Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 January 2010.

The Prime Minister has said the development of the London Gateway port will create thousands of jobs for the region and is a vote of confidence in the UK’s economic recovery.

Gordon Brown and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson visited the site, on the north bank of the Thames in Essex this morning, to mark the start of work on one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects.

The company DP World is behind the £1.5 billion development, which will be Europe’s largest combined deep-sea port and logistics park.

The PM said:

“The London Gateway is a significant foreign investment into the UK. It is a massive vote of confidence in the UK’s economic recovery and in this region. UK Trade & Investment and other Government departments have worked closely with DP World over a number of years to make this project possible.

“I am delighted with the decision to locate this world-class project here in the UK. It will help bring the largest deep sea vessels here and improve the efficiency of the UK’s freight distribution, creating thousands of jobs, future growth and economic prosperity.”

Once completed the London Gateway will link road, rail and sea.

By combining the port with a distribution centre DP World estimates the port will save over 60 million heavy goods vehicle miles per year on UK roads. It says this will amount to a reduction of 148,000 tonnes per annum of CO2 emissions.

Lord Mandelson said the London Gateway will also see the creation of 36,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The work beginning today includes the construction of three kilometres of land reclamation and a dredging operation in the Thames Estuary.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 January 2010.

The Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown has hosted the launch event for a new campaign that aims to improve attitudes towards children with learning differences.

Around one in five school-aged children need additional help in school of some form, and the First News My Way! campaign hopes to raise awareness for children with special educational needs.

Sarah Brown was joined at the Downing Street reception by Children’s Secretary Ed Balls, children with learning difficulties and the campaign’s ambassador, author and actor Henry Winkler. Mr Winkler was not identified as having dyslexia until the age of thirty.

Sarah Brown said:

“Gordon and I have always been passionate that every single child should have the chance to reach their true potential, so it’s really important that we breakdown any barriers that some children may face when learning.

“Listening to children, supporting them and creating the right environment for them to do well is at the heart of this campaign and I’m very pleased to host the launch event for an initiative that will really touch people’s lives and make a difference.”

Ed Balls said the Government has already taken action to help children with special educational needs, including a £31 million investment into the Achievement for All programme and greater personalised support.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister announced Government measures to ensure that pupils in their first few years at primary school have the best start in reading, writing and arithmetic.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 January 2010.

The Government has published its strategy for how to return the economy to strong, sustainable, long-term growth.

The plan focuses on increasing employment, raising incomes and supporting an improving quality of life, while restoring public finances and preventing cuts to essential public services.

During a speech in London today, the Prime Minister said that ‘going for growth’ is the government’s number one priority.

Gordon Brown said:

“The plan we are launching today – ‘tomorrow’s prosperity’ – shows how we will do everything we can to support and unleash the entrepreneurial, innovative and dynamic talents we know we have in Britain.

Gordon Brown said as part of the strategy, the Government plans to boost support for knowledge-based industries in sectors like life sciences, medical research and pharmaceuticals.

He said the Government will invest £70 million in three state-of-the-art manufacturing research centres to help UK businesses develop products of the future.

The Government will also invest in modern, low-carbon infrastructure and support British businesses by ensuring easier access to credit and creating a new growth fund.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 January 2010.

The Prime Minister has thanked the voluntary and emergency services helping to ease problems caused by the heavy snow and widespread ice that continued across parts of the UK on Thursday.

Appearing on the BBC’s Radio Solent, the Prime Minister said central government was doing everything it could to help, adding: “If there are things that are outstanding, we should be told so we can take the action that is necessary.”

Gordon Brown said he had spoken to some of the UK’s largest salt manufacturers on Thursday, who had assured him they were working to ensure there was enough salt for gritting during the extended cold spell.

“What we’re trying to do first of all on gritting and on salt, is to make sure there is sufficient salt available in every part of the country. Some local authorities will have more salt than others.”

The PM said he had also spoken to the chief executive of the National Health Service and was satisfied that it was in the “right position” to deal with problems arising from emergencies.

Mr Brown said the government would continue to monitor the situation carefully around the country. He added that local people “doing extraordinary things” was making it possible for communities to come together in difficult times.

On Wednesday the Prime Minister joined Lord Adonis on a visit to the London Local Authority Coordination Centre headquarters in south west London to see the work of the emergency services during the cold snap.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 January 2010.

The Prime Minister has said the rights granted to energy companies today to develop the biggest expansion of wind energy in the world, will make a significant contribution to reducing emissions and boosting low-carbon jobs in the UK.

A number of companies have been given the go-ahead to develop new offshore wind farms by the Crown Estate, which owns the UK’s coastal seabeds.

The announcement has the potential to see an additional 32GW of clean electricity feeding into the UK grid.

Gordon Brown said the offshore wind industry could be worth £75 billion and support up to 70,000 jobs by 2020. He added that the Government’s support for offshore wind energy has put the UK ahead of every other country in the world.

“This new round of licences provides a substantial new platform for investing in UK industrial capacity.

“This announcement will make a significant and practical contribution to reducing our CO2 emissions and the Government will work with developers and the Crown Estate to support the growing offshore wind industry and help remove barriers to rapid development.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK has one of the best wind energy resources in Europe.

“Today’s news shows we’re creating the right conditions for the energy industry to invest in harnessing it.

“This is one of the strongest signals yet that the UK is locked irreversibly into a low carbon, energy secure prosperous future.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 February 2010.

The Prime Minister has said civilians deployed to conflict and disaster zones carry out work that is “vital” to the ongoing success of military and stabilisation operations.

Gordon Brown was speaking to members of the UK Civilian Stabilisation Group who assist with reconstruction in fragile, conflict-afflicted states.

The group was set up in 2008 following the PM’s commitment to create a 1,000-strong civilian pool, reporting to the MOD, FCO and DFID.

Members of the UKCSG have been deployed to a variety of countries since 2008, including Sudan, Kosovo, Georgia, the DRC and Haiti. The group’s first operation was in Musa Qala, Afghanistan.

The PM said civilian experts deployed in close coordination with the military are able to show immediate progress.

“This work in the field, which can so often go unnoticed, is absolutely vital to the enduring success of any military or stabilisation operation and building more secure communities where people feel they have a stake in the future through basic justice, schools, health centres and jobs.”

The Stabilisation Unit is drawn from across the public, private, civil and military sectors and has the expertise to support countries affected by conflict and disaster.

Recently the government announced that a small team of experts would be deployed to support the Haitian Ministry of Justice following January’s devastating earthquake. The Stabilisation Unit currently has two staff deployed in Port-au-Prince.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 February 2010.

Ten award-winning support staff recognised for their outstanding contribution to their schools have visited Downing Street.

The staff, including a school cleaner, a catering manager, an IT specialist and a teaching assistant, received special ‘support staff awards’ from the National Association of School Business Management after they were nominated by their fellow staff and pupils.

On Tuesday, the winners celebrated their achievements with a behind-the-scenes look at Number 10, where they met the Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown.

The Prime Minister said:

“Support staff work incredibly hard behind the scenes to ensure schools across the country run smoothly. They play an important role in school life and have made a valuable contribution to improving the standard of education which is now at an all time high.

“These winners are highly respected, esteemed and appreciated by their colleagues and pupils. These awards give rightful recognition for their hard work and I’m very pleased these staff are having their day in the spotlight.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 11 February 2010.

The Prime Minister has warned that Iran will face tougher sanctions if it moves ahead with a nuclear weapons programme.

Major rallies are taking place in Tehran today on the 31st anniversary of the Iranian revolution.

Speaking from Brussels, Gordon Brown said now is a critical time for the country’s relationships with the rest of the world and its own people.

He said he would like to see dialogue with Iran, but “the patience of our countries is not inexhaustible”.

“I think the choices could not be clearer. Iran can either pursue a civilian nuclear programme, respect human rights and earn the trust and respect of the international community, or it can move ahead with its nuclear weapons programme, trample on human rights and be isolated and ostracized on the wrong side of history, outside the international community.”

Mr Brown said the UK is stepping up discussions with other countries about sanctions that could be imposed on Iran.

The Prime Minister was among EU leaders who attended a one-day informal meeting of the European Council in Brussels – the first held under the presidency of Herman Van Rompuy.

Climate change and jobs and growth were on the agenda at the meeting. Earlier, EU leaders from countries using the Euro had also met to discuss the economic situation in Greece.

Commenting on the meeting, a Downing Street spokesman said:

“We welcome the progress made today and Greece’s commitment to take action to stabilise its economy. We also welcome the euro area Member States’ commitment to ‘take determined and coordinated action to safeguard financial stability in the euro area as a whole’.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 April 2010.

A new task force to advise the Government on how to ensure small companies are treated fairly and properly when accessing bank finance was launched at Number 10 this morning.

Enterprise Champion Lord Sugar, outgoing Federation of Small Business chairman John Wright and former Lloyd’s TSB deputy chief executive Mike Fairey will comprise the task force.

They will build on the work Lord Sugar has been doing with small businesses, Business Link’s Financial Intermediary Service (FIS) and the banks and will help determine the role of the Small Business Credit Adjudicator (SBCA) announced in the Budget.

The SBCA will hear cases where a company may have been unfairly denied credit.

The PM told business leaders at a morning meeting that “we remain concerned that there are still companies who are unfairly denied credit and we feel that they are powerless to challenge the decision”.

But he said the new SBCA would consider individual cases and would have the legal powers to enforce his judgment, should he find in favour of a small business.

The PM said:

“I’m pleased that Lord Sugar has agreed to lead the task force alongside the outgoing chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, John Wright, who is with us this morning, and former Lloyds deputy chief executive Mike Fairey.

“And drawing on their decades and experience in enterprise, business and banking, they will advise the Government on the role and responsibilities of this adjudicator.”

The task force will meet banks and small businesses to discuss financing and credit issues.

It will consider potential powers and sanctions for the SBCA which could include the power to demand bank information and penalties.

A consultation document is to be published in the summer.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 April 2010.

The Prime Minister has met German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Chequers today.

The two leaders held talks on foreign policy and the economy, and also discussed topics such as climate change and the Middle East peace process.

Iran was also on the agenda, with Gordon Brown and Chancellor Merkel both supporting the idea of international sanctions against the country.

A Downing Street spokesman said:

“The Prime Minister and Chancellor Merkel had an excellent discussion at Chequers which focussed on foreign policy and the world economic situation. One year on from the London G20, they discussed the steps necessary to ensure another successful G20 summit in June.

“They also had a long discussion on climate change in advance of the Bonn meeting, and talked about the latest developments in the Middle East peace process. On Iran, there was strong support from both leaders for sanctions, and agreement on the continued need to engage with international partners on the issue.”