Delighted to be here and interact with this next gen group from different educational streams.

The UK and India have a long relationship and we are looking towards partnering India in the future particularly in Education, Skills and Entrepreneurship. I am glad to know that a significant number of students from the Heritage school and colleges go to the UK for higher studies and work.

The UK welcomes the brightest and best international students to our world-class universities.

A British education is a quality-mark and a passport to global success. The UK is home to some of the oldest and most respected universities in the world, and some of the very best. The UK hosts four of the world’s top ten universities (Cambridge, UCL, Imperial College London and Oxford) and is home to 30 of the world’s top 200 universities.

Oxford has been ranked the best university in the world by Times Higher Education World University rankings. Oxford knocked five time champion California Institute of Technology into second place as Cambridge and Imperial College joined the top ten.

A British education offers excellent value for money. British degree courses are more intense than in many other countries, with students receiving top quality education in a shorter period, costing less overall than other destinations like Australia, the US and Singapore.

Studying in the UK is a truly international experience. We attract more overseas students than any other country except the US. The UK is a diverse, multicultural society, home to an Indian diaspora of 1.5 million.

And it is not that students always pay for the courses themselves. The UK in India hosts the largest Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships country programme in the world, with a £2.6 million budget to fund about 130 fully funded scholarships and fellowships for future Indian leaders. Besides scholarships for Masters’ programmes, short term fellowships are offered in Financial Services, Journalism, Cyber Security, Science and Innovation and Leadership and Management.

The British Council will be familiar to all of you. I believe the Heritage School has a very effective ongoing partnership with the British Council. The Council offers the GREAT Scholarships for a range of subjects ranging from engineering and law to art and design and information technology across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Commonwealth Scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries are offered Master’s, PhD, and split-site (PhD) study in the UK. These scholarships are funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). On average 60 Indian students are supported by the Commonwealth programme each year.

I know some of you feel that it is difficult to get a UK visa. The student visa process is straightforward for genuine students. In 2016, 95% of student entry clearance visa applications were approved, a number that has risen every year since 2010, and the issue rate in India is 91%.

A recent research done by the British Council revealed that one in ten current world leaders have studied in the UK. Notable alumni from UK universities include the former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian president.

Around 38% of Nobel Laureates who have studied at universities abroad, studied in the UK – more than any other country.

Earlier this year the first Newton Prize Competition was held in India with a prize of £1 million. The competition focused on public health and wellbeing, including issues such as anti-microbial resistance, disease, healthcare, and nutrition.

The UK Science Ministry also announced a series of research programmes from the Newton Fund worth up to £80 million to address global challenges affecting people in India. The investments were announced on the sidelines of the India-UK Tech Summit in New Delhi – India’s premier science and technology showcase.

The new programmes take the total joint UK-India investment in research through the Newton Fund up to £200 million by 2021, demonstrating the fund as a major bilateral initiative in India. It brings together the world class excellence of the UK and India to address global challenges through science and technology.

India is currently the world’s ninth largest economy, and is predicted to become the third largest by 2050. It is currently the world’s fastest growing economy. However, it is also home to a third of the world’s poor, ranks 142nd on the World Bank’s ease of doing business index and 94th on transparency international’s corruption index. Additionally it is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases despite 300 million people lacking access to energy.

India’s economic success and development are vital to the global economy, to UK interests across South Asia and to global priorities like the Sustainable Development Goals.

In this context, the target action areas include improvements in the business environment, skill development, employment generation, energy security and developing smarter cities as engines of growth.

The Tech Rocketship Awards from our Department of International Trade supports globally aspirational start-ups across sectors with a technology backbone. The focus over the last few years has been on innovations that impact energy, education, health and finance sectors.
The exchange of ideas and skills is a two way process. The Generation UK-India Programme supports young people from the UK gain skills and experience in India over the next five years. For example – in partnership with TCS for 1,000 internships for UK students. Generation UK-India will work with Indian institutions to create opportunities for young people in the UK to undertake cultural immersions placements, teaching partnerships and work placements.

The UK India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) in its first two phases has supported over 1000 new education and research partnerships that aim to deliver long term prosperity benefits for both the UK and India. The programme has also facilitated 25,000 exchanges of academicians, researchers, staff and students, creating lifelong links between the UK and India and over 35 million young people have benefitted through train the trainer programmes.

I see Education, Skills and Entrepreneurship as the backbone of the UK-India future partnership and hope the next gen in both countries will take advantage of the opportunities available to become Living Bridges connecting the people of both nations across political, economic and social platforms.

People with diabetes who use NovoPen® Echo® and NovoPen® 5 should check to see if their devices are included in the company-led recall by Novo Nordisk.

The insulin cartridge holder in certain batches may crack or break resulting in an under-delivery of insulin which can lead to high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) and can have serious health implications.

Novo Nordisk has detected the insulin cartridge holder used in a number of NovoPen® Echo® and NovoPen® 5 batches can be structurally compromised if exposed to certain chemicals, for example household cleaning agents.

People using devices from the affected batches should contact Novo Nordisk to replace the cartridge holder.

John Wilkinson, MHRA’s Director of Medical Devices said:

This is a company-led recall and we are supportive of the proactive approach being taken by Novo Nordisk.

It is important patients do not stop treatment without contacting their diabetes management team. We are asking people using a NovoPen® Echo® and/or NovoPen® 5 from one of the affected batches to contact Novo Nordisk to replace the cartridge holder as some could be damaged or subject to damage in the future.

We continue to encourage people to report any issues involving medical devices to the MHRA via our Yellow Card Scheme.

Dan Howarth, Head of Care at Diabetes UK said:

Ensuring the correct level on insulin is vitally important in the management of diabetes; so it’s important that anyone affected by this recall contact Novo Nordisk to arrange for a replacement cartridge holder.

If they have any concerns about their level of insulin they should consult with their diabetes care team.

Today, hundreds of thousands of 16-year-olds find out the results of 2 years or more of hard work and study. They will now move onto the next phase of their education well equipped for what lies ahead and I would like to thank their teachers whose dedication and hard work has helped them achieve success.

The government’s new gold-standard GCSEs in English and maths have been benchmarked against the best in the world, raising academic standards for pupils. These reforms represent another step in our drive to raise standards, so that pupils have the knowledge and skills they need to compete in a global workplace.

The fruits of these reforms will be seen in the years to come, but already pupils and teachers are rising to the challenge with more than 50,000 top 9 grades awarded across the new GCSEs and more than two thirds of entries sitting the tougher English and maths exams securing a grade 4 or C and above – a standard pass.

As we saw with last week’s new A-levels, we are beginning to see our reforms translating into higher standards, improving opportunities and the life chances of millions of young people and helping to fulfil the voracious demand for knowledgeable and skilled young people from Britain’s dynamic and growing economy.

The Environment Agency is calling on anglers and netsmen to have their say on potential salmon rod and net limitations through an initial consultation launched today (Thursday 24 August 2017).

The consultation aims to understand how the Environment Agency can better manage salmon fishing in England and the Border Esk in order to reduce the impact on salmon stocks, which are currently among the lowest on record.

It will also look at the impact that any restrictions could have on those whose livelihoods and interests depend on salmon. The initial consultation runs until Monday 9 October 2017 and invites anglers, netsmen, fishery managers and the public to give their views and to help shape the future of salmon stocks in England and the Border Esk. The results will then be used to issue a formal consultation later this year.

Salmon stocks across the Atlantic are challenged by a number of factors including marine survival and barriers to migration. The Environment Agency is working with partners on a programme of action to restore salmon stocks throughout England.

Heidi Stone, the Environment Agency’s Salmon Programme Manager said:

We are working hard to improve salmon stocks and are seeking views on measures to further protect this important species.

The issues facing salmon and the reasons for their decline are complex and there is no simple solution to increasing salmon numbers. Evidence indicates that the marine phase of their lifecycle is the most likely reason for their decline and that fishermen taking salmon is not the primary cause.

But if we do not act now, we risk seeing further declines in salmon in many of our rivers. We are asking for views on a range of options and your responses will truly help to form our approach to managing salmon stocks in the future.

The Environment Agency, Government, Angling Trust, Rivers Trust, Atlantic Salmon Trust, Salmon and Trout Conservation UK, Wild Trout Trust and Institute of Fisheries Management have formed a working partnership in order to address this issue. This programme is called the Salmon Five Point Approach, and has been jointly developed and committed to by all partners. It sets out the actions to address the key pressures that affect the different life stages of salmon.

The priorities are:

• Improve marine survival
• Further reduce exploitation by nets and rods
• Remove barriers to migration and enhance habitat
• Safeguard sufficient flows
• Maximise spawning success by improving water quality.

Find out more about the Salmon Five Point Approach.

Take part in the e-consultation.

Press enquiries: please call 0203 025 5623, or email newsdesk@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Over 6.3 million adults aged 40 to 60 do not achieve 10 minutes of continuous brisk walking over the course of a month and are missing out on important health benefits, according to evidence reviewed by Public Health England (PHE).

The findings also reveal how lifestyles have changed over time, showing that people in the UK are 20% less active now than they were in the 1960s and on average walk 15 miles less a year than 2 decades ago. The sedentary nature of modern, busy lives makes it difficult for many to find the time for enough exercise to benefit their health.

PHE’s new One You physical activity campaign is encouraging adults to build 10 minutes continuous brisk walking into their day as a simple way to improve their health. This is particularly aimed at those who have an inactive or low activity lifestyle and may find incorporating activity into their day challenging. The ‘Active 10’ app has been developed to show how much brisk walking a person is doing each day and how to incorporate more of it into their lifestyles.

Taking at least 1 brisk 10 minute walk a day has been shown to reduce the risk of early death by 15%. A 10 minute walk can contribute to meeting the CMO’s physical activity guidance of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each week. This can lead to health benefits including a lowered risk of type 2 diabetes (by 40%), cardiovascular disease (by 35%), dementia (by 30%) and some cancers (by 20%).

The severity of the current physical inactivity epidemic amongst adults contributes to 1 in 6 deaths in the UK and is costing the NHS over £0.9 billion per year.

Dr Jenny Harries, Deputy Medical Director at PHE, said:

I know first hand that juggling the priorities of everyday life often means exercise takes a back seat.

Walking to the shops instead of driving or going for a brisk 10 minute walk on your lunch break each day can add many healthy years to your life. The Active 10 app is a free and easy way to help anyone build more brisk walking into their daily routine.

The free app combines walking intensity and time, rather than just distance or steps and is the first of its kind. It helps people gradually introduce more activity into their daily routine, with goal setting advice and motivational tips. It has already helped 50,000 adults get more active.

Professor Sir Muir Gray, Clinical Adviser for the Active 10 app and the One You campaign, said:

We all know physical activity is good for your health, but for the first time we’re seeing the effects that easily achievable changes can make. By walking just 10 continuous minutes at a brisk pace every day, an individual can reduce their risk of early death by 15%. They can also prevent or delay the onset of disability and further reduce their risk of serious health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dementia and some cancers.

The Active 10 app has been endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). GPs across the country are recommending it to their own patients as a tool to help them manage existing conditions and prevent the negative health impact of inactivity.

Dr Zoe Williams, GP and Clinical Champion for Physical Activity and Lifestyle at the RCGP, said:

As GPs, we’re best placed to talk to people about how their lifestyles affect their health. Every GP should talk to their patients about the benefits of brisk walking and recommend the Active 10 app. It’s the first free app of its kind and an easy, accessible way to make brisk walking a daily habit.

The Active 10 app was developed by PHE in collaboration with The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine.

Search ‘Active 10’ to download the free app which shows how much brisk walking you are currently doing and provides tips and encouragement on how to fit ten minute bursts of brisk walking into your daily routine.

For further information about the One You Physical Activity campaign, please contact:

Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities. It does this through world-class science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health. Follow us on Twitter: @PHE_uk and Facebook: www.facebook.com/PublicHealthEngland.

Professor Sir Muir Gray, Clinical Adviser for the Active 10 app and the One You campaign, said:

Many digital products tell us to aim for 10,000 steps a day, which is a good recommendation but may seem unachievable to many people tied to the desk, screen or steering wheel for eight hours a day.

It’s important to consider both distance and intensity of walking to get the heart pumping in order to improve health. Walking briskly for 10 minutes each day benefits inactive adults the most, which is why the Active 10 app fits millions of people’s needs so well.

About One You

The One You Physical Activity campaign will launch with television, digital and, updated web content from today (24 August 2017) across England.

People are encouraged to download the free Active 10 app which shows how much brisk walking they are currently doing and which provides tips and encouragement on how people can fit 10 minute bursts of brisk walking into their day. People can also find further hints and tips on the One You website: www.nhs.uk/oneyou.

People can download the Active 10 app from the iTunes app store (for iOS), Google Play store (for Android).

The Active 10 app was developed by PHE in collaboration with The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, the National Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine.

Active 10 is part of One You. Launched in March 2016, One You from PHE is the first nationwide programme to support adults in making simple changes that can have a huge influence on their health, could help prevent diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease and reduce risk of suffering a stroke or living with dementia, disability and frailty in later life. It aims to inform, energise and engage millions of adults, especially those in the 40 to 60 ‘middle aged’ group, to make changes to improve their own health by eating well, moving more, drinking less and quitting smoking.

One You also provides information on free health checks and how people can reduce their stress levels and sleep better.

Calculation of population figure

Source

*10 minutes brisk walking each day in mid-life for health benefits and achievement of recommended activity levels evidence paper.

**ONS mid year population estimates, mid-2016.