Thank you, President.

Mr President, it’s important that Ukraine is regularly discussed here in this Council. Ursula Mueller told us that the leading cause of death of children in Ukraine is from landmines and that is a grim reminder of the real impact of this ongoing conflict, as also set out by our briefers from the OSCE.

Thirteen thousand people have died. Thirty thousand have been injured. Three and a half million are in need of humanitarian aid in this modern conflict in Europe.

Mr President, why are we here? We are here because Russia sent troops to Crimea and later grabbed it after an illegitimate pretence of a referendum, held at the barrel of the Russian gun. Russia’s actions were clearly illegal. One hundred Member States agreed in a GA resolution in March 2014 and not one country around this table voted with Russia. Russia sent troops and supported separatists in eastern Ukraine and continues to destabilise those regions with devastating humanitarian consequences. Russia attacked Ukrainian ships in the Sea of Azov last year and continues to impose daily restrictions on vessels in a blatant attempt to destabilise Ukraine’s economy. All those who care about the territorial integrity of Member States and the principle of non-interference should ask Moscow to stop interfering in its neighbour and to get off its territory. We therefore condemn President Putin’s recent decision on passports, which is further evidence of Russia’s aggressive actions to destabilise Ukraine and undermine a security sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Rather than creating further obstacles to the reintegration of these communities into Ukraine, Russia should focus on implementing the Minsk Agreements, endorsed by this Council, on ending its support for armed separatist formations and on ensuring the safe delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance by international agencies. This is the only way to end the fear and suffering of ordinary people in eastern Ukraine.

Mr President, last month was the fifth anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia. Apart from the illegal seizure of Ukrainian land, infrastructure and economic assets, the Russian authorities have run illegitimate elections and imposed Russian citizenship, Russian law and military conscription on the population in this part of Ukraine. We’ve seen an increase in the persecution of ethnic and religious groups, such as the Crimean Tatars, including the unlawful detention of 23 Crimeans following recent raids on their homes. There are continuing reports of arbitrary detentions and arrests and forced disappearances and torture against political opponents and minorities. Seventy three political prisoners are currently being held in Crimea and in Russia. It is unacceptable that the Russian Federation has not cooperated with calls by the UN General Assembly to allow access for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Mr President, I would like to extend my congratulations to Vlodomyr Zelensky on his Presidential election success. The peaceful election process is a testament to the development of Ukraine’s democracy and an example to some of Ukraine’s neighbours. As my Prime Minister stated, we look forward to working with Mr Zelensky. The Russian Federation have an opportunity to show willingness to work with the new President and to reduce tensions, to bring calm, to work for peace. Sadly, instead, Russia has continued down its aggressive path.

Thank you, Mr President.

The new Hub, located near Waverley Station, will bring together nearly 3,000 UK Government civil servants from a range of departments, including the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Office of the Advocate General for Scotland, HMRC, the Office for Statistics Regulation, the Information Commissioner’s Office, the Government Actuary’s Department and HM Treasury.

Due to open in 2020, the Hub will improve the work of the UK Government in Scotland, enabling closer collaboration between departments and helping them deliver better services for Scottish people.

Mr Mundell said:

Work is progressing well on the new UK Government Hub in the centre of Edinburgh. The space will bring together some 3,000 UK Government civil servants, helping them deliver high quality services for people across Scotland.

The Edinburgh Hub is a great example of the UK Government’s extensive support for the capital’s economy – which we are also driving through the ambitious Edinburgh and South East Scotland Growth Deal.

The Edinburgh Hub will open during 2020. Work is also underway on a Glasgow Hub. The Edinburgh and Glasgow Hubs are a key part of the UK Government’s commitment to delivering excellent public services for people in Scotland, and building a strong Civil Service outside London. Across the UK it is estimated that the UK Government Hubs programme will save more than £2 billion of public money over twenty years, relocating civil servants from existing, often fragmented office locations, to modern, cross-departmental workplaces.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell today [Thursday 25 April] visited the site in central Edinburgh which will host a new UK Government Hub.

The tenth Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) between the UK and China will be held in June in London, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond announced today (25 April 2019).

The announcement comes as the Chancellor is in China attending the second Belt and Road Forum, hosted by President Xi. At the Forum, the Chancellor will set out how the UK is a natural partner for quality global infrastructure initiatives due to the world class talent and expertise this country has to offer. The Chancellor will also make the case for ensuring that projects meet international standards on governance, debt sustainability, and environmental impact.

Over the last ten years EFDs have secured billions of pounds worth of commercial deals for UK companies, boosting investment and jobs. They have also established the UK as the leading financial services partner for China with, for example, an agreement to set up the UK-China stock connect, expanding market access for UK Financial Services firms, and establishing London as the leading global centre for RMB trading.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond said:

Working with partners across the world to boost jobs, businesses and prosperity at home is key to our post Brexit future. The UK’s world-leading financial sector, along with our unrivalled expertise in areas such as design, engineering, financing, and legal services, mean we are natural partners for global infrastructure initiatives. And our leadership on high standards and the sustainable development agenda put us at the forefront of responsible investing.

The forthcoming Economic and Financial Dialogue in June will continue the golden era of relations between China and the UK. By deepening our cooperation on financial services, trade, and investment with international partners, we can ensure Britain’s global future.

Economic and Financial Dialogues are held with a number of key partners; and the ninth UK-China EFD took place in December 2017 in Beijing. The tenth UK-China EFD will see the Chancellor host Vice Premier Hu Chunhua and a Chinese delegation in London for a series of events to showcase the UK’s world leading financial service sector.

As well as speaking at the Belt and Road Forum, the Chancellor will hold meetings with a number of international partners. Also representing the UK at the Forum are Baroness Fairhead, Minister for Trade and Export Promotion, and Sir Douglas Flint, the Treasury’s Professional and Financial Services Envoy for the Belt & Road Initiative.

Using high-performance infrared detectors made in Southampton, the new device will improve short-range weather forecasts by monitoring atmospheric instability and cloud structure. It will also analyse the content of the Earth’s atmosphere, detecting and tracking pollutants around the globe.

Dr Graham Turnock, CEO UK Space Agency said:

The UK space sector is an export success story, generating a third of its income from international trade and creating growth and jobs across the country.

As this programme demonstrates, the strong working relationship between the British and French space industry is successfully turning future technology into reality.

The Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer New Generation (IASI-NG) instrument is an example of outstanding international collaboration between Leonardo, Airbus Defence & Space, and the UK and French space agencies. It’s first flight is scheduled for 2022, aboard the European satellite MetOp-SG-A.

The UK Space Agency invested around £8.5 million in the detector programme supporting Leonardo to further develop the technology capability involved and secure participation in a major space programme for the first time in a decade.

Alain Gleyzes, Head of Earth Observation Projects, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) said:

Thanks to cooperation between UKSA, CNES and the French industry, the socio-economic benefits of the innovative IASI-NG instrument will be substantial.

As a pioneer in Earth Observation, CNES is utilising expertise in atmospheric sounding to provide a new standard in atmospheric measurements and to support development of applications based on space data.

A Leonardo spokesperson said:

This international project consolidates the success of the working relationship forged between UKSA, CNES, Airbus and Leonardo to deliver a powerful weather monitoring solution.

Looking to the future, Leonardo wants young people to raise their ambitions to be part of the future of space technology, and that means spreading the message of the remarkable impact that Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) has today in programmes such as IASI-NG.

The UK is a world leader in Earth observation technologies, which are growing at a rate of 25% each year and currently support around £92 billion worth of industrial activities. As part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, the UK Space Agency is building on this strength while growing our share of the global space market.

Earth observation is becoming more accessible, and future opportunities will arise with the advent of new technologies and uses, with ever increasing amounts of data being produced.

In March the UK Space Agency revealed that every £1 of public spending generates up to £4 in value for the recipients in the space industry, with additional benefits to the UK economy.