Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : ‘I see nothing effective nor multilateral in Russia’s foreign policy’ – UK Statement on Multilateralism [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 April 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council meeting on Effective Multilateralism.

At the outset let me echo the strong concerns set out by the Secretary-General about the situation in Sudan and the call for an immediate end to the violence. We have requested a Council meeting to address the situation tomorrow.

I join others in thanking the Secretary-General for his briefing.

Minister Lavrov has called this meeting to share the Russian vision for the future of multilateralism.

We’ve seen what Russia’s idea of multilateralism means for the world. More than a year into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Putin has brought unimaginable suffering to that country, while trampling over the UN Charter. Thousands of Ukrainians have been killed. Millions have been displaced. Across the world, billions have faced rocketing commodity prices and food insecurity.

It has been an unmitigated disaster for Russia, too.

Neither Russia nor its neighbours feel safer.

Trust in Russia’s promises to other States and to its own people is at a catastrophic low.

Again and again the UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia’s invasion. President Putin can count the supporters of his war on one hand.

Russia has severely damaged its reputation in the international community, and now President Putin is threatening to move nuclear weapons into a neighbouring State.

For Russians the world is getting smaller. Many tens of thousands of Russian men and women have been killed. Hundreds of thousands have been mobilised against their will, millions are fleeing the country to escape the draft. Independent journalists have been arrested, free speech has been crushed. Russia’s economy is shrinking, its army is in disarray, reliant on Wagner – an unaccountable mercenary group whose existence was denied a year ago, but who now offers your Ministry advice on you Security Council presidency.

A Russian generation has lost its future, and the Russian Government can’t even explain why. Russia’s justifications for the war – defeating Nazis and defending against bioweapons – are obvious falsehoods. Russia’s claims to Ukraine’s territory will never be recognised. For all of Mr Lavrov’s claims about effective multilateralism, I see nothing effective nor multilateral in Russia’s foreign policy.

Multilateral institutions can and should evolve – the Security Council included, and we support reforms to make it more effective and representative. Change must be underpinned by respect for basic principles of the Charter, above all the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The world also needs a free and safe Ukraine that can return to supplying the world with food. The UK will continue to stand together with Ukraine as it lawfully defends itself.

Foreign Minister Lavrov claims he is interested in ending the conflict as soon as possible. To do so, Russia must immediately remove its troops from all Ukrainian territory.

April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Education initiative highlights the hidden plastic in period products [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 24 April 2023.

Schoolchildren taught about period products and why they should never be flushed down the loo.

Over 10,000 school children across South West England and East Anglia have been taught about period products and why they should never be flushed down the loo.

Award-winning education programme Rethink Periods has reached thousands of pupils across the Interreg Preventing Plastic Pollution (PPP) project area in the last 18 months (see attached list).

The Rethink Periods programme, run by environmental not-for-profit organisation City to Sea and funded via the Environment Agency as a PPP partner, is a free schools training programme updating mainstream period education in primary and secondary schools.

It offers unbiased training and materials on all period care products available and explores the social and environmental context that periods sit in. Part of the PSHE (Personal Social Health Education) accredited programme highlights the environmental damage caused by flushing menstrual products.

Many people do not realise how much plastic is embedded into the products, not just the outer packaging. For example, a big-brand pack of 14 menstrual pads contains the same amount of plastic as 5 carrier bags.

Pupils also learn that period products block sewer pipes, creating overflow that escapes into our rivers and seas. Currently, around 2.5 million tampons, 1.4 million pads and 700,000 panty liners are flushed every single day in the UK, costing water companies around £100 million every year as they deal with the resulting blockages.

An early pilot of the programme found that:
- 72% of teachers had previously thought that flushing tampons down the toilet was okay
- Students were 25% less likely to use disposable tampons and 50% less likely to use disposable pads after the unbiased lessons
- Students were 4 times more likely to try  plastic-free disposables after the unbiased lessons and three times more likely to try  menstrual cups.
Sarah Martin, Environment Agency project lead, said:

We are proud to have played a part in such a culturally and environmentally significant project informing young people about the hidden plastic in period products to help promote reusable and plastic-free period care as an alternative to brands we’re more familiar with. It has been very encouraging to have such a positive response to the training programme.

Jo Taylor, Rethink Periods co-ordinator at City to Sea, said:

Historically period education has been monopolised by big-brands only talking about the products that they sell. We don’t think this is fair – everyone has different needs, different bodies, different lifestyles, and financial means. We believe that every child should receive unbiased, clear, and accessible information about periods and period products so they can decide about what is right for them and their bodies.

The initiative is one of many projects being funded by the 3 year cross channel Interreg PPP project – a partnership of 18 organisations which aims to identify and target plastic hotspots, embed behaviour change in local communities and businesses, and implement effective solutions and alternatives.

The project builds on Environment Agency goals and commitments outlined in its five year plan to create better places for people, wildlife and the environment.

Background

City to Sea

City to Sea is  a  Bristol-based not-for-profit organisation, campaigning to stop plastic pollution at source. It’s award-winning campaigns are tackling the single-use plastic items most found on beaches and in rivers and oceans by providing practical solutions and championing reuse over single-use.

City to Sea is behind the award-winning Plastic Free Periods campaign, the Refill Campaign, which has saved 100 million plastic bottles from entering our waste stream and #SwitchTheStick preventing over 478 tonnes of single-use, plastic-stemmed cotton buds from being produced each year.

Interreg Preventing Plastic Pollution (PPP) (@Plastic_EU):

PPP seeks to understand and reduce the impacts of plastic pollution in the river and marine environments by looking at the catchments from source to sea.

PPP is a €14million funded EU INTERREG VA France (Channel) England Programme project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund which works mainly across pilot catchments: Brest Harbour, Bay of Douarnenez, Bay of Veys, Test and Itchen, East Hampshire, Poole Harbour, Medway, Tamar, and the Great Ouse catchments.

Partners are the Environment Agency, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Queen Mary University of London, LABOCEA Conseil, Expertise et Analyses, Syndicat mixte établissement public de gestion et d’aménagement de la baie de Douarnenez, Office Français De La Biodiversité, Parc naturel marin d’Iroise, Brest Métropole, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Counseil départemental de la Manche, Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer, The Rivers Trust, Syndicat de bassin de l’Elorn, ACTIMAR, Brest’aim, Westcountry Rivers Trust, South East Rivers Trust, and Plymouth City Council.
April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Levelling Up Secretary to chair Islands Forum on Isle of Wight [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 24 April 2023.

Islands Forum to level up island communities and further work together on shared opportunities and challenges.

The Isle of Wight has been chosen as the location for the second Islands Forum, which will take place on 24th – 25th May and be chaired by Secretary of State Michael Gove.

The Islands Forum will help to level up island communities by encouraging collaboration to tackle common challenges such as connectivity, infrastructure, and demographic trends, and explore opportunities including the transition to net zero. It will also allow the UK government to hear and learn from island communities to inform future policy.

The UK government has invited eligible council leaders and chief executives of island communities in all parts of the UK to take part in the second Forum. The devolved administrations will also have a key role, with ministers from the Scottish and Welsh governments invited and the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

The first Islands Forum took place on the Orkney Islands in September last year.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove MP said:

Island communities contribute richly to the UK and share their own unique set of challenges as well as opportunities.

The Islands Forum creates a space for islanders to work together and give feedback directly to the Government, ensuring that islands can be even better places for people to work and live.

I am delighted that the inaugural forum in Orkney was a success and look forward to meeting with islands representatives in May, at the next forum on the Isle of Wight.

Council leader, Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, said:

The Islands Forum is a superb opportunity to establish the challenges for our islands, and continue our engagement with government ministers and civil servants to find the right steps to address our issues.

Several projects in island communities are set to benefit from cash injections through levelling up funds. This includes:
- Nearly £27 million has been guaranteed for a new roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands. The service is a lifeline for the island, supporting its residents, visitors and supply chains, and without its replacement the community will become further isolated.
- £5.8 million for East Cowes Marine Hub project on the Isle of Wight, which sits within the proposed Solent Freeport zone. The funding will futureproof the marine engineering hub, creating jobs and boosting productivity.
- Anglesey has seen a boost of £2.7 million through the UK Community Renewal Fund for 6 projects including schemes to develop youth enterprise and provide high quality Health and Social Care education. Anglesey is also set to establish a new freeport, aiming to attract £1.4 billion worth of investment in the green energy sector and create at least 3,500 jobs.
- £173,400 to Argyll and Bute Council for investment into the West Coast UAV Innovation Logistics and training hub, which helps explore using drones to transport medical supplies to islands.
- The Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar was awarded more than £166,000 to fund projects for the Port of Ness Harbour and Horshader Community Asset Development.
April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Initial £100 million for expert taskforce to help UK build and adopt next generation of safe AI [April 2023]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 24 April 2023.

Prime Minister and Technology Secretary announce £100 million in funding for Foundation Model Taskforce.
- Prime Minister and Technology Secretary announce £100 million in initial start-up funding for taskforce responsible for accelerating the UK’s capability in rapidly-emerging type of artificial intelligence – on top of £900 million investment into compute technology at Budget
- foundation models, including large language models like ChatGPT and Google Bard, are AI systems trained on massive data sets which can be used for a wide range of tasks across the economy
- investment will fund new government-industry taskforce to ensure sovereign capabilities and broad adoption of safe and reliable foundation models, helping cement the UK’s position as a science and technology superpower by 2030
£100 million to kickstart the delivery of the government’s major ambitions for the UK’s capability in safe and reliable foundation models has been announced by the Prime Minister and Technology Secretary.

The Taskforce, modelled on the success of the COVID-19 Vaccines Taskforce, will develop the safe and reliable use of this pivotal artificial intelligence (AI) across the economy and ensure the UK is globally competitive in this strategic technology.

Foundation models – including large language models like ChatGPT and Google Bard – are a category of artificial intelligence systems trained on huge volumes of data such as text, images, video or audio to gain broad and sophisticated capabilities across many tasks.

With AI set to contribute billions of pounds to UK GDP, the work of the Taskforce will help deliver on the Prime Minister’s priorities to grow our economy, whilst generating better outcomes for people across the country through better public services. Research suggests that the broad adoption of such systems could triple national productivity growth rates.

In areas like healthcare, this type of AI has enormous potential to speed up diagnoses, drug discovery and development. In education it could transform teachers’ day-to-day work, freeing up their time to focus on delivering excellent teaching.

This technology is also predicted to raise global GDP by 7 percent over a decade, making its adoption a vital opportunity to grow the UK economy. To support businesses and public trust in these systems and drive their adoption, the Taskforce will work with the sector towards developing the safety and reliability of foundation models, both at a scientific and commercial level.

The investment will build the UK’s ‘sovereign’ national capabilities so our public services can benefit from the transformational impact of this type of AI. The Taskforce will focus on opportunities to establish the UK as a world leader in foundation models and their applications across the economy, and acting as a global standard bearer for AI safety.

The funding will be invested by the Foundation Model Taskforce in foundation model infrastructure and public service procurement, to create opportunities for domestic innovation. The first pilots targeting public services are expected to launch in the next six months.

The Taskforce, announced as part of the Integrated Review Refresh last month, will bring together government and industry experts and report directly to the Prime Minister and Technology Secretary.

This follows last week’s Cabinet meeting where Ministers agreed on the transformative potential of AI, the vital importance of retaining public confidence in its use, and the need for regulation that keeps people safe without preventing innovation.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Harnessing the potential of AI provides enormous opportunities to grow our economy, create better-paid jobs, and build a better future through advances in healthcare and security.

By investing in emerging technologies through our new expert taskforce, we can continue to lead the way in developing safe and trustworthy AI as part of shaping a more innovative UK economy.

Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

Developed responsibly, cutting-edge AI can have a transformative impact in nearly every industry. It can revolutionise the way we develop new medical treatments, tackle climate change and improve our public services, all while growing and future-proofing our economy.

We need to act now to seize the opportunities AI can offer us in the future. We’re backing our expert taskforce with the funding to make our ambitions for an AI-enabled country a reality and keep the UK at the front of the pack in this emerging technology.

To ensure such leadership, the greatest capability we can develop is in the safety and reliability of such systems. This will ensure that the public and business have the trust they need to confidently adopt this technology and fully realise its benefits. That is exactly what this taskforce will prioritise.

The taskforce will be led by an expert Chair, who will be announced later in the summer. Matt Clifford, Chair of the Advanced Research and Innovation Agency, will advise the Prime Minister and Technology Secretary on the development of the taskforce while the appointment is ongoing.

Foundation models rely on significant compute power, and this investment comes on top of around £900 million for a new ‘exascale’ supercomputer and a dedicated AI Research Resource to equip the UK with the processing power it needs to support the next generation of AI innovation. The Taskforce will play a crucial role in ensuring the major, multi-year funding announced at the Budget for compute is strategically invested to prioritise and strengthen the UK’s capability in foundation models.

The Taskforce will ensure the UK’s capability in this rapidly developing area is built with safety and reliability at its core, in line with the approach set out in the AI Regulation White Paper published last month.

Doug Gurr, Chair, The Alan Turing Institute, said:

We congratulate the government on this exciting investment which will keep the UK at the cutting edge of this transformative technology and look forward to continuing to work with all the relevant partners to help develop breakthrough AI applications in a safe, reliable, trustworthy and ethical way.

Marc Warner, CEO of Faculty, said:

Artificial intelligence is an epoch-defining technology, which – if deployed safely and responsibly – will revolutionise how we live and work. To reap the rewards and manage the risks, the UK urgently needs the public and private sector to work effectively together to seize the vast opportunities from foundational models. It is welcome to see initial funding towards this goal, which will help ensure safe deployment and protect national security, whilst harnessing AI’s power to transform public services.

The funding follows Business Connect, an event bringing government and industry together to focus on making Britain the most innovative economy in the world. DSIT Minister of State George Freeman led a panel on the government’s work in digital technology and life sciences and, together with the Chancellor, spoke about how these high-priority sectors could help accelerate economic growth across the UK.
April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK and international partners announce new sanctions on Iranian regime [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 April 2023.

The UK, US and EU are today announcing further sanctions on Iranian regime officials responsible for human rights violations, including from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The UK has designated more than 70 Iranian officials and entities for human rights violations since October 2022, with the total number of Iran-related designations amounting to more than 300. The list includes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in its entirety, the Iranian Prosecutor General and the Morality Police.

The UK, US and EU have taken consistent and coordinated action to hold the regime to account, announcing sanctions on a monthly basis on those response for human rights abuses. The latest UK sanctions are against 4 IRGC commanders, under whose leadership IRGC forces have opened fire on unarmed protestors resulting in numerous deaths, including of children, and have arbitrarily detained and tortured protestors.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The Iranian regime are responsible for the brutal repression of the Iranian people and for exporting bloodshed around the world. That’s why we have more than 300 sanctions in place on Iran, including on the IRGC in its entirety.

The UK and our international partners are again making clear today that we will not overlook the regime’s brutal oppression. We will continue to take a range of action to hold the regime to account for its actions.

Those sanctioned include:
- Mohammad Nazar Azimi: IRGC Commander Najaf Ashraf West HQ, responsible for the violent repression of protests in Kermanshah Province, with IRGC forces using machine guns against unarmed protestors resulting in multiple deaths
- Habib Shahsavari: IRGC Commander provincial corps West Azerbaijan Province, responsible for repression of protestors in Mahabad and Piranshahr, with IRGC forces using heavy weapons that resulted in multiple deaths. IRGC forces are accused of the death of protestors following torture in detention facilities
- Mohsen Karimi: IRGC commander Markazi Province, responsible for the violent repression of protests, including 19-year-old protestor Mehrshad Shahidi who was reportedly beaten to death in an IRGC detention centre, and the arrest of women for failing to wear the hijab (head covering) in public
- Ahmad Kadem: IRGC Commander of the Operational Base Karbala, responsible for the repression of protests in the town of Izeh, Khuzestan Province, during which a 10-year-old child was shot and killed. IRGC forces under the command of Kadem in Kohgilyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province are blamed for the abduction of a child labour activist who subsequently died after torture
The UK has also played a leading role in international efforts to hold the Iranian regime to account for its repression, for example through working with partners to kick Iran off the UN Commission on the Status of Women and to establish a UN-led investigation into the response to the protests.

These sanctions will ensure that the individuals on the list cannot travel to the UK and any of their assets held in the UK will be frozen.
April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : NHS set to save £7 billion thanks to world-leading medicine pricing scheme [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 24 April 2023.

Voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access (VPAS) delivers value for money to taxpayer and saves NHS billions, facilitating patient access to new lifesaving treatments and medicines, and supporting UK life sciences sector.

The NHS will save £7 billion by the end of 2023 thanks to a 5-year agreement with the pharmaceutical industry, which ensures the NHS can continue to be one of the fastest health systems in the world to roll out innovative medicines.

VPAS, the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access, was introduced in 2019 to keep the branded medicine bill affordable for the NHS by capping the growth of sales, while improving patient access to medicines by getting new medicines into use more quickly, and supporting our life sciences sector.

Thanks to the scheme, thousands of NHS patients have benefitted from dozens of new treatments for conditions ranging from the most common cancers, to cutting edge gene therapy for ultra-rare disorders.

Through VPAS, NHS England has:
- delivered a world-leading rollout of cystic fibrosis triple therapy, which is crucial as the prevalence of cystic fibrosis in the UK is the second highest in Europe and third globally
- secured first-in-Europe patient access for a number of new drugs, including a revolutionary lung cancer drug – sotorasib – and life-extending prostate cancer drug, darolutamide
- negotiated commercial agreements to provide 3 new treatments, in less than 3 years, for children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy – the leading genetic cause of infant mortality
- struck a series of national deals for HIV treatments and preventative drugs that will support England to meet an ambition to become the first country to end HIV transmissions before 2030
Health Minister, Will Quince, said:

Not only has VPAS delivered value for money for the taxpayer and saved the NHS billions of pounds, it has also saved people’s lives by supporting cancer patients and others with life-threatening conditions to have rapid access to new, life-saving and life-extending treatments.

The scheme is vitally important as it keeps the branded medicine bill affordable for the NHS, and ensures the UK life sciences industry can earn the money it needs to fund research and development into new and improved medicine.

The NHS buys medicines from pharmaceutical companies and is internationally competitive in the speed in adopting innovative medicines. Industry data shows there are 5 treatments available in England for every 4 in Europe, as well as almost a third more cancer drugs.

VPAS has also helped NHS England to:
- continue progress that keeps England on track to become the first country to eliminate hepatitis C ahead of the World Health Organization’s 2030 goal
- fast-track more than 100 cancer drugs to NHS patients via the Cancer Drugs Fund
- provide international leadership in the delivery of a subscription-style payment model for antibiotics to incentivise new development and help tackle antimicrobial resistance
Chief Negotiations Advisor to the Department of Health and Social Care, Sir Hugh Taylor, said:

The future VPAS scheme must continue to benefit the NHS and give its patients access to the best medicines, while supporting our life sciences sector.

I’m looking forward to parties getting round the table to reach an agreement which not only benefits the NHS but will also encourage the pharmaceutical sector to continue investing in the UK.

Negotiations for the successor to the current VPAS are expected to start in the spring, with Sir Hugh Taylor appointed by the government to oversee the negotiations. The successor scheme will come into force on 1 January 2024.

NHS England’s Director for Commercial Medicines Negotiation, Rob Kettell, said:

The NHS has a track record of using its commercial capabilities to secure world-leading access to life-changing new treatments for patients at the best value for the taxpayer, with recent industry data placing the UK in the top 3 fastest G20 countries to roll-out new medicines.

This scheme has had a major impact for thousands of patients and their families, and ahead of negotiations for a new branded medicines agreement, the NHS is committed to working with government and industry to ensure that patients’ needs are at the forefront of these discussions.
April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Young people at risk of disease as concerning numbers miss out on life-saving vaccines [April 2023]

The press release issued by the UK Health Security Agency on 24 April 2023.

Uptake of adolescent vaccines offered to young people in school year 9 are yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that uptake of the adolescent vaccines offered to 13 and 14 year olds who were in school year 9 during the 2021 to 2022 academic year has fallen, leaving many young people unprotected from life-threatening diseases.

The teenage (Td/IPV) booster is the last routine dose for tetanus, diphtheria and polio, and provides young people with long-lasting protection into adulthood. The MenACWY vaccine helps protect young people against 4 types of meningococcal disease.

These rare but serious diseases can cause life-threatening illness leading to hospitalisation, permanent disability and even death.

Uptake of the Td/IPV and MenACWY vaccines for children in school year 9 was 69%, around 7% lower than the previous year and well below pre-pandemic levels (87.6% for Td/IPV and 88% for MenACWY in the 2018 to 2019 academic year). The data suggests that the NHS has already caught up many children who missed out on their vaccines, with uptake improving to around 80% for children in year 10.

All the routine adolescent immunisation programmes have been impacted by the pandemic and coverage is not back up to pre-pandemic levels. UKHSA is urging parents and guardians to ensure eligible young people are up to date with their adolescent vaccines before they leave school.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:

Vaccines protecting against tetanus, diphtheria, polio and meningococcal disease are offered to young people in school year 9 and are being delivered in schools right now. In recent years we have seen vaccine uptake fall due to the challenges posed by the pandemic. Many young people who missed out on their vaccinations have already been caught up, but more needs to be done to ensure all those eligible are vaccinated.

Children and young people who have missed out on their teenage vaccines should contact their school nurse, school immunisation team or GP surgery to arrange a catch-up.

These vaccines offer the best protection as young people start their journey into adulthood and mixing more widely – whether going to college, starting work, travelling or going to summer festivals.

Health Minister Maria Caulfield said:

It’s fantastic to be supporting World Immunisation Week and I encourage parents to ensure their children receive the routine vaccinations they’re eligible for, including the vaccine for meningitis and the 3-in-1 booster which protects against tetanus, diptheria and polio.

It’s incredibly important for children to stay up to date with routine vaccinations as this remains one of our best defences against infectious diseases, not just for the person being vaccinated but for their family, friends and those around them.

If your child is due for a vaccination, you don’t need to wait to be contacted – speak to your school nurse, school immunisation team or GP surgery to book an appointment.

Steve Russell, National Director for Vaccination and Screening, said:

The 3-in-1 teenage booster and the MenACWY vaccination are extremely well-researched and proven to provide protection against a range of diseases that can cause serious illness.

NHS School Aged Immunisation Services offer these vaccinations in secondary schools, as well as the HPV vaccination that protects against a range of cancers and we strongly urge those eligible and their family members and guardians to ensure they are up to date, and if not to come forward for their vaccines as soon as possible – it’s the best way to keep you protected.

April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Moped delivery drivers from major firms targeted for illegal working [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 24 April 2023.

A week-long crackdown on illegal working by delivery drivers from major firms has resulted in 60 arrests across London and the south.

Following an increase in immigration offences by gig workers in the region, Home Office teams have stepped up action to tackle illegal working and this week arrested drivers working for companies including Deliveroo, JustEat and UberEats.

The arrests were for offences including illegal working and possession of false documentation, but the operation also led to the seizure of weapons and cash suspected of being linked to criminal activity.

Immigration Enforcement carried out extensive intelligence-gathering ahead of the operation, to identify hotspots for illegal moped delivery drivers. Alongside relevant police forces, the Home Office deployed officers on 6 consecutive days (16 to 21 April), to make the arrests and detentions.

The government is clamping down on illegal working to ensure all companies and workers are contributing to the UK economy by complying with our tax and other regulations. More widely, it can also be a pull factor for illegal migration, often trapping vulnerable people in poor conditions and exploitation while undermining the UK’s labour market.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

Illegal working damages our communities, cheats honest workers out of employment and defrauds the public purse. As the Prime Minister has set out, we are committed to going further and faster to prevent the abuse of our laws and borders.

The British public deserve a labour market that is fair and honest and must have confidence that goods and services they buy are from legitimate businesses.

Of those arrested, 44 were detained by the Home Office, pending their removal from the UK, with the remaining 16 being released on immigration bail. It is also expected that a number of the arrests will result in voluntary departure from the UK.

The majority of offenders were of Brazilian nationality. Indian and Algerian nationals were also found to be working without the right to do so in the UK.

Following thorough searches of properties linked to the arrests, imitation firearms and other weapons were found, while over £4,500 was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime, Eddy Montgomery, added:

This is a really positive result and shows why the work we do is so important.

By raising awareness of the risks and consequences of illegal working, we are helping ensure businesses are complying with the rules. Our enforcement teams are working around the clock to deter immigration offending and change behaviours that compromise public safety.

All employers in the UK have a responsibility to prevent illegal working. Employers can be jailed for 5 years and could pay an unlimited fine if they are found guilty of employing someone they knew or had ‘reasonable cause to believe’ did not have the right to work in the UK.

April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Government Minister celebrates success of Wrexham Export Champion [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Welsh Office on 24 April 2023.

Wales Office Minister James Davies visits Air Covers, which was announced as one of eight UK Government Export Champions from Wales last year.

Wales Office Minister James Davies has been (Thursday 20 April) to a Wrexham firm made one of Wales’s first UK Government Export Champions to hear about how they sell their products across the world.

Air Covers makes protective covers for aircraft, vehicles and marine equipment from their design office and workshop in the city.

Last year, the UK Government announced that Air Covers was one of the first eight Export Champions for Wales – representing key sectors for the Welsh economy, including food and drink, FinTech and manufacturing.

The volunteer Export Champions help promote the benefits of exporting and encourage other companies across Wales to consider selling to overseas markets. This will be done through participating in events, sharing their exporting stories with those in their sector, and providing advice to other businesses about how to break into new markets abroad.

Each Champion has been selected because they have a successful international trade track record, have a good story to tell about how exporting makes a positive difference to a company and want to share their knowledge and experience with others.

Wales Office Minister James Davies said:

It was great to visit Air Covers and hear about their export journey and how they’ve achieved their remarkable success.

Export champions represent the best of Welsh business and have a huge amount of expertise to offer others who want to export to different markets.

Air Covers’ success shows that businesses in North Wales can lead the way for the UK economy and make an impact internationally.

Air Covers experienced strong European sales in 2022, with approvals from Airbus Helicopters in France and Germany, and Leonardo Helicopters in Italy. The company will be joining the Wales Trade Mission to Qatar in May to capture business with offshore oil and gas operators, while the recent UK/Australia/New Zealand trade deal has eliminated tariffs for Air Covers products, reducing sale prices by 5%.

Exhibiting at trade shows in the USA, Canada and Spain this year, Air Covers will be promoting its ever-increasing portfolio of products.

John Pattinson, Chief Executive of Air Covers said:

Seeing our products in use on more than £11bn of aircraft around the world and customers coming back for more is the validation future clients need.

They know the team at Air Covers understands their needs and will respond with custom solutions every time.

April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : World’s largest-of-its-kind power line to deliver clean power to 1.8 million UK homes and boost energy security [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 24 April 2023.

LionLink power line between UK and Netherlands will deliver enough electricity to power more homes than Manchester and Birmingham combined.
- LionLink power line between UK and Netherlands will deliver enough electricity to power more homes than Manchester and Birmingham combined
- agreement made as Grant Shapps leads delegation of leading businesses to key North Sea Summit
- part of renewed government drive to work with business to help grow the economy
The world’s largest multi-use electricity power line will be built under the North Sea, boosting UK energy supplies with enough to power 1.8 million homes – more than Birmingham and Manchester combined.

The new LionLink will connect the UK and the Netherlands with offshore wind farms, providing clean affordable and secure energy to Britain which will help cut household bills and drive Putin’s Russia further out of the energy market.

The cross-border electricity line will be only the second of its kind in the world, with the first having been built by Germany and Denmark. However, it will be able to carry more than 4 times the amount of electricity as its predecessor – making it the largest of its kind in terms of capacity anywhere in the world.

While normal interconnectors only connect 2 countries, the multipurpose LionLink will join the UK and Netherlands to each other as well as simultaneously with offshore wind farms at the heart of the North Sea.

The government is announcing the innovative project between the UK and the Netherlands as Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps leads a British business delegation to the crucial North Sea Summit in Belgium today, aiming to boost our collective energy security through new renewable energy and interconnector projects.

This is part of the government’s efforts to work with business to grow the economy, one of the Prime Minister’s 5 priorities. Boosting clean energy not only helps create better paid jobs across the country but also strengthens economic security by reducing reliance on foreign gas supplies.

The summit will see 9 countries meet in Ostend to agree ambitions for building future offshore wind farms. While there, the Energy Security Secretary is also expected to sign a historic agreement with Denmark to boost trade in cheaper, cleaner energy.

Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said:

Today’s historic deal with the Netherlands connects our two countries together through this exciting feat of innovation and engineering – the largest of its kind in the world which will provide enough electricity for more homes than in Manchester and Birmingham combined.

Together with the strong ties we have with our northern European neighbours united today at the North Sea Summit, we are bolstering our energy security and sending a strong signal to Putin’s Russia that the days of his dominance over global power markets are well and truly over.

I’m proud to have the best of UK energy firms and organisations with me, flying the flag for British business and demonstrating our world-leading expertise in cleaner, cheaper and secure renewable technologies – helping deliver on one of our 5 priorities to grow the economy.

Ben Wilson, President National Grid Ventures, said:

Connecting wind farms to multiple markets simultaneously is a game changer for energy infrastructure and brings us one step closer to realising the enormous green energy potential of the North Sea.

Not only can we deploy every spare electron where it is needed most, we can help to reduce the impact of infrastructure on coastal communities.

We now need the right political, legal and regulatory framework to make it happen and establish a mutually beneficial North Sea grid to deliver a cleaner, fairer, more secure and more affordable energy future for British and European consumers.

The countries attending today’s summit alongside the UK are Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway and the Netherlands

The new LionLink will carry 1.8GW of electricity, compared to Germany and Denmark’s Kassø-Frøslev (Kriegers Flag), which carries 0.4GW. It will be developed by National Grid Ventures and TenneT and will be operational by the early 2030s.

This builds on the 8.4GW interconnector capacity that the UK has – and LionLink alone will increase that by up to a fifth, meaning more clean and affordable power for UK homes and businesses.

This increased interconnectivity also means LionLink will be good both for the UK’s coastal communities and the environment by reducing the need for further onshore construction and visible infrastructure, as well as lessening the impact on the North Sea’s wildlife.

Britain’s world-class innovation, knowledge and skills within the North Sea energy sector is expected to bring £20 billion a year of investment to the UK’s coastal regions and create 40,000 skilled green jobs to Britain.

Manon van Beek, CEO of TenneT, said:

It is our conviction that offshore hubs configured in a meshed DC grid must form the backbone of the North Sea powerhouse.

This is a view that is increasingly shared, and for us, it is more than a vision of the future.

In fact, we are already doing it by kicking off this ground-breaking LionLink project right now. It is a first step and a great opportunity to learn as the offshore grid takes shape.

Minister Rob Jetten, Climate & Energy for the Netherlands:

With the North Sea becoming the largest supplier of green electricity for the Netherlands and large parts of Europe, we are ready to expand the interconnection between the 2 countries. LionLink provides close to 2 gigawatts of electricity to both countries, enough to power 2 million households.

This new connection further boosts energy security and energy independence in Europe. Close collaboration on offshore wind energy and interconnection amongst the North Sea countries is imperative.

So in case there is a surplus of wind generated electricity, it can be shared instantly to locations with a shortage of power, and vice versa.

The Energy Security Secretary is also expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Denmark today, which will ensure further collaboration on the transition from fossil fuels to renewable technologies – offshore wind, especially.
April 24, 2023