UK Trade Envoy to Brazil: Lord Evans of Sealand
(2 days, 1 hour ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Gareth Thomas)
The Secretary of State has today appointed Lord Evans of Sealand to the United Kingdom’s trade envoy programme as the UK trade envoy to Brazil.
The United Kingdom’s trade envoys will play an integral role in the Government’s growth mission and delivering our plan for change by helping to create opportunities for UK business to compete abroad, break into new markets and attract greater inward investment from their markets.
Lord Evans of Sealand will play a crucial role in supporting my Department’s growth priorities, in particular through helping deliver the industrial and trade strategies and attracting foreign direct investment to every region in the UK.
The role as a United Kingdom trade envoy is unpaid and voluntary with cross-party membership from both Houses.
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Infected Blood Inquiry: 13 March Announcement
(2 days, 1 hour ago)
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The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Nick Thomas-Symonds)
Yesterday, the infected blood inquiry set out its intention to publish an additional report. The inquiry also published a number of witness statements, including ones provided by the Cabinet Office, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority and a number of people directly impacted by the infected blood scandal and their representatives.
The victims of the infected blood scandal have suffered unspeakably and their needs continue to remain at the forefront of our work. The Government will give careful consideration to the statements published by the inquiry. I am committed to continuing to build trust with people who are impacted by this scandal, and to engaging further with representatives of the infected blood community on the Government response. We will continue to co-operate with the inquiry over the coming months.
The Government are determined to deliver justice for people who are infected and affected as a result of the infected blood scandal. That is why, in the autumn Budget, we set aside £11.8 billion to compensate victims of the infected blood scandal. This is one of the biggest compensation schemes in our country’s history, and that is entirely right given the scale of this injustice. In line with our commitment, in December last year the Infected Blood Compensation Authority began delivering this compensation. As of Friday 21 February, 204 people have been invited to start their claim, and IBCA is on track to meet its commitment for 250 people to start their claim by the end of March.
Before the end of March, both Houses will have the opportunity to debate the draft regulations for people who are affected including partners, parents, children, siblings and, in some instances, carers. Once in force, the draft Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025 will provide IBCA with the powers it needs to begin making payments to eligible affected people. We have committed that payments to affected people will start by the end of 2025.
The Government also recognise that delivering justice is much more than financial compensation. I am continuing to work with the Department of Health and Social Care, taking forward the inquiry’s recommendations to ensure that everything is done to prevent further such tragedies in the future.
My personal commitment to this work, and the people impacted by it, remains steadfast. The Government are acting on the findings of the inquiry. We will continue to work with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to ensure compensation is delivered as swiftly and compassionately as possible to everyone who so greatly deserves it.
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UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly Membership
(2 days, 1 hour ago)
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The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Nick Thomas-Symonds)
Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate has been appointed as a full representative of the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in the place of Lord Lamont of Lerwick.
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Single Source Defence Contracts: Baseline Profit Rate 2025-26
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The Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry (Maria Eagle)
I am today announcing on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence that the baseline profit rate for single source defence contracts will be set at 8.56%, in line with the rate recommended by the Single Source Regulations Office. This an increase of 0.32% from 2024-25. The Secretary of State has accepted the methodology used by the SSRO to calculate these figures. A full explanation of the SSRO methodology is published on their website. Element 2024-25 rates 2025-26 rates Baseline profit rate (% on contract cost) 8.24% 8.56% Baseline profit rate to apply to contracts between the Secretary of State and a company wholly owned by the UK Government, and where both parties agree (% on contract cost) 0% 0% Fixed capital servicing rate (% on fixed capital employed) 3.26% 3.64% Working capital servicing rate (% on positive working capital employed) 3.1% 4.69% Working capital servicing rate (% on negative working capital employed) 1.61% 3.21%
The SSRO’s recommendation on the capital servicing allowance to be applied to single source defence contracts has also been accepted and these rates are set out in table 1. These rates have been published in the London Gazette, as required by the Defence Reform Act 2014.
All of these new rates will come into effect from 1 April 2025.
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