• More than 1,000 civil servants will work in new development being built as part of major regeneration programme
• Development reflects government’s levelling up agenda through investment in local infrastructure

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Steve Barclay, has welcomed a new office development in Peterborough, which is driving investment in the area and helping boost the economy.

Mr Barclay today toured the site of the new government hub at Fletton Quays in Peterborough, which will be home to more than 1,000 civil servants when it is completed.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay said:

Developments such as this in Peterborough are a great example of this government’s commitment to investing in infrastructure and levelling up across our country.

We are leaving no stone unturned in delivering this important agenda, and I look forward to seeing the benefits this new hub will bring to local communities and businesses as part of our plans to spread opportunity and prosperity.

The development, which will be spread over seven floors when complete, will be the new base for civil servants from HM Passport Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Construction is due to be completed in 2022.

It is part of a £120m regeneration of the Fletton Quays site led by the Peterborough Investment Partnership and the site’s developer, Bride Hall. For every £1 that government puts in for construction, it’s estimated that £2.84 of private sector revenue is generated for the area.

The project is part of the government hubs programme, which has also seen the announcement of new hubs in areas including Glasgow, Belfast, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Cardiff, Birmingham and Bristol.

These hubs will support the government’s drive to move 22,000 civil service roles from central London, to locations across the United Kingdom by the end of the decade.

As part of plans to Civil Service roles out of London and spread opportunity across the UK, the Cabinet Office has announced plans for a second headquarters in Glasgow; the Department for Transport will have a second headquarters in Birmingham and a northern hub in Leeds; the Department for Work and Pensions will have a second headquarters in Leeds; and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will have a second headquarters in Wolverhampton.

Further moves will also see a Northern Economic Campus developed in Darlington by the Treasury, the Home Office will open an innovation centre in Stoke-On-Trent and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will move hundreds of jobs to bases in Salford, Birmingham, Cardiff and Darlington, Belfast and Edinburgh

As part of the Peterborough development, a number of apprentices from the area are working on the project, covering areas such as electrical work, bricklaying, joinery, groundworks and design.

Site labourers, cleaners, administrative and logistical staff have also been employed from the local area to help deliver the project.

The review, led by Sir Richard Henriques, was commissioned by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in October 2020 to ensure the guidance and policy framework for investigating allegations during overseas operations is fit for the future.

The review agreed with the conclusions of the Service Justice System Review, conducted by HH Shaun Lyons and Sir Jon Murphy, of the need for a separate system of military justice and that the Service Justice System is fit for purpose. The Service Justice System Review looked at the system as a whole to consider if it continues to be necessary, fair and efficient.

The recommendations made by Sir Richard Henriques add to reforms made under the Overseas Operations Act.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

It is absolutely vital the UK has the most effective framework, skills and processes in place when it comes to investigating allegations of serious criminal wrongdoing by UK Armed Forces, which is why I commissioned this review last year.

The recommendations of the review provide both greater certainty for victims and service personnel with reassurance and clarity on future operations.

I thank Sir Richard for his report and we will look to make progress on his recommendations where possible.

Sir Richard has also expressed his support of the provisions in the current Armed Forces Bill on the Service Justice System, including the decision to retain concurrent jurisdiction so it remains possible for offences committed by a person subject to service law, while in the UK, to be tried either in the service or civilian justice system.

There are 64 recommendations in the report, approximately a third of which are focused on taking forward the establishment of a Defence Serious Crime Unit (DSCU) under a newly appointed Provost Marshal, strengthening the operational effectiveness of the service police to deal with serious offences reported in Defence. This is a key measure in meeting our commitment to further strengthen the Service Justice System.

The DSCU will be tri-service, strengthening our position to respond to serious crime. The DSCU will combine the resource and specialist skills from across the single services under one single unit, building an independent, stronger, more effective and collaborative approach to policing across Defence, enhancing capability whilst further supporting victims.

The Government will be bringing forward amendments to the Armed Forces Bill to implement the recommendations on the Defence Serious Crime Unit, which require primary legislation.

Other recommendations are operations-led, such as enhanced training, improvements to detention processes and record-keeping, and for non-statutory protocols between the Service Police, the Service Prosecuting Authority and the Judge Advocate General relating to the investigation of allegations against UK forces.

Work is underway to consider the rest of Sir Richard’s recommendations in more detail.

• £162.5 million new workforce retention and recruitment fund on top of £388 million infection control funding
• Tens of thousands of additional carers could soon support the workforce through local recruitment initiatives
• Existing workforce will benefit from better wellbeing support, staff banks and overtime

Care homes and home care providers will benefit from a new £162.5 million workforce retention and recruitment fund to bolster the dedicated care workforce.

Local authorities across England will soon be able to access the fund based on their need, helping to boost the number of people working in adult social care and supporting those already working in the sector to continue to deliver high quality care.

The ring-fenced funding, available until the end of March 2022, will support local authorities working with providers to recruit staff. It will also be available to help retain the existing workforce – through overtime payments and staff banks of people ready to work in social care – and will provide further capacity to support their health and wellbeing through occupational health.

The fund is part of a series of measures in the short and longer term to support social care and ensure there is the right number of staff with the skills to deliver high quality care to meet increasing demands.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:

I want to thank care workers for their commitment and tireless efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – we owe them a debt of gratitude which I am determined to repay through ambitious, sustainable social care reform that prioritises their skills and wellbeing.

This dedicated funding will help local authorities bolster staff numbers and care workers to continue delivering high quality care for everyone who needs it.

Throughout the pandemic, the government has provided almost £2 billion towards infection control and testing and over £6 billion has been made available to local authorities to address pressures on their services, including social care. This funding is in addition to the £388 million announced in September 2021 to support infection control, testing and to boost flu and COVID-19 vaccines in care homes ahead.

In the longer term, the Health and Social Care Levy will see a total of £5.4 billion invested in adult social care – including £500 million for staff training to reduce staff turnover and enable carers to achieve recognised qualifications alongside their day-to-day work.

Minister for Care Gillian Keegan said:

The social care workforce has delivered high-quality care in the most challenging circumstances over the past 18 months – showing true dedication and professionalism – and I can’t thank them enough.

This funding will help care providers recruit and retain staff, supporting both those already making a difference while bringing in new colleagues to help.

Everyone deserves to be cared for with dignity and respect. This funding, as well as our wider reforms, will bring us closer to a world-leading social care system.

The government has committed to bring forward white papers on adult social care reform and integration this year.