CEO of the Polish Armaments Group Sebastian Chwałek and MBDA Sales Director Poland Adrian Monks signed the interim capability contract in Warsaw today, which is the first of two stages to deliver the Common Anti Air Modular Missile (CAAM), a surface to air missile.

The collaboration will provide enhanced security and defence development for both NATO countries, and bolster European security.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

Poland and the United Kingdom maintain a wide-ranging and important defence partnership and this move will benefit both countries, as well as the wider NATO alliance.

This missile is at the forefront of threat detection and deterrence, with Poland’s Short-Range Air Defence system seeing even greater alignment between our Armed Forces.

Flying at supersonic speeds, CAMM missiles can destroy modern air threats including stealth aircraft and high-speed missiles.

Each CAMM family missile is equipped with an advanced active radar seeker that can see even the smallest, fastest and stealthiest targets through the worst weather and the heaviest electronic jamming. They are capable of hitting a tennis ball-sized object travelling at several times the speed of sound.

The UK’s Sky Sabre and Poland’s NAREW GBAD systems will both use the same CAMM missiles and launcher, but with Polish designed components for the radar, C2, and vehicles. The British Army is currently deploying their CAMM-based GBAD system, known as Sky Sabre, to Poland to help protect Polish air space.

There are also plans to share these pioneering technologies for production of further ground-based air defence (GBAD) systems in Poland, which will develop and sustain critical skills and jobs across the respective missile sectors.

Chris Allam, Managing Director of MBDA UK, said:

MBDA is proud to be part of such an important programme for the protection of Polish skies together with our Polish partners from the Polish Armaments Group. This rapid initial Narew project demonstrates MBDA’s agility to respond to urgent needs and develop sovereign system solutions in rapid timescales. We are already working to deliver the first systems to Poland as well as addressing the wider Narew programme of technology transfer and Polish manufacture.

The landmark move follows the visit from Poland’s President Andrzej Duda earlier this month where he spoke with Prime Minister Boris Johnson about accelerating defensive support to Ukraine.

During a visit to Poland in November to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to European and NATO defence, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak agreed a Statement of Intent to co-operate on air defence.

The missile agreement builds on the strong bilateral relationship between with forces operating side by side on land, at sea and in the air. It also follows the Ukrainian Naval Capabilities Enhancement Programme announced in 2020 which includes naval infrastructure, new missile craft, retrofit of their current vessels and two upgraded ex Royal Navy mine counter measures vessels.

Defence Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey will also visit Warsaw later this week to meet key military personnel involved in Op CABRIT as part of the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) delivering NATO commitments. The eFP compromises four multinational battlegroups in Estonia, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania upholding collective NATO security.

CAMM is the latest generation of air defence missile used by both the British Army and the Royal Navy and made in Bolton, with MBDA UK based in Stevenage and employing 4,000 people across the country.

The Department for Transport has today (25 April 2022) announced the appointment of Stewart Jackson in the role of HS2 Residents’ Commissioner.

Responsible for driving open and transparent communication with all residents, Mr Jackson will be tasked with fulfilling the commitments set out in the HS2 community engagement strategy and the residents’ charter.

This includes building respectful long-term relationships with communities, actively encouraging HS2 Ltd’s workforce to listen to local concerns and work with communities to develop local two-way engagement and communication programmes.

In his role, Stewart Jackson will also regularly meet with the HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson, and the HS2 Ltd Chief Executive, Mark Thurston, about emerging trends and concerns, ensuring the government meets its core principles of respecting people and places as we continue to build HS2, improving transport connectivity across the North of England and the Midlands and levelling up the nation.

HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said:

As we continue to build this revolutionary railway it’s vital we bring the public with us, supporting the communities around construction as we work to improve transport links and level up the nation.

Stewart has years of experience working to champion the public and I look forward to working with him on this vital project.

Mr Jackson brings decades of experience working to champion the public interest having been a local councillor in West London, a Member of Parliament for 12 years and Vice President of the Local Government Association.

HS2 Residents’ Commissioner Stewart Jackson said:

It’s a huge honour and I welcome the challenge to build upon the excellent work of Deborah Fazan, as the new Residents’ Commissioner.

It’s also an exciting time, as the HS2 project evolves but at its heart is the residents’ charter and a commitment to treating people and places affected by HS2 with respect, empathy and sensitivity and ensuring a dialogue with communities is done in a clear and transparent way, not just engaging but listening and prompting action in a timely manner.

I am delighted to have the chance to help shape this important work.

During his time in Parliament, Mr Jackson held roles including front bench spokesman, whip, Parliamentary aide to 2 cabinet ministers and a special adviser at the Department for Exiting the European Union.

This comes 6 weeks after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps relaunched his search for a new HS2 Chair tasked with leading the way in driving forward Europe’s largest infrastructure project.

Let me start by thanking Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator, for your briefing, and for the tireless efforts of you and your team on the ground.

The UK shares the concerns expressed around this table about the fragile situation in Jerusalem. It is crucial that all parties take urgent steps to reduce tensions, and avoid further escalation.

Jerusalem is a holy city to so many, and the UK remains firmly of the belief that maintaining the historic Status Quo is the only means of ensuring freedom of worship. Amid rising tensions on the Haram Al Sharif/Temple Mount, we urge the parties to engage and deescalate the situation, particularly in terms of ensuring sensitive policing. All religious sites must be treated with utmost respect.

We condemn recent terror attacks in Israel, resulting in the deaths of 14 people. Our hearts go out to the families of those killed. We fully support Israel’s right to ensure its security. And we unequivocally condemn rocket attacks against Israel by militants in Gaza.

The UK is also concerned by the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli Security Forces in recent weeks, including minors. We continue to urge thorough and transparent investigations into the deaths of Palestinian civilians, and call for restraint in the use of force. Israeli security forces have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the Palestinian population.

In closing, let me stress that it is not too late to reverse these trends. We must do all we can to prevent a return to the violence we witnessed last May, to rebuild trust and work towards a sustainable and comprehensive peace. The UK remains fully committed to a two-state solution, and to playing its part in efforts to that end.

Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would like to make a statement setting out the Government’s response to the Independent Fan Led Review of Football Governance. This is further to my Written Statement issued earlier today. The Government’s response has been provided in hard copy to the Vote Office. I will also be placing a copy in the Libraries of both Houses.

At the start, I want to thank my Honourable Friend, the Member for Chatham and Aylesford, and the entire panel for their diligent work on the Review – and indeed colleagues from across the House and all stakeholders who have debated these matters at length over a number of years.

Most importantly Mr Speaker, I want to thank the dozens of clubs and thousands of football fans from across the country who contributed to the Review. They sit at the heart of the Review and our response to it.

Football is a defining part of our national identity, and has been a central part of British life for over a century.

English football has had some extraordinary success. Our Premier League has grown to become the most watched sports league in the world.

However, good governance of our clubs has not kept pace with this expansion and development.

The football pyramid itself has come under threat in recent times, with clubs risking collapse.

Many fans have felt alienated from their own clubs.

It is obvious that reform is needed to keep our national game alive and thriving.

This Government has already taken strong action to support the reform of football.

This includes financial support to help clubs through the pandemic, and amendments to competition law to provide financial stability to English football.

But, we also committed to undertaking a review of football governance in our manifesto, a review led by fans and for fans, a review to protect the future of professional football in this country.

In late November, the independent ‘Fan Led Review of Football Governance’ published its Report.

I am today pleased to announce the publication of the Government’s response to that report.

Our response acknowledges the clear case for reform, and sets out our approach to move forward. It marks a significant step in protecting our national game.

Today I am confirming that the Government will introduce an independent regulator for football, in law, as part of a wider plan for reform.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

An independent regulator is just one of 10 strategic recommendations set out in the Report. I am pleased to say that the Government will endorse all of the Review’s strategic recommendations.

Some of these are for government to implement; and some are for the football authorities to take forward. And we expect them to take action too.

As well as surveying thousands of fans directly, the Review benefited from over 100 hours of engagement involving representatives of over 130 clubs. This all built a clear picture of the challenges in the game.

The Review, and our response, are for them. For the fans who make our national game what it is – and without whom, football would be nothing.

To coincide with the response, we are also publishing the findings of a Government-commissioned study by academics and football finance experts Kieran Maguire and Christina Philippou.

Their analysis confirms that there is a widespread issue of fragile finances across English football clubs, and that action is needed to secure the sustainability of the game.

The sum total of our plans amount to significant reform. In our response, we are committing to publish a white paper in the summer which will set out further details of the implementation of this reform.

Through a new financial regulation regime, the regulator will usher in a new era of financial competency and sustainability for our clubs.

We also recognise that who runs our football clubs goes hand in hand with how they are run.

And so, the regulator will establish new owner’s and director’s tests – replacing the three existing tests – to ensure that only good custodians and qualified directors can run these vital community assets.

The strengthened test will include a new integrity test.

Recent events have shown the importance of us having confidence in the custodians of our football clubs.

Fans have a crucial role to play in the future of football in this country, and for that reason we believe fans should be properly consulted by their clubs in taking key decisions.

And therefore the regulator will set a licence condition setting out a minimum level of fan engagement to ensure clubs are meaningfully engaging fans.

We also acknowledge the crucial role that football clubs play in the identity of this country, and particularly in the communities that are so intrinsically linked with their local team.

The stadium, colours and badge are an integral part of this.

Therefore, we believe they should have additional protections – including a mechanism for fans to consent before any changes are made to these key items.

Mr Speaker, our manifesto commitment was instigated by the financial jeopardy that many clubs were being pushed into.

The long term health of professional football in this country is dependent on fairer distributions throughout the football pyramid.

That is why we agree that the Premier League should strengthen its support across the football pyramid.

We expect further action from the football authorities on this important recommendation – and if they don’t come to an agreement on financial flows through the pyramid, we reserve the right for the regulator to have powers in this area.

Football also needs to ensure there is a clear and supportive pathway for players. That is why we agree with the recommendation that the welfare of players exiting the game needs to be better protected. I have asked the football authorities to act with urgency on this matter.

Taking forward these recommendations and securing the future of football is a key priority of this Government.

But this is a priority that stretches beyond Government.

The Review contains actions specifically for the Football Association, the Premier League, the English Football League, and the Professional Footballers’ Association, on which we expect to see action – without waiting for government legislation.

WOMEN’S GAME AND LISTED EVENTS

Mr Speaker, the majority of the Review looked at issues related to the men’s game.

Women’s football has gone from strength to strength over the last few years, with a record-number of tickets sold for this year’s European Women’s Championship to be hosted here in England.

This Government has shown that we are right behind women’s sport in every aspect and so we will launch a dedicated review of women’s football in this country.

As well as the women’s football review; I am also pleased to confirm that the FIFA Women’s World Cup and UEFA European Women’s Championship Finals will be added to the listed events regime.

As a result, the tournaments will continue to be available to free-to-air television broadcasters; hopefully inspiring the next generation of Lucy Bronzes and Ellen Whites.

SUMMARY

Mr Speaker, the changes we have set out represent a real turning point for football, and will have a considerable impact on clubs.

It is crucial that we get this right, to give confidence to fans and future investors going forward.

That is why we will set out further details on how reforms will be implemented in a White Paper in the summer, and we are committed to legislate to make football reform a reality. We will implement the reforms as soon as possible.

We are paving the way for a more sustainable, accountable and responsible future for football; one that ensures fans are front and centre of our national game.

I commend this statement to the House.

• Central to the plans will be the establishment of a strong, independent regulator established with statutory backing to deliver financial sustainability throughout the national game
• Strengthened owners and directors test, including an ‘integrity test’ to improve corporate governance and protect clubs and their fans from unscrupulous owners
• Government commits to giving fans a voice in the running of their clubs with white paper to be published in the summer

The Government has today set out its plans to radically reform the governance of men’s football in England, reiterating its commitment to fans to deliver a sustainable future for the game.

In a statement to the House of Commons, Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston announced that the Government has endorsed the 10 key strategic recommendations set out in its fan led review of football governance, published by Tracey Crouch MP in November 2021, which will improve financial sustainability and corporate governance across our national game, and place fans squarely at the heart of decision-making.

The regulator will be backed by primary legislation to provide it with the statutory powers to licence and sanction clubs as part of its remit to tackle the most pressing issues throughout the football pyramid.

It comes as an independent study commissioned by the Government published today highlights the widespread culture of clubs operating unsustainable financial practices, placing the pursuit of success over sound financial management. This includes an over-reliance on owner funding which can leave clubs dangerously exposed if owners decide to pull the plug on cash injections.

Premier League and Championship clubs are now regularly exceeding UEFA’s guidance on spending no more than 70 per cent of club revenue on wages, leading to weak balance sheets across the industry that would be unacceptable in any other field.

The regulator will also be given the power to exercise financial oversight of clubs, including information gathering, investigation and enforcement powers. The review recommended looking at financial distribution, including solidarity payments. It is the Government’s view that this should be solved by the football authorities in the first instance. Further details on the Government’s preferred option, including on regulatory ‘backstop’ powers will be set out in the white paper.

The new independent regulator will also be tasked with applying an enhanced Owners’ and Directors’ Test, both ahead of an acquisition of a club but also on an ongoing basis. This will include a new ‘integrity test’ for all owners and executives, and enhanced due diligence – including sources of funding – upon an acquisition. This will be to ensure that skilled, experienced owners and executives are in place to run these vital community assets. It will replace the current tests administered by the Premier League and English Football League.

Today’s announcement follows the Government delivering on its manifesto commitment to launch the fan-led review of football governance in April 2021, to explore ways of improving the governance, ownership and financial sustainability of clubs in the football pyramid. It was launched following a series of crises, starting with the collapse of Bury FC in 2019, followed by Bolton Wanderers, Derby County, Macclesfield Town and Wigan Athletic, culminating in the widely discredited plans to form a European Super League.

The review was based on engagement with supporters’ trusts, fan groups, women’s football representatives, football authorities, club owners, players representatives, and underrepresented interest groups, alongside over 20,000 fans responding to an online survey. The final report, supported by an expert advisory panel from the world of football, was submitted to the Government in November 2021, with 47 recommendations put forward in total, including 10 key strategic recommendations.

It concluded that football requires a strong, independent regulator to secure the future of our national game, and found a significant part of the reason for the perilous state of football was due to reckless financial decision-making often being prioritised by unsuitable owners and directors in the pursuit of glory, putting the future of clubs – and their status as community assets – at risk.

A white paper setting out full details on these measures and an indicative timetable for legislation is expected to be published this summer.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

Football brings friends, families, and communities together, which is why we are taking forward the fan-led plans to secure the future of our national game – from the £230 million investment to level up grassroots pitches to strengthening the voice of fans in the running of their clubs.

Whether you’re cheering on at home or away, this government will ensure fans are once again at the heart of the game.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said:

Football is nothing without its fans and for too long the football authorities have collectively been unable to tackle some of the biggest issues in the game.

The Government took decisive action to conduct the fan led review and today we have endorsed every one of its ten strategic recommendations and the approach set out by Tracey Crouch.

We are now committed to fundamental reform, putting football on a more sustainable financial path, strengthening corporate governance of clubs and increasing the influence fans have in the running of the national game.

Following a wave of feedback as part of the review, the Government has also confirmed its support for the following recommendations today, with further detail to be set out in the white paper:

• A greater role for fans in the day to day running of clubs: the Government will now look at mechanisms including the option of a ‘shadow board’ in order to give fans a greater voice in the running of their clubs with further detail to be set out in the summer.

• Fan engagement on club heritage issues should receive greater regulatory oversight: the Government will set out plans to ensure fans have a bigger say on changes to their club stadia, logo, name and kit via a ‘golden share’, in order to protect clubs and the central role they play as vital community assets.

• Stronger action to improve equality and diversity in club boardrooms throughout the football pyramid: the Government will set out further details on how this will be addressed and how that will be linked to the role of the regulator.

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said:

It’s just over a year since the failed European Super League bid but it is clear that radical change is needed to protect the future of our national game.

We will work at pace to establish a strong, independent regulator however the football authorities can be taking action now to tackle issues currently facing the game such as the issue of fair distribution of finances throughout the football pyramid and giving fans a greater say in the running of their clubs.

The Sports Minister has confirmed that the Government will launch an in-depth review of domestic women’s football this summer. It is expected to look at how to deliver bold and sustainable growth of the women’s game at both elite and grassroots level, in order to achieve parity with the men’s game. Details on the Chair, expert advisory panel and terms of reference will be announced in due course, with the findings of the review expected to be published by the end of the year.

The Government will also work with relevant football bodies and the police to consider the safety and economic case for piloting the sale and consumption of alcohol in sight of the pitch at matches in the men’s lower leagues, as per the recommendation within the fan-led review.

Today’s announcement is the latest move by the Government to support football fans across the country. In January 2022, it launched an ‘early adopters’ programme to pilot the roll out of licensed ‘safe standing’ during the remainder of the 2021/22 season, meeting another of its 2019 manifesto commitments.

Interim evidence published last week by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority indicated that licensed safe standing is having a positive impact on spectator safety and is improving the matchday experience for fans as a result of the pilot.

Under the Government’s commitment to ensure it has the robust evidence in place to assure the safety of fans and the backing of supporters’ groups, a final report will be provided to Ministers at the conclusion of the pilot programme. This will help to further inform their decisions about the potential wider roll-out of licensed standing for Premier League and Championship clubs that wish to introduce it and have met strict conditions.

The Government is putting the grassroots game at the very centre of its plans to level up access to sport for all. In March 2022 it announced the first tranche of recipients as part of a £230 million package to build or upgrade up to 8,000 grassroots football and multi-sport pitches across the UK by 2025.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The Government announced the fan led review of football governance in April 2021.

The review’s interim findings were published on 22 July 2021.

The review was published on 24 November 2021.

Read the Government’s full response.

Read ‘Assessing the Financial Sustainability of Football: a research paper by Christina Philippou and Kieran Maguire’.

A full white paper outlining the Government’s official response will be published this summer.