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Government WORLD ™
Summer 2021 British Edition
Page 1
Government WORLD ™
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Page 2
welters
Contents ®
News & Sports Roundup 4
Hundreds of free qualifications on offer to boost skills and jobs 9 O R G A N I S AT I O N
Behaviour experts to support schools with poor discipline 11 W O R L D W I D E
Government hits vaccination target as PM praises “precious protection” offered by jabs 15 Design and Innovation
BRIT Awards to go ahead with live audience as latest event in Government research Visit us on-line at
programme 16 government-world.com
Flagship summer schools programme opens today to help students recover lost learning 18
Advertising | Articles | News |
G7 tech leaders agree bold new proposals to boost online safety worldwide 19 Letters | Editorials
COVID - 19: What we know so far - part 4 by Paul Bazeley 22
welters organisation
44,000 trees to be planted as Urban Tree Challenge Fund reopens 23 P.O. Box 159 Carlisle, Great Britain CA2 5BG
Office: 08702 416 422
Overfishing, Conservation, Sustainability, and Farmed Fish by Coty Perry 25 E-mail: office@government-world.com
Animals to be formally recognised as sentient beings in domestic law 33
Submissions should be sent to
Over 300,000 homes sold with Help to Buy 35
Government WORLD,
PO Box 159, Carlisle, CA2 5BG
COVID-19 vaccines: 11,700 deaths prevented 36 Email: submissions@government-world.com
Government gears up for roll out of greener fuel with national awareness campaign 39 ISSN 1744-6996
Government sets out marine commitments to mark World Ocean Day 40
End of halogen light bulbs spells brighter and cleaner future 43
£50 million infrastructure upgrade to cement UK’s status as science superpower 45
Acknowledgements 47
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all articles, advertisements and other insertions in this publication, the publisher can accept no responsibility for any
errors or omissions or incorrect insertions. The views of the contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher or the advertisers. The publisher makes no warranties, claims or
guarantees in regard to accuracy,completeness or currency of information and cannot accept any liability resulting from the use or misuse of any such information. The Publisher
does not accept responsibility for mistakes, be they editorial or typographical, nor for consequences resulting from them. The setting sun through a gap in the trees
Page 3
News Roundup
&
S
P
O
R
T
S
Summar y of the main news and spor ts events over the last three months
By Paul G Bazeley for Government World
April News Review that all American troops would have video game Super Mario Bros.
withdrawn from Afghanistan by 11th sold for $660,000, the most ever
In Coronavirus news, restrictions September 2021. The date marks the paid for a video game.
were eased across the UK, with pubs, 20th anniversary of the Al-Qaeda terror
restaurants, gyms, hairdressers etc., attacks in America, which saw planes The tech company LG said
allowed to reopen. Holidays were fly into the twin towers. The UK and it would exit the smartphone
permitted within England with the same later Germany announced it would also market due to competition
household. Scotland’s coronavirus withdraw all troops from Afghanistan from budget and large name
deaths sadly exceeded 10,000. The following the announcement from the brands. It became the first major
NHS announced a study had found US. smartphone manufacturer to
that the Pfizer vaccine reduced leave the market.
hospitalisations in the elderly by 75%. The former US police officer, Derek
Chauvin, was found guilty on all counts The 93rd Academy Awards,
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the of the murder of George Floyd. also known as the Oscars, took
husband of Queen Elizabeth II, died at place in Los Angeles. The film
Windsor Castle aged 99. The Duke was Many sports teams, athletes and Nomadland won best picture,
said to have died of old age but died governing bodies across the UK took Anthony Hopkins won best
peacefully with the Queen by his side. part in a social media boycott for four actor for his role in The Father,
Prince Philip was the longest-serving days in a ‘show of solidarity against and Frances McDormand won
royal consort in British history and died online abuse’. It was hoped it would best actress for her role in
two months before his 100th birthday. urge social media companies would do Nomadland.
more to stop abuse on their platforms.
US President Joe Biden announced An unopened copy of the Nintendo
Page 4
April Sports Review was called Minella Times. time a female MP will hold the
North Korea announced it would constituency.
Six Premier League teams and other be pulling out of the 2021 Summer The Scottish National Party
large teams from around Europe signed Olympics, stating it was concerned (SNP) won a historic fourth
up to a European Super League; the with the COVID-19. term in office in the Scottish
League was classed as a competition Parliamentary elections. Most
for elite European football clubs. UEFA seats in the Scottish Parliament
and FIFA both condemned the new are now in favour of a second
League and stated that players taking May News Review independence referendum.
part in the new competition would
not be allowed to participate in their The UK COVID-19 alert level was Protests broke out across
events, including the FIFA World Cup. reduced to level 3, which meant the America, marking the
In addition, UEFA announced it would virus was not increasing exponentially. anniversary since George
look to ban the clubs imminently. A The number of people who received Floyd’s death. Floyd’s family
few days later, clubs began to pull both COVID-19 vaccines exceeded met with President Joe Biden at
out of the proposed Super League 20 million, while the total number of the White House and appealed
after fan backlash and pressure from vaccines administered reached 60 to congress to pass the police
UEFA and FIFA. A few days later, the million. Further restrictions were eased reform legislation.
Super League says it is suspending the in England, Scotland and Wales; most
project. notably, a ban on international travel A Ryanair flight was diverted to
was lifted. The single-dose Johnson Minsk after Belarusian authorities
The 85th edition of the Masters was & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination conveyed a false bomb
held at the Augusta golf course. Hideki became the fourth vaccine approved in threat on orders of President
Matsuyama won the championship the UK. Alexander Lukashenko. Officers
by one shot to win the coveted green arrested the passenger Roman
jacket; he became the first Japanese A by-election in Hartlepool is won by Protasevich, who had been
player to win a major tournament. Jill Mortimer, a Conservative Party critical of the president. Amnesty
candidate, in what was formally a International, along with
Rachel Blackmore, an Irish jockey, labour stronghold. It was the first time others, called for the release of
became the first female winner of the the Conservative Party have won Protasevich and his girlfriend
Grand National. The horse she rode the constituency and was the first calling them political prisoners.
Page 5
Microsoft announced it cease support Valladolid won their first Europa League Phil Mickelson became the
for Internet Explorer, the internet and first major trophy after beating oldest winner of a major
browser, in June 2022. Manchester United on penalties. championship after claiming
the 2021 PGA Championship at
Darwin’s Arch, a natural rock arch found Manchester City were crowned the age of 50; the win is his 6th
in the Galapagos Islands, collapsed Premier League champions for the fifth major.
due to natural erosion. All that remains time after their close rivals Manchester
now are stone towers, which some United lost 2-1 to Leicester City. Later in The Colombian, Egan Bernal of
have named the ‘pillars of evolution’ to the month, Leicester City beat Chelsea the Ineos Grenadiers won the
continue the tribute to Charles Darwin. 1-0 to win the FA Cup for the first time Giro D’Italia winning by 1’ 29”.
in the club’s history.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson married
Carrie Symonds, a political activist Inter Milan ended Juventus’ nine-year
and conservationist, in a ceremony at run of Serie A wins after securing the June News Review
Westminster Cathedral. title for themselves. It is the first time
since the 2009-10 season that Inter The total number of COVID-19
Italy won the 2021 Eurovision Song Milan have won the League. In Spain, cases across the world
Contest with their entry’ Zitti e buoni’ by Athletico Madrid won the La Liga exceeded 175 million. The UK
Maneskin; it’s the first time the country for the first time since the 2013-14 recorded no daily deaths of
has won since 1990. The UK achieved season after beating Real Valladolid COVID-19 for the first time since
a score of ‘null points’. 2-1 on the last day. Bayern Munich March 2020. The Medicines and
won the Bundesliga title as their striker Healthcare products Regulatory
Robert Lewandowski scored his 41st Agency approved the use of
May Sports Review goal in a 5-2 win over FC Augsburg. the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Lewandowski set a new record for vaccine for people aged 12-15.
Chelsea beat Manchester City 1-0 in the most number of goals scored by Prime Minister Boris Johnson
the Champions League final, winning an individual in a Bundesliga season, announced the final easing of
the trophy for the second time. In beating Gerd Muller’s record of 40 lockdown would be delayed by
the Women’s Champions League, goals. Finally, Lille ended PSGs run of four weeks due to rising cases
Barcelona beat Chelsea to win the three consecutive titles after winning and allow for further vaccinations
prestigious tournament for the first time. the Ligue 1, Lille’s first title since 2011. to be given.
Page 6
Health Secretary Matt Hancock The British government announced a He is also the first player to score
admitted breaching COVID-19 social free trade agreement between Britain in five Euro tournaments.
distancing rules after The Sun reports and Australia. The deal is the first to
he had an affair with his aide Gina be built since the UK left the EU and In tennis, Barbara Krejcikova
Colangelo. Hancock later resigned covers goods such as cars, ceramics, beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
from his role as Health Secretary after biscuits and Scotch Whisky. in three sets to win the women’s
mounting pressure. Sajid Javid, the French Open singles title; it was
former chancellor, replaced him. El Salvador became the first country to her first Grand Slam win. Novak
accept the cryptocurrency Bitcoin as Djokovic defeated Stefanos
In a shock result, the Chesham and legal tender. Tsitsipas in five sets to win his
Amersham by-election was won by 19th Grand Slam men’s singles
the Liberal Democrats. The result Australian and Chinese researchers title.
saw the Conservative Party lose the announced the discovery of two new
constituency for the first time after species of woolly flying squirrels in the Danish footballer Christian
suffering a swing of 25.2% away from Himalayas: the Tibetan woolly flying Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest
the party. squirrel and the Yunnan woolly flying while playing for his country in
squirrel. However, very little is known the Euros. The player was given
The Public Health Minister, Jo about the creatures. urgent medical attention on the
Churchill, announced that junk food pitch before being taken to the
adverts on daytime television and the hospital. It was later announced
internet would be banned by the end June Sports Review he was in a stable condition.
of the year to help fight rising cases of
childhood obesity. UEFA Euro 2020 began a year late, John Rahm won the 121st US
with Italy beating Turkey 3-0 in Rome Open by one shot, winning his
Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 in the tournament’s first game. The first major and becoming the
and a half years in prison for the murder tournament was held in 11 countries first Spanish player ever to win
of George Floyd in Minneapolis on 25th as a ‘one-off’ to celebrate the 60th the championship.
May 2020. The former police officer anniversary of the championship.
expressed condolences to Floyd’s Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese End
family during the sentencing. player, became the highest scorer in
the competition’s history with 11 goals.
Page 7
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Page 8
Hundreds of free qualifications on offer to boost
skills and jobs
April
An estimated 11 million adults now have background, can gain the skills they need to For example, with a Diploma in
the opportunity to gain a new qualification progress in work at any stage of their lives. Engineering Technology adults can
for free, designed to help them to gain in- It will also ensure employers have access to progress to roles in Maintenance
demand skills and secure great jobs. the skilled workforce they need, and more or Manufacturing Engineering.
people are trained for the skills gaps that A Level 3 Diploma in Electrical
Almost 400 qualifications are available to exist now, and in the future. Installation or a qualification in Adult
take from today (1 April) - backed by £95 Care can also provide a gateway to
million in government funding in 2021/22 - Adults who take up the free courses have sectors offering rewarding careers
as part of the government’s Lifetime Skills the potential to boost career prospects, and where there are multiple job
Guarantee. wages and help fill skills gaps, while opportunities.
supporting the economy and building back
The qualifications on offer range from better. So more unemployed people
engineering to social care to conservation can take full advantage of these
and are available to any adult who has not courses, the government will pilot
already achieved a qualification at Level 3 an extension to the length of time
(equivalent to A-levels). they can receive Universal Credit
while undertaking work-focused
The roll out marks a major milestone in study.
the delivery of the landmark Lifetime Skills
Guarantee - announced by the Prime They will now be able to train full
Minister in September 2020. The Guarantee time for up to 12 weeks, or up to 16
aims to transform the skills system so weeks on a full time skills bootcamp
everyone, no matter where they live or their in England, while receiving
Page 9
Universal Credit to support their living costs to train, retrain, and get into jobs you want Helping people get the skills they
This will allow access to more training and our economy needs.” need is a central part of our Plan for
options and provide a better chance of Jobs which is already supporting
finding work, while continuing to receive the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: people of all ages into work as
support they need. we build back better from the
“The launch of these free qualifications for pandemic.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: adults is a pivotal moment in the delivery
of our Lifetime Skills Guarantee, which will Helen Tupper, co-author of Sunday
“As we cautiously lift lockdown restrictions, make sure everyone can train, retrain or Times best-selling book The
the government’s focus is on recovering upskill throughout their lives. Squiggly Career, said:
from the pandemic and building back better.
As we build back better and rebuild our “Our jobs today are constantly
The Lifetime Skills Guarantee is economy, it is vital we level up more changing and one of the ways
fundamental to that – with free courses opportunities for people across the country people can increase their ability to
giving adults the expertise they need to find and help more people progress in work. adapt is through ongoing learning.
new, better jobs. Course fees are a barrier for
This offer will help give millions of adults many adults but the introduction
My message is clear. At every stage of your the chance to gain the skills they need to of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee
life, we will help you get the skills you need secure rewarding careers in key sectors has significantly increased the
of the economy including construction, accessibility of adult learning
healthcare and digital. With almost 400 to opportunities, making hundreds of
choose from, there is something there for free courses available for people
everyone.” to increase their employability and
gain skills to progress in work or
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions secure a better job. If you’re an adult
Therese Coffey MP said: considering your next step, I’d really
encourage you to think about how
“Opening up a wider choice of courses and new skills could boost your existing
qualifications for jobseekers could be the strengths and check out any free
clincher that lands them their next job. opportunities you’re eligible for.”
Page 10As well as the free courses, as part of
Behaviour experts to support
the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, thousands
of adults have taken advantage of new
schools with poor discipline
Skills Bootcamps which offer free, flexible
courses lasting up to 16 weeks covering
areas including construction, digital and
technical. Skills Bootcamps – which are April
currently running in six areas of the country
- provide a chance to learn specific skills Heads and behaviour leads from some of The lead schools selected have
and offer a fast-track to an interview with a England’s highest performing schools and shown that good discipline
local employer at the end. Skills Bootcamps Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) have today overwhelmingly results in the
will be expanded across the country later been confirmed as mentors and trainers best Ofsted ratings and overall
this year. in the Department’s £10 million Behaviour outcomes for their students, and
Hubs programme. have demonstrated their capacity to
The government’s Skills for Jobs White support other schools to achieve the
Paper, published in January, enshrines Designed to support schools struggling
the Lifetime Skills Guarantee – setting with poor discipline, training through the
out landmark reforms that will realigning Behaviour Hubs for the first group of
the post-16 education system around the participating schools will commence from
needs of employers, so that people are the start of the summer term, at a time
trained for the skills gaps that exist now, when a minority of pupils may need extra
and in the future, in sectors the economy support from their schools to re-engage
needs, including construction, digital, clean with education following the pandemic.
energy and manufacturing.
The lead schools and MATs will work
The White Paper forms a key part of the closely with the schools they are supporting
government’s Plan for Jobs which is to diagnose what could be improved,
protecting, supporting and creating jobs develop and launch new behaviour
across the country and will help everyone approaches and policies and provide
to benefit from the opportunities available ongoing mentoring and support.
to them.
Page 11same. positive impact it will have on students’ Behaviour Hubs programme.
wellbeing and attainment.”
Lead schools will advise their counterparts We want to share with other schools
on issues ranging from setting clear Perryfields Primary Pupil Referral Unit how we have created the behaviour
expectations to eliminate low-level is one of the 22 schools and two multi culture at Perryfields which is
disruption in classrooms that is so academy trusts from secondary, primary, underpinned by exceedingly high
damaging to teachers and other pupils, to special and alternative provision selected expectations and a belief that all
more systematic approaches to maintaining as leads in the Behaviour Hubs programme. pupils matter so each and every
order and discipline across the school, one of them can be set on a
such as forbidding the use of mobile Peter Hines, Headteacher of Perryfields pathway to fulfil their aspirations
phones and maintaining quiet corridors. Primary PRU: and potential. We look forward to
working with colleagues across the
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “The team at Perryfields Primary PRU is country to share our passion for
immensely proud of the work that it does to making a difference and improving
“Behaviour and discipline are the improve the life chances of young people young people’s education and life
cornerstone to so much of what defines this in Worcestershire. We are delighted to chances.”
country’s most successful schools. have the opportunity to widen the impact
of this work by being a lead school in the Schools taking part in the
Whether it’s supporting some of our most
vulnerable and disadvantaged children with
the routines and structures needed to help
them fulfil their potential, or helping prepare
young people for the expectations of the
workplace, parents and teachers know
that orderly and disciplined classrooms are
best.
That is why I will always support schools
taking a firm approach, for example taking
action to tackle the scourge of ever-present
mobile phones – because I know the
Page 12programme will also have access to works, and then expand into a size and Establishing and sustaining a
training on common problems and effective shape that supports more schools that culture of good behaviour can be
approaches led by Tom Bennett, founder need it. This has the capacity to make a real challenging. CST welcomes the
and director of ResearchED, and the and substantial difference to the lives of appointment of exemplary schools
Department’s lead behaviour adviser and futures of many thousands of children and and trusts with strong cultures of
his team of behaviour advisers. There will families and I cannot wait to see it develop.” good behaviour. This will enable
be open days at lead schools to observe the system to share the strongest
good systems and approaches in action as Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s educational philosophies and
well as hub networking events and online Commissioner for England said: practices.”
forums for schools to share experiences.
“Good behaviour is really important in The programme will run on a termly
Tom Bennett, Lead Behaviour advisor to enabling all children to learn and be happy basis, with lead schools and MATs
the Department said: at school. forming hubs with a different two
supported schools each term. The
“It’s been a real honour to recruit some I welcome this package of support programme will expand next year,
of the best schools in the country to offer for schools which have experienced with further lead schools and MATs
their support to other schools who want to challenges in this area, especially given appointed to support more schools
refocus on behaviour and culture. Every the extra strains caused by the pandemic, to help reach the target of 500
school can, with assistance, be safe, calm helping children to get back on track and supported schools over the three-
places where everyone is treated with thrive – not just academically, but socially year programme.
dignity, and students and staff can learn too.”
and flourish together.
Leora Cruddas, Chief Executive of the
We know that some schools are further Confederation of School Trusts, said:
towards that ideal than others, and many
more that can, and only need direction from “Good standards of behaviour in a school
those who have walked the path before are essential to the safety and success of
them. all pupils. Every child has the right to go to
a school where they feel safe and able to
The Hubs project is designed to start learn.
reasonably modestly, build a model that
Page 13welters ART
TM
Page 14Government hits vaccination target as PM
praises “precious protection” offered by jabs
April
All adults over 50, the clinically vulnerable significant milestone in our vaccine is expected to begin this week.
and health and social care workers have programme by offering jabs to everyone in
now been offered a life-saving Covid-19 jab. the nine highest risk groups. NHS organisations in the four
nations, in collaboration with
All adults over 50, the clinically vulnerable That means more than 32 million people devolved administrations, will
and health and social care workers have have been given the precious protection decide how to operationalise the
now been offered a life-saving Covid-19 jab, vaccines provide against Covid-19. JCVI advice.
as the government prepares to move into
the next phase of the Covid-19 vaccination I want to thank everyone involved in the It is thought that people in England
programme. vaccine rollout which has already saved in their late 40s will be the first to be
many thousands of lives. invited to book their jabs.
The target was reached ahead of schedule,
with the government having pledged to We will now move forward with completing Over 7 million second doses have
offer a first dose to priority cohorts 1-9 by essential second doses and making now been given – with a record
15 April. progress towards our target of offering all 475,230 given on Saturday – and
adults a vaccine by the end of July. we remain on track to offer a first
Nearly 40 million vaccines have now been vaccine to all adults by 31 July.
given in total, with adults under 50 expected The JCVI are expected to publish their
to begin to be invited in the coming days. final advice on how the government should
vaccinate those aged under 50.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
This advice will pave the way for the next
We have now passed another hugely phase of the vaccination programme, which
Page 15BRIT Awards to go ahead with live audience as
latest event in Government research programme
April
The 2021 BRIT Awards ceremony will go return to London’s The O2 arena on distanced or required to wear
ahead with a live audience as the latest Tuesday 11 May with an audience of 4,000 face coverings once seated in the
addition to the government’s Events people and live performances from Dua arena, however they will be required
Research Programme, which looks at Lipa, Headie One, Arlo Parks and BRIT to follow existing Government
how venues can restart large events and Rising Star Award winner Griff, among other guidance when travelling to the
welcome crowds back safely this summer. acts to be announced. venue and adhere to rules set out by
the event organisers.
The BRIT Awards with Mastercard will Audience members will not be socially
All attendees must have proof of
a negative lateral flow test result
to enter the venue. As part of the
wider scientific research on the
trial events, attendees will also be
asked to take a test after the event
to gather further evidence on the
safety of indoor settings, reduced
social distancing and the removal of
non-pharmaceutical interventions
like face coverings.
They will also have to provide
contact details for NHS Test and
Trace to ensure everyone can be
traced in the event of an audience
Page 16member receiving a positive test after the “The BRIT Awards team are excited to of scientists and clinicians from
event. confirm our plans to host a live audience at across the country, which will mean
our ceremony on May 11th. There could be we can start to enjoy these events
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: no better way to celebrate music’s biggest again safely.”
night than with an audience present for the
“The BRITs are always a big night in the first live performances at The O2 in over Danielle Kennedy-Clark, Deputy
music calendar, but this year’s awards will a year. Most importantly, this is also a key General Manager of The O2 said:
be particularly special. They will reunite live moment in the return of live music, which we
audiences with the best of British talent for all want to see back at scale as quickly as “We’re proud that The O2 has been
the first time in a year, while providing a vital possible. selected to host the largest indoor
opportunity to see how we can get large capacity pilot event with The BRITs.
crowds back safely as soon as possible. We will be working closely with the This scientific trial is an important
Government, The O2 and all our partners step on the path to recovery for the
Music connected us when we were to finalise details and ensure all safety live entertainment industry, and
separated by this pandemic, and now it’s measures and guidelines are adhered to. our operational teams are making
going to help bring us back together again.” More exciting performance announcements the final preparations to be able to
will be made in the coming days.” welcome people into The O2 again
The research gathered from this year’s BRIT for the first time in more than a year.”
Awards will build on the evidence collected Health and Social Care Secretary Matt
at other pilots in the programme, including Hancock said: The information gathered from
the World Snooker Championships at the events as part of the Events
Sheffield Crucible and an outdoor gig at “We continue to take steps to getting Research Programme will be crucial
Sefton Park hosted by Festival Republic. back to doing the things we love, whether to understand how all venues - from
that’s meeting friends and loved ones, or major sport stadiums and theatres
The evidence from these pilots will be used attending live sport and music. to wedding venues, conference
to inform government policy to bring about centres and nightclubs - could
the phased return of fuller audiences to These planned pilots mean we can gather operate safely this summer. The
venues and events across England. the necessary evidence to inform our plans programme of pilots will explore
for future events, ensuring mass events can how different approaches to social
Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI & BRIT take place safely. distancing, ventilation and testing
Awards, said: protocols could ease opening and
I am enormously grateful for the hard work maximise participation.
Page 17Flagship summer schools programme opens
today to help students recover lost learning
April
Schools in England can now register to offer be encouraged to get involved, to help them Our resilient kids are now back in
a summer school to help children recover navigate the important transition between the classroom, seeing their friends
learning they have lost during the pandemic primary and secondary school following a and having all of the benefits that
year of disrupted learning. being in school brings. But we know
Schools will be encouraged to bid for a that time out of school necessary
share of £200 million in government funding Summer schools will include a variety to control the pandemic has had
to design summer schools for students who of activities from group activities such an impact on the learning of pupils
have experienced the most disruption. as sports to mental health support and right across the country. Additional
academic catch up such as maths and support this summer – on top of the
Incoming Year 7 students will predominantly English lessons. National Tutoring programme and
additional funding for schools – will
Summer schools are one part of £1.7 billion help boost learning and wellbeing
already invested by the government in plus help prepare those pupils about
ambitious catch-up activity over the next to start secondary schools.
year, including high quality tutoring.
We’re supporting schools to plan
A longer-term plan to help all students their summer provision as early as
recover from the impact of the pandemic possible, and making sure parents
is currently under development, led by and pupils themselves have the
Education Recovery Commissioner Sir notice they need to plan their own
Kevan Collins. summers.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: I am confident that this summer
of enrichment and engagement in
Page 18academic work will be a great success,
tailored to local needs by the wonderful
heads and teachers who best understand G7 tech leaders agree bold new
the needs of their students.
proposals to boost online safety
Schools can sign up via an online form on
GOV.uk to confirm their plans, with flexibility worldwide April
for schools to target funding at other
groups of students dependent on their local • Declaration signed in digital and tech a virtual meeting hosted by UK Digital
circumstances. ministerial meeting ahead of June G7 Leaders Secretary Oliver Dowden to fire the
Summit starting gun on this year’s G7 Summit.
Parents should expect to hear from their • Principles to improve online safety include The agreements are part of the first of
schools over the course of May and June commitments on human rights and protecting seven ministerial declarations due to be
as they progress with their planning, but it young people signed this year.
remains at the discretion of schools which • Roadmap to digitise outdated paper-based
students they target their summer school system for global trade among other agreements Other measures include plans to
offer towards. turbocharge exports by digitising the
Leaders from the UK, Canada, France, cumbersome and centuries-old paper-
The government anticipates that a two Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and EU signed based system for key international trade
week summer school will give students an a declaration containing a series of shared transactions and improving the free flow
principles on how to tackle the global challenge of data.
opportunity to make up some lost academic
of online safety, including that online firms
ground before they start a new school.
should have systems and processes in place to In a sign of stronger cooperation
reduce illegal and harmful activity and prioritise to address concerns over the
Summer schools should also offer an
the protection of children. market power of big tech platforms,
opportunity for schools to support students’ international regulators and
wellbeing, and schools should include The principles, which have been shaped by the policymakers will meet with the UK’s
activities such as team games, music, UK’s world-leading approach, say that any steps Competition and Markets Authority
drama or sports activities, in their plans. to improve online safety must support the values in the autumn to discuss long term
of open and democratic societies and respect coordination and enforcement.
Schools will need to determine how best human rights and fundamental freedoms.
to use the funding and staff the scheme to Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
ensure that the extra time is used effectively. The joint ministerial declaration was signed at
Page 19“As a coalition of the world’s leading outdated paper transactions.
democracies and technological powers, we want Building on the momentum from this
to forge a compelling vision of how tech should • A consensus that a more joined-up approach G7 Digital and Technology track, the
support and enhance open and democratic to regulation and promoting competition in digital UK will also host the Future Tech Forum
societies in the digital age. markets is needed to better serve consumers this September. The Forum will convene
and businesses. Regulators have agreed to like-minded democratic partners
Together we have agreed a number of priorities meet in the autumn to discuss these issues to discuss the role of technology in
in areas ranging from internet safety to digital further. supporting open societies and tackling
competition to make sure the digital revolution global challenges, in collaboration
is a democratic one that enhances global • Cooperation to seize the opportunities and with industry, academia, and other key
prosperity for all.” benefits of data free flow with trust for people, stakeholders.
businesses and economies. The G7 will build
The G7 Digital and Tech ministerial meeting evidence on the impacts of data localisation, As is tradition for the host nation to
is the culmination of ongoing discussions and promote regulatory cooperation and accelerate highlight their culture, over the two days
negotiations around a number of priority areas the development of best practice approaches of the ministerial track (28 - 29 April) G7
and in the ministerial declaration published for data sharing across a broader set of priority ministers and invited guests will enjoy
today, G7 member states have agreed to: areas. These areas may include transport, performances from the Bournemouth
science and research, education and natural Symphony Orchestra and National
• Internet safety principles to guide work to disaster mitigation. Theatre. These organisations, and over
improve online safety. G7 countries commit to 5,000 others, have benefitted from the
protecting human rights online and agree that • Collaboration on how democratic governments unprecedented £1.57 billion Culture
tech companies have a corporate responsibility and stakeholders can support the development Recovery Fund.
for their users’ safety. This means they should of digital technical standards that online tools,
have systems and processes in place to reduce services and protocols should measure up to,
illegal and harmful activity and prioritise the and which, among other things, will guide the
protection of children. These are based on development of a free, open and secure Internet.
underlying principles in the UK Government’s
Online Harms White Paper. For the first time the G7 also discussed the
importance of promoting security and resilience
• Develop a framework for the use of electronic in critical digital infrastructure, in particular
transferable records, to address legal barriers in telecommunications, including 5G and
and coordinate domestic reforms so companies future communications technologies. In the
can use digital solutions for the shipment of declaration, G7 countries commit to developing
goods and trade finance - replacing slow and their collaboration on this throughout the year.
Page 20COVID-19:
What we know so far - part 4 by Paul Bazeley
Picking up from previously, having come The Scottish government also began to ease could resume with table service only.
through a harsh winter spell which consisted some of the rules, allowing six people from Limits on the number of fans able to
of another lockdown, the UK was beginning 6 different households to meet outdoors. attend outdoor sporting events were
to ease restrictions, with Phase 1 parts 1 The previously approved Moderna vaccine also increased.
and 2 going ahead as planned. Cases of also started to be used for vaccinations
COVID-19 and deaths from the virus were joining the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford- The vaccination race continued
declining, and the vaccination rollout was AstraZeneca vaccines. By the end of April, moving quickly, with those aged
continuing at a rapid and rather impressive anyone aged 40 and over was being offered 30 and over able to book a jab by
pace. a COVID-19 jab. the end of the month. The medical
regulations body approved a single
What has happened since? India was added to the UK red travel dose jab created by Johnson &
list after a variant originating from India, Johnson for use in the UK.
A brief overview. B.1.617, commonly known as the Delta
variant, spread quickly throughout the UK. Health Secretary Matt Hancock
Moving into April 2021, things seemed This meant anyone returning from India announced that the Delta strain of
to be going well. The second phase of would be required to isolate for ten days in COVID-19 was “more than half and
restriction easing in England went ahead a quarantine hotel. It also meant that all non- potentially as many as three-quarters
with non-essential retail beginning trading British nationals from India were banned of all new cases”. However, he stated
once again, and pubs and restaurants from entering the UK. the strain seemed to be contained
able to serve people outside. Gyms and within certain hotspots, mainly in the
other indoor leisure and personal services, During May, the planned third phase of North-West of the country.
such as hairdressers and nails salons, restriction easing went ahead; this allowed
were also allowed to reopen. Self-catering up to six people or two households to meet Coming into June, the number of
holiday rentals were also allowed to resume indoors and rules impacting social contact coronavirus cases was once again
business, but only for one household. outdoors removed. Hotels were allowed beginning to rise. It was revealed that
to reopen, and indoor hospitality services the Delta variant was thought to be
Page 21more transmissible than the original strain years and over was able to book in for their the restrictions easing next month,
and the previously dominant Alpha variant, first vaccination. and the government potentially
also known as the Kent variant. seeing it as a ‘herd immunity’ plan
Where are we now? like initially proposed before the
In the middle of June, Prime Minister Boris lockdown. The difference is that
Johnson announced up to a four-week delay Well, we’re in a bit of a limbo. The final phase most adults will have had at least
of the final phase of restriction easing initially of restriction easing has been delayed and one of their jabs.
scheduled for 21st June. The PM expressed will hopefully occur on the 19th July 2021.
concerns over the spread of the Delta variant Regarding vaccination progress, the country It is clear this virus is in our future
and announced that the vaccination rollout is ahead of its target and way ahead of most whether we like it or not. Perhaps
would be accelerated. of the rest of the world. the next few months will reveal
how the government and their
The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, took The worry is the rise of the Delta variant as advisors envisage us living with this
most of the limelight by the end of the the dominant strain. Research suggests it virus. But, as the previous article
month. The Sun newspaper revealed he had is more transmissible than other variants. stated, the threat of a variant that
broken social distancing restrictions during Still, many seem confident the vaccine will is unsusceptible to the vaccine still
an affair with his aide and close friend Gina protect against and reduce the number of seems a worry for lots of people at
Colangelo. On the day the news broke, hospitalisations and deaths. the moment.
Hancock apologised for breaking social
distancing and for “letting people down”. What does the future look like? A follow-up article will feature in a
Afterwards, the Prime Minister said he future edition of Government World.
accepted the apology and considered the Unfortunately, there still isn’t much to report.
matter “closed”. The UK vaccination rollout seems to be
a success and is still going strong, yet
Cross-party pressure and backlash from the case numbers are rising once again. Boris
public mounted in the 24 hours since the Johnson seemed confident that phase four,
story broke, with many stating it undermined the final phase of restriction easing, would
the rules the government was trying to go ahead on the 19th July 2021. However,
impose. The evening after the story was it seems hard to believe that case numbers
published, Hancock resigned, saying that will drop soon when they seem to be rising
the people who “make these rules have got exponentially; this is probably why there was
to stick by them”. He was replaced later that a further push in the vaccination program
day by former chancellor Sajid Javid. this June.
By the end of the month, anybody aged 18 Now, the smart money would probably be on
Page 2244,000 trees to be planted as Urban Tree
Challenge Fund reopens
May
Thousands of trees will be planted near of trees a year by 2025. two rounds where a combined total
schools and healthcare centres and in of up to 134,000 new trees will be
areas with fewer trees and higher social Today’s announcement comes ahead of the planted across England’s towns and
deprivation, as the Urban Tree Challenge government setting out its wider plans on cities.
Fund has re-opened for applications, Defra how it intends to deliver on its tree planting
and the Forestry Commission announced commitment. A new action plan for trees Forestry Minister Lord Goldsmith
today. and woodland will be published shortly to said:
outline how government will plant new high-
Across the country 44,000 large trees quality, well-managed trees and woodlands “I am delighted to announce the
will be planted in towns and cities. These and improve the condition and resilience of reopening of this hugely successful
will support areas to improve health and existing ones. fund, made possible by £6 million
wellbeing and help connect people to the from our Nature for Climate Fund.
outdoors. The Urban Tree Challenge Fund has Ahead of our forthcoming ambitious
reopened following the success of the first action plan for trees, woodland and
Evidence from Forest Research shows the forestry, and to complement our
majority of adults surveyed agreed that manifesto ambition to have every
their level of happiness when in nature new street lined with trees, the
has increased compared to before the Urban Tree Challenge Fund provides
pandemic. The new trees will also play a fantastic example of how trees can
a crucial role in the fight against climate be planted, managed and enjoyed
change, supporting the UK’s journey to to provide the greatest impact - in
reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions areas where they are needed most.”
by 2050 and commitment to increase tree
planting across the UK to 30,000 hectares Forestry Commission Chair Sir
Page 23William Worsley said: science and volunteering. organisations who are in a position
to help owners better manage their
“The pandemic has shown us just how The design of the Urban Forest has existing woodlands.
important trees and nature are, wherever facilitated a move away from close mown
you live. grass cutting regimes to one of biodiversity This is part of a series of Nature for
improvement and habitat creation. This Climate Fund announcements this
Through targeting funding toward areas initiative has the potential to reach all of spring, leading up to the publication
where they will have the biggest benefits, Slough’s population and its flora and fauna.” of the government’s action plan on
including near healthcare and educational trees, woodland and forestry.
facilities, this fund will deliver increased Over the next two years, up to £6 million
benefits for health and wellbeing, as well will be available for planting in addition to In recent months, we have
as contributing towards the government’s necessary maintenance payments. The announced the opening of the
ambition to increase woodland creation grants are administered by the Forestry Local Authority Treescapes Fund,
across England.” Commission, and successful applicants are £12.1 million of investment for tree
match-funding the money they receive. planting in Community Forests
Illustrating the success of the fund to date, across the country, as well as a
Slough Borough Council have planted over Grants will fund the planting of trees and the funding boost and new woodland
8,500 trees under the Urban Tree Challenge first three years of their care to ensure they creation partnership between Defra
Fund. Through the delivery of diverse can flourish into the future. and Forest for Cornwall, and a £3.9
community-led tree planting projects, million pot to support innovative
the Council have seen wider health and Also being announced today is a new £1 planting schemes in towns and cities
educational benefits to the general public,million Woods into Management Innovation and near rivers to reduce flood risk.
students and schools, stakeholders and Fund which is due to open in May and will
community groups. focus on improving the condition of existing
woodlands. The aim of this scheme, as part
Louise Handley at Slough Council said: of government’s Nature for Climate Fund, is
to increase the area of woodland in active
“The funding from the Urban Tree Challenge management to improve their ecological
Fund has allowed us to bring post Covid condition, help them adapt to a changing
initiatives to the most deprived areas of climate and recover from the impacts of
our community, which focus on up skilling pests and diseases. The scheme is aimed
for employment, active lifestyles, citizen at forestry businesses and conservation
Page 24Overfishing, Conservation, Sustainability, and
Farmed Fish
by Coty Perry
As with many other aspects of government for commercial fishermen, but also those There are 18.9 million fishermen in
policy, overfishing and other fishing-related interested in questions of conservation the world, with 90 percent of them
environmental issues are a real problem, but and sustainability in general, as well as falling under the same small-scale
it’s not clear that government intervention recreational fisherman and basically fisherman rubric discussed above.
is the solution. Indeed, it might be one of anyone who uses fish as a food source. As
the main drivers of overfishing and other the ocean goes, so goes the planet, so it Overfishing Definition:
conservation and sustainability issues is of paramount importance for everyone What is Overfishing?
stemming from commercial fishing. Much to educate themselves on what is driving
like drone fishing, there are serious ethical overfishing, what its consequences are, and
issues of interest to the average angler. what meaningful steps — not simply theater
to feel as if “something is being done” — can
There’s another commonality that be taken.
overfishing has with environmental issues
more broadly: The Western companies Indeed, over
primarily concerned with serious efforts three billion
to curb overfishing are not the ones who people around
are most guilty of overfishing. What this the world rely on
means is that the costs of overfishing are fish as their primary source of protein. About
disproportionately borne by the countries 12 percent of the world relies on fisheries in First, take heart: As a recreational
least engaged in practices that are counter some form or another. 90 percent of these fisherman you are almost certainly
to efforts to make commercial fishing being small-scale fishermen — “think a small not guilty of “overfishing.” This is an
more sustainable while also promoting crew in a boat, not a ship,” using small nets issue for commercial fishermen in
conservation of fish biodiversity. or even rods, reels and lures not too different the fishing industry who are trawling
All of these are important issues not just from the kind you probably use. the ocean depths with massive nets
Page 25becomes so depleted that the fish in the • Destruction of Fishing
area cannot replenish themselves. Communities: Overfishing
At best, this means fewer fish next year than can completely destroy fish
there are this year. At worst, it means that populations and communities
a species of fish that once relied upon the fish that
cannot be fished out were there. This is particularly
of a specific area true for island communities. And
anymore. This also it’s worth remembering that there
goes hand-in-hand are many isolated points on the
with wasteful forms globe where fishing isn’t just the
driver of the economy, but also the
to catch enough fish to make a living for of fishing that harvest not just the fish the
primary source of protein for the
themselves and their families, not the angler trawler is looking for, but just about every
population. When either or both of
who enjoys a little peace and quiet on the other organism big enough to be caught in
these disappear, the community
weekends. a net. Over 80 percent of fish are caught in
disappears along with it.
these kinds of nets but fish aren’t the only
Overfishing is, in some sense, a rational things caught in nets.
• Tougher Fishing for Small
reaction to increasing market needs for
Vessels: If you’re a fan of small
fish. Most people consume approximately What’s more, there are a number of wide-
business, you ought to be concerned
twice as much fish as they did 50 years ago reaching consequences of overfishing. It’s
about overfishing. That’s because
and there are four times as many people not simply bad because it depletes the fish
overfishing is mostly done by large
on earth as there were at the close of the stocks of available resources, though that
vessels and makes it harder for
1960s. This is one driver of the 30 percent of certainly is one reason why it’s bad. Others
smaller ones to meet their quotas.
commercially fished waters being classified include:
With over 40 million people around
as “overfished.” This means that the stock of
the world getting their food and
available fishing waters are being depleted • Increased Algae in the Water: Like
livelihood from fishing, this is a
faster than they can be replaced. many other things, algae is great but too
serious problem.
much of it is very bad. When there are fewer
There is a simple and straightforward fish in the water, algae doesn’t get eaten.
• Ghost Fishing: Ghost fishing
definition of when an area is being This increases the acidity in the world’s
refers to abandoned man-made
“overfished” and it’s not simply about oceans, which negatively impacts not only
fishing gear that is left behind. It’s
catching “too many” fish. Overfishing the remaining fish, but also the reefs and
believed that an estimated 25,000
occurs when the breeding stock of an area plankton.
Page 26nets float throughout the Northeast Atlantic. in their nets as a byproduct. The possibility
This left behind gear becomes a death trap of bycatch increases dramatically with
for all marine life that swim through that area. overfishing.
While much of this is caused due to storms Overfishing infographics “20% fish in the
and natural disasters, much of it is the USA lost in the supply chain” we will delve into here, the bird’s eye
result of ignorance and neglect on behalf of view is below.
commercial fishermen. • Waste: Overfishing creates waste in the
supply chain. Approximately 20 percent of all • Regulation: Regulations are
• Species Pushed to Near Extinction: fish in the United States is lost in the supply incredibly difficult to enforce even
When we hear that a fish species is being chain due to overfishing. In the Third World when they are carefully crafted,
depleted, we often think it’s fine because this rises to 30 percent thanks to a lack of which they often are not. The worst
they can be found somewhere else. available freezing devices. What this means offenders have little regulations in
However, many species of fish are being is that even though there are more fish being place and none of these regulations
pushed close to extinction by overfishing, caught than ever, there is also massive apply in international waters, which
such as several species of cod, tuna, halibut waste of harvested fish. are effectively a Wild West.
and even lobster.
• Mystery Fish: Because of overfishing, • Unreported Fishing: Existing
• Bycatch: If you’re old enough to remember there are a significant amount of fish at regulations force many fisherman to
people being concerned about dolphins your local fish market and on the shelves do their fishing “off the books” if they
caught in tuna nets, you know what bycatch of your local grocery store that aren’t wish to turn a profit. This is especially
is: It’s when marine life that is not being what they are labelled as. Just because true in developing nations.
sought by commercial fishermen is caught something says that it’s cod doesn’t mean
that it actually is. To give you an idea of the • Mobile Processing: Mobile
scope of this problem, only 13 percent of the processing is when fish are
“red snapper” on the market is actually red processed before even returning to
snapper. Most of this is unintentional due port. They are canned while still out
to the scale of fishing done today, but much at sea. Canned fish is increasingly
of it is not, hiding behind the unfortunate taking up the fish consumption
realities of mass scale fishing to pass off market at the expense of fresh fish.
inferior products to unwitting customers. • Subsidies: Anyone familiar with
So why is overfishing happening? There are farm subsidies knows that these
a variety of factors driving overfishing that are actually bad for the production
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