Two UK universities have been added to the growing list of Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACEs-CSR), further enhancing the UK’s leading position in cyber security research.

The two new centres at De Montfort University and Northumbria University have been recognised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as having first rate research capabilities.

Their strengths include improving our approaches to help people better understand how to protect themselves online, and developing new technologies to protect critical infrastructure like telecommunications.

They join a list of 17 other institutions across the whole of the UK which are regarded as strategic partners to Government, and are producing cutting edge research in cyber security.

Digital Minister Margot James said:

The UK has some of the best minds in the cyber security field and it’s only right that we recognise those universities that can excel when it comes to carrying out world leading research. The global threat of cyber security is never far from our minds we want to ensure that our best and brightest can help shape our national cyber security strategy.

Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Cyber Growth said:

I’m delighted to welcome Northumbria and De Montfort Universities to the ACE-CSR community. We have seen the community grow from 8 universities to 19 and that has been down to the hard work and investment they have all put in. Both are existing members of our Research Institutes and it is brilliant to see how they have built on and developed their broader capacity and capability over several years, to now meet the standards required of an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research.

Professor Lynne Coventry, Principal Investigator and Research Director of Psychology who leads the Northumbria Cyber Security Research Group said:

Cyber security research has typically been directed towards finding technological solutions, but as our technological perimeter has strengthened, people have been left behind and become prime targets for cyber attackers.

To stop today’s advanced attacks we need to understand how to better protect the general public by adopting a people-centric cybersecurity strategy and exploring how to design security technology and policies which support individuals in their endeavours, rather than being perceived as a barrier. At Northumbria our holistic, multidisciplinary approach to cyber security integrates diverse knowledge from specialists in technology, human behaviour, business, law and design. We are delighted to receive this recognition for our work in these areas.

Professor Eerke Boiten, Director of the CTI and Professor in Cyber Security at De Montfort University said:

We are very proud of this achievement. Being named an ACE-CSR highlights our strong industry engagement and first class research capabilities

This recognition will strongly support our future plans for national and international collaborative research in topics such as industrial control systems, human factors in security, incident response, cybercrime and privacy. It also perfectly complements the provisional NCSC certification that DMU offers for two of its Master’s degrees in Cyber Security and Cyber Technology. The ACE-CSR programme is part of delivering by Government’s £1.9 billion National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS) 2016-2021.

Northumbria University was a founding member of the Research Institute in Science of Cyber Security, while De Montfort is an Airbus Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security and Forensics.

Notes to editors:

• List of institutions that are recognised as Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research are:
• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• Cardiff University
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Kent
• Imperial College London
• King’s College London
• Lancaster University
• Newcastle University
• University of Oxford
• Queen’s University Belfast
• Royal Holloway, University of London
• University of Southampton
• University of Surrey
• University of Warwick
• University College London
• The universities will be recognised as Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research until June 2022.

The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Office Minister Dr Andrew Murrison and Qatari Deputy Foreign Minister His Excellency Soltan bin Saad Al Muraikhi.

The two Ministers discussed key issues in which UK and Qatar partner most: trade, investment, education and foreign policy cooperation.

Both sides emphasised the importance of doing more together across a wide range of traditional and new sectors, with a focus on Qatar’s 2022 World Cup.

Minister Murrison restated the UK’s commitment to partner with Qatar in its 2030 National Vision. The Ministers also discussed regional security developments, and agreed to continue close cooperation to resolve ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa.

Dr Murrison said:

I was delighted to attend the fifth Sharaka dialogue with Qatar, with whom the UK has enjoyed a close partnership based on deep historical links and a dynamic contemporary relationship.

Today’s open and active dialogue between our two countries, proves again the clear value in the UK and Qatar friendship and deepening cooperation across a wide range of fields. Our partnerships in education, trade and investment are essential for both economies. The close diplomatic and security cooperation we enjoy makes our countries and the region safer.

I reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Qatar to achieve its ambitious 2030 National Vision, and to deliver an exciting, successful and safe 2022 World Cup. We agreed to further strengthen our ties in economic prosperity and social development.

Both sides should be very pleased with what we’ve achieved today and the UK looks forward to working with Qatar on these busy and important bilateral and regional agendas.

I beg to move, that the draft Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order 2019, which was laid before this House on 12 June, be approved.

Mr Speaker, it is an honour to be in the House debating this order less than two weeks after this seminal legislation was tabled in Parliament.

The Statutory Instrument

The draft order before us would amend the 2050 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target in the Climate Change Act from at least 80% to at least 100%.

This target, otherwise known as ‘net zero’, would constitute a legally binding commitment to end the UK’s contribution to climate change.

The case for action

Last year the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published a sobering report on the impact of global warming at 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels.

Now in that report they made it clear that a target set to limit global warming at 2º above pre-industrial levels was no longer enough.

They made it clear that by limiting warming to 1.5º we may be able to mitigate some of the effects on health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, human security and economic growth.

They made it clear that countries across the world – including the UK – would need to do more.

The House has heard already of the great progress we have made in tackling climate change together across parties; of how we have cut emissions by 42% since 1990 while growing the economy by 72% (interruption)…

Turning to the Committee on Climate Change’s report, the the committee told us quite clearly, that ending the UK’s contribution to global warming is now within reach.

They have advised that a net zero emissions target is:

• necessary – because climate change is the single most important issue facing us

• feasible – because we can get there using technologies and approaches which exist now, enabling us to continue to grow our economy, and to maintain and improve our quality of life

• affordable – because it can be achieved at a cost equivalent to 1-2% of GDP in 2050. Due to falling costs, this is the same cost envelope which this Parliament accepted for an 80% target back. And that’s before the many benefits for households and businesses are taken into account – from improved air quality to new green-collar jobs.

And they made it clear that 2050 is the right year for this target and is the appropriate UK contribution to the Paris Agreement – they do not currently consider it credible for the UK to aim to reach net-zero emissions earlier than 2050.

I applaud the Committee on Climate Change for the quality, breadth and analytical rigour of their advice.
Now in recent months and weeks have been a time of huge and growing interest in how we tackle the defining challenge of climate change.

Calls for action have come from all generations and all parts of society – from Greta Thunberg to David Attenborough, from schoolchildren to the Women’s Institute.

My message today is that as a Parliament we hear you and we are taking action.

UK Leadership on Climate Change

This country has long been a leader in tackling climate change.

Thirty years ago, Mrs Thatcher was the first global leader to acknowledge at the United Nations “what may be early signs… of man-induced climate change.”

And 11 years ago, this House passed the ground-breaking Climate Change Act – the first legislation in the world to set legally binding, long-term targets for reducing emissions.

That Act – passed with strong cross-party support from all sides of the House – created a vital precedent on climate. Listen to the science, focus on the evidence and pursue deliverable solutions.

Today we can make history again as the first major economy in the world to commit to ending our contribution to global warming forever.

I would ask all sides of the House to come together today in the same spirit and support this draft legislation which I commend to the House.

Welcome everyone.

As Prime Minister – I host a great many receptions here at Downing Street, but of course today, this time, it’s particularly personal.

So it really does give me great pleasure to see you all here – and for me to be able to say a wholehearted thank you for everything you do to support and help people with diabetes.

I also particularly want to mention the children we have here with us – and who I know have achieved some extraordinary things – in sport, in raising awareness, and through their invaluable contribution to our understanding about how we can better help and treat people with diabetes.

You show tremendous courage, every day, in the things that you do.

You don’t let diabetes hold you back.

You show what is possible.

And you are a source of great inspiration, so please everyone, let’s give these amazing young people a round of applause.

I will never forget the shock I felt when I was first told I was diabetic.

I imagine it must be the same for many people.

It was not something I ever expected. And to be honest, I didn’t know you could get Type 1 diabetes at my age.

But I will be forever grateful to all those who taught me how to manage my condition – and reduce the impact it has on my life.

People like those of you here in this room today.

The one thing I told myself when I found out – was that I was not going to let diabetes stop me from getting on with my life, and getting on with my job.

But it is only thanks to the advice and support I received that I have been able to keep that promise to myself – the help from my GP, the consultants – but also most memorably the clinical nurse specialists from my local hospital.

Today we know that the rate of diabetes is rising dramatically – with 3 million people in England registered as living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes with a GP – although the true number is likely to be higher with up to a million more people yet to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

And behind those statistics – as everyone here is well aware – are the devastating consequences for people’s health – people of all ages, young and old.

So this really is one of the great health challenges of our time.

And I am very pleased that we have here people who are leading the charge in the way that we deal with diabetes.

I know only too well the difference simple advances can make – because, as some of you may know, I wear a FreeStyle Libre – which makes all the difference to me in being able to monitor my glucose levels.

And we are taking great strides forward in other areas.

From the new apps that help people monitor their condition.

From continuous Glucose Monitoring for all pregnant Type 1 diabetics which will be available on the NHS by 2020/21.

To the doubling of funds for the NHS’s Type 2 diabetes prevention programme through the Long-Term Plan for the NHS.

But for today, this really is a chance for me to say a very personal thank you:

To those of you working to raise awareness and funding for research.

To those working on innovations, treatments and exploring possible cures.

And to those of you who care for people living with diabetes and provide the support so that they can live the best possible lives.

I want to end with a quote by Olympic Gold medal winner Steve Redgrave – whose advice I took to heart when I was first diagnosed.

It’s one I’ve quoted before – but it’s a good one – so I think it bears repeating.

“Diabetes must learn to live with me rather than me live with diabetes.”

It’s a sentiment I have always found gave me incredible inspiration. And I hope it provides inspiration for the many who are determined not to let diabetes get in the way of living their lives to the fullest.