Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : North Korea ballistic missile test 27 March – FCDO response [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 March 2023.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a statement following North Korea’s ballistic missile launches on 27 March.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

North Korea’s ballistic missile launches on 27 March are a breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. Illegal ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK will continue to call out violations of UNSCRs. We strongly urge North Korea to return to dialogue and take credible steps towards denuclearisation.

March 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : 10,000 organisations sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 28 March 2023.

John Lewis becomes the 10,000th signatory for the Armed Forces Covenant – Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families attends latest signing at HQ.

More than 10,000 organisations have committed to improving the lives of service people and their families, with John Lewis becoming the latest signatory to mark this major milestone.

The retailer is the latest in a long line of large and small organisations to confirm their pledge to our serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans, demonstrating a commitment to work with and for our personnel.

Since 2011, when the concept was enshrined into law, the Covenant reinforced the moral obligation between nation, government and Armed Forces which has since seen UK organisations of all sizes commit to treating our Armed Forces Personnel, and their families, fairly.

In addition to fostering commitments to the Covenant, the government has committed millions of pounds in funding to ensure veterans’ mental health, accommodation, and childcare, among other issues, is well catered for and funded.

Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, Dr Andrew Murrison said:

Today we welcome John Lewis as the 10,000th signing to the Armed Forces Covenant. The brave men and women of our Armed Forces sacrifice much in the service of their country, so it is only right we ensure that they and their families are supported.

That is why the Covenant is so important, and by working alongside all the partners and organisations that have signed so far, we can ensure that the UK’s promise to them is upheld.

Ben Farrell, Director of Operations Planning and Delivery at the John Lewis Partnership, said:

We’re incredibly proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, particularly at such a landmark moment as we become the 10,000th signatory.

The Partnership has a strong heritage of supporting the armed forces and as a Purpose-driven business that prides itself on inclusiveness, we are committed to ensuring we provide an opportunity to people from all kinds of backgrounds, including those with links to the military.

Chief of Defence People, Vice Admiral Phil Hally said:

I’m proud to see our nation has met this historic milestone. The 10,000 organisations which have pledged support to our Armed Forces community span multiple sectors of our society from education, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, transport, retail and financial services and many more in between. I encourage every business and charity to consider joining them. Together, we can better protect those who protect us, by ensuring fair treatment for all who serve in the Armed Forces and their families.

The government is committed to support the Armed Forces community by working with a range of partners who have signed the Covenant, with the Covenant involving stakeholders nationally. This includes businesses, local authorities, charities, and the public.

March 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Future of new Calstock wetlands assured with 20 year management agreement [March 2023]

The press release issued by Natural England on 28 March 2023.

The future of the Calstock wetlands is assured for the next 20 years as Natural England has granted a Countryside Stewardship to the Tamar Community Trust (TCT).

The move comes as a scheme led by the Environment Agency to reconnect the River Tamar with its original floodplain at Calstock has finished and the land leased, also for 20 years, to the Community Trust.

Hugh Tyler of Natural England said:

The project was only possible through a lot of support from local people, including TCT and partnerships with Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team, Cornwall Bird Preservation Society, Calstock Parish Council and Cornwall Wildlife Trust and we’re all excited to see the changes that will take place here in the coming years.

During the course of the next 20 years, the landscape will evolve from grazing land, that had been created when the floodplain was cut off from the river by the building of an embankment around 200 years ago, into intertidal habitat. Since the embankment was breached 18 months ago, the land has begun to return to tidal wetland and bird species including little egret and avocet have been spotted using the site, as well as water rail, kingfisher, snipe, teal, green sandpiper and reed bunting.

Little land management will be needed on the 12 hectare site over the 20-year tenure, but it will ensure that no non-native invasive species, like Himalayan balsam, can take hold. Funding has also been put in place to allow for educational access so children can learn why this has been done.

Jane Kiely, Chair of TCT, said:

We are so pleased that the importance of creating new tidal wetlands as part of Environment Agency flood protection works is recognised by Defra in this agreement. The breach in the older bank along the river was made just over a year ago and having the tide coming in twice a day has changed the site from one of low-quality compacted sheep pasture to a rich habitat of mud which is very popular with the water birds and waders. I also love seeing the wetlands full of water at high tide, the sun glinting and the reflections of clouds and sky.

Rob Price, Tamar Catchment Coordinator at the Environment Agency, said:

The creation and management of new intertidal habitat on the Tamar at Calstock reinforces this partnership’s collective aims to improve resilience to the changing climate and to provide a richer environment for people and nature. It will provide an invaluable tool in the fight against climate change by locking in carbon, boosting biodiversity, help improve overall water quality as well as providing a local amenity. This valuable work is an important part of an integrated programme of works to build the Tamar catchment’s resilience to a wide range of environmental pressures.

Management during the early years of Calstock wetlands will respond to monitoring by TCT’s partners, including Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Natural England and Plymouth University looking at water quality, carbon sequestration, birds, plants and fish.

TCT is also looking to improve the public experience from the public road or the permissive path that runs along the river bank, enabling both local residents and visitors to understand and appreciate what they are looking at.

March 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on the UK-Poland Humanitarian Shelter Project [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 March 2023.

The UK and Poland signed a joint statement on 28 March 2023 announcing a project providing homes and power for Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Based on the Memorandum of Understanding, signed in autumn 2022, concerning the Joint UK-Polish project on shelter, food and complementary assistance for Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities in Ukraine, as well as the accompanying announcement by the UK to provide up to £10 million in funding, today we are pleased to officially open shelters for Ukrainians in Lviv in western Ukraine.

Nine years after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and instigation of the conflict in the Donbas, and over a year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has internally displaced nearly six million Ukrainians and caused another eight million to seek refuge across Europe, Poland and the UK, in concert with our allies and partners, offer our continued, unequivocal support for Ukrainian, which is bravely facing the bloodiest war in Europe since the Second World War.

Just as Polish-British bonds were forged during the Battle of Britain, today we join forces in support of Ukraine. Ukraine is fighting not only for its freedom, but that of all free nations. Today the future of European security is being determined on the territory of Ukraine. No matter how long it takes, we will support Ukraine’s fight for freedom and democracy.

UK-Polish co-operation in providing temporary homes for displaced Ukrainian people is yet another example of the response of the international community, and aims to provide accommodation, light and hope to the people of Ukraine. The project has supported the development of two accommodation villages, in Lviv, in the west, and in Poltava, in the east, of Ukraine, and will support Ukrainians who have fled the fighting or lost their homes due to Russian shelling. Over 700 displaced Ukrainians stand to benefit. The UK-Polish partnership will also provide £2.5 million worth of generators to support schools, hospitals and community centres across Ukraine, supporting approximately 450,000 people in areas that have been re-captured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces or directly affected by the fighting. Additionally, the Ukrainian Red Cross will receive up to £2.6 million for their winter appeal.

This is one of our many humanitarian responses to Russia’s attacks on civilian infrastructure, mounting evidence of which appears more and more clearly to constitute war crimes and therefore a clear violation of international humanitarian law, as well as being contrary to civilised norms and resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.

March 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK-Poland partnership to provide homes and power to Ukraine [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 March 2023.

The UK has announced up to £10 million in funding to support a new UK-Polish partnership which will provide shelter and power for Ukrainians displaced by Russian attacks.
- New partnership backed by up to £10 million in UK funding announced to provide shelter and power for Ukrainians displaced by Russian attacks.
- UK-Poland partnership will provide vital temporary housing in purpose-built villages for more than 700 of the most vulnerable displaced people in Ukraine.
- Generators to meet urgent power needs will also be provided following Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure over winter.
The UK and Poland will build two major temporary villages in west and east Ukraine to provide vital housing to those forced from their homes by barbaric Russian attacks. The UK has announced up to £10 million in funding to support the new UK-Polish partnership, which will deliver temporary shelters, energy supplies and assistance to those who have lost their homes since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The two accommodation villages in Lviv, in western Ukraine, and Poltava, in the east will offer accommodation for more than 700 of the most vulnerable Ukrainians who have fled heavy fighting on the frontlines or lost their homes due to Russian shelling.

More than 17.6 million people are thought to be in humanitarian need in Ukraine, with more than eight million having registered as refugees in Europe – the largest movement in Europe since the Second World War. Nearly 50% of Ukraine’s pre-war population is in need of humanitarian assistance due to the catastrophic impact of President Putin’s invasion.

Around 6 million people are currently displaced within Ukraine, having been forced to leave their homes and facing freezing winter condition due to the brutal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, which is a total violation of the UN Charter and international law.

Ongoing Russian targeting of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has also left nearly 10 million people without power. Widespread power cuts, some lasting eight to twelve hours a day, have forced families to resort to desperate measures for survival, like melting snow for water and heating bricks for warmth.

The UK-Poland partnership will also provide £2.6 million worth of generators to support up to 450,000 people via schools, hospitals and community centres in re-taken and frontline areas, including Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Kherson. The UK and Poland are also working with the Ukrainian Red Cross, donating up to £2.5 million to support those living through extreme cold in harsh winter conditions.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

For the past year, Putin has continued to target civilian homes and infrastructure, with the Ukrainian people paying a heavy price. This new UK-Poland partnership will help bring light, heat and homes to those most in need.

The international community is resolute in our shared determination to support the Ukrainian people and see them prevail with a just peace on Ukrainian terms.

Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said:

Poland was first to help Ukraine already in the early morning hours of 24 February 2022. The United Kingdom followed shortly after. Today we stand together in our joint endeavours to help Ukraine and its people.

From the pages of the Polish history we know that Ukraine is fighting not only for their freedom but also for our freedom. There is no free Europe without free Ukraine.

Today, together with the United Kingdom, we stand side-by-side in providing shelter, warmth and above all, in providing hope for the Ukrainian IDPs, both in the west and in central-east of the country.

The Russian aggression on Ukraine was the second act of the barbaric “Russkij mir” tragedy. The first act started nearly a decade ago with the annexation of Crimea by Russia. The third and final act will be the end of hostilities and peace written by Ukrainians.

Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyy said:

I would like to thank our international partners for their support and help.

Together, we have managed to complete this project to a high standard and make the accommodation comfortable for displaced Ukrainians who needed a new and safe home in a short space of time.

Thanks to your support, hundreds of people have got a chance for a new life, because Russia took away their old one.

The British and Polish Ambassadors to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons and Bartosz Cichocki, attended the opening of the new accommodation village at the Lviv site yesterday [Monday], alongside key Ukrainian officials

The UK-Poland shelter project is being delivered by Solidarity Fund Poland. It builds on Poland’s existing shelter programme in Ukraine, which has already provided housing for tens of thousands of people.

Through our £220m humanitarian assistance, we are prioritising the most vulnerable, including women and children, the elderly and those with disabilities. To date, we have helped reach over 15.8 million people in need during this crisis.
March 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy programme appointments [March 2023]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 28 March 2023.

The Prime Minister has today made two re-appointments and one new appointment to his Trade Envoy programme.

The re-appointments are:
- Rt Hon David Mundell MP as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to New Zealand,
- Heather Wheeler MP as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Cambodia & Laos,
The Prime Minister has also appointed Gareth Johnson MP as his Trade Envoy to the United Arab Emirates.

Trade Envoys support the UK economy by supporting British businesses to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the UK’s global trade agenda. They champion Global Britain and promote the UK as a destination of choice for inward investment across all regions of the UK, helping to level up the country.

The new appointments will extend the total number of Trade Envoys to 34 parliamentarians, covering 62 markets.

The appointed Trade Envoys will work with the Department for Business and Trade’s global network, strengthen the UK’s trade and investment relationships with New Zealand, Cambodia, Laos, and the United Arab Emirates, and break down barriers to doing business for UK firms.
March 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Schools and colleges to receive £2.5 billion to upgrade buildings and boost school places [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 28 March 2023.

Major government investment to improve school and college buildings and support more school places from 2026.

Millions of young people across the country are set to benefit from a significant £2.5 billion boost so they can learn in high quality buildings and facilities that are fit for the future.

Schools and colleges will receive investment to upgrade classrooms and refurbish buildings that will provide high quality learning environments – benefitting communities for years to come.

Since 2010, one million school places have been created, the largest increase in school capacity in at least two generations. Thanks to this new tranche of funding, thousands of additional primary and secondary school places will be created in good or outstanding schools for September 2026.

This comes on top of the School Rebuilding Programme which will transform buildings at 500 schools across the country over the next decade – prioritising those in poor condition. The government has already invested over £13 billion in school capital funding to improve the condition of school buildings since 2015.

Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said:

This significant investment will transform school and college buildings across the country so that they are fit for the future and can provide the best education for students, no matter where they live.

We want every young person to have access to high-quality facilities and learning environments, to gain the skills they need to climb the ladder of opportunity into further study and work, whilst supporting efforts to grow the economy.

The funding announced today includes:
- A £1.8 billion investment for the 2023-24 financial year to improve the condition of the school estate across England. This builds on over £13 billion to upgrade school buildings since 2015.
- A further £487 million will be invested to support councils to provide additional school places needed for September 2026.
- Alongside this, 146 colleges will benefit from the final phase of the £1.5 billion Further Education Capital Transformation Programme, to upgrade buildings and transform campuses.
The FE Capital Transformation Programme is just one part of a wider programme of government investment to transform post-16 education and training, ensuring that every student can gain the skills they need to progress and secure a good job.

This includes massive investment to support the roll out of new T Levels, boost capacity so there is a place for every 16 to 19-year-old and a £300 million investment to establish a network of Institutes of Technology.
March 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Environmental permits issued for new nuclear power station at Sizewell C [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 28 March 2023.

Environment Agency issues three new environmental permits to NNB Generation Company (Sizewell C) Limited for a new nuclear power station at Sizewell in Suffolk

The Environment Agency has issued three new environmental permits today to NNB Generation Company (Sizewell C) Limited for a new nuclear power station at Sizewell in Suffolk. The permits are required for the station to operate and will allow it to:
- dispose of and discharge radioactive waste (radioactive substances activity permit)
- operate standby power supply systems using diesel generators (combustion activity permit)
- discharge returned abstracted seawater (from the cooling water system and 2 fish recovery and returns systems) and other liquid trade effluents (including treated sewage effluent) to the Greater Sizewell Bay – North Sea (water discharge activity permit)
NNB Generation Company (Sizewell C) Limited applied to the Environment Agency for three environmental permits in May 2020. The Environment Agency consulted on the application from July to October 2020 and on their proposed decision and draft permits from July to September 2022.

Each of the three permits is an important regulatory permission that the company requires to operate Sizewell C nuclear power station. They include the limits and conditions that the company needs to put in place to ensure high standards of environmental protection during commissioning, operation and decommissioning.

The company will need to continue to apply for a range of environmental permits relating to site investigation, construction works and for relevant “associated developments” such as workers’ accommodation.

The Environment Agency’s Sizewell C Project Manager, Simon Barlow, said:

Today’s decision to issue the three permits for these operational activities comes after 10 years of pre-application discussions, three years of technical assessments and two public consultations. In reaching this decision we carefully considered all the responses from a wide range of stakeholders in the local community, national organisations and statutory consultees.

I would like to thank everyone for contributing their evidence and views and attending our consultation events. We will continue our engagement with the local community as the company moves forward with its plans for construction of the nuclear power station.

The documents we are publishing today provide detailed explanations of our decisions, show how we have considered all the relevant factors and explain our reasoning. By granting these permits many years ahead of Sizewell C operating, we can positively influence the design, procurement, and commissioning of the power station, whilst also ensuring that people and the environment are protected.

The decision documents, a public summary and permits are available on the Environment Agency’s website.

If you would like to sign up for Environment Agency e-bulletins about the work and regulation of the Sizewell C project, contact nuclear@environment-agency.gov.uk
March 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : RSH publishes regulatory notice for Easy Housing Association following a breach of the economic standards [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Regulator of Social Housing on 28 March 2023.

In a regulatory notice published today (28 March 2023), the Regulator of Social Housing concluded that Easy Housing Association has breached the governance and financial viability standard.

Following an investigation the regulator found that Easy Housing Association, a provider of supported exempt accommodation, is inadequately governed and that the board has failed to oversee the organisation with an appropriate level of skill and foresight. Easy Housing Association did not provide assurance that its board has appropriate experience or technical competence, and did not show evidence that it was addressing these skills gaps.

Because of these failures in governance, Easy Housing Association also failed to assure the regulator that it complies with the home standard and that tenants are not at risk of harm.

The regulator found that Easy Housing Association’s approach to business planning was inadequate and it did not plan appropriately for the risks associated with its lease arrangements. Its financial forecasting was also weak and it did not carry out appropriate stress testing of its business plan. In addition, Birmingham City Council has stated that one of Easy Housing Association’s properties was established without the required planning permission.

Easy Housing Association has not been able to demonstrate that its homes meet the definition of social housing, or that it complies with the rent standard.

In agreement with the regulator, the provider has put a plan in place to address these issues.

Harold Brown, Senior Assistant Director for Investigation and Enforcement, said:

Easy Housing Association has failed to meet our standards in multiple areas, including significant weaknesses in managing financial risks and in business planning. It also failed to show that it complies with the standards on key issues, including those for health and safety and rents. Its Board needs to take immediate steps to address these failures of governance.

Easy Housing Association and its new Chair have started to address these issues, and we will monitor it closely as it works to return to compliance with our standards.

March 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : William Hill Group businesses to pay record £19.2m for failures [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Gambling Commission on 28 March 2023.

Three gambling businesses owned by William Hill Group will pay a total of £19.2 million for social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.

WHG (International) Limited, which runs williamhill.com, will pay £12.5 million, Mr Green Limited, which runs mrgreen.com, will pay £3.7 million and William Hill Organization Limited, which operates 1,344 gambling premises across Britain, will pay £3 million.

Andrew Rhodes, Gambling Commission chief executive, said: “When we launched this investigation the failings we uncovered were so widespread and alarming serious consideration was given to licence suspension.

“However, because the operator immediately recognised their failings and worked with us to swiftly implement improvements, we instead opted for the largest enforcement payment in our history.”

Today’s action comes just a week after the Commission fined two operators owned by Kindred Group plc a combined £7.2 million and is the largest enforcement case taken on by the regulator. The previous largest was £17 million action taken against Entain in August last year.

Since the start of 2022 the Commission has concluded 26 enforcement cases with operators paying over £76 million because of regulatory failures.

Mr Rhodes said: “In the last 15 months we have taken unprecedented action against gambling operators, but we are now starting to see signs of improvement. There are indications that the industry is doing more to make gambling safer and reducing the possibility of criminal funds entering their businesses.

“Operators are using algorithms to spot gambling harms or criminal risk more quickly, interacting with consumers sooner, and generally having more effective policies and procedures in place.”

Social responsibility failures at William Hill businesses include:
- - Having insufficient controls in place to protect new customers, and to effectively consider high velocity spend and duration of play until the customer may have been exposed to the risk of substantial losses in a short period:
    
    One customer was allowed to open a new account and spend £23,000 in 20 minutes without any checks.
    
    Another customer was allowed to open an account and spend £18,000 in 24 hours without any checks.
    
    And a third customer was allowed to open a new account and spend £32,500 over two days without any checks. (Mr Green)
  - Failing to identify certain customers at risk of experiencing gambling related harm and failing to carry out checks at an early stage in the customer’s journey – one customer lost £14,902 in 70 minutes. (Mr Green)
  - Failing to identify risk of harm or intervene with certain customers earlier enough – one customer lost £54,252 in four weeks without the operator seeking income evidence, carrying out adequate checks, or using any other effective method to identify risk of harm. (WHG (International) Limited)
  - Having insufficient controls which exposed new or returning customers to the risk of substantial losses in a short period of time – one customer opened his account and lost £11,400 over the first 30 days without being subject to sufficient checks and another customer did not have a telephone interaction until losses reached £45,800. (WHG (International) Limited)
  - Failing to apply a 24-hour delay between receiving a request for an increase in a credit limit and granting it – one customer was allowed to immediately place a £100,000 bet when his credit limit had been set at £70,000. (WHG (International) Limited)
  - Ineffective controls allowed 331 customers to gamble with WHG (International) Limited despite having self-excluded with Mr Green. (WHG (International) Limited)
  - Failing to identify changes in the customer behaviour which should have provoked consideration of whether the customer was experiencing harm – a safer gambling interaction was conducted only after he had placed and had accepted an £18,000 bet (William Hill Organisation Ltd (WH Retail))
  - Having insufficient controls in place to protect new customers, and to effectively consider high velocity spend and duration of play until the customer may have been exposed to the risk of substantial losses in a short period:
    
    After its retail premise re-opened following the Covid pandemic lockdown, the operator allowed one customer to lose £10,600 in two days without a safer gambling interaction.
    
    Despite being unknown and staking £42,253 in 130 bets over a three-day period, staff did not identify one customer as being at risk of experiencing harms associated with gambling or undertake any customer interactions. (William Hill Organisation Ltd (WH Retail))
Anti-money laundering (AML) failures include:
- Allowing customers to deposit large amounts without conducting appropriate checks – one customer was able to spend and lose £70,134 in a month, another to lose £38,000 in five weeks and another to lose £36,000 in four days. (WHG (International) Limited)
- Allowing customers to deposit large amounts without conducting appropriate checks – one customer deposited £73,535 and lost £14,068 in four months (Mr Green)
- Customers were able to stake large amounts of money without being monitored or scrutinised to a high enough standard – the operator failed to request Source of Funds (SoF) evidence when one customer staked £19,000 in a single bet, did not obtain documentation from a customer who staked £39,324 and lost £20,360 in 12 days, and did not obtain SoF evidence from a customer who staked £276,942 and lost £24,395 over two months. (William Hill Organisation Ltd (WH Retail))
- Policies, procedures and controls lacked guidance on appropriate action to take following the results of customer profiling and how its findings should be used to establish the appropriate outcome. (WHG (International) Limited) and (Mr Green)
- Procedures and controls lacked hard stops to prevent further spend and mitigate against money laundering risks before customer risk profiling is completed. (WHG (International) Limited) and (Mr Green)
- AML staff training provided insufficient information on risks and how to manage them (WHG (International) Limited) and (Mr Green)
All £19.2 million will be directed towards socially responsible purposes as part of a regulatory settlement.

Additional licence conditions will also be added to ensure a business board member oversees an improvement plan, and that it undergoes a third-party audit to assess that it is effectively implementing its AML and safer gambling policies, procedures and controls.
March 28, 2023