Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : New transgender prisoner policy comes into force [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 27 February 2023.
- updated framework in place from today (27 February 2023)
- transgender women offenders no longer housed in women’s prisons if they have male genitalia or have committed sex crimes
- new approach extended to include those who have committed violent crimes
The Deputy Prime Minister has also announced measures will go one step further than previously set out – by extending the rules to cover transgender women who have been convicted of violent offences.

The new guidance will apply regardless of whether transgender prisoners have a Gender Recognition Certificate, with exemptions only to be made in the most exceptional cases – and with the express approval of Ministers.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, said:

Safety has to come first in our prisons and this new policy sets out a clear, common-sense approach to the housing of transgender prisoners.

With these sensible new measures in place, transgender offenders who have committed sexual or violent crimes or retain male genitalia will not serve their sentence in a women’s prison, unless explicitly approved at the highest level.

Under the changes, transgender women who are sentenced to custody in the future will not be held in the general women’s estate if they retain male genitalia or have been convicted of a violent or sexual offence – unless in the most exceptional cases. Exemptions will be considered for those currently held in the women’s estate who are assessed as low-risk.

At present more than 90% of transgender women are housed in men’s prisons and most do not request a move to the women’s estate. There is currently no obligation to place a transgender prisoner according to their preference, and where individuals are held is based purely on risk. However, the government has decided to take this further step as an additional measure to protect women.

Transgender women prisoners who cannot be safely housed in a men’s prison can be imprisoned in a specialist unit.
March 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Thousands more households in Northern Ireland on course to benefit from £600 government help with energy bills [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 27 February 2023.

UK government launches new online portal so thousands of additional NI households can receive £600 payments.
- New online portal means Northern Ireland households without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier can apply for government support
- ministers urge over 28,000 households eligible for the £600 lump sum to apply as soon as possible
- a telephone helpline is available to support without access to the internet to apply for the payment
The UK government’s £600 help with energy bills is on course to reach thousands more households across Northern Ireland from today, as new routes for funding open to the public.

Over 28,000 households who do not have a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier – such as park home residents, people living in care homes and households who get their energy through a commercial contract – will be able to apply for support under the ‘alternative funding’ route of the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS AF).

This follows the main roll-out of £600 energy support payments, which reached the majority of households across Northern Ireland in January and February. The delivery of support has been designed to cater specifically for the NI market, with households receiving payments as one lump sum.

A new online government portal launching today will allow thousands more households in Northern Ireland to benefit from the government help, while a dedicated customer helpline is also available to assist eligible customers who do not have online access. This follows a successful pilot phase in specific post code areas to refine the application process, making sure the system can deliver support to households in a robust, secure and efficient manner.

Ministers are today urging all eligible households to apply as soon as possible for their support, whilst also warning households to stay alert to potential scams and report them to relevant authorities where they are suspected. The government will never provide any links to the application portal, or directly ask individuals to apply for the £600 support. Anyone who requires additional help when applying for support may wish to seek assistance from a family member or trusted friend.

Minister at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Amanda Solloway, said:

Hundreds of thousands of households across Northern Ireland have already felt the benefit of our help with their energy bills, but this online portal is the final piece of the puzzle to make sure the final few who don’t have a direct relationship with an electricity supplier can apply for their £600 of support.

It’s simple and easy to do and I want every household entitled to this to get your application in as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner help can get to you.

The exact date that an eligible household will receive support will depend on when an application is made, with the application process administered in Northern Ireland by the government’s contracted delivery partner.

Payments will be delivered directly into people’s bank accounts by the government’s finance delivery partner, UKSBS. If you have previously attempted to open a standard current account but not been able to do so, you may be eligible to open a basic bank account for free. The 9 largest personal current account (PCA) providers in the UK are legally required to offer a basic bank account option.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris said:

Welcome news for those Northern Ireland households without a direct relationship to a domestic energy supplier, with people able to apply for £600 support from today.

I urge all those eligible to apply online or to get in touch through the telephone helpline as soon as possible.

The alternative funding route is in place to make sure the same level of support reaches households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier. Customers who have received support automatically via their electricity supplier through the main Energy Bill Support Scheme Northern Ireland (EBSS NI) are not eligible for support under the alternative funding aspect of the scheme, and do not need to apply.

These schemes are the latest part of a range of targeted measures to help households across the country with the cost of living. In addition to the support provided through EBSS and Alternative Fuel Payments NI, the UK government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) is expected to save the average UK family £900 over this winter.

Further support in direct payments is also being provided to vulnerable households this year, including cost of living payments for pensioners, people receiving disability-related allowances and those on means-tested benefits. The Household Support Fund provides additional assistance for those most in need and £26 billion worth of targeted support will help protect the most vulnerable over the next financial year.

Geoff Nuttall, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) said:

NICVA is pleased that people with no direct route to receiving help through an energy supplier will now get help through this new BEIS scheme. This intervention will provide some much-needed support at a difficult time.

Our members have told us the difficulties they and the people they support are facing every day and how hard the sector is working to help people.

The rising cost of living is affecting everyone, but we know it impacts the most vulnerable in our society even more. Especially if they’re not connected to the networks through which others have already received support.

We welcome this new scheme to ensure much needed help reaches them too.
March 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : 900,000 more households to benefit from £400 of government energy bill support [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 27 February 2023.

Government launches portal for 900,000 additional GB households to apply for £400 payments towards energy bills.
- Households without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier will be able to apply for government support with their energy bills from today
- With government energy bill support covering roughly half of typical winter bills, ministers urge over 900,000 households eligible for the £400 lump sum to apply as soon as possible
- A telephone helpline is also available from today for people without access to the internet to apply for the payment
900,000 more households across England, Scotland and Wales will benefit from the government’s £400 help with energy bills, as an online application portal opens today.

Households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier, such as those living in park homes and care homes, can now apply via a secure online portal to receive the support as a one-off, non-repayable lump sum under the ‘alternative funding’ route of the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS AF). For those without online access, a dedicated customer helpline is available to assist eligible customers.

The launch of applications follows months of close work with stakeholders across the country to deliver the government’s help for households with the cost of living. The alternative funding route is the latest in a range of targeted measures which are covering around half of a typical household’s energy bills this winter.

To ensure people feel the benefit of this support as quickly as possible, the payment will be provided directly into people’s bank accounts. Over £7.2 billion has been provided so far to 97% of households across England, Scotland and Wales through monthly instalments, which most households receive automatically in the same way they pay these bills.

The alternative funding route is designed to make sure the same level of support reaches those without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier. It’s also available for households who get their energy through a commercial contract or who are off-grid.

Ministers are today urging all eligible households to apply as soon as possible for their support, whilst also warning households to stay alert to potential scams and report them to relevant authorities where they are suspected.

The government will never provide any links to the application portal, or directly ask individuals to apply for the £400 support. Those that require additional help when applying for support may wish to seek assistance from a family member or trusted friend.

Minister at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Amanda Solloway, said:

We understand the pressure households are under which is why we’ve already stepped in to pay around half of people’s energy bills this winter, and from today, thousands more will be able to apply securely for their £400.

Today I’m urging everyone who couldn’t get their EBSS discounts in the regular way to apply via our secure channels. If you don’t have a direct contract with an electricity supplier, it’s essential you submit your application as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner help can get to you.

The launch of the portal follows a successful pilot scheme with local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to refine the process, making sure the system can deliver support in a robust, secure and efficient manner.

Once customers have applied to receive energy support and their applications have been processed and verified, eligible customers’ details will be shared with Local Authorities across England, Scotland and Wales, who will deliver the support in one lump sum. Local authorities may request additional information to assist their verification process – but only once an application has been made via the secure portal or helpline. Applicants will only be able to submit information through these channels and should not contact their local authority.

The exact date that an eligible household will receive support will depend on when the application is made and when the payment can be processed by the relevant local authority.

Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps will shortly write to local authorities, thanking them for getting the scheme over the line after working hand in hand with his department over the last three months, and urging them to process applications as quickly as possible so households aren’t left waiting weeks after applying.

He’ll also say there must be no further delays to rolling out the Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund – a similar scheme for households who use alternative fuels as their main source of heating, providing £200 towards energy costs, adding it will be live by 6th March.

This will help people who use alternative energy sources such as heating oil, biomass and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to heat their homes, but who were unable to receive the government’s £200 Alternative Fuel Payment automatically via their electricity supplier. Of nearly 2 million people who use these sources as the main means to heat their homes, around 15% will need to apply through a similar GOV.UK portal which will shortly open to applications.

These schemes are the latest part of a range of targeted measures to help households across the country with the cost of living, which are covering around half of a typical household’s typical energy bills this winter.

In addition to the £400 of total support provided through the EBSS, the government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) is saving a typical UK household £900 over this winter by reducing the unit cost of electricity and gas. Together, the support provided through the EPG and EBSS cover around half of a typical household’s energy bills. The EPG will continue to provide support for another 12 months from April 2023, providing an average of £500 support for households in 2023 to 2024 in the face of energy prices that are forecast to remain high. A further £1,200 of support in direct payments is also being provided to vulnerable households this year, with £26 billion worth of targeted support to help protect the most vulnerable announced by the Chancellor for the next financial year.
March 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Promotes Great Presence for World Pride [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 February 2023.

Showcasing and supporting LGBTQIA+ communities is the focus of the UK Government Sydney’s WorldPride activity.

Showcasing and supporting LGBTQIA+ communities is the focus of the UK Government Sydney’s WorldPride activity.

The programme includes:
- London Taxi and 50+ UKinAustralia team members taking part in Mardi Gras Parade (led by the British High Commissioner and LGBTQIA+ envoy
- Unveiled to coincide with Sydney WorldPride, the UK’s GREAT Love campaign comes to Australia to celebrate the diversity of LGBTQIA+ communities, where individuals share their unique stories, through pivotal moments in their lives when they realised being part of the LGBTQIA+ community was a good thing – a superpower that should be celebrated and to share with the world that GREAT Love tells many stories
- UK’s LGBTQIA+ envoy (Lord Herbert) visit to Sydney as part of the Sydney WorldPride programme
- Significant tourism programme led by VisitBritain, encouraging visitors to the UK to See Things Differently, and an extensive cultural programme led by British Council
- Event celebrating the diverse and outstanding LGBTQIA+ business community and organisations in Australia that have worked hard to be LGBTQIA+ inclusive, in partnership with Cunard and hosted on the Queen Victoria
This is the largest scale participation of the UK Government in Mardi Gras and will mark the global launch of its new GREAT Love campaign, LGBTQIA+ storytellers – using an object symbolising a pivotal time in their lives – will share the moment they realised their sexuality or gender identity was a superpower to be celebrated. The storytellers include boxer and two-time Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams OBE, world-leading human rights barrister Dr S Chelvan and Drag Queen royalty Vanity Milan and Elektra Fence. Broadcaster and DJ Adele Roberts and her partner Kate Holderness will share their stories as will the first gay owner of Attitude since the publication was founded almost 30 years ago, Darren Styles OBE – just to name a few.

GREAT Love shines a light on the breadth of the LGBTQIA+ community, demonstrating its acceptance and inclusion across the UK. A rainbow union flag wrapped British taxi will feature a heart to symbolise open heartedness. The vibrant UK community will be incorporated into the design and the participants’ costumes and placards will read: “GREAT Love Is For Everyone”.

British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell, the UK’s LGBTQIA+ envoy Lord Herbert and British Consul-General and Deputy Trade Commissioner Louise Cantillon will lead a 50+ strong group of participants from the UKinAustralia at the Mardi Gras Parade.

Vicki Treadell, British High Commissioner to Australia, said:

I’m delighted to be able to join the Mardi Gras Parade, alongside representatives from across our UK in Australia network and our iconic London taxi cabs.

Supporting WorldPride and the Mardi Gras Parade allows us to use our platform to showcase the LGBT+ community and highlight that truly, GREAT Love Is For Everyone”.

The UK’s Special Envoy on LGBT Rights Lord Nick Herbert of South Downs is visiting Sydney for a week of activity linked to WorldPride. In addition to taking part in Mardi Gras he is also speaking at both the WorldPride Human Rights Conference and the Resourcing LGBTIQ Movements for Change in Asia and the Pacific Conference. He will attend the launch of the HIV Prevention Handbook by the Global Equality Caucus and take part in a range of UK Government hosted events for business, civil society and stakeholders.

Lord Herbert said:

It’s fantastic to be in Sydney for WorldPride and to join the famous Mardi Gras.

I’m proud to be representing a country with a great record on LGBT+ rights. The UK will continue to work with our partners worldwide to champion equality for all.

An event celebrating the steps taken by businesses to be LGBTQIA+ inclusive is being held in partnership with Cunard. Members of the business community will gather on board the Queen Victoria for a British afternoon tea and networking event with special guests Lord Herbert and British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell.

Louise Cantillon, Deputy Trade Commissioner and British Consul General NSW, said:

Sydney’s support of WorldPride has been phenomenal and I cannot think of a better place to launch the global GREAT Love Is For Everyone Campaign.

Supporting LGBT+ communities is everyone’s business, and it’s great that Government is able to spotlight businesses and individuals who are actively working to be inclusive and build diversity into their workplaces.

The British Council is supporting the Australian premiere of acclaimed dance work The Dan Daw Show, presented by the Seymour Centre in association with Sydney WorldPride. In the weeks surrounding Sydney WorldPride, the British Council is supporting four other live productions, workshops and exhibits by LBQTQIA+ artists in Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. In addition the British Council and the BFI are hosting Five Films for Freedom, a global, short film festival in support of LGBTQIA+ rights.

Amplifying the GREAT campaign messages of Britain as an inclusive, welcoming nation, VisitBritain, the UK’s national tourist agency, is set to launch a new destination campaign inspiring Australian LGBTQIA+ visitors to ‘Come See Things Differently’ in 2023. The campaign will promote the warmth of the British spirit, highlighting Britain as a dynamic destination, compelling travellers to visit today, not one day, with the message that WorldPride is just the start of the party this year.

Five Films for Freedom: https://film.britishcouncil.org/about/work/fivefilmsforfreedom
March 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £15 million funding boost to strengthen supply of critical minerals [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Business and Trade on 27 February 2023.

Tonnes of rare earth elements – essential for technology such as electric vehicles and wind turbines – could be recycled in future thanks to £15 million of government funding for cutting edge research.
- £15 million boost for critical minerals used in clean energy technology
- new research and development programme to focus on a specific group of critical minerals: rare earth elements
- rare earths – like those used in electric motors – are essential to economic and national security and capitalising on growing industries
Tonnes of rare earth elements – essential for technology such as electric vehicles, wind turbines and smart phones – could be recycled in future thanks to £15 million of government funding for cutting edge research to strengthen supply of critical materials.

Rare earth elements are a family of critical minerals used in products ranging from electric vehicle motors to washing machines. They are vital to the economy, as they are used to create vital components in products ranging from laptops to aircraft. But supply chains are complex and markets are volatile, with most critical minerals sourced from just a handful of countries. This leaves UK jobs and industries vulnerable to market shocks and geopolitical events, which is why the government is working to help UK firms establish resilient and sustainable access to critical minerals.

The £15 million funding will launch the CLIMATES programme, delivered by Innovate UK, to develop work on rare earths by researchers and businesses across the country. This will support innovations in the recycling of rare earth elements, as well as research and development, engagement with international partners and activities to identify and support future skills needs. The programme will also look to unlock further private investment in projects to develop resilient supply chains for these important resources.

Nusrat Ghani, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, said:

Rare earth elements underpin so much of what makes everyday life and work possible, from the cars we drive to the phones we use. It is essential that, in a rapidly changing world, we do all we can to ensure resilient supplies of these and other critical minerals.

The impact of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine on energy prices has been a timely reminder of how important supply chains are for all parts of our economy. That’s why we are laser-focused on securing robust supply chains, for the growing, green industries that will deliver jobs and prosperity across the UK in the decades to come.

Mike Biddle, Executive Director for Net Zero at Innovate UK said:

Now is the time to build UK capability and a sustainable supply of rare earth elements, working with international partners. The rising costs of energy has demonstrated the importance of resilient global supply chains. Our CLIMATES programme will work with businesses, investors, and industry bodies to deliver a series of activities, from funding competitions to networking events and workshops, all designed to drive growth in the sector and build resilient supply chains to help us strengthen our economy and meet our environmental targets.

Will Drury, Challenge Director, Driving the Electric Revolution, Innovate UK said:

For the UK to deliver on its net zero ambitions we must have access to critical minerals and materials. This intervention by Innovate UK in support of the UK government’s strategy provides a thrilling proposition for UK businesses and innovators to build on our research excellence. Our aim is to create an exciting investment proposition that enables growth in this vital area.

It is because of these global challenges that the government will refresh the delivery approach of the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy, which will be published later in 2023. To deliver on the Strategy’s commitment to collaborate internationally, we have continued to engage bilaterally and across a range of multilateral forums, notably the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the G7 and the G20.

Production of critical minerals of all kinds is expected to rise sharply – some as much as 500% by 2040. The government is working to ensure the UK secures a strong foothold in this growing market by supporting key investment in related industries.

In July 2022 Pensana launched the UK’s first-ever magnet materials refinery in East Yorkshire, a £145 million facility that will secure hundreds of jobs and form an important part of the UK’s electric vehicle supply chain. In November 2022 Green Lithium announced they would build the first large-scale lithium refinery anywhere outside of Asia, in Teeside. Both investments are supported by the government’s Automotive Transformation Fund.

The government is also harnessing the UK’s unparalleled expertise around critical minerals data, through work with the British Geological Survey. They are delivering the work of the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC), set up to improve the resilience of critical mineral supply chains by providing policymakers with up-to-date data and analysis on supply, demand, and market dynamics.
March 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : A new way forward on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland – political agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework [February 2023]
The press release issued by the European Commission on 27 February 2023.

Today, the European Commission and the Government of the United Kingdom reached a political agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework. This constitutes a comprehensive set of joint solutions aimed at addressing, in a definitive way, the practical challenges faced by citizens and businesses in Northern Ireland, thereby providing them with lasting certainty and predictability.

The joint solutions cover, amongst other things, new arrangements on customs, agri-food, medicines, VAT and excise, as well as specific instruments designed to ensure that the voices of the people of Northern Ireland are better heard on specific issues particularly relevant to the communities there. These new arrangements are underpinned by robust safeguards to ensure the integrity of the EU’s Single Market, to which Northern Ireland has a unique access.

Today’s political agreement in principle allows the two sides to open a new chapter in our partnership, based on mutual trust and full cooperation, also allowing to unlock the full potential of their relationship.

President Ursula von der Leyen said: “The Windsor Framework was made possible by genuine political will and hard work guided by the fundamental principle that the interests and needs of people should always come first. Supporting and protecting the hard-earned gains of the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement was the prerequisite of our endeavour. Today, our achievement allows us to put forward definitive solutions that work for people and businesses in Northern Ireland and that protect our Single Market. It also allows us to turn the page towards a bilateral relationship that mirrors the one of close allies standing shoulder to shoulder in times of crisis.”

The joint solutions, found within the framework of the Withdrawal Agreement, are based on the following starting points:
- A comprehensive, cross-cutting and definitive solution, addressing practical difficulties in the operation of the Protocol;
- A balance between flexibilities for the movement of goods for end use in Northern Ireland and effective safeguards guaranteeing the protection of the EU’s Single Market;
- A clear distinction between goods at risk and goods not at risk of entering the EU’s Single Market.
In the sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) area, the joint solutions ensure that the same food will be available on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland as in the rest of the UK. In practice, agri-food retail products for end consumption in Northern Ireland will be able to move from Great Britain with minimal certification requirements and controls. UK public health standards will apply for those agri-food retail goods for end consumption in Northern Ireland, whilst EU plant and animal health rules remain applicable for the protection of the EU Single Market. This arrangement is commensurate with a set of existing and new safeguards, including SPS inspection facilities and labelling which will be introduced gradually. When these safeguards are fully in place, identity checks will be reduced to only 5%. Physical checks will follow a risk-based and intelligence-led approach. Moreover, travelling with pets will be easy, thanks to a simple pet travel document, a microchip, and a declaration by the owner that the pet will not travel to the EU.

New arrangements in the area of customs are based on an expanded trusted trader scheme that will also be open to businesses in Great Britain. Goods moved by trusted traders and not at risk of entering the EU’s Single Market will benefit from dramatically simplified procedures and drastically simplified declarations with reduced data requirements. Substantial facilitations were found for freight and the movement of all types of parcels, i.e., business-to-business, business-to-consumer, and consumer-to-consumer, with consumer-to-consumer parcels being entirely exempt from the main customs requirements. These new solutions are made possible especially by new data-sharing arrangements allowing for risk assessments, which would constitute the principle basis for controls. Robust authorisation and monitoring of the trusted trader scheme, and increased market surveillance and enforcement by UK authorities also act as safeguards. Full customs procedures will apply to goods at risk of entering the EU’s Single Market.

A permanent solution has also been found to ensure that people in Northern Ireland have access to all medicines, including novel medicines, at the same time and under the same conditions as people in the rest of the UK. This complements the solution the EU adopted in April 2022 for the supply of generic medicines to Northern Ireland. These new arrangements are made possible by new safeguards, notably labelling, designed to ensure that the medicines do not enter the EU’s Single Market.

New flexibilities were also found for certain VAT and excise rules, accompanied by safeguards protecting the EU from fraud risks or potential distortion of competition. These arrangements include a possibility to set UK VAT rates below EU VAT minima rates for immovable goods with no risk that these goods enter the EU Single Market (e.g., a heat pump for a house). A UK SME VAT exemption scheme is now applicable to both goods and services if the UK respects the EU threshold for the size of SMEs. There is now also a possibility to tax all alcoholic beverages according to their alcoholic strength, and to set reduced duty rates to alcoholic beverages, if served for immediate consumption in hospitality venues in Northern Ireland, as long as the applied rates are not below EU minima duty rates.

With regard to governance, the voices of Northern Ireland people and stakeholders will be better heard through regular engagement at each level of the Withdrawal Agreement structures. There will be enhanced engagement with Northern Ireland stakeholders on Protocol-related matters. New thematic subgroups within the Joint Consultative Working Group will be set up. A new emergency mechanism, the Stormont Brake, will allow the UK government, at the request of 30 Members of the Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland, to stop the application in Northern Ireland of amended or replacing provisions of Protocol-related EU law that may have a significant and lasting impact specific to the everyday lives of communities there. This mechanism would be triggered under the most exceptional circumstances and as a matter of last resort, in a very well-defined process set out in a Unilateral Declaration by the UK.

The Court of Justice of the European Union remains the sole and ultimate arbiter of EU law.

The joint solutions also address implementation difficulties related to tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for the most sensitive categories of steel and clarify the application of State aid rules.

These new arrangements have been carried out within the framework of the Withdrawal Agreement of which the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is an integral part. Within these pre-established legal parameters, a number of targeted amendments to the Protocol address, in a definitive way, unforeseen circumstances or deficiencies that have emerged since the start of the Protocol.

Next steps

The European Commission and the Government of the United Kingdom will proceed, within the remit of their respective powers, with the necessary steps to translate the joint solutions into legally binding instruments and to implement these swiftly and in good faith. To that effect, a meeting of the EU-UK Joint Committee on the Withdrawal Agreement, co-chaired by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, will also take place in the coming weeks. The Commission has today made proposals to the Council for a Union position as regards, amongst other things, the decisions that need to be adopted in that meeting.

In addition, the Commission has today tabled legislative proposals in the SPS, medicines and TRQs areas, which will now be submitted to the European Parliament and Council.

The respective roles of the European Parliament and Council will be fully respected.

The new arrangements are not compatible with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill. The Commission welcomes that the UK government is stopping the process of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, and is not proceeding with it, so that it will fall in the UK Parliament at the end of the Parliamentary session. These arrangements, when implemented, mean that there will no longer be grounds for the existing Commission legal proceedings against the United Kingdom relating to the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland.

Background

The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, as an integral part of the Withdrawal Agreement, was agreed jointly and ratified by both the EU and the UK. It has been in force since 1 February 2020 and has legal effects under international law. The aim of the Protocol is to protect the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement in all its dimensions, maintaining peace and stability in Northern Ireland, avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, while preserving the integrity of the EU Single Market.
February 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : John Clarke announced as new Companies House chair [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Business and Trade on 27 February 2023.

John Clarke has been announced as the new chair of Companies House, replacing Lesley Cowley.
John Clarke has today (27 February 2023) been announced as the new chair of Companies House

he replaces Lesley Cowley who served as chair from March 2017 to February 2023

Companies House incorporates and dissolves limited companies, registers the information companies are legally required to supply and makes that information available to the public.

John Clarke said:

It is a great honour to be appointed as the new Non-Executive Chair of Companies House, at a time when we are embarking on a fundamental operational transformation. The role of Companies House will change to reflect its responsibility to help achieve the government’s priorities in national security, anti-corruption, tackling fraud and boosting enterprise.

Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

John Clarke is a fantastic appointment to this role. His extensive background in leadership and business transformation will support Companies House as it continues to deliver important public services, and develops a more prominent role in tackling economic crime.

We are grateful to Lesley Cowley for all her hard work in her time as chair.

Biography

John Clarke is an experienced technology and services executive. He has worked in corporate roles for companies including Nokia, Tesco, Primark, Accenture, and EY. He is also the Non-Executive Chair at the MoD Defence Business Services, and UK Shared Business Services Limited.
February 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Legal age of marriage in England and Wales rises to 18 [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 27 February 2023.

Vulnerable children across England and Wales will be better protected from the damaging impact of forced marriage as the legal age of marriage rises to 18 in England and Wales.
- new criminal offence to cause a child to marry, with sentence up to 7 years in prison
- offence includes forced marriage in non-legally binding ceremonies
- Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act comes into force
The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, which gained Royal Assent in April last year, has come into force today (27 February). It means that 16 and 17 year olds will no longer be allowed to marry or enter a civil partnership, even if they have parental consent.

It is now illegal and a criminal offence to exploit vulnerable children by arranging for them to marry, under any circumstances whether or not force is used.

The change will crack down on forced marriages which can cause lasting damage on a child and forms part of the government’s continued commitment to tackle violence against women and girls.

Those found guilty of arranging child marriages face sentences of up to 7 years in prison.

The age of 18 is widely recognised as the age at which one becomes an adult and gains full citizenship rights.

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab MP, said:

This law will better protect vulnerable young people, by cracking down on forced marriage in our society.

Those who act to manipulate children into marrying under-age will now rightly face the full force of the law.

The change was introduced through a Private Member’s Bill brought to Parliament by Pauline Latham OBE MP and was supported by campaign organisations within the Girls Not Brides Coalition, which work to end child marriage and ‘honour’-based abuse.

Pauline Latham MP said:

This is a landmark day for the campaigners who have worked relentlessly for over 5 years to ban child marriage in this country.

Child marriage destroys lives and through this legislation we will protect millions of boys and girls over the coming years from this scourge.

Minister for Safeguarding, Sarah Dines MP, said:

Forced marriage is an abuse of human rights which denies vulnerable children the freedom to learn, grow and thrive. Like all other forms of abuse, I’m committed to stamping out this exploitative practice.

In addition to this welcome new legislation, we are also continuing to provide training and guidance to equip the police, social workers and other frontline professionals to support and safeguard victims.

Child marriage is often associated with domestic abuse towards girls, leaving education early, limited career opportunities, and serious physical and mental health problems. The change honours the government’s commitment to the pledge made to the United Nations to end child marriage by 2030.

Previously forced marriage was only an offence if the person uses a type of coercion, for example threats, to cause someone to marry.

It is now an offence to cause a child under the age of 18 to enter a marriage in any circumstances, without the need to prove that a form of coercion was used. This includes non-legally binding ‘traditional’ ceremonies which would still be viewed as marriages by the parties and their families.

Natasha Rattu, Director of Karma Nirvana (a member of the Girls Not Brides Coalition), said:

The change to legislation on child marriage is a huge victory for survivors. It is a huge leap forward to tackling this usually hidden abuse and will provide a greater degree of protection to those at risk.

Last year, the national Honour Based Abuse helpline supported 64 cases of child marriage, representing only a small picture of a much bigger problem. We hope that the new law will help to increase identification and reporting, affording greater protection to children at risk.

In 2021 the government’s Forced Marriage Unit provided advice or support in 118 cases involving victims below 18 years of age. The courts have also issued 3,343 Forced Marriage Protection Orders between their introduction in 2008 and September 2022 which prevents someone from using threats, violence or emotional abuse as a way to force a person into marriage.
February 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Social housing managers must be qualified under new laws to protect residents [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 26 February 2023.

Social housing managers must gain professional qualifications under new rules to protect residents and raise standards in the sector.
Latest government action to drive up standards and improve the lives of social housing residents

Professional qualifications to be made mandatory for social housing managers, ensuring residents receive a high-quality service and rapidly professionalise the sector

Part of the Social Housing (Regulations) Bill which will give Regulator tough new powers to hold landlords to account

Social housing managers must gain professional qualifications under new rules to protect residents and raise standards in the sector, Housing Secretary Michael Gove announced today.

Around 25,000 managers across the sector will now be required to have an appropriate level housing management qualification regulated by OfQual equivalent to a Level 4 or 5 Certificate or Diploma in Housing, or a foundation degree from the Chartered Institute of Housing.

The changes will be made through amendments to the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill which will drive up standards in the sector and hold landlords to account over the service they provide to their tenants. The Bill will also give the Regulator tough new powers – allowing them to enter properties with only 48 hours’ notice and make emergency repairs with landlords footing the bill.

It follows Awaab’s Law, introduced earlier this year in the wake of the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, which will force social landlords to fix damp and mould within strict time limits.

Today’s new requirements will professionalise and drive the culture change needed in the sector, ensuring residents receive a high level of service and are treated with respect at all times. While many managers already provide a high quality professional service, not all do. This will ensure that all managers have the skills and qualifications they need.

This will bring social housing more closely into line with other sectors providing front line services, including social work, teaching, and health and care services. Any landlord who fails to meet the requirements of the new standards could receive an unlimited fine from the regulator.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said:

The Grenfell Tower tragedy and, more recently, the death of Awaab Ishak showed the devastating consequences of residents inexcusably being let down by poor performing landlords who consistently failed to listen to them.

We know that many social housing residents are not receiving the service or respect they deserve. The changes we are delivering today will make sure social housing managers across the country have the right skills and experience to deliver an excellent service and drive up standards across the board.

Gavin Smart, CEO Chartered Institute of Housing, said:

We welcome the government’s focus on and support for professionalism in housing. We believe housing professionals should do all they can to ensure that tenants and residents have access to good quality, affordable homes; that they are treated with dignity and respect; and that their voices and views are heard and taken account of in decisions that affect them, their homes and the communities they live in and that the vast majority of housing professionals and organisations share this belief.

We look forward to working with government to support organisations and individuals in achieving the qualifications needed under these new requirements.
February 27, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : King Charles III continues Queen Elizabeth’s legacy by giving His Majesty’s name to prestigious awards [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 26 February 2023.

The name change reflects His Majesty The King’s desire to continue recognising volunteers and promoting outstanding business.
- Two prestigious Awards established during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and conferred in Her Late Majesty’s name, have been renamed to reflect King Charles III’s Accession
The Queen’s Award for Enterprise and The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service have been renamed following the Accession of King Charles III. The Awards will become The King’s Award for Enterprise and The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Throughout Her Late Majesty’s 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II was committed to recognising outstanding work and acts of service by individuals and groups. By attaching His Majesty’s name to these awards, The King has emphasised his desire to continue Queen Elizabeth’s legacy of recognising outstanding businesses and recognising the significant contribution of volunteers each year across the United Kingdom.

As Prince of Wales, His Majesty The King has been closely involved with the Awards for a number of years. His Majesty hosted the annual Royal Reception for both Awards on behalf of Queen Elizabeth since 2018, as well as recording a personal video message to refocus the Sustainable Development award category in 2019.

The newly renamed King’s Award for Enterprise celebrates outstanding achievement by UK businesses and is internationally recognised. The 2023 Awardees will be announced on Friday 21 April this year, marking Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday, and on 6 May from 2024, the anniversary of The King’s coronation.

Previous winners of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise include companies operating on an international scale such as Kelvatek, who provide innovative fault management for electricity distribution networks; to family-run businesses like The Quiet Site, a sustainable holiday park in the Lake District..

Minister for Enterprise Kevin Hollinrake said:

It is wonderful that His Majesty The King will give his name to these prestigious awards. Her Late Majesty left an enduring legacy of support for outstanding entrepreneurs and volunteers and the continuation of these awards will make sure they recognise hardworking individuals up and down the country long into the future.

Established 20 years ago during The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest given to local volunteer groups and recognises around 250 outstanding local volunteer groups each year. From 2023 onwards, awardees will be announced on 14 November each year, The King’s birthday.

Previous winners of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service include The Wylye Valley Art Trail, Peterborough Asylum and Refugee Community Association, Hartlepool Carers and The Edinburgh Care Van Volunteers.

Minister for Civil Society Stuart Andrew said:

These prestigious awards celebrate people’s dedication, commitment and hard work in contributing to society and I’m delighted The King will continue the legacy of Her Late Majesty.

I look forward to seeing the outstanding achievements the awards mark in the coming year, both by businesses and voluntary organisations.

Both The King’s Award for Enterprise and The King’s Award for Voluntary Service will continue to celebrate the very best and shine a light on the inspiring work that supports our economy and our communities.
February 27, 2023