling for reinvigorated efforts to to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
    • the new UK support includes funding for a tech start-up focussed on sustainable agriculture, including through growing vegetables in an environmentally-friendly way

    International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell is in India for the G20 starting today (Monday) – and to boost UK-India cooperation on development including through climate and tech partnerships.

    He will reinforce at the gathering in Varanasi how the UK’s partnerships and investments are having a multiplier effect in tackling the biggest shared challenges of today – including climate change, poverty and food insecurity.

    The G20 Development Ministerial meeting in Varanasi is laying the groundwork to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals ahead of the G20 Leader’s Summit in New Delhi this September.

    At the G20, the UK emphasised the need to redouble global efforts to tackle the climate crisis and shocks facing the most vulnerable countries demonstrating our position as a development leader set out earlier this year.

    New UK programmes announced in India include an investment of £10 million in Avaana Fund, a women-led climate-tech fund which supports innovative businesses to develop solutions to climate change and create jobs for women in sectors such as clean energy, energy storage and agriculture.

    An investment of £12 million from the UK government-supported Neev II fund will go to Nutrifresh, an Agri-Tech start-up enterprise focused on making agriculture more sustainable by growing vegetables in an environmentally friendly way.

    Yesterday (Sunday), Minister Mitchell visited the Chakr Innovation research lab in Delhi, which is developing cutting-edge tech to tackle climate challenges.

    The UK-supported lab is now developing innovative batteries for e-vehicles which do not need charging infrastructure and are fully recyclable, providing a cleaner and safer alternative to older lithium tech. The lab has previously developed devices that capture pollution-causing emissions and convert it to pigment for black inks and paints.

    Targeted investments like these play a central role in tackling climate change and supporting sustainable development. They improve access to clean energy, create jobs and boost economic growth, all of which are vital to ending poverty.

    UK Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell said:

    We commend India for putting development and the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable at the heart of its G20 Presidency. The UK is committed to working with G20 partners to tackle the climate crisis and reduce poverty.

    The UK’s new investments in India will deepen our collaboration, underlining the UK’s focus on mutually beneficial partnerships. Make no mistake: these investments benefit the British taxpayer while delivering world-changing solutions. I am proud that the UK is supporting such visionary and innovative endeavours that are needed to achieve development progress across the globe.

    The investments will strengthen the UK’s trading relationship in the region and help drive growth – one of the government’s five priorities

    Christina Scott, Acting British High Commissioner to India, said:

    The investments highlight the UK’s commitment to delivering the 2030 Roadmap – a partnership that delivers for both our countries.

    As set out in the UK’s International Development Strategy, we are focused on delivering clean and green infrastructure and creating opportunities for women and girls.

    Further Information

    • Minister Andrew Mitchell’s 2-day (11 to 12 June) visit to India will include engagements in Delhi and Varanasi
    • the 2030 Roadmap for India-UK future relations was launched in 2021. Since then, significant progress has been made, including on health collaboration, advancing the transition to clean energy, cyber-security cooperation and the expansion of our defence and security partnership
    • the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor British International Investment helps to solve the biggest global development challenges by investing flexible capital to support private sector growth and innovation.  British Investment Partnership work with India towards green transition, investing in sustainable agriculture, reducing the pressure on natural resources and creating new jobs
    • The Neev II fund invests in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that focus on limiting and increasing resilience to climate and environmental changes and are aiding India in meeting its carbon emissions reduction targets by 2030
  • PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State announces Chair of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State announces Chair of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 12 June 2023.

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has appointed The Rt Hon Lord Turnbull as Chair of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry.

    In February, the Secretary of State announced the government’s intention to establish an independent statutory inquiry into the preventability of the Omagh Bombing. The Real IRA-perpetrated atrocity in August 1998 killed 29 people and two unborn children, and injured 220 others.

    The Inquiry will be established under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath.

    Lord Turnbull has had a distinguished judicial career in Scotland, serving most recently in Scotland’s Supreme Courts. His appointment to the role of Chair of the Omagh Inquiry follows a recommendation made by the Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales, in conjunction with his counterparts across the rest of the UK.

    Confirming the announcement via a written ministerial statement to Parliament, Mr Heaton-Harris said:
    “Lord Turnbull’s long-standing judicial career and his previous experience of working on terrorism cases will provide the highest levels of knowledge and professionalism. I have no doubt that Lord Turnbull will bring to the Inquiry the required rigour, independence, and impartiality, and I am grateful to him for accepting this important job.”

    Lord Turnbull said:
    “I am honoured to be appointed to chair this important Inquiry. I am very conscious of the devastation brought to the lives of so many by the atrocity which took place in Omagh in August 1998. I understand the determination of those who lost family and loved ones, and of those who were themselves injured, or whose family members were injured, to learn whether the attack could have been prevented.
    “As soon as is practicable I shall be seeking views from those affected about the Inquiry. Once the Inquiry’s terms of reference are finalised I shall conduct an independent and robust Inquiry in order to establish the truth.”

    As required by the Inquiries Act 2005, the Secretary of State will now undertake a consultation exercise with the Chair on the proposed Terms of Reference for the Inquiry. These will be agreed and published in due course.

    Note to Editors:
    Lord Turnbull was appointed as a judge of the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary in Scotland in 2006. He was appointed to the Inner House of the Court of Session and Court of Appeal in 2016. Whilst in practice at the Scottish Bar he was instructed as one of the two Senior Counsel for the Crown in the Lockerbie Bombing case conducted at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands. For the five years preceding his appointment to the Bench he served as the Principal Crown Counsel for Scotland.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British Embassy Tripoli King’s Birthday Party 2023 – UK ambassador’s speech [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : British Embassy Tripoli King’s Birthday Party 2023 – UK ambassador’s speech [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 June 2023.

    His Majesty’s Ambassador to Libya Caroline Hurndall gave a speech at The King’s Birthday Party in Tripoli, Libya, on 11 June 2023.

    Your Excellencies, distinguished guests and colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.

    Thank you all for attending our King’s Birthday Party this evening – the first we have held to mark the official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III. And a special thank you to our sponsors: The Al-Sahl Holding Group, Gazelle Express Services, The Libya Cons tech group, and the British Arab Commercial Bank. Whose kind sponsorship has made this event possible.

    We are gathered today to celebrate an historic occasion. On the 6th of May 2023, His Majesty the King was crowned, the first British monarch to be crowned in 70 years.

    I was delighted that His Excellency Dr Almnefi represented Libya at the Coronation in a demonstration of the friendship between our 2 countries.

    Something you may not know is that the King has visited Libyan shores! In 1954, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth made her second-ever state visit, to Tobruk. His Majesty the King, along with his sister Princess Anne, came to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on board the Royal Yacht Britannia at Tobruk!

    Throughout his life, His Majesty has supported a wide variety of causes relating to the environment, rural communities, the arts, healthcare and education.

    His Coronation ceremony celebrated the issues most important to him: youth, community, diversity, and sustainability.

    I am pleased to do the same here tonight, with a display of artwork by Libyan artists. The pictures celebrate Libya’s beautiful landscape and rich diversity and communities. Do take a moment to have a look at them this evening.

    Indeed, as I reflect on nearly 2 years as the British Ambassador to Libya, one of the things I have most enjoyed is meeting Libyans from different communities around the country.

    I have been privileged to visit many different areas, from Tripoli to Misrata, to Sirte, to Benghazi, to Tobruk. And to see the rich jewels of Libya’s history, including Leptis Magna and Cyrene.

    I am proud that, since we formally re-opened the embassy 1 year ago, the UK and Libya have continued to strengthen our cooperation, touching the lives of Libyans across the whole country. This includes:

    • UK-Libyan bilateral trade in goods and services has reached £1.5 billion. We welcomed the first business delegation since 2014, as well as the launch of the first UK Trade Organisation to be based in Libya
    • UK-funded projects have cleared 8000 explosive remnants of war across Libya since 2021
    • 175 English teachers benefited from British Council programmes to train teachers of English, reaching approximately 18,000 students across Libya
    • 17 Libyan scholars studied in the UK last year, with their studies fully funded by the Chevening scholarship
    • the UK provided £12 million for Libya through the Education Cannot Wait programme, working with UNICEF, to support children impacted by conflict and instability to access basic education
    • and we welcomed the British ship HMS Albion, strengthening cooperation with the Libyan Navy and Military Medical Corps

    I am excited by the possibilities for the relationship between UK and Libya to strengthen and grow.

    Of course, our partnership will flourish best amidst political and economic stability and security. That requires Libya’s leaders to come together to pursue compromise and cooperation and deliver on the democratic aspirations of the Libyan people.

    I would like to take this opportunity to invite Libya’s leaders to be inspired, as I am, by King Charles who on the occasion of his Coronation, rededicated his life to the service of the people of his country. I hope they find themselves able to follow his example, and make the choices and compromises needed to put their people first.

    Finally, thank you again for joining us this evening to celebrate both the King’s coronation, and his official birthday. Please would you join me in raising a glass to His Majesty King Charles III

    Your Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen. The King.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Deadline for voluntary National Insurance contributions extended to April 2025 [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Deadline for voluntary National Insurance contributions extended to April 2025 [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Work and Pensions on 12 June 2023.

    The government is giving people more time to pay National Insurance contributions towards their State Pension.

    Taxpayers now have until 5 April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 that may increase their State Pension – an extension of nearly 2 years – the government announced today (12 June).

    Extending the voluntary National Insurance contributions deadline until 2025 means that people have more time to properly consider whether paying voluntary contributions is right for them and ensures no-one need miss out on the possibility of boosting their State Pension entitlements.

    The original deadline was extended to 31 July 2023 earlier this year, and tens of thousands of people have taken advantage to pay voluntary contributions to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) since then. The revised deadline is expected to enable tens of thousands more to do the same.

    Victoria Atkins, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

    People who have worked hard all their lives deserve to receive their State Pension entitlement, and filling gaps in National Insurance records can make a real difference.

    With the deadline extended, there is no immediate rush for people to complete gaps in their record and they will have more time to spread the cost.

    Laura Trott, Minister for Pensions, Department for Work and Pensions, said:

    I am pleased to see so many people taking steps to review their State Pension, which is why we have extended the deadline for customers to add extra years to their National Insurance record.

    This extension means thousands more people will have time to check their entitlement, and in many cases increase the amount they receive when they retire.

    The extension means that taxpayers have a longer period to enable them to afford to fill any gaps if they choose to do so. All relevant voluntary National Insurance contributions payments will be accepted at the rates applicable in 2022 to 2023 until 5 April 2025.

    Individuals who are planning for their retirement could benefit from the opportunity to complete gaps in their National Insurance record. Other people who may benefit include those who may have been:

    • employed but with low earnings
    • unemployed and not claiming benefits
    • self-employed who did not pay contributions because of small profits
    • living or working outside of the UK

    Paying voluntary contributions does not always increase your State Pension. Before starting the process, eligible individuals with gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 onwards should check whether they would benefit from filling those gaps.

    They can find out how to check their National Insurance record, obtain a State Pension forecast, decide if making a voluntary National Insurance contribution is worthwhile for them and their pension, and how to make a payment on GOV.UK.

    Taxpayers can check their National Insurance record through their Personal Tax Account.

    Further information

    The deadline for voluntary National Insurance Contributions from April 2006 up to April 2017 was originally 5 April 2023. In March, HMRC extended the deadline to 31 July 2023.

    The extension will mean men born after 5 April 1951 or women born after 5 April 1953 have more time to check their records and decide whether to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps they may have in their National Insurance record from April 2006.

    Individuals can usually only pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for the previous 6 tax years. The deadline is 5 April each year.

    More information on how their National Insurance record affects their State Pension.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Online Procedure Rule Committee launched [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Online Procedure Rule Committee launched [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 12 June 2023.

    Today (12 June 2023) the Ministry of Justice has launched a new Online Procedure Rule Committee to help guide judges, legal representatives and litigants through online court procedures.

    The Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC) will oversee the development of rules for online proceedings across the Civil, Family and Tribunals jurisdictions, as well as data and behavioural standards for online dispute resolution before proceedings are brought to a court or tribunal.

    The OPRC will be made up of 6 members, including the judicial heads of the civil, family and tribunal jurisdictions. Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, will Chair the committee.

    The other members are:

    • Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division
    • Sir Keith Lindblom, Senior President of Tribunals
    • Brett Dixon, legal expert
    • Sarah Stephens, expert in the lay advice sector
    • Gerard Boyers, technology expert

    Justice Minister, Lord Bellamy, said:

    It is vital that digital court processes are governed by rules more suited to evolving technologies, and the creation of this committee secures the government’s longstanding commitment to leading the way in making this a reality.

    The work of the OPRC will help make online court and tribunal services more accessible, encouraging more people to resolve their disputes early and helping them get the timely and specialist support they need.

    Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, said:

    I am delighted to be leading the new Online Procedure Rule Committee.

    The OPRC will oversee the creation of an end-to-end digital journey allowing people to resolve their disputes more quickly and efficiently. It will provide the necessary governance for the digital justice system as it develops.

    The Committee is being constituted under the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022.

    The OPRC will hold its first meeting on 26 June 2023.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government Minister urges pensioners to check eligibility for Pension Credit as Week of Action kicks off [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government Minister urges pensioners to check eligibility for Pension Credit as Week of Action kicks off [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 12 June 2023.

    Minister for Pensions Laura Trott is today calling on pensioners to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit ahead of the launch of a new “Invitation to Claim” trial.

    • DWP joins forces with charities and broadcasters to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and apply for Pension Credit.
    • Nearly 1.4 million pensioners in Britain receive Pension Credit, but many aren’t claiming this extra financial help.
    • To reach more pensioners, the DWP will be launching an “Invitation to Claim” mailing trial this summer
    • The average Pension Credit award is worth over £3,500 per year and it can open doors to other benefits.

    Pension Credit is worth over £3,500 a year on average and is designed to help with daily living costs for people over State Pension age and on a low income, though you do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it.

    The benefit tops up a person’s income to a minimum of £201.05 per week for single pensioners and to £306.85 for couples – or more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities.

    Currently, nearly 1.4 million pensioners in Britain receive Pension Credit and take-up is at the highest level since 2010. However, many are still not claiming this extra financial help.

    The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has also announced a forthcoming “Invitation to Claim” initiative which will see potentially eligible households who receive Housing Benefit across 10 local authorities in Britain sent letters encouraging them to apply for Pension Credit.

    Minister for Pensions Laura Trott MBE said:

    “We recognise the challenges some pensioners will be facing with the cost of living which is why, alongside driving down inflation, promoting Pension Credit is a priority.

    “During the Week of Action, we will be out and about spreading the word – and you can help too. Speak to your older loved ones about Pension Credit and get them to check if they could be eligible for this vital extra support, worth an average of £3,500 per year.”

    Even a small Pension Credit award can open doors to other benefits – including help with housing costs, council tax, heating bills, as well as up to £600 in extra Cost of Living payments later this year too.

    The Week of Action will see DWP joining forces with charities, stakeholders, broadcasters, and a whole range of partners to highlight the help available and encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and apply.

    Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, said:

    “It’s a tragedy that up to a million low income pensioners who’ve paid into the system for years are missing out on what can be a crucial financial top up.

    “And even those only due thruppence from it should still claim as Pension Credit is the key gateway benefit that opens the door to many other entitlements – including the remaining £600 cost of living support, council tax reductions, free TV licences (if age over 75) dental and optical support and more.

    “Any single pensioner earning under roughly £220 a week, or pension couple earning under £320 should check online or call the pension credit helpline just in case you may be due.”

    The DWP continues to work with stakeholders and others to raise awareness of Pension Credit, with a recent push for pensioners to apply before 19 May 2023 to receive the first £301 Cost of Living payment resulting in a 171% spike in claims over the two-week period before the deadline – over 20,000 claims.

    During the Week of Action, the DWP and its partners will be tackling some of the myths that may stop people applying, such as how having savings, a pension or owning a home are not necessarily barriers to receiving Pension Credit.

    Pension Credit can be claimed by phone and online, ensuring that older people can apply safely and easily, wherever they are. The online Pension Credit calculator is also on hand to help pensioners check if they’re likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive. Pension Credit can also be claimed by post.

    Additional information:

    • Up to an estimated 850,000 eligible households are not claiming Pension Credit, with up to £1.7 billion of available Pension Credit going unclaimed.
    • The online Pension Credit calculator helps people find if they’re eligible for Pension Credit and how much they could get. Further information, including on how to claim, can be found here: Pension Credit: Overview. People can also claim by phone on 0800 99 1234. For extra resources for stakeholders and businesses, the department has also produced a Stakeholder Toolkit

    All State Pension recipients continue to receive reminders about Pension Credit in the post as part of the Department’s annual uprating communications.

    • The DWP’s “Invitation to Claim” trial later this summer will involve DWP sending letters to household identified via Housing Benefit data as being most likely to be entitled to Pension Credit and encouraging pensioners to contact DWP and make a claim.

    The ten following local areas have been selected to ensure a representative sample of urban, rural, regional and national areas:

    • Eastbourne
    • Teignbridge
    • Pendle
    • Charnwood
    • Vale of White Horse
    • Redcar and Cleveland
    • Craven
    • Harrow
    • Powys
    • West Lothian

    Pension Credit recipients by region (as of November 2022):

    Region Recipients
    North East 75,406
    North West 178,460
    Yorkshire and The Humber 121,388
    East Midlands 97,190
    West Midlands 133,553
    East of England 111,346
    London 186,969
    South East 148,778
    South West 113,737
    Wales 82,634
    Scotland 127,288
  • PRESS RELEASE : Bahamian honoured by the City of London [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Bahamian honoured by the City of London [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 June 2023.

    Steven Boon has been made Freeman of the City of London at the Guild Hall — the First Bahamian to ever receive this honour.

    The British High Commission’s Wine and Spirits Advisor, Steven Boon from New Providence, was given a rare honour on Tuesday 6 June, when he was made a Freeman of the City of London. Steven was recognised by his industry peers for making an international contribution to the industry. The ceremony took place in private at the British Residence in Nassau, with the British High Commissioner officiating on behalf of the Guild Hall in London.

    Steve Boon is recognised for his contributions to the Wine and Spirits industry. He is the youngest Bahamian to qualify as a wine and spirits lecturer with WSET, the only Bahamian to be the representative of the Court of Master Sommeliers in The Bahamas, and the only Bahamian to be a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, founded in 1637 (There are only 460 liverymen).

    In 2022 Steven Boon was appointed as the British High Commissioner’s Wine and Spirits Advisor to help the UK with the promotion, distribution, and education surrounding British spirits in The Bahamas. He is working on a number of high profile events for 2023, including at the International Food Festival and involving high quality training of industry staff, and is supporting three Bahamian rum companies wanting to become the first Bahamian rum distributed in the UK.

    British High Commissioner ,Thomas Hartley, said:

    I am incredibly proud of Steven Boon. Ever since he joined my team he has been such a force for good in supporting Bahamian exporters and importers in the wine and spirits industry.

    And this recognition – a rare honour even within the UK – rightly recognises Steven as the most qualified drinker in The Bahamas! Our huge congratulations, and thank you for helping bring Britain and Bahamas closer together.

    Background on the Freedom of the City of London at the Guild Hall

    The ‘Freedom’ dates back to the 13th Century, and is granted as a recognition of the prominence and influence of the individual in their trade. Known as Liverymen or Liverywomen, it has historically been used to recognise those in the private sector who are at the top of their industry and who have freedom from being under the jurisdiction of a feudal Lord.

    In the Middle Ages, this developed into a freedom or right to trade, becoming closely linked to the medieval guilds – the livery companies. In 1835 eligibility for the freedom of the City was extended to anyone who lived in, worked in or had a strong connection to the City. The freedom that citizens enjoy has long associations with privileges in the governance of the City in the past, has given them privileges in London such as the right to drive sheep across Southwark Bridge.

    In modern times, the Lord Mayor of London must be elected from amongst this group of Liverymen. There is a long-standing tradition of the City admitting women to the freedom. Although they are now usually called freemen as well, historically the term was free sisters. The most recent recipient of the honour is England International and Tottenham Hotspur football clubs Harry Kane.

    Background on Steven Boon

    • President, Wine & Spirit Guys , the leading strategic wine and spirit consultancy in the Bahamas ,100% Bahamian owned, Wine & Spirit Adviser to BHC and leading hospitality resorts.
    • Consultant to Bollinger Champagne for over 20 years
    • 40 years in the wine & spirit industry in the Bahamas and internationally
    • Youngest Bahamian to qualify as a wine & spirit lecturer with WSET aged 21
    • 1st/Only Bahamian to be the representative of Court of Master Sommeliers in the Bahamas
    • 1st/Only Bahamian to be a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers , founded in 1637.(There are only 460 liverymen)
    • 1st/Only Bahamian to be made a Freeman of The City of London-in connection with the wine & spirit industry