Greens respond to new plans to clampdown further on protests

8 February 2024

Responding to the Home Office’s new plans to clampdown further on protests, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:

“This is another worrying step towards an authoritarian state, which too many in the government seem intent on creating.

“This government is reaching the stage where it views any disagreement with its plans as practically an offence in itself.

“The right to protest is an important freedom that helps protect us from tyranny. Without these rights, the UK risks ending up with even worse governments.

“The sweeping powers of this Bill risk turning legitimate protest into crime.

“We need to see MPs from all parties speak out against these plans.”

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Labour ditch £28 billion green investment plan – a massive backward step for climate and economy

7 February 2024

Reacting to news that Labour is ditching its policy of spending £28bn a year on its green investment plan [1], Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“This is a massive backward step – for the climate, for the economy and for good quality jobs. Both the security of our planet for future generations and the UK’s future prosperity is dependent on greening our economy and that requires large scale investment.

“Labour have chosen to wear their fiscal rules as a millstone around their neck. A different approach through tax reforms, in particular by introducing a wealth tax on the super-rich, could help pay for the green transition. There is more than enough money in the economy to pay for this. Indeed, the Green Party would go further and faster, investing at least double what Labour originally pledged, so we can turbo charge the transition to a green economy.

“Greens recognise that investing in a green future will provide people with economic, social and environmental security. By decarbonising industry, insulating buildings, and ramping up renewable energy infrastructure, the UK can drastically reduce emissions, cut household bills and create new, good quality, well-paid and secure jobs in every corner of the country.

“Investing in this secure future is a political choice. By ditching its green investment plan, and making a series of other U-turns, Labour has clearly signalled that it is turning its back on a fairer, greener future. It is clear we are going to need a group of Green MPs in parliament after the next election pushing whoever forms the next government to do the right thing.”

Notes

1. Labour ditches £28bn green investment pledge – BBC News

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Greens dismiss dental recovery plan and call for full costs of dental treatment to be covered

7 February 2024

The co-leader of the Green Party, Adrian Ramsay, has dismissed today’s announcement of a ‘dental recovery plan’ by the government saying it will ‘fail to fill the giant hole in NHS dentistry provision.’ Greens are calling for dentists to be paid the full costs of NHS dental treatment.

Ramsay is standing as parliamentary candidate in Waveney Valley, the area recognised as the worst ‘dental desert’ in the country, with one in three people trying to get an NHS appointment not being able to [1]. He said:

“In the Waveney Valley and across England and Wales, the Green Party is fighting back against the decay in NHS dentistry services.

“The scenes of people in Bristol queuing up in desperation to secure an NHS appointment and having to be held back by police are truly shocking [2]. The British Dental Association also reports cases of 3-year-olds with dental sepsis, an epidemic of DIY dentistry and the return of scurvy [3]. This indicates just how broken our society is.

“I speak to people all the time who are furious that successive governments have allowed this to happen. The rot set in with the universally despised dental contract – where independent providers are contracted to the NHS – introduced by the Labour government between 2006 and 2010. Then the Coalition government took power and made savage cuts to the amount spent on NHS dentistry. The budget has fallen by over a third – a real terms cut of £1bn [4]. This is unacceptable and unnecessary in what is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

“The dental recovery with its paltry £200 million offer will clearly fail to fill the giant hole in NHS dentistry provision. The underlying problem is that dentists are not being paid the full costs of NHS dental treatment. That’s why I am proud to back the Toothless in England campaign – that took root in Suffolk [5] – which aims to get contracts for NHS dentists that cover their costs.

“Being able to see a dentist when you need one is a basic need for good physical and mental health – but sadly, it’s becoming a luxury often only available to those people who can pay to go private. It doesn’t have to be that way.

“The Green Party is calling for a new approach, starting with new contracts for NHS dentists that cover the costs of care. I am pushing hard for this now and will make this an urgent priority as an MP.”

Notes

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Reaction to Labour ditching national care service

5 February 2024

Reacting to news that Labour will not seek to legislate on the creation of a new national care service in its first King’s Speech [1], Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:

“Labour are dropping policy commitments like confetti. Next in line it’s social care, with the Party planning to ditch a previous pledge to create a new national care service [2]. The Green Party remains committed to putting social care on a level footing with the NHS and ensuring social care is fully publicly funded [3].

“The NHS is based on the principle that need, not wealth, should determine the health care we get. The Green Party backs the same principle for Social Care. Over a million people need help to eat and wash, get residential care when they need it and to lead a full life under their own control. They deserve to have their care paid for in the same way as the NHS.”

Notes

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National Apprenticeship Week at DVLA: growing talent and creating new opportunities

Amy Taaffe-Evans

Today marks the start of National Apprenticeship Week 2024, which recognises the difference made by apprentices across the country. The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘skills for life’, reflecting on how apprenticeships can develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, while helping employers to develop a workforce with skills for the future.

At DVLA, we’re committed to making long-term, consistent investment in our talent pipelines. Within our digital teams, we have a clear vision which sees us established as a Centre of Digital Excellence (CoDE), not just for the services we provide but for our investment in talent, now and for the future. We’ve developed a generational approach to talent attraction based around 4 key pillars…

Inspire, attract, grow and retain

We invest in outreach, typically through local education providers and third sector organisations, to provide everyone with the opportunity to develop digital skills, no matter what their background is. This includes attending careers fairs in the region and engaging with children and young people by showcasing how fun IT and coding can be!

Our outreach programme also delivers familiarisation sessions to signpost prospective students to the apprenticeship opportunities available at DVLA. We aim to attract exciting talent, who may not have had the experience of working within the industry but can bring new and diverse ideas to DVLA.

We know that our approach to creating new opportunities and growing our own talent is working, with many learners securing a promotion or permanent position following their development journey. A great example of this is Lewis Jones, who started as an apprentice with us in 2018. He won DfT Apprentice of the Year in his first year and has since achieved 3 promotions to his current role as a Senior Software Engineer.

Looking back at our development programmes

Our CoDE Apprenticeship and Development programme continues to go from strength to strength and now covers 13 development programmes with academic qualifications from Level 3 to Level 7. More than 155 individuals have successfully joined DVLA through this route. Last year also saw the launch of our new Digital Academy foundation learning programme – we’ve already seen the first cohort successfully complete the bootcamp before joining their teams this month.

As a leading digital and technology employer, we play a critical role in supporting the development of a strong digital skills economy in the region and across Wales. This year, we’re preparing to release several exciting new opportunities, including for members of staff already within the agency.

New year, new opportunities…

We’re excited to launch our 2024 apprenticeship programme, which continues from our previous successes, as well as introducing new development schemes across several business areas. Software engineering, data engineering, data and reporting, infrastructure engineering, ethical hacking and business analysis are all areas that will have opportunities in the very near future. These ‘earn as you learn’ apprenticeship and development opportunities will sit alongside our Year in Industry programme and wider Digital Academy.

Recruitment has opened across a number of Year in Industry placements, and we welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds and experiences. If you have the skills to excel in digital or the experience from other careers, our apprenticeship and Year in Industry programme could be your next career milestone. View our current vacancies, including any development programmes.

Read our blog to find out more about the journey and experiences of DVLA’s Year in Industry students and apprentices, who form part of the Centre of Digital Excellence.

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