Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Philip de László painting of two Indian soldiers at risk of leaving UK [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 14 April 2023.

A painting by Philip de László of two Indian soldiers who served in the First World War is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found.
Export bar placed on portrait to allow time for a UK institution to acquire the work

Portrait depicts two cavalry officers who are thought to have fought at the Battle of the Somme

A painting by Philip de László of two Indian soldiers who served in the First World War is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found.

The unfinished portrait, valued at £650,000, depicts the cavalry officers Risaldar Jagat Singh and Risaldar Man Singh. The pair were junior troop commanders in the British Indian Army’s Expeditionary Force who served at the Battle of the Somme and are presumed to have died in action.

The soldiers sat for the artist in London two months before being sent to France to fight in the trenches. The painting is extremely rare in depicting active Indian participants in the First World War.

The painting is a fine example of a portrait by one of the most renowned artists of the twentieth century and captures an important moment in British history as soldiers from across the Empire came to fight in Europe.

The painting appears to have been created for de László’s own collection and it remained in his studio until he died in 1937.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

“ This wonderful and sensitive portrait captures an important moment in our history as soldiers were drawn from across the globe to help fight in the trenches of the First World War.

“ I hope this magnificent painting can remain in the UK to help tell the story of those brave soldiers and the contribution they and so many others made to Allied victory.”

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest.

Committee Member Peter Barber said:

“ Philip de László was one of Britain’s most distinguished society portrait painters of the early twentieth century. But this sensitive portrait, all the more powerful because it is unfinished, offers an exceptionally rare glimpse not of maharajahs or generals but of two ‘ordinary’ middle-ranking Sikh soldiers about to depart for the horrors of the Battle of the Somme. The enormous contribution made by them and millions of other Indians to Britain’s war effort between 1914 and 1918 has until recently been largely overlooked and the life stories of de László’s sitters remain to be uncovered. Yet numerous descendants of Indian soldiers now live in Britain, rendering the portrait ‘British’ at several, increasingly significant, levels.

“ The portrait also raises more general questions of personal and externally perceived ‘British’ identity. That the painting, apparently undertaken voluntarily and without payment, had special meaning for the artist is suggested by the fact that it remained in his studio until he died. De László could well have seen parallels between the position of these outsiders loyally serving their imperial master and his own as a humbly-born Hungarian Jew who had reinvented himself as a patriotic member of British high society. Like the Indians serving in the British forces, he too faced discrimination in face of growing public xenophobia. Within months of creating this portrait he was to be interned for over a year as a suspected foreign agent and to suffer a nervous breakdown after having been, sadistically, refused permission to paint.

“ This perceptive and deeply personal painting, exceptional in de Lazlo’s oeuvre, speaks at several levels to the British experience, both positive and less positive, and should remain in this country to be viewed, studied – and enjoyed.”

The committee made its recommendation on the basis of the third Waverley criterion for its outstanding significance to the study of the Indian contribution to war effort and the individuals involved.

The decision on the export licence application for the painting will be deferred for a period ending on 13 July 2023.

At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the painting at the recommended price of £650,000 (plus VAT of £130,000 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution).The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.
April 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [April 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 April 2023.

The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelenskyy this morning.

The leaders discussed the latest situation on the battlefield and the Prime Minister paid tribute to the efforts of the Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut.

Discussing the abhorrent beheading of a Ukrainian soldier shown on social media in recent days, the Prime Minister said the video was appalling and those responsible had to be held to account.

The leaders also discussed efforts to accelerate military support to Ukraine, and the Prime Minister said the UK and its allies needed to continue to ensure Ukraine was in the strongest possible position to build on its recent battlefield successes.

That included increasing interoperability with NATO both in the short and long term, the Prime Minister added.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

April 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Shortage of bus technicians leads to licence revocation – Millmans Coaches [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 14 April 2023.

The 20-vehicle bus and coach operator licence of Millmans Coaches Ltd, t/as Grey Cars and Coaches of Torbay has been revoked by Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney following reports of serious mechanical defects.

One minibus checked by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency had a completely dry brake fluid reservoir. Another had a fuel tank dislodged causing Devon County Council to have to re-surface 100m of road. Eight of twenty-one recent DVSA inspections had found vehicles so dangerous that they could not be allowed to continue in service.

The commissioner heard that the company had struggled to retain professional PSV technicians, despite multiple attempts to recruit and offering market-average salaries. Former driver and current transport manager Paul Hamlyn-White had adopted the title of fleet engineer having had only a few days technical training. At the hearing, he demonstrated a complete lack of the fundamental knowledge required for an engineering role. The commissioner found Mr Hamlyn-White and the company had acted recklessly in allowing the fleet’s maintenance to be managed with no relevant qualified personnel.

The traffic commissioner said “…it so bad that I need to put the operator out of business. I cannot allow a sixteen-vehicle operation to continue. The risk is simply too great. Every other vehicle inspected by DVSA whilst in service is so dangerous that an immediate prohibition is issued… the person in charge of the fleet has no relevant qualification and demonstrated in the hearing a lack of even the most basic understanding of vehicle systems and the physics that lies behind them. This is an operation that, for the safety of schoolchildren in south Devon and other road users must be brought to an end.”

Further details can be found here.

April 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Statement on 35th Anniversary of the Anfal campaign [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 April 2023.

Minister of State for the Middle East honours those killed and injured in Saddam Hussein’s brutal campaign.

On the 35th anniversary, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, said:

Today, we mark the 35th Anniversary of the Anfal Campaign and honour the memory of those who were killed or affected during these tragic events.

Between 1986 and 1989, Saddam Hussein’s regime conducted a brutal, coordinated campaign against Kurdish and other minority groups in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This included Saddam Hussein’s abhorrent order to use chemical weapons against his own civilians, most infamously at Halabja.

The Anfal Campaign resulted in 4,000 Kurdish villages being destroyed and between 50,000-100,000 men, women and children being murdered or maimed, and forcibly displaced from their homes. We must never forget the inhumane nature of Saddam Hussein’s monstrous crimes.

My thoughts are with the families of those who were killed and the survivors who are still living with unimaginable, life-changing consequences.

The UK remains committed in its support for the peace, stability and prosperity of the people of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

April 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Strategic Command personnel recognised in Operational Awards List [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 14 April 2023.

Members of Strategic Command have been recognised in the Operational Awards List for their services to Defence.

Members of Strategic Command have been recognised in the Operational Awards List for their services to defence. The list recognises the commitment and commendable service of armed forces personnel.

The following individuals have been recognised:

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Royal Air Force Acting Warrant Officer J Putland
- British Army Staff Sergeant J Johnson
- British Army Acting Corporal E Duggleby-Cantrell
US Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer)
- Royal Navy Rear Admiral E Ahlgren OBE
US Bronze Star Medal
- British Army Major M Hughes
Canadian Meritorious Service Medal
- British Army Brigadier R Lyne
Canadian Special Service Medal with NATO Bar
- British Army Major S Tucker
Canadian Special Service Medal with Expedition Bar
- British Army Captain T Milton
Joint Commander’s Commendation
- British Army Lieutenant Z Al-Khamiri
- Royal Air Force Flight Sergeant J Aitchison
- British Army Staff Sergeant A Capsey
- Royal Air Force Sergeant J Bailey
- British Army Lance Corporal W Butler
Team Commendation
- Force Movements Control Centre Forward (Middle East)
  - Royal Air Force Acting Sergeant R Clement
  - Royal Air Force Acting Corporal T Walker-Reed
April 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Operational Honours and Awards List [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 14 April 2023.

The latest Operational Honours and Awards List recognises the bravery, commitment and commendable service of Armed Forces personnel.
The latest Operational Honours and Awards List has been announced recognising the bravery, commitment, and commendable service of Armed Forces personnel.

The recipients have all shown outstanding courage and dedication while on operations.

The full list is below:

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Lieutenant Colonel (now Colonel) Oliver James STEAD, Army Air Corps

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Paul WORTH, Royal Tank Regiment

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Lance Corporal (now Acting Corporal) Elizabeth DUGGLEBY-CANTRELL, Intelligence Corps

Captain Darren JOHNSON, The Royal Dragoon Guards

Staff Sergeant Jodi Marie JOHNSON, Intelligence Corps

Major Mark Richard Hort PLAYER, The Royal Logistic Corps

Major Lauren Frances SHEPHERD, The Royal Logistic Corps

Acting Warrant Officer James William PUTLAND, Royal Air Force

King’s Commendation for Valuable Service (KCVS)

Staff Sergeant (now Warrant Officer Class 2) Kenneth Robert COPELAND, Army Air Corps

Major Stephanie Ann MANNING-DEGOBERTIERE, Royal Regiment of Artillery

Captain Lucy Monica Manners POWELL, The Royal Logistic Corps

Major Benjamin Andrew WHITE, Corps of Royal Engineers

Private Harry James DEAR, The Royal Logistic Corps

King’s Commendation for Bravery (KCB)

Lance Sergeant Robert John PADGHAM, Coldstream Guards

Foreign Awards List

The full list is below:

US LEGION OF MERIT (Degree of Officer)

Commodore (now Rear Admiral) Edward Graham AHLGREN, OBE

Brigadier Oliver Charles Christopher BROWN

Brigadier (now Retired) Stephen John CARTWRIGHT, OBE

US BRONZE STAR MEDAL

Major Marc Edward HUGHES, Royal Tank Regiment

Warrant Officer Class 2, Nicholas Hywel PUGH, The Parachute Regiment

Captain (now Major) Robert James SMITH, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment

Squadron Leader Robert James HURCOMB, Royal Air Force

Squadron Leader Alan John SWAN, Royal Air Force

CANADIAN MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL

Colonel (now Brigadier) Richard Frederick Lander Lyne

CANADIAN SPECIAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH “NATO” BAR

Major Simon TUCKER, Royal Corps of Signals

CANADIAN SPECIAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH “Expedition” BAR

Captain Thomas Oliver MILTON, Corps of Royal Engineers

Médaille DE LA DÉFENSE NATIONALE (ÉCHELON BRONZE)

Major Samuel MORETON, Royal Marines

Lieutenant (now Lieutenant Commander) Kristopher John STOREY, Royal Navy

Lieutenant Commander David John THOMPSON, Royal Navy

Médaille d’outre-mer (SAHEL)

Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Neale MASON, Royal Regiment of Artillery
April 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Major funding boost to progress future fighter jet programme [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 14 April 2023.

A £656 million funding allocation will propel the sixth-generation fighter jet programme into the next phase, focusing on technology.
More than £650 million allocated to continue development of next generation fighter jet

Programme to support thousands of jobs across the country as it expands with GCAP partners Japan and Italy

UK focused on aircraft’s 2035 in-service date to ensure the UK Armed Forces remain a step ahead of adversaries

As part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – a trilateral collaboration with Japan and Italy to develop the next generation of fighter jet – the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded the major contract to BAE Systems on behalf of British defence firms; Leonardo UK, MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce, to progress the design and development of this aircraft. Tempest is the UK name for the aircraft in development under GCAP.

The contract will build on the ground-breaking science, research and engineering already completed. The UK MOD and our industry partners are working in close collaboration with GCAP partners Japan and Italy. Together, the partners will now progress the maturity of more than 60 cutting-edge technology demonstrations, digital concepts and new technologies.

These are critical to the UK’s sovereign defence capability and will help shape the final requirements with Japan and Italy for the combat air platform, due to enter service by 2035.

The aircraft is designed to be an innovative stealth fighter with supersonic capability and equipped with cutting edge technologies, including state-of-the-art sensing and protection capabilities. This will make the aircraft one of the world’s most advanced, interoperable, adaptable and connected fighter jets in service globally.

Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said:

The next tranche of funding for future combat air will help fuse the combined technologies and expertise we have with our international partners – both in Europe and the Pacific – to deliver this world-leading fighter jet by 2035, protecting our skies for decades to come.

This investment forms part of more than £2 billion worth of UK Government spending on the project up to May 2025, announced in the 2021 Defence Command Paper.

Delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the UK, GCAP will span several decades, creating thousands of jobs and economic value to the UK. There are already more than 2,800 people working at the UK partners and wider industry, with almost 600 organisations on contract across the UK, including SMEs and academic institutions.

A 2021 report by PWC suggested the UK taking a core role in a combat air system could support an average of 21,000 jobs a year and contribute an estimated £26.2 billion to the economy by 2050.

Across UK industry, work on this programme is driving investment in new digital technologies, tools and techniques, including model-based systems engineering with open architectures, digital twins and virtual environments. This will ensure the next generation combat aircraft will be delivered more rapidly and more cost-effectively than previous combat air programmes.

Herman Claesen, Managing Director, Future Combat Air Systems – BAE Systems Air, said:

This contract reflects the continued commitment by the UK Government and ensures we continue to mature this significant programme and the vital technology pipeline that will drive innovation into – and beyond – the combat air sector for decades to come.

This important work is at the core of the newly created Global Combat Air Programme; a major international partnership and ambitious endeavour between the UK, Japan and Italy with the shared goal to deliver the next generation of combat air fighter jets by 2035.

The announcement follows the UK, Japan and Italy joining forces at DSEI Japan to showcase GCAP publicly for the first time since it was announced by the Prime Ministers of the UK, Japan and Italy late last year. In March, the Defence Secretary visited Tokyo to view some of the leading technology that is driving this unique programme.

By combining forces, the UK and our partners will deliver the military capability we need to overcome fast evolving threats, share costs and ensure the RAF remains interoperable with some of our closest partners.
April 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Pandemic support for film and TV such as Peaky Blinders kept thousands in jobs and contributed billion to economy [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 13 April 2023.

GLOBAL TV hits nominated for BAFTAs and Oscar Academy Awards survived and thrived through the pandemic thanks to the Government’s film and TV support package, which also boosted the country’s economy by £2.25 billion.
- Restart scheme supported more than 100,000 jobs for cast and crew on more than 1,000 productions including Gentleman Jack, His Dark Materials and Living
- Financial benefits generated by the scheme were 115 times greater than the cost of delivery
- Programme provided insurance to productions delayed or interrupted due to Covid
GLOBAL TV hits nominated for BAFTAs and Oscar Academy Awards survived and thrived through the pandemic thanks to the Government’s film and TV support package, which also boosted the country’s economy by £2.25 billion.

Oscar-nominated film Living, Bafta nominees Brian & Charles, Blue Jean and Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, as well as major productions including Gentleman Jack, Peaky Blinders and His Dark Materials, were all supported by the scheme. Smaller productions including Help and Steph’s Packed Lunch also got help.

The findings are published today in an independent report assessing the success of the Film and TV Production Restart Scheme, which was launched in July 2020 and has supported more than 1,200 productions.

The scheme was introduced when the country’s world-class screen industries were struggling to get Covid-related insurance cover from commercial insurers. It protected production companies in the event of new restrictions or outbreaks on set among cast and crew which could force a shutdown.

Productions using the scheme created 63,500 crew positions, plus a further 37,100 cast roles, meaning a total of up to 100,600 production industry workers were given a lifeline by the scheme during an extremely challenging economic period. The report also shows the scheme created 48,500 full-time jobs both directly in the sector and indirectly through supply chains.

The report, carried out by Nordicity & Saffery Champness LLP, found total benefits generated by the scheme were 115 times greater than the cost of delivery. The scheme contributed £2.25 billion to the economy thanks to the jobs created and positive impact on the sectors’ supply chains and wider economy, with costs to the Government expected to be just £19.6 million. This is lower than anticipated thanks to effective work by film and TV companies to manage the risks of Covid during production.

A survey of producers showed that, on average, 73 per cent of registered productions would not have been able to spend the amount of money they did if the scheme did not exist, meaning it helped to ensure the continued growth of the sectors.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

” Our screen industries are an economic powerhouse and we should be proud that the UK is firmly established as one of the best places in the world to create blockbuster content.

” When the pandemic threatened that success we stepped in to protect jobs, keep cameras rolling and ensure our producers could keep making the exceptional content that the UK is famous for.

” The Film and TV Restart Scheme protected productions that supported jobs, contributed to our economy and entertained audiences across the world.”

John McVay, chief executive of the screen industry trade body Pact, said:

“The swift actions of the UK Government to set up the PRS at a time of unprecedented crisis in the UK’s Film and TV industry showed that by working closely with a major UK industry public funds could be effectively used to support one of the UK’s key economic and cultural industries. The PRS saved many small British production businesses from failing while also helping support significant employment. But more importantly ensured that the UK public could continue to enjoy great British programmes and films.”

Ben Roberts, BFI Chief Executive said:

“Setting up the Film and Television Production Restart Scheme showed overnment and industry working together at their best and at speed, enabling cameras to roll and businesses, cast and crew to get back to work. Making this happen at a crucial time after production had ground to a halt will always be appreciated by the sector. It has played a major part in the industry’s recovery out of the pandemic in doing to enabled the industry to get more than a thousand productions made, contributed billions in production spend and revenues to economy and maintained global confidence in our world-leading production industry.”

Thanks to the scheme, productions could continue creating new content for audiences around the world while curbs remained on their social lives. It also enabled our world-class film and TV industries to continue to drive economic growth and create new jobs.

The scheme supported a large number of productions outside of London, with a total of 58 per cent of film and TV productions registered by the scheme based outside the capital.

Now that restrictions have ended, the film and TV sectors have been able to reach new heights thanks to the strong government backing they received during the pandemic. Last year saw a record £6.27 billion of production spend in the UK and the sectors are continuing to grow the economy and create jobs across the entire country.
April 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Minister for the Americas travels to Honduras [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 April 2023.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), David Rutley, will travel to Honduras on 18 April.

This is Minister Rutley’s first visit to the country and the second by a British Minister since 2016. His visit is part of a regional tour that will take him to the Central American Northern Triangle (Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador).

His visit will focus on strengthening UK ties with Honduras as well as discussing a wide range of international issues, such as the war in Ukraine, free trade, regional stability and climate change, amongst others. For this purpose, Minister Rutley will meet:

Honduran Government officials
The Central American Bank of Economic Intergration –CABEI
Civil society representatives
Business leaders
On Ukraine, Minister Rutley will stress the need for countries stand together against the war while commending Honduras’ role at the UN’s Human Rights Council. Latin America is suffering from the fallout from Putin’s war in terms of higher energy, food and fertiliser prices, which feed into higher prices across the board.

At meetings with representatives of the Central American Bank of Economic Integration (CABEI), Minister Rutley will stress the UK is keen to support the infrastructure development that the region needs with UK expertise and finance, including investments from the private sectors. He will make the case for Honduras continue boosting trade with the UK through the UK-Central America Association Agreement.

On climate change, Minister Rutley will urge Honduras to continue playing an active role in cutting emissions and transitioning to clean energy. These plans will complement the UK’s investment of US$19 million in Mesoamerica, including Trifinio and la Mosquitia in Honduras, through the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, to reduce poverty and create climate resilience.

At meetings with civil society groups, Minister Rutley will stress the unequivocal UK commitment to protect human rights, ranging from the situation of media freedom in the country, to listening to human rights defenders and continue advocating for the rights of vulnerable minorities.

April 14, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Minister for the Americas travels to Guatemala [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 April 2023.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), David Rutley, will travel to Guatemala on 17 April.

This is Minister Rutley’s first visit to the country and the second by a British Minister since 2016. His visit is part of a regional tour that will take him to the Central American Northern Triangle (Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras).
His visit will focus on strengthening UK ties with Guatemala as well as discussing a wide range of international issues, such as the war in Ukraine, free trade, regional stability and climate change, amongst others. For this purpose, Minister Rutley will meet:

Guatemalan Government officials

Human Rights defenders

Environmental institutions

Business leaders

On Ukraine, Minister Rutley will stress the need for countries stand together against the war while welcoming Guatemala’s efforts at multilateral forums to condemn the Russian aggression. Latin America is suffering from the fallout from Putin’s war in terms of higher energy, food and fertiliser prices, which feed into higher prices across the board.

Minister Rutley will also discuss with the business sector how to continue strengthening our bilateral economic ties, including boosting trade through the UK-Central America Association Agreement. The UK is also keen to support the infrastructure development that the region needs with UK expertise and finance, including investments from the private sectors.

On climate change, Minister Rutley will urge Guatemala to continue playing an active role in cutting emissions and transitioning to clean energy. These plans will complement the UK’s investment of US$19 million in Mesoamerica, including Trifinio and the Mayan Jungle in Guatemala, through the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, to reduce poverty and create climate resilience.

At meetings with civil society groups, Minister Rutley will stress the unequivocal UK commitment to defend human rights and the rule of law, ranging from the situation of media freedom in the country, to listening to human rights defenders and continue advocating for the rights of vulnerable minorities.

Finally, Minister Rutley will visit British NGO Street Kids Direct and learn about the work they are doing with kids in vulnerable situations.
April 14, 2023