Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC53 – Statement on Internally Displaced Persons [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 July 2023.

UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Internally Displaced Persons.

Thank you, Mr President.

With over 70 million internally displaced persons around the world, the UK thanks the Special Rapporteur’s work to raise awareness and coordinate action.

The UK recognises internal displacement cannot be seen purely as a humanitarian challenge, and a transition to a development-led solutions approach is crucial. We were glad to see reference in the report on the value of engaging a variety of actors from across different sectors to help effectively deliver this transition.

Within this context, it is also our collective responsibility to make sure that the role of human rights in ensuring the protection of IDPs is not forgotten. Consequently, we highlight the disproportionate impacts of internal displacement on marginalised groups and the most vulnerable, and urge that their needs are considered in the delivery of assistance and development of durable solutions. We encourage particular attention to women and girls, who, due to specific vulnerabilities and discrimination, face additional barriers to the effective realisation of their rights.

Finally, whilst States may hold primary responsibility for the prevention of internal displacement, the UK recognises the role of the international community to assist with the fulfilment of this responsibility, and is pleased to be supporting the work of the UN Special Adviser on Internal Displacement.

Thank you.

11/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with the President of Türkiye [July 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 11 July 2023.

The Prime Minister met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the NATO Summit in Vilnius today.

The Prime Minister welcomed Türkiye’s support for Sweden’s accession to NATO and commended President Erdoğan for his efforts.

The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring the UK-Türkiye relationship reaches its full potential, building on growing trade links and strong defence and security cooperation.

Discussing opportunities to bolster our bilateral cooperation, including in cutting-edge defence technology and in addressing the shared challenge of illegal migration, the Prime Minister set out that dealing with criminal people smuggling gangs is a key priority for him.

Both leaders agreed to task their Foreign Ministers to look at areas for closer collaboration on migration and organised crime. The leaders also agreed to deepen intelligence sharing and cooperation on countering terrorism.

President Erdoğan updated the Prime Minister on President Zelenskyy’s recent visit to Türkiye and the leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring an extension to the Black Sea Grain Deal.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

11/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC53 – Interactive Dialogue on Genocide Prevention [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 July 2023.

Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Adviser on Genocide Prevention. As delivered by the UK.

Thank you, Mr President.

The United Kingdom would like to thank the Special Advisers for their ongoing contribution to flagging atrocity risks to the Secretary-General and UN Member States. We remain committed to atrocity prevention and the responsibility to protect.

We continue to see atrocities being committed around the world. To highlight one instance, reports of an increase in ethnicity-based violence in Darfur, Sudan, are deeply troubling, and the international community must act to prevent history from repeating itself.

The responsibility to prevent atrocities cuts across the whole UN system, and we encourage the Office to play a key role in ensuring that an atrocity prevention lens is applied across the UN’s work. We also call on the Office to prioritise drawing information from across the system to inform an effective approach to early warning. Indeed, the UK is working to strengthen our monitoring and analytical capability at the country, regional and global levels.

Special Adviser, how is your office working with the High Commissioner on Human Rights to gather and use information on human rights globally? Secondly, last year, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination referred the human rights situation in Xinjiang to your Office. We would be grateful for an update on this matter.

Thank you.

11/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Face-to-face health checks more than double in one year [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 4 July 2023.

The number of NHS Health Checks offered and carried out more than doubled in 2022 to 2023.
- 2.9 million NHS Health Checks offered and 1.1 million checks carried out in 2022 to 2023 – more than doubling activity in 2021 to 2022
- 1.1 million checks estimated to have prevented more than 400 heart attacks and strokes and identified 220,000 people who would benefit from statins
- Government announced last week the rollout of a new digital health check from spring which will deliver more than one million checks in 4 years
More than one million people had a face-to-face NHS Health Check last year – more than double the previous year – new data published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) today shows.

The NHS Health Check helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes and is currently a face-to-face check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. It can help spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or dementia.

The new data published by OHID shows face-to-face health checks have recovered to pre-pandemic levels thanks to the efforts of local authorities and NHS staff, helping to prevent potentially deadly cardiovascular disease across the country.

OHID’s data for 2022 to 2023 shows:
- 2.9 million people were offered a check by local authorities – up from 1.3 million in 2021 to 2022
- 1.1 million checks were delivered in 2022 to 2023 – up from 500,000 in 2021 to 2022
- 10.2 million checks offered and 4.3 million carried out between April 2018 and March 2023, despite disruption caused by the pandemic
Cardiovascular disease is the second biggest killer in England and affects around 6.4 million people. It’s estimated that the 1.1 million checks delivered in 2022 to 2023 helped to avoid over 400 strokes and heart attacks, identified 220,000 people who would benefit from statin medication, and diagnosed 32,000 people with hypertension.

This follows the announcement last week of a new digital NHS Health Check which will be rolled out in England from spring. It will operate alongside the existing face-to-face scheme, and will deliver an additional one million checks over 4 years.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken action to understand their health and prevent potentially life-threatening conditions like heart attacks and strokes.

These mid-life MOTs are vitally important in preventing illnesses, easing pressure on the NHS and cutting waiting times – one of the government’s 5 priorities – and I want to encourage anyone who’s offered a check to come forward and take advantage of the offer.

On the eve of the NHS’s 75th birthday, it’s fantastic to see so many people had a health check last year – and even more will be achieved when the new digital check is rolled out from spring.

You can have an NHS Health Check if you’re aged 40 to 74 and you have not had a stroke, or do not already have a pre-existing health condition. If this applies to you, you can expect to receive an invite from a GP surgery or local authority for an NHS Health Check every 5 years.

Each new digital check could save an estimated 20 minutes of NHS time – potentially freeing up hundreds of thousands of appointments in primary care and helping cut NHS waiting times.

Patients will be able to access the check via a mobile phone, tablet or computer. They will complete an online questionnaire, enter height, weight, and blood pressure measurements, and the results of a blood test.

The results will be available online and direct people to personalised advice to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke, as well as advice to stop smoking and weight management support where appropriate. Referrals to GPs will only be made if further tests and treatment are needed – helping to reduce demand on GP services.

OHID data on face-to-face NHS Health Checks
11/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC53 – Joint Statement on human rights situation in Sudan [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 July 2023.

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Adviser to the Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide. Joint Statement by Sudan Core Group, delivered by the UK.

Thank you, Mr President.

This statement is made on behalf of the Core Group on Sudan, comprising Germany, Norway, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

We welcome the recent statements by both the Special Adviser and the UN Secretary General on the deeply concerning developments across Sudan, and particularly in Darfur.

Extensive and credible reporting from both Sudanese and international sources, including the Sudan Conflict Observatory and the Global Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect, suggest ongoing and appalling atrocities being committed against civilians, including children, with thousands already reported to have been killed – and a clear risk of further escalation and atrocities, including on the basis of ethnicity. We share and echo these grave concerns.

Mr President,

The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces must comply with their obligations under international law and fulfil their commitment to protect civilians – which they affirmed in the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.

We call on the Special Adviser to coordinate and share information with the High Commissioner and his Office as the situation unfolds, and on the High Commissioner to keep this Council updated on developments and risks in Darfur, in line with the prevention mandate given both to him and to this Council.

Thank you.

11/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : All secondary school pupils eligible for free flu vaccine [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 4 July 2023.

All secondary school pupils eligible for free flu vaccine as government expands vaccination programme.
- Over 3 million secondary school pupils to be offered nasal spray vaccine from 1 September
- Expansion provides direct protection to pupils and indirect protection to wider community
- Getting flu vaccine helps protect you and your loved ones, while reducing pressure on the NHS
All secondary school pupils in England will be offered a free flu vaccine from September for the 2023 to 2024 season, the government has confirmed.

An initial list of groups eligible for this year’s vaccine was first announced in May, with a note that a decision on secondary school pupils would follow at a later date.

Now, the government has confirmed it is expanding the programme to over 3 million pupils in secondary school years 7 to 11, who will be offered the vaccine as a nasal spray through their school’s vaccination programme from 1 September.

The expansion gives direct protection to pupils receiving the vaccine and provides indirect protection to more vulnerable groups by reducing the spread of the virus.

Health Minister, Maria Caulfield, said:

Expanding the offer of flu vaccination to all secondary school pupils this winter will provide millions of young people with extra protection.

Importantly, this will also reduce the risk of transmission to more vulnerable groups, including the elderly, reducing hospitalisations and freeing up bed capacity across the NHS.

Last winter we saw the devastating impact this illness can have, so it is important all pupils take up the offer of the flu vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones from falling unwell.

The decision to expand the programme is in line with a long-standing recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which highlights the benefits of directly protecting school aged children from flu, and the indirect benefits to the wider population.

NHS school age immunisation services (SAIS) will be undertaking the vaccinations from September during the autumn term.

All primary school children and infants aged 2 and 3 will also be offered the flu vaccine, as previously announced in May.

Eligible groups are urged to take up the offer from September before the flu season begins, to give themselves the best possible protection in winter.

NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening, Steve Russell, said:

Last winter we saw how quickly flu can spread within communities, so I’m pleased to see the flu vaccination offer being extended to secondary school children in the autumn term.

The vaccine offers vital protection against flu which can cause nasty symptoms, and I would urge all young people and parents to make sure they join millions of others who get vaccinated each year to take up the offer when they can – it’s quick, easy and offered in schools, so there’s really no reason to delay when you receive the offer.

Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said:

Getting the flu vaccine offers the best protection against the virus. It is important everyone eligible takes up the offer, including secondary school pupils as they can fall very sick. Last year we saw some teenagers hospitalised with flu.

Expanding the vaccination to secondary school pupils will help to reduce flu from being spread, protecting their friends and family and easing the burden on the NHS.

Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, said:

Following the disruption caused by the pandemic, it’s important that children are able to attend school as much as possible.

We know that school attendance levels drop over the winter months due to illness, which is why today’s announcement will not only protect children’s health but also their education.
11/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC53 – The role of media in the right to freedom of opinion [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 July 2023.

UK Statement on role of digital & media in promotion & enjoyment of right to freedom of opinion & expression. Due to time constraints, this was not delivered.

Thank you, Mr President,

Digital, media and information literacies are critical tools for empowering users to make the most of what the internet has to offer, including by enabling them to exercise their right to the freedom of expression.

In July 2021, the UK government published its Online Media Literacy Strategy, which seeks to support organisations to undertake media literacy activity in more coordinated, wide-reaching, and high-quality ways. The Strategy identifies six challenges to improving the national media landscape, including: a lack of robust evaluation, engaging hard-to-reach audiences, supporting vulnerable users, and building audiences’ resilience to misinformation and disinformation.

The Strategy sets out a framework of five key principles that should inform the content and delivery of media literacy initiatives in the UK and indicates the outcomes organisations should expect to see through their media literacy activities. This includes ensuring users have the skills to participate positively in online conversations, and that they understand the benefits and risks of interacting with others online.

We have committed to publishing annual Action Plans every year, setting out how we shall meet the Strategy’s ambition. We are also providing almost £2.5million in grant funding, over the previous and current financial years, to 17 projects tackling other challenges set out in the Strategy.

Are the panel aware of any programmes established for the purpose of evaluating the impact of media literacy initiatives, and how these contribute to freedom of expression online?

11/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Advanced £870 million radar contract sustains 600 UK jobs [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 4 July 2023.

An £870 million five-year contract has been awarded to upgrade radar capabilities on the RAF Typhoon, fittingone of the world’s most advanced radars.
RAF Typhoon fighter jets to be equipped with one of the world’s most advanced radar.

Additional upgrades will ensure jet can counter emerging threats.

Supporting the Government’s priority to grow the economy this contract sustains 600 UK engineering jobs in Edinburgh, Luton and Lancashire.

An £870 million five-year contract has been awarded to BAE Systems and Leonardo UK to upgrade radar capabilities on the RAF Typhoon, fitting the fighter jets with one of the world’s most advanced radars – the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2.

Following last year’s announcement at the 2022 Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), in which Defence committed to a £2.35 billion investment to several upgrades for Typhoon, this is the first contract allocated from that major and complex investment and will see the completion of the development and integration of the ECRS Mk2.

The state-of-the-art radar will transform the Typhoon’s control of the air, bringing a world-leading electronic warfare capability which will allow the aircraft to simultaneously detect, identify, and track multiple targets in the air and on the ground. ECRS Mk2 will be integrated onto RAF Typhoon Tranche 3 aircraft and offered to other nations that operate the aircraft, boosting UK defence exports.

Supporting the Government’s priority to grow the economy, the £2.35 billion programme will sustain around 1,300 UK engineering job over the next 10 years. With the £870 million contract making up more than 600 highly skilled jobs across the country, including 300 at Leonardo’s site in Edinburgh, 100 electronic warfare specialists at the company’s site in Luton, and 120 engineers at BAE Systems’ site in Lancashire.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

The RAF Typhoon is one of the most mission ready and capable aircraft anywhere in the world helping protect our skies at home and abroad.

This £870 million contract award is an investment in the future readiness and preparedness of our fighter jets, so that we can continue to showcase our world-leading air capability.

ECRS Mk2 will support operations in the most challenging situations, equipping pilots with the ability to suppress enemy air defences using high-powered jamming and to engage targets whilst beyond the reach of threats.

A prototype of the state-of-the-art radar is currently undergoing specialist testing at BAE Systems site in Warton, Lancashire. This contract builds on that solid foundation, progressively turning that prototype equipment into a capability: a path that includes initial flight testing in 2024.

As well as delivering ECRS Mk2, the overall £2.35 billion investment includes the integration of the new radar onto Typhoon and delivery of a range of additional complementary upgrades and which together ensures Typhoon will continue to remain a potent weapons capability and enable it to counter emerging threats until 2040 and beyond.

Gp Capt Matt D’Aubyn, DACOS Control of the Air, Typhoon Programme Director said:

Typhoon is the backbone of UK Combat Air, capable of completing a wide range of Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface missions. ECRSMk2 will ensure Typhoon remains operationally effective in the future force mix in an ever increasing contested environment.

DE&S Director General Air, Vice Admiral Rick Thompson said:

This is the first of a number of contracts that will continue our journey to equip the RAF with the edge to protect our nation. Developing ECRS Mk2 not only provides cutting-edge capability but crucially, also ensures that advanced technical skills and expertise in delivering complex sensors are available to support the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) right here in the UK.

Andrea Thompson, Managing Director – Europe & International, BAE Systems Air, said:

The continued evolution of Typhoon as a world-class combat air platform ensures that the RAF maintains its advantage and protects the vibrant eco-system that supports our sovereign combat air capability in the UK, through sustaining and evolving the technical skills that are central to the UK’s future combat air strategy.

The radar is a prime example of the UK’s world-leading onshore technology, being developed by Leonardo UK in Edinburgh and Luton and integrated by BAE Systems in Warton.

The Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs across all regions of the UK every year, contributing £1.4 billion to the economy annually.
11/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : New government-funded hotline to end veteran homelessness now live across the UK [June 2023]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 4 July 2023.

From today, vulnerable veterans across the country will have access to Op FORTITUDE, a new dedicated referral pathway for homeless veterans, including those sleeping on the streets.
- Op FORTITUDE – the pathway for homeless veterans – launched nationally by Veterans’ Minister Johnny Mercer to end veteran homelessness in 2023
- The hotline is part of £8.55 million fund, which will also bring wraparound support services to support 1,300 veterans across more than 900 housing units
- Guidance also published signposting support to secure social or private housing
From today, vulnerable veterans across the country will have access to Op FORTITUDE, a new dedicated referral pathway for homeless veterans, including those sleeping on the streets.

The first-of-its-kind hotline is part of a two-year £8.55 million programme to fulfil the government’s pledge to end veteran rough sleeping. The Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 2022-24 sets out the intention to achieve this within the current Parliament, but thanks to new funding this is set to be achieved ahead of schedule.

Run by social housing provider Riverside Group, the £500,000 housing hotline will give homeless veterans a single point of contact to get them the help they need. Op FORTITUDE staff will refer callers to a network of support, including housing providers, charities and local authorities.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Rt Hon. Johnny Mercer MP, said:

Everyone deserves a place they can call home, not least those who have served their country. Today’s launch is a huge milestone in ending veteran homelessness and a clear demonstration of this government delivering on its promises.

There is a lot of great work being done across the country to help veterans get the right level of support. Op FORTITUDE is about bringing all of this together, so any veteran has a clear pathway to get local and customised care.

Transitioning from the armed forces remains a challenge for some. The programme has been designed to support 1,300 vulnerable veterans over two years across almost 60 housing complexes, ranging from apartment blocks to shared houses.

Projects by nine housing providers will target difficult problems so that veterans can get back on their feet and thrive in civilian life. Wraparound services include specialist medical care, connections with local communities and the tools they need to get jobs.

All nine projects will be ready to take Op FORTITUDE referrals by September, expanding the pathway’s network of housing providers from 10 to 14. This includes plugging into a network of 650 homes across Scotland with Veteran Homes Scotland, as well as a brand new consortium of housing across the North West of England.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Felicity Buchan, said:

Councils have a duty to ensure everyone has a roof over their head, especially veterans who are rightly given priority for accommodation. “We are already giving councils £2bn over three years to end homelessness and this vital new initiative will help us deliver on our mission.

Lee Buss-Blair, Operations Director, Riverside Group said:

Riverside are honoured to be the organisation chosen to deliver the Op FORTITUDE pathway. Its mission, to end veteran homelessness, is one that we are extremely passionate about.

Every veteran, including the most vulnerable, has the potential to make a positive contribution to their communities if given the right support. Ultimately our goal is to ensure that these veterans receive this support and can go on to fulfil their potential.

This is the first initiative designed to end veteran homelessness, and while the task is a big one, we think that the levels of veteran rough sleeping are such that it is one that we believe can be achieved with collaboration across many sectors.

To further support veterans in securing housing, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs has published guidance on gov.uk. This guide sets out the housing options and support available to veterans, service leavers and their families in England, including routes into both veteran-specific and civilian housing.

The guide can also be used by providers of housing and housing support services to determine the most appropriate course of action.

In the 2023 Spring Budget, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs secured £20 million for a Veterans Housing Capital Fund. The money will go towards providing extra housing for veterans through the development of new builds and the refurbishment of social and charitable housing for veterans.

“There are still many things that we do not know, including the level of demand we will be faced with. But Op FORTITUDE is an opportunity for us to develop a clear picture of the level of need which will support us to make sure that the veteran sector is structured to be able to effectively respond.”
11/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Tax gap holds steady at 4.8%
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 22 June 2023.

The estimated tax gap for the 2021 to 2022 tax year is at an all-time low of 4.8%.

The amount of unpaid UK tax has remained at an all-time low of 4.8%, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) revealed today (22 June).

The annual Measuring Tax Gaps publication estimates the difference between the total amount of tax expected to be paid and the total amount of tax actually paid, which has remained the same as last year’s revised estimate of 4.8%.

Jonathan Athow, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Strategy and Tax Design, said:

The tax we collect funds the country’s public services and we want to ensure everyone pays the correct amount. These figures show most taxpayers and businesses pay what they should.

This important research enables us to better help those making common mistakes or failing to take sufficient care, as well as tackling the minority deliberately hiding their income.

The report, published annually, show a long-term reduction in the tax gap. Errors, a lack of sufficient care, evasion and criminal attacks all contribute to the tax gap, which has fallen from 7.5% in 2005 to 2006 to 4.8% in 2021 to 2022.

In monetary terms, the most recent figures put the difference at £36 billion for the 2021 to 2022 tax year. This has increased from £31 billion in 2020 to 2021.

The tax gap has remained at 4.8% because estimated tax liabilities rose from £643 billion in 2020 to 2021 to £739 billion in 2021 to 2022.

Further findings for the 2021 to 2022 tax gap publication show:
- at 56% (£20.2 billion), small businesses represent the largest proportion of the tax gap by group, followed by criminals, large businesses and mid-sized businesses at 11% each (£4.1 billion, £3.9 billion and £3.8 billion respectively)
- wealthy individuals account for 5% (£1.7 billion) while all other individuals account for the remaining 6% (£2.1 billion) of the overall tax gap
- Income Tax, National Insurance contributions and Capital Gains Tax makes up 35% (£12.7 billion) of the total tax gap when measured by type of tax
- Corporation Tax (CT) is now estimated as the second largest component of the tax gap by tax type at 30% (£10.6 billion). New data has increased our understanding of the CT tax gap, resulting in revised estimates
- the VAT gap continues a long-term downward trend falling from 14.0% (£11.9 billion) in 2005 to 2006 to 5.4% (£7.6 billion)
- failure to take reasonable care (30%), error (15%), evasion (13%), legal interpretation (12%) criminal attacks (11%) and non-payment (9%) are among the main behavioural reasons for the tax gap
HMRC publishes the tax gap because it believes transparency in its work is important. The report aims to enhance public trust in the tax system and in HMRC’s ability to support taxpayers in meeting their obligations and pay the tax they owe. It also helps inform the future work and priorities of HMRC and highlights the areas where it can make the greatest difference.

HMRC is the only tax authority in the world that measures and publishes an annual tax gap in such a comprehensive way – covering a single tax year for all the taxes, levies and duties it administers.

Every year, HMRC estimate the tax gap using the most up to date information available, however, figures may be revised as more data becomes available.
01/07/2023