Written Statements
Advanced Manufacturing
(2 months ago)
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The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Gareth Davies)
Today the Government have announced over £360 million of joint Government and industry investment in 16 UK advanced manufacturing projects, securing highly skilled jobs, building a stronger economy and cementing the UK as a global leader in industries of the future.
This involves a combined industry and Government investment of almost £73 million in projects to accelerate the development of zero-emission vehicle technology in the UK, almost £200 million in projects to develop energy efficient and zero-carbon aircraft technology, and almost £92 million in life science manufacturing projects. The funding awarded is targeted to support the sectors where the UK is or could be world-leading and is designed to unlock investment from the private sector to help grow our economy.
The Chancellor is also announcing an up to £120 million increase to the green industries growth accelerator (GIGA) to support clean energy manufacturing. Around £390 million has been earmarked to expand UK-based supply chains for electricity networks and offshore wind sectors, and around £390 million for the carbon capture, utilisation and storage and hydrogen sectors. This is alongside the £300 million previously announced for UK production of the fuel required to power high-tech new nuclear reactors, known as HALEU.
The GIGA funding will enable the UK to seize growth opportunities through the transition to net zero, building on our world-leading decarbonisation track record. It forms part of the Government’s priority to grow the economy focusing on making the right long-term decisions for a brighter future by creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country.
This follows £4.5 billion announced in the 2023 autumn statement to increase investment in strategic manufacturing sectors—auto, aero, life sciences and clean energy—across the UK for five years from 2025. This autumn statement announcement included £975 million in funding for the aerospace sector, and the Government have confirmed that this will be allocated to the Aerospace Technology Institute programme.
Alongside this, the Government are setting out further details of the £50 million apprenticeship growth sector pilot announced in the 2023 autumn statement. The pilot will boost funding for eligible providers delivering 13 high-value advanced manufacturing and engineering, green and life sciences apprenticeships standards, and will explore ways to stimulate training and break down barriers to delivery of high-quality training, with a particular focus on up-front capital investment costs.
[HCWS307]
Fairer Regulation of Farming
(2 months ago)
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The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Steve Barclay)
In June 2023, the Government launched a consultation on how hedgerows should be protected in England. The consultation asked for views on the Government’s proposals to maintain protections for hedgerows by bringing management rules into domestic legislation. These rules included maintaining green cover 2 metres from the centre of a hedgerow, prohibiting hedge cutting between 1 March and 31 August, and the relevant exemptions related to these rules. The consultation also proposed a suite of civil sanctions that could be used to address non-compliance with the rules as part of a proportionate, supportive regime.
Hedgerows are an important part of our countryside and have many important benefits for our wildlife and environment as well as their contribution to the landscape. Although this consultation asked specifically about protecting hedgerows on agricultural land, we also asked where the Government should focus our ambitions for future hedgerows policy. Responses to this question showed strong support for extending protections outside of agricultural land as all hedgerows are important havens for wildlife. The Government will continue to consider how best to support the sustainable management and protection of hedgerows in different contexts, taking account of the views expressed through this consultation.
We know that our farmers and land managers value our hedgerows. There are now over 90,000 km of hedgerows with one or both sides being managed under 16,000 countryside stewardship and sustainable farming incentive agreements in England. Through countryside stewardship capital grants over 13,000 km of hedgerows have been created or restored.
We received 8,841 responses to the consultation, which closed in September 2023. We considered all the responses carefully and have today published the Government response to the consultation on www.gov.uk.
There was overwhelming support for hedgerow management measures to come into legislation, and we will now bring forward secondary legislation setting these out as soon as possible, to ensure that these important protections are in place quickly. We trust our farmers to look after hedgerows and the new legislation will provide the reassurance that all are following the same management approach. Alongside the continuation of our hedgerow offers in our environmental land management schemes, this will underline a commitment to protecting hedgerows and supporting those who look after them.
The legislation will maintain the same level of protections as previous cross compliance rules did, but our approach to enforcement of the proposed new regulation will be different, with a focus on being fair and proportionate. We have learned lessons from previous approaches and believe that an advice-led approach will result in the best outcomes. We will be talking to farmers and environmental organisations about this, as well as consulting as required by the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008.
[HCWS309]
Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
(2 months ago)
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The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Mr Andrew Mitchell)
I wish to inform the House of the completion of the new framework document for the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, an arm’s length body, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which delivers the Marshall Scholarship programme on our behalf.
The Marshall Scholarship programme supports intellectually gifted young Americans to study in the United Kingdom. Marshall scholars return home at the end of their studies with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the United Kingdom and strengthen the enduring relationship between Britain and the United States of America. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is proud to sponsor the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission to deliver this important scholarship programme.
The framework document will be in place until March 2025 and governs the relationship between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, setting out roles and responsibilities, and governance and accountability, including financial matters. The framework document will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
[HCWS305]
Suicide Prevention Grant Fund
(2 months ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Maria Caulfield)
On 25 August 2023, my Department launched a £10 million suicide prevention grant fund to support voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in delivering suicide prevention activity in England. Organisation Total Award Predominant area of delivery 10 Windsor Walk CIC £233,537.62 In the London Boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth (psychotherapy) and nationally (film tour) Action on Postpartum Psychosis £123,668.00 National Active Prospects £105,800.00 Mainly in Surrey and West Sussex, but also working with people from Croydon, Sutton, Kingston, Brighton and Hove AMAT UK £94,357.00 Medway Council Aspens Charities £150,000.00 Kent and Sussex Base 51 £9,587.00 Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team £245,386.00 East Sussex at Beachy Head Coastal Cliffs Bipolar UK £250,000.00 National Birmingham Irish Association £45,375.00 Birmingham with some national reach Bolton Lads and Girls Club £9,936.00 Olton local authority Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Service £95,580.00 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Craven Town Council Brave Futures £22,530.00 Suffolk: Babergh District, East Suffolk, Ipswich Borough, Mid Suffolk and West Suffolk. Norfolk: North Norfolk, South Norfolk, Norwich, Breckland, Broadland, Great Yarmouth, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire (CPSL) Mind Ltd £176,688.00 Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire Chapter West Cheshire £9,995.00 Cheshire West and Chester Chesterfield Citizens Advice Bureau £99,760.00 Chesterfield Borough Council, North East Derbyshire District Council and Bolsover District Council Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change Ltd £171,083.32 Camborne, Pool, Redruth and St Austell Druglink £135,000.00 Hertfordshire Emerge Advocacy £126,095.00 Surrey, Kent, Berkshire Empowerment Charity Lancashire £80,000.00 Blackpool Every Life Matters £64,756.00 Cumbria Fabrica £9,974.00 Brighton and Hove Family Action £197,794.00 Bolton Family Intervention Counselling Service CIC (FICS) £113,625.00 Warwickshire First Step, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland £76,845.00 Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Footprints Project Limited £5,908.00 Regionally across Dorset and Hampshire. Dorset Council, and BCP, Hampshire County council and unity authorities. Home Group £200,000.00 Durham and Darlington Home-Start Trafford, Salford and Wigan £43,823.77 Trafford, Salford and Wigan Inclusion Hampshire £163,531.00 Basingstoke Mencap (Basingstoke and Deane) and Danny's Place Equine Therapy (Winchester, rural Hampshire) Ipsum £96,270.00 Swindon Islington Mind £65,939.00 Regionally across all Greater London boroughs James’ Place Charity £625,000.00 Across north-west England including Merseyside, across north-east England including Tyneside and Wear, and London, including the City of London and Greater London Jigsaw4u Ltd £68,698.00 Regionally. SW London Boroughs of Croydon, Merton, Sutton, Wandsworth, Kingston and Richmond-upon-Thames Katie Piper Foundation £263,192.00 Nationally Kindred Minds £7,069.00 Liverpool local authority area with capacity to reach out to neighbouring Merseyside boroughs Lancashire Mind Limited £119,981 Regionally within Lancashire with a focus on Chorley, Preston and Lancaster but open to anyone living within Lancashire Lancaster Men’s Hub £9,950.00 Regionally. Within the approximate boundaries of Lancaster City Council, Lancashire Lawn Manor Academy £9,000.00 Swindon (or Wiltshire if extended through the MAT) Lincolnshire Rural Support Network £85,918.00 Regionally, primarily in the area covered by Lincolnshire County Council Listening Place £51,000.00 London Mankind UK £224,830.71 Brighton and Hove Mental Health Foundation £110,636.00 Regional, but based in London Mental Health Innovations £625,000.00 Nationally, but based in London Mersey Counselling and Therapy Centre £42,657.00 Birkenhead and the surrounding area of the Liverpool City Region. LA is Wirral Merseyside Water Rescue £5,329.00 Liverpool Missing People £199,009.00 South-east, south-west, midlands, north-west and north-east; and adding seven new force areas—Bedfordshire, Humberside, Staffordshire, Kent, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Essex Nafisiyat £79,068.00 North London Nai’s House CIO £23,050.00 Cherwell and Didcot National Suicide Prevention Alliance (hosted by Samaritans) £150,000.00 Nationally Nepacs (North East Prison After Care Society) £332,771.00 Regionally in North-east No Place Productions £23,602.00 Regionally (north-west). LAs covered are: Liverpool, Wigan, Fylde, Preston and Lancaster North Devon Against Domestic Abuse Limited £108,532.00 Devon Oakleaf Enterprise £8,645.00 Guildford and Waverley PAPYRUS Prevention Of Young Suicide £625,000.00 Regionally across the East of England (but with national reach) Penhaligon’s Friends £9,400.00 Cornwall Place2Be £399,916.00 Nationally—south-west England Roundabout Ltd £88,184.00 Sheffield Safeline Warwick £415,497.00 Nationally in England and locally in Warwickshire and Coventry SafeNet Domestic Abuse and Support Services £36,512.50 Regionally, throughout Lancashire and parts of Greater Manchester (Bury, Oldham, Rochdale borough councils) Saffron Sheffield Women’s Counselling and Therapy Service Limited (Saffron) £38,127.00 Sheffield Samaritans £530,000.00 Nationally Samaritans of Harrogate and District £8,500.00 Harrogate as well as regional/nationally SJOG (St John of God Hospitaller Services) £153,461.00 Tees Valley South Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind Ltd £116,730.60 Warwickshire and Worcestershire County Councils St Giles Trust £194,912.00 Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield St Paul’s Hostel £1,000.00 Worcestershire County Council and surroundings districts Stockport County Community Trust £16,800.00 Stockport Stockton and District Advice and Information Service £108,665.00 Regionally—Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees Sunflowers Suicide Support £86,948.00 Regionally in Gloucestershire Survivors Of Bereavement By Suicide £50,434.00 Nationally Talk off the Record Youth Counselling Croydon £129,250.00 Regionally in London boroughs of Croydon, Merton and Sutton Teens in Crisis (TIC+) £100,054.65 Gloucestershire The Russ Devereux Headlight Project CIO £9,950.00 Tees Valley combined authority area The University of Warwick £8,690.11 Coventry/Warwickshire The Warren of Hull Ltd £123,371.00 Kingston upon Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire Council UK Men’s Sheds Association £143,608.00 North of England and East Midlands Warrington Youth Zone Limited £37,359.00 Regionally, across the Borough of Warrington We Hear You £90,000.00 Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Wirral Mind £110,856.00 Merseyside, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholder Forum Charitable Trust £8,000.00 Wolverhampton
I am pleased to today confirm the 79 successful organisations which have been awarded funding from the scheme. I would like to put on the record my thanks to all those organisations that applied, and for all the suicide prevention activity that is delivered on a daily basis, up and down the country.
The list of provisional awardees was published today at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-grant-fund-2023-to-2025 and can be found below.
The commitment is part of this Government’s plan to make health and care services faster, simpler and fairer.
I look forward to seeing the important and innovative activities that will follow as a result of this funding, in some of the most at-risk regions in England and to the groups who most need it. This is an important milestone in delivering the new “Suicide prevention strategy for England: 2023 to 2028” which we published in September 2023 and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-strategy-for-england-2023-to-2028/suicide-prevention-in-england-5-year-cross-sector-strategy
The voluntary, community and social enterprise sector plays a critical role in providing support to people experiencing suicidal thoughts or approaching a mental health crisis, as well as intervening early to prevent people reaching these points. Ultimately, their work saves countless lives and this grant will help ensure that they can keep doing that.
This grant builds on the record sums of money this Government have invested to transform and expand NHS mental health services as well as the successes of a previous grant fund of £5.4 million in 2021-22. That fund supported over 100 voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, with overwhelmingly positive results, including helping to address demand after the covid-19 pandemic, improving access to services for people in need, and helping identify those in need, quicker.
[HCWS308]
Access to Justice
(2 months ago)
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The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Chalk)
The Government are announcing today that we will introduce legislation in this parliamentary Session that will address the impacts of the UK Supreme Court judgment in PACCAR, which concerned a claim against truck manufacturers regarding anti-competitive behaviour.
Third-party litigation funding enables people to get funding to bring big and complex claims against bigger, better-resourced corporations, which they could not otherwise afford.
The Supreme Court judgment in July 2023 rendered third-party litigation funding agreements unenforceable. Uncertainty around litigation funding risks a detrimental impact on the attractiveness of the England and Wales jurisdiction as a global hub for commercial litigation and arbitration, and on access to justice more broadly.
This Bill will enhance access to justice and the attractiveness of a thriving UK legal sector, which contributes over £34 billion per annum to the UK economy.
The Post Office Horizon scandal has also underlined the importance of third-party litigation funding, as the postmasters’ claim was only possible due to the backing of a litigation funder. This highlights a clear access to justice deficit which, without legislation to mitigate the impacts of the judgment in full, would continue indefinitely.
The new legislation, which will apply to all proceedings, will remove this risk and allow the Government to deliver a return to a funding regime which promotes access to justice, as well as enhancing the competitiveness of the jurisdiction.
[HCWS306]