Addressing the impact of Russia’s war on Ukrainian children: UK at the UN Security Council

Thank you, Mr President.

I’d like to start by thanking Ms Msuya and Mr Abdi for their helpful and informative briefings.

Over the past 25 years, the Security Council has repeatedly recognised, condemned and sought to address the impact of conflict on children.

While it will take time for the UN’s Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism to establish the full extent of the impact on children of Russia’s invasion, there is already evidence that Russia is committing four of the Security Council’s six Grave Violations Against Children in Times of War – listed in Security Council Resolution 1261:

  1. Children have been killed and maimed; OHCHR reporting suggests that at least 238 children have been killed, and 347 injured – although the true toll is likely to be far higher.

  2. Schools and nurseries have been targeted across Ukraine, and, as with the tragic bombing of the Mariupol theatre, children sheltering have been mercilessly targeted.

  3. There are credible allegations of sexual violence against children by Russian forces. And, as others have said, mass displacement has left children exposed to human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

  4. Reports of forced deportations continue, with over 700,000 people, including many mothers and children, having been moved to Russia.

There is now a very real risk of a lost generation, and the continuation of a cycle of violence, caused by Russia’s invasion and the devastation it has created.

To address this, we need to work together.

First, we urge all countries to endorse and implement the 2016 Safe Schools Declaration, designed to protect education in armed conflict.

Second, the international community must ensure that all credible allegations of crimes on the territory of Ukraine are investigated, including grave violations against children, whoever is accused of committing them.

We support all efforts to improve our collective understanding of the situation on the ground, through evidence and data collection, and the work of the monitoring and reporting mechanism.

Third, the UK is proud to continue to play a leading role in the humanitarian effort in Ukraine, delivering vital supplies and life-saving medical aid to those most in need, including children.

But, humanitarian support is not a solution to the suffering of children in Ukraine.

Only the withdrawal of Russian troops and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, will end the cause of suffering.

I thank you, Mr President.



Regional Cabinet Meeting: 12 May 2022

Press release

The Prime Minister hosted a Regional Cabinet meeting in Stoke-on-Trent.

The Prime Minister opened by welcoming Cabinet to Stoke-on-Trent and provided updates on his recent visits to Finland and Sweden to help strengthen our close defence and security partnership with two key allies.

Turning to the issue of Northern Ireland, the Prime Minister said the people of Northern Ireland deserve effective governance to drive growth and investment, and stressed the importance of working to get the executive back up and running. He reiterated that we need to fix the protocol to protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

Cabinet then discussed the continued focus on levelling up, saying it is morally, socially and economically the right way forward for the UK. The Prime Minister said the Queen’s Speech and bills including the levelling up and regeneration bill were examples of how the Government is continuing to deliver for the people.

The Levelling Up Secretary pointed to Stoke-on-Trent as an historic world-renowned success for business and innovation, but said there is more to do here and across the UK to better level up education, health and housing.

The Prime Minister reiterated that tackling the global cost of living pressures must be at the forefront of all work to help continue to support people during a difficult financial period.

The Culture Secretary concluded with an update to Cabinet on plans for upcoming major events that will enable people to come together in celebration, including the Queen’s Jubilee and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Published 12 May 2022



Cabinet Office appoints National Cyber Advisory Board Co-Chair

Press release

Sharon Barber joins Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster as co-chair of the National Cyber Advisory Board (NCAB).

The Cabinet Office has today confirmed that Sharon Barber has been appointed as co-Chair of the NCAB. Sharon brings a wealth of experience from her role as Chief Information Officer at Lloyds Banking Group.

The National Cyber Advisory Board is one of the key ‘whole of society’ commitments made in the National Cyber Strategy 2022 which launched in December.

The Board will serve as a forum for an inclusive and engaged national cyber dialogue, bringing together views from across academia, industry and public/third sectors to inform government and to mobilise the wider cyber ecosystem.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and lead Cyber Minister, Steve Barclay, said:

I’m delighted to appoint Sharon Barber as co-chair and look forward to her bringing her expertise and experience from industry to the National Cyber Advisory Board, which is a crucial part of the successful delivery of our National Cyber Strategy.

We are investing £2.6billion in cyber over the next three years and that funding will underpin our approach to dealing collaboratively with industry, universities, schools and individual citizens to work with us to tackle the cyber challenges ahead.

Newly-appointed NCAB co-Chair Sharon Barber said:

The Government has set out an ambitious strategy – it’s now up to us to join together, harnessing the rich diversity of the UKs abilities across academia, government and industry to move into execution. We will be more successful as a collective.

Published 12 May 2022



Weston-Super-Mare man prosecuted for working illegally at Oktoberfest

Press release

On Friday (06 May) Chadd Thomas Zamir Heath of Weston-Super-Mare, pleaded guilty at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court.

Chadd Thomas Zamir Heath pleaded guilty to working as unlicensed security following a prosecution brought by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Heath was fined £300. The court also ordered him to pay court costs of £1,000 as well as handing him a victim surcharge of £34.

This prosecution follows a routine licence inspection at the Oktoberfest event at Weston-Super-Mare on 01 October last year. SIA investigators approached the entrance gate and saw three men wearing security jackets. The investigators asked to see their security licences. Two men were correctly displaying their licences, which were verified by the investigators. The third man – Mr Heath – wasn’t displaying a licence, for which the SIA investigators challenged him.

Heath stated he was security staff and said that his SIA licence was in his car. It’s a licensing requirement that operatives on duty are required to display a valid SIA licence.

A check on Heath’s alleged licence revealed that he did not have a licence and was therefore working illegally. Mr Heath then explained to the SIA that he had completed his training and was waiting for his licence. On the night of the inspection, Heath was wearing a jacket marked with the word ‘Security’ which he claimed he needed to wear to keep himself warm. The SIA investigator cautioned Mr Heath. His employer suggested that Mr Heath was working as a steward, and that he did not need to be licensed.

The SIA investigators checked the signing-in book and found out that even though Heath had registered himself for employment that night he did not supply an SIA licence number. The SIA investigation officer also found out from the Oktoberfest organisers that they had procured seven door supervisors and no stewards.

Heath was interviewed under caution on 04 February 2022 and claimed that he was working as a steward. This led to the SIA bringing a prosecution against Heath.

Jenny Hart, the SIA’s Criminal Investigations Manager, said:

Chadd Heath worked illegally at a high-profile event at the seaside resort of Weston-Super-Mare. The point of the SIA’s licensing regime is to keep the public safe. Mr Heath unfortunately put the public at risk and jeopardised his future career in the private security industry, as he was pursuing a licence application and had completed his training. He chose to work while he was unlicensed and his actions that night have caused him to incur a fine, court costs and also a criminal record. It is unlikely that he will be able to work in the industry in the future.

Notes to editors:

  • By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence
  • Read about SIA enforcement and penalties
  • The offences relating to the Private Security Industry Act (2001) that are mentioned in the release are as follows:
    • Section 3 – working without a licence

Further information:

  • The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Our main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
  • For further information about the Security Industry Authority visit www.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also on Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (SIAuk).

Published 12 May 2022



Trade Secretary visits Burleigh Pottery in Stoke to see how trade deals are helping the business sell their products to the world

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan visited Burleigh Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent today [May 12] to see first-hand how the Government’s trade deals are supporting businesses to sell their products across the world.

Established in 1851 in Burslem, Burleigh is a British luxury brand renowned for its manufacturing traditions. Burleigh’s iconic brand was sold in 82 countries last year, with a turnover of £2.5million.

Secretary Trevelyan met with Burleigh Managing Director Jim Norman to discuss export opportunities that the UK’s trade strategy is securing. The Department for International Trade has supported Burleigh since 2012, and the company now exports to the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.

The visit followed the Prime Minister holding a cabinet meeting in Stoke-on-Trent earlier today to discuss how this week’s Queen’s Speech will deliver for people by boosting our economic growth, improve living standards and level up opportunities across the country.

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

It is great to see British businesses exporting across the world thanks to our brilliant free trade agreements. Businesses who export are support higher paying jobs, and help grow the economy across the UK.

Seeing Burleigh succeed shows the high demand for quality British products, and I will continue to champion great British exporting success stories in every sector.

One of Burleigh’s biggest export markets is Japan, with a 60% growth in exports worth £250,000 in 2020. This is made possible by the UK’s free trade agreement with Japan, which was the UK’s first major trade deal as an independent trading nation and will increase with Japan by an estimated £15.7billion.

Businesses like Burleigh will also benefit from the removal of tariffs on 100% of UK goods exports from entry into force of the UK’s ground-breaking free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand – the first trade deals negotiated from scratch by the UK as an independent trading nation.

Managing Director Jim Norman said:

Burleigh has exported to global markets since it’s inception in 1851 and we are keen to continue benefiting from free trade around the world.

It has been fantastic to show the Trade Secretary around our pottery today and to thank her and her Department for their support and advice that maintains and develops our long-established tradition of exporting.

Exporting is essential to the West Midlands, and in 2021, the region exported £25.5 billion worth of goods making it the 6th highest goods exporting region – this was 8% of UK goods exports in 2021. Exporting and export related industries support nearly 10% of all jobs in the West Midlands region, and DIT’s Export Academy, which was piloted in the Midlands has supported 1,311 businesses since its launch in December 2020.

Last year, DIT launched an ambitious new ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ plan to help businesses across the UK double exports and sell their world-class products around the globe, such as Burleigh Potteries.