HM Law Officers sworn in

News story

The Attorney General and Solicitor General were sworn in during a joint ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice today.

The Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP was sworn in as His Majesty’s Attorney General for England and Wales in a joint ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice today.

His Majesty’s Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP was also sworn in at the ceremony. Speaking after the ceremony, His Majesty’s Attorney General, the Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP said:

I am honoured to be sworn in after returning as His Majesty’s Attorney General for England and Wales. As the Government’s chief legal adviser, my focus will be upholding the rule of law and strengthening our justice system.

I also warmly welcome Michael Tomlinson MP to his role as His Majesty’s Solicitor General. Michael brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to the role.

Commenting on his new appointment, HM Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson MP said:

It is a privilege to be sworn in as His Majesty’s Solicitor General for England and Wales.

There are important responsibilities that come with this unique role which has been part of our constitution for centuries, and I look forward to working with His Majesty’s Attorney General to play my part in upholding the rule of law and carrying out the public interest functions of the Attorney General’s Office.

HM Attorney General is the Government’s chief legal advisor and also attends Cabinet. As well as providing advice to government, HM Law Officers (the Attorney General and Solicitor General) oversee the Law Officers’ Departments which include the Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office, Government Legal Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

HM Law Officers carry out a number of functions in the public interest, such as considering unduly lenient sentences and taking action when there has been a contempt of court. These functions are carried out independently of their role as government ministers.

The Rt Hon Michael Ellis KC MP was first appointed Attorney General on 2 March 2021 and held office until 10 September 2021. He was reappointed on 6 September 2022.

Michael Tomlinson MP was appointed as Solicitor General for England and Wales on 7 September 2022.

Published 29 September 2022



Up to £200,000 available to test security of smart devices used by nearly all UK businesses

A picture of an electronic room booking display outside a meeting room full of people

Enterprise ‘Internet of Things’ devices include printers, cameras, and room booking systems.

  • Successful bidder will research potential vulnerabilities in popular devices to better protect against cyber risks

  • Findings will help make sure current security measures and guidance are robust enough for evolving threats

Organisations can now apply for funding to support research into the cyber security of office devices which can connect to the internet, such as printers, cameras, and room booking systems, to ensure they are properly protected against hackers.

Thousands of UK businesses rely on these products, known as enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) devices, to increase productivity and enable hybrid working. The government is funding new research to uncover vulnerabilities in these commonly used enterprise IoT products and assess the cyber resilience of these devices.

Smart devices in the workplace can collect sensitive data which can be accessed by other users, making them an attractive target for cyber criminals to exploit. While devices may have some protections built-in, products with poor cyber security can leave companies using them at risk.

For example, in 2019 Microsoft’s researchers found Russian hackers were compromising conference phones and office printers in organisations across many sectors, though Microsoft was able to successfully block the attacks before they could cause any damage.

The successful bidder will be awarded up to £200,000 to test popular devices and help identify if current security measures and guidance, such as international standards and NCSC device security principles, are robust enough to protect businesses from evolving threats.

Cyber minister Julia Lopez said:

Technology played a pivotal role in keeping British businesses going during the pandemic, helping the pivot to hybrid working and boosting productivity ever since.

This research will ensure we have the right measures in place to protect our economy and keep our offices and workers safe from cyber security threats.

The grant is part of the government’s £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy to protect the UK from cyber threats and grow the digital economy. It supports the UK’s objective to take the lead in the technologies vital to cyber power and secure the Internet of Things and connected technologies used by consumers and enterprises.

This work complements the Product Security and Telecommunications infrastructure bill (PSTI) going through parliament which strengthens the cyber resilience of consumer IoT devices, such as smart speakers and smart TVs.

Notes to editors

Further details about this grant can be found here.

Published 29 September 2022
Last updated 5 October 2022 + show all updates

  1. Added the news story to the cyber security section.

  2. First published.



UK Trade & Export Finance Forum 2022 – Thursday, 17th November

News story

The UK Trade & Export Finance Forum brings together finance and business leaders for a day of presentations, case studies, panels, workshops and networking.

attendees at the UK Trade & Export Finance Forum 2021

Whether you are a UK supplier looking to export overseas or an international corporate considering long-term financing, this forum will provide you with insight and business connections to support you in your export journey.

What to expect

Now in its fifth year, the event will return in hybrid format, bringing together over 600 attendees online and in central London.

The Forum will explore the importance of realising the export potential of emerging net zero technologies. You’ll hear about the UK government’s support for new sectors and recent product developments to help companies making the transition to clean energy, with case studies from SME’s to large corporates. The popular International Workshops will also return, giving unique insights into the opportunities within key trading markets globally.

How to register

Attendance is free of charge. Please register your interest to attend before 17:00 GMT Friday, 10th November 2022.

Registrations are subject to approval by UK Export Finance.

Published 29 September 2022



Development Partners coordination meeting on climate change in Ashgabat

World news story

British Embassy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) met with partners to discuss climate change issues on 6 September 2022.

On 6 September, the British Embassy and UNDP met with Government, embassies and other stakeholders to share information on climate change issues in Turkmenistan.  The meeting aimed to enhance cooperation and continue the established dialogue among partners to support the efforts of the Government of Turkmenistan to implement its climate change commitments under the Paris Agreement and Glasgow Climate Pact.

This important meeting served as a forum to provide updates on post-COP26 activities and discuss preparations for the upcoming COP27 Climate Summit to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in November 2022.  Participants had an opportunity to discuss Turkmenistan’s recently adopted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), national greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, as well as the Turkmen Government’s climate change priorities.

It is so important that we all work together to tackle the causes and effects of climate change and this group is a way of bringing all of us together to do just that – Government, Embassies, the UN and implementers,- said Ms Lucia Wilde, His Majesty’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan. 

We discussed preparations for COP27, the Government of Turkmenistan’s new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and methane emissions among other subjects. I look forward to continuing our excellent cooperation in the lead-up to COP27”, the Ambassador Wilde concluded.

The Coordination Meetings of the Climate Group of Development Partners are co-chaired by the British Embassy in Turkmenistan and UNDP and convened regularly.  They serve as a strong coordination mechanism for international development partners and donors active in Turkmenistan for developing and providing valuable support to Turkmenistan’s national efforts to tackle climate change and reduce GHG emissions.

Published 29 September 2022



National survey on issues facing women in Turkmenistan

World news story

British Embassy and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) co-chaired the first meeting of the group focussing on gender issues in Turkmenistan. 

On 21 September, UNFPA and British Embassy chaired a meeting for embassies, international organisations and other partners active in Turkmenistan to present the key findings of the first-ever national survey on health and status of a woman in the family conducted by the Government of Turkmenistan working in partnership with UNFPA.

This was the first meeting of the group focussing on gender issues as part of the wider Development Partners Coordination structure in Turkmenistan.  Participants will meet regularly to enhance cooperation and to engage with the Government of Turkmenistan to promote gender equality and prevent domestic and gender-based violence in the country, in line with the National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2021-2025.

The British Embassy was pleased to co-fund this important national survey that provides data on crucial issues affecting the lives of women in Turkmenistan.   Among many other issues the survey revealed that one in six women, or 16%, had experienced some form of abuse by an intimate partner, and one in eight, or 12%, have been exposed to physical or sexual violence.

John Hamilton, the Charge d’Affaires of the British Embassy said:

Work to support women and girls in Turkmenistan has been a key priority of the Embassy for many years.  We were very happy to work closely with UNFPA throughout this time. 

Concluding his speech, Mr Hamilton also stressed and said:

If we are to address the issues highlighted in survey successfully we must do so in cooperation with each other and the Government of Turkmenistan.

Published 29 September 2022