The government’s Year of Engineering is assembling Marvel super heroes, including Iron Man and The Hulk, to launch an exciting new partnership with the iconic comic brand. Marvel is the latest big name to join the campaign, which aims to transform perceptions of engineering among children age 7 to 16 and encourage more young people from different backgrounds to consider careers in the profession.

Young people are being encouraged to take the More Heroes Needed aptitude test to help them find out which super hero qualities they share with these legendary characters. They can then discover how those strengths could help them thrive in the world of engineering.

Launching the partnership, Year of Engineering Minister Nusrat Ghani joined children from the Berger Primary School in Hackney and a team of real-life super heroes – including a female army engineer turned weight-lifter, and an expert in comic book science – at an immersive new Marvel exhibition in east London.

The test aims to demonstrate to children that they have an abundance of talents that would suit a career in engineering, ones that perhaps they hadn’t previously appreciated. It demonstrates that engineering isn’t solely about academic aptitude but that curiosity, creativity and being honourable and collaborative are all important qualities of a successful engineer. The Year of Engineering is encouraging parents to take the test with their kids over the Christmas holidays, and curriculum-linked resources are available to help teachers bring super hero engineering to life in the classroom in the New Year.

Since the start of 2018, government has worked with more than 1,400 partners to deliver more than a million inspiring experiences of engineering, and research carried out in the first 6 months of the campaign shows that the percentage of 7 to 11 year olds who would consider engineering careers has shot up by 36%.

The new aptitude test is part of a wide range of resources for parents and teachers on the Year of Engineering website, which also features inspiring ideas to help keep kids busy and entertained over the Christmas holidays.

Nusrat Ghani, Minister for the Year of Engineering said:

The characters who inhabit the Marvel universe are famed for achieving amazing things against all odds; something engineers do on a daily basis.

Whether it’s tackling the problems of climate change, helping to provide clean water and energy in developing nations or using technology to help us live healthier more independent lives, the engineering profession is full of its very own super heroes.

I’m certain that this partnership will encourage many young people to look again at their own amazing abilities and realise that while they may never possess the strength of the Hulk they could one day move mountains as an engineer.

To take the test with your kids, head to moreheroesneeded.com.

For festive activities to get children making and inventing, visit yearofengineering.gov.uk/theholidaymakers.

The Prime Minister will tomorrow (Wednesday 19th December) urge leaders from the devolved administrations to listen to businesses all across the UK who have supported the Brexit deal negotiated with the EU.

At the Downing Street meeting, the Prime Minister will update First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford and representatives of the Northern Ireland Civil Service on the next steps for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

She will reiterate how the deal agreed with the EU works for all parts of the UK and will call on leaders to work together and support the Brexit deal to protect the interests of all four nations of the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister will also update leaders on the preparations being made for every eventuality including a ‘no deal’ scenario, and the extensive steps undertaken already to support businesses and citizens.

Ahead of the Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary) (JMC(P)), the Prime Minister said:

I am confident that what we have agreed delivers for the whole of the UK.

This deal honours the result of the referendum – taking back control of our money, laws and borders, protecting jobs and livelihoods, and freeing the UK to strike new trade deals with countries around the world.

That’s why it is more important than ever that the devolved administrations get behind this deal and listen to businesses and industry bodies across all four nations who have been clear that it provides the certainty they need.

From the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation and Diageo, to Airbus and Manufacturing NI, business and industry right across the UK want to us to deliver this deal as it gives them the clarity and stability they need to protect jobs and living standards.

So my message is clear: now is the time for us to pull together and harness our efforts behind this deal and build a bright future for people all across the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Theresa May sets out how the deal negotiated with the EU is best for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

Statement by Ambassador Karen Pierce, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council Briefing on the Middle East

Thank you very much Mr President. Before I start, could I through the American delegation pass on a tribute to Ambassador Haley’s time on the Council. Her ambition for the Council and her commitment to delivery and effectiveness have really helped move issues and ourselves forward. So please thank her very much indeed for that. And I’ll come on to what she said about the peace process a little bit later.

Thank you to the Special Coordinator; I completely echo the Swedish Ambassador in paying tribute to you and your team in such difficult circumstances.

Mr President, as others have noted, it’s two years since this Council passed Resolution 2334 and no steps have been taken by Israel to cease settlement activity during this period. In fact, settlement activity has continued. The government of Israel has also moved forward with retroactive legislation of the outpost Havat Gilad. We are deeply concerned about the Government’s announcement last week to retrospectively legalise thousands more homes in the West Bank, construct 82 new residential units in the offshore settlement and advance the construction of two new industrial zones in the West Bank.

The United Kingdom’s position on the settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law. Settlements present an obstacle to peace and they threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. And that’s why we supported Security Council 2334. And we urge the government of Israel to reverse its policy of settlement expansion.

At the same time, we see continued demolitions take place, including in East Jerusalem. We are concerned by the demolition of 16 small businesses in the Shu’fat refugee camp on 21 November. There are no valid term plans for the camp and this forces Palestinians to resort to building without permits. We are also closely monitoring developments in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan where many hundreds of Palestinians are at risk of eviction. This risk is exacerbated by recent Israeli legislative developments and court rulings. We will continue to support the Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem Mr President, including through legal aid programs for those facing demolition or eviction.

We welcome the temporary postponement of plans to demolish the Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar but we remain gravely concerned about the fate of this community. The United Nations has said this demolition could amount to forcible transfer in violation of International Humanitarian Law. As I’ve said before in this Chamber, Israel is in no way obligated to demolish Khan al-Ahmar. It has the power to change its mind and we urge it to do so.

We look to the Israeli government to provide a clear transparent route for Palestinian construction to end the cycle of illegal building and demolitions.

Turning to some of the other issues the Special Coordinator raised, I have no hesitation in joining him in unreserved condemnation of all terrorist attacks no matter on whom they are perpetrated. We share his concern about the intensity of these attacks and we send our condolences to the victims of both sides. I note in the context of the Hamas resolution that was in the General Assembly recently, I note that it passed with a majority of 30. It would have passed formally had there not been an attempt to require two-thirds but I think that majority Mr President of 30 is very significant and it shows in which direction the tide is going.

Turning to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, yesterday the United Kingdom announced an additional $7 million of emergency funding to UNRWA to provide food to refugees in Gaza and the immediate priority must be to ease restrictions on movement and access, reduce tensions and avoid another conflict. And we expect Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and Israel to do their utmost to prevent escalation.

We continue to support tangible steps towards intra-Palestinian reconciliation and uniting the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the effective functioning of the Palestinian Authority. And we welcome the efforts of the Special Coordinator in this respect.

Mr President, I’d like to address what Ambassador Haley said about the peace process. We very much welcome the confirmation that a US plan is ready and we look forward receiving it and studying it in due course. We agree that both sides will clearly be asked to make difficult decisions to achieve peace and we agree that Europe and Arab states will have an important role in supporting any peace plan. We look now to the parties to take steps to build confidence and to build the right environment so any peace process can succeed.

For the United Kingdom, we are very clear that the well-known parameters are the most viable framework for a just and lasting peace. First, there must be an agreement on the borders of the two states based on the 4 June 1967 lines with equivalent land swaps as may be agreed between the parties. Second, security arrangements for the Palestinians must respect their sovereignty, show the occupation is over and, for the Israelis, they must protect their security. Third, a just, fair, agreed and realistic solution to the refugee question must be put in place. Fourth, the aspirations of both parties for Jerusalem need to be fulfilled and a way found, through negotiations, to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of both states.

It follows from this Mr President that we continue to believe that a two state solution remains the best outcome of a peace process and the United Kingdom remains committed to working with both parties, regional and international partners in support of this goal. Thank you very much.