Author Archives: HM Government

2016 – present United Kingdom Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa 2013 – 2016 Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) 2012 – 2013 FCO, Director Africa 2010 – 2012 FCO, Ambassador to the Republic of Sudan 2007 – 2010 FCO, Ambassador to Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo 2006 – 2007 UK Regional Co-ordinator Southern Afghanistan 2002 – 2006 FCO, Deputy Head of Mission, Madrid 2000 – 2002 FCO, Deputy Head, Policy Planning Staff 1997 – 2000 FCO, Deputy Head of Mission, Havana 1995 – 1997 FCO, Head, Pakistan and Afghanistan Section, South Asian Department 1988 – 1990 Founder, Leading Edge Training Systems 1980 – 1994 English language teacher in Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Peru, Brazil, Spain and the UK read more

International Development Secretary Priti Patel today visited Essex Fire and Rescue Service in Colchester where she met members of the UK’s International Search and Rescue (ISAR) team.

DFID supports these lifesavers when they are sent to the front line in response to rapid onset emergencies such as earthquakes or floods, where they use their expertise to help rescue people from collapsed buildings, search for missing individuals and coordinate local rescue efforts.

There are 265 personnel around the UK who stand ready to be deployed as part of the UK ISAR team and these individuals, along with their humanitarian counterparts in the health service and across NGOs will be publically thanked for their efforts on Saturday 19 August, when at Westminster Abbey the UK will celebrate the UN’s World Humanitarian Day.

International Development Secretary Priti Patel said:

The whole country should recognise these brave men and women who, without a moment’s hesitation, can deploy to some of the world’s most dangerous and challenging places to save lives.

The members of Essex Fire and Rescue Service that I met today show the very best of British values. For 365 days a year, they stand ready to respond to a natural disaster, selflessly choosing to risk their own lives to save others and alleviate human suffering.

By providing this British expertise and helping countries better prepare for and deal with long-term crises, we are playing our part in building a more stable, secure and prosperous world for all which is firmly in Britain’s interest.

The World Health Organisation has recently recognised DFID’s deployable field hospital, which the ISAR team help to deploy, as meeting world class standards. ‎

This is just one demonstration of the UK’s vital global leadership role, in continuing to raise the bar and push others to step up their own response‎.

The Chancellor today (27 July 2017) announced that Sir Dave Ramsden has been appointed as the new Deputy Governor of Markets and Banking at the Bank of England.

Her Majesty the Queen has agreed, on the recommendation of the Chancellor and Prime Minister, to appoint Sir Dave effective from 4 September 2017 and for a renewable term of five years.

Sir Dave will replace Charlotte Hogg, who announced in March that she was resigning her position. The role of Chief Operating Officer will be announced separately by the Bank today.

As the Bank’s Deputy Governor for Markets and Banking, Sir Dave will have specific responsibility for managing the balance sheet of the Bank. He will look after the execution of financial stability and monetary policy decisions via balance sheet operations, the management of the government’s foreign exchange reserves, the gold custody services, the operation of the Real Time Gross Settlement System, the effective risk management of these operations and the gathering of market intelligence relevant to policy decisions. Sir Dave will also be a member of the Monetary Policy Committee, the Financial Policy Committee, the Prudential Regulation Committee and the Court of the Bank of England.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, said:

I’m delighted to appoint Sir Dave Ramsden as the next Deputy Governor for Markets and Banking. Sir Dave’s unrivalled experience at the centre of UK economic policy for more than two decades gives him the thorough grounding needed to be successful in his new role. His departure will be a loss to the Treasury but he will be a huge asset to the Bank and I wish him every success.

Sir Dave Ramsden said:

I am honoured to be joining the Bank and to be given the opportunity to contribute to the Bank’s mission to maintain monetary and financial stability, at such an important time for the UK economy.

The Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, said:

I am delighted that Dave Ramsden has been appointed as Deputy Governor for Markets and Banking. As an outstanding public servant, he will bring a wealth of experience and economic expertise to the Bank’s policy committees.