Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : UK-South Africa joint statement on gender equality [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.

The UK and South Africa share a strong commitment to upholding women’s rights and gender equality at home and overseas.

Our respective national laws and policy enshrine equality, ensuring that no matter your gender identity or sexual orientation every individual has a right to equal opportunity and a life free from violence and discrimination. Both the UK and South Africa were consistently strong voices in efforts to secure a Global Goal on Gender equality, including objectives to address violence against women and girls and improve sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Our shared commitment to addressing gender-based violence is highlighted this very month through South Africa’s Presidential Summit on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide, hosted by President Ramaphosa at the beginning of November in Pretoria and the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict conference, hosted by the UK at the end of this month during the global 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women. The UK is also pleased to be continuing its partnership with South Africa’s Gender Based Violence and Femicide Response Fund.

While much progress has been made since the international community agreed the Global Goals, including Gender Goal 5, it is clear that significant challenges remain until we realise our shared ambition. The COVID-19 pandemic shone a shocking spotlight on the scourge of intimate partner violence around the world, including in the UK and South Africa.

In recent years we have witnessed movements seeking to undermine the right of a woman to make decisions about her body. We will not stand by and watch any rollback of women’s rights. This is why, alongside our ongoing work to improve gender equality at home, the UK and South Africa commit to working together to uphold women’s rights internationally.

We will strengthen our partnership and use our position in global fora to galvanise progress toward Gender Goal 5, uphold women’s rights and create a more equal society for all.

November 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UK finalises landmark data decision with South Korea to help unlock millions in economic growth [November 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 23 November 2022.

UK organisations will be able to share personal data securely with the Republic of Korea before the end of the year as the UK finalises legislation for its first independent adequacy decision.
- Organisations will be able to transfer personal data securely to the Republic of Korea without restrictions by the end of the year following legislation
- UK decision will help generate an estimated £14.8 million in annual business savings and increased exports
- Milestone formalises first data adequacy decision since UK left the European Union and goes beyond scope of previous EU deal – boosting investment.
UK organisations will be able to share personal data securely with the Republic of Korea before the end of the year as the UK finalises legislation for its first independent adequacy decision.

Allowing businesses in both countries to share data without restrictions will make it easier for them to operate and grow. Once in force, the legislation is estimated to cut administrative and financial burdens for UK businesses by £11 million a year and is expected to increase exports to South Korea by £3.8 million annually.

Personal data is information related to an individual, such as a name or email address, and data must be protected to a high standard to ensure it’s collected, shared and used in a trustworthy way.

After agreeing to a data adequacy agreement in principle in July 2022, the UK government has completed its full assessment of the Republic of Korea’s personal data legislation. The government has concluded that the Republic of Korea has strong privacy laws in place which will protect data transfers to South Korea while upholding the rights and protections of UK citizens.

Before now, organisations needed to have costly and time-consuming contractual safeguards in place, such as standard data protection clauses and Binding Corporate Rules. The new freedoms will open up opportunities for many small and medium sized businesses who may have avoided international data transfers to Korea due to these burdens.

Removing barriers to data transfers will also boost research and innovation by making it easier for experts to collaborate on medical treatments and other vital research which could save lives in the UK. For example, secure international personal data transfers are essential for developing effective medical treatments like vaccines.

UK Data Minister Julia Lopez met with representatives of the Korean Personal Information Protection Commission today to mark the legislation being laid in Parliament, which is expected to come into force from the 19th December.

This is the UK’s first decision to recognise a priority country adequate since leaving the European Union (EU).

The UK’s adequacy decision is broader than the EU’s deal with South Korea. The most significant difference between the two deals is that UK organisations will be able to share personal data related to credit information with the Republic of Korea to help identify customers and verify payments. The ability to share this type of data will help UK businesses with a presence in the Republic of Korea to boost credit, lending, investment and insurance operations in the Republic of Korea.

Data Minister Julia Lopez said:

“ Before the end of the year, businesses will be able to share data freely with the Republic of Korea – safe in the knowledge it will be protected to the high privacy standards we expect in the UK.

“ Removing unnecessary burdens on businesses will help unleash innovation, drive growth and improve lives across both our countries.”

Ko Haksoo Chairperson of the Korean Personal Information Protection Commission said:

“ It’s a great pleasure for us to see the outcome of the UK’s adequacy decision for the Republic of Korea today.

“ I look forward to strengthening our partnership in promoting the trustworthy use and exchange of data between Korea and the UK based on a high level of data protection.”

The Republic of Korea is one of the fastest growing markets for the UK, with more than two-thirds of British services exports to the country data-enabled.

John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner, said:

“ We support the Government in undertaking adequacy assessments to enable personal data to flow freely to trusted partners around the world.

“ We provided advice to the Government during this assessment of the Republic of Korea, and we are satisfied with the Government’s recognition of similar data protection rights and protection in Korean laws. This will bring certainty to UK businesses and reduce the burden of compliance, while ensuring people’s data is handled responsibly.”
November 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Farmers given support to tackle water and air pollution from slurry [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 November 2022.

Farmers in England will soon be able to apply for grants of up to £250,000 to improve their slurry storage, helping them to prevent water and air pollution and make the best of their organic nutrients.

Around half of slurry stores in England are not fit-for-purpose, forcing farmers to spread slurry when there is no crop need, wasting valuable fertiliser and causing preventable air and water pollution. This means many farms can end up failing to comply with their legal obligations for storage and spreading of slurry.

Investing in good slurry management is an important step that farmers can take to protect the environment. Slurry is a valuable source of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which can be used to grow crops.

The first round of the Slurry Infrastructure grant, which will be administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) and opens for applications on Tuesday 6 December, will make £13 million available for livestock farmers to build six months of slurry storage capacity.

Guidance for the grant, which will run over multiple years, has been published today, with farmers able to apply for grants of £25,000 – £250,000 towards the cost of slurry stores, covers and supporting equipment. Grants can be used to build, replace or expand storage. They can also contribute towards a range of solutions like lagoons, steel and concrete ring tanks and large slurry bags.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

We know livestock farmers want to invest in slurry systems that support quality food production and protect the environment, but many are put off by high infrastructure costs and difficulty accessing finance.

The Slurry Infrastructure grant will tackle this, helping farmers to invest in future-proof slurry storage that supports thriving farms while cutting pollution and allowing nature to prosper.

When badly managed, the nitrate and phosphate in slurry end up in rivers, streams and the sea and can cause harmful algal blooms which block sunlight and deplete oxygen, causing damage to natural habitats and wildlife. Slurry also releases large amounts of ammonia into the atmosphere, which returns to the land as nitrogen. The build-up of nitrogen causes certain plants to thrive, limiting species diversity and harming vulnerable habitats.

Enlarging and covering slurry stores will help reduce the 60% of nitrate pollution, 25% of phosphate pollution and 87% of ammonia emissions that come from agriculture. It will also help farmers to cut costs on artificial fertilisers, delivering long-term productivity benefits through improved nutrient management and soil health.

Paul Caldwell, CEO of the RPA, said:

Improving slurry storage offers farmers an opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of their businesses and cut input costs.

We hope this scheme, which is the result of months of work with farmers and industry, will receive a significant number of applications for this first and future rounds.

The grant is the result of months of co-design with farmers and experts from across sectors. It builds on support Defra already provides for slurry equipment and best practice through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund and Countryside Stewardship, and will offer farmers an opportunity to build storage systems that exceed storage regulations, support spreading regulations, and improve nutrient use on farm.

Full guidance for the grant has been published today before applications open on 6 December. The guidance explains what the grant offers, the scheme rules and how to apply. It also includes resources to help farmers plan their storage and information for Local Planning Authorities. The online application window will run until 31 January 2023. All applicants will be told whether they have been shortlisted for full application.

Depending on demand in the first round, applicants will be prioritised in areas where action is most needed to reduce water and air pollution from agriculture.

November 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UK to give artillery rounds and helicopters as part of military aid to Ukraine [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 23 November 2022.

An additional 10,000 artillery rounds will be provided by the UK to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s illegal invasion, the Defence Secretary has announced on a visit to Norway.

The rounds will enhance Ukraine’s defensive capability and come as the first delivery of Sea King helicopters arrives in Ukraine to provide key search and rescue capabilities.

The Royal Navy provided a six-week programme of Sea King training in the UK for 10 crews of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and associated engineers.

The additional military aid comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Kyiv at the weekend, where he announced a £50 million package of defence aid. That package included 125 anti-aircraft guns and technology to counter deadly Iranian-supplied drones, including dozens of radars and anti-drone electronic warfare capability.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

Our Support for Ukraine is unwavering. These additional artillery rounds will help Ukraine to secure the land it has reclaimed from Russia in recent weeks.

The Defence Secretary is visiting Norway where he will host a meeting of the Northern Group of defence ministers onboard the UK’s aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The meeting is expected to cover the implications of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, security developments in Northern Europe, and Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership applications.

The Northern Group is a UK initiative which aims to promote more coherent, efficient and effective defence and security co-operation in northern Europe. It comprises 12 nations; Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK.

The UK is also supplying winter kit to Ukraine’s troops as they continue to battle to liberate their country from Russian forces as winter rapidly approaches – when temperatures are known to sink to minus 20°C and below in parts of the country.

Heavy duty sleeping bags and roll mats, combined with heated accommodation and personal winter clothing, will help to prevent cold-related injuries and ensure troops can operate effectively and efficiently.

November 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Up to £600 for pensioners arrive in bank accounts from today [November 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 23 November 2022.
- From today, over 11.6 million pensioners will start to receive up to £600 to help with their energy bills this winter, as prices are pushed up by Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.
- This support, worth over £4.5 billion, is part of an extensive package helping people of all ages with the cost of heating their homes, including through the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme [available to eligible households in England, Scotland and Wales], and the Energy Price Guarantee saving typical households £900.
From today (23 November 2022), over 11.6 million pensioners in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will start to receive payments of up to £600 to help with their energy bills this winter.

Winter Fuel Payments – boosted this year by an additional £300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment – will land in bank accounts over the next two months, the vast majority automatically.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said:

We want to do everything we can to support pensioners who are often the most exposed to higher costs. That’s why we’re providing all pensioner households with an additional £300 on top of their Winter Fuel Payments to heat their homes and stay warm this winter.

This extra payment is just one part of the wider support package we’re delivering to help with rising bills, including the biggest State Pension increase in history.

Our support doesn’t stop here. As we deal with the impact of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the pandemic, we will continue to stand by the most vulnerable, with further cost of living payments coming next year.

The money will appear in bank statements with the payment reference starting with the customer’s national Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP’ for people in Great Britain, or ‘DFC WFP’ for people in Northern Ireland.

The overwhelming majority of Winter Fuel Payments are paid automatically but some people need to make a claim, such as those who qualify but do not receive benefits or the State Pension and have never previously received a Winter Fuel Payment.

This month, over seven million payments of £324 have already been made to low-income households as part of this government’s cost of living support. This includes pensioners receiving Pension Credit.

The average Pension Credit award is worth over £3,500 a year, and for those pensioners who may be eligible but are yet to make an application, there is still time to do so and qualify for this additional £324 payment.

This is because Pension Credit claims can be backdated by up to three months, provided the entitlement conditions are met throughout that time.

To ensure that a successful backdated claim falls within the qualifying period for extra £324 cost of living help, pensioners are being urged to claim Pension Credit as soon as possible, and by no later than 18 December 2022.

The online Pension Credit calculator is on hand to help pensioners check if they’re likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive.

Further cost of living support to be paid next year was announced by the Chancellor in his Autumn Statement last week. Payments will include a further £300 for pensioners, £900 for households on means-tested benefits and £150 for those on disability benefits.
November 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UK minister to strengthen ties across the Pacific in first overseas visit [November 2022]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2022.
- Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan will visit Vanuatu and Australia this week
- she will attend the Conference of the Pacific Community to boost diplomatic links with the region
- Minister will then travel to Australia for talks on trade and security
Underlining the UK’s commitment to deepening ties with the Pacific Islands, Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan will today (23 November) arrive in Vanuatu for her first overseas trip, following her appointment as an FCDO Minister last month.

Minister Trevelyan will hold talks with Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jotham Napat about the priorities of their recently-elected government.

As a Commonwealth partner on the frontline of climate change, the UK works closely with Vanuatu to strengthen maritime security, climate resilience as well as capacity building in the region.

The Minister will then attend the 12th Conference of the Pacific Community to build closer diplomatic ties with leaders from across the region. Representatives of the 26 countries and territories that constitute the bloc will attend for talks on climate change, development, science and innovation.

The region remains critical to delivering on key UK priorities, including securing an open and stable Indo-Pacific, tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.

Many Pacific Islands have small populations and face geographic isolation and vulnerability to natural disasters. Rising sea levels could see some countries uninhabitable within 4 decades.

The UK is working with these small island developing states to build a cleaner, safer and more resilient future, including through the Blue Planet Fund, which will support economic development while protecting nature and increasing climate resilience.

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

On my first trip as Minister for the Indo-Pacific, I want to underline the UK’s steadfast commitment to the region and how we can work together to bolster global prosperity and security.

The UK will deepen our engagement in the Pacific, a region where we have a close history, many friends, and share the values of sovereignty, territorial integrity and free trade.

Vanuatu is on the front line of the climate emergency, and we are working with them alongside other partners to accelerate global action on tackling climate change.

During the conference, Minister Trevelyan will hold talks with her counterparts from across the Pacific and support their work addressing climate change, security and prosperity.

The UK is working with the region to deliver its 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which sets out Pacific countries’ vision for a cleaner, safer and more resilient future.

While in Vanuatu’s capital, the Minister will co-host a dinner with the New Zealand High Commissioner to celebrate women in leadership across the Pacific, alongside Vanuatu’s Deputy Speaker Gloria Julia King.

She will also join young volunteers with community group and non-profit organisation Wan Smolbag to hear how they are affected by and adapting to climate change. The group operates across the South Pacific, running programmes to boost youth engagement on education, health and the environment.

Following her visit to Vanuatu, the Minister will travel to Australia, arriving on 25 November. She will attend talks with her Foreign and Defence Ministry counterparts to discuss UK-Australia security and defence cooperation, including the AUKUS agreement.
November 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Consultation launched to protect patients from silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance [November 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 23 November 2022.

New consultation launched to inform next stage of tackling antimicrobial resistance building on 20-year vision.
- Recent estimates suggest that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) causes 1.27 million deaths globally each year and 7,600 deaths in the UK each year
- Views sought to inform next 5-year plan to tackle what has been described as the next potential global pandemic
The increasing risk to patients of superbugs resistant to existing medicines will be the focus of a new consultation launched today (Wednesday 23 November 2022).

The consultation will bring together the latest evidence and data from leading experts on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It will help inform a new 5-year national action plan to protect patients from deadly infections and will capture learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The consultation has been launched to coincide with World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022, with this year’s theme focused on ensuring that affected sectors – such as food, plants, environment and health – collaborate together to fight AMR.

Resistance to antimicrobials is increasing, creating a new generation of ‘superbugs’ that cannot be treated with existing medicines. Without working antibiotics, routine surgery like caesarean sections or hip replacements will become too dangerous to perform, cancer chemotherapy will become too high risk and certain infections will require long and complex treatment or will no longer be treatable.

Prof Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on AMR, said:

Antimicrobial resistance may be the defining health challenge of this century.

I am proud of the UK’s efforts on research and development, stewardship, surveillance and international engagement across all sectors.

I hope that our next national action plan will show that we can learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and collaborate to step up our actions.

A report published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this week showed there were more than 50,000 severe antibiotic-resistant infections in England last year including bloodstream infections, skin infections, surgical site infections and skin and soft tissue infections.

The report also found the number of severe antibiotic resistant infections rose by 2.2.% in England compared to 2020, the equivalent of 148 infections per day. It warns that progress made on antibiotic use may not be sustained unless we continue to use antibiotics appropriately.

Dr Colin Brown, Deputy Director of Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections at UKHSA, said:

Antimicrobial resistance is not a distant problem that we can ignore – infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria are killing thousands of people every year in this country and globally, as well as having a huge economic impact.

Our extensive data and surveillance programmes have identified the immense scale of the issue in this country. It has pinpointed areas for action, with targets to improve prescribing and limit antimicrobial-resistant and healthcare-associated infections over the last 5 years. We will continue to work with partners to respond to current threats and prepare for future challenges.

It is vital the future national action plan targets include measures to limit resistance, incentivise best practice in prescribing, and facilitate novel diagnostics and therapeutics.

The new 5 year national action plan will form the next stage of the government’s existing 20-year AMR strategy, published in 2019. It set out an initial 5-year plan which will run until 2024. This consultation will seek views to ensure that the next 5-year plan – continuing up until 2029 – is informed by the most up-to-date evidence.

Since the publication of the 2019 strategy, government has made significant progress in tackling AMR, for example reducing the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals, piloting novel and innovative ways of evaluating and paying for antibiotics on the NHS through a subscription model – a world first – and securing commitments to tackle AMR on several ministerial tracks during the UK’s G7 presidency.

Input from technical experts (including on human health, animal and plant health, food and AMR in the environment) is encouraged as part of the consultation, to help shape the UK’s 2024 to 2029 national action plan.

It is also aiming to attract context from how we helped to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, as the tools we use will be similar – such as with vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and public behaviours.
November 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : A Yemeni-led truce continues to represent the best opportunity for progress [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 November 2022.

Thank you President. And let me thank Special Envoy Grundberg and Ms Ghelani for their briefing today.

We are encouraged that most truce measures continue to hold since the lack of extension in October, and we call for an end to the disturbing pattern of terrorist attacks on international shipping from the Houthis.

The targeting of ships in the Southern ports of Al-Dabba and Qena poses a serious threat to peace and risks depriving millions of Yemenis from access to basic goods.

We call on the Houthis to take the peaceful route, by pursuing a negotiated, Yemeni-led political settlement under UN auspices.

President,

The humanitarian crisis continues to suffer from interwoven challenges. The Independent Interagency Humanitarian Evaluation found that, despite its growing scale, much of the aid quality was “unacceptably low”.

The relative peace of the last eight months has not alleviated the impact of the preceding years of violent war. 17 million Yemenis remain exposed to an acute food insecurity crisis with many more projected to be affected in coming years.

This humanitarian crisis underlines the importance of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, recently renewed until March. It has facilitated the import of over 60,000 metric tonnes of wheat into Yemen this month and will continue to be an important lifeline for Yemenis as we’ve heard again today from Ms Ghelani.

Internal displacement remains prevalent across Yemen. For those who do choose to return home, the risks of explosive remnants of war is real. The UK is supportive of ongoing demining initiatives, and urges the international community to unite behind this issue.

President,

As we approach the start of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the UK reiterates its commitment to working towards a future where all women and girls live free from the fear of violence. We call for an end to the Houthi-imposed Mahram restrictions that are directly curbing the freedoms of Yemeni women.

President,

The only permanent resolution to all these issues is long-term peace. And as I said, this will require a negotiated, Yemeni-led political settlement under UN auspices.

The truce continues to represent the best opportunity for progress and for the sake of the Yemeni people, this opportunity must not be squandered.

Thank you.

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

November 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Autumn Finance Bill 2022 published [November 2022]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 22 November 2022.

The Autumn Finance Bill 2022 was published today (22 November 2022), legislating for a key tax changes announced by the Chancellor at last week’s Autumn Statement.
- The Autumn Finance Bill 2022 was published today (22 November 2022), legislating for key tax changes announced at the Autumn Statement last week, including raising and extending the Energy Profits Levy and lowering the additional rate threshold to £125,140.
- The Bill serves as a down payment on the government’s commitment to stabilise the economy through fair policies, where those with the broadest shoulders bear the most burden
- The main Spring Finance Bill 2023 will follow the spring Budget in the usual way, for remaining tax measures needed ahead of April 2023.
Measures in the Bill will see those with the broadest shoulders carry the heaviest burden as the government drives down inflation and restores economic stability following the impact of the pandemic and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Measures include:
- The Energy Profits Levy (EPL) is being extended to help fund cost of living support and ensure oil and gas companies pay their fair share of tax. The rate of tax applied to the profits of oil and gas companies is increasing from 25% to 35% and the sunset clause changing to March 2028 rather than December 2025. This measure also reduces the investment allowance from 80% to 29%, except for investment expenditure on upstream decarbonisation, where it will remain at 80%. This broadly maintains the existing cash value of total tax relief for non-decarbonisation investments.
- The threshold for the additional rate of income tax will be lowered from £150,000 to £125,140, making sure making sure those on the highest incomes contribute the most to strong public finances.
- The Dividend Allowance will be reduced from £2,000 to £1,000 from April 2023 and to £500 from April 2024, and the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) annual exempt amount will be reduced from £12,300 to £6,000 in April 2023, and £3,000 in April 2024. These changes make the tax system fairer by bringing the treatment of unearned income closer in line with that of income earnt by employees.
- Making sure all motorists pay a fairer tax contribution by introducing Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for Electric Vehicles (EVs) from April 2025. This aligns their taxation with that of petrol and diesel vehicles, reflecting their permanent role in the net-zero economy of the future. Alongside this, the government will provide certainty on favourable Company Car Tax rates for electric cars until 2028.
- To ensure the tax system supports strong public finances, income tax thresholds will remain fixed at their current levels until 2028, an extension of two years.
- To help support the public finances in a way that is fair, the current thresholds for inheritance tax will also remain in place until 2028, an extension of two years.
- Research and development (R&D) tax reliefs will be reformed to make sure taxpayers’ money is spent as effectively as possible, including through reducing error and fraud. From 1 April 2023 the Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) rate will be increased to 20% from 13%, the SME deduction rate will be reduced to 86% from 130%, and the Small and Medium Enterprise credit rate decreased to 10% from 14.5%.
The main Spring Finance Bill 2023 will follow the spring Budget in the usual way, for remaining tax measures needed ahead of April 2023.

The Autumn Finance Bill 2022 had its first reading today (Tuesday, 22 November) and will follow the normal legislative path through Parliament.
November 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UK, France and Germany condemn Iran’s decision to further expand its nuclear programme [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 November 2022.

The UK, France and Germany (the E3) have issued a joint statement condemning the Iranian regime’s decision to further expand its nuclear programme.

The E3 said:

We, the governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom condemn Iran’s latest steps, as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to further expand its nuclear programme.

By increasing its production capabilities at Fordow and Natanz, well beyond Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) limits, and by accelerating its production of enriched uranium, Iran has taken further significant steps in hollowing out the JCPoA.

Especially concerning is Iran’s decision to increase its production of High Enriched Uranium (HEU) at its underground facility at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. Iran’s step is a challenge to the global non-proliferation system. This step, which carries significant proliferation-related risks, has no credible civilian justification.

Iran’s actions are even more concerning since, 5 months ago, Iran stopped implementing all JCPoA-related transparency measures.

Presenting this escalation as a reaction to the IAEA Board of Governors’ adoption of a resolution calling for Iran’s cooperation on safeguards is unacceptable. Iran is legally obliged under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to fully implement its safeguards agreement.

We will continue to consult, alongside international partners, on how best to address Iran’s continued nuclear escalation.

November 23, 2022