The British High Commission will host a reception today to mark the fourth anniversary of the landmark Indian Section 377 judgment. The judgment passed on 6 September 2018 by the Supreme Court of India decriminalised consensual sexual conduct between adults of the same sex. The landmark judgement has had major implications for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

The reception will see members of Indian business, civil society, NGOs working on human rights, and Consul Generals of other international missions coming together to celebrate and advance rights of the LGBT community. Justice DY Chandrachud, one of the five judges responsible for passing the historic judgment, has been invited to grace the celebration as the guest of honour.

Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, Honourable Judge of the Supreme Court of India, said:

While the decision in Navtej was momentous, we have a long way to go. The Beatles famously sang ‘All you need is love, love; Love is all you need’. At the risk of ruffling the feathers of music aficionados everywhere, I take the liberty to disagree with them and say – perhaps we need a little more than love. Structural changes as well as attitudinal changes are essential.

Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said:

Thank you to Justice Chandrachud and everyone joining today’s event to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the historic Section 377 judgement furthering LGBT rights in India. Earlier this year in July, the UK celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Pride in London. These are milestones in non-discrimination which remind us of where we have come, and what more we have to do, in the UK and in India. The UK in India family is proud to work with Indian organisations that promote diversity and inclusion and believe in equal rights for all.

Rudrani Chhetri, transgender model and activist, said:

I am honoured to attend today’s event organised by the British High Commission to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Section 377 judgment. This historic judgment is protecting people from abuses and different forms of atrocities like blackmail and sexual violence that the LGBT community faced earlier. We are all less fearful now in expressing ourselves not just freely but proudly and believe this is a step forward in the right direction that upholds universal human rights.

Further information

Free-to-use high resolution images from the event will be uploaded here.

In September 2019, the British High Commission in India celebrated the first anniversary of the Section 377 judgement together with over 500 people with events in six locations across India, focusing on a number of themes, including diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The UK is Co-Chair of the Equal Rights Coalition, which brings together 42 countries committed to working together to promote LGBT+ rights globally.

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Media queries: BHCMediaDelhi@fco.gov.uk

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The government has today (30 August 2022) launched an independent review of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to ensure the provision of world-leading regulation and public services for decades to come.

With a remit that includes everything from ensuring the highest standards of aviation safety and security, to the efficient use of airspace, space operations and protecting consumer rights, the Civil Aviation Authority is vital to the UK’s position as a world leader in aviation and aerospace.

Building on the organisation’s success in tackling the unprecedented challenges of recent years, the review will focus on:

• its efficiency and effectiveness in delivering its services currently, and for the future
• its role, form, function and delivery model
• the corporate governance and assurance mechanisms underpinning the organisation
• the CAA’s relationship with the Department for Transport and how the 2 organisations work together to deliver a quality service for the UK
• how its priorities match up to the government’s wider objectives, taking into consideration its role as an independent regulator

This year the regulator celebrated its 50th birthday and has played a key role in the aviation sector’s recovery, as set out in our 22-point action plan to help minimise disruption in the sector and protect passengers.

For years to come the regulator will also be crucial in ensuring the sector can modernise and innovate to meet the challenges of the future, while protecting consumer rights  – as set out in our 10-year strategy Flightpath to the future.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

Civil aviation regulation is the lynchpin of an industry which pre-pandemic carried millions of passengers every year, contributed £22 billion to our economy and supported nearly one million jobs.

This review will ensure UK civil aviation regulation continues to be world-leading on safety, security, environmental considerations, economic regulation and consumer protection – which often supports other countries in driving up global standards.

Sir Stephen Hillier, Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, said:

At the Civil Aviation Authority, we work tirelessly on our mission to achieve improvements in aviation and aerospace for consumers and the public.

We welcome the opportunity this review presents to highlight the dedication, skill and continuous learning culture of our organisation, whilst identifying any areas for improvement.

It will help ensure that we continue to be a diverse, innovative and future-focused regulator, dedicated to improving aviation safety, security and consumer interests and enabling a thriving aerospace sector.

We look forward to working in an open, transparent and collaborative way with government to support this review.

The review forms part of a wider programme looking at public bodies across government, announced in April this year.

It comes at a crucial time for the aviation industry as it continues its strong recovery from the pandemic and will also run in parallel, but entirely separate to, the International Civil Aviation Organisation safety audit due to take place.

Jeremy Newman, an independent panel member at the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, will lead the review, which will run until spring 2023.

Businesses importing goods only have a matter of weeks left to move across to the UK’s new streamlined customs system.

Import declarations must be submitted through the new Customs Declaration Service from 1 October this year when it takes over from the Customs Handling Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system for import declarations.

HMRC is writing to all declarants and traders affected by the change to urge them to access the help available now and move to the Customs Declaration Service.

Businesses with customs agents should check they are ready to use the Customs Declaration Service. Those without a customs agent must set themselves up to make their own declarations using software that works with the system.

Julie Etheridge, HMRC’s Director of Programme and Operational Delivery for Borders and Trade said:

There is only a month left until businesses must use Customs Declaration Service for imports. Businesses who are still waiting to move need to start the process now or face possible disruption to their business. 

Those concerned about moving across to the Customs Declaration Service should work with a customs agent who is ready to use the system and can make declarations on their behalf.

The Customs Declaration Service was launched in 2018 and import declarations when moving goods into the UK have been made through it since then. The service will replace the 30-year-old CHIEF system, representing a significant upgrade by providing businesses with a more user-friendly, streamlined system which offers greater functionality.

This marks the first step towards the government’s vision of a Single Trade Window, which will have considerable benefits for businesses through reduced form-filling, better data use across government and a smoother experience for users. 

To help all businesses and agents prepare for the Customs Declaration Service, declarants are being contacted by phone and email to inform them of steps they need to take. Further information is available on GOV.UK, including a Customs Declaration Service toolkit and checklists, which break down the steps traders need to take. Traders can also register or check they have access to the Customs Declaration Service on GOV.UK and access live customer support services for additional help.

There is more information about using the Customs Declaration Service on GOV.UK.

Businesses who make import declarations from inventory linked ports should use Community System Providers systems. You can find updated guidance to ensure imported good are not delayed at ports.

CHIEF will close for export declarations on 31 March 2023, with businesses being required to use the Customs Declaration Service to send goods out of the UK.