Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Mine-hunting ‘mother ship’ arrives in Plymouth [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 30 January 2023.

A specialist ship to support Royal Navy operations – a mother ship to launch drones to find and destroy undersea threats – has arrived in Plymouth today.
New ship to host autonomous mine hunting systems arrives at HMNB Devonport.

Vessel to undergo a period of modification before joining the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Intended to be operational in Spring 2023.

A specialist ship bought to support Royal Navy mine-hunting operations – a mother ship to launch drones to find and destroy undersea threats – has arrived in Plymouth today.

When deployed, the platform will support the safeguarding of UK waters from the threat of mines at sea, operating a range of uncrewed systems that will help keep personnel at a safe distance.

Based at His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, the 96.8 metres long vessel – the length of two Olympic swimming pools – will work side-by-side with autonomous mine-hunting systems already operated by the Royal Navy out of Faslane under Project Wilton.

Purchased from Island Offshore, the vessel – currently named MV Island Crown, but due to be renamed as it joins the fleet – arrived at HMNB Devonport, where it will undergo minimal conversion work, primarily to support installation of military communication systems and Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) operations, before being handed over to the RFA later this year.

Defence Procurement Minister, Alex Chalk KC, said:

This is another significant step forward in the modernisation of Royal Navy capabilities and use of autonomous systems to complement our crewed fleet.

This vessel will play a crucial role in the detection of undersea threats, keeping our personnel out of harm’s way while they conduct vital operations.

Delivered at pace, the capability will assure freedom of access for the UK ships and submarines (including the Continuous At Sea Deterrent), while crucially reducing risk to personnel.

Operated by specialist teams on board, these innovative systems will allow the Royal Navy to protect UK waters, also providing support to the North Atlantic and European waters if required.

Commodore Steve Prest, Director Navy Acquisition, said:

The delivery of this ship is an important step in the Navy’s transformation to conducting mine countermeasures using distributed offboard systems-of-systems.

The ship will be used to extend the range of our Maritime Autonomous Systems from coastal waters to conducting offshore survey operations in Defence of the homeland.

The uncrewed systems will include the joint French-UK Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) system, the Combined Influence Sweep (SWEEP) system and Medium Underwater Autonomous Vehicles (MAUVs).

The purchase of the £40 million ship was carried out by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the MOD.

DE&S Director General Ships, Vice Admiral Paul Marshall, said:

Our team undertook extensive research and market analysis to identify a vessel for the Royal Navy that would meet the vital capability it needs, and could be delivered at pace whilst also provide value for money to the taxpayer.

The result of that agile working is the delivery of a highly effective ship which will be converted to purpose at HMNB Devonport. Once militarised, it will play a key role in countering the evolving threats posed by mines at sea.

The ship is intended to enter service in Spring 2023.
January 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Birmingham scaffolder, David McGuinness from Sutton Coldfield, given 11-year ban for abuse of Covid-19 financial support [January 2023]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 30 January 2023.

David McGuinness, 41 of the Sutton Coldfield area of Birmingham, was sole director MC-Dalt Scaffolding Services Ltd, which was incorporated in 2017 with its registered office in Erdington in Birmingham.

In May 2020, McGuinness applied for and received a Bounce Back Loan of £50,000 on behalf of the company. Bounce Back Loans were a government scheme to help keep businesses afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic, whereby companies could apply for loans of up to 25% of their 2019 turnover, up to a maximum of £50,000.

He then applied to dissolve the business two months later, which led to the Insolvency Service opening an investigation.

Investigators found that McGuinness had stated the company’s turnover as nearly £300,000 when its accounts for 2019 showed turnover of less than £20,000. The company would therefore have only been entitled to a Bounce Back Loan of around £4,000.

Compounding this, instead of using the Bounce Back Loan money for proper company use, the day after receiving the funds he instead transferred nearly £15,000 out of the company’s account, with the bank reference ‘Dave’. A further £35,000 was transferred to various third-parties.

When applying to dissolve the company, McGuinness was legally required to notify interested parties and creditors, such as a bank with an outstanding loan, within seven days and that a failure to do so could result in a criminal prosecution. He did not follow this advice however.

On 13 December 2022 the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy accepted a disqualification undertaking from David McGuinness after he did not dispute he had abused the Bounce Back Loan scheme by claiming money to which his business was not entitled.

His ban lasts for 11 years and began on 3 January 2023. The disqualification prevents him from directly or indirectly becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.

Peter Smith, Deputy Head of Insolvent Investigations at the Insolvency Service, said:

The Bounce Back Loan scheme was set up to support businesses in genuine need during the pandemic, and David McGuinness clearly abused it by making false declarations to his company’s bank.

This lengthy disqualification is a sign that we take such abuse extremely seriously and will act to tackle wrongdoing by these directors.

January 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Sad passing of Cllr Arthur Lamb – Tributes from Cumbria County Council [January 2023]

The press release issued by Cumbria County Council on 24 January 2023.

It is with great sadness that the death is announced of Cllr Arthur Lamb, the Conservative member for Cleator Moor and Frizington. Cllr Lamb, who died suddenly on January 22, was the youngest member on Cumbria County Council, at just 31.

Cllr Lamb was elected to the county council in 2017, his division including the parishes of Arlecdon & Frizington, Cleator Moor, Ennerdale & Kinniside, and Lamplugh. He was Shadow Cabinet member for Customers, Transformation and Fire & Rescue.

Cllr Lamb, who worked for the NHS, was a keen cricketer, described as “a cornerstone” of Whitehaven Cricket Club, who, among many of his duties, coached the club’s juniors. A dedicated, popular and principled councillor, Cllr Lamb was a highly popular member of the county council.

Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Hilary Carrick, said: “There are no words to describe my sadness at hearing the tragic news of Arthur’s untimely passing. Quite simply, he was an amazing young man who was universally loved and respected. He was a very talented politician and hugely effective County councillor who worked tirelessly for the local community that he loved. Arthur had a maturity and wisdom that exceeded his years and his considered contributions, positivity, dedication, enthusiasm and cheeky grin will be hugely missed. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends at this very difficult time.”

Cllr Stewart Young, Leader of Cumbria County Council and speaking on behalf of the Labour Group said:

“News of Arthur’s untimely death came as a huge shock to everyone. He was well known and well liked on the County Council. His election in 2017 in what was previously a safe Labour seat, came as a surprise even to Arthur, but he threw himself into the role and was an able and effective representative. Members from all sides of the political divide will join his family and friends in mourning his passing.”

Cllr Peter Thornton, Deputy leader for Cumbria County Council and speaking on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group added:

“It seems unbelievable that someone with such a zest for life should be taken so young. It is a tragic loss for Arthur’s family, friends and the people he represented so well in Cleator Moor East and Frizington. We offer our deepest sympathies to his family and friends at this sad time.”

January 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Hundreds of thousands more workers to receive job support boost in spring [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 30 January 2023.

Helping more people progress into higher paid jobs will support the UK’s labour market and economic growth.
- More working people on income-related benefit will receive additional help from the end of February to boost their earnings, helping families improve their prospects and finances
- Over 120,000 more low-income workers will receive tailored support and be supported to earn more
New regulations which come into force on Monday (30 January) mean more than 120,000 working people on Universal Credit across Great Britain will receive a job support boost this spring.

The Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET) determines which group a Universal Credit claimant is placed in based on how much they earn. This in turn impacts the level of support they receive to find work and develop a career, and the types of activities they must undertake, such as searching for opportunities to take up more or better paid work or researching new career options.

From the end of February, an increase to the threshold will mean more Universal Credit claimants will be moved from the ‘Light Touch’ group to the ‘Intensive Work Search’ group, helping them to get better-paid work and boost their long-term prospects. Combined with a previous increase in September, this will mean around a quarter of a million more people will have been moved into ‘Intensive Work Search’.

New claimant commitments will be tailored to individual circumstances and will consider caring responsibilities and any health conditions.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP said:

A hallmark of a compassionate society is giving those on low incomes the tools to progress and earn more. It is important that we continue to deliver targeted support so that those in work have access to the expertise and guidance of our dedicated work coaches.

By raising the Administrative Earnings Threshold, we are forging a robust labour market building on positive changes we have already made and supporting even more people to progress in the workplace.

Additional claimants will benefit from more face-to-face time with a work coach, allowing them to access opportunities to increase their earnings, whether that is developing their skills, progressing in their current sector, or by starting a new role.

The new AET is the equivalent of an individual working 15 hours per week, or a couple working 24 hours per week between them, at the adult National Living Wage rate.

This year, the Government will also be driving forward an agenda to ensure the labour market remains robust, reviewing workforce participation at pace to understand what action can be taken to drive down economic inactivity.

In 2021 the Universal Credit taper rate was reduced from 63% to 55% and the Work Allowance was increased by £500 per year so claimants can keep more of what they earn. The National Living Wage is also increasing by 9.7%, bringing it to £10.42 an hour from April.

This rise to the AET will build on this work to ensure work pays and will be complemented by a new In Work Progression offer which will be rolled out to all Jobcentres by the end of March, focused on helping claimants in the ‘Light Touch’ work group to progress.

People impacted by the change will be contacted with more details via their Universal Credit journal. Claimants will receive this journal message at the end of their first full assessment period after Sunday 26 February.
January 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Minister unveils plans to start closing the pensions inequality gap [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 30 January 2023.

Minister for Pensions Laura Trott announces shake-up of private pensions to create fairer, more predictable, and better-run pensions.

Measures include consultation on new Value for Money framework, defined contribution scheme charge cap reforms, further work on small pots, and extension of Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) pension schemes.
- These plans will help address the pension inequality gap which has risen since the decline of Defined Benefit (DB) and the emergence of Defined Contributions (DC).
Minister for Pensions Laura Trott has today (Monday 30th January) unveiled a package of measures to deliver value for savers and boost fairness, predictability, and adequacy across the private pensions sector.

The measures include a consultation on a new and much anticipated Value for Money (VFM) framework, developed in partnership with The Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority, which sets out how schemes will be expected to provide savers with better value from their investments and a quality level of service.

Minister for Pensions Laura Trott MP MBE said:

There is a pension inequality gap between those who had secure retirements thanks to DB, to much more uncertainty now. Since 2012, Automatic Enrolment has transformed the pensions landscape in the UK for the better, but we know there’s more to be done to ensure a fairer future for savers.

Being in an underperforming pension scheme can lead to someone missing out on thousands of pounds. The Value for Money framework and our new measures will improve security and create better returns for savers, so they can enjoy the retirement they’ve worked so hard for.

Today’s proposals include plans for:
- Schemes to disclose their investment performance, costs and charges, and quality of service via clear and comparable metrics to the benefit of savers;
- Reforms to the charge cap, giving schemes more flexibility to invest in so-called “illiquid assets” such as start-up companies, renewables and infrastructure;
- Feedback on workable solutions to tackle the issue of small pots;
- An extension of Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) schemes, most significantly to include multi-employer models
Executive Director of Regulatory Policy, Analysis and Advice at The Pensions Regulator, David Fairs said:

Ensuring every pound that savers put into their DC pension pot delivers value for money is vital to help people achieve the best possible retirement. The measures announced as part of this far-reaching reforms package deliver on our commitment to put savers at the heart of all we do.

Our joint Value for Money framework will drive greater transparency and standardisation of reporting across the DC pensions market, allowing trustees to make more informed decisions and improve long term outcomes for savers. I urge the industry to take part in these important consultations.

Executive Director of Markets at the Financial Conduct Authority, Sarah Pritchard said:

Pensions are complex, and savers need to be able to trust that their providers have the information they need to make the right choices. These proposals will help ensure that they take a wide ranging and long-term view – value for money is not just about costs and charges.

We will continue to work with Government, other regulators, and industry to deliver long term value and support savers in their retirement.

Value for Money

The VFM framework will improve transparency, comparability, and competition between defined contribution pension schemes and help deliver the best possible value and long-term outcomes for pension savers.

It will require pension schemes to disclose key metrics and service standards shifting focus from a dominant consideration of costs only, to enable a holistic assessment of VFM.

Illiquids

These measures – due to come into force in the Spring – will require schemes to provide transparency to savers over their approach to illiquid assets and disclose information on their overall investment asset allocations.

This will unlock the potential for savers to see improved returns over a longer period, while also providing a boost to UK growth initiatives.

Small Pots

The average worker will have around 11 jobs over the course of their career, meaning they may accrue multiple small pension pots. This creates a risk of members losing track of their pension savings and creates cost and inefficiency in the system. The call for evidence will seek feedback on workable solutions, enabling savers to achieve better outcomes at retirement.

CDCs

The introduction of CDC schemes last year– which see both the employer and employees contributing to a collective fund from which individual retirement incomes are drawn – was a landmark moment for UK pensions.

The new consultation, launched following discussions with a wide range of stakeholders and interested organisations, will explore what new types of multi-employer CDC schemes should look like and how to maximise their benefit for UK savers.
January 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : NHS to expand services to keep vulnerable out of hospital [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 30 January 2023.

Tens of thousands of elderly and vulnerable people will receive tailored support at home as part of a new NHS plan to improve waiting times for emergency care.
- Community services including falls and frailty teams will be scaled up, with up to 50,000 people a month supported by clinicians at home in high-tech ‘virtual wards’
- Urgent community response teams will be scaled up to provide more patients with support at home within two hours, in recognition of the pressures facing A&E
- The government and NHS England will publish an Urgent and Emergency Care Plan tomorrow to reduce waiting times and improve care for patients.
Tens of thousands of elderly and vulnerable people will receive tailored support at home each month as part of a new NHS plan to curb unnecessary trips to hospital, help at-risk patients receive faster treatment and improve ambulance response times.

It comes as the government and the NHS publish a new Urgent and Emergency Care Plan. Demand on the NHS is rising, driven by a number of factors including an ageing population with increasingly complex needs. A key part of the plan will be reforming the way the NHS provides services to adapt to the population’s changing needs, including by expanding care outside of hospitals

Falls and frailty teams mainly consists of nurses and while already in existence, this plan goes further and will see the standardisation and scaling up of these services. Building on learnings from this winter, it will ensure more services are in place in time for next winter, with local areas developing plans to do this. These teams join up care by connecting hospital expertise with emergency services and use technology to reduce the risk of falls by remotely monitoring patients. With an ageing population, falls are becoming increasingly common and some people are less able to cope and recover from accidents, physical illness or other stressful events which can lead to serious injuries, hospital admission, and subsequent moves into long term care. These services support vulnerable patients at home and in the community to remain living independently for longer, with up to 20% of emergency hospital admissions avoidable with the right care in place.

The NHS has already rolled out virtual wards – treating patients from the comfort of their own homes – with growing evidence that these are a safe and efficient alterative to hospital care, particularly for frail patients. These see patients supported by clinicians to recover in the comfort of their own home, rather than in hospital – and has increased the number of patients that can be cared for in this way by 7,000, a 50% increase since last summer. Another 3,000 ‘hospital at home’ beds will be created before next winter and the plan will include an ambition to see up to 50,000 people supported a month.

High tech virtual wards currently support frail elderly patients or those with acute respiratory infections and cardiac conditions. Patients are reviewed daily by the clinical team who may visit them at home or use video technology to monitor and check how they are recovering.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

The health and care service is facing significant pressures and while there is no quick fix, we can take immediate action to reduce long waits for urgent and emergency care.

Up to 20% of hospital admissions are avoidable with the right care in place. By expanding the care provided in the community, the most vulnerable, frail and elderly patients can be better supported to continue living independently or recover at home.

This includes rolling out more services to help with falls and frailty as well as supporting up to 50,000 patients a month to recover in the comfort of their own homes. Not only will patients benefit from better experiences and outcomes, it will ease pressure on our busy emergency departments.

NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said:

The NHS has faced unprecedented pressure this winter – with the “twindemic” of flu and Covid becoming a reality, alongside surging demand for all services, from GP appointments to A&E attendances and ambulance call outs.

Our extensive planning ahead of winter has helped to boost capacity – from extra 111 and 999 call handlers, to new falls services and more beds – and we now aim to build on that progress to help speed up care and improve the experiences of patients.

Boosting care in the community and treating more people at home is key to recovery – it is better for patients and their families, as well as easing pressure on NHS services.

Urgent community response teams will also be scaled up to increase the number of referrals and patients seen by a range of health and social care professionals within two hours, with services running 12 hours a day. According to the latest data, across the country, over 80% of patients referred were seen within two hours. These teams work with 111 and 999 services to provide urgent care to people in their homes, avoiding the need for hospital admissions and enabling people to live independently for longer, backed by a planned £77 million investment to support systems to continue to improve community health services in 2023-24.

Falls and frailty services have already been shown to improve patients’ experiences and reduce pressure on urgent and emergency departments. For example, South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust has rolled out an integrated frailty service linking up emergency services and hospitals.

As part of this, ambulance crews who are with the patient at their home can arrange a remote consultation with input from a consultant to agree the best course of action – from monitoring on a virtual ward to a face-to-face assessment. Thanks to this approach, there has been a 16% reduction in the number of patients aged over 75 being taken to hospital in an ambulance, enabling frail older adults to recover at home where that is best for them.

Taken together, these measures will help improve experiences for patients across the country and make it easier to access the right health or social care, all while reducing pressure on hospitals and preparing the NHS for future challenges. This will be backed by up to £14.1 billion available for health and care services over the next two years – the highest spend in any government’s history – which was announced in the Autumn Statement.

Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:

We are pleased to see the focus on expanding community health and care services and the recognition of the importance of therapy and recovery support to get people back home following discharge.

Collaboration and a focus on outcomes will be key to successful delivery of the plan.

Sarah McClinton, President of ADASS said:

We recognise the importance of expanding and joining up health and care in people’s homes to stop them needing to go into hospital and enabling people to leave hospital safely with therapies and support to recover. Key to achieving this will be co-producing plans across health and social care and investment in the workforce in social care and community services and we look forward to engaging with this.

Case studies:
- In October 2022, London Ambulance Service rolled out a pilot where paramedics and nurses from community health providers in south-west London respond to elderly and frail patients at home. By 8 January 2023 the new team had treated 838 patients with around 35% taken to hospital, compared to the usual 70%, freeing up resources for those who most need to be in A&E. The scheme is now set to be expanded to parts of North London.
- Hull Fall First is a falls pick up and wellbeing response service involving the local ICS, fire and rescue service, ambulance service, local authority and community services provider. A team of firefighters received clinical training from healthcare experts, along with safeguarding training and safety awareness. The service has reduced the number of A&E attendances and provided a better patient experience for those who have had a fall. Since April the service has attended 622 people, avoiding ambulance call outs and potential A&E attendances, and provided follow up care and support on falls prevention to people living in their own homes and local care homes.
More information:
- Falls teams provide assessment, advice and exercise regimes for older people who are at risk of falling. The services aim to prevent unnecessary hospital visits and to rebuild strength and balance if a fall occurs.
January 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Six weeks for developers to sign contract to fix unsafe buildings [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 30 January 2023.

Contract requires developers to fix buildings and reimburse taxpayers, with an estimated £2 billion expected to be committed to fund repairs.

Developers today received legally binding contracts that will commit them to pay to repair unsafe buildings.

The government has set a six-week deadline for developers to sign the legal agreements and is warning that companies who fail to sign and comply with the terms of the contract will face significant consequences.

Legislation will be brought forward in the spring giving the Secretary of State powers to prevent developers from operating freely in the housing market if they fail to sign and comply with the remediation contract.

The contract, which has been drawn up by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, will protect thousands of leaseholders living in hundreds of buildings across England. These innocent households would otherwise face costly repairs for serious safety defects, including non-cladding related issues.

Under the contract, developers will commit an estimated £2 billion or more for repairs to buildings they developed or refurbished over the past 30 years. This means that together with the Building Safety Levy, industry is directly paying an estimated £5 billion to make their buildings safe.

The contract also requires developers to reimburse taxpayers where public money has been used to fix unsafe buildings.

This follows Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, demanding developers are held to account, which led to public pledges from 49 of the country’s leading developers that they would take responsibility to fix their own buildings, which will now be turned into legally binding commitments.

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

Today marks another significant step towards righting the wrongs of the past and protecting innocent leaseholders, who are trapped in their homes and facing unfair and crippling costs.

Too many developers, along with product manufacturers and freeholders, have profited from these unsafe buildings and have a moral duty to do the right thing and pay for their repair.

In signing this contract, developers will be taking a big step towards restoring confidence in the sector and providing much needed certainty to all concerned.

There will be nowhere to hide for those who fail to step up to their responsibilities – I will not hesitate to act and they will face significant consequences.

Dean Finch, Group Chief Executive at Persimmon, said:

Persimmon was proud to lead the industry two years ago with our original pledge to protect leaseholders. Since then, we have been making good progress on remediation and aim to be on site on all developments by the end of the year.

The publication of the developer remediation contract is the culmination of many months of hard work on all sides and we are pleased to confirm our intention to sign the final document in the near future, becoming the first developer to do so.

The terms of the contract are entirely consistent with our existing commitment to protect leaseholders in multi-storey buildings we constructed from the costs of remediating cladding and life-critical fire-related safety issues. We are pleased to reaffirm this commitment today and that we were able to work constructively with the Government to secure the agreement.

Under legislation to be brought forward this spring, a Responsible Actors Scheme (RAS) will be created, allowing the Secretary of State to block developers who have not signed the contract or failed to comply with its terms from carrying out development and from receiving building control approval. This will prevent them from operating as normal in the housing market for as long as they do not resolve the problems of the past.

The Levelling Up Secretary will also take action to ban managing agents and freeholders from taking commissions when they take out building insurance. This is in response to a report from the Financial Conduct Authority that suggested commissions make up almost a third of premiums.

Government will also bring in further measures to make service charges more transparent and empower leaseholders who want to challenge their bills.

This follows confirmation from six major lenders that, from earlier this month, they will once again consider mortgage applications on properties that are covered by the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act, or where the building is eligible for a government or developer remediation scheme.

Once the contract is signed by developers, leaseholders will benefit from a common framework of rights and responsibilities that will get their buildings fixed without them having to pay, and will require developers to inform residents in affected buildings how they will be meeting these commitments.

January 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Foreign Ministers Statement on use of Chemical Weapons in Douma, Syria [January 2023]

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

The Foreign Secretary has made a joint statement on a report which found the Assad regime responsible for the deadly chemical weapons attack on Douma in 2018.

The following is a statement from James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, United Kingdom, Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, United States of America, Catherine Colonna, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, France, and Annalena Baerbock, Federal Foreign Minister, Germany:

Today, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) released a report that found the Assad regime responsible for the deadly chemical weapons attack on Douma on April 7, 2018. The report refutes the Russian claim that it was an opposition attack.

The report concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe that, around 19:30 local time on April 7, 2018 at least one Mi-8/17 helicopter of the Syrian Arab Air Force, departing from Dumayr airbase and operating under the control of the Tiger Forces, dropped two yellow cylinders which hit two residential buildings in a central area of the city releasing chlorine killing 43 named individuals and affecting dozens more.

This report marks the ninth instance of chemical weapons use independently attributed to the Assad regime by UN and OPCW mechanisms.

Our governments condemn in the strongest terms the Syrian regime’s repeated use of these horrific weapons and remain steadfast in our demands that the Assad regime immediately comply with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Syria must fully declare and destroy its chemical weapons program and allow the deployment of OPCW staff to its country to verify it has done so.

The report also points out that the OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) received credible information, corroborated through multiple sources, that Russian forces were co-located at Dumayr airbase alongside the Tiger Forces. The IIT also obtained information that, at the time of the attack, the airspace over Douma was exclusively controlled by the Syrian Arab Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces.

We call on the Russian Federation to stop shielding Syria from accountability for its use of chemical weapons. No amount of disinformation from the Kremlin can hide its hand in abetting the Assad regime. In the aftermath of Syria’s chemical attack on April 7, 2018, Russian military police helped the Syrian regime obstruct OPCW access to the site of the attack and attempted to sanitise the site. Russian and Syrian troops also staged photographs later disseminated online in an attempt to support its fabricated narratives of this incident.

We commend the independent, unbiased, and expert work of the OPCW staff, and condemn the use of chemical weapons anywhere, by anyone, under any circumstances. We also reaffirm our commitment to hold accountable the perpetrators of all chemical weapons attacks in Syria and beyond.

January 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement – Blue Pacific and Pacific Islands [January 2023]

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

Strengthening Shared Understanding among the Partners in the Blue Pacific and Pacific Islands.

Strengthening Shared Understanding Among the Partners in the Blue Pacific and Pacific Islands: Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)

A workshop on “Strengthening Shared Understanding Among the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) and Pacific Islands: Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)” was held 24-26 January 2023 at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, Hawaii.

This workshop brought together officials and experts from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat; the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency; the Pacific Fusion Centre; along with Pacific Island representatives; PBP partners Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States; and PBP observers including the European Union, France, and India.

The participants discussed the challenges around IUUF and MDA in the Pacific through a series of plenary sessions led by regional subject matter experts. The workshop culminated in discussions about regional priorities and opportunities for deepening cooperation on MDA. The workshop strengthened shared understanding of the IUUF and MDA challenges facing the Pacific, and identified areas for further cooperation.

For further information on PBP see:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-on-the-establishment-of-the-partners-in-the-blue-pacific-pbp

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/partners-in-the-blue-pacific-pbp-joint-statement-september-2022

January 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Empowering MINUSMA to adapt is essential to building peace and stability in Mali – UK Statement at the UN Security Council [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 January 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council briefing on Mali.

Thank you, President, and thank you SRSG Wane for your briefing. I join others in expressing our deepest condolences following the deaths of two MINUSMA peacekeepers in December; we salute the dedication of all personnel and condemn any attacks on peacekeepers.

Let me begin, Mr President, by underlining that the UK remains committed to supporting the people of Mali as we are doing through humanitarian stabilisation and development aid, and as we have done through our contributions to MINUSMA. The Malian people deserve the support of the international community to address the challenges they have faced in recent years.

In this context, we welcome the publication of the Secretary-General’s report on the review of MINUSMA, and thank the Secretariat and the mission for all their efforts.

I have three points to make.

First, we agree with the Secretary-General that business as usual is no longer an option. The Mission cannot continue as it currently stands, with restrictions hindering operations and without the full cooperation of the host government. The safety and security of Peacekeepers is at stake, as well as the reputation of the UN if it cannot effectively deliver its mandate and uphold UN principles, including on human rights.

Second, the four parameters set out in the review are key for the continued viability of the Mission. We need to see tangible progress on the political transition and renewed commitment and dialogue on the Peace Agreement, including a way forward on DDR. We urge the Malian authorities to adhere to the Status of Forces Agreement, ensuring freedom of movement for Peacekeepers, and we expect to see greater access for the Mission to investigate human rights allegations.

Third, President, we need to re-evaluate the support provided by MINUSMA to the Malian Defence and Security Forces. As the Secretary-General highlights, a number of military operations have been marred by allegations of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

As others have said, the report also confirms the presence in Mali of the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group. In this context, we need a hard look at the relationship with the UN mission and Malian forces.

President, the Council should use this review to take stock of the challenges and ensure the Mission adapts, as needed, in order to remain effective in a changed reality.

There is a short window until the next mandate renewal. Progress against the Secretary-General’s parameters will be essential if we are to empower MINUSMA to make a meaningful contribution to building the peace and stability the Malian people deserve.

Thank you.

January 29, 2023