UK statement following the meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Specialised Committee on the Protocol on Gibraltar, 27 May, via video conference

Press release

UK statement following the meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Specialised Committee on the Protocol on Gibraltar, 27 May, via video conference.

Foreign Office sign

The first meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Specialised Committee on implementation of the Protocol on Gibraltar was held today, co-chaired by officials from the UK Government and European Commission.

The Government of Gibraltar was represented by the Attorney General.

The Committee was established by the Withdrawal Agreement to facilitate the application and implementation of the Protocol on Gibraltar.

The UK and EU exchanged updates on progress against the key elements of the Protocol: Citizens’ Rights, Environmental Matters, Police and Customs cooperation and Fiscal Matters.

The UK is committed to ensuring the implementation of the Protocol to provide continued security and prosperity to Gibraltar and the region.

The UK and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to continued progress towards the commitments outlined in the Protocol.

The co-chairs agreed that the Committee will meet again towards the end of the year to follow the progress of implementation.

Today’s discussions in no way affect UK sovereignty over Gibraltar, which remains unchanged.

Published 27 May 2020



UK Export Finance helps Rautomead export to China

About the transaction: Rautomead
Sector Manufacturing
Buyer Shaanxi Sirui Advanced Materials Co., Ltd
Destination market China
UKEF support Supplier credit

Rautomead manufactures continuous casting technology for non-ferrous alloys. It has been exporting worldwide for 35 years. The company’s continuous casting machine will be used to produce complex copper chrome zirconium alloy rods at Shaanxi Sirui’s factory in Baoji City.

To support their overseas sales activity Rautomead used our Supplier Credit Financing Facility, which allows UK companies to get paid on dispatch for their exports whilst letting buyers benefit from deferred payment terms.

To secure the deal, we provided a guarantee to the London Forfaiting Company, enabling the lender to pay Rautomead 85% of the contract value after dispatch and collect repayments from Shannaxi Sirui over five years.

We work with banks to provide flexible, innovative, and competitive financing solutions. We support UK exporters, international project sponsors and buyers of UK goods and services. Tell us about the project



COVID-19 testing data: letter to the Office for Statistics Regulation

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Response from Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to a letter from Sir David Norgrove, chair of the Office for Statistics Regulation.



170 kilos of heroin seized by Border Force at Heathrow

News story

More than 170 kilos of heroin has been stopped from being smuggled into the UK by Border Force officers.

Boxes from the drugs consignment

Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport have prevented an attempt to smuggle more than 170 kilos of heroin into the UK.

The seizure, which had a potential street value of around £8.5 million, happened on Thursday (21 May). The drugs were found in a freight consignment consisting of 630 commercial boxes of fruit and nuts and were hidden in envelopes concealed in the outer cardboard box walls. Each outer box contained approximately 270 grams of heroin.

Following the seizure, the investigation was passed to the National Crime Agency (NCA). Two men (aged 36 and 51) were arrested in the Bradford area on Friday (22 May) on suspicion of importing Class A drugs and a third man was arrested in Birmingham on Saturday (23 May). All three were later released under investigation.

Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp said:

This substantial seizure was the largest class A drugs detection so far this year by Border Force at Heathrow.

Illegal drugs fuel crime, violence and exploitation which is why our work to prevent them reaching our communities is so vital.

Border Force will continue to work with the NCA and other law enforcement agencies to tackle the threat and bring drug smugglers before the courts.

NCA Branch Commander, Mark Spoors, said:

This significant amount of heroin would have ended up on the streets of the UK and ultimately lined the pockets of the criminals involved in drug supply.

Despite the restrictions in place, we are continuing to work closely with our partners at Border Force to keep the public safe and to fight the supply of illegal drugs; dismantling crime groups and cutting off their profits.

We remain determined in our fight against serious and organised crime.

Border Force officers use hi-tech search equipment to combat immigration crime and detect banned and restricted goods that smugglers attempt to bring into the country.

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or go to the Report smuggling page on GOV.UK.

Published 27 May 2020



French border restrictions in response to coronavirus

Travelling to France

Since 20 March 2020 entry to France has been limited to those transiting through France, returning French nationals and permanent residents, and a small number of essential travel categories.

In order to enter France you will need to complete an international travel certificate, which certifies that your journey is essential and confirms that you have not been suffering from a set of listed symptoms associated with Covid19. This travel certificate is available on the French Ministry of the Interior’s website.

If entering France from the UK, EU, Andorra, Holy See, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Monaco, Norway or Switzerland you will need to complete the travel certificate (in English) under “Attestation de déplacement dérogatoire vers la France métropolitaine depuis: l’Union Européenne et Andorre, Islande, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norvège, Saint-Marin, Suisse, Royaume-Uni, Vatican”.

If entering France from other locations or travelling to French overseas territories you will need to fill in tailored versions of the international travel certificate, accessible on the same webpage.

The international travel certificate needs to be produced for entry, along with any supporting paperwork to substantiate the essential nature of your travel. If you are entering or transiting through France, depending on your circumstances, you also need to have:

  • a travel declaration to certify your reason for travel if your primary residence is more than 100km from your point of entry
  • a travel certificate if travelling in Île-de-France (Greater Paris) on public transport at peak hours (from 06h30 to 09h30 and from 16h00 to 19h00)

From 25 May a voluntary 14 day self-quarantine will apply to those arriving in France from outside the UK, EU (except Spain where arrivals by air will be asked to self-quarantine) Andorra, Holy See, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Monaco, Norway and Switzerland.

Once self-isolation measures come into effect for arrivals to the UK (planned for 8 June), France will then also ask arrivals from the UK to observe a voluntary 14 day self-quarantine.

Travellers showing signs of a COVID-19 infection upon arrival in mainland France will have to carry out a mandatory 14 day quarantine at home or in a dedicated location indicated by the French authorities if home quarantine is not feasible.

All travellers to French overseas territories will also have to carry out a mandatory 14 day quarantine. Full detail and a list of exemptions to self-quarantine in France are set out in a Ministry of Interior press statement (in French) and its translation (in English).

Travelling to the UK

From 8 June

From 8 June, there will be new rules in place for entering the UK because of coronavirus (COVID-19). The rules are for residents and visitors.

When these rules are in place, you will:

  • need to provide your journey and contact details when you travel to the UK
  • not be allowed to leave the place you’re staying for the first 14 days you’re in the UK except in very limited situations (known as ‘self-isolating’)

You do not need to do these things now. But you should check the latest public health advice on coronavirus before you travel, or if you’ve just arrived in the UK.

Once the rules come into place you may be fined £100 if you refuse to provide your contact details, £1,000 if you refuse to self-isolate in England and Wales, or you could face further action. You’ll be able to find more information on enforcement measures in Scotland and Northern Ireland on this page soon.

Full detail and a list of exemptions to self-quarantine in the UK are set out here.