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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK and US sign agreement to secure 12 years of quality education for marginalised children [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK and US sign agreement to secure 12 years of quality education for marginalised children [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 February 2023.

    UK Minister for Development signs an agreement with the US to help children around the world secure twelve years of quality education.

    • Minister for Development signs a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US to strengthen work supporting the most marginalised children into basic education
    • The MoU will particularly target girls, whose education is disproportionately affected by conflict and other crises such as extreme weather
    • The announcement comes as Andrew Mitchell finishes a two-day visit to Washington DC including meetings with USAID Administrator Samantha Power, World Bank President David Malpass, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop.

    Minister for Development, Andrew Mitchell, has signed an agreement with the US today (Friday 3 February) to help children around the world secure twelve years of quality education.

    The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will particularly support girls, who are disproportionately affected by marginalisation, conflict and crisis, including extreme weather events such as flooding and drought.

    The agreement will create a coalition of donors and partner countries to champion core education such as basic literacy and numeracy, help education systems deal with emergencies, and provide alternative education spaces where children can continue their education, safe from violence.

    It will also support comprehensive education for girls on reproductive health, sexuality and relationships, and help address gender-based violence in and out of schools.

    Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell said:

    Twelve years of quality education, particularly for girls, is one of the best ways to tackle the problems facing the world today, such as poverty, climate change and inequality. But the impact of Covid-19 on education systems has been catastrophic. This generation of students are at risk of losing so much in lifetime earnings as a result of school closures.

    I am delighted to sign this new agreement allowing the UK and US to work even more closely together to support children’s education around the world. The global community must work together, as never before, to support the recovery of education systems.

    Both countries will build on the already close collaboration between them in this area, by sharing further expertise on staffing, technologies and resources to help children on the ground.

    Girls are two and a half times more likely than boys to drop out of school when affected by conflict or crises, and if current trends continue, climate change will have been a factor in preventing over 12 million girls completing their education by 2025.

    The announcement comes as Andrew Mitchell finishes a two-day visit to Washington DC for meetings with USAID Administrator Samantha Power.The Minister also met World Bank President David Malpass, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop to discuss how to ensure the international system is fit for purpose to support developing and vulnerable countries through multiple crises.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Synthetic opioids will be banned as government acts to stop drug deaths [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Synthetic opioids will be banned as government acts to stop drug deaths [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 3 February 2023.

    Eleven more lethal substances to be made Class A drugs, following a recommendation by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

    To stop lethal drugs claiming more lives, 11 synthetic opioids will be banned in the UK, the Home Office announced today (3 February 2023).

    On the recommendation of Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), 10 additional nitazenes and brorphine will be made Class A substances.

    These highly dangerous drugs are psychoactive substances which can be more potent than fentanyl. To protect lives, their possession will now be illegal and anyone who supplies the drugs will face up to life in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

    Often mixed into other pills sold on the street, the government commissioned the ACMD to investigate after the substances were linked to rising overdoses in other countries. The ACMD found one drug, isotonitazene, was responsible for 24 fatalities in the UK in 2021 alone. Their recommendation to place all 11 narcotics in Class A has been accepted.

    Policing Minister Chris Philp said:

    Synthetic opioids are highly dangerous substances, which ruin lives and devastate communities.

    We must stop these lethal drugs from reaching our streets, to prevent more tragic deaths and other harmful consequences of addiction, from violent crime to antisocial behaviour.

    Drugs like these erode our society and we accept the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’ recommendations, to bring proper penalties on their supply.

    The substances to be added to Class A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, subject to Parliamentary approval, are: Butonitazene, Etodesnitazene (etazene), Flunitazene, Isotonitazene, Metodesnitazene (metazene), Metonitazene, N-Desethylisotonitazene, N-Piperidinyl-etonitazene (etonitazepipne), N-Pyrrolidino-etonitazene (etonitazepyne), Protonitazene and Brorphine. Because they have no recognised medical uses in the UK, they will also be placed in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Legislation will be brought forward to control these substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, as soon as possible, when Parliamentary time allows.

    The move comes as a UK Drugs Ministerial was held yesterday, with ministers and experts from across the four nations. Chaired by the Policing Minister, it seeks to facilitate a UK-wide approach to tackling substance misuse.

    Attendees included Scottish and Welsh representatives, Angela Constance MSP and Lynne Neagle MS, along with representatives from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, and Department for Health and Social Care. Dame Carol Black, Independent Advisor on Combating Drugs, and Owen Bowden-Jones, Chair of the ACMD, were also in attendance.

    Delegates shared information on drug-related deaths, including impacts of poly-drug use, as well as drug supply and use across the UK.

    The meeting was the third of its kind. It supports the cross-government drug strategy, which brings a whole-system approach to tackling drugs, from enforcement through to treatment. Over 2,900 county lines, which shift drugs around the country, have already been dismantled through the approach. As part of the effort to tackle drug-related deaths, we have also dedicated £780 million to support people through treatment and recovery.

    And today, the Department of Health and Social Care has also announced £53m will go to 28 local authorities in England to provide housing support to people in drug and alcohol treatment. The funding strengthens our government-wide commitment to reducing drug use and improving treatment outcomes, as part of the drug strategy.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New law gives tens of millions more say over their working hours [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New law gives tens of millions more say over their working hours [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 3 February 2023.

    The government backs law that gives all workers the legal right to request a predictable working pattern

    • Law will combat ‘one-sided flexibility’, where workers are often on standby for work that never comes

    Today (Friday 3 February), the government supported Blackpool South MP Scott Benton’s Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill, which will bring forward huge changes for tens of millions of workers across the UK.

    The move, which would apply to all workers and employees including agency workers, comes after a review found many workers on zero hours contracts experience ‘one-sided flexibility’.

    This means people across the country are currently left waiting, unable to get on with their lives in case of being called up at the last minute for a shift. With a more predictable working pattern, workers will have a guarantee of when they are required to work, with hours that work for them.

    If a worker’s existing working pattern lacks certainty in terms of the hours they work, the times they work or if it is a fixed term contract for less than 12 months, they will be able to make a formal application to change their working pattern to make it more predictable.

    Labour Markets Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

    Hard working staff on zero hours contracts across the country put their lives on hold to make themselves readily available for shifts that may never actually come.

    Employers having one-sided flexibility over their staff is unfair and unreasonable. This Bill will ensure workers can request more predictable working patterns where they want them, so they can get on with their daily lives.

    Blackpool South MP Scott Benton said:

    A significant number of my constituents experience unpredictable work. Being able to ask their employers to consider requests for a more predictable working pattern such as working on set days, or for a permanent contract, will help them to work more predictable hours and provide more reliably for their families in some cases, and help with their work-life balance in other situations.

    This Bill gives people a right to ask their employers to consider requests and will be welcomed by thousands of people.

    The move comes as part of a package of policies this government is supporting to further workers’ rights across the country, such as:

    • supporting parents of babies who need neonatal additional care with paid neonatal care leave
    • requiring employers to ensure that all tips, gratuities, and service charges received must be paid to workers in full
    • offering pregnant women and new parents greater protection against redundancy
    • entitling unpaid carers to a period of unpaid leave to support those most in need
    • providing millions of employees with a day one right to request flexible working, and a greater say over when, where, and how they work

    These policies will increase workforce participation, protect vulnerable workers, and level the playing field, ensuring unscrupulous businesses don’t have a competitive advantage.

    This package builds on the strengths of our flexible and dynamic labour market and gives businesses the confidence to create jobs and invest in their workforce, allowing them to generate long-term prosperity and economic growth.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Commander Strategic Command meets senior personnel in Finland [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Commander Strategic Command meets senior personnel in Finland [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 3 February 2023.

    General Jim Hockenhull has travelled to Finland to meet counterparts from the Finnish Defence Forces.

    As part of the visit various discussions were held relating to Strategic Command’s priorities of leading cyber, driving integration and supporting campaigning.

    Developing the bilateral relationship between Finland and the UK is a key priority, alongside the work of the Joint Expeditionary Force, and the benefits of closer collaboration as NATO members.

    General Hockenhull met with General Timo Kivinen, Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, to brief on the work of Strategic Command sharing more about current activity within the cyber and electromagnetic domain and the importance of identifying talent and developing our personnel’s skills.

    The role of multi-domain integration across Defence was also discussed, focusing on the benefits it offers in improving efficiency and effectiveness of active operations.

    Speaking on the visit General Hockenhull said:

    It was a pleasure to meet and share ideas with the Finnish defence leaders in their home country.

    At Strategic Command we know how important relationships with ally nations are. The strength of these partnerships directly reflects the strength of our response to threats from malicious actors.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Health and Social Care Secretary meets MND researchers to accelerate search for cure [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Health and Social Care Secretary meets MND researchers to accelerate search for cure [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 3 February 2023.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay met with researchers, charities and patients to discuss finding a cure for motor neurone disease following £50 million funding.

    On the back of accelerating access to £50 million for motor neurone disease (MND) research, Health and Social Care Secretary hosts roundtable with researchers, charities and patients to speed up progress in developing treatments

    The roundtable identified how leading researchers, scientists and the government can work better together to fast-track finding a cure

    Everyone in England can now sign up to research into MND and other conditions via the NHS App.

    People with motor neurone disease (MND) are set to benefit from improved collaboration between the government, researchers and charities, on top of accelerated access to funding, to speed up progress into developing treatments and finding a cure.

    The Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay met with leading representatives from across the MND research community yesterday, including medical research charity LifeArc’s Dr Catriona Crombie, MND charities Name’5 Doddie Foundation, MND Association, and MND Scotland, and patients, to discuss ways to fast-track research into the disease and look at how the government and sector can work better together to benefit patients.

    MND continues to have a devastating impact on the lives of people living with the condition and their families. The roundtable set out how the government will continue to work closely with the research sector, cut red tape to make accessing funding easier and boost research into new treatments.

    Following the roundtable, the Health and Social Care Secretary visited the King’s College Hospital MND Care and Research Centre – which was the first in the country and is now one of 22 research centres – to meet staff, patients and charities to see first-hand how government funding for MND research has benefitted them. King’s research labs helped find the only current treatment that targets the underlying causes of neurological diseases such as MND, and is aiming to find a cure and improve quality of life for patients and their families.

    The NHS App has also now been updated to make it easier for people to take part in MND and wider health research. People will be able to visit Be Part of Research through the app to view and sign up to research.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Motor neurone disease can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, and I’m working with leading researchers to accelerate research and help find a cure as soon as we can.

    We have made strong progress since we pledged £50 million for MND research with new treatments being developed and promising results from clinical trials reported, but I know there is still more to do. Yesterday, I held a roundtable with experts, charities and patients to discuss how we can encourage and invest in the best research to drive more results.

    By cutting red tape and building on existing investments, we are making sure funding gets to researchers as quickly as possible. I encourage people in England to sign up to research via the NHS App and join our ever-growing UK-wide register Be Part of Research.

    There are many different types of research users of the NHS App can sign up to, including studies that test new treatments via interviews or surveys. A study might take place in a hospital, GP practice, or other health and social care locations in the community but some studies can also be done at home, online or by telephone.

    For example, dentist and former football manager Dean Mooney, whose life has changed dramatically since his Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis, has appealed to others who have the disease to join him in a new brain imaging study to help the race to find new treatments. Dean has worked with the University of Exeter’s world-leading Neurodegeneration Imaging Group, led by Professor Marios Politis, that is appealing for people who have MND to get in touch, and take part in a year-long study.

    Since the government cut red tape in December to speed up £50 million into MND research across the UK, immediate investment of £29.5 million was injected through specialist research centres so NHS patients could benefit from cutting-edge treatment and medicines. There are more clinical trials than ever before, delivering promising developments – such as research from NIHR’s Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre into the drug Tofersen, with findings suggesting it may slow progression of the disease for some people living with MND.

    There have also been applications proposing a collaboration between researchers to establish a clinical trial in new medicines and building infrastructure to support MND research activity in laboratories. In addition, discussions are underway with the sector to develop a proposal for an additional £2 million to focus on analysing existing data on the condition to explore the underlying causes of MND and help develop breakthrough new treatments as part of the MND Collaborative Partnership involving patients, researchers, charities LifeArc, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, MND Association and MND Scotland and government bodies MRC and NIHR, and £6 million to help move laboratory discoveries into clinical trials.

    This means patients will have access to medicine trials faster and will receive the care they need as soon after treatment is discovered. These initiatives were discussed at the roundtable so that action can be taken immediately to prepare and agree the proposals so patients can benefit from world leading multidisciplinary research.

    CEO of the NIHR Professor Lucy Chappell said:

    We are working hard to accelerate progress in motor neurone disease research. The charities and campaigners have done so much to focus attention and government is committed to delivering resources. This roundtable is a great opportunity to bring patient groups, world-leading experts, and government research funders together. We need to work together to ensure that high quality research is funded, so breakthroughs can reach patients as quickly as possible.

    MND patients have shown the value to us all of taking part in research and I am excited that we are now making it even easier for people in England to register their interest in research via the NHS App and Be Part of Research.

    The remainder of the £50 million MND funding is available for researchers to access via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Medical Research Council (MRC) who are working together to ensure proposals are referred to the most appropriate scheme for consideration at the early idea stage.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £53 million cash boost to improve housing support for drug and alcohol recovery [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £53 million cash boost to improve housing support for drug and alcohol recovery [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 3 February 2023.

    28 local authorities across England will receive funds to help people in drug and alcohol treatment.

    • Funding will test the impact of providing additional housing support to improve recovery from addiction
    • Strengthens commitment to reducing drug use, and improving treatment outcomes, as part of the government’s 10-year drug strategy

    People in alcohol and drug recovery will soon have access to housing support, helping to break the cycle of addiction and improve health outcomes.

    Up to £53 million will be allocated to 28 local authorities across all regions of England with the greatest need.

    The funding will allow for local authorities to create new housing support schemes tailored to meet local need.

    People in treatment for drug and alcohol dependence are often easier to support if their housing needs are addressed at the same time, as there is a strong link between having a stable home and improved treatment outcomes.

    Examples of how the funding will be spent include specialist housing caseworkers supporting people in drug and alcohol treatment to access and maintain safe and suitable housing. Support will also look to help people create sustainable and long-term recovery by maintaining independent living.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    We’re supporting those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction by addressing the link between improved treatment outcomes and a stable home.

    This £53 million funding, targeted to local authorities with the greatest need, will support the government’s ambition to reduce overall drug use to a historic 30-year low.

    Health Minister Neil O’Brien said:

    Alcohol and drug dependence can have a devastating impact on the lives of people, their families and wider society. It is essential to break this cycle of addiction.

    The £53 million housing support funding will play a key role in testing how housing can help break this cycle, improve recovery and help people to live happier and healthier lives.

    In Manchester, specialist housing caseworkers will work out of three prevention hubs to be established across the city, providing a rapid response to housing issues that may affect people in substance misuse treatment securing or maintaining accommodation over the long term.

    In Lancashire, staff from across housing, drug and alcohol and health services will receive a programme of training to develop skills in substance misuse and housing related support and to will create a joined-up system across other organisations and public services, offering an improved experience for people experiencing homelessness.

    In Wigan, peer mentors with past experience of drug and alcohol treatment will provide support to people struggling to maintain independent living to sustain their accommodation and improve recovery outcomes.

    These projects will also expand our evidence base on treatment and recovery, with learnings helping to inform and develop future policy, in partnership with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

    Director of Addictions and Inclusion, Rosanna O’Connor said:

    The need for better housing and employment support for people dependent on drugs and alcohol is a core part of the current 10-Year national drugs strategy. We have known, for too long, that people in drug treatment with housing problems do less well in their recovery. What we know less about is how to address these problems. For the first time, dedicated funding is available to improve housing support.

    The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities are working closely with 28 local authorities up until 2025 to test and learn from specific approaches to housing support for this population, and Government will take the learning from these areas forward as part of its work to implement the Drugs Strategy.

    This supports recommendations from Dame Carol Black’s independent review, outlining housing support as a key strand needed to improve the effectiveness of drug prevention and treatment to help more people recover from dependence.

    It will support the government’s commitment to its 10-year drug strategy, which sets out the ambition to reduce overall use towards a historic 30-year low, getting people into treatment and deterring recreational drug use.

    This aspect of the wider strategy is part of a total package of £780 million to rebuild drug treatment and recovery services, including for young people and offenders, with new commissioning standards to drive transparency and consistency.

    Dame Carol Black statement:

    Addressing the housing-related needs of people in treatment with drug and alcohol dependence was a critical part of my Independent Review of Drugs.

    I am pleased that government is working with 28 local authorities across England to test the effectiveness of housing support interventions over the next 3 years.

    Learning from these areas will inform and drive forward the 10-Year Drugs Strategy, making the case for safe and supportive housing in recovery from addiction.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New strategy to boost NHS access to innovative medical technology [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New strategy to boost NHS access to innovative medical technology [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 3 February 2023.

    Patients across the UK are set to benefit from access to safe, effective and innovative equipment and medical devices as part of the first ever medical technology (medtech) strategy published today.

    The blueprint for boosting NHS medtech will focus on accelerating access to innovative technologies, such as the latest generation of home dialysis machines that enable patients to manage their own health at home and in their day to day lives.

    It also sets out steps which need to be taken to ensure patients can access safe, effective and innovative technology through the NHS, which can help diagnose, treat and deliver care more quickly, freeing up clinician time. The NHS spends £10 billion a year on medtech including syringes, wheelchairs, cardiac pacemakers and medical imaging equipment such as X-ray machines.

    Building on learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid development of medical technologies during that time such as lateral flow tests and ventilators, this strategy will ensure the right product is available at the right price and in the right place. As a result, patients will continue to have access to high-quality care, alongside improved patient safety and health outcomes.

    The strategy aims to deliver value for money, using the latest data on the effectiveness of new technology to ensure prices are reasonable for the health system. It will also help build resilient supply chains and ensure the UK is prepared for future pandemics, just as demand for technology like syringes and ventilators rapidly increase during the pandemic.

    Using medtech effectively will be critical in reducing waiting lists for treatment caused by the pandemic as it has the potential to speed up diagnosis and deliver new and improved ways to treat and support patients. For example, COVID-19 demonstrated the importance of fast and accurate diagnostic testing and genome sequencing to process and share results, and home lateral flow testing showed the potential for increased use of diagnostics outside of formal clinical settings, to support earlier diagnosis and free up staff time.

    Minister of State for Health Will Quince said:

    The UK’s innovative spirit delivered revolutionary technology during the pandemic – from COVID tests and ventilators – and we want to harness this in promoting cutting-edge medical advancements to improve patient care.

    The NHS spends around £10 billion a year on medical technology and I’m looking forward to working with industry to use this as we focus on reducing hospital stays, enhancing diagnosis, preventing illness and freeing up staff time.

    This new medtech strategy will help build a sustainable NHS with patients at the centre so people can continue to access the right care at the right time.

    The key aims of the strategy are to:

    • boost the supply of the best equipment to deliver greater resilience to health care challenges, such as pandemics, and enhance NHS performance through modernised technology which will enable faster diagnosis, treatment and ultimately discharge to free up hospital beds
    • encourage ambitious, innovative research to secure the UK’s position as a global science superpower and attract vital investment for the UK economy and create jobs across the country. In 2021, there were already around 60 different research programmes supporting innovative technologies, representing over £1 billion of funding
    • increase understanding and awareness of medtech by clinicians which will lead to more informed purchasing on new products and deliver better value for taxpayer money and better services for patients
    • build on the Life Sciences Vision to improve collaboration between the NHS, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as an innovation partner to ensure patients can access the right products safely

    The implementation plan to deliver on this strategy will be published later this year and will include a review of the £1 billion spent on appliances in primary care, new comparison tools to enable better decision making when purchasing which achieve the best results for patients, and collaboration with industry to ensure availability of key products to keep patients safe.

    Dr Timothy Ferris, National Director for Transformation at NHS England said:

    Medical technology has an enormous role to play in benefitting patients now and in the future.

    The importance of medtech was made clear during the COVID-19 pandemic and as the NHS moves through its recovery, it will play a key role in addressing the challenges we face.

    Dr Sam Roberts of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said:

    It is essential that clinicians and patients can access the most impactful and cost-effective medical technologies, while medtech companies need to be confident that they are developing products which meet the needs of patients and the NHS.

    This strategy sets out a clear vision for the future. NICE is excited to be part of the delivery of this vision, working with our partners to further develop world leading processes to provide a sustainable pathway for medical technologies, from innovation to implementation.

    Peter Ellingworth of the Association of British HealthTech Industries said:

    ABHI welcomes the publication of the DHSC medtech strategy, and the recognition it brings to the importance of HealthTech in supporting the NHS to deliver exceptional care for people in the UK. HealthTech plays a valuable role in enabling improved outcomes through changing patient pathways as well as productivity and efficiency gains.

    It is important that this strategy supports the ambition of the Life Sciences Vision to create an outstanding business environment for HealthTech companies. We look forward to working closely with the Directorate in the implementation the strategy.

    This strategy follows action to cut NHS waiting times as one of the government’s top 5 priorities, backed by up to £14.1 billion of health and social care funding available for the next 2 years, on top of record funding and the publishing of a new urgent and emergency care recovery plan.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Veterans charity born out of DIY SOS going “from strength to strength” [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Veterans charity born out of DIY SOS going “from strength to strength” [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 2 February 2023.

    Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer and DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles visited Hull 4 Heroes today to meet charity staff and volunteers supporting veterans

    Charity supports veterans across the City of Hull, North Riding and North Lincolnshire

    A charity born out of inspiration from a veterans project on DIY SOS has been praised for helping ex-service personnel in north-east England.

    Today, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer and DIY SOS Presenter Nick Knowles visited Hull 4 Heroes.

    The charity, which has previously benefited from funding via the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, was founded in 2016 and provides crucial support services to veterans in Hull, North Riding and North Lincolnshire. Services provided by the charity include employment support, training, woodwork, cookery and mental health.

    On the visit Mr Mercer met with veterans to learn more about how the charity helps people in the area, including through making large and small scale renovations to existing properties which veterans live in.

    The Minister was given a tour of the warehouse facilities the charity runs, which stores personal possessions of ex-service personnel while they are moving or finding a new house. The charity also provided a Virtual Reality tour of their flagship project – a brand new housing development called the Veterans Village.

    The Veterans Village will see the construction of a housing and rehabilitation site for veterans as they transition into civilian life. The 22 acre site will contain a residential area, training and support facility and a visitor centre.

    Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer said:

    It was a pleasure to visit the Hull 4 Heroes team with Nick Knowles today to learn more about the work they are doing to help ensure our veterans enjoy a smooth and successful transition to civilian life.

    The valuable skills they are teaching offer a stable platform for those looking to get back into work, enabling employers across the UK to fully appreciate just how valuable our veterans can be.

    Hull 4 Heroes was founded by Paul Matson, a veteran himself, who built a successful business following a difficult period after leaving the armed forces. His charity was created on the back of getting involved with the show DIY SOS Big Build on a veterans project in Manchester, called Veterans Street. As a consequence of seeing the success of this project, he decided to establish his own veterans support hub in Hull with the help of other members of the local armed forces community.

    The Office for Veterans’ Affairs recently announced Op Fortitude, a single referral scheme for homeless veterans to access supported housing and wrap-around specialist care. Along with more than £8.5 million in funding for charity support services in veterans housing units, the scheme will ensure veterans homelessness is ended in 2023.

    Following the success of a temporary pathway set up for the Christmas period last year, the referral scheme is being designed, taking forward lessons learned, and will launch in Spring this year.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK commends the work of UN Mission in Iraq and welcomes the progress of the newly formed Government – UK Statement at the Security Council [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK commends the work of UN Mission in Iraq and welcomes the progress of the newly formed Government – UK Statement at the Security Council [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 February 2023.

    Statement delivered by Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN Security Council briefing on Iraq.

    Thank you, Madam President. Let me start by thanking Japan for a highly professional and effective presidency in the month of January, and let me assure you and your team of our full support for your presidency this month. Thank you to the Special Representative for her briefing and to Dr Ahmad for the messages he brought forward today.

    The UK commends the vital work of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq. As the Special Representative said, we also commend the longstanding commitment of successive Iraqi governments to working closely with the UN Mission.

    We welcome the formation of the new Government of Iraq and Prime Minister Sudani’s focus on the delivery of services that the people of Iraq need. The UK will continue to support the Iraqi government on the range of challenges it faces. Key amongst these challenges are securing the country’s economic stability and the need for climate action, including energy transition and green economic reform. We hope to see the Government propose and pass a sustainable budget which stimulates investment in Iraq’s future. We encourage the government’s continued focus on tackling corruption, as the Special Representative said, and we echo the Special Representative and others on the importance of human rights and accountability.

    Another central challenge is Iraq’s security. We remain committed to supporting the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government in their efforts to ensure the safety of Iraqi civilians, not least in the ongoing fight against the scourge of Daesh, and to safeguard the security and sovereignty of Iraq.

    We welcome Prime Minister Sudani’s work to reinforce the security of Iraq’s borders. We commend Prime Minister Sudani’s engagements throughout the region and his government’s efforts to encourage regional stability through broader bilateral relations. We encourage further regional dialogue, including on crucial transnational issues such as water security and the adverse impacts of climate change. And we welcome UNAMI’s important role in support of these efforts. Continued close cooperation between the government of Iraq and regional partners is important to reinforce both Iraqi and regional security and stability.

    We welcome ongoing contact between Baghdad and Erbil to settle outstanding issues of concern. We encourage all sides to engage in dialogue to resolve differences where they exist, including on the hydrocarbon law and the budget. We also welcome and encourage dialogue between the Kurdish political parties, and we will continue to emphasise the urgent importance of passing a law facilitating elections in the Kurdistan region this year.

    Finally, we would also like to thank the Special Representative for her update on missing Kuwaiti and third country nationals, and missing Kuwaiti property. We welcome and encourage the commitment of all parties to making further progress on this important issue.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Dangerous thief, Jordan Peacock, given extended spell in prison [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Dangerous thief, Jordan Peacock, given extended spell in prison [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 2 February 2023.

    Thief who ran over his victim as he tried to flee with stolen goods will spend longer in prison.

    A thief who ran over his victim as he tried to flee with stolen goods will spend longer in prison after his case was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    Jordan Peacock, 26, from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, was one of three men who stole toolboxes from an electrician working in Whitwell. When the electrician realised, he attempted to close the gates to prevent the getaway car leaving the premises.

    Peacock drove the vehicle directly at the victim, running him down and destroying the gates, before attempting to drive away while the victim was still under the vehicle.

    The electrician suffered grave injuries including fractured hip, collarbone, ribs and shoulder blade.

    The other men fled the scene on foot as the iron gates had become stuck in the wheels of Peacock’s car.

    Peacock pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of theft and was sentenced at Derby Crown Court to 4 years and 3 months’ imprisonment.

    Following the sentencing on 7 November 2022, the case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    Peacock’s original sentence was found to be unduly lenient by the Court on 2 February 2023 and was increased to 6 years and 3 months.

    Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP said:

    This is a shocking and brazen case. Jordan Peacock’s behaviour cannot be tolerated in our society, and this increased sentence better reflects this dreadful crime which has left a lasting impact on his victim.