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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : ‘Back to work Budget’ supporting people to return to the labour market [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : ‘Back to work Budget’ supporting people to return to the labour market [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 16 March 2023.

    Millions of people will benefit from specific support to look for work, acquire new skills and progress into better-paid jobs.

    • Interventions focus on removing barriers to work for people at any age and career stage
    • Parents on Universal Credit will be further supported with upfront childcare costs
    • Boost to employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions building on reforms in landmark White Paper

    Parents, over-50s, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions will have opportunities arising from changes announced in the Budget set to be delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions.

    Overall, DWP measures at Budget represent an investment of £3.5 billion over five years to boost workforce participation and grow the economy. That includes:

    • £2 billion investment in support for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.
    • £900 million investment in support for parents on Universal Credit.
    • £70 million investment in support for over-50s.
    • £485 million investment in support for unemployed people and people who are on Universal Credit and working fewer than full time hours.

    Taken together, these measures tackle the challenges in the labour market, which are holding back the UK’s economic prospects, helping millions of people with specific support to look for work and progress into better-paid jobs.

    Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride MP said:

    We know many people want to work but there are very real barriers we need to break down to help them into employment.

    This package of support helps people at any age and career stage to get into work, progress into better-paid jobs – growing the economy and filling the labour market with skilled employees.

    These interventions are only the start of a long-term journey to drive down economic inactivity and mobilise more people into seeking employment, which I will continue to lead across Government.

    Childcare

    Parents on Universal Credit looking to move into full-time work will no longer be prevented from doing so because of high childcare costs.

    The Universal Credit childcare cost cap will rise in the summer meaning the Government will pay more of parents’ childcare costs. For those with one child it rises from £646.35 to £951 and for two children the cap is up from £1,108.04 to £1,630, then increasing in line with CPI each year until 2027/28.

    Parents will also be further supported with upfront childcare costs. This removes any gap in funds which would currently be claimed in arrears and eases parents into the childcare costs payment cycle.

    Disabled people and people with health conditions

    The Health and Disability White Paper, included as part of the Budget, sets out plans to rewire the benefits system for disabled people, shifting the dial onto what people can achieve and removing barriers to work.

    A major element of this will be through the removal of the Work Capability Assessment, giving people the confidence to move into work while reducing the burden of unnecessary assessments.

    A new Universal Support programme will support disabled people and people with health conditions into sustained work, with those eligible able to opt in to receive up to 12 months of provision, with the government spending up to £4,000 per person and funding 50,000 places every year. This will help them to move quickly into suitable work and, with wraparound support, help them sustain that employment for the longer-term.

    Pioneer areas are already mobilising services to provide greater support, and then the programme will ramp up over time, expanding to support thousands more people.

    Older workers

    A new digital Mid-life MOT check will be introduced to help older workers understand what their employment choices now mean for the longer-term – reaching 40,000 people a year.

    They will also benefit from a boost to skills and better access to training through the Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP), Train and Progress and the new ‘Returnerships’ programme.

    Jobcentre support

    We are increasing jobcentre support for people on Universal Credit who could work more, helping them progress towards more paid work.

    This includes around 80,000 more people, whose partners claim Universal Credit, being given access to full jobcentre support for the first time. They will be assigned their own work coach who will provide tailored support to help them find work quicker.

    All those working less than half of a full-time week will also get full jobcentre support to look for more work as the Administrative Earnings Threshold increases to the equivalent of around 18 hours from 15.

    And more young people aged 16-24 on Universal Credit will be able see a work coach in a Youth Hub or benefit from the expertise of our Youth Employability Coaches.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British Army announces new artillery deal with Sweden [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : British Army announces new artillery deal with Sweden [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 16 March 2023.

    The British Army will receive modern artillery platforms to replace those supplied to Ukraine, as part of an agreement struck with Sweden.

    • Army to replace the AS90 gifted to Ukraine with new ‘Archer’ heavy artillery guns
    • Rapid procurement upgrades Army artillery capability, ahead of long-term artillery programme
    • Vehicles can be brought into action within 20 seconds and hit targets simultaneously

    The first 14 Archer artillery systems will have ownership transferred to the British Army this month and be fully operational by next April, forming an interim replacement for the 32 AS90 artillery systems the UK gifted to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

    Designed and built by BAE Systems Bofors in Sweden, Archer has double the maximum range of AS90, greater operational mobility, greater availability and reduced time into action. Operated by 3-4 crew, it has a lower requirement for personnel than the AS90’s five, and benefits from a higher top speed of 70kph compared to the current 53kph.

    Archer 6×6 boasts a fully automated, self-propelled 155mm howitzer gun designed for rapid deployment, with a firing range of 50km using extended range ammunition – a doubling of the AS90’s 25km range. For a sense of distance, the AS90 could fire from Central London to the M25, whereas Archer is capable of reaching the distance of Sandhurst in Berkshire.

    Loading and firing of Archer is handled from inside the armoured cabin, with the unit able to be deployed into action in just 20 seconds and is ready to move after firing in the same amount of time.

    Archer can fire a number of types of 155mm artillery ammunition, including extended range and precision anti-armour shells. It can also fire eight rounds a minute and four rounds in a simultaneous impact-mode, meaning several shells are fired in succession with different trajectories so they hit the same target at the same time.

    Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said:

    While continuing to double-down on our unwavering support for Ukraine, it’s imperative we simultaneously replenish our capabilities at home.

    Archer artillery systems are powerful, protective and can be rapidly deployed. This agreement with a close European ally will sustain the British Army’s requirements until the longer-term Mobile Fires Platform comes into service – a programme we are working hard to accelerate.

    The purchase of the Archers from Sweden enables the UK to quickly replace AS90 until the long-term Mobile Fires Platform delivers later this decade as part of the Future Soldier modernisation programme. Archer will contribute to the Close Support capability as part of our commitment to NATO.

    Lieutenant General Sharon Nesmith, Deputy Chief of the General Staff said:

    Archer is a potent, modern artillery system procured at a speed previously unseen in Defence. Today’s agreement took only eight weeks to secure and the guns will be in service with the British Army by next Spring.

    Archer fires further and faster than any artillery system previously in service with the British Army – it is a step change in capability and fills a gap left by UK support to Ukraine.

    It will provide a bridge to the next generation of artillery systems, the procurement of which is being accelerated to speed up modernisation.

    The agreement has been reached in the space of just two months, demonstrating agility to procure at pace and deliver the Army requirements, following the gifting to Ukraine. It also emphasises the strong ties with our Swedish allies, who have risen to support the challenging timeframe.

    The government-to-government sale is being negotiated by Defence Equipment & Support – the UK MOD’s procurement arm – and the final contract will be signed with their Swedish counterparts, FMV, shortly.

    Recognising the need to sustain Ukraine’s fighting and support capabilities, the UK and Sweden have also agreed to collaborate on bringing together efforts for repair and maintenance of vehicles granted in kind to Ukraine.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor unveils a Budget for growth to benefit Scotland [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor unveils a Budget for growth to benefit Scotland [March 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 16 March 2023.

    A £27 billion tax cut for business and a trio of freezes to help families with the cost-of-living headlined the Chancellor’s Spring Budget.

    • A £27 billion tax cut for business through radical ‘full expensing’ policy and capital allowances reform which will drive investment and growth.
    • This government will simplify tax for SMEs with over 340,000 businesses in Scotland set to benefit.
    • The broad shoulders of the UK mean that measures to ease cost-of-living burden will help more than halve inflation with the extension of Energy Price Guarantee kept at current level, and duties on fuel and a pub pint both frozen.
    • Biggest ever set of reforms to remove the barriers that stop those on benefits, older workers, and those with health conditions who want to work from working.
    • The government is launching the refocused Investment Zones programme to catalyse 12 high-potential knowledge-intensive growth clusters across the UK, including four across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    A £27 billion tax cut for business and a trio of freezes to help families with the cost-of-living headlined the Chancellor’s Spring Budget today, Wednesday 15 March.

    Aimed at achieving long-term, sustainable economic growth that delivers prosperity with a purpose for the people of the United Kingdom, the Spring Budget breaks down barriers to work, unshackles business investment and tackles labour shortages head on.

    Many of today’s decisions on tax and spending apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. As a result of decisions that do not apply UK-wide, the Scottish Government will receive around an additional £320 million over 2023-24 and 2024-25.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt said:

    “Our plan is working – inflation falling, debt down and a growing economy.

    “Britain is on a lasting path to growth with a revolution in childcare support, the biggest ever employment package and the best investment incentives in Europe.”

    Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

    “Today the Chancellor has set out a Budget which continues cost of living support and will deliver sustainable, long-term growth, helping us halve inflation and reduce our national debt.

    “Maintaining the Energy Price Guarantee until June will save the average family £160 a year and gives certainty over their bills until summer. We’ve also made changes to Universal Credit to help people get back to work.

    “Other UK Government direct investment in Scotland includes £8.6 million for Edinburgh’s world-class festivals, more than £1 million for five new vital community ownership projects, and investment in Scotland’s innovative high tech sector. The Chancellor has also confirmed there will be Investment Zones in all parts of the UK, building on Scotland’s two new Freeports.”

    The Chancellor announced the government will pay the childcare costs of parents on Universal Credit moving into work or increasing their hours upfront, rather than in arrears – removing a major barrier to work for those who are on benefits. The maximum they can claim will also be boosted to £951 for one child and £1,630 for two children – an increase of around 50%.

    The Chancellor went on to set out plans to continue to support households with cost-of-living pressures including keeping the Energy Price Guarantee at £2,500 for the next three months and ending the premium that over 4 million households pay on their prepayment meter, bringing their charges into line with comparable customers who pay by direct debit. Taken together with all the government’s efforts to help households with higher costs, these measures bring the total support to an average of £3,300 per UK household over 2022-23 and 2023-24.

    To help household budgets further, the planned 11 pence rise in fuel duty will be cancelled and the 5p cut will be maintained for another twelve months, saving a typical driver another £100 on top of the £100 saved so far since last year’s cut.

    The generosity of Draught Relief has also been significantly extended from 5% to 9.2%, so that the duty on an average draught pint of beer served in a pub both does not increase from August and will be up to 11 pence lower than the duty in supermarkets. The commitment to duty on a pub pint being lower than the supermarket has been termed the “Brexit Pubs Guarantee” by the Chancellor, and will support over 2,500 pubs and bars in Scotland.

    The Chancellor also set out a comprehensive plan to remove the barriers to work facing those on benefits, those with health conditions and older workers. An increase in the pensions Annual Allowance from £40,000 to £60,000 and the abolition of the Lifetime Allowance will remove the disincentives to working for longer.

    In line with the government’s vision for the UK to be the best place in Europe for companies to locate, invest and grow, a new first-in-Europe ‘full expensing’ policy will be introduced to boost business investment in an effective cut to corporation tax of £9 billion per year. This makes the UK the joint first most competitive capital allowances regime in the OECD and the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast that this will increase business investment by 3% for every year it is in place. Mr Hunt signalled an intention to make this scheme – which covers equipment for factories, computers and other machinery – permanent when responsible to do so.

    Accompanying forecasts by the OBR confirm that with the package of measures Mr Hunt set out today, the economy is on track to grow with inflation halved this year and debt falling – meeting all of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s economic priorities. This comes alongside the confirmation that there are no new tax rises within the Spring Budget.

    Childcare

    Significant reforms to childcare will remove barriers to work for parents receiving Universal Credit not working due to caring responsibilities, reducing discrimination against women and benefitting the wider economy in the process.

    • Childcare costs of parents moving into work or increasing their hours on Universal Credit paid upfront rather than in arrears, with maximum claim boosted to £951 for one child and £1,630 for two children – an increase of around 50%.

    Employment

    The Chancellor set out a comprehensive plan to remove the barriers to work facing those on benefits, those with health conditions and older workers.

    • Experienced workers such as senior doctors will benefit from an increase in the pensions annual allowance from £40,000 to £60,000.
    • The Lifetime Allowance will also be abolished altogether, simplifying the tax system through taking thousands out of the complexity of pension tax and stopping over 80% of NHS doctors from receiving a tax charge for any additional hours worked.
    • The midlife MOT offer will be expanded and improved to ensure people get the best possible financial, health and career guidance well ahead of retirement. There will be an enhanced digital midlife MOT tool and an expansion of DWP’s in person midlife MOTs for 50+ Universal Credit claimants, aiming to reach 40,000 per year.
    • A DWP White Paper on disability benefits reform will herald the biggest change to the welfare system in the past ten years. By abolishing the Work Capability Assessment in Great Britain we will separate level of benefit entitlement from an individual’s ability to work.
    • Strengthening work search and work preparation requirements for around 700,000 lead carers of children aged 1-12 claiming Universal Credit in Great Britain.
    • Increasing the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET), which determines how much support and Work Coach time a claimant will receive based on their earnings, for an individual claimant, from 15 to 18 hours at National Living Wage and removing the couples AET in Great Britain. Over 100,000 non-working or low-earning individuals will be asked to meet more regularly Work Coach support to move into work or increase their earnings.
    • The application and enforcement of the Universal Credit sanctions regime will be strengthened, by providing additional training for Work Coaches to apply sanctions effectively, including for claimants who do not look for or take up employment, and automating administrative elements of the sanctions process to reduce error rates and free up work coach time.
    • Elsewhere, international talent will be attracted through a new migration package that includes adding five construction occupations to the Shortage Occupation List.

    Enterprise

    The Chancellor put forward a plan to boost innovation, drive business investment and hold down energy costs.

    • A ‘full expensing’ policy introduced from 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2026 and an extension to the 50% first-year allowance in the same period – a transformation in capital allowances worth £27 billion to businesses over five years.
    • A £500 million per year package of support for 20,000 research and development (R&D) intensive businesses through changes to R&D tax credits.
    • Generous reforms to tax reliefs for the creative sectors will ensure theatres, orchestras, museums and galleries are protected against ongoing economic pressures and even more world-class productions are made in the UK.
    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will receive £10 million extra funding over two years to maximise its use of Brexit freedoms and accelerate patient access to treatments. This will allow, from 2024, the MHRA to introduce new, swift approvals systems, speeding up access to treatments already approved by trusted international partners and ground-breaking technologies such as cancer vaccines and AI therapeutics for mental health.
    • All of the recommendations from Sir Patrick Vallance’s review into pro-innovation regulation of digital technologies, published alongside Spring Budget today, are to be accepted.
    • £900 million of funding for an AI Research Resource and an exascale computer – making the UK one of only a handful of countries to have one – and a commitment to £2.5 billion ten-year quantum research and innovation programme through the government’s new Quantum Strategy.

    Levelling Up

    To level up growth across the UK and spread opportunity everywhere, local communities will be empowered to command their economic destiny.

    • Business rates retention expanded to more areas in the next Parliament.
    • Deliver 12 Investment Zones across the UK including 4 across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; support local growth projects in every nation of the UK.
    • We will also provide £8.6 million of funding to support the Edinburgh Festivals, and £1 million for 5 community projects in Scotland, including Aberfeldy Sports Club in Perthshire, repairs to the Inveraray Pier, and a community grocery shop and cafe in the Kyle Lochalsh in the Highlands.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Report by the Director of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) – UK response [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Report by the Director of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) – UK response [March 2023]

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

    Ambassador Bush commends the work of ODIHR in highlighting the terrible human cost of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. I would like to join others in welcoming Director Meccaci to the Permanent Council during this particularly grave time for human rights and international humanitarian law in the OSCE region.

    Director Meccaci, I am very grateful to you and your staff for the work of ODIHR, to highlight the terrible human cost of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last week I spoke of relentless Russian shelling, Russia’s continued attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and the unspeakable cruelties many women and girls have suffered at the hands of Russian forces. Those responsible must be held to account.

    ODIHR’s Monitoring Initiative has provided valuable reporting of violations of IHL and human rights abuses in the course of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  This monitoring and reporting is vital to capture and record the scale of violations taking place. The December report shed light on alleged forced transfers and child deportation by the Russian authorities. Exposing the harm caused by a decree adopted in May 2022 by President Putin, the report detailed the newly simplified procedure to grant Ukrainian children without parental care Russian citizenship, opening a route to their ‘legal’ adoption by Russian families. The report shared accounts of parents in Kherson, who had accepted an offer from the Russian authorities to send their children for a “short holiday” to escape the war in illegally annexed Crimea, who now cannot communicate with their children or bring them back home. The fact that we do not know the true scale of how many Ukrainian children have been affected by these Russian policies is truly horrifying.

    We are grateful to ODIHR for their support to the three Moscow Mechanism reports last year. 45 participating States – supported by Ukraine – overwhelmingly united in the face of Russian aggression, triggered two Moscow Mechanism reports on IHL and human rights violations in Ukraine. And there is a clear link between internal repression of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Russia and the unbridled aggression and horrific atrocities Russia is inflicting on Ukraine – as outlined in the third Moscow Mechanism report last year.

    ODIHR’s unwavering support for human rights defenders across the OSCE region – particularly in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus – and those forced to live in exile has been vitally important. ODIHR’s work has provided an invaluable opportunity for OSCE participating States to hear directly from civil society, including during the Warsaw Human Dimension conference and this week’s Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting. The Human Dimension Implementation Meetings (HDIM) are an essential part of the work of the human dimension, to hold OSCE participating States to account for the commitments they have agreed to, and to provide a safe space for civil society to share their concerns. The sad reality is that Russia has at every turn sought to flagrantly undermine the successful functioning of the human dimension and HDIM over a number of years. We hope that this year a full HDIM will be held, and underscore the importance of ensuring the OSCE’s human dimension institutions are adequately funded.

    We continue to believe that strengthening our democratic institutions and practices is a continuous process, and ought to reflect the needs and interests of both men and women. ODIHR’s election observation methodology, which recognises an election is a process – not just an event – and considers the key elements of participating States’ electoral systems is excellent. We fully support ODIHR’s activity to strengthen gender equality institutions and increase women’s participation in politics and electoral processes – including through guides and toolkits focused on ‘Realising Gender Equality in Parliament’ and ‘Addressing Violence against Women in Politics in the OSCE Region’. We look forward to supporting ODIHR’s work with important elections coming up this year.

    Director Mecacci, in closing the tragic events in Ukraine, caused by Russia’s aggression, only reinforces the truth that lies at the heart of ODIHR’s work. We see clearly how internal human rights violations and the absence of genuine democracy has spillover effects across the OSCE region. The UK offers ODIHR our full support as you continue your invaluable work.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UKHSA urges those with new or multiple sexual partners to get tested after gonorrhoea cases resurge [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UKHSA urges those with new or multiple sexual partners to get tested after gonorrhoea cases resurge [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the UK Health Security Agency on 16 March 2023.

    Gonorrhoea cases have resurged in England since the easing of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in 2021.

    Provisional data published today indicates that gonorrhoea diagnoses from January to September 2022 were 21% higher than those reported over the same period in 2019. Data also indicates that during the first 9 months of 2022, gonorrhoea cases were higher than those reported over the same period in each of the last 3 years.

    UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding people to wear a condom and get tested regularly if having sex with new or casual partners. Testing is free and discreet and you should get tested even if you are not showing any symptoms.

    The data shows that the total number of gonorrhoea diagnoses from January to September 2022 (56,327) was 21% higher when compared to the same period in 2019 (46,541), the year when the highest number of diagnoses was reported.

    Young people aged 15 to 24 years remain most likely to be diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to more frequent changes in sexual partners. Though STIs are usually easily treated with antibiotics, some STIs, including gonorrhoea, can have serious consequences as they can cause serious health issues such as infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease.

    Typical symptoms of gonorrhoea include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when urinating, pain and discomfort in the rectum and, in women and other people with a uterus or ovaries, lower abdominal pain and bleeding between periods.

    People infected with gonorrhoea will often have no symptoms, especially for infections in the throat, vagina or rectum. This lack of symptoms makes it important to test regularly when having sex with new or casual partners.

    Dr Katy Sinka, Consultant Epidemiologist and Head of the STI section at UKHSA, said:

    Condoms aren’t just about preventing unwanted pregnancy; they are the main defence against STIs. If you have had condomless sex with a new or casual partner, it is even more important to get tested to detect any potential infections early and prevent passing them on to others.

    You can get free condoms at your local sexual health clinic and if you’re under 25, you can also get them online.

    Dr Thomas Waite, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health and Social Care said:

    Practising safe sex and getting tested regularly is important to keep you and your sexual partners safe.

    Condoms and early detection are essential in preventing and addressing the rise in cases we are currently seeing of gonorrhoea.

    Many STIs including gonorrhoea and chlamydia can be diagnosed easily and treated with antibiotics. If left untreated, common STIs can lead to complications and long term health problems.

    Testing is simple – samples are quick to take, can be collected at home, and sent off by post for analysis, making early detection accessible to everyone.

    Dr Claire Dewsnap, President of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said:

    The rise in gonorrhoea cases provides an important reminder of the importance of testing for STIs and wearing a condom every time you have sex. By getting tested at least once a year, regardless of whether you’re showing symptoms, you can help minimise the risk of catching or passing on STIs when having sex. Delaying access to the right care and treatment also risks developing longer term problems which can be more difficult to address.

    If you are concerned about STI transmission, sexual health clinics are on hand to help.

    Previously, we have seen cases of gonorrhoea with resistance to ceftriaxone, the main antibiotic used to treat the infection. While these ceftriaxone-resistant cases remain rare, it is a reminder to all people having condomless sex with new or casual partners to get tested regularly at sexual health services to ensure prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

  • PRESS RELEASE : MHRA trialling pioneering stem cell robot that could transform the availability of life-saving cell therapies [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : MHRA trialling pioneering stem cell robot that could transform the availability of life-saving cell therapies [March 2023]

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

    The MHRA’s UK Stem Cell Bank is one of only two places in the world to test this technology.

    An innovative new robot that grows stem cells, the CellQualiaTM Intelligent Cell Processing System, is being trialled by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This robotic system has the potential to bring safer and more cost-effective treatments to people with a wide range of diseases. It is currently the only one in the world outside of Japan, where it was developed.

    Stem cells have a unique ability to turn into different types of cells with specialised functions. This makes them particularly useful in medicine because they can replace cells that have been damaged or lost from disease – for example restoring eyesight after corneal disease.

    Because stem cell-based therapeutics are difficult to manufacture, their current availability is limited. This means that most treatments for degenerative diseases are focused on limiting the extent of damage rather than fixing the damage that has already occurred. The system being tested at the MHRA has the potential to change this, offering new hope to patients with serious diseases such as Parkinson’s.

    This trial is part of a UK-based international research programme, launched in 2021, and a partnership between the MHRA, SAKARTA (a Scottish Regenerative Medicine start-up), and Sinfonia Technology Co. Ltd (a Tokyo-based electrical equipment manufacturer), supported by Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe (FBRI). The UK Stem Cell Bank is testing the robot over a 12-month period to see whether the cells produced by the fully automated Intelligent Cell Processing System meet the standards needed for them to be used in the manufacture of potentially life-saving treatments.

    Marc Bailey, MHRA Chief Scientific Officer said:

    At the MHRA, we’re committed to being at the forefront of the latest scientific developments so that we can help bring safe and effective treatments to the people who need them most.

    Cell-based therapeutics have the potential to treat, and even cure, a vast number of diseases but their availability has been limited because they are often very difficult to manufacture.

    The new Intelligent Cell Processing System being tested at the MHRA, of which there are only two machines in use in the world, could make this manufacturing process much easier and therefore transform the availability of these treatments. It also has the potential to reduce human error in this process and produce a more consistent final product which will result in safer and more effective treatments.

    We look forward to communicating the results of our testing.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    This pioneering new robot has the potential to speed up access to more cost-effective, safer stem cell therapies. By replacing cells that have been damaged or lost, this new technology could transform the lives of tens of thousands of people with Parkinson’s and other devastating diseases.

    The UK is only the second country where this technology has been tested, thanks to a partnership between the MHRA and industry. It is yet another example of how clinical research is ensuring patients benefit from the very latest scientific breakthroughs.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Andrew Mitchell reaffirms the UK’s commitment to helping the world’s poorest [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Andrew Mitchell reaffirms the UK’s commitment to helping the world’s poorest [March 2023]

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

    International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell lays out UK’s commitment to helping world’s poorest people at Glasgow conference.

    • Minister Mitchell delivers keynote speech to aid sector experts at the Scottish International Development Alliance conference in Glasgow.
    • UK Government to reaffirm its position as a global leader in development as outlined in Monday’s Integrated Review Refresh.
    • Minister Mitchell proud of role UK is playing supporting Scottish aid workers around the world.

    International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell has reaffirmed the UK Government’s commitment to helping the world’s poorest people as a keynote speaker at an event in Scotland.

    Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Minister Mitchell was in Scotland to address an audience of aid sector experts at the Scottish International Development Alliance’s spring conference at Glasgow’s Trades Hall venue.

    His speech detailed how the UK Government has used its £11 billion foreign aid budget to be at the forefront of humanitarian responses including the Ukraine conflict and last month’s Turkey/Syria earthquake catastrophe, which has killed over 50,000 people.

    And Minister Mitchell highlighted the UK Government’s commitment to reinvigorating its position as a global leader in development, as set out in the Integrated Review Refresh published on Monday 13 March.

    The UK Government remains committed to spending 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) on Official Development Assistance (ODA) as soon as the fiscal situation allows.

    International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell said:

    The UK will go further and faster on international development, reinvigorating our position as a global leader and further driving our work around the world to improve outcomes for the poorest, and to combat climate change, poverty and some of the root causes of geopolitical instability.

    The UK remains a champion for international development and one of the most generous global aid donors, spending more than £11 billion in aid in 2021. We are the third highest G7 spenders of Official Development Assistance (ODA) as a percentage of GNI.

    The UK Government is proud that brave Scottish firefighters and medics have been at the very heart of our efforts to help the Turkish people in their hour of need.

    Scottish NGOs such as Edinburgh-based Mercy Corps and demining charity The HALO Trust are making a real difference carrying out vital humanitarian work in Ukraine, backed by UK aid.

    Our task has, of course, been made much more difficult because of the pandemic and the global repercussions of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

    In spite of all these challenges, we should not lose sight of the big impact our development assistance continues to have, saving and transforming millions of lives around the world.

    The Scottish International Development Alliance is the umbrella body for civil society organisations based in Scotland.

    Its spring conference, titled ‘Out of the Storm and Towards Global Solidarity’ was chaired by broadcaster and journalist Tasnim Nazeer.

    As well as Minister Mitchell, speakers included representatives from international NGOs such as BRAC UK and Save the Children, economic experts from UN conference on trade & development and NatWest Group.

    Minister Mitchell used his speech to outline how the UK intends to use its role as a leading global player to build on the country’s commitment to sustainable development – driving the agenda on issues that matter to people across the UK, including on Ukraine, climate change and human rights.

    He highlighted how the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, last week (8 March) announced the FCDO’s first International Women and Girls Strategy, which put gender equality at the forefront of UK foreign policy.

    Minister Mitchell also visited the FCDO’s joint HQ Abercrombie House in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, to address its 800 staff.

    Minister Mitchell added:

    Scotland’s civil society and the FCDO’s 800 staff in East Kilbride are at the very heart of shaping and delivering UK foreign policy as a force for good in the world.

    I am proud that the UK Government continues to use its influence as a leading player on the world stage to drive the agenda on issues that unite people from every corner of our country.

    Frances Guy, chief executive of Scotland’s International Development Alliance said:

    We’re delighted to be welcoming the Minister to our conference to discuss these issues and hear about his longer term vision for international development.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK confirms £205 million budget to power more of Britain from Britain [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK confirms £205 million budget to power more of Britain from Britain [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 16 March 2023.

    UK government confirms budget for this year’s Contracts for Difference scheme as it enters its first annual auction, boosting energy security.

    • Government announces significant financial backing for first annual flagship renewables auction, boosting Britain’s energy security
    • £170 million pledged for established technologies to ensure Britain remains a front runner in renewables and £10 million ring-fenced budget for tidal
    • Scheme will bolster investment into the sector every year, delivering clean, homegrown energy as well as green growth and jobs

    Britain’s rollout of clean, affordable, home-grown energy is moving full speed ahead, with the UK government offering £205 million in its latest renewables auction, boosting energy security, growing our economy and powering more of Britain from Britain.

    The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is the government’s flagship mechanism for supporting new British low-carbon electricity generation projects, so far awarding contracts to projects totalling nearly 27GW of low carbon capacity. This has helped accelerate plans to diversify, decarbonise and domesticate our energy supplies, with the last round (AR4) securing almost 11GW of low carbon capacity – enough to generate sufficient electricity to power 12 million British homes.

    Today’s announcement of a budget of £205 million for the fifth CfD allocation round – which is the first CfD auction to run annually – confirms another year of significant financial backing by government for green industries and jobs. This will bolster investment into the sector every year, helping to support green energy and jobs of tomorrow, level up Britain, and replace expensive fossil fuels with cheaper, cleaner, domestic sources of energy.

    This includes £170 million for established technologies such as offshore wind, ensuring Britain remains a front runner in global offshore wind, and £10 million ring-fenced budget available for tidal stream technologies, unlocking a thriving tidal power industry here in the UK.

    Building a cleaner, more secure energy future with thriving green industries will also help deliver on our promise to grow our economy and create good jobs across the country, with billions of pounds in private investment and 68,000 green jobs supported since late 2020.

    The competitive nature of the Contracts for Difference scheme has already proven successful at placing downward pressure on prices since the first auction was held. This process, together with solar and wind now amongst the cheapest form or electricity generation in the UK, means the scheme will play an increasingly important role in helping to meet the Energy Security Secretary’s ambition for Britain’s wholesale electricity prices to be among the cheapest in Europe.

    Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Graham Stuart said:

    Our flagship Contracts for Difference scheme is already delivering clean, homegrown energy as well as growing a green economy with green jobs.

    Today’s budget announcement, the move to annual auctions and continued investment in renewable energy will limit the impact of events like Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine and drive our overriding priority for the UK to have amongst the cheapest wholesale electricity prices in Europe.

    I am excited to see the opportunities that will open for Britain’s world-class renewable industries as annual auctions kick off this year, enhancing the UK’s reputation as among the most attractive places to invest in for a secure, affordable and prosperous future.

    The UK government continues to support the deployment of renewable power right across Britain, with the scheme so far having awarded contracts to 52 projects in Scotland, which represents around 30% of all CfD projects and around 25% of total CfD capacity.  In Wales, the scheme has so far awarded contracts to 9 projects, totalling around 260MW of capacity.

    The scheme is designed to be fair and deliver low carbon deployment at low-cost to consumers – so that when wholesale electricity prices are higher than the price agreed in the CfD, generators pay back the difference. This will be passed on to energy suppliers and over time, is expected to translate to lower bills for consumers.

    Offshore wind has been at the heart of the scheme and the industry is a major UK success story thanks to Britain’s flagship CfD scheme. The UK has the largest operational fleet in Europe, the world’s 4 biggest individual windfarms and a world-leading ambition to deploy up to 50GW by 2030, including up to 5GW of floating offshore wind, which the scheme continues to help deliver. As set out in the British Energy Security Strategy, by 2030 the UK is set to generate more than enough electricity from offshore wind to power every home in Britain, attracting vital investment to UK coastal communities, supporting 90,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    This follows an unprecedented £20 billion investment into carbon capture announced yesterday in the Spring Budget, alongside the first state backing of a nuclear project in almost 40 years at Sizewell C and confirming the next steps for Great British Nuclear to revolutionise how new nuclear projects are delivered in the UK.

    Neil McDermott, CEO of the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC), said:

    We welcome the announcement from the government on CfD Allocation Round 5. We look forward to working with investors and generators for these important projects as we continue the journey to Net Zero.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of the Dean of Christ Church [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of the Dean of Christ Church [March 2023]

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

    The King has approved that The Reverend Canon Sarah Foot, Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History, University of Oxford, be appointed Dean of Christ Church, Oxford from 1st July 2023 in succession to the Very Reverend Martyn Percy.

    Background

    Canon Professor Foot has been the Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Oxford since 2007. She was educated at Newnham College, Cambridge (BA; MA; PhD), served as a Lay Canon at Christ Church from 2007-2017, and as a Residentiary Canon since her ordination in 2017.

    Previously, Professor Foot was a Research Fellow then Fellow and Tutor at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge 1989-93, then successively Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Professor of Early Medieval History at the University of Sheffield 1993-2007, where she was Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts 2005-7.

    She served as Chair of the Board of Faculty of Theology and Religion at Oxford University 2011-14. She writes on women in religion, medieval monasticism, and the early history of the Church in England, and is currently working on a study of the life and work of the Venerable Bede.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Non-Executive Director of Gov Facility Services Limited reappointed [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Non-Executive Director of Gov Facility Services Limited reappointed [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 16 March 2023.

    The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State has approved the reappointment of James Hayward as a Non-Executive Director of Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL) for 3 years from 1 April 2023.

    GFSL is part of the Ministry of Justice established, in February 2018, as a limited not for profit company. GFSL’s role is to provide facilities management services to the prisons in the south of England.

    Biography

    James was first appointed a GFSL NED, for 3 years, on 1 April 2020.

    James is a Professional Building Services Chartered Engineer with over 40 years’ experience. He has worked, at Trust Board level, in medium and large sized acute NHS healthcare settings responsible for delivering estates, facilities and capital project services. Currently semi-retired, in addition to being a GFSL NED, he is also the Chairman of Beyond Housing; a highly performing large housing association in North Yorkshire and Cleveland. He has also been involved with several local and national charitable organisations.

    James has declared no political activity.