Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : UK General Statement at the 60th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of COPUOS [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2023.

Delivered by Deputy Ambassador Nicola Murray at the United Nations in Vienna on 6 February 2023.

Chair, Distinguished Delegates,

Before the United Kingdom makes its general statement, let me first clearly state that the UK continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and calls upon the Russian Federation to end its illegal war and respect the territorial integrity of other Member States.

Now let me move onto the UK General Statement within which the Delegation of the United Kingdom is pleased to have the opportunity to share with you the progress and developments we have made since the last meeting of this sub-committee.

In November last year, the UK reaffirmed its commitment to international collaboration of space missions and the development of new technologies through a 14% increase in its annual funding for ESA. An example of this is the upcoming Jupiter Icy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission, due for launch in April this year which will make detailed observations of Jupiter and its three large ocean-bearing moons Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. The mission will carry a range of science instruments including the J-MAG, a Magnetometer which is led by Imperial College London in the UK and will seek to characterize the Jovian magnetic field, its interaction with the internal magnetic field of Ganymede, and to study the subsurface oceans. The UK also celebrates the success of Artemis 1 in November last year and looks forward to collaborating with the US and international partners in a new and sustained programme of human exploration to the Moon.

On January 9th 2023, the UK conducted its first ever launch from UK soil through Virgin Orbit at Spaceport Cornwall. While the rocket reached space, it did not reach the intended orbit and could not complete its mission successfully. Despite this, the project has succeeded in creating a horizontal launch capability in the United Kingdom, and we remain committed to becoming the leading provider of commercial small satellite launch in Europe by 2030.

Space Sustainability continues to be a key priority for the UK. Notable highlights from the last year include: the hosting of the 4th Summit for Space Sustainability in June alongside the Secure World Foundation, the announcement of a Space Sustainability Standard to be developed by industry in partnership with government, the commencement of two mission studies that will establish the preliminary design and programmatics of a national Active Debris Removal Mission and the launch of a third project with UNOOSA, entitled Awareness-raising and capacity-building related to the implementation of the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities. The UK also established a new project with UNOOSA to enhance international expertise in the registration of objects launched into outer space which we see as a crucial enabler for transparency, capacity building and novel missions.

To support its work on sustainability the UK also acknowledges the critical role and important work of the Inter-Agency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) whose guidelines remain the most effective method to reduce the long-term environmental impacts of global space activity.

The UK delegation recognizes the continuing, constructive work of the working group on the use of nuclear power sources in outer space and looks forward to receiving its draft report at this session. We would again like to offer our thanks to Dr Sam Harbison, as he steps down as chair of the working group, for his long-serving and excellent leadership of the working group.

The UK also recognises the need for continued dialogue on the Dark and Quiet Skies topic and looks forward to discussions on the subject of extending the single year agenda item and the establishment of an expert group.

Finally, Chair, distinguished delegates, we look forward to a constructive session to further our cooperation and dialogue in the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space.

February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK responds to Türkiye’s request for assistance with immediate deployment of search & rescue and medical teams following earthquakes [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2023.

The UK will immediately deploy emergency response teams to Türkiye to assist rescue efforts.
- 76 UK search & rescue specialists, four search dogs and rescue equipment will arrive in Türkiye this evening.
- UK is also sending an Emergency Medical Team to assess the situation on the ground.
- UK is in contact with the UN on emergency humanitarian support to those affected in Syria.
The UK will immediately deploy emergency response teams to Türkiye to assist rescue efforts.

The Government is deploying a team of experts to help on the ground in Türkiye following the 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The UK is sending immediate support to Türkiye including a team of 76 search & rescue specialists, equipment and rescue dogs.

In Syria, the UK-funded White Helmets have mobilised their resources to respond.

We stand ready to provide further support as needed.

A flight is expected to depart the UK at 4pm and arrive around 9pm local time in Gaziantep.

Jill Morris, British Ambassador-Designate to Türkiye, said:

The British Embassy in Ankara is in close contact with the Turkish authorities to understand how we can best support those on the ground.

Our thoughts are with all those affected by the earthquakes today. We pay tribute to the brave Turkish first responders working to save lives.

The UK is providing support that the Turkish government have asked for. The UK International Search and Rescue team have specialist search equipment including seismic listening devices, concrete cutting and breaking equipment, propping and shoring tools.

In north-west Syria, the UK-aid funded White Helmets have activated a significant search and rescue response and mobilised all their resources to respond to emerging needs.

The Government is in contact with British humanitarian workers in the affected areas, and we stand ready to provide support to any British nationals affected. Anyone in Türkiye and in need of urgent help should call +90 312 455 3344. Anyone in the UK concerned about relatives or friends should call the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London on 020 7008 5000.
February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Strike to affect travellers and goods entering the UK in February half-term [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 6 February 2023.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has announced Civil Service industrial action that will impact Border Force operations.
Travellers who are planning to enter the UK between 17 February and 20 February 2023 may face longer wait times at border control.

Travellers should check the latest travel advice with operators before travelling.

Please be patient and respect officers who are working to keep the UK border safe and secure for all travellers during strike action.

We encourage all passengers eligible to use eGates to do so.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has announced Civil Service industrial action that will impact Border Force operations.

Border Force strike proposed dates

Dates

17 February

18 February

19 February

20 February (until 7am)

Locations

The proposed strike action will impact travellers (passengers and freight) entering the UK via the following juxtaposed ports (border controls outside of the UK that allows Border Force to check passengers and freight before they begin their journey):

Port of Calais

Port of Dunkirk

Coquelles Channel Tunnel Terminal

If you are travelling into the UK through these ports, you should prepare for disruption and check before you travel.

Our number one priority is to keep our borders safe and secure, and we will never compromise on this.

Military personnel, civil servants and volunteers from across government are being trained to support Border Force at airports and ports across the UK in the event of potential strike action. Border Force are ready to deploy resource to meet critical demand and support the flow of travellers and goods through the border, however those entering the UK should be prepared for potential disruption.

We are working closely with port authorities, operators and French counterparts to make sure travellers are prepared and do not experience unnecessary delays at the border due to the proposed strike action.

Advice for people entering the UK

Although this strike action targets the above ports, all those who are due to travel into the UK during the proposed industrial action should be prepared to face longer wait times at UK border control.

All passengers should check the latest advice from their operators before travelling.

Please be patient and respect officers who are working to keep our citizens safe and border secure, and supporting travellers during the strike action.

We encourage all passengers where available and eligible to use eGates to do so.

Please respect staff as we try and get you through the border as quickly and safely as possible. All forms of abuse and any inappropriate behaviour will be reported to the police.

Hauliers – impact of strike action

Hauliers who are moving goods during the proposed strike action should be prepared for potential disruption and longer queues at ports.

Please check with your operator before travelling, be prepared for delays and carefully plan your movements if they coincide with days of strike action.

Border wait times

As you’d expect, accurate queue time data can take some time to gather and check, however if you are travelling during the proposed strike dates be prepared for longer wait times.

There are multiple factors that might influence wait times including an increase in passenger numbers, delays and congestion caused by multiple flights disembarking passengers at the same time. Weather delays, and other ad hoc incidents, can also impact border control queues.

We advise travellers to check with travel agents, tour operators, and airlines / carriers before travelling, to check if the proposed strike action will affect your journey.

Passengers can also check port websites before travelling to stay up to date with the latest information related to travel or possible delays caused by strike action.

What we are doing to avoid disruption and queues at the border during the strike action

We continue to work closely with our French counterparts and industry to minimise disruption and delays at the border during proposed industrial action.

Border Force and the travel industry work together very closely at a local and national level and have regular meetings to agree plans for pressures while keeping the public safe.

Remember:

there are often a few things that might influence wait times including an increase in passenger numbers, flights delays and congestion due to multiple flights disembarking passengers at the same time

check the latest advice from your operators before travelling
February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : British business sizes up global trade wins as Malaysia and Chile join Indo-Pacific bloc [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 6 February 2023.

UK business opportunities bolstered as Malaysia and Chile join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
- Malaysia and Chile ratify membership of CPTPP, bolstering the Indo-Pacific trade bloc worth a combined £9 trillion of GDP
- The UK is working to become the first European member of the bloc this year with negotiations progressing well
- British businesses can add Malaysia and Chile to the list of countries they could benefit from lower tariffs on exports to now they have joined CPTPP
Malaysia and Chile have officially joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), meaning British businesses will get better access and lower tariffs in the Malaysian and Chilean markets when the UK joins the dynamic trade bloc.

Malaysia is one of the CPTPP members with which the UK does not currently have a bilateral free trade agreement. The UK and Malaysia both joining CPTPP will greatly increase the UK’s access to the Malaysian market and could boost the £2.9bn worth of exports we currently sell there annually.

Chile was the first country to sign a trade deal with the UK after we left the EU which secured preferential access to each other’s markets. Chile remains one of the foremost champions of free and open trade in the Pacific region and is keen to deepen our trading relationship, which was already worth £1.5bn in 2021.

Joining CPTPP will also provide opportunities for collaboration with Chile in areas such as fintech, green finance and cybersecurity, supporting innovation in our financial services sector and helping develop our countries as leaders of financial services.

The UK is making good progress in negotiating our own accession to CPTPP. UK accession could mean more than 99% of UK exports to member countries become eligible for tariff-free trade.

Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands said:

This is great news for UK businesses and global free trade. The Indo-Pacific has some of the most innovative and fast-growing economies in the world and closer ties with markets like Malaysia and Chile will demonstrate how our trade agenda is delivering for the whole of the UK.

I’ve spent the last few days in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss our accession to CPTPP which will take the bloc from 12% to 15% of global GDP and will mean we are using our independent trading powers to bring a new, strong, persuasive voice to a network committed to free trade.

Sheffield-based chilli paste manufacturer Mak Tok has been exploring Malaysia as a new potential market and is looking to license the brand and partner with a manufacturer in the country.

Mak Tok rose to fame after showcasing its Malaysian chilli paste and sauces on Dragon’s Den. The business has been created around traditional Malaysian cuisine and already exports to other CPTPP member countries including New Zealand.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has supported Mak Tok on its exporting journey and the benefit of improved market access could mean they see increased opportunities to trade with Malaysia as joint members of CPTPP.

Mak Tok Founder Will Chew said:

Malaysia and its neighbouring countries have always been markets Mak Tok has been trying to penetrate. For the past few months, we have been working closely with our dedicated International Trade Advisor and the wider Department for International Trade (DIT) team on a strategy to establish those critical initial contacts in the region.

Being a part of CPTPP will accelerate our conversations with potential manufacturing and distribution partners, which will generate a new revenue stream for the business, expand our market reach and increase the movement of our products.

These key metrics will fuel the growth of Mak Tok by attracting new key investors in the Indo-Pacific region to help drive the brand even further.

Founded in Bath in 1990, the Fine Cheese Co. export a range of traditionally made artisan cheeses from independent producers from across the UK. The product can currently be found in over 600 delicatessens, farm shops and independent retailers across the UK and thirty other nations across the globe, from Chile to Australia.

Fine Cheese Co. Owner and Director, John Siddall, said:

Having exported to the country since 2008, The Fine Cheese Co. is excited about the future opportunity of the Chilean market at the nation’s gourmet market expands.

The most recent round of CPTPP negotiations, held in London in December, made good progress and the UK continues to engage in talks on both a bilateral and collective basis with CPTPP members.

Joining CPTPP puts Britain at the heart of a dynamic group of countries, as the world economy increasingly centres on the Pacific region. As these economies grow, stronger trade links with these countries are crucial to benefiting from this growth.
February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Households, businesses and organisations off the gas grid to receive energy bill support over the coming weeks [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 6 February 2023.

£200 payments for off grid households start today, while businesses off the grid are expected to receive £150 payments by 10 March.
- £200 energy bill support to begin arriving with households off the gas grid across Great Britain
- businesses using alternative fuels will also start receiving £150 credit on bills– with payments expected to be delivered by 10 March
- new figures show £3 billion in government support has been paid out to businesses and public sector organisations in just over 3 months to support them this winter
From today households across Great Britain who don’t use mains gas for heating will start receiving £200 towards their energy bills as the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) scheme launches. Most will get the £200 AFP automatically as a credit on their electricity bill but some customers will need to apply for the support later this month.

Nearly 2 million households who use alternative energy sources such as heating oil, biomass and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to warm their homes will receive the support which was doubled to £200 last year.

The vast majority, including many homes in rural areas, will get it automatically through their electricity supplier as a credit on their bill throughout February. A small minority of customers, such as those living in park homes or on static houseboats with no direct energy supplier, will need to apply to receive the payment through an online portal that will launch later this month.

Meanwhile from Wednesday, energy suppliers will also be able to start making payments to businesses and both public and voluntary sector organisations that use alternative fuels to heat their buildings. A credit of £150 will be provided to eligible customers across the UK through the Non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment scheme (ND-AFP). Suppliers will deliver this support up to 10 March, with most customers expected to receive it later this month. There is no need to contact your supplier.

This comes as new figures show that, thanks to the government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme, £3 billion has been cut from business energy bills in just over 3 months – helping both private and public sector organisations from schools, to hospitals and pubs.

Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart said:

Our main energy bill support schemes have seen millions of homes and businesses across the country get much needed help to cover costs, with figures today showing nearly £3 billion in government support has been paid out to business to date. Now we’re getting support to those remaining few that are off the gas grid and most difficult to reach.

I am determined to see households and businesses of all stripes protected from global pressures this winter – whether that’s those living in a houseboat, park home or operating a rural hospital or school.

That’s why we are kicking off payments of £200 to households using alternative fuel to heat their homes today – while businesses and organisations using alternative fuels will receive a boost of £150 in the coming weeks.

Ministers are today warning households to stay vigilant to scams and only to enter their details on the government’s gov.uk website, which will provide all official communications, if applying for support. No one will be asked for information by any individual or organisation prior to this or outside of the portal. Those that require additional help when applying for support may wish to seek assistance from a family member or trusted friend.

These schemes form part of a suite of energy bill support for domestic and non-domestic customers across the UK for winter 2022-2023.

On the domestic side, the Energy Price Guarantee is saving a typical UK household £900 over this winter by reducing the unit cost of electricity and gas, while the Energy Bills Support Scheme provides a further £400 off electricity bills through a monthly discount of £66 or £67. So the average family is saving £1300 altogether while more vulnerable households have received £800 on top of that as well – making a £2100 saving.

Businesses and other non-domestic customers are also benefiting from government support on a comparable basis. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme provides a direct subsidy of wholesale electricity and gas prices until the end of March, protecting jobs in charities and businesses alike. This will then be replaced by the Energy Bills Discount Scheme from April, which will offer universal support albeit at a reduced rate to protect the public finances.
February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK takes major STEP towards near limitless, low-carbon energy [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 6 February 2023.

Science Minister George Freeman has announced the creation of a new delivery body for the UK’s fusion programme, named UK Industrial Fusion Solutions.
The government has established UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS) to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant at West Burton in Nottinghamshire

the STEP prototype plant is due to complete construction by 2040, and aims to provide electricity to the grid from fusion energy

fusion energy could be a near limitless, low-carbon energy source, easing our path to sustaining net-zero and driving economic growth across the UK

A future of abundant low-carbon energy without the need for fossil fuels could be in sight after Science Minister George Freeman today (Monday 6 February) announced the creation of a new delivery body for the UK’s fusion programme, named UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd.

Fusion energy has the potential to transform our world, by delivering near limitless, safe and low-carbon energy across the globe for generations to come.

It also represents a burgeoning industry in which the UK is already a world-leader, as demonstrated by the record-setting results from experiments conducted at the UK’s Joint European Torus (JET) facility last year, with the potential to not only power the world but deliver vast economic growth across the country.

On the visit to the future site of the UK’s first prototype fusion energy plant at West Burton, Nottinghamshire, the Science Minister urged energy companies and investors to recognise the vast potential fusion energy could have for both the UK and the wider world.

The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) plant will be constructed by 2040 to demonstrate the ability to use fusion energy to generate electricity for the UK grid.

Magnetic confinement fusion, the approach to generate fusion that will be demonstrated in STEP, occurs when a mix of two forms of hydrogen are heated to extreme temperatures – 10 times hotter than the core of the sun – fuse together to create helium and release huge amounts of energy.

The energy created from fusion can be used to generate electricity in the same way as existing power stations. Fusion is many million times more efficient than burning coal, oil or gas and the raw materials needed to provide the fuel for fusion are readily available in nature. However, a number of significant technical hurdles remain, which the STEP programme is set up to address.

The STEP programme intends to pave the way to the commercialisation of fusion and the potential development of a fleet of future plants around the world, driving forward the UK’s global leadership in this innovative sector.

The announcement comes shortly after a major breakthrough for fusion in the US where the US National Ignition Facility in California conducted fusion experiments which released more energy than was put in by the lab’s enormous, high-powered lasers, a landmark achievement known as energy gain.

Science and Innovation Minister George Freeman said:

Fusion energy now has the potential to transform our world for the better by harnessing the same process powering the sun to provide cheap, abundant, low-carbon energy across the world.

The UK is the world-leader in fusion science and technology, and now we are moving to turn fusion from cutting edge science into a billion-pound clean energy industry to create thousands of UK jobs across the UK, grow exports and drive regeneration of this former coalfield site through a fusion innovation cluster in Nottinghamshire.

That’s why I’m delighted to announce the creation of Industrial Fusion Solutions as the vehicle for industrial development and deployment of this technology as a new clean energy source in the coming decades.

Professor Sir Ian Chapman, UKAEA Chief Executive, said:

The establishment of Industrial Fusion Solutions will enable STEP to accelerate its journey towards delivery of electricity from fusion energy to the grid. The new body, which will be formed over the next 18 months, will be established as a programme delivery organisation, driving performance and pace and engaging industry in this endeavour.

Alongside the establishment of the new organisation, we are beginning to map out our future skills requirements and, as part of this, we are committing to the development of a STEP Skills Centre at West Burton. This will enable us to provide as many opportunities as possible to people across the area.

We look forward to working with people in the region to develop our ambitious plans and realising broader social and economic benefits.

The new organisation will be a company limited by shares established to work together with industry to deliver the prototype plant by 2040. Recruitment for the Chair of UKIFS launches soon.

As part of the visit, Science Minister George Freeman also announced an immediate commitment to create the STEP Skills Centre at West Burton, a major boost during National Apprenticeship Week. He also spoke with local apprentices currently working at the UKAEA Culham campus, and key local stakeholders.
February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : We need to give carers a pay rise [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Liberal Democrats on 5 February 2023.

A major cause of the terrible NHS crisis afflicting our country is the crisis in social care. Thousands of people are stranded in hospital beds because there aren’t enough care workers to look after them at home or in a care home.

Only two in five people are able to leave hospital when they are ready to do so, contributing to record-breaking waits in A&E and dangerous ambulance handover delays.

Everyone in this country deserves high-quality social care when they need it. At whatever point of life we find ourselves in need of care, whether that’s in later life or, as is the case for an increasing number of people, during their prime working years, everyone should be able to live in dignity.

Sadly that is not the case in Britain today. Social care services in this country are in such a state that people are not getting the care and support they need.

Blame for this unfolding disaster lies squarely with this Conservative Government.

Again and again they have broken their promises to reform social care.

They pledged that no one would have to sell their house to pay for care and that they would not raise tax to do it. They promised to cap care costs and support our care workers.

Yet they have dithered and delayed, coming up with weak excuses for their failures.

They now talk about fixing the NHS. But that will prove impossible if they do not fix social care too.

It is heart-breaking that millions of elderly and vulnerable people across the country are struggling to get the care they need and deserve. Our care homes are collapsing under the weight of years of broken Conservative promises.

ED DAVEY, LEADER OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

There’s no doubt that the list of necessary reforms to social care is long and the solutions complex. What is clear however is that any change will be completely ineffectual without enough social care staff to care for the vulnerable.

But we face an uphill struggle to even get enough staff. The current number of vacancies in social care stands at 165,000 and is rising alarmingly. In the last year alone the number increased by 55,000.

The reason is simple: care workers aren’t paid enough for the tough, skilled and important work they do. Many are paid less than even the lowest-paid jobs in most supermarkets and shops.

Thankfully the answer to this problem is simple too: pay our hard working care workers a higher wage.

That’s why the Liberal Democrats are calling for the introduction of a Carer’s Minimum Wage. We would pay £2 per hour more than the current minimum wage for all carers, meaning that by April this year hourly pay would be £12.42.

A staggering 850,000 care workers would benefit from this increase in pay. And over 80% of them would be women.

Social care needs serious solutions from a serious Government. But the Conservatives have shown time and again that they don’t care about social care. They don’t want to reform care, or pay carers better. They would have done it long ago if they did.

The NHS needs more than warm words; it needs real solutions.A Carer’s Minimum Wage isn’t the silver bullet, but it’s a serious proposal that could make a big difference to patients and their families across the country.

February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : ‘Kinship care is so important’, says Ed Davey [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Liberal Democrats on 4 February 2023.

Each year, thousands of grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and family friends step up to support a child who is unable to live with their birth parents.

Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson has introduced the Kinship Care Bill in the House of Commons. This bill calls on the Government to provide all friends and relatives who look after a child who cannot live with their birth parents with an allowance of at least £137 a week: the same level as for foster carers.

Every child that goes into kinship care instead of local authority care could save the taxpayer more than £35,000 a year. Yet Government policy treats kinship carers as a Cinderella service, denying most of them the support received by foster carers or adoptive parents.

Munira’s Kinship Care Bill would:
- Provide a weekly allowance to all kinship carers at the same level as for foster carers;
- Give kinship carers the right to paid leave when a child starts living with them;
- Support the education of children in kinship care, such as by giving them Pupil Premium Plus funding and priority for their first choice of school.
Liberal Democrats will stand up for carers, so we can provide their children with a better start in life, no matter their background.
February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak’s first 100 days have left typical family £1,200 poorer [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Liberal Democrats on 2 February 2023.

A typical family has been left almost £1,200 poorer in the 100 days since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister.

Rishi Sunak’s first 100 days in office have been a crushing disappointment, with a worsening cost of living emergency and NHS crisis.

The cost of Conservative chaos is hitting families who are seeing their incomes squeezed while local health services are stretched to breaking point.

The new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that a typical squeezed middle household with a mortgage will have seen extra costs of £1,170 in the 100 days since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister on 25th October.

This is made up of £822 in extra mortgage interest payments, £132 in extra taxes due to the freezing of income tax thresholds and £216 in additional food bills.

This is due to get even worse in April, when under government plans the average family will see energy bills go up by £500 a year. And it comes as the Bank of England has raised interest rates for the tenth time in a row, hitting mortgage borrowers with even higher repayment costs.

The Liberal Democrats are offering a fair deal where families facing soaring mortgages and rents are offered emergency support, and where the energy price rise is cancelled. We will stand up for communities around the country being totally taken for granted by this Conservative government.

“The Conservative Party is still mired in sleaze and chaos, with no proper plan to fix the challenges facing the country. They either just don’t care or don’t get it.”

ED DAVEY

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the typical energy bill to be maintained at £2,500 this April. The Government currently regulates energy costs for households through the Energy Price Guarantee, this was initially set at £2,500 for the typical household. In the Autumn Statement the government announced this would rise in April to £3,000 for the average household. Energy bills are currently more than double the £1,277 they were last year.

The Liberal Democrats are proposing a new Mortgage Protection Fund, which would provide temporary grants to those most at risk of repossession – homeowners on the lowest incomes and those seeing the sharpest rises in mortgage rates. Anyone who sees their mortgage payments rise by more than 10% of their household income would get a grant to cover the cost of that rise for the next year, up to a maximum of £300 a month.

The Liberal Democrats are also calling on the government to urgently bring forward the promised Renters Reform Bill to Parliament. This should include an immediate ban on no-fault evictions. There should be a moratorium on evictions on grounds of rent arrears, unless arrears exceed 6 months, a measure which was in place for 6 months in 2020-21. And the mandatory notice period given by landlords should be extended from the current 2 months to 6 months, a measure which was in place for 18 months in 2020 and 2021.

February 6, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Tory MPs vote for 15 more years of sewage dumping [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Liberal Democrats on 26 January 2023.

292 Conservative MPs voted to allow sewage dumping by water companies in our rivers, lakes and coasts for at least 15 more years.

New regulations passed by Conservative MPs will allow water companies to continue dumping sewage into our rivers and seas for another 15 years.

In the last two years water companies in England dumped raw sewage 775,568 times lasting 5,768,679 hours.

The new legilsation set a target of an 80% reduction in phosphates in rivers by 2038. Phosphates are naturally occurring minerals found in human waste and can lead to a dramatic growth in algae and deplete oxygen levels when they are dumped in rivers.

This is a pathetic target which allows water companies to get away with a staggering 15 more years of shameful sewage dumping. This is a betrayal of the British public who rightly want tougher action against water companies.

The water companies that are responsible for dumping sewage into our rivers, lakes and coastal waters every day, now have 15 years to clean up their act. Meanwhile their top execs have paid themselves £51 million, including £30.6 million in bonuses over the last two years.

Conservative MPs should be ashamed of themselves. It will be swimmers and treasured wildlife which pay the price for today’s flimsy target. Water company execs will be cheering this through parliament.

Liberal Democrats proudly voted against these unacceptably weak targets.

February 6, 2023