International Development Minister announces new UK aid to support 1.2 million people living in Cox’s Bazar

International Development Minister Baroness Sugg has visited Bangladesh and Myanmar this week to see first-hand how UK aid is saving lives – and to pledge new support.

The Minister’s visit focused on how the UK can help find a lasting solution to help Rohingya refugees return home safely to Rakhine State in Myanmar.

During her trip, Baroness Sugg visited the world’s largest refugee camp In Cox’s Bazar, and saw how new UK aid will provide food, clean water, shelter and healthcare to the Rohingya and Bangladeshi families in the host communities in the surrounding area.

Baroness Sugg also visited a women-only safe space within Cox’s Bazar, where UK aid is supporting women and girls to access sexual and reproductive health care, as well as helping them receive counselling after surviving sexual and physical violence.

The second leg of her visit took the International Development Minister to Myanmar, where she saw how UK aid is helping to build a more inclusive society, including through programmes which train women in essential skills for work.

Reflecting on her visit, International Development Minister Baroness Sugg said:

Bangladesh has shown great generosity in giving refuge to the Rohingya, but we must not forget the impact of the crisis on Bangladeshi people too, particularly those living near the camps.

Our new package of support will help both the Rohingya and their host communities in Cox’s Bazar. It will help, for example, disadvantaged women learn skills and set up businesses, boosting economic growth and helping to ease tensions between the local and refugee populations.

The new package of support follows a long-term commitment by the UK to help Rohingya refugees forced to flee their homes in Myanmar more than two years ago.

The UK has provided consistent support to Bangladesh to host almost a million refugees since the crisis began in August 2017.

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Competition to find business ideas that are out of this world

The UK Space Agency will provide funding and the first space flight for the winning concepts, which could be anything from medicines and innovative materials developed in microgravity, to space-flown consumer products.

Matched funding of up to £1 million is available via the UK Space Agency from the European Space Agency’s Business Applications Space Solutions fund. The announcement was made during World Space Week, which runs from 4 to 10 October.

Science Minister Chris Skidmore said:

Developments in space inspired technology have resulted in truly remarkable breakthroughs – from the hi-tech materials we use in engineering to examining cancer molecules within the human body.

It is amazing to see our most innovative businesses and entrepreneurs tackling one of the UK’s greatest opportunities. For them, the sky is not the limit. The opportunity to test their pioneering projects in space will help ensure the UK remains a global science superpower.

The US is already exploring the emerging commercial microgravity market and its International Space Station (ISS) portfolio of projects has leveraged more than $100 million from commercial sources. The market for this portfolio is estimated to be more than $110 billion.

Emily Gravestock, Head of Applications Strategy at the UK Space Agency, said:

The global space sector is changing rapidly and we want the UK to be at the forefront of the commercialisation of microgravity, as part of our vision to lead the new space age. This funding could help open up whole new markets, create jobs and growth here on Earth and attract investment to support future research and exploration activities.

The selected projects will fly to the ISS, where they will be unloaded by astronauts and housed in the platforms provided by either the ICE Cubes or Bioreactor Express facilities. Payloads will have to range in size from a small matchbox to a large shoebox, and can make use of the resources provided by each facility, including power, data and, in the case of Bioreactor Express, temperature control and simulated gravity.

The environment of the ISS, where astronauts and objects float weightlessly, offers a great opportunity to investigate novel materials, life science R&D and new technologies.

The European Space Agency is establishing a Business in Space Growth network in order to help build demand for low Earth orbit opportunities, particularly around the ISS. The network will bring together service providers and customers, augmented by additional funding sources in one programme with the aim to boost commercial research and applications in Space – and this call is supporting this initiative.

Libby Jackson, Human Exploration Programme Manager, said:

Even with technological improvements and the falling cost of launch, space travel is expensive. To support future exploration plans, including sending people to the Moon and Mars, we are encouraging entrepreneurs from across the UK to develop new business ideas. The best ones could profit from a flight on the International Space Station.

At the UK Space Conference held in September, Science Minister Chris Skidmore made a commitment to build the UK’s national capability and forge new international partnerships, while strengthening its commitment to the European Space Agency, which delivers world-leading science and a significant return on investment, benefiting people and businesses across the country.

World Space Week is a United Nations celebration of space and science. This year’s theme is “The Moon: Gateway to the stars”. Thousands of events will take place all over the world, bringing people together to inspire an interest in space.



Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Commonwealth – ‘A Connected Commonwealth’

  • 2019 marks a significant milestone – the Commonwealth’s 70th Anniversary. It’s great to see such a diverse group of people in the room tonight, from honourable parliamentarians, national representatives and colleagues from non-governmental organisations to young leaders, here to take part in this dialogue to prepare them for the challenge of shaping a better world for the next generation.

  • The Commonwealth began as a family of 8 states who signed the London Declaration in 1949. In the intervening years the Commonwealth has grown to 53 member states, which is more than a quarter of UN member states. 2.4 billion people live in Commonwealth countries, which is a third of the world’s population. The Commonwealth makes up one-fifth of global trade, with the combined GDP of Commonwealth nations set to reach US$13trillion in 2020. The potential is huge.

  • The ties that bind us in this region are deep-rooted and stretch back many years. A large number of countries in this region are members of the Commonwealth, including as Australia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and of course Fiji.

  • The special strength of the Commonwealth lies in the combination of diversity and shared inheritance in language, culture and the rule of law; bound together by the shared history and tradition; by respect for all states.

  • As the current Chair-in-Office, the United Kingdom is working with all member states to ensure the Commonwealth realise its potential. But what does it mean to be a Commonwealth member if you are from a Pacific country? The Commonwealth promotes shared values and inclusivity, helps harness talent, strengthens norms, amplifies the voices of small states, and helps tackle the big global challenges of the day such as extremism and climate change.

  • The UK wants to play an active role in this connected Commonwealth. At the Heads of Government meeting last year, the then Foreign Secretary, now our Prime Minister Boris Johnson, announced that the UK would be opening 9 new diplomatic missions in Commonwealth countries, thereby increasing the number of British High Commissions around the world from 38 to 47. Three of those new missions are in the Pacific: in Tonga, Vanuatu and Samoa, thereby doubling our diplomatic presence in the region. We have also doubled the number of diplomatic staff at the High Commission in Suva and welcomed a new regional development counsellor.

  • As I noted at the start of this workshop, this evening event is part of the programme for the UK-funded Young Leaders Dialogue, which provides a platform where young people can acquire and share knowledge, engage in dialogue with respective national leaders, and foster networks for progressive development. It is funded through the Pacific Commonwealth Equality Project, which aims to increase the capacity of Pacific Island Countries to drive inclusive and equitable social change through good governance, respect for human rights, and fairer opportunities for politically, socially and economically marginalised communities. 60% of the population of the Commonwealth is aged under 30 so it is vital we engage with youth – they are the inspiration and driving force for the type of world we want for the next generation and beyond.

  • The Commonwealth and its members are also active in tackling what might be the defining issue of our time and that is the threat of climate change. As Commonwealth nations, we recognise that we live on a shared planet with finite, common resources that must be managed for the benefit of all. The Commonwealth Blue Charter is encouraging sustainable development and protection of the ocean, along with initiatives such as the Commonwealth Marine Economy Programme, and the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance. The UK is proud to be at the heart of these initiatives and we look forward to COP25 in Chile and beyond that to COP26 in Glasgow, key opportunities for us to drive global ambition.



    • Sale of Thomas Cook’s UK retail estate

    The agreement will see Hays Travel acquire a total of 555 stores around the UK, providing re-employment opportunities for a significant number of former employees of Thomas Cook’s retail operations who were made redundant following the appointment of the Official Receiver as liquidator on 23 September 2019.

    Hays Travel is the country’s largest independent travel agent. The company also runs the Hays Travel Independence Group, a consortium of independent travel agents, in addition to operating a subsidiary business, Just Go Travel, which trades under the Hays Travel brand predominantly across the North West of England.

    Following the appointment of the Official Receiver last month, Hays Travel have already recruited 421 former Thomas Cook personnel and have further offers outstanding to former employees.

    David Chapman, Official Receiver, said:

    I am pleased to announce we have reached an agreement with Hays Travel to acquire Thomas Cook’s entire UK retail estate, comprising 555 stores across the country. This represents an important step in the liquidation process, as we seek to realise the company’s assets.

    Jim Tucker, Partner at KPMG and Joint Special Manager of Thomas Cook’s Retail division, said:

    This is an extremely positive outcome, and we are delighted to have secured this agreement. It provides re-employment opportunities for a significant number of former Thomas Cook employees, and secures the future of retail sites up and down the UK high street. We are pleased to have achieved this in a short time frame and in the context of a complex liquidation process, which is testament to a lot of hard work from a number of parties.

    Over the weeks ahead, we will work closely with Hays Travel and landlords to ensure a smooth transition of the store estate.

    John and Irene Hays, Managing Director and Group Chair of Hays Travel Limited, said:

    Thomas Cook was a much-loved brand employing talented people. We look forward to working with many of them.

    Further information on the liquidation of Thomas Cook is available on GOV.UK.

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