Latest news with #PlanForChange
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Why it is time for a new era for global aid and development
Traditional models of aid are no longer fit-for-purpose. The global challenges we face, are becoming increasingly complex and interconnected. The world is shifting rapidly. Our approach to development is changing too. Next week in Seville, Spain, the world will come together for the Fourth Financing for Development Conference (FfD4) to set out a new vision for how we can collectively use finance to drive global progress on development over the next decade – tackling the climate and nature crisis, investing in health and education, and creating growth and jobs. It comes at a critical moment. Unprecedented levels of conflict and the impact of climate change are driving record humanitarian needs and threaten to reverse decades of development gains. We must make choices on how we use public funding innovatively and raise greater volumes of finance from all sources, including the private sector. Global South countries want a different relationship, and we are ready to offer a new approach. One based on listening; offering partnership not paternalism; sharing expertise; acting as investors, not donors, supporting countries to raise their own finances and driving reform across the Global Financial System. Global prosperity and security are crucial for delivering on our Plan For Change in the UK too. The summit in Seville must set a clear roadmap towards achieving three major changes. First, we will show we have listened to countries by helping them raise their own revenues. They have told us they want to become self-sufficient so we will offer partnership and expertise to help them build their own tax and economic systems, so that in time, they can thrive without aid. This means tackling money lost through crime and corruption. The UN estimates that Africa loses $90 billion to illicit finance flows, undermining public finances but also public institutions, affecting trust, political stability and national security. This hidden money is a problem for us all. We will work with partners to take urgent action on unsustainable debt. More than 50 per cent of lower-income countries are either in, or at high risk of, debt distress. That is why we are championing reform, so countries with unsustainable debt get quick and effective support. We are also pressing for more responsible and transparent lending, and have championed Climate Resilient Debt Clauses, which pause debt repayments when crises hit. Secondly, we know the costs of solving these challenges cannot be met by governments alone. We need more investment from the private sector. Through the City of London, the UK is a world-leading green financial hub. We are well placed to lead the charge, providing opportunities for UK businesses and investors and ultimately unlocking growth, jobs and trade. Only a small fraction of the money from big investors like pension funds currently goes to low- and middle-income countries. Shifting this by even a small amount would be game-changing for financing development and climate action. That is why the UK has recently set up an industry-led Investor Taskforce - bringing together investors and government to take action that will unlock more private capital for emerging markets and developing economies. We will launch a coalition in Seville that aims to help unlock trillions of pounds in untapped high-quality investment for developing countries through use of public markets. Finally, we must focus on making the international system work better for developing countries, creating a fairer system where they have greater voice and participation to shape the outcomes they need. That is why the UK is calling for just this in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. We also need to ensure countries can better manage climate shocks. Since 2015, 1.7 billion people's lives have been devastated by the climate crisis. Despite the fact that we can predict and model over a third of climate events, just 2 per cent of crisis finance is pre-arranged and ready to go before a disaster strikes. Putting finance in place ahead of disasters means it can be immediately released to countries and communities in moments of crisis. Tackling this is vital to ensure long-term growth and development. The launch of the global coalition in Seville will also enable us to scale up availability of pre-arranged finance, working with the UK insurance industry towards an ambition of increasing it tenfold by 2035. No nation can tackle global challenges alone. Seville must be the beginning of a new chapter in how we work together to deliver global development.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Foreign prisoners to be deported earlier under law change
Ministers are introducing a law change to deport foreign inmates at an earlier point in their sentence in a bid to free up prison space. Fresh legislation is set to be laid in Parliament on Wednesday as the Government grapples with jail overcrowding. The move will apply to foreign criminals subject to the early removal scheme, when prisoners are serving fixed-term sentences. It will mean prisoners with no right to stay in the UK could be deported after serving 30% of their sentence, instead of 50% currently. Those serving sentences for terror-related offences are excluded from the scheme. According to the Ministry of Justice, foreign offenders make up around 12% of the prison population and removing them from the country earlier could free up around 500 jail cells a year. A prison place costs on average £54,000, the department added. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: 'With prisons close to bursting, I'm clear we shouldn't be giving bed and board to foreign criminals with no right to be here. 'These changes will get more of them on planes out of the country much sooner, saving taxpayers' money and keeping our streets safe as part of our Plan for Change. 'This Government's message is crystal clear – if you come here and break our laws, you'll be sent packing in record time.' The window to deport foreign nationals from 18 months before the end of their jail term has also been increased to 48 months. Once deported, offenders are banned from re-entering the UK and any attempt to return will re-activate their original prison sentence. The move comes after the Government agreed to implement a raft of reforms following an independent sentencing review by former justice secretary David Gauke. The new legislative measures were among the recommendations. Criminals could also be eligible for deportation earlier after sentencing reforms yet to be introduced into legislation. The changes being introduced on Wednesday, if approved by Parliament, are expected to come into force by September.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK economy shrunk by worse-than-expected 0.3% in April, ONS reveals, in bitter blow to Rachel Reeves
The UK economy shrank by 0.3% in April, it was revealed on Thursday, in a blow to Chancellor Rachel Reeves as her spending review comes under growing scrutiny. The latest GDP figures revealed by the Office for National Statistics is worse than the 0.1% fall expected by economists. Responding to the news, Ms Reeves acknowledged they were 'clearly disappointing' but insisted her spending review, delivered to MPs on Wednesday, would help deliver growth. The Chancellor said: 'Our number one mission is delivering growth to put more money in people's pockets through our Plan for Change, and while these numbers are clearly disappointing, I'm determined to deliver on that mission. 'In yesterday's spending review we set out how we'll deliver jobs and growth - whether that's improving city region transport, a record investment in affordable homes or funding Sizewell C nuclear power station. We're investing in Britain's renewal to make working people better off.' Speaking on Sky News, the Chancellor admitted April was a 'challenging month' but said the data was 'perhaps not entirely unexpected' given uncertainty around tariffs. Breaking news. This article is being updated.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'This is fantastic news for our NHS trust' - hospital trust gets £6.5 million
A YORK hospital trust is set to get £6.5 million in Government funding to help fix its crumbling buildings. York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - which runs hospitals in York, Selby, Malton, Scarborough and Bridlington, is getting £6.5 million from the national Estates Safety Fund as part of the Government's mission to fix public service infrastructure through its Plan for Change. The money is going to hospitals and schools across the country and includes works to the roof as well as improvements to the internal and external building fabric and fixtures at Scarborough Hospital. Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith said: "For too long, people have had to put up with leaking hospital roofs, crumbling classroom walls, and public buildings left to decay. Staff working in rundown facilities. "Children learning in classrooms patched up year after year. Patients treated in spaces that are barely fit for purpose. It's not good enough and people deserve so much better. "That's why I welcome the news that over £8 million is being invested in our hospitals in Scarborough, York and Harrogate, alongside millions more for schools - including in our region - as part of a Government programme to make public buildings fit for the future. "Our NHS staff, our children, and their teachers deserve so much better than a decade of decline. This is just the first step - but we're committed to rebuilding the modern, safe, and dignified public services our communities deserve.' Scarborough Hospital The Government says that fixing the backlog of maintenance at NHS hospitals will help prevent operation cancellations. Luke Charters, MP for York Outer, said the investment will help improve hospital infrastructure, enhance patient safety, and support vital upgrades to ensure high-quality healthcare delivery for local communities. 'This is fantastic news for our local NHS trust. I'm proud to support the hardworking staff at York and Scarborough hospitals, who go above and beyond every day for patients. This funding will make a real difference — it will improve safety, modernise our buildings and help ensure our hospitals can continue delivering for residents across York," he said. "Investment in our local NHS is not just investment in buildings – it's investment in the health and wellbeing of everyone in York. I will continue to fight for further support to make sure our local health services get the backing they need. "This extra investment comes from the Estates Safety Fund, a national strategy to upgrade and maintain hospital facilities ensuring that NHS buildings can adapt to future healthcare demands. "This alongside waiting lists coming down for 6 months in a row, is the true difference a Labour government makes."
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Flight paths shake-up could mean quicker journeys and fewer delays for passengers
PASSENGERS could enjoy quicker journeys and fewer delays under the first shake-up of flight paths in 70 years. Ministers have ordered an overhaul of UK airspace to create more direct routes. The review could also let planes climb into the sky quicker to reduce the noise for communities below. In the long-term, the government says the redesign would even create the necessary airspace for the 'flying taxis' of the future to operate. Britain's flightpaths have not been changed since the 1950s when there were just 200,000 flights per year, compared with 2.7million in 2024. It has resulted in flight congestion that often forces planes to circle overhead before landing, causing frustration to passengers as well as more emissions. A new UK Airspace Design Service will be up and running by the end of the year, and will first focus on re-carving London's flightpaths in anticipation of a third Heathrow runway. Transport Minister Mike Kane said: 'Redesigned 'skyways' will turbocharge growth in the aviation industry. "Not least by boosting airport expansion plans and supporting job creation, driving millions into the UK economy as part of the Plan for Change. 'Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying and will set the industry up for a long-term sustainable future.' Tim Alderslade of Airlines UK added: 'Modernising UK airspace is long overdue. "These changes will help to speed up a programme that will provide tangible reforms, from a reduction in delays, improved resilience and lower carbon emissions.' Travelers have only days before May 23 'flight switch' rule ends – you face long delays if you don't act immediately 1
