Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement completes tour of Northern Ireland [June 2023]

The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 2 June 2023.

The Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement has concluded its 800 mile tour across Northern Ireland from London to mark the 25th anniversary of its signing, the first time the original UK copy of the Agreement has returned to the region since its signing on 10 April 1998.

Provided on loan from The National Archives in London to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland to mark the anniversary of the peace deal, the document made its first public appearance in Northern Ireland in a quarter of a century in April.

The Agreement’s tour was facilitated by the Northern Ireland Office.

Since April, the document has gone on display at Queen’s University Belfast, Hillsborough Castle, Strule Arts Centre in Omagh, Enniskillen Castle Museums, Omagh Library, Belfast Central Library, Linenhall Library, the Game of Thrones Studio Tour in Banbridge, Derry Central Library, Craigavon Civic Centre and Bangor City Hall.

The document will go on display at Hillsborough Castle from June until September.

The original UK Government’s signed copy of the Agreement features the signatures of the then Prime Minister Tony Blair, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the late Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Mo Mowlam and Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs David Andrews.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, said:

It is fantastic that the original Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement has returned to Northern Ireland for the first time since its historic signing 25 years ago, and that the public has had the opportunity to see the document across various locations in Northern Ireland.

The Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement was an incredible achievement, helping to lay the foundation of a more prosperous Northern Ireland that we see today. It’s important that current and future generations are aware of its significance in helping to create a more peaceful society in Northern Ireland.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) Acting Director, David Huddleston, said:

We have been pleased to host the display of the original Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement at PRONI at venues across Northern Ireland, as part of our ongoing commitment to provide community access to public records.

The opportunity to view the document up close and reflect on its historic significance has been taken up by many people, of different ages and backgrounds. The roadshow forms part of PRONI’s centenary programme of activities bringing archives to local audiences.

Chief Executive and Keeper of The National Archives, Jeff James, said:

The National Archives is an essential resource for our democracy, a public good and an asset for future generations. Our conviction is that archives are for everyone, including all communities who call Northern Ireland home. We were therefore delighted to work with the Northern Ireland Office and PRONI to facilitate the tour of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

Projects such as these demonstrate the power of archives in changing lives for the better, as they promote reconciliation, understanding and enhanced dialogue between individuals. The tour ensured this important document was seen by the communities where it has had the greatest impact – helping young people understand the past, and those affected heal from its wounds.

June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Independent advisers appointed by government to help stabilise future of professional rugby union [June 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 2 June 2023.

Government has appointed Ralph Rimmer and Chris Pilling as independent advisers to work on the future stability of rugby union.
- RFL’s former CEO Ralph Rimmer and Chris Pilling of UK Sport appointed to work with the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby Limited on their plans for the future of professional rugby union.
- Independent advisers will support solutions on the financial, sporting and regulatory challenges facing rugby following the failures of Worcester, Wasps and uncertainty at London Irish.
Former RFL CEO Ralph Rimmer, and UK Sport Board Member Chris Pilling have been appointed by the government as independent advisers to support the RFU and PRL in their work on the future sustainability of rugby union.

Following the recent failures of several clubs and the wider challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, rugby union has a unique opportunity to reshape its future strategic financial and sporting direction.

The government supports the RFU and PRL’s work to stabilise professional rugby union including attracting new capital investment. It shares the concerns of fans about where the game goes next, and has appointed two independent advisers to work with the RFU and PRL on their plans to restructure the Professional Game Agreement.

The issues at Worcester, Wasps and London Irish have laid bare the challenges facing the sport of rugby union. The inability of rugby clubs to raise capital investment and the financial challenges at various levels within the game have contributed to the need for urgent work to help secure rugby union’s immediate future and advise on its future direction.

The appointment of Rimmer and Pilling as independent advisers will add to the work being undertaken by the RFU and PRL, and has been made with their full agreement. They will provide further independent support and scrutiny on their vision to lead the game to a sustainable future.

Ralph Rimmer delivered substantial financial and regulatory reforms during his time with the Rugby Football League, while Chris Pilling will bring extensive sports management and financial sector expertise to the role.

Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said:

This is a challenging time for rugby union and Ralph and Chris have agreed to utilise their experience to help the game develop a clear path for the future.

We have seen several high profile clubs and their fans left devastated in recent times and this additional independent advice will be of huge benefit to the RFU and PRL as they look to implement a new strategic direction for rugby.

Ralph Rimmer said:

I absolutely recognise the importance of this sporting pyramid to communities across the country.

I also understand from my own experiences in Rugby League the challenges and pressures which the sport currently faces and I’m confident that I can help all parties in creating not just a sustainable future but also an exciting one.

Chris Pilling said:

I am delighted to have been asked by the government to support the work of the RFU and the PRL to seek the best solutions to help secure a better, more sustainable long-term future for rugby union.

The independent advisers will begin work immediately to help provide solutions to the financial, sporting and regulatory challenges facing the game as it charts a more sustainable path for the future.

Bill Sweeney, CEO, Rugby Football Union said:

The RFU and PRL have been working collaboratively for some time on a joint strategy to stabilise and transform Rugby Union following the exceptional challenges created by COVID.

Government choosing to work with us on this process is an important and much appreciated development and we are delighted to welcome Ralph and Chris to support the work we are doing to re-shape the future of the professional game.

The restructuring of the Professional Game Agreement into a strategic partnership provides a great opportunity for all stakeholders to set aside self-interest and collaborate to reset and secure the future long-term sustainable growth of the professional game including developing the strongest possible second tier.

Simon Massie-Taylor, CEO, PRL said:

We welcome the Government acknowledging the role that they play in helping stabilise the future of the Premiership.

And we are looking forward to working with Ralph and Chris as we finalise our plans for the future of the professional game with our partners at The RFU, RPA and other key rugby stakeholders.

In the coming days we will also announce our newly-formed Sporting Commission. And former government adviser Sir Nigel Boardman has also commenced work on formulating new financial regulations, as part of our Financial Monitoring Panel, with the first elements planned to be in place for the start of the new season.

During the pandemic, the government stepped in to provide a financial lifeline to keep elite and grassroots rugby afloat, and as key stakeholder in the future of professional rugby union is taking action to further protect its investment on behalf of taxpayers.

Rimmer and Pilling will work closely with the RFU, PRL and private equity partners CVC over the coming months in an independent capacity, and report directly to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Steps forward made on pay following constructive discussions with unions [June 2023]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 2 June 2023.

Civil Service staff are in line to receive a one-off payment of £1,500 this year, following constructive discussions between the Cabinet Office and unions today.

The one-off payment recognises the hard work of staff and is part of the highest pay increase for the Civil Service in 20 years.

In April this year, the Civil Service pay remit guidance allowed departments to award a 4.5% pay increase for staff, with the potential for an extra 0.5% increase for lower paid staff.

The positive development in pay follows a constructive meeting with unions, who met the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Jeremy Quin, today.

Minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin said:

We are determined that civil servants are rewarded fairly for the vital work they do across the country, in delivering the Government’s agenda and providing services to the general public.

I am pleased with the constructive engagement we have had with Civil Service trade unions, and to be announcing that departments will be allowed to make a £1,500 payment to every member of staff at Grade 6 and below.

This is both fair to the taxpayer and a recognition of the financial pressures civil servants have faced over the last year.

Employers making such payments will take the usual steps necessary to do so, including in relation to discussions with their relevant trade unions, with the aim of finalising any decisions as soon as possible.

The non-consolidated payment takes into consideration fairness to the taxpayer and the requirement to support the promise to halve inflation this year.

The payment will apply to the current financial year’s pay.

The one-off payment will apply to staff working in non-Senior Civil Service grades. Senior staff pay is set separately as part of the Senior Salaries Review Body process.

As part of the positive engagement between the government and unions, the government has also agreed today to continue the ongoing consultation on the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, but not take any action or make any changes to it before 2025. The government remains committed to reform and recognises the importance of getting any reforms right and managing their introduction.

You can read more here.

June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Outer Hebrides missile defence exercise brings NATO together [June 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 2 June 2023.

A multinational exercise at the MOD Hebrides Range in Scotland last month saw 4,000 service personnel from 13 nations hone their skills and connect with allies.

Exercise FORMIDABLE SHIELD, designed to test the ballistic missile defence capabilities of NATO and its partner nations, highlighted how integration between platforms and nations can be a significant advantage in the battlespace.

Taking place between 8-26 May 2023 and featuring platforms such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning 2, the exercise saw the air, land, and maritime domains mastered by NATO.

Major General Robin Anderton-Brown, Director of Capability at Strategic Command, said:

The importance of our responsibility for integration across Defence and with our allies was evident on Exercise FORMIDABLE SHIELD. The exercise was a clear demonstration of the coherence of the alliance, and the importance of the need to share and fuse data and information between nations to defeat high speed missile threats.

As Defence’s integrator, Strategic Command will continue to support this important NATO exercise and exploit key lessons to enhance Defence’s digital capabilities.

A total of more than 20 ships, 35 aircraft, and eight ground units, including radar platforms and the US M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), took part in the biennial exercise.

By working together with our allies and partners, as well as ensuring that the single services within UK Defence are integrated, we can deter and defeat threats to our collective security and stability.

Graham Ball, Deputy Director of Integration at Strategic Command, said:

FORMIDABLE SHIELD demonstrates the value and necessity of working with our allies to drive integration – meaning that we, and our partners, can act in way that is greater than the sum of our collective parts.

The deterrent effect of the fused and capable defensive systems, as tested on FORMIDABLE SHIELD, have applicability across the spectrum of conflict – supporting campaigning and helping to protect our shared interests.

The exercise places an emphasis on not only working together, but also adapting and developing rather than repeating the same drills each iteration.

As a prominent example of integration, HMS Defender linked up with an RAF Typhoon and HMS Kent, via satellite, to intercept an incoming missile using an air defence system that was first developed in a joint programme with France and Italy, and is now being upgraded at industrial sites across the UK.

Rear Admiral James Morley, Deputy Commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), said:

FORMIDABLE SHIELD is the premier Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) and live fire rehearsal in the European theatre, and highlights our proficiency in seamlessly integrating allied and partner maritime and air forces into combined operations.

As Defence’s integrator, Strategic Command is working to ensure that a culture of integration is fostered throughout the military and beyond.

Driving integration, along with leading the cyber and electromagnetic domain, are important concepts that Strategic Command will incorporate into its exhibition stand at Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) on 12-15 Sep 2023 at ExCeL, London.

June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens appointed as Acting Chair of the BBC [June 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 2 June 2023.

The Secretary of State has appointed Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens as Acting Chair of the BBC Board from 27 June for twelve months, or until a new permanent Chair has been appointed, whichever is sooner.

Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens is an experienced chair and non-executive director who has spent a career in broadcasting, the creative industries and academia. Dame Elan has been a member of the BBC’s governing body since 2010, first serving as Member for Wales on the BBC Trust, until its dissolution in 2017, and then as the Welsh member of the BBC Board. As a BBC Board member she has been the Chair of the Wales Committee and also served as Chair of the BBC’s commercial subsidiary from 2019 – 2022. She served for two terms as Chair of the Welsh-language broadcaster, S4C between 1998 – 2006 and subsequently served an additional term as non-executive director on S4C, representing the BBC Trust.

Dame Elan is currently the Pro Chancellor and Professor Emerita in Communications and Creative Industries at Aberystwyth University. She is the Electoral Commissioner for Wales and Member of the UK Electoral Commission Board. She is the Chair of the Wales Public Leaders’ Forum and Chair of the UNESCO International Prize for contribution to the creative economy. She has served on many cultural bodies including the British Film Institute (BFI) and the British Council. She still serves the BFI as a Non-Executive Director of the IMAX Cinema in Waterloo. She has been a member of the Wales Permanent Secretary’s Board where she was Chair of Corporate Governance. She has served as Vice Chairman of the Welsh Language Board and is a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales.

Dame Elan has been a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Professor of the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University, where she is now the Pro-Chancellor. She was educated at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, a comprehensive school in the quarry valleys of North Wales and won an open scholarship to Somerville College, Oxford.

Dame Elan is a native Welsh speaker and lives in Aberystwyth. She has two children.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

I am pleased that Dame Elan will take up the position of Acting Chair of the BBC and has the unanimous support of the Board. When she takes over, Dame Elan will provide stability in the leadership of the BBC while a process to appoint a new permanent Chair is run.

Professor Dame Elan Closs Stephens said:

It’s a huge honour to be appointed by the Secretary of State as Acting Chair and I am grateful to my fellow board members for putting their trust in me. As a board, we will champion the licence fee payer across all of the UK; ensure the BBC is a vital partner for the UK creative industries; maintain trust and drive change to make the BBC fit for a fast changing media landscape. There is much work to be done.

NOTES

Dame Elan will take over as Acting Chair of the BBC Board on 27 June, at which point the current Chair will step down. The appointment is being confirmed now to ensure that the transition can take place in an orderly fashion. This appointment process was run in accordance with the BBC Royal Charter and the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. This role is remunerated at £160,000 per annum. The Governance Code requires that any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years is declared. This is defined as holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation or candidature for election. Dame Elan has not declared any activity.

June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meeting with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [June 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 June 2023.

The Prime Minister met President Zelenskyy at the European Political Community Summit in Moldova to discuss the latest battlefield situation in Ukraine.

The leaders reflected on their meeting at the G7 in Hiroshima, and the bravery and courage demonstrated by Ukrainian forces in recent days and weeks.

The President updated on the situation on the ground in Ukraine and both discussed how best Ukraine’s counter-offensive could be supported by the international community. The Prime Minister updated on plans for the UK to begin Ukrainian pilot training in the coming weeks. They agreed to work with international partners to do even more to protect Ukrainian cities and civilians from Russia’s barbaric missile and drone attacks.

Looking ahead to the NATO leaders’ summit in Vilnius next month, the Prime Minister reiterated that Ukraine’ rightful place was in the Alliance and said the UK would support their aspirations for membership in the coming years.

Discussing the importance of ensuring a strong economic recovery for Ukraine, the Prime Minister updated on preparations for the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London later this month. He added that he hoped the summit would bring together leading businesses and entrepreneurs to discuss how best to support a prosperous future for Ukraine.

The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Technology Secretary holds roundtable with leading AI innovators [June 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 2 June 2023.

Chloe Smith meets with a number of leading senior AI leaders at Downing Street for roundtable.

The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Chloe Smith has hosted senior (AI) leaders at Downing Street for a roundtable on the opportunities and risks faced by the UK’s rapidly-evolving AI industry.

The Secretary of State began by thanking attendees for their work in the sector and support on the development of the recently published AI Regulation White Paper, and invited their views on how the UK can lead in tackling AI risks while promoting innovation and growth.

Discussion centred around three key themes:
1. the risks and opportunities presented by AI technologies, and the guardrails required to ensure safe and responsible AI
2. the aspects of AI where the UK should play a greater role, including global leadership in AI governance and regulation
3. the non-regulatory measures which could help to support growth and innovation by AI companies in the UK
Discussion points included greater access to open datasets, growing regional centres of excellence to connect SMEs with researchers, and helping SMEs to scale through greater access to capital and resources. The group also discussed the need to regulate in a proportionate way and protect innovation and with the challenges of the future in mind as the technology evolves at rapid speed.

The Secretary of State noted that, although the window of opportunity to act is narrow, the UK must strike a careful balance between setting regulation that effectively manages AI risks and encouraging innovation and growth. The Secretary of State also made clear the UK’s desire to take a leading role globally in the regulation of AI, and to collaborate closely with the sector in doing so.

Attendees:
- Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chloe Smith MP
- Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, Viscount Camrose
- Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Dame Angela Mclean
- Baroness Joanna Shields, BenevolentAI
- Matt Clifford, ARIA
- Alex White, SambaNova
- Dr Nikolay Baldin, Synthesized
- Nicola Mrkšić, PolyAI
- Alex Kendall, Wayve
- Simon Proffitt, Faculty
- Louis Mosley, Palantir
- Mohammad Emad Mostaque, Stability AI
- Irene Solaiman, Hugging Face
- Nigel Toon, Graphcore
- Emma Wilkinson, Adarga
- Tim Gordon, Best Practice AI
- Vishal Marria, Quantexa
- Ryan Donnelly, Enzai
- Karim Beguir, InstaDeep
- Brian Mullins, Mind Foundry
June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £3.25 million for the revival of woodlands along the HS2 route [June 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 June 2023.

HS2 Woodland Fund reopens to support woodland creation and restoration projects along the HS2 Phase One route.
The HS2 Woodland Fund has re-opened for applications today (Tuesday 30 May), supporting projects that create and restore woodland along the High Speed Two (HS2) Phase One route.

The HS2 Woodland Fund has reopened to new applications, with £3.25m available to support woodland creation and the restoration of plantations of ancient woodland sites (PAWS). First launched in November 2017 and managed by the Forestry Commission on behalf of HS2 Ltd, the fund is available for landowners located up to 25 miles from phase one of the route from London to the West Midlands.

The Woodland Creation aspect of the fund will now be available under the Forestry Commission’s England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO). Funding for the restoration of PAWS will remain as a standalone offer and will be open to applications over the next two years. Applications will be assessed four times per year, with the first deadline on 30 June 2023.

Sir William Worsley, Forestry Commission Chair, said:

We must ensure that woodlands and habitats impacted by HS2 are effectively restored and protected.

By facilitating the creation of new woodland, and bringing new life to ancient woodlands, the HS2 Woodland Fund will continue to be instrumental in ensuring that any loss from the project is sufficiently compensated for.

HS2’s Biodiversity Lead David Prys-Jones said:

The HS2 Woodland Fund, a component of our extensive Green Corridor environmental programme, is designed to help landowners near to the HS2 route create new native, broadleaved woodlands and restore existing ancient woodland sites.

This forms part of HS2’s wider strategy to create a network of bigger, better-connected, climate resilient habitats and new green spaces for people and wildlife to enjoy.

Eligible landowners are encouraged to consider their plans and discuss potential applications with the Forestry Commission.

Application forms are available from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hs2-woodland-fund. A new case study is also available to read about a landowner’s experience of applying to the HS2 Woodland Fund and restoring an ancient woodland site. To plant trees in the 2023/24 planting season applications will need to be received by 30 June 2023.

HS2 Woodland Fund

The HS2 Woodland Fund re-opens in May 2023 and will remain open year-round, it has been extended for two years, up until March 2025.

To apply now, please complete the application form by 30 June 2023, to plant trees in the 2023/24 planting season.

Applications will be assessed four times per year, and the first application deadline is 30 June 2023.

Applications submitted by 30 June 2023 will be assessed by a panel in July 2023 before being assigned to a Woodland Officer. Decisions will be communicated by end of October 2023, giving proposals the best chance to be implemented during winter 23/24.

In June 2021, Defra and the FC launched the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO), and so the woodland creation element of the HS2 Woodland Fund will now be directed to support woodland creation via EWCO.

PAWS been extended for two years, up until March 2025.

Applications will be assessed four times per year, and the first application deadline is 30 June 2023.

Applications submitted by 30 June 2023 will be assessed by a panel in July 2023 before being assigned to a Woodland Officer, decisions will be communicated by end of October 2023, giving proposals the best chance to be implemented during winter 23/24.
June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency invests in 220 projects to benefit fisheries [June 2023]
The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 1 June 2023.

Nearly £1 million of rod licence income has been invested to improve fisheries across England in the last year.

Nearly £1 million of rod licence income has been invested to improve fisheries across England in the last year, the Environment Agency announced today (1 June), with 220 projects delivering benefits to anglers and supporting sustainable fish stocks.

Projects supported with £925,000 through the Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP) include creating habitat for coarse fish and trout, and improving angling access facilities so that more people are able to enjoy the sport.

Since FIP was established in 2015, over 1000 projects have been successfully completed, with a total of nearly £7 million reinvested from fishing licence sales alone.

Heidi Stone, Environment Agency Fisheries Manager, said:

The Fisheries Improvement Programme is a great example of how rod licence income is being reinvested, resulting in sustainable fish stocks and directly benefiting angling and local communities. The programme recognises and invests in a wide programme of work to help maintain, improve and develop fisheries.

Looking to the future, we will continue to work with our partners, angling clubs and fisheries to identify and deliver high quality projects, the more people who buy a licence and go fishing, the more we can invest in this way.

Every penny that the Environment Agency receives in fishing licence income is reinvested to protect both the sport of angling and England’s waterways. The FIP funding is also matched by local partners including angling clubs and fisheries and local trusts. Over the last year the total match funding, made up of additional cash and in-kind contributions, is estimated to be early £6.3 million.

The Environment Agency works with organisations such as the Angling Trust and Wild Trout Trust to make sure projects are carried out to their full potential and have the support they need.

Shaun Leonard, Director at the Wild Trout Trust, said:

Money from the Fisheries Improvement Programme has allowed us to do some really good work with angling club members to improve habitats for the wildlife of England’s rivers.

In rivers in Cumbria, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, Northumberland, Suffolk and Yorkshire, we’ve fenced out livestock, planted trees, battled problem plants like Himalayan balsam and introduced wood and gravel to create more and varied habitat – all of which benefit the river’s plants, invertebrates, fish and the people who value those places.

Mark Owen, Angling Trust Head of Fisheries, said:

At the Angling Trust we very much support the Environment Agency’s Fisheries Improvement Programme. Funding from anglers’ rod licence income and the resulting work will benefit local anglers and improve fishing opportunities.

We support the process by gathering project ideas from clubs and fisheries for assessment by Environment Agency fisheries officers.

Examples of Projects in 2022/23:

Colwick Holme Sluices, Nottinghamshire:

Holme Sluices near Colwick Country Park in Nottinghamshire is a major flood risk management structure, owned by the Environment Agency, that spans the full width of the River Trent. It is also the largest single barrier to fish migration in the Midlands as the sluice gates maintain different upstream and downstream water levels, leaving fish unable to pass through.

Through the FIP, the project was awarded £50,000 to help with the multi-million pound construction of a deep vertical slot fish pass. The fish pass will be broken up into a series of 21 ascending chambers into which the water flows through narrow slots. All fish species can swim through these slots and rest in the next chamber above before continuing their journey up the pass and into the river.

Construction has already began and the Environment Agency hope to have to have this finished by the end of September so that the River Trent can start to see more fish species and an increase in angling activities.

Silsoe Junior Angling Coaching Lake, Bedfordshire:

Silsoe Angling Club have invested the FIP money on helping to create a brand new angling coaching lake which will be purely dedicated for juniors, disabled anglers and newcomers to the sport. The club currently has 20 angling pegs around its existing lake but due to a growing membership, demand has outstripped supply.

This new lake will create a further 10 pegs which will enable the angling club to increase membership to approximately 100 members and allow for more angling participation events.

ON track new initiative, Lincolnshire:

The ON track new initiative project, supported by the Environment Agency, has been awarded nearly £3,000 to support the buying of materials to create a wheelchair friendly pathway at an angling lake in Friskney. Money has also helped to create easier access fishing platforms for less able-bodied anglers.

ON track recognises the benefits that angling has on mental health and shares the passion that everyone should be able to enjoy the sport with no limitations.

Nutsey Lake, Hampshire:

Nutsey Lake, managed by Test Valley Angling Club, was once one of the best carp fisheries in the country and once held carp in excess of 50lbs. Over the last 30 years the fishery has progressively shallowed due to the build-up of increasing amounts of decomposing leaf litter.

Not only this but Test Valley Angling club has also witnessed increasing episodes of water quality related issues at Nutsey Lake, such as algal blooms, reduced dissolved oxygen levels and subsequent fish mortalities.

Through FIP, £32,000 has been awarded to invest in a series of improvements to the lake. Activities such as the removal of approximately 1000m3 of sediment has been made to improve the water quality within the lake along with the implementation of a tree and terrestrial scrub management programme so that wind/wave action is improved across the water. The lake has also seen a solar aeration system installed so that during periods of prolonged dry weather, dissolved oxygen levels are improved.

Further examples of FIP projects in 2022/23:
- Sankey Glaze, St Helens – Angling facilities have been improved to enable junior coaching opportunities.
- Mimram Panshanger Park, Hertfordshire – Funding helped habitat improvements to chalk stream undertaken by the Wild Trout Trust.
- Ripple and Upton free fishery repairs, River Severn – Existing steps and handrails were replaced to allow a more safer venue for all anglers.
- Stanborough Lakes and River Lea, North London – The Environment Agency have been working with local angling clubs to upgrade existing fishing platforms.
- Filston Farm habitat improvement, Kent – Funding helped improve the native trout habitats in the River Kent.
- Little Avon Fisheries, Bristol – Practical habitat improvements were made to benefit fish stocks and the general biodiversity within Little Avon and its tributaries.
The 2023/24 FIP programme is currently underway and a variety of new and existing projects are currently being allocated funding.
June 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Report by OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre [June 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 June 2023.

Ambassador Holland thanks Director of OSCE’s Conflict Prevention Centre for CPC’s work in the face of Russian aggression in Ukraine and beyond.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Thank you, Ambassador Yrjölä, for your timely and sobering report. It makes clear how critical the OSCE’s conflict cycle tools are to our ability to deal with complex and substantial security challenges.

Unfortunately, Russia has consistently stymied this work. Russia blocked the mandate renewals of the Border Observer Mission, the Special Monitoring Mission, and the Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine. We call on Russia for the immediate release of our OSCE Special Monitoring Mission colleagues currently detained in Donetsk and Luhansk. Their detention is unjust and unacceptable.

Russia continues to show no interest in peace, and has caused untold harm to Ukrainian citizens. Russia’s actions make it hard for the OSCE to carry out the work it was designed to do. The irony is that it also makes that work more necessary than ever. To that end, we are grateful for the CPC’s role in coordinating the Support Programme for Ukraine. It is vital that civilians and civilian institutions in Ukraine are protected and supported.

Russia also continues to undermine Georgia’s sovereignty. It has violated its territorial integrity by recognising the so-called independence of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, and by its attempted borderisation tactics. In Moldova, Russian forces and potentially hazardous munitions remain present illegitimately in Transnistria. We continue to support efforts to ensure peaceful, sustainable resolutions to these conflicts, including through the valuable work of the Geneva International Discussions and the Mission to Moldova.

We are also closely following the ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we welcome the participation of both countries in working towards a settlement of all outstanding matters between them. We urge them to continue with this momentum.

The CPC is able to play a crucial role in addressing all of these challenges through international reporting, early warning, dialogue facilitation, mediation, rehabilitation, and programme management. We support the plan to strengthen these tools further, including through greater use of technology. But as the report states, these tools can only be as effective as we, the participating States, allow them to be. We must demonstrate the political will to use these resources and fully implement the principles and commitments that underpin comprehensive security.

It is essential that across the CPC’s work, there is an emphasis on the participation of women and civil society. We welcome the CPC’s work to strengthen the capacities of women negotiators in the Working Groups of the Transnistrian Settlement Process, as well as other valuable initiatives such as the CPC’s Scholarship for Peace and Security training programme. As we have seen time and again, the full, equal and meaningful participation of women leads to better, more sustainable outcomes for all.

Mr Chair, as set out so clearly in Ambassador Yrjölä’s report, the chronic lack of financial sustainability is having a hugely negative impact on the work of the CPC and other OSCE structures. The continued non-agreement of the 2023 OSCE Unified Budget remains an enormous hindrance to the effective running of the organisation, its institutions and its field missions. We urge those participating States who continue to obstruct agreement to look beyond a narrow, national focus. We must ensure that all OSCE institutions and structures have the funding they need in order to effectively fulfil their mandate.

Ambassador Yrjölä, I would like to thank you, your team, and the field missions for your ongoing support to participating States facing conflict situations. Over the next year, we will face continued challenges, and we must all renew our commitment to preventing conflict and sustaining peace.

June 12, 2023