• Areas outside of Leicester City and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston will align with national lockdown restrictions in England from 18 July.
• Some restrictions will continue in the protected area of Leicester city and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston where prevalence of the virus is higher.
• 7-day infection rate for Leicester has fallen to 119 cases per 100,000 people.

All additional lockdown restrictions will end in areas outside of Leicester City and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston on 18 July following a review by public health experts, the Health and Social Care Secretary has confirmed.

Additional restrictions will continue in the protected area of Leicester City and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston where prevalence of the virus is higher. However, some restrictions will be lifted from 24 July.

Shielding advice remains in place for the entire area of Leicester, including where restrictions have been eased.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:

I know the past 2 weeks have been difficult for those living in and around Leicester, especially those who have been shielding for so many weeks. While we are not yet in a position to lift all the restrictions in place, we are now able to take cautious steps to allow areas outside of Leicester City and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston to fall in step with national guidelines and introduce some relaxations within the City of Leicester, and in the Borough of Oadby and Wigston.

I realise that this will be frustrating for those areas that remain under additional restrictions and I am determined to be straight with you all ‒ we will ease restrictions as soon as the data shows that it is safe to do so. I want to thank everyone in Leicester for following the public health advice and taking this pandemic seriously, this is a huge local effort to keep the virus at bay.

The decision comes as the 7-day infection rate in Leicester is now 119 cases per 100,000 people, with 4.8% of people tested positive. This is a positive step in the right direction, but it still remains above the national average. With increased testing and tracing in place there is now sufficient support to make these changes from 18 July and 24 July.

Anyone with any symptoms must isolate immediately and get a test for free by going online or ringing 119. Everyone must continue to socially distance and regularly their wash hands to help bring this virus down further so all areas of Leicester can return to normal as soon as possible.

Following this review, non-essential shops can reopen in Leicester area from 18 July apart from in the protected area of Leicester City and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston, where they will reopen on 24 July.

In addition, from Sat 18 July all bars, restaurants and hairdressers outside of the protected area of Leicester City and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston can open. In Leicester City and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston they will remain closed, with a review of these restrictions taking place by 1 August.

Schools and childcare settings can also open in the Leicester area from 18 July in line with national restrictions, apart from in Leicester City and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston. They will remain closed in the protected area of Leicester City and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston except to vulnerable children and children of key workers.

From 24 July, schools and childcare settings can also reopen in line with national restrictions in the protected area of Leicester City and the Borough of Oadby and Wigston.

Shielding advice remains in place for the entire area, including where restrictions have been lifted.

Mr President, thank you. And it’s a delight to join you from London. It’s my immense pleasure, an honour to join you again on this very important subject.

I remember a year or so ago working with you, Heiko, on 2467 and the importance that it did bring to bear. I know Angelina Jolie mentioned in her contribution about how important it was putting survivors at the heart of our approach and also the reference to children. And I think that’s reflective of the real challenge we have in front of us.

In doing so, I again want to pay especially a tribute to my good friend, SRSG Patten. Pramila, your leadership on this role is exemplary and we look forward to further strengthening your hand and the role of the UN on this important priority for us all.

I also want to record my thanks to the other briefers, to both Miss Ohmar and to Ms Fornel-Poutou for your insights that you brought from specific, live conflict challenges that we’re currently facing. Your briefings have really once again set a compelling base and renewed a determination for all of us, I feel, to do so much more.

Amongst my responsibilities as a Minister, as our President today mentioned, I am the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. And I am honoured by the role that I have and the leadership we have been able to show over several years now from the UK in our determination to work together with partners in tackling these appalling, abhorrent crimes. And I’m proud of our record of working together on this.

Since 2012, the UK has committed over £46 million supporting worldwide efforts with a single objective to eradicate this scourge. Yet we continue to witness, as we’ve heard again today, the suffering experienced by so many survivors. And so we put those survivors at the heart of our efforts. And I’m delighted we have two survivors directly advising me, the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister on our efforts on this important priority.

But not only are our efforts to respond effectively and compassionately where incidents occur, but also our efforts must be to stop this happening to anybody else. Accountability, as we’ve already heard, is a critical part of this. First, because for many, achieving justice is a vital step to the road to recovery. Second, because ending impunity is a crucial deterrent in preventing future violence.

When we look at conflicts of the past in Iraq and Bosnia, we know how long justice can take and continues to take. And that is why the United Kingdom continues to commit to strengthening justice for all survivors and to holding perpetrators of these horrendous crimes to account. This means upholding the highest international standards of evidence collection. It means aiding efforts to secure convictions. And crucially, it means protecting survivors from further harm when they report crimes and making investigations safer and more ethical.

Pramila, I recall our visit to Iraq when we sat there and met Yazidi victims of the atrocities of Daesh, who had gone through the worst horrors against a person. When you see their eyes, it just compels you. It prioritises in your own mind how much more needs to happen and needs to be done.

And we must tackle the conscious and unconscious bias that still exists within the criminal justice systems and build the capacity of judges and prosecutors to understand the impacts of these crimes.

In light of the current pandemic, this approach is even more urgent. Limited legal services are under strain and diverted government resources have further narrowed the bandwidth for safe, survivor-centred reporting. We also know that survivors’ journeys do not end in the courtroom.

And we’ve heard before and we’ve heard today from SRSG Patten and Special Envoy Jolie about the importance of supporting – not just talking, but providing and giving. And that’s why I am proud to announce the United Kingdom’s £1.3 million contribution to the Global Survivors Fund. This fund was launched by Nobel Laureates Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, whose work has championed reintegration, redress and restorative justice for so many. And we’ll also be proud to be working with Nadia Murad on the Murad Code for all those seeking to engage and collect evidence. It supports community action through grassroots organisations and survivors’ networks. This fund supports states and civil society to cater to the specific concerns of survivors and communities. And most importantly, as I’m sure everyone acknowledges, it places survivors’ voices firmly at the centre of its work, spearheading efforts for a truly survivor-centred approach to justice.

Finally, 15 months since the passing of Security Council Resolution 2467, we must all recognise that the only response to sexual violence is a survivor-centred response. The more we empower survivors to lead, the more effectively we support their reintegration, their recovery and our ability to respond to these abhorrent crimes. This means safeguarding minimum standards for investigation and preventing harm through the Murad Code, through the implementation of the highest standards through the Murad Code. It is supporting all survivors and children born of conflict-related sexual violence. It is funding crucial initiatives, like in South Sudan, that have reached 700,000 women, girls, men and boys to empower survivors and support their recovery. It is about raising awareness of the devastating impact of these crimes and tackling the appalling stigma that too many face. And finally, it is why we must prevent these crimes, including those committed against the youngest and most vulnerable, by supporting international commitments like the Safe Schools Declaration to keep girls and boys safe, secure and successful in their lives.

This year we proudly marked the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Conflict-related sexual violence still remains rife. It remains real to so many around the world. We have a collective responsibility to ensure UN Security Council Resolution 2467 becomes an equally historic resolution by holding Member States and the UN accountable to implement our collective obligations.

It is not a minute too soon to turn words and action, ideas into reality and commitments into concrete change. And it is only through concerted, collaborative international effort, we will succeed in eliminating the horror of conflict-related sexual violence. And I continue to look forward to working with partners, with United Nations, but, most importantly, survivors, to put them at the heart of our response.

It is time for justice. It’s time to put survivors first.

Thank you, Mr President.

Thousands of UK Armed Forces families across the UK will have their housing and accommodation improved and renovated thanks to nearly £200-million of new Government funding, announced today by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

On a joint visit to Catterick Garrison, the Ministers chatted to soldiers about the ways the improvements will help them. Over 5,000 personnel, plus their families will have homes modernised with new kitchens, bathrooms and furnishings including re-roofing to reduce the risk of mould and damp.

As part of the funding injection 3,500 service homes will be upgraded as well as single living quarters. This will improve life for UK Armed Forces personnel deployed at home and abroad to keep the nation safe, including in the fight to halt the spread of COVID-19.

The work will also make UK Armed Forces estates more environmentally friendly. New windows and doors will provide better insulation, energy efficient boilers will drive down bills, and solar panels and electric vehicle charging points will reduce the carbon footprint.

Families with young children will benefit from new play areas, roads will be resurfaced and energy efficient street lighting will help modernise sites as part of the funding.

The Defence Secretary invited the Chancellor to Catterick Garrison today, which will benefit from investment in Service Family Accommodation, to announce the news.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

“Our Armed Forces work incredibly hard to keep our nation safe, and so it is only right that they have a place they feel proud to call home.

“From introducing a generous Forces Help to Buy scheme to piloting a new rented accommodation model, we have made enormous steps in recent years to offer flexible housing for a modern workforce.

“This latest investment will benefit thousands of our personnel and their families, providing the standard of living they deserve.”

Improving accommodation and facilities across military estates will also be part of bold new plans, including replacing 30 WW2 accommodation blocks in Longmoor, Pirbright, Westdown, Knook, Nesscliffe, Castlemartin Camps and providing new accommodation for on-call personnel in Northern Ireland.

The investment is expected to sustain around 2,000 jobs through the work on housing improvements including plumbers, electricians, painters and decorators. This will be delivered through the existing National Housing Prime contract. Upgrades will begin in late summer and will be delivered over a period of two years.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said:

“Day in, day out, our Armed Forces make huge personal sacrifices for our country, and it is our duty to ensure they have the best conditions possible.

“This news doesn’t just mean service homes across the country will be upgraded, but will see 2,000 jobs in sectors where they are needed the most, like plumbing and decorating – delivering our Plan for Jobs.”

Over the last four years £530-million has been invested in improvements to Service Family Accommodation. The additional £200-million funding package will continue to improve the standard of both homes for Service families and single living accommodation on military bases.

Improvements to accommodation sit alongside a suite of recent changes to military accommodation to make it more accessible and flexible for personnel and their families.

The MOD recently introduced new flexible working arrangements, expanded offerings to cohabiting couples and extended the Forces Help to Buy scheme until the end of 2022, giving our UK Armed Forces the chance to get a foot on the housing ladder. This has allowed military personnel to borrow a deposit of up to half of their annual salary, interest free, to contribute towards buying a home, moving house, or building an extension.

This follows the announcement last week that military children will be entitled to free breakfast and after-school childcare as part of ongoing measures to further support the UK Armed Forces and their loved ones.