Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [March 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 March 2023.

The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelenksyy this afternoon.

The President updated on the latest situation in Bakhmut, and the leaders discussed the impressive defence of the city by Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Both leaders paid tribute to the bravery of all those defending the region.

The Prime Minister reflected on his discussions with his French, US and Australian counterparts in recent days, and said the UK continued to work closely with allies to ensure Ukraine received the defensive equipment it needed.

He added that it was vital Ukraine had the capabilities to change the battlefield equation as soon as possible, and updated on the delivery of further UK military aid.

Discussing the ongoing training of Ukrainian forces in the UK, the Prime Minister said marines were today out on exercise in the UK, and both leaders agreed the addition of French forces to that training programme would help give Ukraine an additional advantage on the battlefield.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

March 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on the Occasion of the 12th Anniversary of the Syrian Uprising [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 March 2023.

The UK, US, France, and Germany have issued a joint statement on the occasion of the 12-year anniversary of the Syrian uprising.

The following statement was released by France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America on the occasion of the 12-year anniversary of the Syrian uprising:

Today marks the beginning of the 13th year since the Syrian people peacefully rose up to demand their freedom and dignity, calling on the Assad regime to respect their inalienable rights and to stop human rights violations.  Almost a quarter of a million Syrian civilians have been killed since then, the vast majority of them by the Assad regime, which met its people’s demands with atrocities that continue today. The ongoing conflict has created a permissive environment for terrorists and drug traffickers to exploit, further threatening regional stability.

This year’s anniversary comes on the heels of a series of devastating earthquakes that claimed the lives of nearly 10,000 Syrians inside the country and across the border in Türkiye many of whom sought refuge there after fleeing the Assad regime.  In light of this catastrophe, we renew our call on all parties in Syria to observe their commitments under ceasefire agreements, work towards a sustained calm, permit unhindered humanitarian access and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid through all modalities, including the continued authorization of the cross-border mechanism by the UN Security Council, and address the increasing need for assistance after over a decade of war and abuse. To respond to this humanitarian crisis, we have issued emergency exemptions to our sanctions policies which facilitate the delivery of humanitarian and disaster relief to earthquake affected areas, while preventing the Assad regime from benefiting from this assistance at the expense of the Syrian people.

As we focus on addressing the immediate humanitarian needs following the tragic earthquakes, we recall our joint goals to advance a UN-facilitated, Syrian-led political process in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and to improve the situation on the ground for millions of Syrians in other ways, including the situation of internally displaced persons and refugees.  We remain committed to supporting Syrian civil society and ending the human rights violations and abuses the Syrian people have suffered – from the Assad regime and others – long before the earthquakes struck. The international community must work together to hold the Assad regime and all perpetrators of abuses, violations, and atrocities accountable.  We welcome ongoing efforts by national courts to investigate and prosecute crimes committed in Syria.  Furthermore, we call on all parties to release and/or clarify the fate and whereabouts of over 155,000 persons who, to this day, remain unjustly detained or missing in Syria.

We are not normalising relations with the Assad regime, nor are we funding reconstruction of the damage inflicted by the regime during the conflict or lifting sanctions. For the benefit of the Syrian people, we will not normalise until there is authentic and enduring progress towards a political solution. As we observe the 12th anniversary of the Assad regime’s initiation of this horrendous conflict, and as we confront conflict elsewhere around the world, the plight of the Syrian people must remain front and center. We continue to stand with the Syrian people and strongly support efforts to advance an enduring political solution, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, that is grounded in justice and accountability and remains the only way to achieve the stable peace that Syrians need and deserve.

March 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government and health unions agree pay deal paving way for an end to strike action [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 16 March 2023.

After constructive talks with health unions, the government has put forward an offer for more than 1 million NHS staff to receive an additional pay rise.

More than 1 million NHS staff in England will receive an additional pay rise as part of an offer made following talks between the government and Agenda for Change unions.

In the last 2 weeks, the government has been holding formal negotiations with unions representing staff including nurses, paramedics, 999 call handlers, midwives, security guards and cleaners, to find a fair and reasonable way forward on pay.

All parties committed to finding a fair deal for hardworking NHS staff, and a deal that also acknowledged the wider economic pressures facing the UK that would ensure we can deliver the Prime Minister’s promise to halve inflation – one of his 5 priorities.

The government hugely values the work of NHS staff. They showed bravery and dedication to support the country throughout the pandemic and are now playing a vital role in the government’s ambition to cut the waiting lists that have built up as a result of COVID.

The government also recognises that families across the country are facing increasing financial pressures, fuelled by the war in Ukraine and the ongoing fallout from the pandemic.

The talks have been constructive and the government has now put forward a final offer.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), UNISON, GMB, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the British Dietetic Association will recommend the offer to their members in consultations that will be held over the coming weeks. Strike action will continue to be paused while they are consulted.

Under the deal, Agenda for Change staff will receive a non-consolidated award of 2% of an individual’s salary for 2022 to 2023.

This is on top of the pay increase of at least 4% they received for 2022 to 2023 last year, as recommended by the independent pay review body process, worth at least £1,400, meaning a newly qualified nurse received a 5.5% increase and those on the lowest salaries received a pay rise of 9.3%.

In addition, they will receive a one-off ‘NHS backlog bonus’ which recognises the sustained pressure facing the NHS following the pandemic and the extraordinary effort staff have been making to hit backlog recovery targets and meet the Prime Minister’s promise to cut waiting lists.

The backlog bonus will be worth at least £1,250 per person but will be determined based on how much experience staff have and based on an individual’s pay band. The average nurse in pay band 5, for example, will receive £1,350.

For 2023 to 2024, the government is offering Agenda for Change staff a 5% consolidated increase in pay, worth at least £1,065.

As a result of this package, a newly qualified nurse will see their salary go up by more than £2,750 over 2 years from 2021 to 2022 to 2023 to 2024. On top of this they will also receive over £1,890 in one-off payments this year.

The deal will also provide a higher pay uplift for the lowest paid NHS staff, with all those in bands 1 and 2 having their pay raised to the same level.

The government can guarantee that there will be no impact on frontline services or the quality of care that patients receive as a result of this pay offer.

The government firmly believes this is a fair and reasonable deal for Agenda for Change staff, as well as being a fair deal for taxpayers and will ensure we can continue to reduce inflation.

It remains the Prime Minister’s promise to halve inflation and the government’s objective to support the Bank of England to return inflation to the 2% target – because failing to control inflation will make every household poorer and make it harder to grow the economy.

On top of the pay package, the government is also committing to a number of reforms.

NHS staff should work in an environment that is free from deliberate violence, abuse and aggression. The government will ask the existing groups established in the NHS Social Partnership Forum working on violence reduction to work with the NHS Staff Council to identify ways to tackle and reduce violence against NHS staff.

It will also make the suspension of pension abatement rules introduced during the pandemic permanent and introduce measures to ensure safer staffing levels in hospitals.

In addition, the Health and Social Care Secretary has written to the RCN to outline that in undertaking work to address the specific challenges faced by nursing staff – in terms of recruitment, retention and professional development – this will involve how to take account of the changing responsibilities of nursing staff, and the design and implementation issues, including scope and legal aspects, of a separate pay spine for nursing staff exclusively.

The government intends to complete this work such that resulting changes can be delivered within the 2024 to 2025 pay year. In conducting it, the government will also consider whether any separate measures may apply to other occupational groups, taking into account the views of NHS Employers and unions.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

I’m really pleased that after several weeks of constructive talks, the government and the Agenda for Change unions have come to an agreement that will provide a fair deal for NHS staff and put disruptive strike action behind us.

It is right that we reward our hardworking NHS staff, who showed bravery and dedication throughout the pandemic and continue to make phenomenal progress to tackle waiting lists. Importantly this deal is also affordable for the taxpayer and continues to deliver on my promise to halve inflation.

We have taken a reasonable approach throughout and this offer is good for NHS staff, it’s good for the taxpayer and most importantly it is good news for patients whose care will no longer be disrupted by strike action.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

I hugely admire the incredible work of NHS staff, including during the pandemic and the progress they have made to tackle the resulting backlog.

This offer will give nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists and other non-medical staff a fair pay rise while protecting our commitment to halve inflation.

We have engaged in constructive and meaningful discussions with unions and NHS Employers and I look forward to continuing our work together to make the NHS a better place to work.

March 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The worsening situation in Myanmar means conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingya are not in place – UK Statement at the UN [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 March 2023.

Statement by Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN General Assembly debate on Myanmar.

Thank you Mr. President, and the UN Special Envoy for the very sobering briefing.

Mr. President, it has now been over two years since the military’s coup. Since then, over 3,100 people have been killed by the military regime. Over 20,000 people have been arbitrarily detained and over 17 million are in need of humanitarian assistance.

The military regime is using increasingly brutal tactics to sow fear and repress any form of opposition. Indiscriminate air strikes are increasing. As are reports of military atrocities, conflict related sexual violence, and mass burning of villages. We condemn the latest horrifying reports of a massacre of at least 28 people sheltering in a monastery in Southern Shan State over the weekend.

I wish to make three points:

First, we fully support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to find durable and inclusive dialogue-driven solutions to the escalating crisis in Myanmar. ASEAN’s leadership is central – we welcome the renewed efforts under Indonesia’s leadership, including to fully implement the ASEAN Five Point Consensus. In December, the Security Council agreed resolution 2669 which sent a unified message: of solidarity with the people of Myanmar; of support to ASEAN’s efforts; on the need to end violence immediately; and on the need to release political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. Today’s General Assembly discussion has echoed these messages. There is strength in this collective unity.

Second, the military should face the consequences of their actions. Since the coup, the UK has sanctioned 18 individuals and 28 entities, including those who have committed serious human rights violations. We encourage others to do the same, and we reiterate that no country should sell arms to Myanmar.

Finally, we cannot forget the most vulnerable. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya and other minorities remain confined to their villages and Internally Displaced Peoples camps in Rakhine State. The systemic human rights violations they have suffered for decades must end. The worsening situation in Myanmar means conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingya are not in place. We thank the UN, the Government of Bangladesh, and other hosting nations for their generosity and for the lifesaving support they are providing to the Rohingya. We should support efforts to meaningfully include their voices in discussions on Myanmar’s future – a peaceful, democratic future that meets the aspirations of the people of Myanmar.

March 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State of Scotland responds to March Labour Market Stats [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland on 16 March 2023.

The Secretary of State welcomes the publication of national statistics covering the Scottish Labour Market for the three month period November 2022-January 2023.

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said:

“Today’s figures reflect that, although we still face significant challenges, Scotland’s labour market remains resilient. We have record numbers of people on the payroll and unemployment remains around historic lows.

“There is more to do to stabilise our economy and this week the Chancellor will set out the next steps in our plan to grow the UK economy, halve inflation and to cut debt. These will include measures to boost opportunity across the country, including expected support for Edinburgh’s festival economy, which contributes more than £300 million a year to the UK.”

March 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Ukrainians are forced to endure horrors in their fight for freedom – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 March 2023.

Ambassador Bush shares testimonies from three of the brave Ukrainians who spoke at a recent event held by the British Embassy in Kyiv.

Thank you, Mr Chair. As my Ukrainian colleague has just highlighted, this weekend marks nine years since the illegal annexation of Crimea. Let us not forget – 2014 was the year when Russia’s aggression against Ukraine started. Russia deployed military troops to the Crimean Peninsula with the intention of taking it by force, and nine years ago today, tried to give these actions a veneer of legitimacy with a sham referendum. We have seen systematic restrictions of fundamental freedoms and violations of human rights for the people of Crimea, especially ethnic and religious minorities, ever since.

As we know, since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, many of the practices first utilised on the Peninsula are being applied across the temporarily Russian controlled territories. We have heard countless reports of human rights violations in these areas. I would like to share testimonies from three of the brave Ukrainians who spoke at a recent event held by the British Embassy in Kyiv. I have changed the names of these individuals.

Oleh and Dmytro lived in Mariupol, 7 kilometres from Azovstal. They heard the first explosions on 26 February 2022 and were soon without power. Before long, corpses were everywhere. They tried to leave with their families on 5 March. At checkpoints they were stripped and checked for any allegiance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They were prevented from leaving and joined a queue of thousands being subjected to ‘filtration’. Once they had their fingerprints taken and received documents permitting them to move between territories, they returned home to find their houses had been hit with explosives. The Russian forces were treating Ukrainians “like cattle”. Children were eating grass and drinking water from puddles due to shortages of food and water. They left in a convoy of 19 cars, escorted by a UN vehicle. They were allowed to leave, but to do so they had to cross a minefield.

Petro worked for the hospital in Nova Kakhovka, Kherson, for six months under temporary Russian control. He was detained and offered the chance to collaborate. When he declined, he was taken to the basement of the national police headquarters. His photograph, fingerprints, identification, and phone were taken. He was held for 12 days in a six by four metre cell with 13 other people. There was no bed, no sink. He was allowed just two 15-minute walks per day. Sometimes, he was given leftover food from soldiers, but that was all he received. People were interrogated at night, sometimes violently in the corridors. One night, they were beaten with clubs. In his last interrogation, he was released on the condition that he left Kherson. He has been forced to leave behind everything he has worked for. He is waiting for Nova Kakhovhka to be liberated.

Anna’s home is Oleshky, in Kherson oblast, where on 24 February fighting started around a nearby bridge. Her husband together with neighbours patrolled the town, removing unexploded bombs. On 17 March, the Russian forces took him. She has heard from a released prisoner that he is alive and in a different territory, but that he has a broken arm and has suffered a heart attack. He was reportedly charged of spying and told by the court that he would be sentenced to 10-20 years. She is waiting for his release.

These are just three stories, but they illustrate the horrors that the Ukrainian people have been forced to endure in their fight for freedom. We thank these individuals for their courage in sharing their stories. We also join Ukraine in calling for the release of human rights activist Maksym Butkevych who was ‘sentenced’ last week in a sham trial to 13 years in prison.

Mr Chair, the UK is proud to welcome Justice Ministers from around the world to London next week, together with the Netherlands, to provide practical support to the International Criminal Court’s investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine. This includes support to gather testimonies, without causing victims further distress, and to share evidence of atrocities committed on the ground. War criminals will be held to account. Justice will be served.

Thank you.

March 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government commits up to £3.5 billion to future of tech and science [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 16 March 2023.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will play an essential role in helping deliver commitments made by the Chancellor in yesterday’s Budget.
Around £1 billion of government funding pledged for the next generation of supercomputing and AI research to establish the UK as a science and technology superpower

government accepts all recommendations from Sir Patrick Vallance’s Review into smarter regulation, ensuring we establish gold-standard in regulation for future industries

new Quantum Strategy, backed by £2.5 billion in the next 10 years, to pave the way for bring new investment, fast-growing businesses and high-quality jobs to the UK

Yesterday (Wednesday 15 March), the Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered his Spring Budget to the House of Commons, laying out his fiscal plans for the next financial year.

As part of his statement, the Chancellor put words into action, pledging almost £3.5 billion to support the government’s ambitions to make the UK a scientific and technologic superpower. The funding announced will support the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in delivering on the Prime Minister’s key priorities, including on growing the UK economy and creating better-paid jobs and opportunities for people in industries across the country.

The Chancellor also announced that the government will accept all recommendations of Sir Patrick Vallance’s review into regulating emerging digital technologies. This forms part of the government’s plans to develop the gold-standard for regulation in the technologies of tomorrow, providing a template capable of being adopted across the world.

The announcements in this week’s budget follows publication of the government’s Science and Technology Framework last week, backed by £370 million in new funding and projects that will help with ensuring the UK has the skills and infrastructure to take a global lead in game-changing technologies.

The money pledged by the Chancellor will be essential to achieving the framework’s goals of financing innovative science and technology start-ups across the UK, boosting investment in research and development and forging a pro-innovation culture throughout the UK’s public sector to improve public services.

Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

This week, we’ve shown that actions speak louder than words in our push to make the UK a science and technology superpower. We stepped in to protect the finances of our burgeoning tech sector over the weekend, set out our roadmap to regulate the industries of tomorrow and committed huge sums of investment in the Spring Budget.

When I launched this Department, I promised to ensure every lever of government was behind our plans to drive growth through science and innovation. Yesterday’s Budget shows that as a government, we are putting our money where our mouth is, backing the industries that will create jobs, provide the firepower to invest in our public services, and ultimately improve lives.

Innovation Accelerators

As part of extended plans to supercharge local growth across the country, the Chancellor announced plans to invest £100 million into 26 transformative R&D projects in Glasgow, Greater Manchester and West Midlands. The Innovation Accelerators programme is a new approach to supporting city regions to become major, globally competitive centres for research and innovation and will support levelling up.

Through the programme, local leaders will be empowered to harness innovation in support of regional economic growth through a pioneering a new model of R&D decision-making. Local government, business and R&D institutions have chosen 26 projects for the programme, including:

a University of Birmingham-led project to accelerate new health and medical technologies

the Manchester Turing Innovation Hub linking business to cutting edge AI research and technologies to help enhance their productivity

support in Glasgow to boost investment in key growth innovation sectors including advanced manufacturing, space, and precision medicine

Quantum Strategy

The UK has been a world-leader in quantum technologies for over a decade, and a new strategy has been launched to build on this progress. The strategy will bring new investment, fast-growing businesses and high-quality jobs to the UK, cementing its reputation as a top location to commercialise quantum. There is immense opportunity for quantum in the UK, already home to the largest number of quantum start-ups in Europe, and attracting more capital investment than any other country in Europe.

Within the strategy we will commit to providing public funding of £2.5 billion over the next 10-year phase of the national programme (2024 to 2034). This represents an increase in funding of around £150 million per annum. It should give the UK an ambitious and globally competitive programme that will be welcomed by the sector. The investment will support our goal to make the UK a science and technology superpower, building on our scientific excellence to drive growth and helping to build a strong and resilient economy and society.

Sue Daley, Director of Tech and Innovation at techUK, said:

The commercialisation of quantum technologies will play a key role in the UK’s ambition to be a global science and technology superpower. That is why it’s encouraging to see the National Quantum Strategy incorporate recommendations from techUK’s Quantum Commercialisation report and allocate £2.5 billion in funding for crucial steps including skills, procurement, market development and responsible innovation.

With the right collaboration industry and government can turn the UK’s current success in quantum research into a world-leading position in quantum commercialisation.

R&D tax reliefs

The government remains committed to supporting R&D and recognises the important role that R&D and innovation play for the economy and society. From 1 April 2023, the government will introduce an increased rate of relief for loss-making R&D intensive Small and Medium size Enterprises (SMEs). Eligible companies will receive £27 from HMRC for every £100 of R&D investment.

Steve Bates OBE, CEO of BioIndustry Association said:

This is a huge boost for biotech companies across the UK developing new medicines and improving healthcare for patients. Our research-intensive industry is a key growth area for Britain’s economy. The Chancellor is rightly focusing UK taxpayer support to enable life science entrepreneurs to crowd in more private investment, help keep the UK at the cutting-edge of international science, and create new high-value jobs across the UK.

AI White Paper and Sandbox

A new approach to AI regulation, focusing on the applications of AI rather than setting rigid rules for products with an AI component, will be set out in a forthcoming AI White Paper. The new approach will drive business confidence, promote investment, boost public trust and ultimately drive productivity across the economy.

A new AI sandbox will also be launched, serving as a one-stop shop to test how regulation could be applied to the future of AI, while supporting innovators in getting their cutting-edge products to market without being blocked by the usual rules. The government will also begin working at pace to lead the way in clarifying the application of intellectual property law regarding generative AI.

Exascale Supercomputer

The Chancellor also confirmed around £900 million in investment into a new ‘exascale’ supercomputer and a dedicated AI Research Resource. Exascale computers are the next frontier in computing, and the system being funded will be several times more powerful than the UK’s existing top supercomputers.

This funding will provide a significant uplift in the UK’s computing capacity and will allow researchers to understand climate change, power the discovery of new drugs and maximise potential in AI – making breakthroughs that will benefit everyone in society and the economy. The UK will become one of only a handful of countries in the world to host an exascale computer, attracting the best talent and ensuring researchers have access to the best infrastructure in the world.

Web3

The budget also committed to ensuring the UK is ahead of the curve on the future of web technology and maximising the potential of Web3. Web3 are the plans for a future iteration of the internet, that embraces decentralisation, open-source applications and blockchain computing architecture.

AI Challenge Prize

The Budget also confirmed that the government will award a £1 million prize every year for the next 10 years for the best research into AI. It will be called the ‘Manchester Prize’, named after the world’s first stored-programme computer build at the University of Manchester in 1948, and it will allow a broad range of participants to enter, to help groups / individuals outside traditional research / grant structures receive funding and access to networks, and. The prize will be administered by DSIT, and we will provide more details in due course.
March 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Philip Duffy appointed new Environment Agency Chief Executive [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 16 March 2023.

Philip Duffy has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Environment Agency (EA) and will start in the role on 1 July.

Philip has had a long career in the civil service and joins from HM Treasury where he was Director-General of Growth and Productivity, leading work on the environment, transport, productivity, business support and culture. In this role he oversaw the Treasury’s work on spending and policies to create sustainable growth across the UK.

As Chief Executive, Philip will lead the EA’s work in tackling some of the biggest challenges facing the environment, from climate change and extreme weather events through to improving the health of England’s waters for the benefit of people and wildlife.

The appointment follows a competitive recruitment round.

Commenting on his appointment, Philip Duffy said:

“I am delighted to be taking on leadership of the Environment Agency. The Agency’s mission – to protect and enhance the environment and support sustainable development – has never been more critical.

“The Agency can be proud of its record. And as it approaches its 30th anniversary, I look forward to hearing from all sides about what should come next, and what more the Agency could do to make this the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than it inherited.”

Chair of the Environment Agency, Alan Lovell, said:

“We’re very excited to have Philip joining the Environment Agency. As climate change and population growth increase the pressures on England’s precious resources, we have a vital role delivering for people, nature and the economy. Philip brings considerable experience from the Treasury and will head up a truly excellent Executive team.

“The Board and I are grateful to James Bevan for his leadership over the last seven years and look forward to building on strong foundations to help the Environment Agency deliver even more in the years to come.”

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

“I want to thank Sir James for his service as Chief Executive of the Environment Agency over the last seven years.

“I congratulate Philip on his appointment and look forward to working with him as we continue to deliver on our shared national endeavour to improve the environment.”

Sir James Bevan will step down as Chief Executive on 31 March 2023 as planned, after over seven years in post. EA Executive Director for Local Operations John Curtin will be Chief Executive until Philip Duffy starts in the role on 1 July.

March 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Support for households and energy security at the heart of Budget [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 16 March 2023.

The Budget sets out key measures to support households with energy bills and strengthen the UK’s energy security.
Measures to support households with their bills and increase the country’s energy security and independence are at the heart of the Budget announced by the Chancellor.

With Putin’s illegal war raging in Ukraine, Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said the moves will be vital to help people until global gas prices fall further as expected.

Delivering on the Prime Minister’s priorities to ease the cost of living and grow the economy, the Chancellor set out new bold commitments to extend energy bill support for households and to invest in carbon capture, low carbon hydrogen and nuclear as part of a ‘clean energy reset’ to ensure the UK’s energy security in the long term.

The new commitments support the Energy Security Secretary’s ambition for Britain to have among the lowest wholesale electricity prices in Europe by 2035, driving economic growth in the longer term while strengthening the UK’s energy security and independence.

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Grant Shapps said:

This Budget supports both our immediate and longer-term priorities – bringing energy bills down and keeping them down, while also setting Britain on a path to greater energy security and independence.

Not only will this help achieve our mission for wholesale electricity prices to be among the cheapest in Europe, but it will also help grow our economy through new cutting-edge industries, supporting investment and creating jobs.

Providing energy bills support for households

The Chancellor set out further support to ease cost-of-living pressures on households, including keeping energy bills down to help reduce inflation, and ending the premium that over 4 million households pay on their prepayment meter.

Extending energy bills support

The Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) will remain at £2,500 for an additional 3 months from April to June

energy prices are 50% lower than forecast in October, but remain higher than they were before the war in Ukraine, meaning this support will help bridge the gap for families ahead of an expected fall in prices in July

the Energy Price Guarantee protects customers from increases in energy costs by limiting the amount suppliers can charge per unit of energy used

this follows previous government support provided over this winter which has already cut the typical household energy bill by almost half

Ending the ‘prepayment penalty’

The government is taking action to end the ‘prepayment penalty’, introducing fairness reforms to energy bills to remove the premium paid by households using prepayment meters (PPMs)

this will cut energy bills for over 4 million families across the UK by bringing their costs into line with those paid by comparable customers on direct debits, saving them £45 a year on energy bills. The change is expected to come into effect from July 1 through updates to the Energy Price Guarantee

Delivering a clean energy ‘reset’

To shield households from high energy bills in the future, there will be a ‘reset’ to clean up the UK’s domestic energy supply and boost long term energy security. This will help achieve the Energy Security Secretary’s mission for the UK to have among the cheapest wholesale electricity prices in Europe.

Investing in carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS)

The Chancellor announced £20 billion investment to transform carbon capture in Britain, supporting the early development of CCUS to put the UK at a strategic advantage by being a global frontrunner in this developing new green technology

this funding will help secure long-term energy security while helping create up to 50,000 jobs

CCUS will cut emissions while ensuring a diverse energy supply. This process captures and safely stores CO2 produced from burning gas or waste to generate electricity, from new low carbon hydrogen production for use across the economy, and other industrial processes, like creating cement, deep underground offshore

the UK has enough carbon capture capacity to store over a century and half of national annual CO2 emissions, making it well-placed to become a world-leader in the carbon capture market. Accelerating the UK’s carbon capture and low carbon hydrogen industries will help grow the economy by encouraging investment into the country, and support the UK’s industrial transition to cleaner, greener processes and technology

this unprecedented investment over the next 20 years will put us on track to store 20-30 million tonnes of CO2 a year by 2030 – equal to emissions from 10-15 million cars – helping us meet our net zero goals.

Accelerating new nuclear power

The government is launching Great British Nuclear (GBN) to support new nuclear builds as the government works towards net zero, helping address any constraints in the nuclear market

first announced in the British Energy Security Strategy, GBN will enable an ambitious civil nuclear programme and ensure the UK is one of the best places in the world to invest in new nuclear

the intention is that GBN will launch the first staged competition for Small Modular Reactors, which is expected to attract the best designs from both domestic and international vendors

the initial focus for GBN will be on Small Modular Reactors, but it will support government’s consideration of further large gigawatt-scale projects to help us deliver on our net zero ambitions

GBN is intended to play a fundamental role in the delivery of clean, safe electricity for generations to come, ensuring our country is no longer at the mercy of global fossil fuel markets and setting us inexorably on the path towards net zero

further details on GBN’s set up, leadership and operations will be announced by the end of March

In addition, to encourage private sector investment into our nuclear programme, the Chancellor confirmed that, subject to consultation, nuclear power will be classed as environmentally sustainable as part of the tax framework, incentivising private investment in this important technology alongside renewables. Further details will be set out by the Treasury in due course.
March 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : This mandate renewal sends a clear message that we will not abandon women and girls in Afghanistan – UK Statement at the Security Council [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 March 2023.

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.

Thank you, President.

Restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls – across political, economic and social spheres – are becoming increasingly acute. Women continue to be erased from Afghan society. Girls are still barred from secondary school.

Today’s unanimous decision to renew UNAMA’s robust mandate sends a clear message: the international community will not abandon women and girls. The work of the mission in protecting, promoting and monitoring the rights of all Afghans, including advocating for inclusive and representative governance is more important than ever. And through it, we will work to hold the Taliban to account on its commitments.

The Taliban’s recent decree barring Afghan women from working for NGOs has also impacted humanitarian operations. This at a time when more than 28 million people, two thirds of the population, are in humanitarian need. We commend UNAMA’s ongoing work in leading and coordinating efforts to get aid to those who need it most, in challenging circumstances.

In closing, I want to pay tribute to the tireless work of UNAMA, UN agencies and NGO implementing partners on the ground, and to reaffirm the UK’s solidarity with the Afghan people.

Thank you.

March 17, 2023