The most frequent topics of discussion were departmental announcements covering funding for conservation, skills, and support for families in Northern Ireland.
The post with the highest engagement was from Defra UK, which announced a £60m investment in conservation projects for threatened native wildlife.
Three Major Themes
- Wildlife Conservation: Defra UK announced a £60m investment over the next three years for conservation projects to protect threatened native wildlife.
- Green Skills in Wales: The Wales Office reported that the UK Government is investing over £900,000 in a skills programme at the Academi Sgiliau Gwyrdd Green Skills Academy to develop training courses for green industry jobs.
- Northern Ireland Affairs: The Northern Ireland Office highlighted the role of the community sector almost 28 years after the Good Friday Agreement and noted that the Secretary of State discussed cost of living measures, such as lifting the two-child limit, with families.
Defra UK announced it is “protecting some of our most threatened native wildlife from extinction” with a £60m investment over the next three years into conservation projects. Separately, the Attorney General’s Office wished a “very happy Easter” to all those celebrating. The Wales Office stated the UK Government is “investing in green jobs” by supporting a skills programme at Academi Sgiliau Gwyrdd Green Skills Academy with over £900,000 in funding. The Northern Ireland Office noted that almost 28 years after the Good Friday Agreement signing, the community and voluntary sector “continues to play a vital role in bringing people together”. The department also reported that Secretary of State Hilary Benn discussed the cost of living with mothers and staff in Derry-Londonderry, highlighting that the Autumn budget contained measures to help families, including lifting the two-child limit.
Outlook / Emerging Trends
Defra UK stated that £60m “will be invested over the next three years” into conservation projects. Additionally, the Wales Office noted that funding provided to the Green Skills Academy is for training courses which “will help people get work in the green industries of the future”.
