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  • PRESS RELEASE : Pubs Code Adjudicator’s Annual Tied Tenants Survey Results 2023 [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Pubs Code Adjudicator’s Annual Tied Tenants Survey Results 2023 [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Pubs Code Adjudicator on 6 June 2023.

    The Pubs Code Adjudicator’s 2023 survey shines a light on pub company and tenant relationships and issues findings, with Marston’s coming out as the top performer across the board.

    The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) has issued the results from this year’s edition of its Annual Tied Tenants Survey, shining a light on tenant sentiment towards, as well as their relationships with, the UK’s top six pub companies: Admiral, Greene King, Marston’s, Punch, Star, and Stonegate.

    The PCA’s largest ever survey canvassed the opinions of a record 1,206 tied pub tenants, with individual conversations gauging their thoughts and opinions on a variety of key areas relating to the transparency obligations imposed by the Pubs Code, including overall satisfaction with their pub company, happiness with their type of tenancy agreement, their relationship with their Business Development Manager and Code Compliance Officer, and sentiment on the information provided to them.

    The survey indicates that 62% of tenants are happy with the current relationship they have with their pub company – a figure that is unchanged from last year’s survey. The areas where tenants feel pub companies are performing best include fair and transparent treatment of tenants (with four in five tenants saying their BDM is fair with them in discussions), providing quick response times to concerns and issues raised, and the provision of information.

    The data reveals that tenants at Marston’s have the highest overall satisfaction rates at 85%, a +12 percentage point increase on last year. This is followed by Greene King (75%, +8 year-on-year), Admiral (75%, -5 YOY), Punch (60%, +13 YOY), Star (55%, -5 YOY), and Stonegate (50%, -9 YOY).

    When focusing on tenant satisfaction with their tenancy agreement, 62% of respondents are currently satisfied, while 19% are actively unsatisfied. Typically, tenants with a tied lease agreement are least satisfied (56%), while tied tenancies, franchises and other similar types of agreements are leaving tenants more satisfied (67%). Tenants at Marston’s have the highest levels of satisfaction with their agreement (79%).

    A clear majority of new tenants feel they are being set up for success by their pub companies. The data indicates that 86% of respondents whose tenancies started in the last two years found the information they received from their pub company to be useful, while 64% of new tenants found the sustainable business plan useful. 94% of Marston’s tenants and 92% of Greene King tenants were satisfied with the information and materials provided to them at the start of their tenancies, suggesting  that the better prepared tenants are from the outset, the higher the likelihood that they will be satisfied with their tenancies in the longer term.

    Tenants were also asked a series of questions about their Business Development Manager (BDM) and Code Compliance Officer (CCO) and 81% of all surveyed tenants think their BDM is fair and reasonable (+5 percentage points on last year), with Greene King showing the highest increase from 77% satisfaction in 2022, to 88% this year, just below Marston’s at 92%. Star, Punch and Stonegate all performed better in this area than last year, with Star up to 83% from 75% and Punch up to 78% from 72%. Stonegate was at 73% compared to 71% last year.

    Furthermore, 55% claimed they provide the requisite level of business planning support (-1 percentage point on last year), with Marston’s (81%), Admiral (67%) and Greene King (67%)  all scoring above average; however only 37% of tenants are happy with the way they manage repairs and dilapidations (-2 percentage points on last year), but tenancy type could be driving this as tenants with a tied lease agreement recorded just 26% satisfaction, followed by tied tenancy (40%), and other types of agreement (51%).

    Turning to the CCOs, just one in four tenants know who their CCO is. Of those who can name them, 56% are satisfied with the information and advice provided to them about the Pubs Code (+4 percentage points on last year), and 51% are confident in how their CCO handles matters related to the Pubs Code (+7 percentage points on last year).

    Commenting on the survey findings, Fiona Dickie, the Pubs Code Adjudicator, said: “It’s encouraging to see overall tenant satisfaction is in line with last year’s survey, despite the increasingly challenging and demanding market conditions that continue to plague the industry. There is, of course, some way to go to improving this figure from 62%, with some individual pub companies having more work to do than others, but we’re confident that, with the PCA’s support, they will be able to increase this figure.

    “While it’s certainly a positive that such a high proportion of tenants are aware of the Pubs Code, at 84%, it is more concerning that only 54% are aware of the PCA and the support we’re able to provide. The fact that only 37% of tenants are happy when it comes to repairs and dilapidations at their pub is a core area of concern that needs to be analysed and improved upon, and is an example of something the PCA can help tenants with.

    “It’s clear from the survey findings that the tenants who are best prepared and made aware of their Pubs Code rights from the outset, are the ones that ultimately experience greater levels of satisfaction throughout their tenancies. At the end of the day, compliance with the Code in a meaningful way is good for business, and we exist to ensure that tenants are happy so that they can run the most successful pubs possible for them and their pub company.

    “We’re looking forward to working closely with the six largest pub companies, as well as their tenants, to help develop and enhance fair relationships across the board and ensure that all parties have got as much support and the requisite information they need to perform at the peak of their abilities.”

    The full survey results can be accessed here.

    About the research:

    Ipsos interviewed 1,206 tied tenants in England and Wales by telephone between 11 January and 16 March, 2023. Tenants invited to take part in the survey were independently selected at random by Ipsos based on pub names and addresses supplied by pub companies.  Data were weighted to ensure sample was representative of the regulated tied tenant universe by pub company estate size and region within. More information can be found in the accompanying technical report on the PCA website. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.

  • PRESS RELEASE : E3 statement at IAEA Board of Governors on the JCPoA [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : E3 statement at IAEA Board of Governors on the JCPoA [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 June 2023.

    France, Germany and the UK (E3) gave a joint statement to the IAEA Board of Governors on Iran’s implementation of its nuclear commitments under the JCPoA.

    Chair,

    On behalf of France, the United Kingdom and Germany, I thank Director General Grossi for his latest report GOV/2023/24, and Deputy Director General Aparo for his technical briefing.

    The E3 express their gratitude to the Agency for its objective reporting on Iran’s nuclear programme and encourage the Director General to keep the Board informed of all activities, and developments requiring clarification by Iran. We would like to express our appreciation for the Agency’s professional and impartial work, and in particular, inspections of Iran’s facilities.

    We see no substantial change in Iran’s behaviour. Over the reporting period, Iran has unabatedly continued escalating its nuclear programme beyond civilian justification, and has displayed little will to implement the transparency commitments laid out in the Joint Statement agreed last March.

    On the state of the nuclear programme, the Director General’s report shows Iran continues down its path of significant nuclear escalation:

    • First: Iran has further expanded its stockpile of 5%, 20% and 60% enriched uranium. Iran’s total enriched uranium stockpile is now more than 21 times the JCPoA limit. Iran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium has increased by almost one third, to 114.1 kg in the form of UF6, and is now almost three IAEA significant quantities. This is almost three times the amount of nuclear material from which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded. All of us on this Board must see this as a major expansion of Iran’s nuclear programme, raising serious questions about the intent of its activities.
    • Second: Iran has continued to install additional advanced centrifuge cascades, permanently improving its enrichment capabilities and hollowing out the value of the JCPoA.
    • Third: Given the seriousness of activities considered to be key steps for the development of a nuclear weapon, we also recall the significant work on uranium metal previously reported, and associated critical irreversible knowledge gains. We continue to urge Iran not to commence any further work related to the production of uranium metal, which also reduces the non-proliferation value of the JCPoA.

    The detection last January of uranium particles enriched to 83.7% U-235 highlights the seriousness of Iran’s continuing escalation. This enrichment was grossly inconsistent with the level declared by Iran and constituted an unprecedented and extremely grave development, for which there is no credible civilian justification. While the Director General reports that the information provided was ‘not inconsistent’ with Iran’s explanations, the significance of the detection of undeclared changes made to the cascade configuration at Fordow should be fully understood:

    • First, this step, along with Iran’s wider nuclear programme, brought Iran dangerously close to actual weapons-related activities.
    • Second, Iran is still using a configuration which can enable the production of high enriched material at levels considerably over 60%, showing Iran’s disregard for the gravity of this development.

    Chair,

    The circumstances of its discovery through an unannounced inspection, as well as the large-scale accumulation of highly enriched uranium, continue to ring alarm bells. These actions show Iran has built capabilities suitable for enrichment for nuclear weapons purposes. It is the responsibility of the international community, and particularly of this Board, to call upon Iran not to engage in enrichment activities that raise serious questions about its intent, particularly given Iran’s historical track-record.

    Such overall escalation comes at a point when the Agency has been without access to data on centrifuge and component manufacturing for more than two years. As reiterated in the report, Iran’s decision to stop cooperating with the monitoring and verification activities agreed in the JCPoA means the Agency would no longer be able to re-establish continuity of knowledge even in the event of a full JCPoA resumption. Iran’s decision to remove Agency surveillance and monitoring equipment has had detrimental implications for the Agency’s ability to provide assurance of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. We urge Iran to re-install all equipment in all the locations deemed necessary by the IAEA, and to provide all the footage from the cameras, including data recorded from February 2021 to June 2022. This should be done without delay. We also recall that, under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, Iran is legally obliged to implement Modified Code 3.1. and cannot change its application or withdraw from it unilaterally.

    Regarding the Joint Statement agreed between the AEOI and the IAEA last March we regret that implementation remains very limited and below expectations at this point. While we note that the Agency speaks of “some progress”, it also clearly states that “the process needs to be sustained and uninterrupted in order that all of the commitments contained therein are fulfilled without further delay”. It is of utmost importance that Iran immediately implements the Joint Statement entirely. Chair, The full range of findings outlined by the Director General’s report are alarming: Iran is, undoubtedly and unabatedly, on a path of significant nuclear escalation. Its activities are a clear threat to regional and global security.

    We deeply regret that Iran did not accept the fair and balanced deal that the JCPoA Coordinator tabled almost a year ago, and instead chose to accelerate its programme. Iran bears full responsibility for this situation. We urge Iran to immediately stop and reverse its nuclear escalation, and allow for complete transparency with the IAEA by re-applying the Additional Protocol.

    Chair,

    We will continue consultations, alongside international partners, on how best to address Iran’s unabated and dangerous nuclear escalation. We call upon Iran to de-escalate the situation and we expect swift and concrete further steps to implement the Joint Statement commitments on IAEA verification and monitoring. We remain committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. We ask the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed ahead of the September Board, and provide earlier updates as necessary, and would ask for this report to be made public.

    Thank you, Chair.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New requirements for Relationship and Sexuality Education curriculum in Northern Ireland [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New requirements for Relationship and Sexuality Education curriculum in Northern Ireland [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 6 June 2023.

    The UK Government is updating the requirements for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) curriculum in Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris has announced today (Tuesday 6 June).

    The Secretary of State is under a statutory duty under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 to implement recommendation 86(d) of the Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination of Women (CEDAW).

    The Regulations will amend the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, and the Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 in relation to Key Stage 3 and 4.

    They will make age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion, a compulsory component of curriculum for adolescents.

    They will also place a duty on the Department of Education to issue guidance on the content and delivery of the education to be provided by 1 January 2024.

    The Department will also be under a statutory duty to make Regulations about the circumstances in which at the request of a parent, a pupil may be excused from receiving that education, or specified elements of that education.

    Consultation with parents on Relationship and Sexuality Education is already common practice in Northern Ireland and we expect the Department of Education to ensure schools afford parents the opportunity to review relevant materials.

    The Regulations, in practice, will result in educating adolescents on issues such as how to prevent a pregnancy, the legal right to an abortion in Northern Ireland, and how relevant services may be accessed.

    This should be done in a factual way that does not advocate, nor oppose, a particular view on the moral and ethical considerations of abortion or contraception.

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Chris Heaton-Harris, said:

    “It is fundamental for their wellbeing that adolescents in Northern Ireland have access to age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights that covers access to abortion and contraception.

    “Today I have made Regulations that will amend the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, and the Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 to introduce compliant education, in line with recommendations from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

    “I look forward to working with the Department of Education to ensure the delivery and implementation of these measures, which will include meaningful engagement with young people, teachers and parents.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Gulf and Jordanian visitors to pay £10 for an ETA [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Gulf and Jordanian visitors to pay £10 for an ETA [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 6 June 2023.

    The UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme (ETA) will cost just £10, making travel to Britain cheaper and easier for visitors from the Gulf and Jordan.

    Nationals from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Jordan will soon only be required to pay £10 to apply for an ETA, which will allow them to visit the UK multiple times over a two-year period. This is compared to Gulf nationals currently paying £30 per visit to the UK under the current Electronic Visa Wavier (EVW) scheme and Jordanian nationals £100 for a visit visa.

    The scheme is set to launch for Qatari nationals in October 2023, and for the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan in February 2024 ahead of a worldwide expansion throughout 2024.

    Earlier this year, the UK government announced plans to introduce a new ETA scheme as part of a digitisation of the UK border by 2025 to further enhance border security and the customer experience. An ETA is a digital permission to travel for those visiting or transiting through the UK who do not need a visa for short stays, or who do not currently hold another UK visa.

    Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:

    Visitors from the Gulf states and Jordan make a huge contribution to the UK’s tourism industry and the new ETA scheme will make it easier and cheaper for them to travel to the UK.

    The cost of an ETA will be one of the best value in the world compared to similar international schemes. This small additional cost to visitors will enable us to bolster the security of the UK border and keep our communities safe.

    Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia Lord Ahmad said:

    I’m delighted that our partners across the Gulf and Jordan will be the first to benefit from the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. This scheme is further proof of the strong partnership between the UK and countries across the region.

    By cutting costs and visa requirements, the ETA scheme will ensure visitors from the Gulf states and Jordan can enjoy travelling with ease to the UK, boosting business and tourism links between our countries.

    Gulf visitors are highly valuable to the UK economy, with over 790,000 Gulf visitors spending £2 billion during their stays in the UK last year.

    The move to the ETA scheme means that the visa requirement will be removed for nationals from GCC states and Jordan, bringing the requirements for them to visit the UK in line with other visitors, such as those from the US and Australia.

    The application process for an ETA will be simple and fast to complete, with the process being entirely digital via a mobile phone app. To apply, individuals will need to provide biographic and biometric details such as a digital photograph and answer a set of suitability questions.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Yemen – Abda Sharif [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Yemen – Abda Sharif [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 June 2023.

    Ms Abda Sharif OBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen in succession to Mr Richard Oppenheim who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms Sharif will take up her appointment during September 2023.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Abda Sharif

    Place of Birth: Yorkshire, UK

    Date Role
    2019 to 2022 FCDO, Head of Iraq and Arabian Peninsula Department, Middle East and North Africa Directorate
    2017 to 2019 Cabinet Office, Deputy Director
    2016 to 2017 FCO, Deputy Director, Rule of Law Strategy and Engagement
    2012 to 2016 Beirut, Deputy Ambassador
    2011 Benghazi, Head of UK Office
    2009 to 2011 United Kingdom Delegation to the Council of Europe, Deputy Ambassador
    2006 to 2008 Baghdad, Legal Adviser and Head of Justice and Human Rights Section
    2003 to 2006 FCO, Legal Directorate
    2001 to 2003 Lawyer, private practice
  • PRESS RELEASE : Network of fake companies shut down following Bounce Back Loan fraud [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Network of fake companies shut down following Bounce Back Loan fraud [June 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 6 June 2023.

    11 sham companies were part of a group that fraudulently claimed UK-taxpayer funds and transferred the money to Hong Kong.

    The Insolvency Service has successfully secured the winding-up of 11 companies for their part in a scheme which orchestrated systematic fraud against UK taxpayers during the covid-19 pandemic.

    Between them, the companies claimed £500,000 through the Bounce Back Loan scheme. The companies claimed to be registered at various offices in Berkshire, Lancashire, London and Shropshire, however the Insolvency Service investigation could not identify trading premises for any of the businesses, nor that they had ever traded.

    Nine of the companies were found to have claimed the maximum available £50,000 through the Bounce Back Loan scheme, with one company even claiming two loans. Investigators found a host of links between the various companies, including the use of common addresses, with funds being moved between them before ultimately being transferred to entities registered in Hong Kong.

    The companies were identified by investigators due to their links to five other companies that had previously been wound up by the Insolvency Service in 2021 and 2022. These had themselves been responsible for fraudulently claiming £250,000 between them in Bounce Back Loans and £350,000 in Small Business Grants.

    The Official Receiver was appointed liquidator of the 11 companies closed down by the court at the hearing on 22 May 2023. The Official Receiver is working to trace the funds and those responsible, with a view to recovering the money.

    Dave Hope, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

    We want to ensure the UK is a safe and fair place to trade, and if there is evidence sham companies are operating and involved in the systematic abuse of taxpayers’ money, we will take action to have them shut down.

    These rogue firms abused the government’s support for genuine businesses in their time of greatest need.

    Background

    • Laslett Industries Limited (company reg no 11690274)
    • JP Capital Management Ltd (formerly called Hampton Brookers Limited) (company reg no 11690206)
    • CMJA Limited (company reg no 11690056)
    • JK Distributions Limited (company reg no 11667454)
    • Kubrick Trade Ltd (company reg no 11386566)
    • Lowe Brokers Limited (company reg no 11474219)
    • Rubeum Auri Limited (company reg no 11886277)
    • Share Apartment Limited (company reg no 12248395)
    • Stella Management Limited (company reg no 11886188)
    • Globexel Ltd (company reg no 12063877)
    • JLS Enterprises Limited (company reg no 11830409)

    The grounds for winding up the 11 companies included, variously: being vehicles for the abuse of the BBL Scheme; being a vehicle for the abuse of an invoice financing agreement; lack of transparency; failure to cooperate with the investigation; failure to maintain, preserve and/or deliver up adequate accounting records; failure to file statutory accounts and confirmation statements; facilitating fraudulent activity.

    The companies were wound up by the High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts Manchester on 22 May 2023

    The Official Receiver was appointed as liquidator of the 11 companies on 22 May 2023 following the winding up orders being made by District Judge Ranson

  • PRESS RELEASE : Gonorrhoea and syphilis at record levels in 2022 [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Gonorrhoea and syphilis at record levels in 2022 [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the UK Health Security Agency on 6 June 2023.

    Last year, gonorrhoea diagnoses were highest on record and syphilis diagnoses were highest since 1948.

    New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published today shows record levels of gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses in 2022.

    The latest data shows:

    • gonorrhoea diagnoses increased to 82,592 in 2022, an increase of 50.3% compared to 2021 (54,961) and 16.1% compared to 2019 (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) – this is the highest number of diagnoses in any one year since records began in 1918
    • infectious syphilis diagnoses increased to 8,692 in 2022, up 15.2% compared to 2021 (7,543) and 8.1% compared to 2019 – this is the largest annual number since 1948
    • people aged 15 to 24 years remain the most likely to be diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
    • in 2022, there were over 400 diagnoses of STIs made each day among young people

    UKHSA is reminding everyone having sex with new or casual partners to wear a condom and get tested regularly, whatever their age or sexual orientation. Testing is free and confidential and you should get tested even if you are not showing any symptoms.

    Though STIs are usually easily treated with antibiotics, many can cause serious health issues if left untreated. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease, while syphilis can cause serious, irreversible and potentially life-threatening problems with your brain, heart, or nerves.

    Dr Hamish Mohammed, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:

    We saw more gonorrhoea diagnoses in 2022 than ever before, with large rises particularly in young people. STIs aren’t just an inconvenience – they can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners. Condoms are the best defence, but if you didn’t use one the last time you had sex with a new or casual partner, get tested to detect any potential infections early and prevent passing them on to others. Testing is important because you may not have any symptoms of an STI.

    If you are having condomless sex with new or casual partners, regular testing for STIs and HIV is essential to maintain good sexual health. Testing is free and can be accessed through local sexual health clinics, university and college medical centres or through self-sampling kits sent discreetly through the post.

    In 2022, there were 2,195,909 sexual health screens (diagnostic tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis or HIV) performed by sexual health services, an increase of 13.4% compared to 2021 (1,936,455).

    While the increase in gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses will in part be due to increases in testing, the scale of the increase in diagnoses strongly suggests that there is more transmission of STIs within the population.

    Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics and at risk of becoming untreatable in the future, making it vital that people test early and diagnose the infection so that they can prevent passing it on.

    Regular screening for STIs and HIV, on at least an annual basis, is essential to maintain good sexual health for everyone having condomless sex with new or casual partners. In addition:

    • women, and other people with a womb and ovaries, aged under 25 years who are sexually active should have a chlamydia test after having sex with a new partner or annually
    • gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men should have tests for HIV and STIs annually or every 3 months if having condomless sex with new or casual partners
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK chairs international emerging technologies development talks [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK chairs international emerging technologies development talks [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 6 June 2023.

    Technology Secretary Chloe Smith visits Paris today to chair talks, bringing together like-minded countries to discuss the development of emerging technologies.

    • Technology Secretary Chloe Smith chairs international talks on opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies
    • Global Forum on Technology is funded by UK, US and Spain, with countries from Africa, South America, Asia and the European Union all taking part
    • Talks brings together like-minded countries to ensure the development of emerging technologies such as engineering biology and artificial intelligence remain responsible, values-based and rights-orientated

    As part of the United Kingdom’s ambitions to become an international technology superpower, Technology Secretary Chloe Smith will today (Tuesday 06 June) visit Paris to chair talks at the world’s first Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Forum on Technology.

    Announced last year by the UK and OECD, the Global Forum on Technology has been set up to give like-minded OECD members and non-members a forum with technology industry and academia. The inaugural event will foster greater international cooperation on the rapid development of a number of scientific and technological advancements.

    The UK is a strong proponent for the Global Forum on Technology, having already committed £2 million in funding, with additional funding coming from other nations such as the US and Spain. The UK’s funding will help organise and host further events and build the evidence and analysis needed to foresee the long-term opportunities and risks that are presented by emerging technologies.

    The Technology Secretary will formally open the inaugural event, before chairing a high-level panel on shaping our future at the tech frontier between government representatives from the US, Spain, Ukraine, and OECD.

    She will discuss how to achieve a responsible, values-based and rights-oriented approach to technology, with a special focus on emerging technologies. This includes developments such as the metaverse, engineering biology, immersive technologies, and the role of artificial intelligence’s role within all of these areas.

    Technology Secretary Chloe Smith said:

    Closely collaborating with our allies on technology is the only way we will truly harness its potential for the greater good, while putting in place the cross-border guardrails required to manage the risks that could come with it.

    Today, the UK will take a driving seat at the inaugural Global Forum on Technology, giving us and other like-minded countries an unprecedented platform to shape the world’s future in technology.

    Participants will not only include OECD members, but also include non-OECD members and organisations from around the globe, including emerging and developing economies. Countries participating in the discussions include Australia, Brazil, Senegal, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Ukraine, the USA and Turkey, with the European Union also participating. They will also be joined by representatives from global businesses, trade unions and civil society groups.

    With challenges across the world in areas such as food, climate change, biodiversity, security and the economy, the forum will look to ensure the world can better make use of the opportunities new technologies can delivery. From improving food security and enabling affordable and clean energy that will lower consumer bills, to enhanced healthcare and improved education and training – all while avoiding the risks that come with them.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government launches new drive to support rural communities [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government launches new drive to support rural communities [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 6 June 2023.

    Unleashing Rural Opportunity document launched.

    Communities and businesses in the most remote areas will benefit from better access to wireless networks thanks to plans announced today as part of the government’s wider drive to grow the rural economy.

    A new £7 million fund will test out new ways to bring together satellite, wireless and fixed line internet connectivity, helping support farmers and tourism businesses to access lightning fast, reliable connectivity in remote areas for the first time.

    The results of the new approaches will also help rural businesses in trial areas make the most of new agricultural technologies by improving connectivity on their land, for example using new drone technology to monitor crops and livestock in real-time, support landscape and wildlife conservation efforts, or develop interactive experiences for tourists.

    The new fund comes alongside the government’s commitment earlier this year to deliver improved, high-speed broadband via satellite connectivity for up to 35,000 homes and businesses in the most remote parts of the UK through an £8 million grant scheme, giving them a broadband connection that will be up to ten times faster than what is currently available to them.

    The fund is one of a broad range of steps the government is taking to boost rural communities on housing, transport, digital connectivity and jobs as set out in a new publication today. Unleashing Rural Opportunity which outlines how government will deliver the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country. Rural areas already contribute 15% to England’s economy, which amounts to over £250 billion of our national GDP, but the programme seeks to unlock further growth.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    I have pledged to build a better future for people in this country, and our rural communities are right at the heart of that promise.

    That’s why I’m determined to make sure that their interests are front and centre of all our work to grow the economy and strengthen our communities – so that every part of our country gets the support it needs to thrive.

    To boost the supply of new affordable housing to rent or buy in rural areas, government will create a network of new “Rural Housing Enablers” to act as honest brokers between developers and communities. Backed by £2.5 million of funding, they will help to identify sites with local support for development and in keeping with the local area.

    Government will consult on making it easier for farmers to change their redundant agricultural buildings into family homes by cutting red tape. Planning rules could be changed to provide a more generous threshold delivered through the more streamlined planning process, while providing local authorities with new powers to safeguard against second homes and holiday lets.

    The publication, titled “Unleashing Rural Opportunity”, will be formally unveiled at the Future Countryside Conference by Secretary of State for Rural Affairs Thérèse Coffey.

    Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

    The countryside makes up over 90% of the UK’s land mass, it is home to millions of people, and contributes over £250 billion to our economy in England alone. Rural areas are rich in human and natural potential with strong communities and entrepreneurial businesses.

    This government is committed to making sure that the needs of people and businesses in rural areas are at the heart of policymaking.  We want to go further in unleashing that potential and support people in rural areas to build the sustainable future they want to see. Unleashing Rural Opportunity sets out what we have already delivered for rural communities and new initiatives to build on that record.

    Split across four broad themes of housing, communities, connectivity and growth, the plan will help create jobs and drive growth in rural areas, including proposals to expand internet provision and scale up the availability of housing in rural communities. It also includes plans to:

    • Consult on further steps to help remote communities get online by encouraging the provision of fixed wireless access and satellite services.
    • Improve local transport networks through a Future of Transport Rural Strategy, which will set out plans to improve access to services, tackle isolation and increase access to jobs in rural and remote areas. The Government will also consult on reforming grant funding for bus operators to help them keep fares low and service levels high, helping to protect vital rural routes.
    • Help more communities access funding for village halls, by extending the scope of the Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund from Autumn 2023 by lowering the minimum grant threshold to £2,000
    • Publish a new public libraries strategy for England in 2024, recognising the role as they play in many rural areas as hubs for local services and digital connectivity.
    • Review how deprivation in rural areas is measured so that it is better understood and taken into account in decision making – ensuring the interests of rural communities are better represented.
    • Legislate by the summer to increase fly-tipping and litter penalties and consult key stakeholders on ringfencing the use of these fines to fund further action on fly-tipping.
    • Additional funding for the NPCC’s new national rural crime unit, to help cut crime and keep communities safe, by tackling anti-social behaviour, equipment theft and a new funded role to tackle fly-tipping.
    • Continue to make great progress in improving broadband and mobile coverage in rural areas by delivering the £5 billion Project Gigabit across the UK at pace, including plans to procure all regional contracts in England by the end of 2024.
    • Publish a Dental Plan shortly which will set out further reform to improve access to NHS Dentistry, including in rural areas which may find it particularly hard to recruit and retain dentists and other dental care professionals.
    • Support electricity infrastructure in rural areas, making sure it keeps up with the changing needs of consumers for example, to support the electrification of heating and EV charging by publishing further plans to accelerate electricity network connections.
    • Consult shortly on a new fund to help smaller abattoirs to improve productivity and enhance animal welfare, aiming to open a fund for applications later this year.
    • Consult on planning changes to make agricultural development more flexible for farmers so they can amend their existing agricultural buildings to make them more productive more easily.

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Chloe Smith, said:

    Rural communities are the backbone of the UK, and today’s announcements ensure they will continue to receive the support and attention they deserve, by bringing together resources from across government. They already make a sizeable contribution to our economy, but there’s an even greater potential waiting to be unlocked.

    The new £7m fund announced in today’s rural action plan will explore how we can boost connectivity even further for farmers and rural businesses in trial areas, through a combination of satellite, wireless, and fixed-line solutions. That effort will be supported by our new Rural Connectivity Champion, helping drive innovation and encouraging investment in rural advanced wireless connectivity.

    We’re levelling the digital playing field with programmes like Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network, creating the new opportunities and innovations which can drive growth for decades to come.

    Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, Michael Gove said:

    We want more local people to reap the rewards of homeownership while maintaining the special character of our beautiful landscapes.

    We will be unlocking a new pipeline of rural housing as we continue to reform our planning system and offering greater freedoms on farm buildings to support a new supply of affordable homes and businesses.

    Our commitment to build more affordable homes is why we are investing £11.5 billion over five years in our Affordable Homes Programme

    The plan builds on significant government action since 2010 to support rural communities.

    This includes:

    • In March it announced the grant awards of the Rural England Prosperity Fund, a £110 million rural top-up to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support levelling up across the UK. It will support initiatives such as farm diversification, projects to boost tourism, and community infrastructure projects such as electric vehicle charging stations.
    • Huge improvements have also been made over the last decade to support connectivity in rural areas. Over 75% of UK premises can now access gigabit-capable broadband, [up from 6% at the beginning of 2019], and over 730,000 premises have already been upgraded in hard-to-reach rural areas as part of our £5 billion Project Gigabit investment.
    • Investing, jointly with industry, £1 billion in the Shared Rural Network to improve 4G mobile coverage throughout the UK to reach 95% geographic coverage by the end of 2025.
    • Help for rural low-income households to move to cheaper heating. Up to £378 million is being made available in grants, ring-fenced for rural areas, to fund energy efficiency and clean heating upgrades for low-income households living off the gas grid in England.
    • Help those who have to travel furthest to college each day by increasing our funding for bursaries for 16-19s by 10% for the 2023/24 academic year.
    • Cracking down on fly tipping with increased background checks for firms who move or trade waste, mandatory digital waste tracking as well as making it easier for regulators across the UK take action against rogue operators.
    • Legislating to introduce tougher penalties and more effective enforcement tools to tackle the barbaric illegal practices of hare coursing.
    • Government delivering on its manifesto commitment to recruit 20,000 additional police officers – the biggest increase in decades, helping ensure that the public is better protected, including in rural communities.
    • Support farmers to diversify their businesses and reward them for sustainable farming practices through the government’s £2.4bn-a-year environmental land management schemes.
    • Expanding the country’s nature reserves and nature network, which in turns provides opportunities for increased eco-tourism.
    • Delivering better and more accessible care in rural areas. This includes taking action to increase the number of doctors and primary care staff in under-served areas and supporting community pharmacies in areas that are more sparsely served through the Pharmacy Access Scheme.
    • Supporting farmers’ mental health and wellbeing as an outcome of our Future Farming Resilience Fund, which supports farmers and land managers during the early years of agricultural transition, alongside the £2.3 billion extra a year being invested into the expansion and transformation of mental health in England.
    • Plans to cut the red tape currently holding farmers back from delivering projects on their land to diversify their incomes, such as repurposing farm buildings to use as shops,
    • A new framework for trade negotiations which puts farmers’ interests at the heart of trade policy by committing to protect the UK’s high food and welfare standards and prioritise new export opportunities.
    • Providing £2m to boost our programme of global trade shows and missions, as well as providing £1.6m for the GREAT food and drink campaign, to support world leading British food and drink producers to export.

    The statement builds on DEFRA rural proofing work where by all government policy is examined to ensure it is delivering for rural communities. The next rural proofing report will be published later this year.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Nearly £2 million to fund innovative transport tech including apps to assist disabled passengers [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Nearly £2 million to fund innovative transport tech including apps to assist disabled passengers [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 6 June 2023.

    Innovative start-ups awarded government funding to develop projects that will provide greener transport systems that are accessible to everyone.

    • over 60 projects awarded funding develop pioneering transport tech that could enhance people’s daily lives and support growth across the UK
    • projects backed by nearly £2 million, include 80% based outside of London awarded funding to help revolutionise transport
    • augmented reality app for visually impaired passengers to help them navigate stations and kites to tow ships are among creative projects receiving new funding

    Personalised navigation apps for disabled passengers and robots for freight at ports are among 67 transport technology projects being developed and tested through new government funding.

    Technology Minister Jesse Norman has announced today (6 June 2023) 67 innovative projects developing transport technology, which are receiving a share of £1.96 million in funding as part of the government’s Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) Programme. A record number of this year’s winning projects are based outside London, with almost 4 in 5 based outside the capital.

    The projects receiving funding include:

    • an app that uses augmented reality (AR) to help visually impaired passengers get around rail stations
    • remote-controlled robots for deliveries
    • kite-powered tug boats to reduce emissions
    • drones to deliver packages in hard-to-reach areas

    The TRIG programme looks to encourage engineers, academics and innovators to develop ‘blue-skies’ research into real-world solutions to address some of transport’s most pressing issues, such as decarbonisation. This can be a useful way for researchers to take their first steps in creating a new company, helping to grow the economy and create jobs across the UK.

    Transport and Decarbonisation Minister Jesse Norman said:

    From making travelling easier for visually impaired passengers to improving rural connectivity, these winning projects have the potential to transform the future of transport.

    The government wants the UK to be a world leader in the future of transport and, through the TRIG programme, the Department for Transport is supporting innovators and businesses to decarbonise and improve transport while growing the economy and supporting jobs across the UK.

    Some of this year’s winning projects include:

    • Makesense Technology to create an app that uses augmented reality to create bespoke walking routes to help visually impaired travellers get around railway stations
    • Bluewater Engineering Ltd to develop its unique SKYTUG system that uses large kites to tow ships at the same speed as a traditionally-powered craft, which could help reduce the use of polluting engines and decarbonise shipping
    • IONA Logistics Ltd to explore how autonomous drones based out of small delivery hubs can be used to deliver small packages faster and cheaper to hard-to-reach rural areas
    • Transreport Limited to create an app that allows disabled and older passengers to book the support they need on planes in advance to improve the experience. This app is already in use on trains
    • Port of Tyne to explore the viability of using remotely-controlled, and in some instances automated, electric heavy-duty robots to replace HGVs to provide a cleaner and faster alternative, reducing delays in the delivery process
    • CC Informatics to explore the use of drones to create 3D digital models of structures, such as bridges and rail tracks, to identify cracks and defects in the structures that would otherwise be invisible, meaning repairs can be made quicker and before more serious issues could develop
    • Imperial College London to research the use of Kiacrete – a new type of paving made from recycled materials – instead of concrete, as a more permeable solution to see how it can be used on highways to drain away surface water and reduce flooding

    Through the TRIG programme, funded projects could have a transformative impact on transport. This year’s winners bring the total amount invested through the TRIG programme to over £12 million since it launched in 2014, having funded nearly 300 projects.

    The programme is designed to focus on a range of transport-related areas, including:

    • maritime decarbonisation
    • the future of freight
    • local transport decarbonisation
    • improving the rail passenger experience
    • transport resilience to severe weather and flooding

    The TRIG programme, delivered in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, brings together talented innovators – mainly start-ups and universities – and policymakers at the earliest stage of innovation to help enhance the UK’s transport system.

    Nicola Yates OBE, Connected Places Catapult, Chief Executive Officer, said:

    By getting funding into innovative start-ups, we are creating jobs of the future and growing vital areas of the economy.

    Transport Research and Innovation Grants support high-potential innovators to develop their ideas into new products and services.

    In addition to an injection of funding, companies that join the TRIG cohort benefit from access to experts from Connected Places Catapult to help them on their journey to commercialisation.