UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : Millions invested to support vulnerable people navigating legal issues [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Millions invested to support vulnerable people navigating legal issues [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 28 November 2022.

    Thousands more people will get access to early legal help over the next 2 years after the government announced £12 million of new grant funding today. (28 November 2022).

    • £12 million to help vulnerable people struggling with legal problems
    • focus on early intervention to resolve issues before going to court
    • 33,000 supported since October 2020

    The funding will be awarded to charities and organisations providing support for people facing disputes – helping them to better understand their issues and avoid costly court proceedings.

    More than 33,000 people have been supported by organisations receiving similar government grants since October 2020 and nearly two-thirds of cases were resolved before reaching court.

    Justice Minister Lord Bellamy said:

    Those who most need support should be able to access it quickly and easily, which is why we’re increasing funding for organisations providing this vital service.

    Early intervention helps prevent people from undergoing lengthy court proceedings – saving time, money and unnecessary stress.

    It adds to more than £5 million of investment this year, including a £1 million cost-of-living grant, to help organisations respond to increasing demand for free legal advice. Specialist guidance is offered in person, by telephone or online, to help deal with problems before they escalate or to support those who need to appear in court.

    The grant will replace the current Help Accessing Legal Support grant worth £3.2 million which is due to end in June 2023.

    The funding benefits people in difficult situations including Helen (not her real name), who was supported by an organisation funded by the grant after leaving an abusive relationship. She continued to suffer harassment from her ex-partner and contacted her local free advice charity who provided guidance on navigating family court proceedings. Helen was able to secure protective court orders aimed at restricting her ex-partner’s access to the family home and preventing violent behaviour against her and her daughter.

    Helen said:

    [The advisor] gave me sound legal advice to help me make choices to keep me safe and get my house back.

    If I had not had access to the [advice] it is quite likely that I may have not had the courage or the understanding to go to court to seek these orders, or even worse, that I would have returned to an abusive and volatile relationship as I would not have had any other option.

    This legal support is provided by organisations across the country, using the funding where it is needed.

    Cara Walker, Mobile Legal Adviser at Norfolk Community Law Service, said:

    Providing outreach legal help to people is vital in a large rural county like Norfolk. The Ministry of Justice funding enables me to work with clients on a long term basis in community settings, who have a range of complex legal problems-including welfare benefits, domestic abuse and immigration.

    Cathy Ashley, Chief Executive of Family Rights Group, said:

    Our Advice and Advocacy Service provides social care and legal expertise to families, including parents whose children are in need or subject to child protection enquiries and relatives raising children who cannot live at home.

    The Help Accessing Legal Support Grant is funding our new webchat service for families and is enabling us to provide more intensive support to callers to our advice line, allowing more children to live safely and thrive within their families and safely averting them entering a care system already in crisis.

    Further information on how charities and organisations can bid for the funding will be made available shortly.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Co-chair appointed to BSL Board advising Government on key issues for Deaf people [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Co-chair appointed to BSL Board advising Government on key issues for Deaf people [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 28 November 2022.

    The Minister for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove, has today appointed Craig Crowley MBE FRSA as co-chair of the new British Sign Language (BSL) Advisory Board, which will advise the government on key issues impacting the Deaf community.

    • Minister for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove, announces the appointment of Craig Crowley MBE FRSA as co-chair of the BSL Advisory Board
    • Mr Crowley is the CEO of Action Deafness, a Deaf-led charity providing BSL interpreting and community support
    • Board’s launch follows BSL Act recognising BSL as a language in England, Scotland and Wales, which approximately 151,000 people in the UK use

    Mr Crowley is the CEO of Action Deafness, a Deaf-led charity providing BSL interpreting and community support. He has worked tirelessly in several key roles to support Deaf people. As a past Chair of the UK Council on Deafness, Crowley has also been a key figure in the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness, advocating for improved access to BSL in public services.

    Recognising BSL as a language in England, Scotland and Wales for the first time, the BSL Act 2022 will make a considerable difference to Deaf BSL signers across the country. The new Board will provide personal and expert advice to the government on the implementation of the Act.

    Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said:

    “The British Sign Language Act is a key step to removing some of the barriers experienced by Deaf people in everyday life.

    “The BSL Board will ensure we are guided and advised by those who know best how to make these important changes. I am delighted to announce Craig’s appointment and look forward to working with him to create a more inclusive, accessible, and fair society for everyone.”

    The Board’s remit will be:

    • advising on the use of BSL in public communications and policy delivery
    • advising on how to tackle key issues facing Deaf people, such as how to increase the numbers of BSL interpreters

    A senior civil servant will serve as the other co-chair. The Board membership will comprise of at least 16 members plus the co-chairs, with a majority of Deaf BSL signers. Membership will also include Deafblind people and/or those who use tactile sign.

    The main criteria for appointment for all independent members will include a lived experience of BSL, alongside a willingness to work collaboratively in assisting the government to be more accessible.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government to use Vaccine Taskforce model to tackle health challenges [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government to use Vaccine Taskforce model to tackle health challenges [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 28 November 2022.

    Patients will benefit from cutting-edge new treatments as the government introduces a Vaccine Taskforce style approach to tackling health challenges.

    • Funding for innovative research into improved treatments, including cancer immune therapies or vaccines and game-changing weight loss medication and technologies, to accelerate their development and rollout
    • Prime Minister, Health and Social Care Secretary and Business Secretary will meet with key industry experts, global CEOs and NHS leaders to leverage further investment and ensure NHS patients benefit from cutting-edge new treatments
    • Builds on £1 billion investment since publication of Life Sciences Vision and delivers on commitments to cement the UK as a life sciences superpower

    NHS patients are set to benefit from cutting-edge new treatments and technologies as the government introduces a Vaccine Taskforce style approach to tackling some of the biggest public health challenges facing the UK.

    The government has today announced over £113 million to fund research into four healthcare missions – cancer, obesity, mental health and addiction – to unlock the next generation of medicines and diagnostics to save lives, transform patient care and ensure UK patients are the first to benefit from medical breakthroughs.

    Building on the Vaccine Taskforce model which led to one of the most successful vaccine roll outs in the world and ensured millions got a Covid jab, the government will continue to harness world-leading research expertise, remove unnecessary bureaucracy, strengthen partnerships and support the new healthcare challenges.

    Since the Life Sciences Vision was first launched it attracted £1 billion investment to the UK and this further research funding is expected to gain investment from leading global companies.

    In addition, tackling these healthcare challenges could save the NHS and the economy billions of pounds – it is estimated obesity costs the NHS £6.1 billion a year and poor mental health costs the economy £118 billion a year.

    The Prime Minister, Health and Social Care Secretary and Business Secretary will today meet with key industry figures, including global CEOs, NHS leaders and industry experts at the Life Sciences Council to discuss how their support will deliver life-changing innovations to patients, boost NHS efficiency and ensure the UK remains a global life sciences superpower.

    The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

    The NHS faces real pressures, which is why we are investing over £100 million in the technologies and medicines of the future to address some of the biggest public health challenges facing our country.

    This funding will improve outcomes for patients, ease existing pressures on the system and ensure that we are amongst the first to benefit from medical breakthroughs. Importantly it will also help save the NHS millions of pounds that could otherwise be spent on patient care – for example by tackling obesity which costs the health service over £6 billion annually.

    It is hugely welcome too that the highly successful Vaccine Taskforce, which procured millions of life-saving vaccines in record time during the pandemic, will now become a blueprint for how we harness the best talent and expertise from around the world and drive investment in research and development.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Conditions such as cancer and obesity prevent people leading long, healthy lives and cost the NHS billions of pounds every year.

    We’re leading the way in cutting-edge research which can find new ways to speed up diagnosis, enhance treatments and ensure a better quality of life for patients – both now and in the future.

    By harnessing the same spirit of innovation that delivered the vaccine rollout and working hand in hand with the NHS, industry and healthcare experts.

    We’re building a stronger, healthier NHS with record numbers of staff and record funding, to give people the security of knowing it will be there for them when they need it.

    The research will focus on the top public health priorities, as identified by the NHS:

    • Cancer: £22.5 million will go into cancer research to develop new immune-based cancer therapies, including cancer vaccines, which are targeted to a patient’s specific cancer. Funding will also support the development of technologies that enable earlier, more effective cancer diagnosis. This will support progress towards the NHS Long Term Plan ambition to diagnose three-quarters of cancers at Stages 1 or 2 by 2028.
    • Mental health: £40.2 million for research into mental health to develop and introduce digital technologies to support patients. This could include technology allowing patients to monitor their mental health at home and instantly report to their doctor if in need of help. Funding will be spent in the Midlands and the North to bolster services and ensure people across the UK can access support, helping level up health across the country. With one in four adults experiencing mental illness, poor mental health costs the economy £118 billion a year.
    • Obesity: £20 million to trial how best to deliver new medicines and technologies for people living with obesity, particularly in deprived communities across the UK. This will help new medicines coming to market  – some of which have the potential to reduce a person’s weight by more than 20% – to better support people to achieve a healthy weight. The mission will explore how these medicines can be combined with cutting-edge technologies and digital tools to improve long-term health outcomes. Obesity costs the NHS £6.1 billion a year and helping people lose weight and lead healthier lifestyles could lead to significant savings.
    • Addiction: £30.5 million, including funds contributed through collaboration with Scottish Government, will be deployed to accelerate the development of new technologies to prevent deaths from overdoses across the UK. This could include wearable devices which can detect the onset of a drug overdose and signal to first responders to prevent deaths, and better support people with substance use disorders to manage and combat their addiction. Funding will also help grow research capacity and capability across the UK to better understand addiction and the most effective ways to treat it as a chronic healthcare condition.

    The new funding follows the launch of the dementia mission in August 2022 in memory of the late Dame Barbara Windsor – backed by £95 million – to develop innovative research tools and boost the number and speed of clinical trials in dementia and neurodegeneration. This contributes to the commitment to double funding for dementia research to £160 million a year by 2024/25.

    In line with the Vaccines Taskforce, the four healthcare missions will be led by an independent chair – an expert in that field – to accelerate the development and introduction of the latest treatments and technology into the NHS, as well as drive collaboration across partners. This will not only ensure better care for patients, but also improve the accuracy of diagnosis and free up clinician time, helping tackle the Covid backlog and ease pressure on health services.

    The chairs will be appointed by an expert panel dedicated to each mission – this includes Kate Bingham who headed up the Vaccine Taskforce. The process will be completed soon so the research projects can get underway as quickly as possible.

    The government is committed to ensuring patients benefit from the latest treatments and NHS England has also announced today that that around 9,000 men with one of the most advanced forms of prostate cancer will be eligible for a new life-extending treatment as the NHS becomes the first in Europe to roll out darolutamide to patients whose prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The deal was approved through Project Orbis, an international collaboration with top regulators around the world which enables quicker patient access to breakthrough cancer medicines.

    Today also sees Innovate UK launch a new £30 million fund to advance life-changing cancer therapeutics delivered through the Biomedical Catalyst (BMC) programme. This new programme directly supports the UK government’s cancer mission, combining expertise in immuno-oncology and the vaccine capabilities developed throughout the pandemic.

    Minister of State for Health Will Quince said:

    We have made immense strides in health research over the past year and it’s crucial we continue to harness this enthusiasm and innovation.

    These new healthcare missions commit to putting the lessons we’ve learnt into action to drive the UK forwards as a life sciences superpower.

    By bottling up this scientific brilliance our Life Sciences Vision puts this innovation at the heart of our health service, helping to solve major health challenges – such as cancer and obesity – and enabling the NHS to continue delivering world class care.

    Business Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    The UK is a leading light in life sciences and more generally a science superpower. This funding builds on this reputation to create jobs and growth while serving as a catalyst for an avalanche of additional private investment.

    These healthcare missions will drive innovations with the potential to transform the landscape of healthcare and save millions of lives, by tackling some of greatest health issues facing Britain and indeed the world.

    NHS England Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard said:

    We have already seen the incredible ways that new technology and innovation can transform NHS care and the lives of patients across the country – from glucose monitors for people living with diabetes, laser therapy for those with epilepsy to genetic life-saving testing for severely ill children and babies.

    Just today, we fast tracked a new drug deal for men with prostate cancer that can boost their survival –  showing that the NHS is already at the forefront of delivering the latest treatments for patients.

    Working with partners, we want to build on this work even further so we can work to tackle the country’s biggest healthcare challenges.

    Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services Welsh Government said:

    Last year, the UK government set out a bold and ambitious vision for life sciences that promises to deliver better healthcare outcomes for all patients across the UK.  Wales has a proven track record in many of the key areas identified – dementia, mental health, genomics, cancer research and linked data – all of which play a very significant role in improving clinical outcomes and driving innovation both nationally and around the world. To maximise the potential of the Life Science agenda for the UK it is important that any investment is fully committed to delivering on ‘levelling up’ and it is incumbent upon all partners to work together so that our common objectives are realised across the four nations.

    Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Chief Scientist for Health in Scotland said:

    The missions launched today cover conditions that have a huge impact on people’s lives. Bringing together academia, industry and the NHS offers exciting possibilities for the development of new approaches to their prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

    Drugs Policy Scottish Minister Angela Constance said:

    In Scotland, we are experiencing an ongoing public health crisis of drug-related deaths, and finding solutions in innovation and new technology to inform future strategy is one way in which we can help prevent deaths and improve lives.

    I therefore welcome this collaboration between the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist’s Office and the UK Government Office for Life Sciences which focusses on rapid detection, response and intervention to potential overdoses. This ensures immediate action, helping people who use drugs and their support networks to work together to save lives.

    Background

    • As well as launching the Missions, the Health and Business Secretaries announced a suite of additional measures to further cement the UK’s global leadership in Life Sciences. This includes:
    • Ensuring NHS patients can access new medicines rapidly through Ministerial engagement with the pharmaceutical industry to ensure access safe, ground-breaking new medicines rapidly, whilst guaranteeing value for money for the NHS. This will build on flagship agreements which have already enabled NHS patients to access a new cancer drug before any other European country and enabled children in the UK to be amongst the first in the world to access a new medicine to treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
    • Dedicated new Life Sciences Investment Envoy: with the Business Secretary appointing Dan Mahony, Chair of the BIA and Entrepeneur in Residence at Evotec, to the role last week. The new Envoy will champion access to finance for the UK Life Sciences sector by bridging the UK’s Financial and Life Science industries. Last week’s Investor Roadshow kicked this off, convening over 90 world-leading investors.
    • Through Project Orbis, the UK’s medicines regulator, the MHRA, has teamed up with regulators in the US, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Singapore and Brazil to review and approve applications for promising cancer treatments quickly so patients can benefit earlier.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister – “freedom and openness have never been achieved by standing still” [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister – “freedom and openness have never been achieved by standing still” [November 2022]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 28 November 2022.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will deliver his first major foreign policy speech at Guildhall in London this evening.

    • Rishi Sunak to deliver first major foreign policy speech at Guildhall in London
    • Prime Minister will set out his foreign policy and approach to countries including Russia and China
    • He will argue for a dynamic foreign policy, underpinned by economic security at home

    The Prime Minister will set out his vision for a foreign policy which stands up for the UK’s values throughout the world, and uses a strong domestic economy to underpin our relationships overseas in a speech today (Monday 28th October).

    Addressing the Lord Mayor’s Banquet the Prime Minister, who has forged strong relationships with international partners in his first month in office at the COP27 and G20 Summits and in meetings with the head of NATO and President of Ukraine, will outline his ambitions for the UK’s overseas policy.

    The Prime Minister will argue that states like Russia and China plan for the long-term and the UK needs to follow suit. He will stress the importance of reinvigorating relationships in Europe while also deepening ties in the Indo-pacific.

    He is expected to say:

    Freedom and openness have always been the most powerful forces for progress. But they have never been achieved by standing still.

    Under my leadership we won’t choose the status quo. We will do things differently.

    We will evolve, anchored always by our enduring belief in freedom, openness and the rule of law and confident that, in this moment of challenge and competition, our interests will be protected and our values will prevail.

    A week after he visited the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to meet President Zelenskyy, the Prime Minister will point to the UK’s overwhelming demonstration of support to the Ukrainian people as evidence of the strength of the UK’s values.

    The Prime Minister will underscore his commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine in the face of horrific Russian aggression.

    He is expected to say:

    Ukrainian flags have flown over almost every town and city on these islands for the last nine months. No one told people to put them there.

    They felt moved to show solidarity with people they have never met, in a country most have never visited, to show their faith in fairness, freedom and the rule of law.

    …Be in no doubt. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. We will maintain or increase our military aid next year. And we will provide new support for air defence, to protect the Ukrainian people and the critical infrastructure that they rely on.

    By protecting Ukraine, we protect ourselves.

    The UK is currently in the process of revising and updating the 2021 Integrated Review of security, defence, development and foreign policy to take account of the huge geopolitical shifts we have seen since the review was published, including the sharpening of inter-state competition due to the actions of countries like Russia, China and Iran.

    This review will ensure that the UK remains on the cutting-edge of defence and security policy, keeping us safe around the world as we strengthen our foundations at home. It will set out the importance of building strong ties in Europe in the era after the UK’s departure from the EU, while also deepening partnerships in other parts of the world.

    Stressing the importance of evolving and adapting to new challenges and threats, the Prime Minister is expected to say:

    Our adversaries and competitors plan for the long term. In the face of these challenges, short-termism or wishful thinking will not suffice…

    …So we will make an evolutionary leap in our approach. This means being stronger in defending our values and the openness on which our prosperity depends.

    It means delivering a stronger economy at home – because it is the foundation of our strength abroad.

    And it means standing up to our competitors, not with grand rhetoric but with robust pragmatism.

    This evening’s Lord Mayor’s Banquet is an annual event where the Prime Minister has the opportunity to address business leaders, international dignitaries and foreign policy experts on the subject of foreign policy. It will be the first major foreign policy speech given by Rishi Sunak since he became Prime Minister.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government joins with households to help millions reduce their energy bills [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government joins with households to help millions reduce their energy bills [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 28 November 2022.

    New measures set to help hundreds of thousands better insulate their homes and reduce consumption while saving families hundreds of pounds each year.

    • New £1 billion ECO+ scheme will see hundreds of thousands of homes across the country receive new home insulation, saving consumers around £310 a year
    • ECO+ will extend support to those in the least energy efficient homes in the lower Council Tax bands, as well as targeting the most vulnerable
    • a new £18 million campaign will give the public advice on how they can save hundreds on their own bills without sacrificing comfort

    Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps today (Monday 28 November) launches a government push to help millions of people across the country bring down their energy costs for this winter and beyond.

    It is part of wider action this week across energy policy to help the UK meet its ambition of becoming energy independent.

    Under plans announced today, the new ECO+ scheme will extend support to those who do not currently benefit from any other government support to upgrade their homes. Joining the existing £6.6 billion ‘Help to Heat’ energy schemes this new £1 billion funding will ensure hundreds of thousands more households benefit from new home insulation and with that, lower bills.

    Plus a new £18 million public information campaign will also offer technical tips and advice for people to cut their energy use, while also keeping warm this winter. Alongside the impact on their bills from the Energy Price Guarantee, the campaign will demonstrate how consumers can make significant savings.

    Of the £1 billion funding available through the new ECO+ scheme, around 80% of the funding will be made available for those households who are in some of the least energy-efficient homes in the country – that is, those with an EPC rating of D or below – and in the lower Council Tax bands.

    This will benefit those households who do not currently benefit from any other government support to upgrade their homes. Around a fifth of the fund will also be targeted to those who are the most vulnerable, including those on means tested benefits or in fuel poverty.

    On top of this, the government will significantly expand its Help for Households campaign to help customers to reduce their own household energy usage and bills, while also giving vulnerable groups the right information for doing this without harming their health.

    This includes promoting some of the government’s top recommended actions to help households save money on their energy bills, such as:

    • reducing the temperature a boiler heats water to before it is sent to radiators (known as the boiler flow temperature) from 75⁰C to 60⁰C
    • turning down radiators in empty rooms
    • reducing heating loss from the property such as by draught proofing windows and doors

    It also comes ahead of the Business and Energy Secretary setting out his latest package of measures to deliver home-grown, affordable energy – helping to cut bills and bolster the country’s long-term energy security and independence.

    Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    The government put immediate help in place to support households in the wake of global energy price rises caused by Putin’s illegal march on Ukraine. Today, we launch the first of many measures to ensure the British public are never put in this position again as we work towards an energy independent future.

    A new ECO scheme will enable thousands more to insulate their homes, protecting the pounds in their pockets, and creating jobs across the country.

    And in the short term, our new public information campaign will also give people the tools they need to reduce their energy use while keeping warm this winter.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

    With Putin’s war driving up gas prices worldwide, I know many families are feeling worried about their energy bills this winter and beyond. Our extensive energy support package is insulating people from the worst of this crisis, but we’re also supporting people to permanently cut their costs.

    In the longer term, we need to make Britain more energy independent by generating more clean, affordable, home-grown power, but we also need more efficient homes and buildings.

    Our new ECO+ scheme will help hundreds of thousands of people across the UK to better insulate their homes to reduce consumption, with the added benefit of saving families hundreds of pounds each year.

    Making homes more energy efficient is the best way to cut household energy use and is already helping reduce household energy bills, while also creating jobs across the country.

    Since it was launched in January 2013, the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) schemes have delivered as many as 3.5 million energy-efficiency measures in around 2.4 million homes. The ECO+ scheme, which will run from spring 2023 for up to 3 years, extends that support even further and will see hundreds of thousands of households receive new insulation, saving them around £310 a year.

    By rolling out predominantly low-cost insulation measures such as loft insulation and cavity wall insulation, the ECO+ scheme will support the government’s new ambition to reduce the UK’s final energy consumption from buildings and industry by 15% by 2030. The £1 billion scheme is backed by a new £6 billion investment to contribute to the existing £6.6 billion energy efficiency funding pot.

    The new funding pot will also provide long-term funding certainty across for the industry, supporting the growth of supply chains and green jobs in the sector, as the government takes further action to tackle fuel poverty and reduce energy bills.

    Improving the energy efficiency of UK homes is a crucial part of the government’s strategy. Thanks to government support so far, the number of homes with an energy efficiency rating of C or above is at 46% and rising, up from just 13% in 2010. We are investing over £6.6 billion over this Parliament to help decarbonise homes and buildings, and to ensure all homes meet EPC band C by 2035. An additional £6 billion of new government funding will be made available from 2025 to 2028. Further details on allocation of additional funding will follow in due course.

    To further support households and help meet the government’s new energy demand reduction target, the government has also expanded its public awareness campaign to help reduce bills for households and protect vulnerable people over the winter and beyond. Backed by £18 million, this campaign will complement existing government support schemes. such as the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bills Support Scheme and the information provided will save households money. For example, if a typical household reduced their boiler flow temperature from 75⁰C to 60⁰C and turned down radiators in empty rooms, they could save £160 a year on their energy bill at current prices. This also has the benefit of reducing the temperature a boiler heats water to before sending it to radiators, while making no difference to the temperature a room is actually heated to.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Trade Secretary – Wales Life Sciences sector key to UK growth [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Trade Secretary – Wales Life Sciences sector key to UK growth [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 28 November 2022.

    Badenoch hosts the Board of Trade in Cardiff, where she will launch the Board’s report on Life Sciences and announce 28 new Export Champions.

    • New DIT report reveals how trade and investment will boost growth for the UK’s world-leading Life Sciences sector
    • On her first visit to Wales as Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch hosts the Board of Trade in Cardiff and will then visit a newly expanded pharmaceutical manufacturing company working on pioneering cancer therapies
    • She will also announce 28 leading business figures as the first Export Champions for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to boost trade across the Union

    Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch visits Wales today (Monday 28 November) where she will praise Welsh companies as ‘critical’ to the UK’s life sciences sector and back them to play a pivotal role in the UK Government’s growth plans.

    Badenoch will host the Board of Trade in Cardiff and launch the Board’s report on Life Sciences, which sets out the opportunities the sector offers for economic growth across all the UK’s nations and regions. Life sciences is one of five growth industries named by the Chancellor when he set out plans to change EU regulations in his Autumn Statement earlier this month.

    The UK directly employs more than a quarter of a million people in the sector, with 50% of jobs located outside of London, East of England and the South East. Wales is known as a hotspot for Life Sciences companies employing more than 12,000 people and generating £2.5bn in turnover across 270 sites, an important contribution to the UK’s economy.

    President of the Board of Trade and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said:

    Whether it is inventing new ways to combat cancer, diagnose disease or simplify surgery, Wales is critical to our life sciences sector.

    Three quarters of our life sciences market is exporting to the world and with a 12,000 strong workforce covering everything from PPE production to tissue regeneration, Wales is fuelling the UK’s position as a science superpower.

    This new report from the Board of Trade shows why our support to SMEs across the country to export is so important and why we are committed to ensuring the UK is a world-leading destination for life sciences investment.

    Today’s Board of Trade’s report ‘Life Sciences: What’s next for this top UK sector?’ marks Life Sciences Day and calls on the Department for International Trade (DIT) to further support this innovative sector by:

    • Redoubling efforts to encourage Research & development and manufacturing
    • Targeting lucrative markets by utilising DIT’s international footprint
    • Support scaling up and levelling up across the UK to ensure that businesses across regions and nations have access to export support.

    The Board will hear from Welsh manufacturer and exporter Dulas Ltd, which has supported immunisation and health efforts across the world by providing the first mass-produced solar-powered vaccine refrigerator. DIT has supported Dulas to access international markets for export – helping the country, and the world, build back better from the pandemic.

    Today, the Trade Secretary also announces twenty-eight leading business figures as the first Export Champions for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, who will provide advice to UK businesses on how to break into international markets. Each Champion has been selected because they have a successful international trade track record.

    Finally, she will visit PCI Pharma, who recently expanded its manufacturing facility in south Wales with a multi-million-pound investment. The expansion will help the company keep pace with global demand for the production of cancer therapies and create around 200 jobs once the facility is at full capacity.

    Members of the Board of Trade are champions for exports and investment to deliver economic growth and prosperity across the whole of the UK. Domestically, they engage with business and people across the four nations to drum up support for trade and help companies export, and internationally, they help Britain campaign for free and fair trade. The Board of Trade celebrated its 350th anniversary in September this year.

    List of Export Champions:

    Wales:

    • Paola Dyboski, Dr Zigs
    • Rosie Davies, Rees Machinery Group Ltd T/A RMGroup
    • Sina Yamani, Yoello
    • Alison Lea-Wilson MBE, Halen Môn / Anglesey Sea Salt
    • Tee Sandhu, Samosa Co
    • Kamal Ali, My Salah Mat
    • Stephen Davies, Penderyn
    • John Pattinson, Air Covers

    Scotland (identified and appointed jointly with Scottish Development International):

    • Lee Hanlon, Cesscon Decom
    • Luis Gomes, AAC Clydespace
    • Hassan Heshmat, Hydro-C
    • Katie Birrell, Nairn’s Oatcakes
    • Alistair Walker, Walker’s Shortbread
    • James Varga, DirectID
    • Martin Murray, Dunnet Bay Distillery
    • Anna White, The Scotland Shop
    • Poonam Gupta, PG Paper
    • Ian Stevenson, Cyacomb
    • Federico Charosky, Quorum Cyber
    • Shahida Imani, Chromacity
    • Robert Kennedy, Optos

    Northern Ireland:

    • Alan Lowry, Environmental Street Furniture
    • Roger Johnston, Axial3D
    • Gabriel O’Keefe, Kiverco
    • Martin McKary, Texthelp
    • Patrica O’Hagan, Core Systems
    • David Ausdahl II, Lowden Guitars
    • Susie Hamilton-Stubber, Burren Balsamics
  • PRESS RELEASE : New obesity treatments and technology to save the NHS billions [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : New obesity treatments and technology to save the NHS billions [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 27 November 2022.

    A £20 million research boost will help to develop new medicines and digital tools which have been shown to help people shed 20% of their weight.

    • Obesity costs the NHS £6 billion annually, a figure which is expected to rise to over £9.7 billion each year by 2050
    • Funding will fast-track treatments, enabling the NHS to reallocate the money to vital front line services

    Cutting-edge obesity treatments and technologies which can help people shed 20% of their weight could soon be offered to NHS patients thanks to a £20 million research boost, the government has announced.

    Obesity costs the NHS a massive £6 billion annually and this is set to rise to over £9.7 billion each year by 2050. The new investment, announced today, is expected to save the NHS billions over time and ensure that vital funds are spent on key frontline services.

    The fund could lead to promising medicines and digital technologies being made available to patients, such as apps and online portals to encourage lifestyle changes, which have been shown in clinical trials to be safe and lead to a significant reduction in weight.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Having a fit and healthy population is essential to reducing pressure on the NHS and supporting the economy with obesity, currently estimated to cost the NHS nearly £10 billion per year by 2050.

    We are fast-tracking the most promising treatments and technologies to NHS patients to help them achieve a healthy weight, save the NHS billions of pounds and increase life expectancy.

    We are determined to harness the full potential of innovative medical breakthroughs to level up the health of the nation.

    An open competition will be run in early 2023 to identify sites to deliver this research, exploring how new and potentially transformative medicines can be combined with technologies such as digital tools to improve long-term health outcomes for people living with obesity. Research will be focused outside of London and the Greater South East, in the areas where obesity rates and health disparities are highest.

    On Monday 28 November, the government will announce a Vaccine Taskforce approach to tackling some of the leading public health issues which damage the economy and drain NHS resources.

    Four healthcare missions will be launched, covering obesity, cancer, mental health and addiction to quickly develop and deliver new treatments, technology and support to patients to help them lead longer, healthier lives.

    This builds upon the UK Life Sciences Vision published in July 2021 which sets out a 10-year strategy to harness the successes of the Covid response and accelerate the delivery of innovation to patients.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan travels to Australia for talks on the Indo-Pacific [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan travels to Australia for talks on the Indo-Pacific [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 November 2022.

    Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan will make her first visit in her new role to continue close UK-Australia cooperation and promote regional security and prosperity.

    The UK’s Indo-Pacific Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan starts a visit in Australia today (Sunday 27 November – Canberra) in her first trip to the country in her new role, focused on joint efforts to promote peace and security in the region.

    The Minister will meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong, and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Secretary Richard Marles, to discuss how the UK and Australia can deepen their defence and security partnerships to support a stable, prosperous Indo-Pacific.

    This includes progress on AUKUS, which will see Australia equipped with nuclear-powered, conventionally-armed submarines featuring world-leading UK technology. The initial 18-month scoping phase of the project is ongoing and expected to conclude by the spring. Beyond AUKUS, she will also discuss the two countries’ wider efforts to maintain stability and prosperity in the region, boosting bilateral trade opportunities, tackling climate change, and continued support for Ukraine.

    Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, said:

    I’m pleased to be back in Australia for the second time this year to strengthen defence and security ties with one of our closest partners.

    Strong, ambitious partnerships with nations like Australia are at the core of our commitment to deepening our engagement with the Indo-Pacific and becoming the European nation with the broadest, most integrated presence in the region.

    Vicki Treadell, British High Commissioner to Australia said:

    I’m delighted to welcome back Anne Marie Trevelyan in her new role as the UK’s Minister for the Indo-Pacific to Australia. This visit affirms the UK’s ongoing commitment to Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, and follows on from a busy 18 months of UK engagement in the region, including the visit of the Carrier Strike Group, AUKUS agreement, our Prime Ministers meeting at the G20 in Bali and our forthcoming Free Trade Agreement.

    Trevelyan will also meet Senator Jenny McAllister, Assistant Minister for Climate Change, and Shadow Climate Change and Energy Minister Ted O’Brien.

    In addition to meetings with the federal government, she will also discuss UK priorities with key Australian parliamentarians, including members of the Defence and Trade, and Intelligence and Security committees.

    Her other engagements in Australia will include giving a speech at the Australian National Press Club on Monday 28th, and attending an event at the Australian National Security College on Thursday 29th, where she will record a podcast with Professor Rory Medcalf on the geopolitical challenges facing the Indo-Pacific.

    Trevelyan begins her visit in Brisbane, receiving a ‘Welcome to Country’, which honours the traditional owners of the land. The Minister will meet with representatives across government and civil society about the ongoing work that both state and federal governments are doing with First Nations communities across Australia.

    The Minister’s extensive programme of engagement with Australia – at a State and Federal level – reflects both the strength of the UK-Australia relationship and the importance of the Indo-Pacific to the UK, in the face of increasing regional geopolitical competition.

    Trevelyan’s visit to Australia is part of a wider nine-day trip to the Pacific, following a visit to Vanuatu earlier this week to attend the Conference of the Pacific Community and promote UK support for countries on the front line of climate change.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Gove claims Social housing tenants put at the heart of government reforms [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Gove claims Social housing tenants put at the heart of government reforms [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 26 November 2022.

    Social housing tenants from across England will come together to make their voices heard and drive change, as the Government launches new resident-led panel.

    Over 250 tenants will meet today (26 November) to launch the group that will directly influence the government’s plans on improving social housing conditions and bringing about sector change.

    Members of the Social Housing Quality Residents will share their experiences with ministers, inform policy change and ensure resident voices are properly heard as the government drives forward its social housing reforms.

    The launch follows the Housing Secretary’s action, announced this week, against Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) after it failed to treat hazardous mould leading to the tragic death of Awaab Ishak.

    In a crackdown on poor standards, Michael Gove has stripped the housing association of new taxpayer funding for housing – until the Regulator of Social Housing has concluded its investigation and RBH can prove it is a responsible landlord.

    This serves as a warning to other housing providers, with Gove prepared to take robust action against those that are letting down tenants.

    Housing Secretary Michael Gove said:

    This government will not stand for any tenant being mistreated and we are acting to ensure they get the safe and decent homes they deserve.

    For too long, tenants have been denied a proper voice – this ends today. Our new residents panel will ensure that tenants are at the heart of reforms to social housing.

    I look forward to working with the panel to drastically raise the standard of social housing across the country.

    Housing Secretary Michael Gove and Minister for Social Housing Baroness Scott of Bybrook will attend the launch event to thank residents for their important contribution in the government’s work to improve social housing for tenants. Ahead of the launch, panel members from across the country have shared their views and hopes for the panel:

    Emma from East of England said:

    I would like to bring back the stronger relationships between tenants and their housing association.

    Quality of repairs has also become an issue, things being replaced for a lesser quality and the tenant is supposed to accept it in their home.

    Social landlords need to become more involved with their tenants and rebuild the fractured relationships.

    Roy from the East Midlands said:

    I have been an involved resident for nearly 12 years, and have worked tirelessly to improve the services provided by our landlord.

    It’s not always been easy and on many occasions it has been very frustrating. But we saw a chink of light with the publication of the Social Housing White Paper, as we might at least be able to make the services supplied by our landlord fit for purpose

    Abbey from the South East said:

    I am passionate about improving social housing.  I’m a scrutiny panel member and a block rep, but this initiative had the possibility to create change on a larger and less local scale. I would like to make sure that voice is heard.

    Karen from the South West said:

    I want to help improve the condition of social housing and also help remove the stigma attached to social housing.

    The panel forms part of the government’s commitment in the Social Housing White Paper to rebalance the relationship between tenants and landlords.

    Residents will shape the direction of the panel, with options to cover topics like how to raise awareness of the complaints process, or improving tenants’ access to information about their landlords.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Boost for UK fishing industry with funding for new infrastructure projects [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Boost for UK fishing industry with funding for new infrastructure projects [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland on 25 November 2022.

    £20 million awarded to modernise and improve infrastructure across the seafood sector, with a further £30 million available from today.

    Funding to expand processing facilities for popular British fish like Scottish salmon, mackerel and herring are some of the projects which will modernise infrastructure across the UK seafood sector following a £20 million Government investment.

    Part of the £100 million UK Seafood Fund, the announcement comes as a further £30 million is being made available today (25 November 2022) for infrastructure projects as the latest round of funding opens for bidding.

    The UK Seafood Fund is a landmark government investment supporting the long-term future and sustainability of the UK fishing and seafood industry, with the infrastructure strand of the Fund helping to pay for upgrades to ports, processing and aquaculture facilities so they can meet future demand whilst also boosting jobs and economic growth.

    The infrastructure scheme also supports businesses to become more environmentally sustainable, with successful bidders in Round 1 investing in greener technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to more reusable materials.

    Successful bidders from the first round of infrastructure funding include:

    • Denholm Seafoods who with almost £3 million funding will install new equipment to increase production of mackerel and herring landed at Peterhead.
    • In the West Highlands, Mowi Scotland – an aquaculture processing facility for salmon – has been awarded £2 million funding to invest in new, modern equipment that will vastly speed up both the processing and despatch of their products.

    Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:

    Fishing communities are an important part of the UK’s heritage and they make a valuable contribution to our economy so we are backing them with funds to boost growth and opportunities across the industry.

    This funding will ensure seafood businesses throughout the supply chain are well-equipped to keep pace with increasing demand at home and abroad, boosting production and sustainability and building a resilient sector for the future.

    UK Government Minister for Scotland John Lamont said:

    It’s fantastic to see Scottish expertise securing a share of this multi-million pound UK Government funding. From substantially increasing the production of mackerel and herring in Peterhead, to speeding up the processing and sale of salmon from the West Highlands, the investment will boost innovation and sustainability.

    Scotland’s seafood, aquaculture and science sectors are world renowned. I look forward to continuing to work closely with them to ensure that this funding – and future allocations – helps deliver a sustainable and profitable future.

    Allan Stephen, Director at Denholm Seafoods, said:

    We are delighted with the support we have received from Defra, which from the outset has been highly productive. Securing the Defra grant will enable Denholm Seafoods to invest in our new freezing and production facilities which will maintain our high quality product.

    Scott Nolan, Mowi Scotland Operations Director Processing & Sales (UK and Ireland), said:

    The upgrade to our salmon processing plant in Fort William, Scotland, is vital to ensuring the UK remains competitive in a very global seafood market. The UK Seafood Fund Infrastructure Scheme comes at an important time, helping to safeguard and grow our domestic food supply as well as securing local jobs in rural communities.

    The UK has a thriving seafood sector with exports of salmon – one of the UK’s most important exports – worth around £600 million annually and other abundant fish stocks such as Cornish sardines in demand on the continent for their quality.

    For the second round of the UK Seafood Fund infrastructure scheme, which is worth £30 million and opens today, businesses will have until March 2025 to deliver their transformational projects meaning a wider range of organisations will be able to apply.

    Defra will also shortly announce successful applicants from the Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships (FISP) scheme, part of the UK Seafood Fund, which funds data collection and research to support sustainable fisheries management. The final FISP round will launch in December 2022.