New homes and buildings such as supermarkets and workplaces, as well as those undergoing major renovation, will be required to install electric vehicle charge points from next year, under new legislation announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson today (Monday 22 November).

England will lead the world to mandate such building regulations, kicking off a decade of delivery in hundreds of thousands of charge points while creating further green jobs across the country.

Up to 145,000 extra charge points will be installed across England each year thanks to these regulations, in the run up to 2030 when the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will end in the UK. This builds on the over 250,000 home and workplace charge points the government has already supported to date.

With the majority of charging happening at home, this will mean people can buy new properties already ready for an electric vehicle future, while ensuring charge points are readily available at new shops and workplaces across the UK – making it as easy as refuelling a petrol or diesel car today.

As well as new homes and non-residential buildings, those undergoing largescale renovations which leaves them with over 10 parking spaces will be required to install electric vehicle charge points.

After consulting with industry, the Government will also be going further to make it easier and simpler for people to go electric, by introducing simpler ways to pay whilst travelling, such as contactless, at all new fast and rapid charge points.

This comes as the Prime Minister addresses the CBI annual conference, where he’ll set out how the UK can create a first mover advantage in the biggest transformation of the global economy in 200 years, if the public and private sectors work in partnership to seize the opportunities of net zero, from electric vehicles to clean power.

In his CBI speech, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to say:

This is a pivotal moment – we cannot go on as we are. We have to adapt our economy to the green industrial revolution.

We have to use our massive investment in science and technology and we have to raise our productivity and then we have to get out your way.

We must regulate less or better and take advantage of new freedoms.

He will add:

We will require new homes and buildings to have EV charging points – with another 145,000 charging points to be installed thanks to these regulations.

We are investing in new projects to turn wind power into hydrogen and our net zero strategy is expected to trigger about £90 billion of private sector investment, driving the creation of high wage high skilled jobs as part of our mission to unite and level up across the country.

The Government has also announced today that following a successful pilot with businesses, Innovate UK will deliver a new three-year programme of £150m in new flexible and affordable Innovation Loans to help British SMEs commercialise their latest R&D innovations. This programme supports businesses to grow, scale up and create new highly-skilled jobs in the process, including those who would have otherwise been unable to secure private loans.

Whilst this is open to a variety of sectors, green businesses will be able to apply from early next year, many of whom have already been benefiting during the pilot as the UK transitions to net zero.

For example, Northern Ireland based Catagen Ltd’s development of catalytic converters has helped vehicle manufacturers to reduce emissions. NanoSUN Ltd – a company based in Lancaster – develops and manufactures hydrogen refuelling products for customers in the oil and gas and transport sectors, with the support of the innovation loan helping them triple the number of high-skilled engineers they employ and prototype and demonstrate their products.

Thanks to innovation loans, 70% of surveyed businesses who were part of the pilot are now also offering customers greener alternatives to their existing products.

The Government has also confirmed today nearly £10 million in funding for a first-of-a-kind new hydrogen project in the UK’s largest onshore windfarm near Glasgow.

£9.4 million will be invested into the Whitelee green hydrogen project to develop the UK’s largest electrolyser, a system which converts water into hydrogen gas as a way to store energy and supply local transport providers with zero-carbon fuel.

Developed by ITM Power and BOC, with ScottishPower, it has the potential to store and produce the equivalent of enough green hydrogen to fuel over 200 bus journeys travelling between Glasgow and Edinburgh each day.

From 8pm on 21 November 2021, a new avian influenza prevention zone will be declared in parts of North Yorkshire in England, namely the districts of Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire, which means that it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers in that area to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

Following a risk assessment, a localised avian influenza prevention zone with additional housing measures has been declared in these districts to help minimise the risk from wild birds and other sources. Housing is however only one part of disease prevention and control and it is essential that all bird keepers implement the highest standards of biosecurity both at the perimeter of their properties and within the premises to prevent disease being spread between different houses.

The Government Chief Veterinary Officer is urging bird keepers to act immediately in response to the new housing localised measures, including taking steps to safeguard animal welfare, consult their vet and where necessary put up additional housing.

The Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, said:

We have taken swift action to limit the risk from wild birds and have introduced a legal requirement for all poultry and captive bird keepers three districts in North Yorkshire to keep their birds housed and to implement enhanced biosecurity.

Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from 8PM today onwards you will be legally required to keep your birds indoors. We have not taken this decision lightly, but it is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.

I urge all bird keepers to be vigilant and take all necessary steps to implement the highest standards of biosecurity.

Public health advice is that the risk to human health from the virus is very low and food standards bodies advise that avian influenza pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers, and it does not affect the consumption of poultry products including eggs.

For more advice and regular updates on the latest situation, visit the Government’s avian flu page (England).

Poultry and captive bird keepers should report suspicion of disease to APHA in England on 03000 200 301, Wales on 0300 3038268 and in Scotland through the Local Field Service Office.

Further information

• Where avian influenza is confirmed in poultry or other captive birds at an individual premises, Protection and Surveillance Zones are declared to prevent the spread of disease beyond the area around the infected farm. Keepers of poultry or other captive birds kept within a Protection Zone or Surveillance Zone (or temporary control zones or other low pathogenic restricted zones) must comply with the biosecurity requirements declared specifically for such zones. This does not remove the obligation to comply with the additional biosecurity measures required by this Declaration, including enhanced biosecurity measures if the premises contains a large numbers of birds.
• Biosecurity advice can be found here
• Avian influenza is in no way connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and is not carried in poultry.
• For more advice and regular updates on the latest situation, visit Governments’ avian flu pages: in England, Scotland, Wales and NI.
• Food safety advice for cooking poultry and eggs remains unchanged. See NHS advice on safe cooking of eggs and poultry.
• We publish a report (updated regularly) on findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) in wild birds in Great Britain available here, and further information on avian influenza findings in wild birds in GB and Europe can be found in our outbreak assessments.

• Independent review will look at potential bias in items like oxygen measuring devices and the impact on patients from different ethnic groups

• UK-led review aims to drive forward new international standards to improve healthcare and tackle disparities

• Rapid review to launch shortly with initial findings expected in late January 2022

A far-reaching review is being launched into the impact of potential bias in the design and use of medical devices.

There are concerns that the way medical devices and technologies are designed and used could mean a patient’s diagnosis and treatment is affected by their gender or ethnic background, exacerbating existing inequalities in healthcare.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed health disparities across the country as the virus had a greater impact on those whose underlying health was poorer and death rates have been higher among people from ethnic minority communities.

While current UK regulations set out clear expectations, they do not currently include provisions to ensure that medical devices are equally effective regardless of demographic factors, such as ethnicity.

The independent review will look at devices such as oximeters – used to measure oxygen levels – to identify potential discrepancies in how they work for different ethnic groups. As part of this, the review will consider whether existing regulations mean there is a systemic bias inherent in medical devices.

For example, some research has concluded darker skinned patients who might need to be hospitalised are at greater risk of inaccurate results from oximeters due to a tendency for this group to present higher levels of oxygen in their blood.

Existing research on this has highlighted the need for this issue to be further examined, as these devices are critical for monitoring and deciding if treatment is needed for diseases such as COVID-19, where every minute counts and accurate data is vital.

All devices will be covered by the review. Another specific example includes MRI scanners, which are today still not recommended for use for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and further research is needed on how to expand the scope of the equipment’s use, which this review seeks to do.

Patients can be reassured that the NHS are experts in providing the best possible care with the devices currently available, and the review is intended to accelerate the process of improving the quality and availability of devices to diverse communities.

Details of who will be leading the review will be set out in due course.

Current UK regulations offer a clear set of expectations, although there is a growing risk of inequalities as devices are developed at pace and focus on large patient groups.

Not being confined to EU regulations allows the UK to strengthen the focus on ensuring that devices are appropriately designed and tested so that they can support the full range of our diverse communities.

The review will examine medical devices currently on the market to identify areas of concerns in these products, and aims to:

• take forward work on identifying where systematic bias and risk exist with existing approved devices

• make recommendations on how these issues should be tackled in the creation of a medical device from design to use, including potentially via regulation, and

• be future-focused and consider the enhanced risk of bias in the emerging range of algorithmic based data / artificial intelligence tools

It is hoped initial findings can be completed and presented by the end of January 2022.

• People aged 40 to 49 can book their booster jab from Monday if eligible, and 16-17 year olds their second dose, as national booking service opens
• Eligible people urged to get COVID-19 booster vaccines ahead of Christmas
• Call comes as cases rise in Europe and some countries introduce further restrictions
• Almost 15 million boosters have been administered in UK

From tomorrow, the National Booking Service will open to people aged 40-49 for their booster jab, and young people aged 16-17 for their second jab.

Booster jabs and second doses will protect the progress we have already made through our phenomenal vaccination programme, ensuring we can enjoy Christmas safely. People are encouraged to come forward for their jabs as soon as they are eligible to get the best possible protection ahead of winter.

New data this week further highlighted how important the booster jab is. The first real-world study on the effectiveness of booster vaccines by the UK Health Security Agency shows top-up jabs boost protection back up to over 90% against symptomatic COVID-19 in adults aged over 50.

The findings shows that two weeks after receiving a booster dose, protection against symptomatic infection in adults aged 50 years and over was 93.1% in those with Oxford/AstraZeneca as their primary course and 94.0% for Pfizer-BioNTech.

This means people who have had their booster vaccine by 11 December will have very high protection against COVID-19 by Christmas Day. Following a rise in cases and a return of lockdown restrictions in Europe, those eligible for a booster have been urged to take up the offer as soon as possible to protect themselves, their families and help to reduce the pressure on the NHS.

Following new advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) this week, the vaccination programme has extended, with over 40s eligible for boosters and people aged 16 and 17 able to book a second jab.

Those eligible for a booster can book an appointment in advance – five months after their second dose – to be vaccinated as soon as they reach the six month mark, and the National Booking Service opens tomorrow to those over 40 and young people aged 16-17.

Almost 6 in 10 young people aged 16 to 17 have already had a first dose in England, protecting them from COVID-19, reducing transmission and helping to reduce the amount of missed education. Second doses will top-up this protection even further during the winter months.

People can book by calling 119 or get vaccinated at hundreds of walk-in sites across the country six months after their second dose without an appointment. Those eligible can use the NHS online walk-in finder to locate the most convenient site.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:

Getting your COVID-19 booster vaccine is the best way to keep yourself and your loved ones safe this winter and will help reduce the pressure on the NHS.

While the government is continuing to monitor a wide range of data to ensure the country remains protected, we have very sadly seen a surge in cases in parts of Europe.

The most important thing we can do to stop a similar rise in this country is get the jab – so please get your vaccines as soon as you can so we can keep the virus at bay.

A total of 14 million people in the UK have already received their booster vaccines, securing crucial protection ahead of the winter.

More than 50 million first doses (88.2%) and 46 million second doses (80.2%) have been given across the UK.

Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup said:

We must protect the gains we have made through our vaccination programme this winter, and I urge everybody to help make this happen

Please get your boosters when eligible, and get your first and second doses if you haven’t already, to secure vital protection during the winter to keep you and your loved ones safe.

Vaccines give high levels of protection but immunity reduces over time, particularly for older adults and at-risk groups, so it is vital that vulnerable people come forward to get their COVID-19 booster vaccine to top up their defences and protect themselves this winter.

The latest evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) shows that protection against symptomatic disease falls from 65%, up to three months after the second dose, to 45% six months after the second dose for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and from 90% to 65% for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Protection against hospitalisation falls from 95% to 75% for Oxford/AstraZeneca and 99% to 90% for Pfizer/BioNTech.

Although the vaccine effectiveness against severe disease remains high, a small change can generate a major shift in hospital admissions. For example, a change from 95% to 90% protection against hospitalisation would lead to doubling of admissions in those vaccinated.

The booster programme is designed to top up this waning immunity.

It is also never too late if you have not yet had a first or second dose – getting your COVID-19 vaccine is the single best way to protect yourself and your loved ones this winter.

COVID-19 booster vaccines have been delivered or booked in at every older adult care home in England where safe to do so, with almost 9 in 10 care homes already visited.

Last month, clinical guidance was updated to enable boosters to be given slightly earlier to those at highest risk, where this makes operational sense to do so. This includes care home residents who may have received their second doses at different times to be vaccinated in the same session, as long as it has been 5 months since their second dose. It may also help with other vulnerable groups, such as housebound patients, so that they can have their flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time.

Dr Emily Lawson, head of the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, said:

The NHS vaccination programme continues to roll out at scale with more than 12 million boosters delivered in England – including around seven in 10 eligible people aged 50 and over – and 14 million UK wide in nine weeks.

In the run up to the festive period and what we know will be a challenging winter, I would encourage everyone who is eligible and invited to take up the offer of a life-saving booster as soon as possible to protect yourself and those around you.

Vaccine confidence is high, with data from the Office for National Statistics showing nearly all (94%) of those aged 50 to 69 say they would be likely to get their COVID-19 booster if offered, with the figure rising to 98% for those over 70.

Flu is another winter virus that can be serious. To give people the best protection over winter, those eligible for a free flu vaccine should come forward and book an appointment at either their GP practice or their local pharmacy, or take it up when offered by their employer or other healthcare provider.

The government has launched a nationwide advertising campaign, encouraging people eligible to get their booster and flu jabs to protect themselves and their loved ones and help reduce pressures on the NHS. This includes outdoor billboards, broadcast and community radio and TV.

The offer of a first and second COVID-19 vaccine remains open to anyone who is eligible. Vaccines are available free of charge and from thousands of vaccine centres, GP practices and pharmacies. Around 98% of people live within 10 miles of a vaccination centre in England and vaccinations are taking place at sites including mosques, community centres and football stadiums.

There are more than 500 extra vaccination sites now compared to April this year, with 1,697 vaccination centres in operation in April 2021, and over 2,200 vaccination centres in operation now.

Vaccines are also available for those aged 12 to 15 to offer the best possible protection this winter in schools, as well as more than 200 vaccine centres.

Thank you for inviting me to join you today at the Manama Dialogue. It is a great honour to be speaking here for the first time. And I am delighted to be in the Gulf, a region where the UK enjoys deep and long-standing relationships, and will continue to do so.

The success of this dialogue is not only a testament to the quality of IISS’s work, but also to the incredibly valuable role that the Kingdom of Bahrain plays in the region and beyond. Now the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom are united in many ways – not least as island nations.

As such, we share a deep understanding of how the ocean is tied to the prosperity and security of our peoples. It is one of the reasons we work so closely together and why, in 2018, the UK opened a naval support facility just a few miles from here.

But the ocean is the connective tissue that brings together the Gulf and Asia. And so today I want to talk about two overlapping and very serious challenges to the future of the ocean — to its environment and to its security. Both challenges concern us all.

Covering over two-thirds of the Earth’s surface, the ocean is crucial to life on the planet. It provides more than half the oxygen we breathe, and fuels the cycle that gives us fresh water. It provides food to billions and jobs to millions.

A healthy ocean and coastal habitats are essential allies in our fight against climate change – helping us to generate clean electricity, and able to store more carbon per unit than terrestrial forests.

The ocean also connects us, making our modern lives possible.

Over 700,000 miles of undersea cables carry internet and telephone traffic around the world, bringing people and businesses together.

Each year, more than 11 billion tons of goods are shipped worldwide – providing countries with the raw materials needed for economic development, and giving us all access to products that previous generations could only have imagined possessing.

Humanity cannot thrive without the ocean. But its future is under threat.

We are already witnessing an environmental tragedy unfold. Around a third of marine mammals are threatened with extinction. And more than a third of all fisheries are gone or on the brink of disappearing. There is so much plastic waste in our seas that by 2050 plastic will outweigh fish.

And at the same time, we face grave threats to the law of the sea, the framework that protects freedom of the seas and open supply chains as the lifeblood of the world economy.

Now as competition in the international order intensifies, some states have chosen to openly contest, selectively reinterpret, or discreetly subvert freedom of navigation.

We saw this with HMS Defender’s passage through the Black Sea earlier this year in June. And as well in the disruption of commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Such activity undermines the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea – UNCLOS – and threatens our collective security and prosperity.

UNCLOS, freedom of navigation and the marine environment might seem like issues that should only be of concern to academics and policy experts. They are not. They should concern us all. The global economy and our collective security are dependent on the health of our oceans and our confidence in safe and unhindered passage across it. In March this year, the UK published the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, setting our strategy for the years ahead. At the heart of this strategy is a steadfast commitment to tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. This is the UK’s foremost international policy.

I am deeply proud that under the UK’s presidency the world reached an historic agreement in Glasgow to go further and faster in tackling climate change.

But there is much more to do. We must work together to put the ocean at the centre of our efforts.

I would like to thank over 100 countries – including our host, Bahrain – who have already joined the UK to support the target of protecting 30% of the global ocean by 2030.

I call on others to join us in this crucial endeavour, and to support negotiations for an ambitious new agreement under UNCLOS to protect biodiversity in international waters.

Also at the heart of the UK’s strategy, is an unshakeable commitment to democratic values and to freedom.

The UK will be active in ensuring that the future international order remains open, and based on global adherence to a shared set of rules.

In doing so, we will defend UNCLOS – deterring and countering hostile activity. Freedom of the seas and open supply chains are the lifeblood of the world’s economy.

Underpinning this commitment is the Royal Navy. Through our policy of forward presence, you will see Royal Navy ships persistently deployed around the world, acting as burden-sharing and problem-solving partners for you all.

The UK is a founding member of the International Maritime Security Construct, which protects the free flow of trade in the international waters of the Middle East.

And this year, the UK’s Carrier Strike Group is travelling over 26,000 nautical miles, exercising and operating with 36 of our allies and partners.

We have not done this because we are hostile to any state. It is because we want to show our commitment to the freedom of the seas, open supply chains and global peace and stability, including in the Gulf and in the Indo-Pacific region.

This is also the logic behind the AUKUS arrangement. This arrangement, concluded between the UK, Australia and the United States, is based on our mutual long-standing and enduring commitment to peace, stability, balance and an open international order.

As my Prime Minister has said, this is not just a deal between friends: it is the beginning of cooperation on the defence and security aspects of other technologies too including Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing and cyber.

It is in creating such coalitions of the willing and by staying at the forefront of technological advance that we will be able to promote and defend an international order.

The ocean matters to us all. The UK will not stand by while the marine environment is threatened and UNCLOS undermined. But we cannot do this alone, and I call on all countries to join us in preserving our ocean and the prosperity that it provides to us all. If we work together we will be more secure, more prosperous and more confident in the health of our peoples and the planet we share.

Thank you.