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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Panel of independent experts publish findings into crab deaths [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Panel of independent experts publish findings into crab deaths [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 January 2023.

    The panel of independent experts set up to assess the cause of dead and dying crabs washed up on shores from October 2021 have today (Friday 20 January) published their findings.

    The panel, made up of experts from academia and industry, was chaired by Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser Gideon Henderson with input from the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance.

    They investigated a number of possible causes for the unusual crab deaths which started in October 2021 including a potential disease or parasite, a harmful algal bloom, chemical toxicity including pyridine, and dredging which could have released a toxic chemical. Each of these potential causes was assessed according to the likelihood of the occurrence.

    The key observations that must be explained by any cause include: Mortality over a sustained period and along at least 70km of coastline; the unusual twitching by dying crabs observed in many locations; and the deaths being dominantly crustaceans rather than a wider range of species.

    The panel concluded:

    • It is about as likely as not that a pathogen new to UK waters – a potential disease or parasite – caused the unusual crab mortality. There are pathogens known to cause similar symptoms to those observed in the north-east and these pathogens have caused mortality events and declines in crustacean populations around the world. No significant pathogens were identified in the north-east crabs but full molecular screening was not conducted at the time of the initial investigation.
    • It is unlikely that a harmful algal bloom or that a loss of oxygen in the water associated with the algal bloom caused the crab deaths. The panel assessed satellite data and water-column measurements and concluded that the presence of an algal bloom in the area during September 2021 was likely but it was unlikely that the bloom persisted beyond October 2021.
    • It is very unlikely that pyridine or another toxic pollutant caused the crab deaths. The panel considered industries on Teesside and concluded they could not be sources of any significant volume of pyridine during the period of the crab deaths. Measurements of seawater by the Environment Agency and York University could not detect pyridine. Sediment measures of pyridine from dredged material and other toxic chemicals found in sediments in the Tees are significantly lower than the levels which would cause crab mortality.
    • It is very unlikely that maintenance dredging, as required to keep the port open, was the cause; a dredger operated in the channel offshore Teesside during late September and early October 2021 but the maximum possible release of toxic chemicals, including of pyridine, caused by this activity is significantly too small to cause crab mortality.
    • Capital dredging (i.e. as required to expand the port) was last carried out in December 2020, some time before deaths started in October 2021. Further capital dredging did not commence until September 2022. It is therefore exceptionally unlikely that capital dredging on the Tees caused the crab mortality seen in the region.

    Although there is no direct evidence of a novel pathogen – a disease or parasite – it would explain the key observations including mortality over a sustained period and along 70km of coastline, the unusual twitching of dying crabs and the deaths being predominantly crabs rather than other species..

    It is also possible that a combination of factors lead to the unusual mortality, rather than one of the factors the panel considered.

    Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, said:

    I would like to thank the scientists who have been involved in the expert assessment of this unusual crustacean mortality. For a complex issue like this it is important to have a range of experts involved who can offer independent challenge and analysis.

    Whilst with the current data there cannot be a definitive answer, the options for possible causes and an analyses of likelihood are clearly laid out in the report.

    Gideon Henderson, Defra Chief Scientific Adviser, said:

    The report summarises thorough and insightful analysis of diverse relevant data by an impressive group of leading marine scientists from across the UK. Their combined knowledge allowed expert assessment of all possible causes of the unusual crustacean mortality.

    The panel was unable to identify a single clear cause, but it has been able to point to those more likely to explain the key features of the outbreak.

    Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey asked Defra’s Chief Scientific Advisor Gideon Henderson to liaise with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance to establish an independent group, following a request from the Environment, Farming & Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee. The Crustacean Mortality Expert Panel (CMEP) was convened from December 2022 to independently assess the causes of the unusual deaths.

    The panel was established with experts from academia and industry with a range of knowledge and experience.

    The full report is available here.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Regulator launches inquiry into disability charity the Organisation of Blind Africans and Caribbeans [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Regulator launches inquiry into disability charity the Organisation of Blind Africans and Caribbeans [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Charity Commission on 20 January 2023.

    The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into the Organisation of Blind Africans and Caribbeans to examine potential serious wrongdoing by an individual involved in the control of the charity. These regulatory concerns have been exacerbated by significant difficulties in obtaining information from the trustees.

    The charity was initially registered with the Commission in 1994, and re-registered in 2011 after incorporating as a charitable company. The charity provides services, education and training to people who are blind or partially sighted in the UK, Africa and the Caribbean.

    Since July 2021 the Commission has attempted to engage with the charity to explore concerns around potential wrongdoing and/or abuse by a senior employee. It has repeatedly met with difficulties in obtaining information and cooperation from the trustees and multiple instances of non-compliance, including with an Order issued under section 52 of the Charities Act.

    The underlying concerns about this individual’s continued involvement in the charity and the trustees’ ongoing failures to properly engage with the regulator have resulted in the Commission’s decision to open a statutory inquiry.

    The inquiry was opened on 15 December 2022 and will examine:

    • The administration, governance and management of the charity by the trustees.
    • Whether the trustees have complied with and fulfilled their duties and responsibilities as trustees under charity law; in particular whether they exercise sufficient oversight over the charity’s activities and executive leadership.
    • Whether there has been any misconduct and/or mismanagement by the trustees.

    The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional regulatory issues emerge.

    It is the Commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing issues the examined, the action undertaken, and the inquiry’s outcomes.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Astronaut Tim Peake assumes ambassadorial role for space [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Astronaut Tim Peake assumes ambassadorial role for space [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the UK Space Agency on 20 January 2023.

    The UK Space Agency has paid tribute to Tim Peake, following his decision to step down from the active European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut corps and assume an ambassadorial role for space.

    Tim will work closely with the UK Space Agency and ESA in his new role, where he will use the inspirational power of space and his own journey to encourage more young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

    Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:

    Tim Peake is an incredible ambassador for the UK space sector and has played a leading role over the past decade.

    Not only has he carried out important scientific work, during his historic Principia mission to the International Space Station and while on Earth, but he has inspired millions with his passion for space and the opportunities it offers.

    Tim has played a huge role in promoting STEM education and space careers, and has shone a light on the hundreds of roles involved in getting an astronaut into space, and across the wider space sector. It’s thanks to Tim and those who have worked with him that we can look forward to a new generation of skilled scientists, engineers, lawyers, designers and more, who will help the UK space sector soar to new hights.

    We wish Tim all the best and look forward to supporting him in his next adventure, knowing that the UK’s role in human space exploration is in the safe hands of the new generation of ESA astronauts from the UK: Rosemary Coogan, Meganne Christian, and the world’s first astronaut with a physical disability, John McFall.

    Tim Peake said:

    Being an ESA astronaut has been the most extraordinary experience. I have had the privilege of working with an exceptional team of dedicated individuals during the past thirteen years with the Agency, which has been incredibly exciting and rewarding. By assuming the role of an ambassador for human spaceflight, I shall continue to support ESA and the UK Space Agency, with a focus on educational outreach, and I look forward to the many exciting opportunities ahead.

    Born in Chichester in 1972, Tim was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009, making him the UK’s second astronaut after Helen Sharman. His Principia mission, which launched in December 2015, saw him become the first UK astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS).

    During his six-month stint onboard the ISS, he became the first person to complete a spacewalk while sporting a Union Jack on his shoulder, to repair part of the station’s supply. He controlled a rover remotely in the Stevenage Mars Yard, helped dock two spacecraft, ran the London marathon on a treadmill, and took part in scientific experiments for ESA and international partners.

    Before returning to Earth in June 2016, Tim also worked with the UK Space Agency to engage more than two million schoolchildren across the UK – approximately one in three schools – in over 30 projects.

    Tim has since held several ESA positions, including Head of Astronaut Operations, and has become well known for his work to champion space through education and outreach activities, encouraging children around the world to think about the opportunities that space can offer.

    ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher said:

    Tim has been a role model for kids, aspiring youngsters and young professionals alike, inspiring millions of them and at the same time being an excellent ambassador for the whole of ESA, its values and its ambition – I would like to thank Tim most sincerely and am looking forward to his continued involvement with the Agency.

    UKspace Chair, John Hanley, said:

    For more than a decade, Tim Peake has inspired millions of people of all ages in the UK and internationally through his energy and commitment to STEM education and outreach. By being the first British astronaut to visit the ISS and complete a spacewalk, Tim has showcased space and brought awareness to the masses of the power and value of space-based technology and data. UKspace wishes Tim every success in the next stage of his career as he continues to educate and inspire people through his ambassadorial work.

    ESA announced its latest cohort of astronauts during the ESA Council of Ministers 2022 in Paris in November 2022, including the UK’s third career astronaut Rosemary Coogan, world-first astronaut with a physical disability, John McFall and member of the ESA astronaut reserve, Meganne Christian.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK joins core group dedicated to achieving accountability for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK joins core group dedicated to achieving accountability for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 January 2023.

    The UK will play a leading role in a core group of likeminded partners to pursue criminal accountability for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has announced today, Friday 20 January.

    Alongside other international partners invited by Ukraine, the UK will shape thinking on how to ensure criminal accountability for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

    This includes assessing the feasibility of a new ‘hybrid’ tribunal (a specialised court integrated into Ukraine’s national justice system with international elements).

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an outrageous violation of the rules-based international order. The atrocities we’ve witnessed in Ukraine are diabolical – thousands of soldiers and civilians killed, and millions more displaced, forced to flee for their lives in the most horrific circumstances.

    These atrocities must not go unpunished. That’s why the UK has accepted Ukraine’s invitation to join this coalition, bringing our legal expertise to the table to explore options to ensure Russia’s leaders are held to account fully for their actions.

    An investigation into the Crime of Aggression could complement established mechanisms for investigating war crimes, including the International Criminal Court and Ukraine’s domestic legal process. Together these parallel processes would help ensure all crimes are fully investigated and that perpetrators are held to account.

    In joining this additional core group focused on Crimes of Aggression, the UK will complement its previous support in the pursuit of accountability for Russia’s actions.

    In March 2022 the UK led efforts to refer the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has now secured the support of 42 other countries. We have also provided £1 million of UK funding for the International Criminal Court to increase its collection of evidence capacity and provide enhanced psychosocial support to witnesses and survivors. Looking ahead, in March 2023 the UK and Netherlands will co-host an international meeting of Justice Ministers in London to encourage more practical support for the ICC’s work.

    The UK has also co-founded the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) with the US and the EU to directly support the War Crimes Units of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine in its investigations, and appointed Sir Howard Morrison KC as an Independent Advisor to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General.

    Through the ACA, the UK has funded a £2.5 million package of assistance including training for more than 90 Ukrainian judges, the deployment of Mobile Justice Teams to the scene of potential war crimes, forensic evidence gathering, and support from UK experts in sexual violence in conflict.

    Attorney General Victoria Prentis said:

    Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is barbaric. The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, and we are committed to helping them secure justice for a growing catalogue of war crimes.

    Ukraine’s resolve in bringing prosecutions in the middle of a live conflict is extraordinary. By providing funding and legal expertise to Ukraine’s domestic prosecutors and judicial system, the UK is helping them to investigate atrocities committed on Ukrainian soil and, where appropriate, bring speedy prosecutions in Ukrainian courts.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Building a modern partnership rooted in shared values – Minister spends week in Japan to boost ties [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Building a modern partnership rooted in shared values – Minister spends week in Japan to boost ties [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 January 2023.

    • Minister for the Indo-Pacific held talks with government counterparts and business representatives on a week-long visit to Japan
    • trip showcased cutting edge science and tech collaboration between the UK and Japan, one of its closest partners in the region
    • visit follows the signing of a landmark new defence agreement between the UK and Japan to deepen key security partnership in the Indo-Pacific

    In a milestone year for Japan, as it assumes its G7 presidency, the UK has committed to doing more with one of its closest Indo-Pacific partners to boost ties and robustly defend democracy, peace and freedom.

    Following the recent signing of the landmark UK-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement in London, Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan spent the week in Japan, seeing first-hand the vital collaboration between the 2 countries on everything from trade to education.

    Defence and security are at the heart of the UK-Japan relationship, with the newly announced treaty allowing UK and Japanese armed forces to more easily carry out joint training activities and exercises.

    This builds on increasingly close military ties, including the Global Combat Air Programme announced in December 2022, and cements the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific.

    Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

    Japan is one of our closest partners in Asia. From science and innovation to defence and digital, we are developing a modern, cutting-edge partnership that is rooted in our shared values.

    My visit has showcased the depth of that collaboration, with so many more opportunities for investment, research and talent to be shared between our 2 countries.

    The Minister saw Cambridge-based AstraZeneca’s Tokyo headquarters, where she set out the UK’s ambition to deepen collaboration with Japan in research, technology and innovation as 2 leading science superpowers. Deepening these links will grow both countries’ economies, creating better-paid jobs and opportunities right across the UK and Japan.

    While in Japan’s capital, the Minister met Japanese graduates from UK universities to launch a new British Council alumni network, which will maintain the strong links between the UK and Japan’s world leading universities. The Minister also attended a Women in Parliament event alongside Japanese MPs, to hear about initiatives to promote women’s participation in political life.

    Beyond Tokyo, the Minister travelled to Kobe to visit leading healthcare technology firm Medicaroid to hear about its work developing the next generation of surgical robots, supported by investors to the UK Sysmex and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

    In Osaka, the Minister met with the Organising Committee of the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 and held talks with senior business figures, including the head of the Kankeiren, a regional federation of 1,300 businesses, organisations and educational corporations. They discussed the UK government’s ambition to strengthen economic ties with companies across Japan, as well as the benefits of the UK joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trading bloc (CPTPP) as accession talks continue. Joining the CPTPP will bring the UK closer to a dynamic group of economies in the Indo-Pacific, including Japan, creating opportunities for cooperation not only on trade but also to uphold shared values.

    In Hiroshima, the Minister visited the Peace Memorial Museum and Park to lay a wreath and meet atomic bomb survivors, and reiterated the UK’s commitment to the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons. She also met the Mayor and Governor of Hiroshima as the city prepares to host the G7 Leaders’ Summit in May.

    Minister Trevelyan met counterparts from the Japanese Government including Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Yamada, with whom she discussed Japan’s priorities for its G7 presidency and explored what both countries can do to accelerate support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. The Minister also held meetings with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Fusae Ota, and Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi.

    The trip underlines the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reiterated to Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on his visit to London last week. The region is not only home to likeminded partners with whom the UK shares fundamental beliefs in peace and democracy, but also many of the world’s fastest-growing economies, making it critical to UK prosperity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo – Alyson King [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo – Alyson King [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 January 2023.

    Ms Alyson King OBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in succession to Ms Emily Maltman who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms King will take up her appointment during April 2023.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Alyson Ruth Grace King

    Married to: Ayman Jarjour

    Children: 2

    Year Role
    2020 to 2023 Beirut, Deputy Head of Mission
    2019 to 2020 UK Government Arabic Spokesperson and Senior Regional Communicator, based in Dubai
    2018 Full Time Language Training (Arabic)
    2016 to 2017 Scotland Office, Deputy Director and Head of Policy Division
    2013 to 2016 FCO, Deputy Head, European Union Department (Internal), Europe Directorate
    2010 to 2013 Khartoum, Head of Political Section
    2009 to 2010 Full Time Language Training in Damascus (Arabic)
    2008 to 2009 Brussels, United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union, Legal Adviser
    2005 to 2008 European Commission, Secondment as National Expert on Sanctions and the Kimberley Process, Brussels
    2004 to 2005 FCO, Assistant Legal Adviser, Legal Directorate
    2003 to 2004 FCO, Desk Officer, Trade Policy/Slovenia, Europe Directorate
    1999 to 2003 Davis Polk & Wardwell, Associate Lawyer, based in New York and London
    1997 to 1999 Columbia University, Teaching Assistant, Human Rights Department (worked alongside studying for 2 Masters degrees)
  • PRESS RELEASE : Better protection for rape victims from invasive record requests [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Better protection for rape victims from invasive record requests [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 20 January 2023.

    Victims will be better protected from invasive requests for personal records, including during rape investigations, the Safeguarding Minister announced today (20 January).

    Third party information on victims, such as education, medical, social services and counselling records, can be requested by the police during an investigation. These requests can be time-consuming and have a severe impact on victims’ confidence as an infringement on their privacy.

    The government ran a public consultation on these police requests, in which experts across the sector including victims’ groups shared their views.

    Today the Home Office published its response to the consultation, which includes a commitment to introduce new legislation on the way the police can request access to personal data from third parties. This will better protect people’s data by ensuring the police and other parties only request this information where this is absolutely necessary and proportionate.

    Minister for Safeguarding, Sarah Dines said:

    We know that sexual abuse investigations have a significant psychological impact on victims, and it is wrong that victims of some of the most traumatic crimes are having significant amounts of their personal records unnecessarily requested.

    This new legislation and guidance will support the police to ensure all requests are completely necessary, and that we can protect victims and deliver justice more quickly.

    Respondents to the consultation were supportive of the government’s plans for new legislation, which will put on a statutory footing the police’s duty to only request material that is necessary and proportionate, in addition to a duty to inform people about what type of information is being requested, why, and how it will be used. These duties will be further clarified in a code of practice to aid the police in fulfilling their duties.

    National Police Chiefs’ Council Disclosure lead, ACC Tim De Meyer, said:

    Police investigators must sometimes seek third party information in order to ensure that they impartially follow all potential leads in an investigation. Third party information might support the prosecution case or be required to see that there is a fair trial. The need to seek third party information depends on the circumstances of the case.

    Forces are committed to bringing offenders to justice while treating victims with sensitivity and respect during an investigation, and so policing welcomes the new proposals. It will enable officers to carry out thorough investigations which preserve the absolute right to a fair trial, while respecting the right to privacy of all parties.

    John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner, said:

    We know from our investigations that the excessive collection of information from victims of rape and serious sexual assault leaves people feeling revictimised by a system they expected to support them.

    The steps set out by government show that change is possible, and alongside work by police and broader work across the UK, we believe progress can be made to prevent victims feeling as though they are being treated as suspects.

    If the police fail to abide by the statutory duties included in the legislation, they would be in breach of the law and could be open to legal challenge.

    The new legislation will help to fulfil a commitment in the government’s End-to-End Rape Review Action Plan to reduce unnecessary and disproportionate requests for personal records, and forms part of the government’s wider commitment to increasing charge and prosecution volumes for adult rape cases and putting the victims’ needs at the centre of investigations.

    This new commitment follows the changes the government has already delivered to address concerns surrounding sensitive information taken from victims’ phones. The new powers introduced in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (2022), and accompanying code of practice, ensure that all requests for phones and other devices are necessary, proportionate and that victims are given the information they need to make a decision that is right for them before they are asked to volunteer their device. Where victims do agree to share information, the majority of forces are now in the position to ensure they are not without a phone for more than 24 hours, which is another means of improving victim wellbeing in investigations.

    The government is also funding Operation Soteria, a programme which brings together academics and police forces, and aims to radically transform the way police and the Crown Prosecution Service deal with rape – shifting the focus onto the suspect, rather than the victim. With the aim of publishing a new national operating model for the investigation of rape in June 2023, academics were brought into 5 ‘pathfinder’ police forces to work alongside frontline police officers and develop new tools for improvement.

    Operation Soteria is already showing early indicators of change, including stronger collaboration with prosecutors, improved organisational capability and more specialist knowledge of sexual offending being applied to investigations. A further 14 forces are now participating in the programme.

    This is all alongside government action such as offering pre-recorded evidence for rape victims to every Crown Court in England and Wales, sparing them the trauma of testifying during live trial; and committing to quadrupling funding for victim support services by 2025 compared to 2010, including investment to increase the number of independent sexual violence advisors and independent domestic violence advisors to over 1,000 by 2024/25.

    The government will pursue the new legislation on requests for third party material when parliamentary time allows.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK announces support to Ethiopian drought and conflict-affected regions [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK announces support to Ethiopian drought and conflict-affected regions [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 January 2023.

    The Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell has announced UK humanitarian aid for regions of rising insecurity within Ethiopia.

    • life-saving food and nutrition to help hundreds of thousands of people, has been announced by the UK Minister for Development Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP
    • funding will support people facing the drastic impacts of drought and conflict across Ethiopia including Tigray and areas of increasing insecurity in western Ethiopia such as Oromia
    • with violence and insecurity on the rise, the UK is calling for the international community not to lose focus on Ethiopia after the breakthrough peace deal in Tigray in November

    Vital UK aid announced today (20 January 2023) will reach the most vulnerable people across regions of rising insecurity in Ethiopia. More than 600,000 people in Ethiopia will benefit from improved access to critical food supplies or nutrition products.

    The Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell announced the new funding package, including food supplies and other nutrition, in response to the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis, with violence and insecurity still on the rise.

    Nearly 30 million people are now in need of emergency aid in Ethiopia, more than any other country in the world. In northern and western regions an estimated 22 million people are experiencing devastating food insecurity due to drought, conflict and economic pressures.

    In Tigray, humanitarian access has improved since the signing of a peace agreement in November. However, huge numbers of people still have limited access to essential supplies and basic services including food, fuel and healthcare.

    Violence and insecurity continue to rise elsewhere in Ethiopia, including in the Oromia region. With the security situation deteriorating, significant numbers of civilians have been displaced from their homes, with many beyond the reach of aid agencies, lacking access to essential services such as electricity, a mobile network, health facilities and banks.

    UK funding to the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) will address this humanitarian crisis by delivering aid to those most in need across Ethiopia including Oromia, Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions.

    Minister for Development Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP said:

    With nearly 30 million people across Ethiopia facing severe hardships, this support from the UK comes at a critical moment.

    Our life-saving aid will reach hundreds of thousands of people – over half of which are women and children who are bearing the brunt of the country’s worsening crisis.

    To alleviate suffering and save lives, I urge the international community not to lose focus on the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia.

    The total UK funding announced today is £16.6 million supporting more than 600,000 people. A £11.6 million contribution to the PSNP will reach around 250,000 people living in extreme poverty with food and livelihood security.

    Money will be pooled with multi-donor funding alongside international partners, and will go to regions across Ethiopia including Oromia, Amhara, Afar and Harar city zones. During the last 17 years, the UK has provided £650 million to the programme.

    Through the World Food programme, a further £5 million of UK funding announced today, will also help treat almost 23,000 pregnant and lactating women suffering from moderate acute malnutrition, and provide better infrastructure for feeding programmes for 42,000 school pupils in 75 schools.

    This critical support to malnourished mothers and children will reach the most vulnerable in desperate need, including those in conflict-affected areas of Northern and Western Ethiopia. World Food Programme funding will also be invested in boosting local production of nutrition products, benefitting a further 330,000 children per month.

    British Ambassador Darren Welch said:

    This latest contribution from the UK is part of a longstanding relationship with the Government of Ethiopia to help address the country’s humanitarian challenges.

    UK support to the Productive Safety Net Programme and the World Food Programme will quickly reach those most in need of aid with assistance targeting the most vulnerable, including women and children who are too often the worst affected by climate shocks and conflict.

    Darren Welch is newly appointed as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union.

    This funding comes just a month after the UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited Ethiopia following the recent peace agreement and the opening of humanitarian routes. The funding means the UK will meet its commitment to spend £156 million in humanitarian aid to East Africa in the financial year 2022 to 2023.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government to support British industry in cutting fossil fuels with £32.5 million [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government to support British industry in cutting fossil fuels with £32.5 million [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 20 January 2023.

    Phase 2 of the Red Diesel Replacement Competition will support innovative projects in developing greener energy alternatives.

    • New government funding will support British industries, including construction, mining and quarrying, to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels
    • support will develop greener alternatives to red diesel such as electrification and green hydrogen, providing a pathway for industry to cut their emissions and energy costs
    • this is the UK government’s latest step in driving industrial energy independence and encouraging green investment across the country

    British industrial sectors, including construction, mining and quarrying, will be supported in their plans to develop greener technologies and low carbon fuels, as the government backs industry with a £32.5 million funding package to cut reliance on fossil fuels and boost energy resilience.

    The funding announced today (Friday 20 January) will help these industries move away from using red diesel, also known as gas oil, which is a type of fossil fuel commonly used for off-road, heavy-duty vehicles and machinery, such as bulldozers and cranes.

    The funding is being made available through the second phase of the Red Diesel Replacement Competition, which supports projects that seek to develop red diesel alternatives. The £32.5 million package will support 3 to 5 demonstration projects that participated in Phase 1 of the programme.

    This next phase of funding will support industry to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, while also helping to cut industry emissions and energy costs, supporting the UK’s commitment to transition away from red diesel to help meet its climate change and air quality targets.

    Minister for Energy and Climate Change Graham Stuart said:

    These industrial sectors, and the jobs they create, are crucial to our economy, and they also have an important role to play in our shift towards a greener, more secure future.

    This latest round of funding will help to speed up industrial decarbonisation, providing industry and consumers with effective low-carbon alternatives to red diesel while boosting green investment to future-proof the resilience of British industry.

    The funding announced today follows £6.7 million funding provided to 17 winners under Phase 1 of the competition, in areas covering electrification, e-fuels and green hydrogen, as well as technologies that capture and store energy which would ordinarily be wasted from a vehicle or machine.

    Examples of previous winners from Phase 1 include:

    MAHLE Powertrain Ltd, Northampton: in partnership with the University of Nottingham and Clean Air Power, MAHLE Powertrain Ltd received £425,072 to build 2 prototype engines capable of running on ammonia and hydrogen, with the aim of providing a pathway for the sustainable use of heavy-duty engines.

    CATAGEN Ltd, Belfast received £787,700 for 2 projects, an e-fuel generator to develop e-diesel, and a novel hydrogen compressor.

    ULEMCo Ltd, Liverpool: in partnership with Skanska and Building Research Establishment (BRE), UMLECo Ltd received £418,613 to develop and deploy a H2ICED® combustion engine for onsite construction equipment, a world first in converting a piling machine (used in the construction industry) to run on hydrogen fuel.

    Steamology Motion Ltd, Salisbury: received £364,717 to build a prototype demonstrator of their high power, zero-emission steam turbine drivetrain, proving a viable red diesel engine replacement technology.

    Today’s announcement forms part of the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which helps to accelerate the commercialisation of low-carbon technologies, systems and business models in power, buildings, and industry.

    Switching industry to lower carbon fuels, supported through schemes such as the Red Diesel Replacement competition, will be critical for reducing emissions to meet the UK’s net zero objectives.

    Jonathan Hall, Head of Research & Advanced Engineering at MAHLE Powertrain said:

    Off-highway industries such as mining, quarrying and construction remain a significant challenge in the transition towards a more sustainable future. These sectors have demanding energy and utilisation requirements and are often in challenging environments far from a power grid connection, making them difficult to electrify.

    Exploring other power sources such as ammonia has considerable potential, and the funding provided by BEIS via the Red Diesel Replacement programme has enabled us to develop these innovative, zero-carbon powertrain solutions.

    Dr Andrew Woods, CEO and Co-Founder of CATAGEN said:

    The purpose of CATAGEN is ‘to clean and decarbonise the air’ and the RDR funding from BEIS has allowed the team to rapidly build two new technologies in 2022. They form part of CATAGEN’s new ClimaHtech product range, a configurable system which uses advanced climate technologies to produce green hydrogen and e-fuels. We are committed to finding a collective solution that will cut CO2 emissions and decarbonise challenging sectors such as industry, shipping, and aviation.

    BEIS have helped shine a spotlight on CATAGEN and our technologies which is now resulting in enquiries from across the globe from heavy industry and the automotive sectors.  The BEIS team have been a great support to CATAGEN’s development teams, not only by providing funding but through their valued expertise and commitment to reduce emissions as well as creating jobs to support a new net zero economy in Northern Ireland and the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Applications invited for appointments to the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Applications invited for appointments to the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 19 January 2023.

    The arrangements for electoral administration in Northern Ireland are administered centrally by the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland who is both the electoral registration officer for all 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland and returning officer for all elections and referendums in that jurisdiction.

    Personal Specification

    An outstanding individual is sought to become the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland: someone with good judgement, resilience and sensitivity; someone with a track record of achievement at board or senior executive level in the private or public sector; someone experienced in financial management and meeting challenging performance objectives.

    The successful applicant will be someone who can give strategic and operational direction to the work of the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, provide strong leadership and build an inclusive organisation. Critically, the successful candidate must be able to command cross-community respect and confidence in Northern Ireland.

    Terms of appointment

    It is expected the appointment will commence with effect from 1 April 2023 or as close to that date as possible. Candidates may wish to note that:

    • The position is based in Belfast;
    • The position is full-time;
    • Remuneration on appointment will be within the range £74,912 – £84,122 and will be paid monthly in arrears;
    • This position is pensionable. If the successful applicant is not already a member of the Civil Service Pension Scheme he or she will be able to join
    • The term of office will be for a period of five years from the date of appointment; and
    • This appointment requires security vetting. If you are appointed to the post, you will need to undergo a Security Check (SC) clearance.

    How to apply

    Those interested in applying for the post should download the application pack from the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website

    Completed applications should be sent by email to:ceo2023@nio.gov.uk. by the closing date of 12 February 2023.

    Equality of Opportunity

    Appointments will be made on merit and with regard to the equality provisions set out in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. We encourage applications from all sections of the community.