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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : £40 billion spent protecting families and businesses from energy costs [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £40 billion spent protecting families and businesses from energy costs [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 8 June 2023.

    £40 billion has been paid out to protect UK families and businesses from energy costs over the colder months.

    The government spent nearly £40 billion protecting households and businesses from spiralling energy bills over the colder months, new figures today show.

    Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine led to unprecedented turmoil in global energy markets and made a huge impact on the energy bills of households around the world. In the UK, without government intervention households would have seen bills peak at almost £4,300 per year.

    In response the government covered around half a typical household bill over the winter – and today, the sheer scale of that financial support has been revealed for the first time. £39.3 billion was spent between October 2022 and March 2023, the most ever provided to subsidise household bills in UK history. This was in part funded through taxing energy producers’ excess profits – with the government’s windfall tax on producers expected to raise almost £26 billion by March 2028.

    And with moves to shore up the country’s energy security, wholesale costs have now come down two thirds from their peak in the first quarter of the year. The UK has seen a full year without using Russian gas, while accelerating the move towards renewables and alternative sources of supply such as liquefied natural gas imports.

    Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and his reckless attempts to hold the West to ransom sent energy prices spiralling around the world.

    We acted swiftly and decisively to protect families and businesses from the full impact of that shock – covering around half a typical energy bill over winter. This helped safeguard jobs and livelihoods, and enabled many families to heat their homes.

    And we will not stop leading the world in standing up to Putin, helping countries around the world to move away from Russian fossil fuels – just as we have done having not used any Russian gas for the past 12 months.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

    Putin’s weaponisation of global gas prices meant our energy bills soared, which is why we stepped in with immediate relief and cut the typical household energy bill by around half last winter, driving down inflation and relieving pressure on families.

    Improvements in the wholesale market mean energy regulator, Ofgem, has been able to reduce their price cap from £3,280 now to £2,074 in July. As a result, the average household bill is expected to fall £426 lower than current charges under the Energy Price Guarantee, which will also help further lower inflation overall. The government is committed to halving inflation by the end of the year.

    Today’s figures demonstrate the historic scale and nature of the schemes put in place to support households. The figures involved mean on average around £2,500 was shelled out every second since October to keep energy costs down, as Ofgem’s cap rose to almost £4,300 at the peak of the energy crisis – saving the average home roughly £1,500 by June.

    The figures show that from October up to the end of March, almost £21 billion went towards the Energy Price Guarantee. An expected £12 billion has been paid out under the Energy Bills Support Scheme, which offered homes £400 payments towards their bills over winter.

    Meanwhile, businesses and other organisations benefitted from a £5.5 billion boost under the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, the government’s primary non-domestic support scheme over the winter. A further £933 million was spent on other government energy support schemes, including alternative schemes providing support for households and businesses off-grid and those using alternative fuels.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New UK sanctions legislation allows the government to target Belarus exports, internet propaganda, and crack down on circumvention [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New UK sanctions legislation allows the government to target Belarus exports, internet propaganda, and crack down on circumvention [June 2023]

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

    New sanctions legislation allows the UK to target exports from Belarus funding the Lukashenko regime and crack down on Russia’s efforts to circumvent sanctions.

    • further sanctions against the Belarusian regime for continuing to actively facilitate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
    • includes export bans on sources of revenue to Belarus, cracks down on sanctions circumvention and provides grounds so that Belarusian organisations cannot spread propaganda in the UK
    • also expands sanctions criteria, giving the government the basis to sanction a broader range of people such as aides, advisers and government ministers who facilitate the operation of the Belarusian regime

    New sanctions legislation allowing the UK government to target exports from Belarus funding the Lukashenko regime and crack down on Russia’s efforts to circumvent sanctions, have been announced today (8 June 2023).

    The measures also give the government grounds to prevent designated Belarusian media organisations from spreading propaganda in the UK, including over the internet, as the regime continues to actively facilitate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and spread false narratives.

    The Belarusian regime has permitted the use of its territory and airspace by Russia to conduct missile and drone strikes against Ukraine in addition to the provision of significant training and logistical support to Russian forces.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly says:

    This new package ratchets up the economic pressure on Lukashenko and his regime which actively facilitates the Russian war effort and ignores Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

    Our support for Ukraine will remain resolute for as long as it takes and the UK will not hesitate to introduce further measures against those who prop up Putin’s war.

    The UK is banning the import of gold, cement, wood and rubber to the UK from Belarus, which are sources of revenue for the Lukashenko regime, building on measures introduced last July to ban the import and export of goods worth around £60 million from Belarus.

    We are also blocking exports to Belarus from the UK of banknotes and machinery, alongside goods, technologies and materials that could be used to produce chemical and biological weapons.

    Our online measures provide the government with the ability to prevent designated Belarusian media companies from spreading propaganda in the UK. That means social media companies and internet service providers will restrict access to the websites of sanctioned Belarusian media organisations, as is already the case for sanctioned Russian organisations.

    We have also expanded the designation criteria for Belarus allowing the government to sanction a broader range of people who prop up the regime. This means we have the basis, where appropriate, to target close family members of those already sanctioned.

    In addition, our measures in this package crack down on those circumventing sanctions given the close links between the Belarusian and Russian economies, applying measures to Belarus which we have already applied to Russia to close loopholes and address sanctions circumvention.

    This includes through limiting the funds that Belarus is able to raise by further restricting Belarusian access to UK financial markets and preventing the import of goods such as gold which may have originated in Russia.

    This also reflects the UK’s wider work bearing down on those who prop up Putin’s war in Ukraine, coming down hard on sanctions evaders; closing loopholes; and working with our international partners to undermine attempts to build global resilience to Western sanctions.

    This latest package builds upon the significant sanctions against Belarus already in place, including last year banning the import and export of goods worth around £60 million for the regime’s active support of Putin’s war. That covers bans from Belarus to the UK on the export of oil refining goods, advanced technology components, luxury goods and imports to the UK of Belarusian iron and steel.

    The UK has also targeted people and companies who have engaged in, supported or promoted the repression of fundamental human rights and freedoms in Belarus. That includes sanctioning more than 100 people and organisations, such as freezing the assets of major Belarusian state-owned enterprises which are significant sources of revenue and foreign currency for the Lukashenko regime.

    The UK is resolute in condemning the brutal campaign by the regime against the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Belarusian people – such as routinely subjecting citizens to inhumane and degrading treatment and hindering any form of opposition. With over 1,400 political prisoners in Belarus, the UK calls for their immediate and unconditional release.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s brutality cannot break Ukraine’s spirit – UK statement to the OSCE [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s brutality cannot break Ukraine’s spirit – UK statement to the OSCE [June 2023]

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

    Ambassador Holland says that despite countless Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, Ukraine stands strong.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. Once again I would like to express our deep concern regarding the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. This is a despicable act, which has reportedly put over 42,000 people at risk from flooding. As my Prime Minister said, “Attacks on civilian infrastructure are appalling and wrong”. As I speak, the reservoir continues to empty, and will continue to do so for days. But even within the last two days we have seen lives, homes, and livelihoods destroyed. Civilians have been left stranded. The environment has sustained terrible, lasting damage. Food production will be severely impacted. And all this destruction is the consequence of Russia’s unwarranted, unprovoked invasion. The UK stands ready to support Ukraine and all those affected by this latest humanitarian catastrophe.

    Mr Chair, throughout its war of aggression, Russia has wrought enormous damage on many areas of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure – including on healthcare provision and facilities. Last week, the World Health Organisation reported that since February last year, Russia has made more than a thousand attacks on healthcare in Ukraine. This is the highest number that the WHO has ever recorded in any humanitarian emergency. Over a hundred Ukrainians have lost their lives, including health workers, patients, and the injured. This is inexcusable.

    However, despite these challenges, the Ukrainian health system shows remarkable resilience. Ukrainian health workers demonstrate heroic levels of commitment as they continue to provide treatment for their communities and save lives, sometimes under fire.

    As my Foreign Secretary noted during his visit to Kyiv this week, “the Ukrainian people are not going to allow themselves to be broken”. And Ukraine’s indomitable spirit is reflected in its economic outlook too. The International Monetary Fund has commended the “remarkable resilience” of the Ukrainian economy. It has upgraded its growth predictions for Ukraine and revised down inflation.

    In two weeks the UK will co-host, with Ukraine, the 2023 Ukraine Recovery Conference in London. The conference will bring together the international community in support of Ukraine’s recovery and economic future. It will build on the work done by the 2022 recovery conference and the G7 Summit by mobilising public and private sector tools and financing to support Ukraine’s immediate recovery and long-term investment needs.

    This will involve cooperation with a broad range of governments, including many represented here today, as well as the Secretary General. It will also include collaboration with international organisations such as the OSCE, as well as civil society and of course the private sector. Together, this broad coalition will facilitate investment and recovery, enabling Ukraine to pursue its transformation and reform goals and build an economy that is more modern, open and resilient.

    Mr Chair, the people of Ukraine remain united, unbowed, and defiant. It is this Ukrainian spirit that means Russia cannot and will not win its war of aggression. The UK’s support for Ukraine will not waver – neither now as it is under attack, nor on its journey to a more prosperous and peaceful future.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Over £30m for new equipment to boost sustainable food production [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Over £30m for new equipment to boost sustainable food production [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 8 June 2023.

    £31 million has been made available for equipment and technology to boost farm productivity, increase environmental sustainability and help slurry management.

    Farmers will benefit from new equipment and technology to boost sustainable food production and reduce emissions and waste after £31 million was today (Thursday 8 June) made available in the latest round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).

    Successful applicants can now claim for grants under the Productivity and Slurry budget to help cover the costs of over 90 pieces of equipment, from rainwater harvesting tanks to reduce water scarcity for farmers in the summer; tree shears to help stop the spread of pests and diseases; to equipment to minimise grass contamination and ammonia emissions when spreading slurry.

    The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund provides funding to farming businesses so they can invest in the tools they need to improve sustainable production across agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Productivity and Slurry grants will specifically support the procurement of equipment and technology that will help farmers use fewer inputs, reduce emissions and cut waste.

    With over 3,000 applications received for the FETF 2023 Productivity and Slurry grants, the government is matching this high demand by increasing the total funding offered from £17 million to £31 million. Twenty-one additional items have been added under the scheme in 2023, including camera-guided inter-row sprayers to help reduce herbicide usage, and mulchers for forestry, orchards and vineyards to help reduce input costs and improve carbon retention in the soil.

    This will ensure as many farmers as possible can claim for the equipment they need to run a profitable farming business that delivers for both food production and the environment.

    Secretary of State for Food and Farming Thérèse Coffey said:

    The tremendous interest shown in the FETF 2023 Productivity and Slurry underscores the determination of our farmers to drive ever more productive and sustainable farming practices to keep food on our plates whilst protecting our important landscapes and habitats.

    By empowering farms to invest cash in new kit, we are ensuring our farmers, growers and foresters have the equipment they need to embrace innovation, protect the environment, and contribute to a thriving and sustainable agricultural sector.

    Items applied for in the FETF 2023 Productivity and Slurry budget include:

    • Direct drill with fertiliser placement for precision drilling of arable and cover crops to help reduce crop establishment costs and increase efficiency of fertiliser usage. 250 applicants to be offered this grant worth £6.25m.
    • Robotic drill and guided hoe – an autonomous robotic vehicle which can precisely place seed in the ground and return to mechanically weed – this helps to reduce herbicide usage and associated costs. Ten applications accepted with a value of £250,000.
    • Rainwater harvesting tanks with a minimum capacity of 5,000 litres which will help to reduce water scarcity for farmers in the summer months. This equipment will now benefit 86 recipients with a value of £110,802.
    • Tree shears with the capacity to fell 300mm diameter trees to stop the spread of pests and diseases across our woodlands. This funding helped 113 recipients with a total value of £363,747.
    • Dribble bars with a minimum working width of 6m designed to apply slurry to the soil surface as accurately as possible to minimise grass contamination and ammonia emissions. This equipment was made accessible to 94 farmers, amounting to a value of £403,200.
    • Direct drills with a width of 3m to conserve moisture and reduces soil erosion. This initiative assisted 129 applicants, totalling £1.555m in value.

    The FETF 2023 forms part of the government’s wider manifesto commitment to invest £2.4 billion per year in farming for the rest of this Parliament. In 2023 alone, £168 million is being made available to increase farming productivity through 16 different grants and competitions themed around productivity, research and innovation.

    The FETF 2023 is made up of two themes: Animal Health and Welfare, and Productivity and Slurry. The Animal Health and Welfare FETF 2023 has been given a separate portal to streamline the application process and has seen 66 new items added to its books. Applicants can still apply to the Animal Health and Welfare strand of FETF 2023 until the 15 June 2023.

    We intend to offer further rounds of FETF funding. Meanwhile, our larger grants offering will support further investment in water storage and improving irrigation slurry infrastructure, as well as funding for automation and robotics.

    This announcement follows the Farm to Fork Summit at Downing Street last month where the government announced a package of support for the farming sector, including new measures to ensure the sector remains at the forefront of adopting new technologies and techniques.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Montenegro – Dawn McKen [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Montenegro – Dawn McKen [June 2023]

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

    Ms Dawn McKen has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to Montenegro in succession to Ms Karen Maddocks, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms McKen will take up her appointment during August 2023.

    Full name: Dawn McKen

    Spouse: Matthew Sparrowhawk

    Children: 2

    Curriculum vitae

    Dates Role
    2022 Global Strategy Programme in International Security and Strategic Leadership, Royal College of Defence Studies
    2022 MA in International Security and Strategy, King’s College, University of London
    2021 Athens, Deputy Head of Mission, later Chargé d’Affaires
    2019 to 2021 FCDO, Head, EU External and Security Unit, Europe Directorate/Additional Deputy Director, UK Future Relationship with Turkey and Cyprus
    2016 to 2019 FCO, Head, Europe Programmes Unit, Europe Directorate
    2013 to 2016 FCO, Deputy Head, Somalia Unit, Africa Directorate
    2011 to 2013 FCO, Project Manager, UK Estate Reform Project
    2007 to 2011 Budapest, First Secretary (Political), later Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires
    2006 to 2007 Full Time Language Training (Hungarian)
    2004 to 2005 FCO, Team Leader, EU External and Economic, Europe Directorate
    2002 to 2003 FCO, Team Leader, Conventional Arms and Security Sector Reform, Security Policy Department
    2000 to 2002 FCO, Team Leader, Cyprus and Malta, Europe Directorate
    1996 to 2000 Moscow, Second Secretary (Political)
    1996 Full Time Language Training (Russian)
    1995 to 1996 FCO, Desk Officer, Hungary and Bulgaria, Know How Fund
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK and Ghana launch new investor group to scout for top investment opportunities [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK and Ghana launch new investor group to scout for top investment opportunities [June 2023]

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

    The UK Minister for Development and Minister for International Trade commit to strengthen trade and increase investment in Ghana at the UK-Ghana Business Council.

    • 8th UK-Ghana Business Council convenes in London to boost £2.2bn trade relationship
    • UK-Ghana Investor Group launched to identify new investment opportunities and support Ghana’s economic recovery plan
    • Council announces £1m to back new business and energy programmes in Ghana

    The UK and Ghana have today (Thursday 8 June) launched a new investor group to help identify mutually beneficial investment opportunities for both countries in a boost to the existing economic partnership.

    The announcement at the 8th UK-Ghana Business Council meeting in London, co-chaired by the Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, the Minister for International Trade, Nigel Huddleston, and the Vice-President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, comes as the two countries committed to strengthen trade and increase investment.

    The business-led UK-Ghana Investor Group will include UK investors and key investment facilitation agencies in Ghana and the UK, and will help generate leads on viable projects in areas such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, and agro-processing, as well as providing support to package the projects and find UK investment.

    Support for Ghana’s economic recovery from Covid was also announced, with £1 million of funding for developing infrastructure projects and increasing carbon markets.

    Andrew Mitchell, Minister for Development and Africa said:

    The economic partnership between the UK and Ghana is thriving, with ever increasing bilateral trade and our new investor group set to find fresh opportunities for businesses both here in the UK and Africa. By working together we are creating jobs and strengthening our historic trade links, to the benefit of both our economies.

    The UK-Ghana Business Council session follows the first meeting of the Trade Partnership Agreement (TPA) Committee in April this year. The UK-Ghana TPA provides duty-free, quota-free access to the UK market for Ghanaian exports. Today, bilateral trade between the UK and Ghana is worth around £2.2 billion, with the trade in goods and services increasing by £778 million between 2021 and 2022.

    Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister Huddleston said:

    This Council has played a huge role in boosting trade with Ghana, supporting hundreds of millions of pounds worth of deals in various sectors, from textiles to agriculture.

    I look forward to discussing how we can take our trading relationship to the next level and support Ghana’s economic recovery by strengthening supply chains and removing barriers to trade.

    Since its formation in 2018 the Council has supported more than £223m of investment in infrastructure across the country and created opportunities for both UK and Ghanaian businesses.

    Next April, London will host the 2024 UK-African Investment Summit, bringing together political and business leaders, as well as representatives of international and regional organisations from the UK and African countries, including Ghana, as a further boost to trade and investment.

    Background

    • The preferential tariff terms provided by the UK-Ghana TPA are instrumental in sustaining sectors like banana and tuna exports, for which the UK is a major market. 21% of Ghana’s bananas are exported to the UK. More here.
    • Ghana is the UK’s fourth-biggest export market in sub-Saharan Africa, total UK imports from Ghana amounted to £1.3 billion in 2022.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Record number of teachers in England’s schools [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Record number of teachers in England’s schools [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 8 June 2023.

    Nearly 48,000 full time equivalent teachers joined English schools in the 2022/2023 academic year, with 2,800 more teachers now in classrooms than last year.

    Schools in England now have more teachers than ever before, as new data reveals there are 468,371 teachers in the workforce, as part of the Government’s ongoing work to attract the brightest and the best to the profession.

    The School Workforce Census published today (8 June) shows that nearly 48,000 teachers entered classrooms in the 2022-2023 academic year. This means there are over 27,000 more teachers in classrooms since 2010 and 2,800 more than last year.

    The Government has also put in place a range of measures to boost recruitment and retention. In October 2022, the department announced a further increase to the teacher training financial incentives package – with an additional £52m more invested on the previous year. This includes bursaries worth £27,000 tax-free and scholarships worth £29,000 tax-free, which encourage talented trainees to teach key subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and computing.

    On top of this, the Levelling Up Premium worth up to £3,000 tax-free annually is available for maths, physics, chemistry and computing teachers who choose to work in disadvantaged schools in the first five years of their careers. This is helping to support the recruitment and retention of specialist in areas that need them most.

    More great teachers in classrooms helps build a world class education system for our children and young people to learn and develop in, and builds on the Government’s work to drive up school standards including the Prime Minister’s ambitions, set out in January, to boost Maths to 18. England’s recent performance in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), where it placed 4th in the world for reading among primary school children, demonstrate the progress made in attainment and teachers are central to this success.

    Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, said:

    A great education does not happen by chance, and brilliant teachers shape children’s lives every day.

    In today’s competitive job market, it is fantastic to see so many people choosing a rewarding teaching career, with a record number of teachers now working in our schools.

    We know there is more to do, which is why we have generous bursaries to attract new trainees to teach priority subjects and focusing on supporting new teachers from the very start of their journey with free, high-quality, ongoing professional development.

    Today’s data shows the majority of subjects continued to be taught by specialist teachers, with 87.4% of EBacc teaching hours in secondary schools (English, maths, all sciences, history geography and modern foreign languages) taught by a teacher with a relevant post-A level qualification. In Maths 87.2% of hours were taught by a specialist, helping drive the Government’s priority of boosting Maths attainment.

    In addition to the number of teachers, the number of support staff has continued to grow for a third year in a row and, at 281,094, there are now a record number of teaching assistants, having risen by 5,300 since last year. This ensures pupils get the support they need to help them learn.

    The Department is continuing to deliver major reforms to teacher training, including the Early Career Framework and delivery of National Professional Qualifications. The Government is delivering teacher training and development opportunities for every teacher that wants one, giving all teachers and school leaders access to world-class, evidence-based training and professional development at every stage of their career.

    Over 16,700 teachers chose to re-join state schools this year, showing that teaching remains an attractive career.

    Teacher retention is also key to ensuring effective teacher supply and quality. The Department has published a range of resources to help address teacher workload, improve wellbeing and support schools to introduce flexible working practices.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Lord Ahmad to set out support for Counter-Daesh efforts at global meeting in Riyadh [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Lord Ahmad to set out support for Counter-Daesh efforts at global meeting in Riyadh [June 2023]

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

    Minister of State for the Middle East Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon will set out the UK’s work to eradicate Daesh and support those affected by its terrorism.

    • Minister will address the Global Coalition against Daesh ministerial-level meeting in Riyadh today
    • he will outline the UK’s work to tackle the continued threat posed by Daesh and support people in north-east Syria and Iraq
    • Lord Ahmad will then travel onto Istanbul, the first visit to Turkey by a UK government Minister since President Erdogan’s re-election

    The Minister of State for the Middle East will attend the annual Global Coalition against Daesh ministerial-level meeting in Riyadh today and reaffirm the UK’s commitment to tackling the continuing threat posed by Daesh and helping people rebuild their lives.

    Lord Ahmad will outline the UK’s support to counter the threat posed by Daesh, including approximately £88 million towards ongoing efforts for counterterrorism, stabilisation and socio-economic development in Northeast Syria and Iraq over the next 5 years.

    Examples of what this funding will provide include working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to address the barriers to return, reintegration and reconciliation of Iraqis displaced by Daesh’s violence, including the 30,000 Iraqis in Al-Hol camp in Syria. The funding will also provide targeted job training for hundreds of young people in Iraq, as part of efforts to prevent violent extremism and counter Daesh’s influence.

    This will come alongside a further £16 million over the next 2 years to specifically address acute humanitarian needs in north-east Syria. This package will provide 76,735 people with humanitarian assistance, including psychosocial support targeting children traumatised by conflict and programmes to empower women through education and access to the labour market.

    The global meeting in Riyadh will see ministers and representatives from the 86 partners of the Global Coalition gather to discuss the continuing threat from Daesh and to coordinate efforts to counter Daesh and stabilise liberated areas.

    Minister of State for the Middle East Lord Ahmad said:

    Though territorially defeated, Daesh is a threat that continues to destroy lives – not only in liberated areas of Iraq and Syria, but also in Afghanistan and parts of Africa where its affiliates are active.

    I am proud of the UK’s continuing role in eradicating Daesh, including rebuilding communities affected by its terrorism, and leading global efforts against its poisonous propaganda.

    I look forward to visiting Istanbul to strengthen the UK’s important partnership with Turkey and to discuss a broad range of foreign policy issues, including Syria, Sudan and Ukraine.

    Following his attendance at the Global Coalition against Daesh ministerial-level meeting, Lord Ahmad will travel to Istanbul to strengthen UK-Turkey ties and to participate in an international diplomacy conference. This will be the first visit to Turkey by a UK government minister since President Erdogan’s re-election, following the second round of presidential elections on 28 May.

  • PRESS RELEASE : HMRC issues £3.2 million in money laundering penalties [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : HMRC issues £3.2 million in money laundering penalties [June 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 8 June 2023.

    HMRC has published details on hundreds of businesses who have been fined for breaching anti-money laundering rules.

    Hundreds of businesses fined a total of £3.2 million for breaching anti-money laundering rules have been named by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

    The 240 supervised businesses named today were fined between 1 July and 31 December 2022 by HMRC for breaching Money Laundering Regulations aimed at preventing criminals from exploiting illicit cash.

    Certain types of business are required to register with HMRC which is a supervisory body for Money Laundering Regulations.

    Xpress Money Services Ltd, based in London, was hit with a large fine of £1.4 million for failing to carry out risk assessments, not having appropriate anti-money laundering controls, and failing to conduct proper due diligence checks.

    HMRC’s work with other enforcement agencies and government departments to tackle economic crime and crack down on breaches is working to drive non-compliant firms out of business. This means that the number of money service businesses has fallen by around a third from 1,508 in 2020 to 1,049 in 2023, and the number of money service business agents has reduced from 35,507 to 30,217 in the same period.

    Nick Sharp, HMRC’s Deputy Director of Economic Crime, Fraud Investigation Service, said:

    Money laundering is not a victimless crime. We are here to help businesses protect themselves from criminal attacks and will continue to tackle the minority of businesses which do not comply with the Money Laundering Regulations.

    Serious and organised crime costs the UK billions of pounds every year and our anti-money laundering supervision is a vital tool in combatting that.

    In addition to the named businesses, another 179 companies received smaller fines totalling more than £200,000 for rule breaches.

    Money service businesses provide vital services to the community, offering currency exchange, money transmission and cheque cashing. However, they can be exploited by criminals to launder the proceeds of crime, so must have a robust risk assessment and policies, controls, and procedures to prevent this.

    HMRC supervises tens of thousands of businesses across the UK under Money Laundering Regulations, and helps these firms protect themselves from criminals who seek to launder cash or finance terrorism.

    Guidance for money service businesses on anti-money laundering rules is available on GOV.UK.

    Further information

    A full list of the named companies who have received fines or suspensions under these regulations is available on GOV.UK:

    Number of named businesses by UK nation and English region

    Devolved nation or English region Number of named businesses fined for breaches between 1 July 2022 to 31 December 2022
    Northern Ireland 12
    Wales 6
    Scotland 3
    England includes: 219:
    Greater London 86
    South East 28
    North West 26
    East of England 23
    West Midlands 17
    North East 15
    East Midlands 13
    South West 11

    Businesses which do not follow anti-money laundering regulations can be fined and lose their licence to operate in the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Importance of human rights for security in the region – UK statement to the OSCE [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Importance of human rights for security in the region – UK statement to the OSCE [June 2023]

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

    Ambassador Holland recalls the importance of inclusive, democratic institutions and accountable governments for security in the OSCE region.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. Welcome to the Permanent Council, High Commissioner. Today is a welcome opportunity to put on record, on behalf of the UK, our appreciation for your efforts and those of your predecessors.

    The United Kingdom believes that inclusive, democratic institutions and accountable governments are the foundations on which open, stable and prosperous societies thrive. Societies with the full participation of women and marginalised groups and equal rights for all. Resilient, responsive, and representative societies.

    And yet, we have seen authoritarian influence on the rise in states across the OSCE region as well as democratic backsliding, restrictions on civic space and the rollback of rights.

    Where human rights violations and abuses go unchecked, the seeds of conflict are sown, often with devastating consequences for communities and nations.

    Indeed, last year’s Moscow Mechanism report established how growing internal repression in Russia enabled external aggression and ultimately Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As participating States our comprehensive definition of security requires that we work harder than ever to strengthen democratic resilience and human rights.

    High Commissioner, as you know, Putin’s war has impacted the enjoyment of nearly every human right in Ukraine. Reporting from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and OSCE institutions helps us understand the sheer scale of the damage. It describes war crimes as well as Russia’s restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, freedom of movement, and freedom of association.

    Thank you for your Office’s continued commitment to documenting and reporting the human rights situation in Ukraine, despite operating in challenging circumstances. Like the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism reports and Ukraine Monitoring Initiative, your Office’s reporting helps the international community understand the scope and scale of Russia’s violations and systematic use of violence. It makes a vital contribution to accountability for Russia’s actions. For example, the UN Commission of Inquiry’s report in March this year provided important insight into child deportations from Ukraine.

    Events in Ukraine mirror the repression Putin’s regime has subjected the people of Crimea and the people of Russia to for years. Echoing the concern of the UN Special Rapporteur on torture regarding the treatment and health of Alexei Navalny, I take this opportunity to call on the Russian authorities to ensure that Mr Navalny receives urgent and comprehensive medical care.

    I also take this opportunity to repeat the UK’s support for the appointment of the first UN Special Rapporteur on human rights on the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova. The UK looks forward to publication of her report in September 2023.

    Finally and briefly, I want to recall in this forum the importance of the OSCE’s own institutions for the defence of human rights. ODIHR’s work is vital to fostering long-term security in the OSCE region.  All participating States have a responsibility to ensure that ODHIR has a proper budget to continue delivering on its mandate.

    High Commissioner, thank you for your presence here today. The UK looks forward to continuing to work with you and your Office, and to advocating within the OSCE for the importance of human rights and democracy in underpinning our collective security.  Thank you Mr Chair.