The UK Government has today, Tuesday 23 March, opened a new walk-through coronavirus testing centre at Risk Street Car Park 1 in Dumbarton (G82 1SE).

The test centre is part of the largest network of diagnostic testing facilities created in British history. In Scotland, this comprises of eight drive through sites, 37 walk-through sites, 42 mobile units, plus the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab which is working round the clock to process samples.

In Scotland, the UK Government is providing all Covid testing and test processing outside of the NHS. Around two thirds of all daily tests are provided by the UK Government, in support of Scotland’s health services.

Tests must be booked in advance at NHS Inform or by calling 0800 028 2816. People should only book at test if they have coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature, a new and continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste).

Health Minister Lord Bethell said:

To respond to the coronavirus, we have built a major testing and tracing system from scratch. We are constantly working to expand and improve it with new technologies and innovations so everyone with symptoms can get a test.

New walk-in sites like this one makes it even easier to get a test no matter where you live. If you have symptoms of coronavirus, I urge you to book a test today and follow the advice of NHS Test and Protect if you are contacted to protect others and stop the spread of the virus.

Baroness Dido Harding, Interim Executive Chair of the National Institute for Health Protection, said:

Walk-through sites offer communities better access to coronavirus testing, so everyone with symptoms can get a test. This new site is part of our ongoing work to expand our testing network across the UK which now has the capacity to process more than 750,000 tests a day. We will continue to expand capacity to improve test turnaround times and push forward testing innovations to make sure anyone who needs a test can get one.

Please book a test if you have coronavirus symptoms: a new continuous cough, a high temperature and a loss or change in sense of smell or taste, and follow the advice of NHS Test and Protect if you are contacted.

UK Government Minister for Scotland, Iain Stewart said

The UK Government is doing everything it can to support people in all parts of the UK through the pandemic.

Testing continues to play an important role how we manage the virus alongside the roll out of vaccines, helping to identify local outbreaks, slow down the rate of transmission and protect communities. I would like to thank the public for continuing to do the right thing and come forward to be tested when they display symptoms.

The UK Government continues to provide the bulk of testing in Scotland, with this new walk-through centre in Dumbarton, just the latest in our extensive network. We have also secured and paid for millions of doses of the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines for all parts of the UK.

Dr Linda De Caestecker, Director for Public Health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said:

We’d like to thank all of the staff involved in setting up and operating testing sites across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. We welcome the addition of another testing centre to support this existing network. Making testing centres local and easy to access is a very important part of helping us to control and minimise the spread of the virus across our communities.

Simon Venn, Mitie Chief Government & Strategy Officer, said:

Our priority during the pandemic is to support the nation’s efforts to fight COVID-19 and help keep the country running. Testing is a critical part of the UK’s strategy to combat coronavirus and we’re proud to support the UK Government with this vital task. A big thank you to all the NHS staff, Mitie employees and other frontline heroes in Dumbarton, who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe.

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Announced by the Prime Minister in the Integrated Review, the multi-billion pound R&D investment will bolster the UK’s place at the leading edge of science and technology, driving prosperity and generating thousands of highly skilled jobs across the country.

The Defence Command Paper published yesterday following the Integrated Review signals a pivot towards the technologies and industrial capability needed to deliver the integrated operating concept, digital backbone of our Armed Forces, cyber and space capabilities, novel weapons, and artificial intelligence which will all be underpinned by new testing and evaluation investment.

The Government’s ability to capitalise on these areas of investment will be supercharged by DSIS, which will modernise and streamline regulations to drive innovation and improvements in productivity and efficiency ensuring the UK expands its competitive, pioneering and world-class defence and security industries.

This initiative is essential if we are to succeed in our global role defined in the Integrated Review. This role requires our Armed Forces to deter and defeat the military threats of the future whilst remaining agile and adaptable to the rapidly changing face of warfare, conflict environments and global engagement.

Announcing the new strategy in the House of Commons, Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said:

DSIS signals a step change in our approach to the Defence and Security industrial sectors.

It will help retain onshore, critical industries for our national security and our future. It will help us develop advanced skills and capabilities. It will help us realise the Prime Minister’s vision of the UK as a science superpower. And with Defence Procurement benefitting every part of our Union it will help galvanise our levelling up agenda.

Building on the outcomes of the Integrated Review and Command Paper, the new strategy provides the framework for industry to achieve those ambitions. The strategy includes:

• Increased transparency on our longer-term security priorities

• Earlier engagement with industry on potential solutions to capability requirements

• Reducing barriers to Small and Medium Enterprises

• The development of new government-to-government commercial mechanisms to sell our great defence and security exports to friends and allies

• Enhanced programme collaboration with NATO nations

• More openness and joint working to provide firms with the confidence to invest in developing new technology, products and services

• Greater efforts to promote innovation through initiatives like the Defence and Security Accelerator

In a move away from the policy of ‘global competition by default’, we will adopt a more strategic and nuanced approach in designing capabilities and acquisition strategies to ensure homegrown skills, enterprise and intellectual talents are fully harnessed. This will ensure investments in Defence benefit engineers, designers, factory workers, scientists and everyone else across the UK who contributes their critical skills to the defence and security of the UK.

This shift will allow us to decide the best acquisition and procurement of a military capability based on the technology required, our national security requirements and the prosperity benefits to the UK.

Paul Everitt, ADS Chief Executive said:

Industry has worked closely with Government to develop this strategy which lays the foundation for a defence and security industry that will have the confidence to invest in advanced capabilities needed by the UK Armed Forces and security services. Industry looks forward to working in partnership with Government on this new way forward.

The greater flexibility provided by DSIS will enable the UK to develop and acquire innovative capabilities faster and more efficiently than ever before, while supporting skills and economic growth across the UK.

The benefits of this approach have already been demonstrated by the Tempest programme to develop a world-leading new combat air system. The project has involved a sophisticated partnership with companies and strategic investment to develop technologies and advanced manufacturing ensuring the industry, and therefore our future force, remain world-class. The UK has a world-renowned combat air sector, which generates over £6bn a year and employs over 46,000 people, and this approach treats that as a strategic capability in its own right.

Andrew Cowdery, Industry Co-Chair of the Defence Growth Partnership said:

The publication of the Defence and Security Industrial strategy outlines how industry can play our part in the security, growth and prosperity of the UK defence sector. The closer collaboration between Government and Industry will maximise opportunities for the global defence market to partner with international customers to deliver both innovative and competitive defence capability to our Armed Forces and the international market.

Following the additional £24 billion being invested in defence over the next four years, and the MOD’s commitment to spend over £85 billion on equipment and support over the four years, this new strategy offers a real opportunity for UK industry to support thousands of high-quality jobs as we build back better from Covid-19 pandemic.

The programme is run in partnership with Community Foundation Wales, with funding from the Welsh Government.

The Commission plans to contact over 200 charities in Wales to release a target of £25 million that is currently lying idle in dormant accounts.

The programme works by identifying charities in Wales that are either inactive (meaning they have had no income or expenditure over the last 5 years) or ineffective (having spent less than 30% of their total income over the last 5 years).

The Commission then gives the trustees an option to act – with support to help the charity get back up and running if needed.

Otherwise the funds are redeployed to causes in line with the aims of the dormant charity or the trust is transferred to Community Foundation Wales to be managed for the long-term benefit of local communities. In the latter case, the money is granted to charities in need, as well as used to create a regular income stream that will sustain their work to help communities for years.

Where charities can no longer operate, they will be wound up and removed from the charity register. Since its launch in 2018, the English version of the programme has revitalised over £32 million for charity with more than 1,800 charities participating.

For example, in January 2019, the Charity Commission identified the Berwick Upon Tweed Nursing Amenities Fund as a dormant trust eligible for the programme. After deciding to wind up, over £42,500 was transferred to the Northern Angel Fund at the Tyne and Wear Community Foundation. This fund supports charitable activity that improves the skills of local people, enhances community cohesion, and contributes to the unique and diverse culture of Berwick. Health and Wellbeing was also added to this fund’s aims, to keep in line with those of the Berwick upon Tweed Nursing Amenities Fund.

Helen Stephenson, CEO of the Charity Commission, said:

I’m very pleased that we’re rolling out this successful programme to support charities and the communities that they work with across Wales. We have so far exceeded our initial targets and released over £32m to aid charities in England and now, with funding from the Welsh Government, we want to deliver similar success for charities in Wales – especially during this time of heightened need.

The Charity Commission is therefore calling on the trustees of charities in Wales, who may be eligible for the scheme, to come forward either for assistance to get up and running again or so that funds currently lying idle in accounts can be transferred to best help active charities and those they benefit in Wales.

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Wales, said:

We are delighted to be working with the Charity Commission and Welsh Government to bring this programme into Wales.

The grants that will be generated by the Revitalising Trusts Programme will be a lifeline to grassroots charities as they strive to recover from the Coronavirus pandemic whilst continuing to support communities across Wales.

Jane Hutt, Deputy Minister and Chief Whip of Welsh Government, said:

The voluntary sector in Wales, including charities and trusts, has been a vital part of the response to Covid-19 and they will also be a vital part of achieving a fair, just and green recovery. In order for this to be achieved, grant support for small voluntary sector organisations will be crucial.

The Welsh Revitalising Trusts Programme will help charities and trusts to bring vital resources back into play in supporting our communities in Wales.

The programme has also seen us build on our existing relationship with Community Foundation Wales, an excellent organisation which has delivered funding from the National Emergencies Trust to support organisations throughout the pandemic.

We will continue to work with our partners to ensure support is available through recovery. We hope the Welsh Revitalising Trusts programme will form an important part of the longer-term picture.

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. Charities falling within the programme’s criteria and seeking support in helping to get their charity operating again can contact the Revitalising Trusts Programme for advice and support at: CSrevitalisingtrusts@charitycommission.gov.uk
2. Funds are distributed as grants via Community Foundation Wales, which also has further information about applying for these grants.
3. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its purpose is to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society.