Tag Archives: HM Government

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News story: Culture Secretary appoints new Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) Trustee

Sue Wilkinson MBE has been appointed as a Trustee of HRP for three years from 1 August 2017.

Sue is Chief Executive of the Reading Agency. Before this she was Director of UK Academic and Government Alliances at Elsevier. She has held a number of prominent roles within the arts and education. Sue read history at Clare College Cambridge, trained as a teacher and did a post-graduate course in museum education at the University of Leicester. As Director of Policy at the MLA she created the groundbreaking quality and impact framework, Inspiring Learning for All, which is now used in museums, archives and libraries all over the world. While at MLA she worked with public libraries and their partners to deliver a wide range of programmes, and with local museums to establish, and secure funding for the Renaissance in the Regions programme. She was awarded an MBE for services to museum education in 2014. Sue is also a trustee of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The role is not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Sue has declared no such political activity.

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HM Government

News story: UK extends training of Ukrainian Armed Forces

The Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has confirmed this will provide Ukrainian personnel with enhanced skills to protect themselves against these threats – a key cause of injuries and fatalities – now and into the future in the Donbas.

Since the beginning of the Donbas conflict in March 2014, 2,700 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and a further 10,000 injured. 128 UAF have been killed this year alone.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

We continue to stand side by side with our Ukrainian friends in the face of Russian belligerence and aggression. This training, defensive in nature, will help protect Ukrainian troops against the threats that they face on a daily basis. By stepping up our training programmes we are sending a clear message that we support the people of Ukraine and are firmly committed to its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Last week, Sir Michael also announced that the UK has directly trained over 5,000 members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces in 14 locations away from the Donbas.

Since 2015, over 1,300 British personnel have been deployed in support of Operation ORBITAL. Drawing from eleven different regiments, including two squadrons of reservists, they have been training the Ukrainian Armed Forces in a number of skills such as the identification of mines and IEDs, medical care and logistics. Last year, Sir Michael confirmed that the training mission will continue until at least early 2018.

The new training elements confirmed today will be rolled out later this year.

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HM Government

News story: David Davis’ opening remarks at the start of second round of EU exit negotiations in Brussels

It’s good to be back in Brussels, to open the next formal round of the negotiations.

We made a good start last month, and as Michel says we are now getting into the substance of the matter.

As you’ve heard, it’s four categories; the issue of citizens rights, the issue of finance, the issue of separation issues and of course, separately, Northern Ireland.

For us it is incredibly important that we now make good progress, that we negotiate through this and identify the differences so that we can deal with them, and identify the similarities so we can reinforce them.

And now, it’s time to get down to work and make this a successful negotiation.

Thank you very much indeed.

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HM Government

Press release: Tech innovators urged to use their skills to tackle terror threat

The UK is already renowned for its world-leading academics, researchers, engineers and technology developers, but today the Government is urging these talented individuals to come together and further support our work to keep the public safe.

In his speech Security Minister Ben Wallace is expected to say:

“Society must come together to defeat terrorism which is why I am delighted to see representatives here from businesses from across the country who take seriously the need to protect the public.

“In light of the horrific attacks in London and Manchester, the Government has committed to review its counter-terror strategy and further to this I am announcing today that we are making up to £2 million available to fund research into cutting edge technology and behavioural science projects designed to keep people safe in crowds.

“The threat from terror does not stand still so neither will we, which is why we are calling on the best and the brightest from the science and technology sector to come forward with their ideas and proposals to support our ongoing work to keep people safe.”

The competition is being run in a partnership between the Home Office and Defence and Security Accelerator with support from the Royal Society. The competition is seeking research proposals from the country’s brightest talents for innovative or novel ideas to reduce the threat from terrorist attacks using weapons or explosives.

This competition forms part of the science and technology programme within the Government’s current counter-terrorism strategy.

Head of the Defence and Security Accelerator, Lucy Mason, said:

“The terrible terrorist attacks in London and Manchester shocked and appalled all of us. Protecting people from terrorism is something we can all do, industry and academics and public servants.

“We don’t have all the answers. So we must bring together the brightest minds from the private sector, and academia to help find solutions to help keep our country and people safe and secure.

“The Defence and Security Accelerator exists to help government find and exploit game-changing ideas to help the security services and police stay one step ahead of those who threaten our safety. By funding and fast tracking the development of real solutions, we help to bring the innovation community together, rapidly.

“So today I reach out to our innovation community to be part of something bigger and show their support for their country. I’d encourage anyone who feels they have a great idea that can help keep our crowded areas safe to visit our website for more information on this competition.”

Vice-President of the Royal Society, Professor Alex Halliday, said:

“Research and innovation are key to improving lives in so many ways. That includes finding new ways to fight terrorist threats.

“I am sure the ingenuity of the UK’s innovators will deliver new technologies that will help make us all safer.”

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HM Government

News story: Accelerator Innovation Network event: 27 July 2017

The event is taking place at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel in London.

Technical experts will provide specific information about the themed competition: ‘Improving crowd resilience’.

This Home Office (HO) competition, delivered through the Defence and Security Accelerator, seeks innovative or novel ideas to reduce the threat from the terrorist or malicious use of explosives and weapons in public spaces by using the crowd as a sensor. We envisage these capabilities and systems being used in crowded spaces, such as shopping centres, sports stadia and entertainment venues.

This competition seeks proposals for technologies, systems and behavioural sciences, as part of a whole systems approach to improve the detection of explosives and weapons within crowded spaces.

Bruce Hardie, Accelerator Innovation Partner will brief on what the Accelerator is all about, our funding opportunities and how to work with us.

In addition, Bruce will talk about how to submit a great proposal to the Accelerator.

Attendees will be able to book a face-to-face meeting with Accelerator staff and subject matter experts to discuss potential proposals to the ‘Improving crowd resilience’ themed competition. once you’ve signed up for the main event.

There will be networking opportunities with other potential bidders, current suppliers, Accelerator, Dstl and military experts.

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HM Government