Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam to step down as Deputy Chief Medical Officer in March 2022

Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam will step down as Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England at the end of March 2022 to take up a new role at the University of Nottingham.

Professor Van-Tam who joined DHSC on secondment from the University of Nottingham in 2017 will return to be the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

As the DCMO for Health Protection, Professor Van-Tam has played important roles in a number of different incidents, including domestic outbreaks of MERS and Monkeypox, 2017/18 influenza season and most notably the response to the Novichok attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic where he worked on the Vaccine Taskforce and supported the development of treatments.

Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam said:

My time as DCMO have been the most challenging of my professional career, especially the COVID response. We all wish COVID had never happened. Notwithstanding, it has been the greatest privilege of my professional career to have served the people of the UK during this time.

I want to pay tribute to Professor Chris Whitty, the CMO team, my fellow scientists, public health professionals and clinicians whose support, wisdom and energy has been inspiring. There are countless numbers who work behind the scenes – all of whom have an unrelenting commitment to help and support the British public. It has been an honour to work with them all.

I will continue to work until the end of March and look forward to the next challenge.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:

It has been an honour to work side-by-side with Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam and I am hugely grateful for his advice and guidance since I became Health and Social Care Secretary.

JVT’s one-of-a-kind approach to communicating science over the past two years has no doubt played a vital role in protecting and reassuring the nation, and made him a national treasure.

I pay tribute to his relentless work ethic, sense of public duty and leading role in our incredible vaccination programme – on behalf of DHSC I wish him the best of luck on his return to the University of Nottingham.

Professor Chris Whitty said:

Professor Van-Tam has been an outstanding DCMO and public servant. I am profoundly thankful for his steadfast support, advice, leadership and commitment. His communication of public health advice and science has been remarkable.

University of Nottingham Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said:

All of us at the University are incredibly proud of Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam’s work as Deputy Chief Medical Officer, in which he has played a major role in steering the nation through the Covid-19 pandemic.

I am delighted that Jonathan is returning to Nottingham to join our executive team and lead our renowned Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences as its next Pro-Vice-Chancellor. His academic and leadership expertise is second to none, and the integrity that he has demonstrated in his government role is fully aligned to our values. I know that he will take our University’s reputation for excellence in medicine and health sciences to new heights.



National effort to vaccinate vulnerable communities receives funding boost

  • Councils with low vaccine uptake awarded share of £22.5 million to get hard-to-reach communities vaccinated

  • 60 councils to benefit from Community Vaccine Champions scheme which will mobilise thousands of volunteers

  • Part of national drive for people to be vaccinated in fight against Omicron – An army of vaccine volunteers will help millions of people in hard-to-reach communities get jabbed, backed by £22.5 million of government funding.

Community Vaccine Champions from Bradford to Brighton will be tapping into their local networks and encouraging people in their community to come forward and get vaccinated.

The funding, allocated today to 60 councils, will provide an opportunity to deliver bespoke projects in their region, help identify barriers to accessing accurate information and provide tailored support, such as phone calls for people without easy access to digital technology, helplines, and linking to GP surgeries as well as other initiatives, including:

  • In Derby and Newham roving vaccinators and a vaccine bus will visit workplaces, places of worship and local highstreets.
  • Videos shared on social media featuring local sporting stars, TV actors, local community and faith leaders and local NHS staff in Southampton.
  • Developing a community transport in Reading to support access to vaccination sites/pop-ups (working with existing local community) and considering ‘Grab a Jab’ taxis scheme.

According to NHS statistics, over 4.6 million people aged 18 or older remained unvaccinated in the 60 local authorities selected to take part in the Community Vaccine Champions programme.

Communities Minister Kemi Badenoch MP said:

“In England more than 80% of eligible adults over 18 have had a booster and for over 50s it is 90%. This is a great take-up so far, but we need to do more as we know that the unvaccinated are up to eight times more likely to be hospitalised than those who are jabbed.”

“By funding Community Vaccine Champions – an army of volunteers who are at the heart of their communities – we can reach those yet to be vaccinated and encourage them to protect themselves and the NHS.”

Councillor John Merry, Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing at Salford City Council said:

“The support we received via the Community Vaccine Champions scheme has been vital in our fight against COVID-19. This financial boost has enabled us to roll out a range of activity to improve vaccination take up across the city and tackle vaccine hesitancy among some of our communities.”

Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup said:

“Thanks to the pace and scale of our COVID-19 vaccination programme, we are in a much better position than this time last year.”

“We are doing everything we can to reach those who haven’t yet come forward for their jabs and we know some people are more likely to listen to those they trust, such as community and religious leaders – that’s why we are giving extra funding to our brilliant Community Champions.”

“The offer of a vaccine will always be available, it’s not too late. Please come forward as soon as you can so we can learn to live with this virus.”

In December 2021, according to NHS statistics, over 4.6 million people aged 18 or older remained unvaccinated in the 60 local authorities we have selected to take part in the Community Vaccine Champions programme.

More than 14,000 volunteers joined the first Community Champions scheme in 2021 – helping the vulnerable and isolated across the country throughout the pandemic.



India-UK Joint Media Statement on Launch of Negotiations

News story

Joint Statement of Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan.

Today the Republic of India and United Kingdom have formally launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between our two countries.

This announcement has been made by Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and UK Trade Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who is in New Delhi for Free Trade Agreement discussions. A India-UK Free Trade Agreement would be a substantial opportunity for both of our economies and a significant moment in the India-UK bilateral relationship.

The India-UK bilateral trading relationship is already significant, and both sides have agreed to double that bilateral trade by 2030, as part of Roadmap 2030 announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Boris Johnson in May 2021. India and the UK will seek to agree a mutually beneficial agreement supporting jobs, businesses and communities in both countries.

Trade negotiations will be a priority for both countries, as we build upon the Enhanced Trade Partnership launched by our Prime Ministers in May 2021.

During negotiations, and on the path to a comprehensive agreement, both Governments will consider the option of an Interim Agreement that generates early benefits for both countries. In parallel to trade negotiations, the India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee will continue to work in improving the India-UK trading relationship and addressing market access barriers outside of a trade agreement.

Both parties have agreed that the first round of negotiations will begin on 17 January, and future rounds of negotiations will take place approximately every five weeks. The Indian negotiating team will be led by Ms. Nidhi Mani Tripathi, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce and the UK negotiating team will be led by Harjinder Kang, Director for India Negotiations at the Department for International Trade.

The ambition of both countries is to negotiate a broad agreement that will deliver for businesses and consumers.

Published 13 January 2022



Call for Bids: China Network’s Regulatory Diplomacy programme – Second Funding Round

World news story

The British Embassy in Beijing is pleased to open a second call for bids to the China Network’s Regulatory Diplomacy programme, for projects running between 1 January 2022 – 31 March 2022.

All projects should focus on regulatory issues related to the competitive environment in mainland China and Hong Kong. Issues on which we welcome bids include – but are not limited to – the below:

  • State Owned Enterprises (SOEs);
  • Public procurement;
  • Competitive neutrality

Selection criteria

Bids will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • Project design: Feasibility of activities and outputs including the capacity of implementing organisation to deliver outcomes
  • Impact: Supporting UK regulatory diplomacy interests related to mainland China and Hong Kong
  • Viability and risks: Clear engagement/buy-in of key stakeholders. Robust analysis of key risks, and a plan of action to manage and mitigate those risks
  • Value for money: Comparable and reasonable costs against the number of direct beneficiaries and the scale of achievable outcomes

We draw your attention to the below key points:

  • Proposals should be between £10,000 – £40,000 (105,000RMB – 420,000RMB).
  • The entire project must begin and complete in the period 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022. 
  • All funding must be activity-based (i.e. not for general staff costs, office rental etc.). 

Process 

  • Project proposals must be received by 23:59 (GMT) on Friday 21 January. Late proposals will not be considered.  
  • Proposals must be submitted using the attached forms only (Project Proposal Form and Activity Based Budget), which must be completed in English.  
  • Proposals must be submitted to: ash.green@fcdo.gov.uk

Attachments 

PrOF Template Project Proposal Form above £10k

PrOF Template Activity Based Budget

Guidance 

Project Proposal Form – Guidance

ABB Form – Guidance

Published 13 January 2022



Foreign Secretary Statement: Talks With Vice-President Maros Sefcovic

Press release

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss welcomes Vice President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič to Chevening House, for the latest round of negotiations on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Today (Thursday 13 January) the Foreign Secretary will urge the EU to fix the problems in the Protocol to deliver for NI and protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

Looking ahead to the meeting, Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss said:

There is a deal to be done that protects peace in Northern Ireland, defends our Union, and maintains the integrity of the United Kingdom and EU. But it will require a pragmatic approach from the EU.

I will be putting forward practical, reasonable solutions starting from these fundamental principles, with a view to agreeing a plan for intensive negotiations.

The EU has a clear responsibility to help fix the myriad problems caused by the Protocol and protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. As fellow believers in liberty and democracy, we should be capable of reaching an agreement that delivers for Northern Ireland and allows us to unleash the full potential of our relationship.

Published 13 January 2022