Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : Promoting peace, stability, and security across Central Africa [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

Statement by Alice Jacobs, UK Deputy Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on Central Africa.

Thank you President. Thank you also to the briefers, President of the Commission of ECCAS, and welcome to Special Representative Abarry. We look forward to working with you again in your new role and commend UNOCA’s ongoing efforts to support and promote peace, stability, and security in Central Africa.

President, I will make four points today.

First, as we look towards opportunities, elections in the sub-region are intrinsic to building and sustaining peace, as we have seen in Sao Tome et Principe and Angola. It is critical that political processes remain inclusive, peaceful and credible. UNOCA and its partners have an important role to play in supporting these processes, but it is up to member states to draw on that support and deliver democratic elections and inclusive transitional processes.

Second, the United Kingdom reiterates our support to Chad’s transition to civilian and constitutional rule. However, we remain concerned that the transition, as currently envisaged, contravenes the conditions set out in the African Union Peace and Security Council communiqué of 14 May 2021 that President Deby agreed to uphold.

We were saddened to see the eruption of violence in October and welcome the launch of an inquiry as well as your engagement, SRSG, with Heads of Missions in N’Djamena on this important issue. We urge UNOCA, ECCAS, and the Chadian government to ensure that the investigation is credible, transparent and independent. We also call on the Chadian government to ensure due legal process for the remaining individuals currently detained, including minors.

Third, a continuing challenge for the sub-region is the ongoing crises in Cameroon, and the dire humanitarian situation, which require urgent attention. The United Kingdom calls on all parties to engage in inclusive dialogue, and enable safe access to schools and humanitarian assistance.

Finally, I want to reiterate our concern for the ongoing violence in the Central African Republic and the distressing toll it is taking on the population. It compounds an already acute humanitarian situation and risks undermining progress on reconciliation. Targeting of civilians not only by armed groups, but by national forces and the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, continue to play a destabilising role in the country. We call on the Government of the CAR to conduct full and timely investigations into allegations of human rights violations and abuses, to ensure that all perpetrators are held to account

Thank you, President.

December 9, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive group A strep [December 2022]
The press release issued by the UK Health Security Agency on 8 December 2022.

Latest update

The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continue to indicate that there is an out of season increase in scarlet fever and group A strep infections. Cases usually show steepest rises in the new year, but have increased sharply in recent weeks.

So far this season (from 12 September to 4 December) there have been 6,601 notifications of scarlet fever. This compares to a total of 2,538 at the same point in the year during the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018.

In very rare occasions, the bacteria causing scarlet fever, group A streptococcus (GAS) can get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive group A strep (iGAS), which can be very serious, particularly in older, younger and more vulnerable groups. iGAS cases across all age groups are slightly higher than expected at this time of year. The latest data continues to highlight a higher proportion of iGAS cases in children than we would normally see. However, iGAS remains uncommon.

So far this season, there have been 85 iGAS cases in children aged 1 to 4 compared to 194 cases in that age group across the whole of the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018. There have been 60 cases in children aged 5 to 9 compared to 117 across the whole of the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018. The majority of cases continue to be in those over 45.

Sadly, so far this season there have been 60 deaths across all age groups in England. This figure includes 13 children under 18. In the 2017 to 2018 season, there were 355 deaths in total across the season, including 27 deaths in children under 18.

Cases of GAS usually increase during the winter and the last time significant numbers of cases were reported was in the 2017 to 2018 season. Seasons with high cases can occur every 3 to 4 years but social distancing measures implemented during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may have interrupted this cycle and explain the current increase being observed.

Currently, there is no evidence that a new strain of GAS is circulating or any increase in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are the best treatment and work well against the circulating strains. The increase is likely to reflect increased susceptibility to these infections in children due to low numbers of cases during the pandemic, along with current circulation of respiratory viruses, which may increase the chances of children becoming seriously unwell. However, investigations are under way to understand if there are other factors that could be contributing to the increase this season and to better understand who is currently most affected.

Dr Colin Brown, Deputy Director, UKHSA, said:

Scarlet fever and ‘strep throat’ are common childhood illnesses that can be treated easily with antibiotics. Please visit NHS.UK, contact 111 online or your GP surgery if your child has symptoms of this infection so they can be assessed for treatment.

Very rarely, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause more serious illness called invasive group A strep. We know that this is concerning for parents, but I want to stress that while we are seeing an increase in cases in children, this remains very uncommon. There are lots of winter bugs circulating that can make your child feel unwell, that mostly aren’t cause for alarm. However, make sure you talk to a health professional if your child is getting worse after a bout of scarlet fever, a sore throat or respiratory infection – look out for signs such as a fever that won’t go down, dehydration, extreme tiredness and difficulty breathing.

Good hand and respiratory hygiene are important for stopping the spread of many bugs. By teaching your child how to wash their hands properly with soap for 20 seconds, using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, and keeping away from others when feeling unwell, they will be able to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading infections.

There are lots of viruses that cause sore throats, colds and coughs circulating. These should resolve without medical intervention. However, children can on occasion develop a bacterial infection on top of a virus and that can make them more unwell. As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
- there are pauses when your child breathes
- your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
- your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake
Note: We analyse scarlet fever seasons from week 37 to week 36 the following year. The majority of cases would typically be seen from the beginning of February to April.
December 9, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement Through the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse on Standing with the Women and Girls of Iran [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
The undersigned Foreign Ministers for country members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse call attention to the extreme violence faced by the courageous Iranian women and girls who are leading sustained nationwide protests over the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa (Zhina) Amini. Since then, Iranian authorities have continued and even escalated their brutal suppression of protestors, including through their use of technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Women and girls have faced targeted online harassment and abuse by Iranian authorities, their apparatuses, and institutions as they demand respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms. We condemn this ongoing violent crackdown on protestors, including on digital platforms and through Internet restrictions.

The people of Iran rely on social media and other digital tools to communicate and broadcast their messages to the world—always, and particularly during the ongoing violence perpetrated by Iranian authorities. The women and girls of Iran bravely use these essential tools, even as Iranian authorities and their supporters misuse and abuse the same technologies against them, propagating coordinated online harassment, abuse, and disinformation campaigns designed to discredit them and silence their protests. This use of violence against women and girls in public life, which manifests both online and offline and is exacerbated by the scale, speed, and reach of technology platforms, is a deliberate tactic leveraged by illiberal actors around the world seeking to halt democratic movements and shore up their own political power. Technology-facilitated gender-based violence threatens the lives, safety, and livelihoods of survivors and their families, especially as online and offline violence are often mutually reinforcing.

We invite the international community to join us in urgently working with technology companies to do everything in their power to enable women and girls’ access to information online, particularly their full and effective use of online platforms. This includes implementing practical and proactive measures to combat the abuse of their platforms to threaten, harass, and silence Iranian women and girls by surging resources for Persian (Farsi) language content moderation and other Iranian languages, applying policies on harassment and abusive content in a timely and consistent manner, and providing resources and transparent reporting options for those experiencing online harassment and abuse.

The members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse stand in solidarity with Iranian women and girls and will continue to look for ways to support women globally in exercising their rights freely and safely, online and offline.

Co-signatories:

Australia Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong;

Canada Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, P.C., M.P.;

Iceland Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir;

New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta;

Republic of Chile Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Antonia Urrejola Noguera;

Republic of Korea Minister of Foreign Affairs, Park Jin;

Sweden Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström;

United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, James Cleverly;

United States Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken.
December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Military families are benefitting from £3,400 of childcare support [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 8 December 2022.

More than 5,500 children of military personnel are benefitting from wraparound childcare as part of a wider commitment to service families.

More than 5,500 children of military personnel are now enrolled in the Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme, which gives service families funded childcare worth around £3,400.

The scheme was rolled out across the UK at the start of the autumn term and provides up to 20 hours per week of funded childcare for eligible military parents with children aged 4 to 11 years.

It follows successful trials at pilot sites around the country over the last two years. With more than 5,500 children enrolled in just three months, the Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families is now urging more military personnel to take up the offer – with 20,000 children across the UK eligible.

Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, Dr Andrew Murrison said:

Our Armed Forces personnel and families continue to make great sacrifices to serve their country, and that is why earlier this year we rolled out wraparound childcare to support both their careers and family life.

This important step underlines our appreciation of the challenges that serving in the Armed Forces can place on families, and we must continue to support them in any way possible.

Royal Air Force Corporal Vicki Taylor said:

Everyone I have spoken to who also benefits from wraparound childcare agrees that it’s a fantastic scheme. For my family it saved us financially, reduced our stress levels, and has given us more quality time with our children.

The introduction of this scheme is recognition of the unique challenges faced by serving personnel and their families. Among these, the requirement to frequently move home means that sourcing childcare can be even more difficult for service families, particularly for dual-serving families, where both parents are members of the Armed Forces. This scheme provides direct support to these families and is part of the wider package to reward service personnel and their families, as laid out in the Armed Forces Families Strategy.

The scheme has shown signs of being a great success and there has already been a positive impact on the service families involved. Feedback shows an improvement in family wellbeing, increased contentment with service life for non-serving partners as well as the huge financial savings.

Alongside WAC the Ministry of Defence is committed to supporting service families and has also introduced flexible working arrangements, expanded offerings to co-habiting couples and extended Help to Buy, giving our armed forces the chance to get a foot on the housing ladder.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Forestry Commission Chief Executive calls for a new mindset in our approach to trees [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Forestry Commission on 8 December 2022.

In a speech at the Confor conference today, Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford, called for a new approach to how we view trees and forestry in England.

In a major speech at the Confor conference in Westminster today (Thursday 8 December), Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford, called for a new approach to how we view trees and forestry in England.

He championed the major benefits of tree planting in addressing the urgent climate, biodiversity and economic challenges of the day and called for an acceleration in tree planting rates across the country. He highlighted how we need to adopt a diverse planting mix of both broadleaves and conifers, which will simultaneously improve biodiversity, tackle the climate emergency and provide timber security. He also called for people to rethink “dogma” around conifer trees; too many people view them as a poor choice, overlooking the fact that the UK is the second largest importer of timber and timber products in the world.

He highlighted how the UK is facing a timber security crisis akin to the food security crisis and back calls for a national timber strategy to boost domestic production and reduce our reliance on imports. 53 million tonnes of wood and wood products are consumed in the UK each year; however, 81% is imported from abroad. Mr Stanford highlighted that stepping up domestic timber production and its use in construction will significantly reduce emissions and lock up carbon in buildings, whilst also presenting valuable opportunities for economic growth, rural jobs and levelling up. At the same time, broadleaf and mixed woodlands are needed to tackle the biodiversity crisis. All types of trees are required for a range of different, and overlapping, outcomes.

Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford said:

If we are to achieve Net Zero and improve people’s lives through a connection to the environment, we must grow more trees. If we are to tackle the nature and biodiversity crises, we need to grow more trees.

We must use more home-grown timber in construction to lock up carbon in our buildings for the long term…we cannot continue importing 81% of our timber. We need a timber strategy to establish how we are going to achieve this, and at the same time give reassurance to our important timber and forestry industries.

The UK forestry and primary wood processing sectors support 32,000 jobs and contribute £2 billion to the economy every year. Secondary wood processing businesses support a further 60,000 jobs.

Reflecting on the economic contributions of the forestry and construction sectors, Richard Stanford said:

The economic benefits provided by forestry and primary wood processing are comparable to those of the dairy products sector and are greater than those provided by the UK fishing fleet.

We do not grow enough timber for construction in the UK and we import 81% of our requirements. With the removal of Russian and Belarusian timber, there will be a requirement to seek other supplies.

We should view ‘timber security’ through the same lens as food security and recognise that investing in timber is an investment in growth and levelling up.

The construction industry in England is responsible for huge levels of emissions; timber is the only way to reduce emissions in construction whilst concurrently locking up carbon for the long term in the timber in buildings.

Voicing his support for planting well-designed and managed mixed woodlands, he said:

Well-managed broadleaf woodlands provide habitat for a vast array of flora and fauna. Conifers and mixed woodland also contribute to biodiversity.

We must end the dogma of native broadleaf good, conifer bad. Well-managed conifer forests with plenty of light and structure can support a wide range of wildlife, including woodland birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, plants and fungi. Mature conifers provide roosting holes for bats, nest sites for kites, goshawk and pine martens and seeds for red squirrels, siskins and crossbills. We need all types of woodlands for a range of outcomes and we need diversity in our trees to provide resilience.

Addressing the challenge of increasing tree planting rates and woodland creation, he said:

Woodland is the most regulated form of land use in England, odd given the huge number of benefits of trees. No other land use is underpinned by a standard that is backed by government and based on internationally agreed criteria and indicators.

If we do not plan and deliver woodland expansion now in a few years’ time there is likely to be a scramble to grow more trees. Rushing to grow trees without adhering to the very high standards of today will lead to mistakes.

There is much talk of ‘emergencies’ and ‘crises’ but I do not, yet, recognise a crisis response or an emergency footing. We can achieve a great deal if we act as though we are facing an emergency. Idealism and purists, while important, need to give way to pragmatism and delivery. Balanced decisions will be required, weighing up all sides of an argument and making an informed decision – informed by science and data. Emergencies and crises need action now, not prevarication and delay. The nation needs to work together to tackle the nature and biodiversity crises and trees provide the most cost-effective, organic and sustainable method of doing so. We need more of all types of trees.

The speech followed the culmination of National Tree Week – the UK’s largest annual celebration of trees – which marks the beginning of the winter planting season and as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity gets underway. The Government has set out ambitious targets of trebling tree planting rates in England, as part of wider efforts to plant 30,000 hectares per year across the UK by the end of this Parliament. The Forestry Commission is supporting Government ambitions through the implementation of the England Trees Action Plan which sets out the long-term vision for our treescapes.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Report by OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities – UK Response [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

Ambassador Neil Bush voices UK support for the High Commissioner’s mandate and urges the protection of national minorities in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Thank you, Chair. Welcome back to the Permanent Council, High Commissioner Abrakhmanov. Dear Kairat, thank you for your update and report. The UK is grateful for the varied activities undertaken by your Office, including your visits to, and dialogues with, many participating States this year. We are supportive of your mandate and welcome your work and the work of your team in promoting human rights for all, including those belonging to national minorities. This is an integral part of security and an instrument of conflict prevention and early warning. High Commissioner, you have made the point before that, managed effectively, diversity is an asset – the UK is a firm believer in this principle.

As you report, we face a new reality due to the Russian Federation’s attempt to illegally annex sovereign territories of Ukraine. Today, 17.7 million people in Ukraine are assessed to be in humanitarian need. Europe faces the largest movement of refugees since the Second World War. As you have previously noted, prior to 24 February, Ukraine was ‘a country working to maintain the delicate balance between the interests and rights of all groups in society’. The Russian government used minority issues as a false pretext for its full-scale invasion. And it is the responsibility of every one of us to step up and respond.

The UK remains appalled by ongoing human rights abuses and violations in Crimea, especially those experienced by ethnic and religious minorities. Crimean Tatars in particular face regular harassment and risk arrest, arbitrary detentions, and threats to seize their property. The banning of the Mejlis Council, an integral part of the Crimean identity, is of great concern. Likewise, the Russian government’s systematic vandalism of Tatar heritage and restrictions on the use of and education in the Crimean Tatar language. This persecution has been ongoing since 2014, and has worsened following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), last year saw a ten-fold rise in arbitrary detentions. Like you, we are deeply concerned by reports that Crimean Tatars are being disproportionately targeted by Russian authorities for mobilisation into the Russian Armed Forces. And we too have been similarly concerned by reports that ethnic minorities inside Russia have been disproportionately affected by the mobilisation. We urge continued scrutiny on the human rights abuses and violations endured by Crimean Tatars and other ethnic and religious minorities at the hands of the Russian authorities.

We encourage all participating States to fully cooperate with you and your staff to enable you to fulfil your mandate without impediment throughout the whole of Ukraine, including areas temporarily under Russian control. We welcome your continued dialogue with representatives of national minorities in Ukraine, and for drawing our attention to the impact on their lives and physical safety, including their ability to maintain and continue expressing core aspects of their identity, such as in education and culture. We also welcome your dialogue with Ukrainian authorities and your support to the legislative and institutional framework on minority rights and related issues in Ukraine.

We have emphasised before that the UK values highly your Office’s research into the intersectionality of gender and national minorities. Women with a minority background face unique and multiple challenges. We fully support women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation, protection, and leadership in all aspects of public life, including in peace and security, and encourage further research in this area.

High Commissioner – to conclude – the UK is a strong supporter of your institution. It has a vital role in early warning and preventing conflict related to national minorities. We thank you and your dedicated team for all your work across the OSCE arena and will continue to follow your work with interest.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Treasury Minister visit highlights MAST-U fusion experiments [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Treasury on 8 December 2022.

Exchequer Secretary James Cartlidge hails power of future green technologies in strengthening UK’s energy security.

Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak Upgrade (MAST-U) machine tackles further technical challenges for long-term viability of future fusion powerplants

Experiments test the integration of a high-performance core plasma with strong dissipation in the Super-X divertor configuration

A fusion energy machine vital for the delivery of the UK’s first prototype powerplant has started a crucial second round of experiments to help make ‘star power’ part of the world’s future energy mix.

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak-Upgrade (MAST-U) will run the experiments until the end of January 2023.

Following a visit to UKAEA in Culham, Oxfordshire, earlier this week, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, James Cartlidge, said:

“It was an inspiring tour of UKAEA where I was able to see how the UK is developing fusion energy, the process that powers the sun, to generate carbon-free electricity.

“The visit reinforced our commitment to increasing public R&D spending to record levels of £20 billion a year by 2024/25, which includes funding for green tech of the future, like this.”

MAST-U resembles the shape of a cored apple, in contrast to the ring-shaped record-breaking JET (Joint European Torus). This configuration is currently the preferred design for the UK’s prototype fusion plant, STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production).

Fusion energy offers the potential of an abundant, inherently safe low-carbon electricity supply. It involves fusing hydrogen particles in a hot gas known as a ‘plasma’ to unlock large amounts of energy.

Operating fusion technologies requires a careful balancing act of controlling extreme heat, gas and magnetic fields, amongst other complex systems.

Last year, MAST-U’s novel exhaust system, Super-X, successfully demonstrated its effectiveness by generating a tenfold reduction in the energy fluxes of the plasma channelled out of the machine, which would allow components in future commercial tokamaks to last longer.

The current run of experiments will seek to investigate how the compact tokamak can combine the benefits from this exhaust using different parameters – higher temperature and pressure, and increased performance caused by operating within a stronger magnetic field – as well as improving shape control of the plasma within the machine.

The core plasma shape will be controlled in real-time and in collaboration with General Atomics.

MAST-U’s experiments will also support the study of detachment physics – reduction of pollution of the core plasma by impurities coming from the wall – for EUROfusion, a consortium of national research institutions located in the EU, Switzerland, UK and Ukraine.

The phased work will investigate how plasma confinement can be optimised for future powerplant conditions.

Commenting on the new experiments, Professor Fulvio Militello, Director of Tokamak Science, UKAEA, said:

“To create fusion in a powerplant, a plasma must be sustained inside a tokamak whilst optimising three conditions: temperature, density and confinement time.

“The new round of experiments conducted by MAST-U will test the integration of a high-performance core plasma with strong dissipation in the Super-X divertor configuration.”

Results from the experiments will contribute to the success of the government-funded STEP programme, which is aiming to demonstrate the feasibility of putting fusion energy on the grid, targeting operations by 2040.

MAST-U achieved its first plasma in 2020 after it was rebuilt to enable higher performance, including longer times plasmas are held in confinement, increased heating power and a stronger magnetic field, alongside its innovative plasma exhaust system.

“UKAEA is exploring pathways to compact and affordable fusion machines and believes the apple-core design holds real promise” continued Professor Militello.

As well as STEP, MAST-U will also aid preparations for ITER – the world’s largest science megaproject, now being built in the South of France, which intends to demonstrate the viability of fusion on an industrial scale.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on Presidential appointment in Peru [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has issued a statement on Peru’s new President.

The UK stands together with the people of Peru in support of their democracy. We welcome Dina Boluarte being sworn in as President of Peru, and her commitment to unity, inclusion and dialogue. We look forward to working with the President and her administration to help Peru advance sustainable and inclusive development in ways that respect human rights. Peru is an important partner and through our work together our two countries deliver more strongly across our shared interests.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Calais group agrees to further work to tackle illegal migration [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 8 December 2022.

Home Secretary and European counterparts meet to renew discussions on how to crack down on illegal migration and people trafficking.

Plans to step up co-operation to tackle illegal immigration across Europe and bring people smugglers to justice have been agreed today at a meeting of the Calais Group.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman met with counterparts from France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, in the presence of the European Commission and its agencies, in Brussels this morning to renew discussions on how to address the global migration crisis. The group has published a Joint Communique outlining commitments made at the meeting.

The UK will agree a working arrangement with Frontex, Europe’s external border agency, to bolster its upstream efforts to contain illegal migration, as other countries also committed to bolster their support. Working together at Europe’s land and sea borders will enable countries to improve registration of irregular migrants and ensure rapid asylum and returns procedures, so that illegal migration flows are reduced at source. Frontex has a particular focus on tackling migration from western Balkans countries.

Ministers also agreed to enhance cooperation of the Joint Intelligence Cell situated in Calais, to allow operational teams to better identify and respond to criminal networks. The cell has dismantled 59 organised crime groups involved in illegal crossings since it was set up in July 2020.

Today’s meeting also saw ministers agree to deeper co-operation with third countries to work on shared migration challenges and ensure people do not undertake perilous journeys in the first place.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

Countries across Europe must work closely together to tackle illegal migration and crack down on the people smugglers before these issues reach our borders.

The Calais Group have held constructive discussions today on bringing solutions that will benefit all our countries and to ensure the evil criminals who profit in human misery are targeted and brought swiftly to justice. I look forward to our ongoing cooperation.

Ministers welcomed the joint progress achieved since November 2021. The Prime Minister and Home Secretary have been driving forward efforts to step up international cooperation to tackle this joint challenge, most recently through the signing of the UK-France agreement to enhance co-operation on illegal migration. The ministers also set out how irregular migration into Europe is a growing issue, with detections of irregular crossings at land and sea borders 74% higher than last year.

Ministers also agreed to support a working arrangement between the UK and Frontex, to facilitate better joint working to tackle illegal migration. European partners and their agencies, like the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Europol, continue to work closely on the ground to tackle illegal migration and bring perpetrators of organised crime to justice. For example, the NCA led Operation Punjum in July, the biggest ever international operation of its kind, alongside Operation Thoren in Europe, to target an organised crime group suspected of smuggling up to 10,000 people across the Channel in the last 12 to 18 months.

In the face of increasing Channel crossings in 2022, the UK has already put in place a wide range of measures to tackle the issue internationally. That includes signing a new agreement with France which will see UK officers embedded in French operations for the first time ever as part of a reciprocal agreement, as well as a 40% uplift in the number of officers patrolling French beaches – helping step up efforts to detect and disrupt crossings before they leave France. Co-operation with France has led to the prevention of over 31,000 migrants crossing via small boats so far this year and our work with French law enforcement has secured the arrest of 384 suspected people smugglers this year alone. This work comes alongside the measures we brought forward through our Nationality and Borders Act, our work to deliver the Rwanda partnership, and efforts to expedite the removal of individuals by agreeing tailored bilateral returns agreements with partners like Albania.

Today also marks a further step forward in delivering the new UK-France deal, as French officers join their UK counterparts in Dover to continue their operational training as part of the reciprocal agreement to embed officers in operations – following a visit by UK officers to France last month.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary sees UK aid making real difference in Ethiopia [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

Over 1 million Ethiopians have been supported since April 2021 with £90 million of UK aid.
- Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has seen trucks set off today to deliver UK aid to parts of Ethiopia affected by drought and conflict, following peace talks and the reopening of humanitarian routes
- he has witnessed first-hand how UK aid this year has been supporting over 1 million Ethiopians facing drastic impacts of a perilous drought and conflict
- the Foreign Secretary is holding meetings with the Ethiopian government and promises UK support to the peace deal which paves the way for a stronger future partnership
UK-funded trucks carrying aid have been reaching Tigray, following a vital peace agreement made possible by effective international diplomacy.

After seeing trucks set off for northern Ethiopia today, the Foreign Secretary will tell the Ethiopian government that this is a symbolic moment which paves the way for a stronger future partnership, delivering lasting peace and safety, with an international community focused on saving Ethiopian lives.

The UK has previously led calls for a restoration of full aid access to Tigray, with millions cut off during the devastating two-year conflict.

The Foreign Secretary will see UK aid making a difference on the ground. Travelling to a region affected by both the conflict and drought, he will see vulnerable mothers and children treated for conditions including malnutrition and malaria at a mobile health clinic run by UK-funded partner UNICEF.

Over 1 million Ethiopians have been supported since April 2021 with £90 million of UK aid.

And now the UK is preparing to provide further support for Ethiopia’s peace process and longer term reforms to promote peace, justice and economic reform.

With almost 30 million in need of emergency aid in Ethiopia, collaborative action from the international community is paramount and so the Foreign Secretary is using his visit to discuss stepping up support across the international community, with meetings held with the UN, World Bank, African Development Bank and IMF.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The peace agreement signed in Ethiopia last month is bringing to an end 2 years of a conflict which caused immense suffering for the people of Ethiopia.

Success here is a vital step to addressing the urgent humanitarian needs, but also longer-term aims for prosperity and peace. Ethiopia can rely on the UK’s full support in its path to recovery and the international community must also get behind these efforts.

During his trip, the Foreign Secretary saw a sample of the huge impact UK aid has delivered in Ethiopia over the last 12 months.

Over 200,000 malnourished women and children have been provided with nutritious food, a similar number have received clean water, child protection services have reached 40,000 children affected by the conflict and provided emergency health supplies for 1 million people.

The Foreign Secretary recognises that there is more to be done. That’s why he’s rallying the international community, ensuring support for the peace deal and more humanitarian aid to deliver health, water, hygiene and nutrition for the 28.6 million people in need of assistance.

And in meetings with senior members of the Ethiopian government he will highlight UK assistance for survivors of sexual violence, strengthening of human rights and improved coordination of humanitarian efforts including better management of services such as water and education across the country which will save lives.

The Foreign Secretary is reiterating that the potential of the UK-Ethiopian partnership goes far beyond humanitarian support. Economic reforms can bring greater prosperity to both our countries, as is seen through the recent launch of Safaricom – a consortium that includes British Investment International (BII) and Vodafone – in Ethiopia.

This evening the Foreign Secretary will host a reception for inspiring young Ethiopian leaders.

The visit coincides with Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day (today, 8 December), from which funds raised will provide life-saving nutrition and health services for over 200,000 women and children facing chronic food shortages in Kenya.

The UK government announced last week that it is match funding up to £2 million of public donations to Save the Children’s UK Aid Match appeal, with funds raised providing life-saving nutrition and health services for 200,000 women and children in Kenya’s Mandera and Turkana counties.
December 8, 2022