PHE report on e-cigarette use finds that regular vaping remains low among young people, and has plateaued among adults.

County’s first stretch of the England Coast Path opens with a new 16-mile route from Skegness to Mablethorpe.

Thank you, Mr President. And let me begin by thanking Rosemary DiCarlo for her informative and timely briefing and thank you to the United States for requesting this meeting.

Mr President, let me begin by saying I agree with everything that the German Ambassador said today and, in particular, about the importance of the Security Council addressing this issue. And I note that the agenda for today’s discussion does not mention the situation in the region or wider threats to international peace and security. The agenda item which we’ve all agreed is the situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Mr President, years of misrule and corruption have wrecked the Venezuelan economy. The actions of the Maduro regime have led to economic collapse, which threatens the peace and security of the region. Over 3.5 million Venezuelans have left their country for other countries in the region. This is one of the greatest migrant crises ever faced by Latin America. It has placed huge strain on the social services of nations in the region. And that’s why, together with the human rights situation mentioned by my German colleague, it is completely appropriate that this Council continues to address the issue.

Mr President, I was disappointed to hear the Russian Ambassador attempt to ridicule what he called the “moans and groans” about the humanitarian situation in Venezuela. No one on this Council should belittle the suffering of the Venezuelan people. I also note that the Russian Ambassador asked all of us a question, which I will attempt to answer. He asked which of us on this Council would have acted any differently faced with unwanted attempts to deliver humanitarian assistance. Well let me tell him that we would have acted differently and looking around the Council today I think a majority of Council members would have acted differently. We would not have used live fire against civilians attempting to deliver aid. We would not direct paramilitary thugs to attack civilians. We would not arrest and detain our political opponents and we wouldn’t have mismanaged the country through years of misrule and corruption, causing economic collapse and a humanitarian crisis. I hope that goes some way to answering his question.

Mr President, the United Kingdom joins other members of this Council in condemning the violence that took place on Venezuela’s borders with Colombia and Brazil at the weekend. Maduro’s use of deadly violence against his own people and other concerning acts of aggression to block the supply of desperately needed humanitarian aid are simply repugnant.

Mr President, the Maduro regime’s oppressive policies affect all sectors of the population – from the innocent civilians, including women and children, who lack access to essential medical and other basic supplies, to journalists whose work is censored by the regime. And as we heard from the UN just yesterday, renowned journalist Jorge Ramos was reportedly detained in the Mia Flores Palace, later to be released and deported while his team’s equipment was confiscated. As with the lack of freedom given to journalists, other essential freedoms – such as democratic ones – are simply not present in Venezuela. Only a democratic solution will resolve this crisis.

The United Kingdom thanks the Lima Group and the Organization of American States for their clear words and strong action towards this goal. It is important that the region continues to take the lead. We stand with these regional bodies and with Juan Guaidó in pursuit of our shared goal to bring peace and stability to Venezuela.

Mr President, the only way to achieve peace and stability is by democratic transition is by free and fair presidential elections, as demanded by interim President Guaidó and the National Assembly, in line with the Venezuelan Constitution. Until this is achieved, the current humanitarian crisis caused by the Maduro regime’s corrupt policies will continue.

The United Kingdom has committed to give $8.6 million in emergency aid to treat malnourished children and provide vaccinations and clean water to the most vulnerable communities affected by the crisis. We encourage our partners in the international community and on this Council to consider what more can be done to send a clear signal to the Maduro regime that nothing short of free and fair presidential elections will do. This includes considering additional sanctions against individual members of the Maduro regime who have benefited from their corrupt policies. These should not negatively affect the dire humanitarian situation, which is solely the responsibility of the regime.

Mr President, the world cannot stand by in the face of this man made crisis. The Venezuelan people deserve a better future. They have suffered enough at the hands of the Maduro regime. Free and fair Presidential elections is the only solution. The Council and the international community should do our utmost to support the same. Thank you.

Jorge Muñoz, the newly-elected mayor of Peru’s capital of Lima, met with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Their first meeting, which took place in the context of the InPERU trade and investment roadshow to the UK, was an opportunity to share experiences in putting on major global sporting events such as the London 2012 Olympics and the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. The Games and Para Pan American Games will take place in Lima, Peru, in July this year.

The UK is Peru’s main delivery partner for the Lima 2019 Games through a Government-to-Government Agreement and British expertise is helping Peru’s organising committee to deliver the Games on time and on budget. This framework of government-to-government support and knowledge-sharing is widely seen as a successful model that could be replicated to other areas, such as major infrastructure or reconstruction projects.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

“The success of the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics was a proud moment for all Londoners as we showed the best that the UK and London has to offer on the world stage. I am confident that the 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games will prove to be a similar showcase for Lima and I’m delighted that we can share our knowledge and expertise with our Peruvian friends. London has always been open to hosting the world’s greatest sporting events and helping other cities to do the same.”

Peru has an estimated infrastructure gap of $160bn which creates an opportunity to contribute to sustainable growth of the Peruvian economy as well as an opportunity for British businesses seeking to export goods and services. A Joint UK-Peru Infrastructure Task Force will be meeting in London so that key public, private and third sector actors can discuss priority issues for infrastructure development.

This will be the second meeting of the joint Infrastructure Task Force. It will build on the previous meeting following its creation last year when former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson travelled to Peru. So far the task force has led to the UK delivering a workshop to Peru’s audit office on contract models, a scoping visit on Building Information Modelling, the appointment of experts to provide advice on the development of Peru’s National Infrastructure Plan, and the launch of terms of reference to share experience on delivery models for large infrastructure projects.

The purpose of the Task Force is to provide an effective mechanism for sharing experience and best practice on the prioritisation, financing, procurement, management and delivery of major infrastructure projects in Peru.

Lima Mayor and London Mayor discuss London 2012 legacy and UK best practice ahead of Lima 2019 Pan American Games