Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Leader of the Welsh Conservatives meets Irish Parliamentarians [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 17 November 2022.

Last week, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies MS met with lawmakers in Dublin to discuss health, the economy, and the shared opportunities and challenges Wales and Ireland face.

In the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Welsh Conservative Leader met with members of the committees on health, trade, climate change, agriculture and tourism.

Commenting on the way back to Wales, Davies said:

“It’s been wonderful to receive such a warm Irish welcome from friends across the Irish Sea. Too often, people can be reluctant to look elsewhere to see how the problems in our communities can be tackled.

“And the Republic of Ireland is not free from its own issues, with acute housing shortages, health service pressures and a huge agricultural sector wrestling with how to become even greener in the face of climate change.

“The biggest things I’m taking away is the importance of cross party working in tackling the challenges we face, and the importance too of taking decisive action to grip our biggest issues.

“In the Welsh context, I think of the sluggish Labour response to housing and brain-drain. We need to see Wales becoming more attractive to business and we need a housebuilding revolution, but after 25 years, Labour still don’t seem to get that.”

December 13, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Labour-run NHS continues descent as winter approaches [December 2022]
The press release issued by Welsh Conservatives on 17 November 2022.

The ability of Wales’ Labour-run NHS to treat people and protect staff “stands upon the edge of knife” say the Welsh Conservatives as the backlog threatens to capture a quarter of the population and ambulance waiting times reach the slowest on record for the second month running.

Not only is over 23% of the population on a waiting list, but the number of people waiting over two years is now 57,284 – more than double the figure a year ago – despite such waits having been virtually eliminated in England and Scotland.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative and Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said:

“When we see nearly a quarter of the population on an NHS waiting list, the slowest ambulance response times on record, and Britain’s worst A&E waits, I think it is more than fair to say that NHS Wales’ ability to treat patients stands upon the edge of a knife.

“All of this is compounded with a near-nationwide nurses strike and a secondary waiting list where an additional 460,000 people are waiting for follow-up appointments for their treatment, which is clearly affecting the wellbeing of staff as well as patients.

“I simply do not understand why Labour ministers are ignoring are calls for surgical hubs and winter war rooms to deal with these dangerously long waiting times when we see them leading to very visible progress in England.

“But should we expect anything different from a Labour Government that said it would be ‘foolish’ to publish an NHS recovery plan before the pandemic ended – an attitude that has led us to this very situation? Labour need to get a grip on the NHS and stop breaking all the wrong records.”

Also in September, 1-in-4 Welsh patients waited over a year for treatment, but only 1-in-20 do so in England. Meanwhile, the median waiting time for that same month in Wales was 21.8 weeks compared to 14 in England.

Additional figures showed a third (33.4%) of patients had to wait over the four-hour target to be seen in A&E last month.

In England and Scotland, the equivalent figure in both was 31%. The Welsh target to get 95% admittances seen in four hours has never been met in its 13-year existence.

Statistics also revealed that:
- Eight major hospitals saw fewer than 60% of A&E patients within four hours;
- The Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board was the worst performing area in the nation against the four-hour A&E target, seeing only 59% in four hours;
- An astonishing 51% of patients had to wait over four hours at emergency departments in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, making it the worst performing site in Wales;
- Over 11,000 patients waited over 12 hours in Welsh hospitals; and
- Adults aged 85+ spent an average of more than seven hours in emergency departments.
When it came to ambulance performance in September, only 48% of responses to immediately life-threatening calls arrived within eight minutes – the worst rate on record (beating last month’s 50%). The target of 65% of red-calls reaching their patient within eight minutes has not been reached now for over two years.

Staggeringly, two-thirds (66.7%) of amber call patients – which include strokes – took over an hour to reach, with only 19% arriving within 30 minutes.

The slowest ambulances were in Dyfed’s Hywel Dda health board area with only 39% arriving within the eight-minute target of a red-call. Only 27% came to the scene within an hour of an amber call in Cwm Taf Morgannwg.

The figures come the week after nurses voted to strike in every health abords in Wales, apart from Gwent’s Aneurin Bevan health board, home of The Grange Hospital which was recently the subject of a damaging Healthcare Inspectorate Wales report.

Yesterday, Labour’s Health Minister also claimed in questions that her six-point emergency care plan, publishes over a year ago, was helping. The stats speak for themselves.
December 13, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Welsh Conservatives response to cap on new social rent cap for Wales [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 16 November 2022.

Commenting on the news that Labour ministers have set a new social rent cap at 6.5%. Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Housing, Janet Finch-Saunders MS said:

“It is incredibly disappointing that Labour ministers are having to resort to rent caps in Wales to combat rent rises which are a direct result of the Labour-made housing crisis.

“As a result of Labour’s failures, only 6,000 houses are being built per year, less than half of what we need.

“If Labour ministers spent half the time addressing the shocking shortage of housing across Wales as they did planning on putting more politicians in Cardiff Bay, a lot more could get done.

“Labour must address the root of the housing crisis in Wales and not look to paper over the cracks that they themselves have caused.”

December 13, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Welsh Conservatives thank Prince of Wales for Senedd visit [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 16 November 2022.

Commenting, on the Prince of Wales’ visit to the Senedd today, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies MS said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome the Prince of Wales to the Senedd today to discuss the future of our great nation and the role he will play in it, as well as the causes he champions around mental health and the environment towards which there is a great deal of positivity.

“After the King and Queen’s recent visit, it is fantastic to see the bonds between Wales and our Royal Family becoming stronger still. There is a huge amount of goodwill towards the Prince and Princess in Wales, and I know there will always be a warm welcome for them whenever they visit.

December 13, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Welsh Conservatives call for cross party cooperation in tackling dangerous cladding in Wales [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Welsh Conservatives on 15 November 2022.

The Welsh Conservatives have called on political parties across the chamber to work together to tackle dangerous cladding in Wales ahead of an opposition debate Wednesday afternoon.

Speaking before the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Housing, Janet Finch-Saunders MS said:

“Once again, Labour ministers say one thing but are actually delivering very little to support people living in flats with dangerous cladding.

“As a result of Labour’s inaction, owners and tenants are facing the very real financial and mental strain as a result of rising service and insurance costs. These people feel scared, isolated and let down by the Labour Government.

“Political parties across the Senedd must come together and ensure those affected by this horrific scandal in Wales have the same rights and protections as those in England enshrined in Welsh law.”

The Labour Government in Cardiff Bay received almost £60 million from the UK Conservative Government to tackle cladding remediation and building safety. Earlier this year it emerged that not a single penny of that was spent on building safety in Wales.

Only two months ago, Victoria Wharf, a development in Cardiff that has cladding concerns has experienced 2 fires in the space of 30 days.

In an interview with the BBC, one resident in Cardiff described how her service costs have increased from £3,000 to £7,800.

December 13, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UK to accelerate research on 5G and 6G technology as part of £110 million telecoms R and D package [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 13 December 2022.
- Three top UK universities awarded £28 million to develop next-generation 6G network technology
- Groundbreaking £80 million fund to set up state-of-the-art UK Telecoms Lab in the West Midlands for testing network equipment
- UK joins forces with Republic of Korea to solve power efficiency challenges in rollout of more innovative and secure networks
Research and development on next-generation 5G and 6G wireless technology and telecoms security is to be ramped up as part of a £110 million government investment.

In the package announced today, three top UK universities, University of York, University of Bristol and University of Surrey, will receive a share of £28 million to team up with major telecoms companies including Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung to design and build networks of the future such as 6G.

The move will bolster the UK’s status as a global leader in telecoms research and follows Ericsson and Samsung’s recent decision to set up cutting-edge 6G research centres in the UK. It will also support the roll out of lightning-fast 5G by making it easier for more firms to enter the market.

The universities will work with world-leading UK academics and industry players to ensure future network technologies, including 6G, are designed in a way that promotes a more diverse and innovative telecoms market, and brings an end to current network setups where all equipment within a network must be from a single supplier.

The package includes £80 million for a state-of-the-art UK Telecoms Lab being built in Solihull in the West Midlands. Under a new contract the government has signed with the National Physical Laboratory, the lab will act as a secure research facility for mobile network operators, suppliers and academics to research and test the security, resilience and performance of their 5G and, in the future, 6G network technology. The facility will also create dozens of specialised jobs in telecoms and cyber security for the region.

A new R and D partnership with the Republic of Korea has also kicked off, which aims to accelerate the deployment of Open RAN and associated technologies. The joint project, which will receive more than £3 million (including £1.2 million from the UK Government), will focus on the power efficiency of emerging technical equipment – one of the main obstacles holding back the roll out of this new technology.

Open RAN enables operators to ‘mix and match’ equipment from several suppliers within a network, and is crucial to the government’s £250 million strategy to end the UK’s reliance on a small number of firms to build and maintain 5G networks. It will help the country to build a more diverse, competitive and secure telecoms supply chain.

Digital Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

The technology powering our phone and internet networks is evolving rapidly and with 6G on the horizon we must stay ahead of the curve.

This government investment will see top UK universities join forces with industry to develop the nuts and bolts underpinning new networks, create skilled jobs testing the security of the latest telecoms tech, and ensure our plan for a more diverse and innovative 5G market is sustained in the future.

The funding will also turbocharge our work to strengthen telecoms supply chains so we are no longer reliant on a handful of companies to develop and maintain our 5G networks.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

Tech is one of the most exciting and fastest growing sectors in our region so it’s great news that this £80m UK Telecoms Lab is being built in Solihull, reinforcing the importance of this sector for us here in the West Midlands.

The Lab will bring a wide range of stakeholders together to drive innovation and create high quality new jobs for local people. With our tech sector already valued at over £15 billion, I cannot wait to see how this Lab helps to usher in an exciting future in the months and years ahead.

5G connectivity will revolutionise people’s daily lives and boost business productivity through much faster internet speeds, as well as underpinning new technologies such as driverless cars, improved artificial intelligence and precision healthcare.

Today’s funding package follows an announcement last week that the United States, Canada and Australia have committed to closer cooperation to diversify telecoms supply chains. As part of this, they signed up to the UK’s principles for developing and deploying Open RAN equipment. The principles aim to direct public and private investment in Open RAN so that it delivers on its promise of a more competitive, innovative and secure telecoms market.

The UK is becoming one of the best places in the world to invest in Open RAN. The £250 million 5G Diversification Strategy, published November 2020, sets out where the government will remove barriers for new vendors, invest in open technologies like Open RAN and work with like-minded countries to achieve the shared aim for secure and resilient telecoms supply chains.

The measures announced today support the UK’s strategy to reduce its reliance on a small number of suppliers to build and maintain telecoms networks, and supports the joint ambition made with UK mobile network operators in December 2021 for 35 per cent of mobile network traffic to pass through Open RAN by the end of the decade, as well as a string of investments worth more than £50 million in innovative trials and facilities to develop new Open RAN solutions.

Hamish MacLeod, Chief Executive of Mobile UK, said:

Mobile UK welcomes this package of announcements from the Government. International collaboration and investment in research and development of this kind are absolutely essential if the UK is to be a leader in the development of open networks that push for the highest standards of security, innovation and power efficiency.

President Sung Bae Jun of the Korean Institute for Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation said:

It is a great pleasure to launch this UK-ROK Open RAN R and D Collaboration which will see Korean and British companies working together to develop innovative solutions to key open RAN and telecoms challenges.

I am also pleased to sign a joint DCMS-IITP Terms of Reference which will guide our cooperation and support further UK-ROK exchange. Both the UK and ROK recognise the importance of initiatives to support telecoms innovation and to support the resilience of telecommunication infrastructure supply chains.
December 13, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Over £175 million for cutting-edge genomics research [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 13 December 2022.
- £105 million to speed up diagnosis of rare genetic diseases in newborns, potentially resulting in life-saving interventions for thousands of babies
- Additional funding to kickstart programmes to help improve the accuracy and speed of cancer diagnosis and tackle health inequalities
- Part of new three-year plan to roll out new technologies across the health and care system, bolstering the UK’s position as a life sciences superpower
Patients with cancer and children born with treatable rare genetic diseases are set to benefit from earlier diagnosis and faster access to treatment, following a £175 million boost to cutting-edge genomics research announced by the Health and Social Care Secretary today.

The funding will enable research which could deliver world-leading genomic healthcare to patients, which involves the study of people’s DNA. The boost is part of a new three-year plan to develop, evaluate and roll out new technologies across the health and care system and life sciences sector, bolstering the UK’s position as a life sciences superpower. This includes:
- £105 million to kickstart a world-leading research study, led by Genomics England in partnership with the NHS, to explore the effectiveness of using whole genome sequencing to find and treat rare genetic diseases in newborn babies. For example, rare genetic thyroid hormone conditions, which are not detectable by the routine NHS heel prick test, and can cause developmental and learning difficulties and longer-term health complications without treatment. The study will sequence the genomes of 100,000 babies over the course of the study – which will begin in 2023 – and will gather evidence to consider whether this could be rolled out across the country.
- An initial £26 million to support an innovative cancer programme, led by Genomics England in partnership with the NHS, to evaluate cutting-edge genomic sequencing technology to improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis for cancer patients and use artificial intelligence to analyse a person’s DNA, alongside other information such as routine scans.
- £22 million for a programme, led by Genomics England, to sequence the genomes of up to 25,000 research participants of non-European ancestry, are currently under-represented in genomic research to improve our understanding of DNA and its impact on health outcomes. This will help reduce health inequalities and level up patient outcomes across all communities.
The government has also today announced up to £25 million of UKRI-MRC funding for a UK wide new initiative on functional genomics, an area of genomic research which uses molecular tools such as gene editing to improve understanding of how genetic variation leads to disease and support smarter diagnostics and the discovery of new treatments. The Life Sciences Vision set out in 2021 commits to delivering a world-class offer on functional genomics and the UK is in a strong position to become a leader in this area.

These announcements will build on the world-leading work of the NHS Genomic Medicine Service.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

We’ve made advancements in so many areas to improve people’s health – from ensuring ground-breaking new medicines get to patients faster to bolstering the NHS workforce to ensure we have record numbers – and this plan, backed by £175 million, sets out how we will use the latest genomic technology to go further.

The potential for genomics to revolutionise the way we deliver health care is great – if we can detect treatable illnesses earlier and ensure patients access potentially lifesaving treatment faster, we could improve people’s lives across the county, including thousands of babies through this new pilot.

The NHS is a world leader in genomics and by investing in this cutting-edge research we’re cementing our status as a life sciences superpower.

Thousands of children are born in the UK every year with a treatable rare condition that could be detected using genome sequencing. Most rare disorders are genetic and children under the age of five are disproportionately affected. Whilst these conditions are often difficult to identify, genomic testing has already become the main way of providing a diagnosis.

The current NHS heel prick blood test carried out as part of newborn screening is used to detect nine rare but serious health conditions in babies, including sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis. However, screening a baby’s entire genome – all of their DNA – alongside the current heel prick could detect hundreds more rare, treatable diseases in their first years of life. For many of these illnesses early and effective intervention is crucial for helping these children live healthier lives.

The Newborn Genomes Programme will support vital healthcare research to enable better diagnostics and treatments to be developed and explore the potential benefits of safely and securely storing a patient’s genome on record to help predict, diagnose and treat future illnesses through their lifetime. For example, if a child who has had their genome sequenced falls sick when they are older, such as developing cancer, there may be an opportunity to use their stored genetic information to help diagnose and treat them.

A public consultation by Genomics England has shown overall support for the use of genomics in newborn screening, providing the right safeguards are in place. Genomics England engaged widely with the public, parents, families with rare disease, and healthcare professionals and scientists to navigate the scientific, clinical, ethical, and societal issues that newborn genome sequencing presents.

Minister for Health, Will Quince, said:

Genomics is changing the future of healthcare and this plan is a crucial next step in delivering our vision to create the most advanced genomic healthcare system in the world.

Genomic sequencing can speed up diagnosis of cancer, ensure children with treatable illnesses receive treatment faster and improve our understanding around how health outcomes differ by ethnicity.

The UK continues to lead the way in genomics expertise, and this pioneering plan will save lives and ensure we are delivering better health outcomes at lower costs.

Alongside this, as part of their innovative cancer programme, Genomics England will partner with NHSE England (NHSE) to test new genomic sequencing technology for faster, more accurate cancer diagnosis. Working with NHSE and the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative (NPIC), Genomics England will also combine imaging, genomic, and clinical data to better diagnose and predict the progress of a patient’s cancer.

To overcome the lack of diversity within genomic data, Genomics England will expand a range of programmes to build trusting relationships with traditionally excluded groups of people, such as patients with sickle cell disease who are unrepresented in research studies, alongside developing tools to enable doctors and researchers to better interpret genetic variations and make more informed decisions about patient care. This will help tackle health inequalities and improve patient outcomes within genomic medicine.

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said:

From cancer treatment and diabetes research to increasing our understanding of rare and undiagnosed diseases, genomic medicine is already transforming lives and helping to create new treatments for all kinds of conditions.

Outstanding progress is being made across the UK, and this £175m plan sets out how we will use the latest genomic technology to go even further, leveraging the might of our excellent NHS and top researchers to lead the world in using genomics for healthcare, boost growth by supporting high quality jobs, and cement our position as a global science superpower.

NHS England National Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said:

The NHS is a world-leader in genomic medicine, and through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service we are already transforming the lives of thousands of patients with cancer and rare diseases by harnessing the latest technologies to deliver faster and more accurate diagnoses, more effective treatments and predicting and preventing certain conditions.

This project has the potential to provide yet more powerful tools for NHS teams as they work to save lives and improve life chances for patients, alongside the testing and treatment options that the genomics programme has already provided.

As set out in the government’s genomic healthcare strategy, Genome UK, the ambition is to create the most advanced genomic healthcare system in the world. This will be underpinned by the latest scientific advances and engagement with patients and the public, developing the genomics workforce and supporting industrial growth. This will deliver better health outcomes at lower cost alongside commitments to enable more rapid diagnosis.

This comes as the government announced £113 million of funding last month for innovative research into cutting-edge new treatments including cancer immune therapies or vaccines and game-changing weight loss medication and technologies, to accelerate their development and rollout as part of the Life Sciences Vision.

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Advisor to DHSC and CEO of the NIHR, said:

In Genome UK the government set out its ambition to create the most advanced genomic healthcare system in the world. It is therefore crucial that we evaluate new genomic technologies in a robust way so that the public and clinicians can have confidence in how they are used. I therefore welcome the investment in this Implementation Plan to explore whether new approaches such as whole genome sequencing of newborns are effective, safe and acceptable to parents. These developments have the potential to transform healthcare. The Plan is a great example of the whole genomics ecosystem, including our NIHR delivery partners, coming together to achieve our goals in this exciting area of medicine.

Dr Rich Scott, Chief Medical Officer for Genomics England, said:

This continued investment in genomics means that the country is well placed to remain at the forefront and for us to be able to offer the best clinical care for patients.

Our goal in the Newborn Genomes Programme is to do more for the thousands of children born every year in the UK with a treatable genetic condition. We want to be able to offer speedy diagnosis, quicker access to treatment, and better outcomes and quality of life. We want to be able to say to parents that we’ve done the best we can to identify and do something about these life-changing illnesses, in a timely way before the damage these conditions can cause has been done. Generating this evidence will allow policymakers to make well informed decisions on whether and how whole genome sequencing could be rolled out as part of a future newborn screening programme.

With the pace of change of knowledge and the emergence of new technologies, it’s crucial that we continue to learn. That’s why our programme will also support research to improve diagnosis and treatment of genomic conditions and into the potential future healthcare uses of genomic data. It’s also why we will explore public preferences for how we might support these uses in the future if newborn genome sequencing became routinely offered.

Professor John Iredale, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council, said:

MRC is delighted to be leading this £25m initiative in functional genomics. This exciting area of research allows us to build on the rich genomic work in UK flagship initiatives supported by MRC, such as the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Genomics England and UK Biobank, to drive a better understanding of how genes cause disease by linking genetic variation to physiological function. This will lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of disease and ultimately support the discovery and development of the next generation of diagnostics, medicines and vaccines.

ABPI’s director of research policy, Dr Jennifer Harris said:

This plan is a big step forward in delivering on the government and industry’s shared commitment to fully harness the power of genetic medicine to transform care for patients. It gives a much-needed boost to research and expands the opportunities for patients to take part in clinical trials, building on the recommendations of our report on genomics earlier this year.

It is essential UK patients get better access to genetic testing and genomic medicines through the NHS, and that Genome UK is fully implemented across the UK. The industry will continue to work with government and system partners to deliver these plans, and ultimately, realise the ambitions of the Life Sciences Vision by ensuring people across the country feel the benefits of the UK’s leadership in genomics.

Steve Bates OBE, CEO of the BioIndustry Association, said:

England’s Genome UK implementation plan sets out key investments that will help make the UK the best place to start and scale new genomics companies. This is vital to allow the UK’s thriving ecosystem of genomics SMEs to flourish and benefit patients.

The commitment to a world class functional genomics initiative, developed in partnership with industry, will help maintain the UK’s global position. Improving SMEs’ access to high-quality genomics data through expanding existing initiatives, as well as through Genomics England’s new diverse data programme, will also support the development of cutting-edge UK innovation.

The UK BioIndustry Association welcomes the implementation plan and is looking forward to working with government and delivery partners on industry engagement and participation. Capturing metrics on SME engagement and support will be key to knowing if the plan has been a success.
December 13, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Ending impunity and implementing international justice [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2022.

Statement by Chanaka Wickremasinghe, UK Legal Adviser at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.

Thank you Mr President,

Let me start by welcoming President Gatti Santana to the Council for the first time – we are confident that she will be an excellent leader for the Court. We also would like to thank the President and Prosecutor Brammertz for their reports and informative briefings today. It is clear that under their stewardship the Mechanism will continue to play an essential role in ending impunity and implementing international justice.

Their briefings demonstrate that this is a good opportunity to look forward to the Mechanism’s future.

First, this summer we will see the conclusion of the final appeal relating to the crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia. The final decision in the Stanišić and Franko Simatović case is a defining moment and one of which the Court should be proud.

Second, we note that Félicien Kabuga’s trial is progressing on schedule and is due to conclude with judgement in 2024. His trial is a testament to the international community’s continuing dedication to accountability for the genocide against the Tutsi.

And third, we are pleased to see the efforts that the Mechanism is making to be agile and downsize in line with the tasks that it now has, including by looking for new headquarters in The Hague and by reducing its presence in the Western Balkans. We look forward to collaborating closely with the Mechanism and to all colleagues on the Council to ensure the Mechanism remains efficient, while securing its critical legacy.

But while there are positives for the future, we have continuing concerns.

It is high time that Serbia arrested and transferred Petar Jojić and Vjerica Radeta to the Mechanism following years of requests, considerations and discussion.

Separately, while the Mechanism continues to engage in important work to assist with justice at the national level in the Western Balkans, the blocking of cooperation by some in the region represents a critical and growing risk to meaningful reconciliation and long-term stability. This has direct implications for achieving justice for victims and we call on all States to meet their obligations and increase their efforts to provide justice for these heinous crimes.

And finally, we are saddened to see that glorification of war criminals and the denial of genocide continue. This is unacceptable and it increases the suffering of the victims. The United Kingdom condemns such denial and glorification in all its forms and calls on all Member States to do so.

While we regret these continuing issues, they serve as an important reminder that the work and legacy of the Mechanism remain as important as ever.

Before closing, Madam President, I would just like to say a word in answer to the concerns raised by our colleague from Russia. Let me assure the colleagues on the Council that Mr Karadžić is treated exactly the same as other convicted prisoners, with the same rights, privileges, and restrictions. He is not being mistreated in any way. Whilst his access to certain telephone contacts with certain members of his family and wider circle were temporarily suspended, those controls were legal and in line with prison service policy and were intended to prevent his continued abuse of that access, and to protect the victims of his crimes.

We also understand that despite Russia’s concerns, Mr Karadžić himself has raised no complaint. We consider that these types of spurious complaints are an attempt by Mr Karadžić’s supporters deliberately to undermine the Mechanism, the UK as the enforcing state, and also the victims and survivors of his terrible crimes.

Thank you Madam President.

December 13, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with G7 leaders [December 2022]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 December 2022.

The Prime Minister attended a virtual meeting of G7 leaders this afternoon.

The leaders paid tribute to the resolve of the G7 this year, and the group’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes.

The Prime Minister said it was clear Putin was realising he could no longer win on the battlefield and was now resorting to cynical tactics, including barbaric attacks on critical national infrastructure.

Negotiations while the Kremlin inflicted such harm on the Ukrainian people was unimaginable, and Putin needed to withdraw his forces before genuine peace discussions could happen, the Prime Minister said, adding that any political strategy had to follow the battlefield reality.

He called on G7 partners to combine their efforts and match their support to Ukraine in 2023. Remaining aligned politically, economically, and militarily was the only way to be sure Putin felt the cost of his actions, the Prime Minister reflected.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to Chancellor Scholz’s leadership of the G7 this year, and welcomed Prime Minister Kishida to the role of President in 2023, including his focus on Ukraine, and shared economic challenges, such as China.

December 13, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on UK – Indiana Memorandum of Understanding, Working Group [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 12 December 2022.

On Monday 12 December 2022, the UK and State of Indiana held the first government to government working group under the UK-Indiana Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on economic cooperation and trade relations, in Indianapolis.

Alan Gogbashian, Consul General for the United Kingdom in Chicago and Bradley Chambers, Secretary of Commerce for the State of Indiana, led a discussion focused on energy transition, sustainability and government procurement, which highlighted opportunities to deepen cooperation in these areas.

Since being signed at the Indiana Global Economic Summit in May 2022, the MoU has provided a framework for increased engagement on economic development, trade promotion and academic collaboration. In acknowledgement of the progress made to date, both sides agreed to expand the next working group session, to be held in early 2023, to involve representatives from industry, SMEs and academia as part of ongoing joint work to deliver mutual prosperity, underpin engagement and create jobs in the UK and Indiana.

December 13, 2022