Category: Gov Press Releases

• The Creative Industries Clusters Programme, a key deliverable in the Industrial Strategy’s Creative Industries Sector Deal, brings together creative hubs across the UK with researchers and businesses to boost their world-leading status
• Sony UK Technology Centre, BBC Cymru and S4C are some of the partners involved in the research

Wales’ thriving screen and broadcast industries are to join forces with researchers and organisations to explore new ways of boosting jobs and growth.

The Clwstwr Creadigol project, led by Cardiff University, is looking to transform the screen and broadcast industries in the Cardiff region by helping them to innovate and compete, aimed at responding to changing technologies such as the emergence of 5G mobile infrastructure and changing patterns of consumption.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

The screen and broadcast industries in South Wales are massive success stories for the whole of the UK, creating skilled jobs and business opportunities across the country.

The creative industries in Wales currently contributes over £1 billion a year to the UK’s economy, and through our modern Industrial Strategy we are investing to enable the sector to keep on growing and bringing the benefits to all corners of the United Kingdom.

Led by the Arts and Humanities Research Council within UKRI, the £80 million Creative Industries Clusters Programme comprises nine creative clusters across the UK and a new Policy and Evidence Centre, led by Nesta in partnership with 13 universities. The programme will bring together world-class research talent with companies and organisations, including household names such as Aardman, Burberry and Sony, in a first-of-its kind research and development investment.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said:

Britain’s creative industries are an economic and cultural powerhouse and the Creative Clusters will ensure they continue to thrive in regions across the country.

These partnerships between business, academia and industry will encourage the use of future technology to develop new products and experiences, and boost employment opportunities across the breadth of the UK.

This investment, through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and industry, offers support to Wales’ globally important creative industries, which are already worth over £1 billion to the UK economy, and supports 63,000 jobs. The aim of the Clusters programme is to create jobs and drive the creation of companies, products and experiences that can be marketed around the world.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

Wales is a creative nation, and the creative industries provide valuable jobs and opportunities for thousands of people across the country.

This UK Government investment cements South Wales’ place as a global leader in the screen and broadcast industries. Taken together with the benefits that will arise from the abolition of the Severn tolls, this funding will also provide added impetus to work collaboratively with the burgeoning creative sector in the South West of England, boosting the regional economy and enabling our businesses to promote their excellent work around the world.

Professor Andrew Thompson, Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, said:

Combining world-class arts and humanities researchers with our globally renowned creative industries will underpin growth in this vibrant and rapidly expanding sector within the UK economy.

These pioneering partnerships between industry and universities are providing a huge vote of confidence for a sector that is vital to the future prosperity of the UK.

A new Policy and Evidence Centre has also been established that will address gaps in the evidence base on the national economic strength of the UK’s creative industries. Led by global innovation foundation Nesta, it will develop independent evidence that will inform decision-making across the creative industries and underpin future policy decisions.

ENDS

• Serious consideration is being given to a set of political ideas and confidence-building measures that would allow for the start of political talks in Sweden by the end of November.
• Coalition agrees to Houthi medical evacuation, with agreed conditions. This is a major development given that this was a prior block to talks.
• UK to continue to discussions with partners on how Security Council can support political process and lead to improvements on the humanitarian situation.

Following the visit of Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the Saudi-led Coalition have agreed to the evacuation of wounded Houthis from Yemen, one of the key stumbling blocks to the UN Geneva talks in September.

Subject to final reassurances, Coalition forces will now permit the UN to oversee a Houthi medical evacuation, including up to fifty wounded fighters, to Oman, ahead of another proposed round of peace talks in Sweden later this month.

The Foreign Secretary’s trip to the Middle East, during which he met with the senior leadership of the Saudi, UAE and Yemeni governments, and spoke with the Foreign Minister of Oman, helped improve understanding on steps that would lead to a cessation of hostilities.

The Foreign Secretary had constructive discussions on pathways to achieve de-escalation and reduce tensions, and was clear that both sides would need to play their part in confidence-building measures.

Meanwhile the UK will continue discussions with partners on how the UN Security Council can support the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths’ on the political process and improving the humanitarian situation. This will include discussions on

he draft UN Security Council Resolution on Yemen ahead of a Security Council briefing on the issue on 16 November.

The Foreign Secretary also used meetings with Saudi Arabia’s rulers to push for real accountability against those responsible for the brutal murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, pointing out both the strong international condemnation and the need for evidence that such an act could never happen again.

In the days preceding the visit, the Foreign Secretary spoke with his US, German and French counterparts in order to deliver a coordinated response to the challenges facing the region.

Speaking following his visit Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt said:

The world’s worst humanitarian crisis is not a natural disaster. It is the man-made situation in Yemen. I have just been in Saudi Arabia and the UAE because there is a window of opportunity to tackle it.

75% of the population in Yemen require humanitarian assistance and 8.4 million are at risk of starvation. We have to act.

Diplomacy and negotiation remain the only path to ending the conflict and I am encouraged that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have shown their support for the UN peace process, led by Special Envoy Martin Griffiths.

In my meetings we have made progress in removing the largest stumbling block to previous proposed rounds of peace talks, and set out a credible path to a de-escalation of military activity.

I will continue talking to partners about the best way for the Security Council to support the UN Special Envoy’s efforts on the political process and improve the humanitarian situation. We await Martin Griffiths’ important briefing to the Security Council on 16 November.

Overall, I leave the region encouraged by these signs of progress, and I am determined to do what it takes to convert this into a lasting peace for the people of Yemen.

Further information

• Follow the Foreign Secretary on Twitter @Jeremy_Hunt
• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

The Queen has been pleased to appoint Mrs Anna Turner DL as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Shropshire to succeed Sir Algernon Heber-Percy KCVO when he retires on 2 January 2019.

The Minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, has condemned the terrorist attacks carried out in Mogadishu on 9 November, and offered her condolences to the families of the victims.

Minister for Africa Harriett Baldwin said:

I was deeply saddened to learn of the appalling attacks in Mogadishu on 9 November, which have killed and severely injured many Somalis. My thoughts are with the families of the victims, as well as the people and government of Somalia. I wish those wounded a rapid recovery, and pay tribute to the first responders who reacted to the attack.

All acts of terrorism are indefensible, and the UK condemns this criminal attack in the strongest possible terms. Our determination to support Somalia stands fast. We will continue to help battle against terrorism in the region, and we remain committed to supporting a prosperous and secure Somalia.

Further information

• Follow Foreign Office Minister Harriett Baldwin on Twitter @hbaldwin
• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook

Landlords and tenants are to receive faster and more effective justice in the event of property disputes, under proposals unveiled by Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP.

Government will seek views on a specialist Housing Court which, if created, would provide a single path of redress for both landlords and tenants – meaning both have the security of knowing they have somewhere to go to seek justice, with the power to resolve the dispute.

The vast majority of landlords are responsible owners, but a number of tenants continue to live with the fear of being evicted at short notice or remain stuck in poor accommodation. With housing disputes held in a number of different legal settings, the process can be confusing and act as a deterrent to some of the most vulnerable seeking justice.

Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, said:

Everyone deserves to live in a safe and decent home, and this government is bringing about real change in making renting more secure.

This is particularly important for families and vulnerable tenants who live with the fear of suddenly being forced to move, or fear eviction if they complain about problems with their home. It is also important for landlords who, in a minority of cases, struggle to get their property back when they have reason to do so.

The proposals announced today will help ensure both tenants and landlords can access justice when they need it – creating a fair housing market that works for everyone.

Other proposals include reducing the need for multiple hearings in different courts, transferring certain types of housing cases between the courts and tribunal or vice-versa to ensure cases are resolved quickly and issuing new guidance to help tenants and landlords navigate their way through the legal system.

Changes to further streamline court processes could also provide confidence for landlords to offer longer, more secure tenancies, by making it easier for responsible landlords who provide a high-quality service to regain possession of their tenancy should they need to do so.

This is part of the £1 billion reform programme to build a justice system that is fair, straightforward and accessible to all. It also builds upon comprehensive government action to rebalance the relationship between tenant and landlord.

Other measures being taken include requiring all landlords, like agents, to join a redress scheme; ensuring all letting agents are members of a client money protection scheme to protect landlord and tenants’ hard-earned cash; and banning letting fees and capping tenancy deposits so that tenants have more money in their pockets.

Further information

This call for evidence relates to England only. The impact on Wales of any changes to the current functions of the county court will be addressed separately in collaboration with the Welsh government.

In October 2017, the then Secretary of State committed to consult judiciary on whether to introduce a new specialist housing court. This call for evidence delivers on that commitment but also seeks views from users of the courts such as tenants, landlords and owners.

This call for evidence has been developed with officials from the Ministry of Justice, HM Courts and Tribunals Service and members of the judiciary as part of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government working group.

Respondents will be able to respond by online survey, email or written response. The department will provide a response to the call for evidence following its conclusion.

The 2016 to 2017 English Housing Survey Private Rented Sector report found that 73% of private tenants said their last tenancy ended because they wanted it to, while 10% said they left because they were asked to leave or were given notice by their landlord.

The same survey found that in 2016 to 2017 there were an estimated 23.1 million households in England. Of these, 4.7 million – or 20% – of households are in the private rented sector, which has doubled in size since 1996 to 1997, with 3.9 million in the social rental sector and the remainder owner-occupier.

A government-backed review has today (13 November 2018) urged FTSE 350 companies to do more to meet the target of a third of women in senior leadership positions by 2020.

Figures published today in the Hampton-Alexander Review’s 2018 report reveal the top 100 companies which make up the FTSE 100 index are on track to hit the target with more than 30% of board positions occupied by women. This has risen from 12.5% in 2011.

However, in the FTSE 350 almost one in four companies have only one woman on their board, and there remain 5 all-male boards. This means half the appointments to board positions will have to be filled by women over the next 2 years to hit the targets.

Chair of the Hampton-Alexander Review Sir Philip Hampton said:

Over 100 FTSE 350 companies have already achieved – or exceeded – the 33% target for women on boards, with a further 50 companies well on their way.

I would like to thank the business leaders and stakeholders that have driven progress in recent years for their significant and collective contribution. At the same time, too many companies still have a long way to go.

I am also delighted to see an increase in the number of women in the all-important senior leadership roles and companies working hard for some time now, delivering clear results.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

Many businesses have championed gender diversity, building on our modern Industrial Strategy’s ambition to ensure everyone can progress in the workplace.

If companies are not diverse they are missing out on the benefits that a diverse workforce brings.

Sadly, other companies are lagging behind and I want to see all of those companies do more to increase the number of women at the top.

Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt said:

When women are included we know that businesses are more likely to enjoy profits above their industry averages.

Today, we can see that the top UK companies are taking action, not just because gender equality is morally right, but also because it makes good business sense.

But there is still more to do. By addressing their inequalities and cultures, businesses are setting an example that gives women throughout their organisations the power to reach their full potential.

In the FTSE 100, 4 companies – retailer Next, online real estate provider Rightmove, financial services provider Hargreaves Lansdown, and household goods and construction company Taylor Wimpey – have 50% or more women on their boards. 6 FTSE 250 companies have met the same threshold.

The report also shows a welcome increase in the number of women in FTSE 350 leadership positions just below the board, with FTSE 100 Executive Committees at over 21% women for the first time.

According to research by McKinsey, bridging the gender pay gap could add £150 billion to the UK economy by 2025.

Tackling the gender pay gap is a key part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, through which the government aims to help businesses create better, higher-paying jobs while boosting people’s earning power and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to progress in the workplace.

Under new laws introduced in April 2017, voluntary, public and private sector employers with 250 staff or more were required to publish their gender pay gap. The UK was one of the first countries to introduce such measures.

Chief executive of Business in the Community Amanda Mackenzie said:

Everyone of us has a part to play in ensuring that inherent in the make up of every company in Britain is equality. It should be a license to operate.

And given the long proven business benefit, why would leaders destroy value by not treating women equally in recruitment, reward and promotion?

CBI Chief UK Policy Director Matthew Fell said:

Female representation on FTSE boards has risen to record levels, but at times of great change things can all too easily slip backwards. The evidence is clear – diverse boards outperform their rivals. Action is required now to end all-male boards and pick up the pace of progress.

With so much focus on the non-executive appointments of listed firms, it’s essential companies concentrate on the day-to-day leaders of our biggest businesses. This data shows just how far we still have to go to ensure capable women can progress from entry-level to senior management positions.

In May, the review revealed some of the worst explanations firms have made for not having women among their top employees. These explanations included suggestions that women are not able to understand the ‘extremely complex’ issues FTSE boards deal with and the idea women do not want the ‘hassle or pressure’ of sitting on a top board.

Notes for editors

View this year’s Hampton-Alexander Review report

The Hampton-Alexander Review published its first report in November 2016. It is chaired by Sir Philip Hampton, and previously the late Dame Helen Alexander. The key recommendations are:

• 33% target for women on FTSE 350 Boards by the end of 2020
• 33% target for women on FTSE 350 Executive Committees and Direct Reports to the Executive Committee on a combined basis by 2020
• FTSE 350 companies to increase number of women roles of Chair, Senior Independent Director and into Executive Director positions on their boards

The government is also working to increase workplace diversity and address through:

• introducing a Race at Work Charter for businesses to increase ethnic minority representation in the workplace
• proposing mandatory ethnicity pay reporting to help address significant disparities in the pay and progression of ethnic minority employees

Government announced in October it will be considering [creating a duty for employers to consider whether a job can be done flexibly, and make that clear when advertising(https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-legislation-to-ensure-tips-and-gratuities-go-to-employees).