Author Archives: HM Government

• 26 proposals were submitted in response to the call
• Proposals came from spaceports all over the UK, working with vehicle operators from the UK, other European nations and the US
• Multiple proposals have been recommended for further consideration, to ensure any grant funding delivers the best outcome for the UK

The number of responses for government funding to support UK spaceflight has highlighted a strong interest in the UK commercial market for small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight. The UK Space Agency’s call for grant proposals to establish initial launch capability in the UK has now concluded, with a number of options being recommended for consideration.

In total 26 proposals were submitted to the call process, representing potential spaceports all over the UK and a range of launch and sub-orbital fight technologies. These were assessed by a panel of independent experts drawn from academia, industry and government. The panel looked at a range of criteria including technical feasibility, commercial sustainability and benefits to the UK.

Ross James, Deputy CEO of the UK Space Agency, said:

“The fact several proposals have been recommended for consideration reflects the exceptional strength of the field, and the high level of interest in LaunchUK. The funding requested exceeded £10 million, and we believe there may be a case for awarding a number of grants to establish the UK’s first spaceport and launch capabilities. We will now enter into dialogue with the relevant parties to ensure we are getting the best outcome for the UK.”

This is just the start of this exciting new endeavour in the UK, with further opportunities to be a part of the new market for those that missed out on the call. The UK Space Agency will continue to engage with organisations looking to participate in commercial small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight in the UK. Ross James added:

“This funding call is about establishing initial capability in the UK, but our wider ambition remains to grow a strong market, making the UK the best destination in Europe to participate in small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight.

“The proposals we received demonstrated an exciting future of new launch technologies and services. We will continue to engage with all organisations that wish to enter the UK market. We will be holding a second LaunchUK event later this year to bring together this community, and discuss our plans going forward in more detail.”

Final announcements about any awards of grant funding are expected later in this financial year.

The Climate Change and Industry Minister, Claire Perry, confirmed today (18 August 2017) that the sale of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) to Macquarie Group Limited has now been completed.

The £2.3 billion deal ensures that all the taxpayer funding invested in GIB since its creation, including set-up costs, has been returned with a gain of approximately £186 million.

As well as fully meeting the government’s objectives, the deal secures the future of the GIB with an ambitious new owner committed to growing the business. The Edinburgh office will be home to a new revenue-generating business as well as providing services to the green energy portfolios of both Macquarie and GIB in the UK.

The government decided that moving it into the private sector now would free it from the constraints of public sector ownership allowing it to increase investment in our green infrastructure as we transition to a green economy. GIB’s independent Board supported the government’s decision to sell the business to Macquarie.

In order to build on the company’s success within the private sector, Macquarie and GIB have announced today that the company will now be known as the Green Investment Group (GIG) so that it will be able to make overseas investments.

Climate Change and Industry Minister Claire Perry said:

We led the world in setting up the Green Investment Bank and it is now being copied by others. Now that it’s in the private sector, it will be able to operate on an international level to tackle the global challenge of climate change. It is also perfectly placed to help us finance green initiatives for our Clean Growth Plan and realise the commitments set out in the Paris Agreement.

The green ‘special share’ held by the Green Purposes Company Limited also comes into force now. Five independent trustees have the power to approve or reject any proposed changes to GIG’s green purposes in the future.

The government will continue to hold an interest in a portfolio of a small number of GIB’s existing green infrastructure investments. These assets will continue to be managed by GIB until they can be sold on in a way which returns best value for taxpayers’ money.

1. The sale of the Green Investment Group (formerly Green Investment Bank) was announced in April 2017. It was secured through a competitive process and met the objectives outlined when it launched the sales process last year. As well as securing value for money for the taxpayer and freeing GIG from the constraints of public sector ownership, it will enable GIG to grow its support for green projects.

2. The sale proceeds of £1.75 billion, which has now been received, sees all taxpayer funding invested in GIG returned with a gain of around £186 million. This, together with over £500 million of current outstanding commitments which will now be met by Macquarie and its partners rather than taxpayers, means that the transaction value is around £2.3 billion.

3. The government has now repealed the relevant provisions of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, removing statutory controls over GIG’s green purposes to ensure that GIG can be re-classified to the private sector.

4. The government will provide a report to Parliament on the sale, as required under the Enterprise Act 2016 in the Autumn.

The CMA has accepted proposals by Heineken to resolve concerns over its proposed purchase of Punch Taverns.

Earlier this year, the Department for Transport awarded the South Western rail franchise to FirstGroup and MTR. FirstGroup already operates Great Western Railway (GWR), which runs the only other train service between London and Exeter.

An initial merger investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) raised concerns this could reduce competition on the London–Exeter route, leading to higher fares or worse service for passengers.

In July the CMA announced it would consider an offer (‘undertakings’) proposed by FirstGroup and MTR aimed at addressing these concerns.

The offer made by the 2 companies involves a price cap on unregulated fares between London and Exeter on both South Western and GWR services. Ticket prices on the route will be linked to those on a number of other comparable services to ensure they are kept in line with the market.

The companies have also offered to maintain the availability of cheaper advance fares on both services, again by linking them with similar routes.

The CMA consulted publicly on the proposals, which it has now accepted.

FirstGroup and MTR will be required to submit regular reports to the CMA to show they are complying with the agreement.

The acceptance of these proposals by the CMA means that the award of the franchise will go ahead without the deal being referred for a more in-depth ‘phase 2’ investigation.

All other information relating to this investigation can be found on the case page. The final undertakings will be published shortly.

Rachel Merelie, Executive Director of Markets and Mergers, said:

We examined the proposals very thoroughly during the consultation period to ensure that they addressed all of our concerns. We believe that they will protect passengers from fares being pushed up due to lack of competition on this key route between London and Exeter.

Notes for editors

1. The CMA is the UK’s primary competition and consumer authority. It is an independent non-ministerial government department with responsibility for carrying out investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries and enforcing competition and consumer law.

2. Media enquiries to the CMA should be directed to rebecca.cassar@cma.gsi.gov.uk or 020 3738 6633

3. For CMA updates, follow us on Twitter @CMAgovuk, Facebook, Flickr and LinkedIn.

The Department of Health has announced £5 million of funding for a new obesity policy research unit at University College London.

One year on from the launch of the childhood obesity plan, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Obesity Policy Research Unit has been set up to provide resource for long term research into childhood obesity.

It will give independent advice to policy makers and analysts, and develop understanding on the causes of childhood obesity, looking at social inequalities, the early years of childhood, and marketing to children and families.

It will also help to evaluate action that has been taken so far, to make sure the plan works for those who need it most.

In addition, the government tasked Public Health England (PHE) to look at why children are eating too many calories.

Philip Dunne, Minister of State for Health, said:

Too many of our children are growing up obese, which can lead to serious health complications. We all have a responsibility to help people live healthier lives, but with a third of children leaving primary school obese we must take a comprehensive approach and now focus on excess calories.

This can only be done through strong guidance, grounded in evidence. That’s why we have funded a new £5 million dedicated obesity policy research unit to understand the deeper causes of obesity.

Professor Russell Viner, Policy Research Unit Director and Professor of Adolescent Health, at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, said:

Obesity is one of the greatest health concerns of our time and we welcome this considerable and very timely investment from the government.

We are delighted that the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health will host the new obesity policy research unit (OPRU). Preventing obesity in early life is key to turning the tide on this modern epidemic.

Obesity levels among children and young people present a significant, long-term challenge for the NHS: reducing calorie consumption is critical to reversing the worrying obesity trend, which shows:

• 1 in 3 children are either overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school
• children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to be obese
• more children in the UK than ever before are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, some as young as 7