Government seeking views on who should benefit from additional quota.

We welcomed the progress made by the Joint Working Group on Trade to implement the recommendations of the India-UK Joint Trade Review agreed at the 12th JETCO. We noted the establishment of government-to-government dialogues on food and drink, information communications technology (ICT), life sciences and services statistics. We were pleased by the close collaboration with business and progress made to address non-tariff barriers to trade in these sector work-streams.

We welcomed the next steps expanding the scope of the work to be undertaken by the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade. Alongside continued efforts on the three sector work-streams, the Joint Working Group will expand its remit to focus on chemicals and trade in services. As two service-driven economies, we particularly welcome the inclusion of services; a sector in which both sides excel. These measures will deepen our partnership, addressing barriers to trade and creating further opportunities for our businesses.

Under the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade both sides reaffirmed the crucial role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in underpinning the rules-based multilateral trading system, and the importance of enhancing free, fair, and open trade for achieving sustainable growth and development. We welcomed the progress made through the UK-India Multilateral Dialogue, the next meeting of which is planned for Autumn 2019, to strengthen our bilateral engagement on multilateral issues, including in relation to the WTO Appellate Body and other issues of concern. Both sides will continue their co-operation in the WTO, especially in support of the UK’s new schedule of concessions and commitments.

More broadly, we reiterated our support to the broader international multilateral system; noted its importance in providing security, prosperity, and progress; and stated both countries’ fundamental commitment to shape, strengthen and protect it. We will work constructively ahead of the 12th Ministerial Conference, to be held next year, to achieve a positive outcome and thereby contribute to a strengthened multilateral trading system.

We welcomed the progress made under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Cooperation in the Fields of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries between the United Kingdom’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and India’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The first meeting of the Joint Working Group under this Memorandum will take place later this year to continue our cooperation and knowledge sharing in these sectors. Ongoing collaboration will reinforce the excellent progress already made in the reduction of barriers to trade creating new and exciting opportunities for our agricultural businesses.

We also welcome the increased collaboration through the India-UK Tech Partnership and look forward to implementation of the programme this year. We are pleased to note the work being done towards finalising the MoU between the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Ministry of Communications on Cooperation in the Field of Telecommunications and ICT. This will further bolster our cooperation in the field of telecoms and ICT to strengthen UK-India digital trade – a sector in which both countries excel and will look to grow further. We look forward to the mutually-beneficial MoU being signed at the earliest opportunity.

We welcomed the progress on the UK-India Fast Track Start-up Fund which will provide investment capital into a portfolio of Alternative Investment Funds. The funds will in turn support under-funded, job-creating, technology driven start-up enterprises and thus establish the India-UK partnership as a joint force for good. This will strengthen entrepreneurial and innovation connections between India and the UK.

Both sides welcomed the strength of the UK-India investment relationship and reaffirmed our commitment to facilitate foreign investment. The UK and India have been top five investors in each other’s economies since 2010. We recognised the work of the UK-India Fast Track Mechanism to facilitate investment into India and resolve company issues. India welcomed the establishment of a Fast Track Mechanism in the UK to help facilitate Indian investments in the UK. Both sides look forward to holding the first round of the UK-India Investment Dialogue in the very near future.

Both sides agreed on the importance of stable business and regulatory regimes and welcomed the on-going partnership between UK and India on sharing best practices on Ease of Doing Business. The UK congratulated India on their rise to 77th place in the 2019 World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking – a 65-place improvement since 2014. In line with the MoU signed by our two Prime Ministers in 2016, the two sides have continued to share expertise and work together on strengthening the business environment in India. We welcomed the fact that this co-operation is now being scaled up through a UK supported programme working with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). This aims to support the delivery of fundamental business environment reforms in line with India’s growth agenda, leveraging UK expertise where possible.

Both sides recognised the vital role Intellectual Property (IP) plays as a driver for economic growth and global trade and welcomed the ongoing engagement under the UK-India MoU on Intellectual Property, which is now delivering results. We will continue to work in partnership to develop and strengthen the positive impact of a strong, reliable environment that supports and rewards and protects innovation and creativity and acknowledges the increasing importance of IP in bilateral trade dialogue between the UK and India.

Both sides welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on law and justice that paves the way for greater collaboration and exchange of expertise across areas including rule of law, dispute resolution, training, use of technology and legal services regulation. The Ministers were also pleased to note that the first meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee, set up under the MoU, has already taken place and the two sides have agreed the next steps to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Both sides recognise the importance of ‘Access India Programme’ (AIP) and the role that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play in our bilateral trading relationship. As we look towards the future, we will be exploring how to expand the opportunities for SMEs to feed into future JETCO discussions on the future of UK-India trade.

Both sides welcome the fact that last year over 55,000 skilled work visas were granted by the UK to India, more than the rest of the world combined. This demonstrates the strength of the India-UK relationship. We also note that following the last JETCO meeting, the UK published a White Paper on its future approach to a skill-based immigration system and has launched an extensive programme of engagement, including engagement with India in January 2019. We welcomed the continued outreach by the Home Office to listen to India’s views on the UK’s future skills-based immigration system. The UK noted that these discussions will feed into thinking as the UK’s future immigration system is designed.

Growing up in the seventies, looking like this, extremism was part of my life.

I changed my route to school to avoid members of the National Front.

I watched my mum time and time again scrub the word ‘Paki’ from the front of our shop.

And – rightly or wrongly – as a child, I punched a bully who used the same racist slur to my face.

Although perhaps it’s not a great idea to bring up my past indiscretions just before I get a new boss!

We’ve undoubtedly come a long way since my school days.

I’m proud to say we’re now a more multi-racial, more welcoming, and a more tolerant society.

But just last week I met schoolboy Jamal Hijazi, whose heart-breaking story took me right back to my childhood.

A Syrian refugee who wasn’t just insulted by a classmate, he was attacked.

Not in the 1970s, but just a few months ago.

No one can hear his moving story and deny we still have a problem in this country.

And it’s not just racism, with the blind hate of extremism showing its face in many ugly forms.

In 2015 we published our ground-breaking Counter Extremism Strategy.

Back then, the Prime Minister led the charge as Home Secretary, and I commend her pioneering work.

But four years on, it’s time to take stock and to talk openly about the threat, and to admit it’s got worse.

Yes, progress has been made.

But when I hear what happened to that schoolboy, I know we have to do more.

So we set up the Commission for Countering Extremism to help us do just that.

I thank them for their work so far, and while I do welcome their first findings, they lay bare the ugly truth.

Just over half of the respondents to their consultation had witnessed extremism in some way.

One in five had seen it in their own area.

Almost a quarter online.

The targets are many and varied.

And the top group identified by the Commission as most at risk of extremism? Everyone.

When over half of us have witnessed extremism, it’s gone from being a minority issue to one that affects us all and the way we all live our lives is under unprecedented attack.

People are getting angrier about more things – and extremists are quick to try and exploit that.

In 2015, our focus was on extreme Islamists, particularly the lure of Daesh.

While their physical stronghold has now been wiped out, that threat certainly remains.

But now the fault lines dividing our society have splintered and spread.

Reports of far-right extremism, antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate are on the rise.

Women are being robbed of opportunities by religious extremists.

The internet has further emboldened those that are inclined to hate.

Angry words whip up a climate of fear and incite hate, violence, public disorder, oppression and segregation.

Women beaten on a bus because they are gay, sledge hammer attacks on mosques, children being forced into marriage.

Christians, Muslims and Jews being slaughtered in Sri Lanka, Christchurch and Pittsburgh.

Public discourse is hardening and becoming less constructive.

Around the world populism, prejudice – and even open racism – have catapulted extremists into power.

Now I’m proud to say this has not happened in mainstream politics here.

We’re naturally liberally minded people.

We remain the most successful multi-racial democracy in the world.

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Thankfully, our politics has not gone down the same road as much of Europe and the US.

But we must act now, to avoid sliding into the barely masked racism of nationalism.

Because there’s one thing I know for sure about this country: we’re better than that.

We won’t just accept rising anger.

We won’t just slap ourselves on the back and talk about the success of the Counter Extremism Strategy.

We won’t deny the threat is now worse than ever.

That’s why I’m here to set out my three part approach to counter that threat.

Because if we are to stop extremism in its tracks we must have the courage to confront it, the strength to take decisive action, and the foresight to tackle the root causes.

Firstly, we all need the courage to confront this issue.

Why? Because tackling extremism isn’t easy.

People are scared to talk about it.

This is a sensitive issue and sometimes it can easily cause offence.

But I’m here regardless, because we desperately need a national conversation about extremism.

I will not stay silent and create a vacuum where extremist views can fester and grow.

So I want to be frank about some of the challenges we face.

For a start, what exactly is extremism?

Why have we struggled to come up with a definition?

The threat is not black and white.

There are countless shades of grey between a loaded comment, an online threat, and a terror attack.

Extremism can be the thin end of a wedge.

The unpleasant words that skate on the right side of the law, but stir up hate and drive violence in others.

Of course, you shouldn’t arrest everyone with a suspect view.

Of course not. I won’t be the thought police – people are entitled to hold and express their own views.

But the challenge is being able to identify where an opinion crosses the line into extremism.

When it goes from free speech to the corrosive spread of dangerous propaganda.

When it incites harm and becomes criminal.

At its heart, extremism is a rejection of the shared values that make this country great: freedom, equality, democracy, free speech, respect for minorities, and the rule of law.

It attacks our society and tears communities apart.

It turns us against each other and can lead to violence, discrimination and mistrust.

But there’s a delicate balance between personal and religious freedom and protecting our shared values.

In this country, everyone has the right to observe their cultural and religious practices without any fear of abuse.

We celebrate differences and in part that’s what makes us great.

Our shared values are not about forcing everyone to drink tea, eat fish and chips, and watch the cricket – although I hope they watched it the weekend!

But cultural sensitivities must not stop us calling out extremism.

To back away from a problem because of someone’s ethnicity is not liberal, it is weak.

Of course, we need to be measured.

But we must not be afraid to confront any problem in any community.

Whether group-based child sexual abuse, or the oppression of women through FGM, forced marriage, so-called honour-based violence, I refuse to stand silently by.

The protests at Parkfield and Anderton Park schools in Birmingham bring this balancing act, I think, into sharp focus.

Earlier this week Panorama focused on the row over lessons on equality that include teaching about families with same sex parents.

Sara hit out at the extremists who have hijacked the protests, distorting genuinely-held religious views of parents. It is entirely right that parents with legitimate concerns talk to their schools about what it being taught in a calm, constructive way.

The right to protest and oppose Government policy is one we hold dear, but where that spills over into intimidation of pupils and teachers, it is unacceptable.

And I agree with Sara that it is entirely wrong if any situation is exploited by extremists.

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Of course, words alone are not enough.

So the second part of my approach is showing strength with decisive action against extremism.

As the threat comes in many forms, so must our response.

So we need to combine the more gentle approach of working with communities and promoting shared values with an unashamedly tough approach to those who spread extremist poison.

So our work embraces those we need to help fend off extremists:

• Strengthening communities through our Building A Stronger Britain Together programme and the Integrated Communities Strategy.
• Protecting religious institutions from hate crime with our Places of Worship Protective Security Programme.
• And boosting integration by committing to new British Values Tests and strengthened English Language provision.

But we’ve also been unafraid to be robust in our approach to the people and organisations that pose the highest threat:

• Refusing to let the worst extremists into the country to spread their vile views – I’ve personally excluded 8 since I have become Home Secretary – from a far-right white supremacist, to a US black nationalist, and extremist hate preachers from a number of faiths.
• Removing British citizenship from dual nationals to keep dangerous individuals with the most extreme views out of the UK.
• And launching our Online Harms White Paper, to ensure companies take more responsibility for harmful content on their platforms.

But we know that more needs to be done, and we know that we must keep pace with the changing threat.

So, I can announce today that in anticipation of the Commission’s full report, I’ve asked my officials to start work on a comprehensive new Counter Extremism Strategy.

And while we wait, I will continue, in that time, to call out extremism wherever I see it.

We all have a role to play in stopping any normalisation or legitimisation of these views.

Extreme views can be found on all sides of the spectrum, from Islamist organisations like Hizb u-Tahrir and IHRC, to far right groups like Britain First and Generation Identity.

And those that spread intolerance and division from all corners are often given a platform by media and political figures.

Supposedly mainstream groups can be guilty of that too – groups like MEND. They aren’t always as intolerant of intolerance as they may claim to be.

One of the most prominent organisations that rejects our shared values is called CAGE.

When challenged they claim the Government is anti-Muslim.

Something they will no doubt say about me later today.

I will act against those who seek to divide us wherever I can.

So I have amended the guidance for sponsoring migrant workers.

This will allow us to refuse or revoke a sponsor licence where an organisation behaves in a way that is inconsistent with British values, or that’s detrimental to the public good.

I can tell you now that I plan to revoke CAGE’s licence on this basis, subject to representations.

I will do all I can to ensure groups like CAGE are not trusted with the privilege of sponsorship and I will see it removed.

Now the third part of my approach is having the foresight to tackle the root causes of extremism before it takes hold.

I know what it’s like to be an outsider.

I want everyone to have the opportunities that I had, to feel they belong to our brilliantly diverse Britain.

But, sadly not everyone does, and that cultural separation can sow the seeds of extremism.

The extremists set out to fracture our society, therefore we must unite to defeat them.

We need fewer labels that divide, and more overlapping layers that draw us together.

First, community – when people truly come together we build unbreakable local networks that extremists cannot breach.

Second, language – I saw how hard it was for my own Mum when she came to this country speaking very little English.

We estimate that 1 million people living here today that cannot speak English well or at all.

And if we can’t communicate with each other, how can we build bridges?

So, I’m making it my mission to ask for more money in the Spending Review to properly fund lessons and break down language barriers.

Third, integration – A couple of years ago I visited a primary school in my home town of Rochdale where around 95% of the pupils were Asian. 95%.

And only a mile or so down the road was another primary where around 90% of the pupils were white.

If we want to see more social cohesion we must rally against segregation and have a more positive approach to integration.

And finally, national identity – we must celebrate the qualities that define us as a nation.

My parents were proud to choose to be part of this country and I want to inspire that same passion in others, to encourage citizenship and a sense of belonging.

Of course, I understand that there are some concerns about immigration.

Loose language is used at all levels.

I’m from an immigrant family, I know what it’s like to be told to go back to where you come from – and I don’t think they mean Rochdale!

Some worry that new arrivals will take over their communities – that our national identity will be diluted. I firmly reject that.

I’ve seen how immigration can enrich our country and I welcome it.

I know how much immigrants have contributed to our culture, our society, our economy and our public services. Just this week I was thrilled to meet three cricketers who helped win the World Cup for this country.

One was born in Barbados, one was born in New Zealand, one was born in Ireland – all three of them English heroes.

I recognize the huge benefits of immigration, but if people from different backgrounds are living separate lives in modern ghettos then it’s no good for anyone.

To be truly pro-immigration we must be pro-integration too.

And to do this, we must confront the myths about immigration that extremists use to drive divisions.

We know the scale is exaggerated to stoke up fear and that they use immigration as a proxy for race. Sweeping plans to cut immigration as if it’s automatically bad can add to the stigma.

In 2015 a survey of school children found the average estimate was that nearly half of people in the UK were foreign born. That’s what the children thought.

The truth according to the 2011 census? 13%.

A staggering 60% of the same group believed it was true that “asylum seekers and immigrants are stealing our jobs”.

I won’t ignore that some people feel this way, but we must not be afraid to confront these issues with an honest and open public debate.

Only by talking about this can we show how much integration enriches our communities.

We all benefit, because an integrated society is a strong one, where different cultures form the layers of a watertight national identity: interlocking to form a united front. A united front so smooth there will be no footholds left for extremists.

This multi-layered approach will help us tackle extremism.

This is not just a job for the Government alone.

But we will lead from the front.

It takes the whole of society to challenge these vile views.

Everyone has a part to play: *broadcasters who must not give platforms to extremists… *police who must swoop on the worst offenders… *and public figures who must moderate their language.

And anyone can challenge the myths that are peddled by extremists that deepen divisions.

So tell your friends and shout it loud and proud: people from minority backgrounds do not steal their jobs, they’re not terrorists, and that there is no global ‘Zionist conspiracy’.

Extremism is a problem that isn’t going to go away so I’m here to redouble our commitment to tackle it head on.

I will not flinch from confronting extremism.

I will do everything in my power to stop those who seek to undermine our country.

And I will tackle the root causes.

To unite communities, to protect our fundamental values, to protect those most at risk.

I’ve made this my mission and I’m asking you to do the same.

Together let’s call out hate and unite our society and create a stronger, better, bolder Britain.

Thank you very much.

The joint review of the Rail North Partnership (RNP), commissioned by Councillor Judith Blake and Rail Minister Andrew Jones in response to the problems delivering the May 2018 timetable in the north, has been published today (19 July 2019).

The 9 recommendations of the Blake-Jones review include both long and short-term actions, including improvements to how the RNP functions so that it plays an active role in the design and delivery of rail services across the north.

There will also be greater oversight of RNP decision making, with increased visibility to help identify risks and challenges earlier and ensure better outcomes for passengers and the railway industry.

Rail Minister, Andrew Jones, said:

Working closely with Transport for the North, our absolute priority is to deliver reliable services. This review sets out how we can work to ensure passengers get the journeys they expect, and restore trust in our railway.

We continue to see performance improving, significant investment delivering new and refurbished trains across the north, and industry expert Richard George is continuing to drive forward a recovery plan to deliver better journeys.

Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Lead, said:

While some stability has been restored since May 2018, rail passengers in the north continue to experience punctuality and reliability below acceptable levels. The rail industry lost sight of the need to put the interests of passengers first and our recommendations will significantly strengthen the voice of passengers and local accountability in the way rail services in the north operate.

I hope proposals from the forthcoming Williams Review will address some of the broader issues raised by last year’s disruption including the need to greater integrate track and train and to deepen devolution arrangements over rail services to the north.

Other recommendations include better governance of the partnership, improved internal communications and how accountability behind the scenes can be more transparent across the north.

Recommendations will also build on the industry changes already in place and the two subsequent timetable changes in December 2018 and May 2019, which have helped to improve reliability across the north.

Since last year, the rail industry has planned and implemented the summer 2019 timetable change, focussing on learning the lessons from last year and developing new and strengthened assurance processes.

People across the north have also started to see new trains across the network, alongside the extra 2,000 services a week already delivered. The introduction of Northern’s new trains is another milestone moment, providing passengers with more comfortable, frequent and reliable journeys.

Transport for the North will consider an action plan at its July board meeting.

• Local Industrial Strategy confirms Buckinghamshire’s ambitions to help leading sectors like space and creative industries capture the world stage
• Business Minister Lord Henley met Buckinghamshire leaders today to discuss how the plans will boost productivity and earning potential

A new economic blueprint for Buckinghamshire, designed to grow the area’s creative, space, advanced manufacturing and digital health capability on the world stage, has been unveiled today (Friday 19 July).

Developed in collaboration with local leaders, including Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership, local authorities, businesses, and Government, the Buckinghamshire Local Industrial Strategy sets out how the area will deliver the national Industrial Strategy’s aim to raise productivity levels and to create high-quality, well paid jobs across the country.

UK Space Agency recently invested £4.12 million in Westcott Venture Park to develop the National Space Propulsion Test Facility, and today’s new strategy sets out how the cluster will get to the next level, addressing skills shortages for technicians and propulsion test specialists.

Buckinghamshire’s world-leading creative businesses like Pinewood Studios are also highlighted as a key asset and enabler of growth in the sector, with the next James Bond film currently being filmed in Iver Heath.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

Buckinghamshire already has world-leading assets and strengths, ranging from Pinewood studios and the next James Bond film, to an innovative space sector testing new and emerging technologies.

Today’s Local Industrial Strategy – one of four published across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc – will build on this and its position as the fourth most productive area in England, while also opening up new job opportunities for people across the county and beyond.

Andrew M. Smith, Chair of Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said:

We have embraced the opportunity to work with Government to deliver one of the first trailblazing Local Industrial Strategies in the country, to help drive the Buckinghamshire economy to further increase innovation, support international trade and improve connectivity to help all businesses deliver their full economic potential.

Buckinghamshire has many world leading businesses and business clusters operating at the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Arc.

Many of these including, Robert Bosch, Silverstone, GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, Boundless Productions and Pinewood Studios are operating at the heart of the automotive technologies, life-science and creative industry sectors and will be critical in delivering the success of our strategy.

The Oxfordshire, South East Midlands, and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Industrial Strategies have also been published today, demonstrating the economic strength of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc area collectively.

To coincide with the launch of the Local Industrial Strategies, Business Minister Lord Henley met representatives from across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc today to discuss how the four strategies launched today will help to deliver the Government’s national Industrial Strategy ambitions.

More than 100 organisations, including the leaders of the county’s local authorities, have worked together to develop the Buckinghamshire Local Industrial Strategy in collaboration with the Government.

It builds on its four big economic assets in the space, creative, advanced engineering and digital health sectors.

The plan includes:

• a long-term investment plan for Westcott Space Cluster to develop new research and development facilities and a base manufacturing excellence in space propulsion and in-orbit maintenance, and to address skills shortages for technicians and propulsion test specialists
• a new Screen Industries Global Growth Hub at Pinewood Studios to provide support to creative businesses
• using Silverstone Park and technology cluster to stimulate high tech cross-overs, supporting emerging technologies through improving links between firms, improving links between businesses and universities, and improving networking across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc
• digital health, med-tech and advanced artificial intelligence – building on assets including Stoke Mandeville Spinal Centre, Buckinghamshire Life Sciences Innovation Centre

Lord Henley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said:

Local Industrial Strategies are about celebrating the unique strengths of places across the country, so it was great to meet business leaders from across Buckinghamshire today to understand how they are going to put this new, Government-backed economic plan into action.

Our modern Industrial Strategy aims to raise productivity levels and to create high-quality, well paid jobs, and this Local Industrial Strategy outlines how we will do that for people in Buckinghamshire.

Alan Cox, Chief Commercial Officer, Satellite Application Catapult, said:

The Satellite Application Catapult have enjoyed being part of the Buckinghamshire Local Industrial Strategy development process, it has enabled us to be absolutely clear about the scale of opportunity and develop a jointly agreed plan of action with Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership and other national and international partners to unlock the potential of the Westcott Venture Park and Enterprise Zone site.

Housing Minister Kit Malthouse said:

People deserve to live in thriving, prosperous communities where there are great job opportunities, high quality affordable homes and local leaders with strategies to boost economic growth in bold and innovative ways.

The four Local Industrial Strategies mark a momentous time for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc and will maximise the undoubted potential of the region. That’s demonstrated by the sheer range of plans covered by the strategies – whether it be developing future generations via a Skills Apprenticeship Hub, improving social mobility, or entertaining film lovers with productions from the world-famous Pinewood Studios.

It’s time to roll up our sleeves and work with communities and local leaders to realise their ambitions and also build more, better, faster, providing one million new homes across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc by 2050.

Through Local Industrial Strategies, local partners will work together to harness the collective strength of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc’s research base to drive greater collaboration on science and research, bring employers and providers together to understand and meet skills needs and develop improved support for business across the Arc as a whole.

The Government’s modern Industrial Strategy is the flagship economic policy which backs businesses to create high-quality, well paid jobs throughout the United Kingdom, and invests in skills, innovation and infrastructure.