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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Schools continue to improve since pandemic [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Schools continue to improve since pandemic [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 17 January 2023.

    Ofsted has today published data on school inspections carried out up to the end of December 2022.

    It shows that around 89% of all 22,000 schools were good or outstanding at their most recent inspection. This is an increase from 86% in August 2019 and 88% in August 2022.

    Initial signs for the 2022/23 academic year are that inspection outcomes continue to paint a positive picture, and in some cases are even more positive than last year.

    The data also shows that schools previously judged requires improvement (RI) have done particularly well last term, as 78% of those inspected improved to good, compared with 70% in 2021/22.

    The vast majority of formerly outstanding schools visited this year had been exempt from routine inspection between 2012 and 2020. Since the government lifted the exemption, most of these schools have lost the top grade on reinspection. However, a slightly higher proportion of the previously exempt schools have remained outstanding this year compared with 2021/22 (21% v 17%), and a lower proportion were found to require improvement or to be inadequate (13% v 21%).

    Ofsted’s Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman said:

    Every child deserves to attend a high-quality school and parents should be reassured that, despite some gradual rebalancing between good and outstanding, the overall proportion of schools with one of the two top grades continues to rise.

    Overall, the picture since the pandemic is an increasingly positive one. I was particularly pleased to see so many schools that required improvement move to good last term. I’d like to thank everyone who is involved in helping these schools to improve.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary visits USA and Canada to galvanise global action on Ukraine for 2023 [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary visits USA and Canada to galvanise global action on Ukraine for 2023 [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 January 2023.

    • Foreign Secretary begins a visit to Washington DC and Toronto to deepen diplomatic, trade and security ties and to keep up the fight against Putin’s illegal invasion
    • James Cleverly to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and other senior government figures.
    • The Foreign Secretary will discuss coordinated efforts to help Ukraine prevail over Russian aggression, as well as deepening our cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and on intelligence, security and humanitarian issues.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly begins his first bilateral visit in post to North America today (Tuesday 17 January) to deepen diplomatic, trade, intelligence and security ties and to stand against Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    James Cleverly will hold an intensive round of diplomatic talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly in Toronto, to encourage international cooperation and support for Ukraine as we approach the second year of the conflict.

    The Foreign Secretary will stress to the two allies that now is the time to go further and faster in giving Ukraine the tools to win the war. He will underline that, with the right equipment, the Ukrainian people will prevail. This is part of the Prime Minister’s commitment to accelerate the UK’s diplomatic and military support in the coming weeks in a bid to push Russia further back and secure a lasting peace.

    The UK has already committed to match or exceed funding for military aid to Ukraine in 2023. Last year the UK provided £2.3bn in military support that has already helped turn the tide in the war and secure successive Ukrainian battlefield victories.

    The Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, said:

    The UK, US and Canada always have each other’s backs when it counts, protecting the rules-based order for nearly eighty years.

    Today we stand united against Putin’s illegal war, and we will continue to use our uniquely strong defence and security ties to ensure that, in the end, the Ukrainian people will win.

    The Foreign Secretary will also raise Iran with counterparts, after the UK temporarily recalled its Ambassador to Iran and sanctioned Iran’s Prosecutor General, following the execution of British-Iranian national Alireza Akbari.

    During his visit to the US, the Foreign Secretary will set out the UK’s foreign policy priorities at a live event at the Centre for Strategic & International Studies in Washington DC on Tuesday. On Wednesday he will lay a wreath at the US Army Arlington National Cemetery.

    In Canada on Wednesday, the Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Joly will discuss closer coordination on sanctions, and he will welcome Canada’s leadership in standing up against the arbitrary detention of foreign nationals for diplomatic ends.

    He will also discuss the UK’s ongoing efforts to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and progress towards a bilateral free trade agreement.

    Following bilateral talks, the Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Joly will meet members of the Ukrainian diaspora. In Toronto he will also meet representatives of major Canadian pension funds, as key investors into the UK.

    The extensive visit programme reflects the immense value the UK places on its relationships with the US and Canada, and underlines the UK’s role as a steadfast ally, defence partner, and a great place to do business.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK donates lifesaving medical supplies to Ukraine to treat civilians [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK donates lifesaving medical supplies to Ukraine to treat civilians [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 January 2023.

    The UK is sending further vital medical supplies to Ukraine to help treat casualties of the Russian offensive.

    Over 70 pallets of bandages, crutches, wheelchairs, and other much needed medical supplies are being donated to UK-Med, a frontline medical NGO, for those injured in Russian attacks. The supplies come from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s emergency response stocks and will be used across Ukraine, including in Dnipro, Poltava and Lviv, to boost UK-Med’s ongoing work to establish mobile clinics to reach and treat vulnerable people.

    They include tents to be used for temporary treatment centres where health facilities have been damaged, as well as nearly 80 beds, over 30,000 gowns, aprons, bandages, needles, and other vital pieces of medical equipment.

    UK-Med’s support in Ukraine provides a range of vital medical services, from surgical interventions and primary health care to mental health and psychosocial support. They are also training civilians in trauma first aid and delivering psychological first aid training for medical teams.

    The donation comes as the Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visits the US and Canada, where he is meeting with members of the Ukrainian diaspora and discussing support to Ukraine with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    Putin’s brutal bombardment of civilians and infrastructure across Ukraine is continuing to have a massive human cost, with the Ukrainian people paying the price.

    This latest UK donation will help ensure medics on the frontline can continue to provide life-saving medical support to those caught in the conflict.

    The UK has previously donated equipment and pharmaceutical supplies to UK-Med, in addition to £300,000 funding, to set up mobile health clinics and help train Ukrainian doctors, nurses and paramedics on how to deal with mass casualties. This latest donation builds on that work, to support the most vulnerable civilians remaining in Ukraine, including the elderly and young children.

    Tom Godfrey, Operations Director at UK-Med, said:

    UK-Med is very grateful for the donation of these supplies which will make a real difference to the day-to-day work of clinicians in Ukraine, working in very challenging conditions to provide healthcare to conflict affected populations.

    This builds on donations from FCDO in 2022 and helps to cement UK-Med as a key partner for the Ministry of Health in Ukraine. This will contribute to our work directly treating war wounded through surgical interventions as well as providing primary health care including mental health care support to affected populations which is supplemented by an extensive capacity building program.

    Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is killing innocent civilians and destroying vital infrastructure. The UN estimates that almost 18million people in Ukraine need humanitarian support. This donation is part of the UK’s commitment to provide medical supplies and basic necessities on the ground, saving lives and protecting vulnerable people. This includes over £220 million worth of humanitarian support through the UN, the Red Cross and NGOs, including the Disasters Emergency Committee members and UK-Med.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New plan for smart electric vehicle (EV) charging could save consumers up to £1000 a year [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New plan for smart electric vehicle (EV) charging could save consumers up to £1000 a year [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 17 January 2023.

    • New plan sets out steps to unlock the potential of smart electric vehicle charging, including allowing motorists to power their homes using the electricity stored in their electric vehicle
    • electric vehicle drivers could save hundreds of pounds each year while cutting emissions by smarter charging of their electric vehicles
    • billpayers without electric vehicles will also benefit from a more sustainable, secure and efficient electricity system
    • projects, including a street lamppost capable of charging electric vehicles and selling power back to the grid, will receive a share of £16 million funding

    Electric vehicle consumers are set to benefit from lower energy bills and cheaper motoring thanks to a landmark plan to unlock the potential of smart electric vehicle charging.

    The Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Action Plan published today (Tuesday 17 January) by the government and Ofgem, sets out steps being taken to seize on the significant potential of smart charging and make it the preferred method of long duration charging by 2025.

    Smart charging harnesses the potential of energy use data and the latest energy innovations to deliver significant benefits for consumers, including allowing motorists to charge electric vehicles when electricity is cheaper or cleaner, allowing consumers to power their home using electricity stored in their electric vehicle, or even sell it back to the grid for profit. It is expected high mileage motorists could save up to £1,000 a year through smarter charging.

    And to back this up further, the government has today also announced £16 million funding from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) for technologies that harness the potential of smart charging, including a smart street lamppost which will enable motorists to access smart charging on the move, and projects that will enable domestic appliances, from heat pumps to electric vehicle charge points and batteries, to integrate into a smarter energy system.

    Energy and Climate Minister Graham Stuart said:

    We want to make smart charging an easier choice for drivers of electric vehicles, whether that is charging on the driveway, at the workplace, or parked on the street. To do that we need to build new network infrastructure at pace, using the latest available technologies.

    Today’s plan sets out how we will work with Ofgem and industry to kickstart the market for smart charging, which we are backing up with £16 million in innovation funding. This will let people take control of their energy usage, in the most convenient and low-cost way.

    Ofgem Director for Strategy and Decarbonisation Neil Kenward said:

    As energy regulator, we’re helping create the infrastructure to deliver Britain’s net zero future at the lowest cost to customers. This latest innovative plan will help to maximise the benefits of smart charging, offer vital savings to consumers and reduce the overall cost of energy by seizing the opportunities to use batteries to both power homes and fuel the wider grid.

    Today’s announcements build on the major steps already taken by the government to enable smart and flexible electric vehicle charging. As of July 2022, all new charge points sold for private now must have smart functionality and the UK is consulting on a new policy and technical framework to unlock the benefits of domestic smart, flexible energy, and enhance its cybersecurity.

    Through the plan, the government will improve publicly available information and evidence on smart charging, support the implementation of robust consumer service standards and ensure private charge points are secure and compatible with the latest energy innovations.

    The roll out of intelligent and automated smart charging will deliver a win-win situation for all consumers. Reduced electricity system costs will lower prices for everyone, motorists will pay less for charging their electric vehicle, and the electricity powering electric vehicles will be cleaner and greener.

    The government and Ofgem will seek to remove the barriers that currently prevent the full development of a diverse and competitive smart charging market, while making sure the energy system is ready to respond to the upturn in energy demand that electric vehicles will bring.

    Among those receiving funding today through the V2X (Vehicle to Everything) Innovation Programme for prototype hardware, software and business models, are:

    • £229,000 to a project led by Otaski Energy Solutions (Gateshead, Tyne and Wear) to develop a smart street lamppost capable of charging electric vehicles and sharing power back to the grid
    • £220,000 to V2X-Flex (Reigate, Surrey), a project led by EV Dot Energy Ltd to develop prototype software and a new business model which will reduce entry barriers for the domestic use of V2X bi-directional chargers to provide energy flexibility services
    • £165,000 to BEVScanV2X (London), a project led by Agile Charging Ltd to develop technology that could overcome battery degradation by creating a cost-effective tool to monitor and advise best approaches to maximise battery life and financial returns from smart charging

    Among those receiving funding today through the Interoperable Demand-Side Response (IDSR) Programme, which supports technologies that allow consumers to remotely increase or decrease their energy use to take advantage of when energy is cheaper or more renewables are on the grid, are:

    • £510,000 to Energy Smart Heat Pump (Chertsey, Surrey), a project by Samsung Electronics UK and their project partners Passiv UK to design and develop a technology solution that is able to provide demand side response (DSR) services via Samsung Heat Pumps, giving greater control of their usage on the basis of cost or carbon savings
    • £1.2 million to Smart-DSRFlex (Manchester), a project by Landis & Gyr UK to demonstrate how DSR technology can help to manage a renewables-based electricity grid using the smart meter system
    • £29,000 to Open DSR for All (Manchester), a project by Carbon Co-op to explore the benefits and technical barriers to an accessible approach to domestic DSR, potentially enabling more products being able to offer DSR in future

    Depending on tariff, mileage, and charging patterns, smarter charging could save an average driver up to £200, and a high mileage driver up to £1000 a year by delaying the power demand from electric vehicles at peak periods, such as 4pm to 9pm on winter evenings. By helping to efficiently balance when energy is generated and used on the electricity grid, the technology could contribute to reducing electricity prices for consumers across the network.

    Delivering the steps set out in the Action Plan will help make smart charging the norm at home and work by 2025. It is the ambition that in the late 2020s smart charging will also become more commonplace at long-duration public charging, such as on-street or at transport hubs.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New EHRC commissioner appointed [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New EHRC commissioner appointed [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 16 January 2023.

    • Minister for Women and Equalities appoints a new commissioner to the Equality and Human Rights Commission Board
    • With a track record of promoting women’s rights and freedom of expression, Joanne Cash brings experience and expertise to the equality regulator
    • The appointment follows the addition of Kunle Olulode MBE and Arif Ahmed MBE to the board last month.

    Joanne Cash will support the EHRC, using her expertise and experience to advise on its important work promoting equality and human rights across the UK.

    Minister for Women and Equalities and Trade Secretary, Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, said:

    “Under Baroness Falkner, the EHRC plays a vital role in informing and regulating the UK’s anti-discrimination legislation – protecting the rights of everyone in the UK.

    “Joanne’s valuable skills and knowledge will be a great asset to the Commission as it continues its work to positively impact lives across Britain.”

    Cash brings with her a strong background to the role:

    Joanne Cash is a former human rights barrister, policy advisor and senior businesswoman.

    She was Board Chair at MindGym plc from 2014 to 2021 during which time she led a successful IPO. She also co-founded the award-winning social mobility programme Parent Gym which she still Chairs.

    Since 2007 she has advised consecutive governments and cross party groups on equalities issues and has been named by The Observer as a modern freedom fighter.

    Her previous roles include Vice-Chair of the Fawcett Society and Chair of Step Up.

    The appointment follows a full public recruitment process that was carried out in line with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. Joanne Cash will serve as a Commissioner for a term of 4 years.

    The EHRC was reaccredited as an ‘A’ Status UN National Human Rights Institution in October 2022. The “A” status denotes “full compliance” with the Paris Principles.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK welcomes efforts, by all parties, to build upon the relative peace we continue to see in Yemen [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK welcomes efforts, by all parties, to build upon the relative peace we continue to see in Yemen [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 January 2023.

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

    Thank you President.

    And let me thank Special Envoy Grundberg and USG Griffiths for your briefings. We are hugely grateful for the work they and their teams continue to do for the Yemeni people.

    The UK welcomes efforts, by all parties, to build upon the relative peace we continue to see.

    All steps towards a negotiated, Yemeni-led political settlement under UN auspices, are steps towards the longstanding peace that Yemenis deserve.

    This is the only way to fully address the humanitarian situation, which remains dire across the country.

    While efforts continue to seek a lasting solution to the conflict, we must intensify efforts to improve the immediate humanitarian situation alongside addressing long-term drivers of the humanitarian crisis.

    Mr President,

    The Houthi block on oil exports has plunged the Government of Yemen into dire economic straits. We urge the international community to take all steps to mitigate this impact and support Yemen’s government at this critical time.

    With the launch of the Humanitarian Response Plan at the end of this month, the UK encourages all donors, current or prospective, to stay committed to alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people.

    To ensure access to lifesaving assistance, we further call on authorities in the north and south for unfettered access of our partners across the country.

    As Martin has outlined, the introduction of mahram requirements in the north, does the very opposite.

    We call for an immediate end to these restrictions that curtail Yemeni women’s ability to both deliver and access crucial aid and remain employed.

    Finally, I want to reiterate our concern about the delays surrounding the operation to salvage the FSO SAFER tanker to which the UK has dispersed £6 million in funding.

    To avoid a wholly preventable crisis, we call on the UN and all parties to continue working together at pace. Urgency needs to be balanced with rigour, but we must identify ways to avoid further delays.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £3.6 million fund launched for projects to help parents reduce conflict [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £3.6 million fund launched for projects to help parents reduce conflict [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 16 January 2023.

    • Bidding process for share of £3.6 million fund to help families where children are exposed to conflict
    • Local authorities, digital firms and expert public, private and voluntary sector organisations invited to bid
    • Projects must support disadvantaged parents and those with complex needs, or any parent needing support through digital and interactive self-help tools

    Successful bidders will receive a minimum £150,000 grant to back their projects, between June 2023 and November 2024.

    The application window opens today (16 January), closing on 24 February 2023. Potential applicants must also complete an eligibility check by 8 February.

    Applicants can include local authorities or other public sector organisations, private sector companies working in digital for example, or social enterprises, voluntary or community organisations.

    Bidders’ projects will need to fall into one or both of the following strands:

    • projects that support diverse families at a greater risk of parental conflict
    • projects that use digital tools to support parents experiencing conflict and/or self-guided tools that central government could integrate into its services

    Since launching in 2018, the DWP’s Reducing Parental Conflict programme has been pivotal in finding ways to address relationship distress between parents, to protect children’s mental health.

    The programme supports couples and separated parents to reduce conflict, so their children have healthier environments to grow up in and can reach their full potential as adults.

    The programme has already worked with all 152 local authorities in England and dozens of organisations to lead the way in building a solid evidence base on what works to help families.

    Minister for Work and Pensions Viscount Younger of Leckie said:

    Conflict between parents can have a lasting impact on children, affecting their school grades and life chances.

    Our projects are guided by the expertise of those working closest with families, who often witness the impact of conflict on children and can support with solutions.

    With the launch of our new £3.6 million Challenge Fund, I look forward to seeing the innovative, workable ideas of experts so we can help more families overcome difficulties and improve their lives.

    The main fund will be managed by Ecorys UK in coordination with other government departments’ programmes including Family Hubs and Supporting Families. Ecorys UK will review applications for funding and oversee the delivery of final projects.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Civil servants given tools to spot economic abuse victims [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Civil servants given tools to spot economic abuse victims [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 16 January 2023.

    • New toolkit to help frontline public sector staff identify and signpost support for economic abuse victims
    • Victims can have benefits controlled or be forced by their abuser to accrue debt to government
    • Around 16% of adults are estimated to have experienced economic abuse

    Frontline government staff are to be trained to identify signs of economic abuse,  so they can support vulnerable people and prevent them accumulating debt, the Cabinet Office has announced today.

    Economic abuse, which domestic violence charity Refuge estimates 16% of adults in the UK have experienced, is when an individual’s ability to acquire, use and maintain economic resources are taken away by someone else in a coercive or controlling way.

    The Economic Abuse Toolkit is made up of clear guidance which can be used by frontline staff, across departments including HMRC and DWP, to help them identify and support vulnerable individuals who are suffering from economic abuse.

    This includes advice on spotting the signs and creating an appropriate environment for victims to disclose their experiences.

    Staff will be trained on how to handle any declarations sensitively and then ensure victims get access to support, helping to ensure vulnerable people don’t accumulate debt to the government.

    Minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin said:

    Economic abuse is an abhorrent crime and we are determined to use all levers of government to stamp it out.

    It is a problem that is often hard to spot and this new toolkit will give staff on the front line the tools to help identify and protect vulnerable people.

    Through helping people access the support they need, this toolkit will help us tackle this crime and get victims out of abusive relationships and into safe spaces.

    In a public sector setting, forms of economic abuse can include:

    • Abusers preventing victims claiming support which they are entitled to in order to make them financially dependent
    • Victims being unable to communicate their financial position and therefore not being able to access government support
    • Victims being unable to claim for support due to the abuser putting everything in their own name
    • Abusers putting bills to government in the victim’s name and then refusing to pay
    • Abusers gaining access to financial information regarding the victim without adequate consent

    Specialist charity Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA), which was one of the organisations which contributed to the Toolkit, registered an 85% increase in traffic to their website during the pandemic.

    SEA research also found seven in ten front-line professionals reported the number of victims of economic abuse coming to their organisation for help had increased since the start of the pandemic. By the end of the first lockdown, SEA found one in five women were planning to seek help around welfare benefits which could put more vulnerable people at risk.

    Tackling domestic abuse is a government priority and improving the response to economic abuse is integral to this. For the first time in history, economic abuse is now recognised in law as part of the statutory definition of domestic abuse included in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. This is in recognition of the devastating impact it can have on victims’ lives.

    Minister for Safeguarding, Sarah Dines said:

    Domestic abuse can come in many forms, and economic abuse is a particularly insidious one, with significant and complex impacts on victims.

    Following the passage of the Domestic Abuse Act and the publication of our Domestic Abuse Plan, I am committed to building on this momentum to improve the response to economic abuse. The public sector and its frontline services have a key role to play in this.

    Plans are underway for departments to integrate the guidance into their training for frontline workers, but it’s hoped the Toolkit will be utilised by other parts of the public sector including local councils.

    Money Advice Plus CEO Karen Perrier said:

    Victim-survivors often find themselves with multiple debts from multiple sources. Given this drastic picture, it is vital that both public and private sectors provide informed support to victim-survivors so they can move forward with economic safety and stability.

    The development of the Economic Abuse Toolkit will enable government staff to support victim-survivors with greater confidence and Money Advice Plus was happy to bring their expertise to its development.

    The Toolkit was created by the Fairness Group, a collaboration led by the Cabinet Office’s Government Debt Management Function which brings together central and local government, debt advice sector and the debt collection industry.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Northern Ireland Protocol, January 2023 – joint statement from the Foreign Secretary and Vice President Šefčovič [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Northern Ireland Protocol, January 2023 – joint statement from the Foreign Secretary and Vice President Šefčovič [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 January 2023.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič met via video conference, along with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris.

    European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris met via video conference today to discuss the work on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland since their last meeting on 9 January.

    The two sides discussed the range of existing challenges over the last two years and the need to find solutions together to tackle comprehensively the real-life concerns of all communities in Northern Ireland and protect both Northern Ireland’s place in the UK’s internal market and the integrity of the EU’s Single Market.

    They agreed that this scoping work for potential solutions should continue in a constructive and collaborative spirit, taking careful account of each other’s legitimate interests.

  • PRESS RELEASE : DLUHC announces Chief Scientific Adviser appointment [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : DLUHC announces Chief Scientific Adviser appointment [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 16 January 2023.

    Following a rigorous recruitment campaign Professor Richard Prager has been appointed to the role, succeeding Professor Alan Penn. Professor Prager is currently Head of the Department of Engineering at Cambridge University and Academic Director of Cambridge Online Education. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Engineering & Technology, and of Queens’ College Cambridge.

    In this role Professor Prager will support the science and engineering profession in the department, offer advice on specific initiatives and work with other CSAs across government to enable work to be informed by appropriate data and scientific principles.

    Commenting on his appointment, Professor Richard Prager said:

    I am delighted to be joining the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and to have a chance to build on the strong scientific and engineering foundations that Professor Alan Penn has created. I will be particularly interested to contribute to the department’s work in sustainable housing, building safety and the integration of evidence across different aspects of society. I am also looking forward to collaborating with CSAs from other departments on broader strategic projects.

    The team of government chief scientific advisers aim to ensure, through advising ministers and senior officials, policy decisions are evidence-based and supported by the highest-quality scientific evidence and understanding.