The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation (Switzerland) have concluded negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement. Building on the existing goods-focused agreement, itself based on the EU-Switzerland agreement signed in 1972, this enhanced deal modernises and deepens the trading relationship with one of our closest economic partners.

The UK is a services superpower, and this agreement is estimated to increase UK services exports to Switzerland by £5.2 billion annually in the long run. It will make it cheaper and easier for businesses and professionals to travel to and supply services in the Swiss market, providing certainty for our trading arrangements with a key European partner for years to come.

Economic growth is the No. 1 mission of this Government and international trade plays a key role in creating opportunities for businesses, supporting jobs and driving investment across the UK. This FTA builds on the agreements we have secured with the United States, the European Union, India, the Gulf Co-operation Council and the Republic of Korea, strengthening the UK’s position as an open, outward-looking trading nation.

Switzerland is the UK’s sixth-largest services export market, with bilateral services trade in 2025 amounting to over £30 billion. The agreement builds on this relationship, helping to support jobs across the UK—including the 171,400 already sustained by exports to Switzerland. Furthermore, Swiss-owned businesses employed around 150,000 people in the UK in 2024 and total bilateral trade reached £53 billion in 2025 and bilateral foreign direct investment stood at £87 billion at the end of 2024.

This is the most significant trade agreement for services concluded by the UK, as it includes the UK’s most ambitious digital chapter and most comprehensive business travel commitments in an FTA, along with high-ambition outcomes across services and investment. It helps reinforce the UK’s position as one of the world’s leading services exporters and will help unlock new opportunities in key industrial strategy sectors including finance, professional services, life sciences, creative industries and digital technologies.

The UK has also secured the most comprehensive digital chapter ever agreed by Switzerland in an FTA. With over 70% of UK-Swiss services trade delivered digitally, the agreement guarantees the free flow of data while maintaining existing privacy protections. It modernises the digital trading environment through commitments on electronic contracts, signatures and invoicing, prevents customs duties on electronic transmissions and has the strongest commitments to prohibit unjustified data localisation requirements.

The FTA delivers long-term business certainty for UK services firms, a key ask from stakeholders throughout the negotiations. The UK and Switzerland have agreed that future improvements to access in certain sectors are locked in. This provides UK firms with a more stable and predictable business environment, which will give them the confidence to plan and invest for the long term. The agreement also permanently secures the rights of UK lawyers to provide advisory services in foreign and international law in Switzerland without requiring requalification.

The agreement complements the wider framework of UK-Swiss co-operation, including the Berne financial services agreement and the UK-Swiss recognition of professional qualifications agreement.

The UK and Switzerland are global leaders in life sciences. The UK’s ambition is to become Europe’s leading life sciences economy by 2030, and the FTA will support this vision. The UK and Switzerland will commit to maintaining existing balanced intellectual property protections for pharmaceuticals. This goes beyond any prior UK or Swiss FTA. The deal will commit the UK to maintaining our existing 10-year period of regulatory data protection, consisting of at least eight years of data exclusivity and 10 years of market exclusivity—sometimes known together as “8+2 years” of regulatory data protection. The FTA will also commit the UK to maintaining up to five years of protection for supplementary protection certificates, with the flexibility to increase the maximum term available. These standards support the discovery and development of new medicines. This does not change UK legislation or practice. It maintains the existing balance between supporting pharmaceutical innovation and the NHS’s access to lower-cost generic medicines.

Switzerland has announced that UK nationals will soon be able to use e-gates at Swiss borders, in line with Schengen requirements. They will be able to exit via e-gates at Zurich airport from as soon as the end of 2026. Switzerland is also working towards allowing entry via e-gates, particularly at Zurich, Geneva and Basel airports, and will set out a timetable shortly.

The enhanced FTA permanently secures the commitments contained in the temporary UK-Swiss services mobility agreement, currently due to expire at the end of 2029. This protects an estimated £700 million in UK services exports annually in the long run. British professionals will continue to be able to provide services in Switzerland for up to 90 days each year without requiring a work permit, while new provisions improve certainty for business visitors, inter-corporate transferees and graduate trainees.

We have also made it easier for UK businesses to access Swiss talent and expertise temporarily in certain specific services sectors. This is for up to three months through a bespoke, visa-free, short-term service supplier route.

Switzerland has also ensured contracts by UK service suppliers in key sectors such as legal, architecture and engineering can be delivered for several months. To encourage inward investment and support UK growth, Switzerland has agreed commitments on investor mobility for the first time in an FTA, facilitating business establishment and expansion for UK and Swiss businesses.

The opportunities from this agreement will be felt across all nations and regions of the United Kingdom. It will support services firms ranging from major financial and professional services employers in London and Leeds to specialist small and medium-sized enterprises in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is also the first UK FTA to include specific coverage for Gibraltar from day one by ensuring that Gibraltar’s businesspersons will continue to be able to supply services in Switzerland for up to 90 days a year without a permit.

The UK and Switzerland also intend to include bilateral surcharge-free international mobile roaming arrangements. This would allow UK travellers to use mobile services in Switzerland without incurring additional roaming charges, reducing costs for consumers and businesses alike.

Small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and scale-ups will benefit from streamlined administrative requirements, simplified licensing and qualification procedures, digital payment options and new paperless trading arrangements. The deal also provides greater certainty by preventing a range of future restrictions on how UK businesses can operate, grow and manage investments in Switzerland, giving firms the confidence they need to navigate the market.

Finally, the agreement establishes a dedicated innovation working group, bringing together business, academia and Government to identify future opportunities and address emerging challenges. It is designed to evolve alongside new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and changing global conditions, ensuring the bilateral relationship remains future-focused. Alongside its commercial benefits, the agreement strengthens co-operation on climate change, development and gender equality, reflecting our shared commitment to a modern and inclusive partnership.

Alongside services, the agreement preserves tariff-free access across 99% of existing goods trade, ensuring continuity and long-term certainty for UK exporters.

We will now begin the process of preparing the treaty for signature and implementation, and the Department will update the House further in due course.

[HCWS223]

This Government’s commitment to working in genuine partnership with the devolved Governments is demonstrated by the frequency and consistency of our engagement.

This is essential to tackle our shared challenges and build a United Kingdom that works for everyone.

Between October and December 2025, UK Government Ministers held 112 meetings with their counterparts in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, across formal intergovernmental structures and direct bilateral engagement.

This level of engagement was in line with the same period in 2024, demonstrating the steady and frequent nature of UK Government ministerial engagement with devolved Government counterparts.

Beyond formal forums such as the British-Irish Council and the Interministerial Standing Committee, Ministers and their devolved counterparts met across a wide range of policy areas—from health inequalities to public safety, election security, digital innovation in justice, and violence against women and girls. This breadth of engagement demonstrates that collaborative working is now embedded across Government.

This pattern of engagement reflects a clear principle: that the most effective solutions for people across the United Kingdom are found when Governments work together, drawing on the knowledge and priorities of each Government.

The publication of this dashboard demonstrates this Government’s continued commitment to the devolution settlements and genuine partnership with the devolved Governments—working together to deliver for people in every part of the United Kingdom.

Amendment to previous dashboard publications:

We have made minor amendments to previous publications following updates from Departments, with these changes outlined clearly within the relevant quarters on the dashboard itself.

[HCWS214]

The Government are today publishing draft legislation ahead of inclusion in the next Finance Bill. This allows for technical consultation on the application of tax policy in legislation. The Government are also publishing some new consultations and a number of responses to consultations on tax policy which have concluded.

The final contents of Finance Bill 2026-27 will be decided by the Chancellor at the next Budget.

Modernising the tax system

The Government are committed to modernising the tax system so that it is fit for our 21st-century economy and provides sustainable revenue to fund our public services into the future.

Electric vehicle excise duty: as announced at Budget 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation to implement eVED, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, which will come into effect from April 2028. Drivers will pay for their mileage alongside their existing VED. The Government have also published a summary of responses to the eVED consultation which confirms the Government decision on aspects of the tax’s design and implementation.

Oil and gas revenue levy: as announced at Budget 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation for the new permanent levy to tax exceptional oil and gas revenues in times of high prices. This had previously been referred to as the oil and gas price mechanism. Today, the Government confirm it will be legislated for as the oil and gas revenue levy. The OGRL will take effect when the energy profits levy ends at the end of March 2030, or earlier if the energy security investment mechanism is triggered. It will apply to upstream oil and gas companies operating in the UK or on the UK continental shelf, ensuring that companies continue to pay their fair share of tax in times of high prices. The OGRL will apply at a rate of 35% to revenues from oil and gas sales above specified thresholds. For 2026-27, these thresholds will be set at $90 per barrel for oil and 90 pence per therm for gas and will be adjusted annually in line with the preceding December’s consumer prices index. The measure aims to provide a stable and predictable fiscal environment, supporting investment and jobs while capturing windfall revenues of energy companies.

Reform of the foreign permanent establishment exemption: as announced on 21 May 2026, the Government are publishing draft legislation to exempt profits and losses attributable to foreign PEs from UK tax. This measure protects the UK’s corporation tax base by preventing losses from foreign activities being used to reduce UK tax liabilities. The draft legislation builds on an existing elective regime to mandate that amounts of profit and loss allocable to foreign PEs are excluded from the CT computation. The provisions will have effect for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027. The legislation prevents changes to the length of accounting periods delaying the operation of the provision. The draft legislation includes a provision to counteract avoidance arrangements by making adjustments to assessments, this will apply to businesses with foreign PEs who enter into arrangements on or after 13 July with a main purpose of obtaining a tax advantage and where the arrangements circumvent the operation of the principal measure.

Stamp taxes on shares modernisation: as previously announced, stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax are due to be replaced with a single tax on transfers of securities. The securities transfer tax, which will be a modern, digital, self-assessed tax, will be introduced in 2027, with an update on the commencement date to be provided this Autumn. The Government are today publishing draft legislation and a summary of responses to the consultation on the 1.5% charge on certain overseas transfers of UK securities.

Removal of the landfill tax exemption for stabilisers added to dredgings: as announced at Budget 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation to remove the landfill tax exemption for stabilisers added to dredged material before disposal at a landfill site from April 2027. As a result of this change, only the dredged material itself will remain exempt. Any additional material used to stabilise dredgings, such as air pollution control residues, will be subject to landfill tax at the relevant rate. The change is intended to limit the amount of hazardous stabiliser used and to encourage the recycling of materials such as APCr. The Government are confident that there are alternative practical and cost-effective methods of stabilising dredged material.

Mandatory reporting of benefits in kind from April 2027: as announced in June 2026, the Government are publishing draft primary legislation to introduce mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind from 6 April 2027, as part of wider reforms to modernise the tax system and improve the accuracy and timeliness of reporting of BIKs. The draft legislation sets out the framework for the mandatory reporting through real-time information, alongside provisions to ensure a proportionate approach to penalties during the initial years of implementation. It provides powers to ensure that certain benefits will remain outside mandatory payrolling where real-time reporting is not yet practical. The Government will continue to engage with stakeholders, including employers, payroll professionals and software providers, to support design and implementation.

Reforms to civil tax information and inspection powers and to modernise the definitions about computer records: as indicated at the 2026 tax update, the Government are publishing draft legislation on a number of reforms which will improve HMRC’s ability to carry out compliance checks by meeting OECD global forum standards on information exchange related to deceased taxpayers and cryptoasset-related businesses. This will be achieved by improving the administration and record-matching of an information notice that requires the identification of a taxpayer, by allowing flexibility in publishing reporting data, and by modernising definitions about computer records to ensure that HMRC can effectively access and process information in a modern, digital economy.

Pillar 2 side-by-side package and further amendments: as announced on 7 January 2026, the Government are implementing the pillar 2 side-by-side package into UK legislation in line with administrative guidance published by the OECD-G20 inclusive framework on base erosion and profit shifting in January 2026. The Government are now publishing draft legislation for both the side-by-side package and technical updates to the UK’s pillar 2 rules. These updates are being made in response to stakeholder feedback and to maintain consistency with the commentary and administrative guidance to the pillar 2 rules developed by the UK and other members of the inclusive framework.

The taxation of stablecoins: the Government are publishing draft legislation in relation to the tax treatment of eligible stablecoins. For individuals and trustees, disposals of eligible stablecoins will be exempt from capital gains tax and certain interest-like returns in respect of eligible stablecoins will be treated as savings income. For companies, the tax treatment of particular transactions involving eligible stablecoins will be based on amounts recognised in their accounts. The Government are publishing a summary of responses to the call for evidence, which ran between 26 March and 7 May 2026.

Cryptoasset loans and liquidity pools: the Government are publishing draft legislation for individuals and trustees in relation to cryptoasset loans and liquidity pools. This will treat certain disposals as being “no gain, no loss”, which defers capital gains tax until an economic disposal of the cryptoasset and better aligns the tax outcome with the economic substance of these arrangements.

Closing the tax gap

The Government are determined to close the tax gap and make sure that everyone pays the tax that they owe.

Publishing details of deliberate defaulters: following announcement at Budget 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation that aims to strengthen the PDDD policy. The new legislation will allow HMRC to publish more information about the deliberate non-compliance that led to the defaulter’s details being published. In addition, the threshold for publication is being increased to £50,000 potential lost revenue. The reforms aim to increase transparency of HMRC’s compliance work and strengthen PDDD’s effect as a deterrent to deliberate non-compliance.

Modernising the correction of errors: as announced at Budget 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation to modernise the correction of inaccuracies in returns or documents provided to HMRC. It introduces an explicit obligation on taxpayers to take reasonable action to correct errors once they are identified. It also gives HMRC a new power to issue a customer correction notice, which requires the taxpayer to check their position, and either correct the inaccuracy or explain why no correction is needed. This will help resolve simple, common issues more quickly and proportionately and improve consistency and fairness by setting a clear expectation that customers self-correct errors.

Alcohol duty penalty reform: the Government are publishing draft legislation to align alcohol duty penalties with wider penalty reform. This change affects producers of alcoholic products who submit monthly alcohol duty returns and payments. A new points-based system replaces the old penalties for alcohol producers who have missed the monthly deadlines. This new system is simpler and fairer, helping producers meet their monthly requirements. With the points system, not every mistake will lead to a financial penalty. Producers will only receive a penalty once a points threshold is reached after repeated late submissions.

Individual savings accounts, and introduction of a new compliance framework for ISA managers: as announced in June 2026, the Government are publishing draft primary legislation to enable the introduction of a new ISA manager compliance framework. It will provide clarity to ISA managers on their obligations, including meeting deadlines and reporting information accurately. It will strengthen protections for investors, while also supporting the move to digital ISA reporting.

Withholding of tax for rewards received under the strengthened reward scheme: the Government are publishing draft legislation on the tax treatment of rewards received by informants under the strengthened reward scheme, which launched at Budget 2025. This scheme increases the rewards paid to informants who provide HMRC with high-value information. For cases where tax over £1.5 million is recovered, HMRC will pay rewards up to 30% of the additional tax collected that would otherwise have gone unpaid. This legislation simplifies the tax payment process for recipients of the reward as income tax due is deducted at the source. This change will take effect from Royal Assent of the Finance Bill 2026-27.

Simplifying the tax system

The Government are simplifying the tax system to ensure that the system works effectively for all taxpayers and to make it easier to get tax right first time.

VAT provisions for drink deposit return schemes: as announced at Budget 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation to introduce new VAT accounting rules for supplies made under a deposit return scheme. The new rules are designed to simplify VAT accounting. Under current VAT legislation concerning a DRS, the producer or importer who first supplies the drink in the UK is required to account for VAT on deposits relating to containers that are not returned. Under this measure, instead of VAT being accounted for by producers and importers, the deposit management organisation—the body with statutory responsibility for operating the DRS —will be required to account for VAT on deposits that are not refunded because containers are not returned. As a result, no business in the supply chain will need to account for VAT on the deposit element of the price at each stage. Instead, the VAT liability on unreturned deposits will rest centrally with the DMO.

Enterprise management incentives, and removal of the grant of options notification: as announced at Budget 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation to remove the requirement for a company to submit a separate notification of a grant of EMI options. Instead, a company will be required to report details of the grant of options through the existing EMI end-of-year return. The change supports companies by simplifying the process to grant EMI options and reducing administrative burdens. These changes will apply to options granted on or after 6 April 2027.

Defined benefit pensions, and surplus extraction tax regime: as announced at Budget 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation to introduce a new authorised payment from defined benefit pension schemes, allowing surplus funds to be paid directly to members. Under current rules, surplus payments to members are treated as unauthorised and subject to a tax charge. This measure will create a new category of authorised member payment, enabling schemes to distribute surplus to members as pension income, taxed at the individual’s marginal rate. This reform forms part of wider changes to modernise the defined benefit pension system and support the effective use of surplus assets, while maintaining appropriate safeguards and trustee responsibilities. Decisions to distribute surplus will remain at the discretion of scheme trustees and subject to scheme-specific circumstances. The legislation will take effect for payments made on or after 6 April 2027.

Corporation and income tax, and profits from exploration and exploitation rights: the Government are publishing draft legislation to ensure that profits from exploration and exploitation rights relating to oil and gas activities are defined in a clear, consistent and internationally aligned way when the UK’s domestic rules interact with the UK’s double taxation agreements. The update has effect in relation to accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2027 for corporation tax purposes and will have effect from 6 April 2027 for income tax purposes. The measure is expected to have a negligible impact on compliant businesses and is not expected to impose any significant additional administrative burdens.

Stamp duty land tax, and local government pensions scheme reform relief: as announced at Budget 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation which provides a time-limited relief from stamp duty land tax for certain property acquisitions made by local government pension scheme pooled investment vehicles from LGPS administering authorities. This will apply from Budget day 2026, ceasing on 31 March 2032. It will enable the LGPS to reduce operating costs, become more competitive and attract investment by helping drive consolidation and strengthening the management of LGPS investments. This supports the Government aims to promote growth and increase investment in the UK.

Cultural gifts scheme: as announced at tax update 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation to reform the cultural gifts scheme by removing the restriction on jointly owned objects and allowing tax credits to be used more flexibly. This will simplify the scheme by making it more accessible and improve take-up. The changes will come into effect from April 2027.

Making the tax system fairer

The Government are committed to ensuring that the tax system is fair and sustainable.

Reforming the customs treatment of low-value imports into the United Kingdom: as announced at Budget 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation to reform the customs treatment of low-value imports, delivering on its commitment to modernise the handling of high-volume, low-value goods entering the UK. This measure will remove the £135 LVI relief, making LVIs subject to customs duty, and introduce a new set of customs arrangements designed to support fair competition and improve compliance. The Government are also publishing a consultation response document for LVIs. The document provides an overview of stakeholder views and detail on how the LVI reform will operate, including: standard import customs arrangements, new LVI customs arrangements and tariff treatment, alongside indicative detail on applying an additional fee on LVIs and aligning the VAT treatment with the new customs arrangements.

Soft drinks industry levy: the Government are publishing draft legislation to give effect to the changes to the soft drink industry levy announced at Budget 2025. From 1 January 2028 the Government will reduce the threshold at which the SDIL applies from 5 grams to 4.5 grams of sugar per 100 ml and remove the exemptions for milk-based and milk substitute drinks with added sugar. This technical consultation is to confirm that the legislation works to deliver the policy as set out in the Government consultation response.

Air passenger duty, and extension of the higher rate: as announced at Budget 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation to extend the scope of the higher rate to all aircraft of 5.7 tonnes or more used as a private jet, to ensure the tax is applied consistently and that those who can afford to fly privately make a fair contribution. The change will take effect from April 2027.

Vehicle excise duty exemption for search and rescue vehicles: as announced at Budget 2025, and following consultation with stakeholders, the Government are publishing draft legislation to support the vital work of search and rescue charities. From 1 April 2027, eligible search and rescue vehicles operated by these charities will be exempt from vehicle excise duty.

International student levy: as confirmed in September 2025, the Government are publishing draft legislation to introduce an annual levy on higher education providers for their registered international students. The revenue raised will be fully reinvested into the higher education and skills system, including funding the reintroduction of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. The levy will be set at £925 per international student, commencing from 1 August 2028 for the 2028-29 academic year. The Government intend that the levy amount will increase each year in line with inflation, that payments will be made by the registered provider in arrears the following academic year, and that each registered provider will be given an annual allowance of 220 international students that are not subject to the levy. Alongside this draft legislation, the Government are also publishing a Government response to the technical consultation on the levy that ran from 26 November 2025 to 18 February 2026.

Other consultations

Removing national insurance contributions debt from the scope of the Limitation Act 1980 and aligning processes with other forms of taxation: as announced at the 2026 tax update, the Government are publishing a consultation on proposals to remove national insurance contributions debt from the scope of the Limitation Act 1980 and to align NICs recovery processes more closely with other forms of taxation. This was a recommendation from the Office of Tax Simplification in their report “The closer alignment of income tax and national insurance” published in 2016. The proposed changes aim to simplify the tax system by ensuring greater consistency in how debts are treated across taxes, reducing complexity and administrative costs associated with current recovery processes. The consultation seeks views on how best to modernise and streamline those arrangements while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

Simplification of withholding tax on interest: the Government are publishing a consultation on simplifying the administration of treaty relief on withholding tax on payments of interest. The consultation seeks genuine and meaningful simplification to make it easier for taxpayers to obtain relief to which they are already entitled, while maintaining robust safeguards against avoidance. The Government’s aim is to ensure that the relevant processes provide adequate protection without imposing excessive administrative burden on either taxpayers or HMRC.

Land remediation relief: the Government are publishing a consultation seeking views on potential reforms to make land remediation relief more accessible, better targeted, and more closely aligned with the practical realities of brownfield development. The consultation seeks views on changes to the timing of the relief, aligning eligible contamination expenses with planning processes, and how to define and provide relief for long-term derelict land. The Government will work with industry to test the viability of these reforms and will only implement them if it is certain they offer meaningful cost-effective support to the sector.

Tax treatment of predevelopment costs: the Government are publishing a consultation on the tax treatment of predevelopment costs, meeting the commitment set out in the corporate tax road map. The consultation seeks views and evidence from stakeholders on the types of costs incurred, their treatment under the current rules, and the impact on investment decisions.

[HCWS221]

Music is the shared language that connects us. It crosses boundaries, bridges divides and helps us understand one another. In a time when it feels too many of us have lost the ability to understand one another, music matters more than ever.

It is woven into the fabric of our national life. In the UK, a live gig or concert takes place every 137 seconds. It accompanies our celebrations and our sorrows, marks our milestones and brings people together.

We are rightly proud that the UK is one of the world’s three largest exporters of music producing artists who light up the world. Music is not simply one of our greatest success stories; it matters deeply to who we are as a nation. That is why, today, we are publishing “Turn It Up: Our plan for music”: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/turn-it-up-our-plan-for-music

But music’s value cannot be measured only by chart success or export figures. It is a civic space—as important as any high street or town hall—where communities come together, where young people discover confidence and creativity, and where new ideas flourish. When someone is excluded from a life animated by music, we all lose. Our culture is poorer, our communities are weaker, and we miss the talent that might otherwise have enriched so many lives.

That is why this plan is rooted in one simple principle: music belongs to everyone. It is broad and inclusive. It should never be the preserve of those whose parents can afford lessons or instruments. Every child deserves the chance to experience the richer, larger life that music can bring.

Nowhere is that more important than for children in care. We are their corporate parents and we should be as ambitious for them as every parent is for their child. Like sport, art, dance and drama, music can be the lifeline that sustains them at the most difficult moments of their lives. We owe it to them to ensure those opportunities are not the exception but the expectation.

We celebrate the artists who represent Britain on the world stage: Ed Sheeran, Adele, Harry Styles, Stormzy, Dua Lipa and so many others. But great artists do not emerge by accident. No man—or woman—is an island. The success of every great artist rests on the support of someone who believed in them—a teacher, a parent, another artist or a friend—great venues, communities who back them, audiences who care.

Every headline act started somewhere, often in the grassroots music venues where they learned their craft. Yet those foundations have come under increasing pressure. In the last decade, creativity has too often been pushed out of classrooms and communities. The number of young people taking arts subjects at GCSE has fallen dramatically. Grassroots venues have struggled to survive, leaving too many towns and cities without the places where musicians develop their skills and audiences discover something new.

As Paul Simon once sang,

“every generation throws a hero up the pop charts”.

But pop is getting posher, and that must change. We are not short of talent, but while talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. So after a decade when culture and creativity were erased from the classroom and the community, we have wasted no time putting music back at the heart of the curriculum, investing in creative careers and rebuilding opportunities for young people in every part of the country.

Through this Government’s new programme, Every Child Can, we will stop at nothing to ensure that every child can find their spark through new measures such as turning our incredible network of libraries into music lending libraries and a creative mentoring programme for children in care. We are strengthening the ecosystem that supports talent from schools to grassroots venues and from rehearsal rooms to recording studios because success depends on every part of that journey.

Thriving music depends on thriving places. These places and spaces are, for us, an integral part of our civic inheritance that should be protected, nurtured and defended. In my town, Wigan, that gave us brass bands, northern soul and The Verve, almost all the venues that bands cut their teeth in have disappeared. This cannot be right. We were the first Government to back a voluntary grassroots levy to support our venues, but we will do more, whether it is defending our venues against noise complaints or reforming the system so more money flows to the grassroots.

To everyone who makes music happen—this Government are on your side. And to the fans who make the UK music scene the best in the world, this plan is for you. We will stamp out ticket touts who are causing misery in the industry and we will always have your back.

Because when everyone has the chance to make, perform and enjoy music, we do more than create great artists. We build stronger communities, broaden opportunity, strengthen our national story and ensure that Britain’s music continues to light up the world for generations to come.

[HCWS227]

Today I am informing the House that the UK has signed a contractual agreement with the European Union for the UK to participate in the EU’s €90 billion Ukraine support loan initiative.

This will help to ensure that Ukraine continues to receive the military capabilities it needs to defend itself, deter future aggression, and secure a just and lasting peace. It will enable Ukraine to procure a broad range of capabilities from UK industry, including artillery ammunition, air defence systems and long-range precision strike missiles. This complements the UK’s existing military support and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s defence.

The contract will also create valuable opportunities for the UK’s defence industry. By providing UK companies with the opportunity to agree contracts funded through the scheme, including as a UK prime contractor and in EU-based primes’ supply chains, it will help to sustain highly-skilled jobs, investment and industrial capacity across the United Kingdom, while delivering world-class capabilities to Ukraine, where they are needed most. The UK will make a fair contribution to the cost to the EU of providing the loan, proportionate to the value of the contracts awarded to the UK’s industry, thereby helping to share the burden of Europe’s collective security. If no contracts are awarded to UK companies, the UK will not be required to make a financial contribution to the loan.

Just as importantly, this is a step forwards in the UK’s defence industrial relationship with the EU. It is a demonstration of the UK and the EU working together pragmatically and effectively on our shared security challenges. At a time of increasing threats, defence industrial co-operation is not a zero-sum exercise: by combining our expertise, technology and industrial capacity, we can deliver greater security for Europe and greater support for Ukraine. The contract reflects the closely interconnected and interdependent nature of the UK and EU defence industrial bases, which already work together to develop, manufacture and support many of the capabilities that underpin our collective security.

Following the signature of the contract, the Council of the European Union will now be asked to approve the necessary implementing measures to ensure that Ukraine can begin accessing UK capabilities as soon as possible.

European security is strongest when allies stand together. This contract is good for Ukraine, good for British industry and good for the security of our continent. It is a clear demonstration of our shared commitment to Ukraine and our determination to strengthen European security together.

We look forward to building on this co-operation.

[HCWS226]

The Government’s consultation, “SEND reform: putting children and young people first” set out our plan to ensure that every child and young person benefits from high-quality and inclusive education. For those who need specialist support, we will ensure that they receive it promptly, and with dignity and care. Children and young people whose needs are supported through “education otherwise than at school” provision are no exception. We want them to be in a learning environment that best supports their education, wellbeing and long-term outcomes, and we launched a consultation on how to deliver this on Friday 10 July.

Through our ongoing engagement on special educational needs and disabilities, including the SEND reform national conversation, we have heard from many families about having to fight to have their child’s needs recognised and met, going long periods without suitable support, and being offered provision unsuitable for the complexity of their child’s needs. For some families, this can lead to a gradual breakdown in their child’s relationship with education—one that starts long before the child or young person is moved on to arrangements where education is delivered outside a school or further education setting. Parents often describe feeling responsible for holding together their child’s education because of a failure of adequate support, creating significant emotional and practical pressures. These children and young people have been badly let down by an unresponsive system, causing significant distress for them and their families. The increasing number of children and young people relying on EOTAS arrangements is a reflection of these wider challenges. For some, EOTAS becomes necessary not only because of the complexity of their needs, but because effective support was not available early enough or because support was not effective enough to prevent difficulties from escalating.

Our first priority is therefore to create a system that identifies and responds to needs at the earliest opportunity, so that more children and young people receive the right support before EOTAS arrangements become necessary. For most children and young people, this support should be available through mainstream and specialist settings that are welcoming, inclusive and able to meet children’s needs effectively. However, we recognise that some children and young people with the most complex needs will continue to require EOTAS arrangements at times, where their needs cannot be best met in a school or further education setting.

Where EOTAS provision is required, we want to ensure that it is consistently high quality, focused on outcomes, and supported by a broad and ambitious curriculum, and that it helps children and young people make meaningful progress. We also want to provide greater confidence and clarity to parents that decisions are being made in their child’s best interests, and that children receive the most appropriate support.

To help deliver this ambition, we have today launched a consultation on the future use of EOTAS provision as part of our wider SEND reforms. We are seeking views on how EOTAS should operate within the reformed system from 2029-30, when we anticipate new legislation coming into effect, on how children and young people currently receiving EOTAS should be supported during transition, and on how quality of provision and accountability within the system can be strengthened.

For children and young people entering the reformed SEND system, we are seeking views on a new approach that would align EOTAS with specialist provision packages for children with the most complex needs. Under this model, responsibility for overseeing EOTAS arrangements would sit closer to the child or young person through a named school or further education setting—typically a specialist or alternative provision setting. Local authorities would retain an oversight role drawing on their expertise about need and local knowledge of provision. We are also seeking views on how best to support transitions into and out of EOTAS arrangements, on how decisions around EOTAS can be challenged, on how accountability should operate, and on how quality assurance arrangements can be strengthened so that all children and young people receive high-quality provision that supports positive outcomes.

We want to ensure that children and young people already on EOTAS arrangements have stability while also having the opportunity to benefit from our wider reforms to mainstream and specialist settings. We are seeking views on whether we should take a different approach depending on the age of the child or young person. We propose that those who are secondary school age and above should be able to continue with their existing arrangements, protecting stability foremost. For the small number of children on existing EOTAS arrangements at primary age or below, we propose to reassess their needs at the end of primary phase. They would then either be supported through one of the new specialist provision packages, which could include EOTAS, or through a supported transition arrangement, overseen by an alternative provision school, with a return to a school facilitated where appropriate and achievable. There would be no time limit on such transitional arrangements.

We are also seeking views on how to support children with health needs who require alternative provision to remain engaged in education. This includes children with complex physical health conditions, undergoing medical treatments or with recovery needs that significantly affect their ability to attend school, as well as children with mental health needs which can create an emotional barrier to attendance. We are also consulting the use of accredited online education providers by schools and local

The consultation has been published at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-education-otherwise-than-at-school and runs until Friday 18 September.

[HCWS219]

Today I am announcing the appointment of Dr Sandie Okoro OBE as chair of the independent, non-statutory inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Zane Gbangbola.

Zane Gbangbola tragically died at the age of seven in February 2014 at his family home in Chertsey, Surrey. The Prime Minister and I have both met with Zane’s family, and we listened carefully to their concerns about what happened, the response of public bodies at the time, and the treatment they received in the years that followed.

We have decided to commission an independent inquiry to examine the circumstances surrounding Zane’s death. This will include how public services and relevant authorities worked together during and after the incident, and how Zane’s family were treated by those organisations. It will be forward-looking in its approach, identifying any lessons that can be learned and making recommendations to improve practice in the future.

The chair will act independently of Government and will be supported by access to appropriate subject matter and technical expertise. The Government expect all public bodies and individuals engaged by the inquiry to co-operate fully, openly and candidly. Once in force, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill—otherwise known as the Hillsborough law—can be drawn upon by all live inquiries, including this one.

The inquiry’s full terms of reference will be published shortly, and I will place a copy of these in the House Library at the earliest opportunity. The Government are committed to responding publicly to any recommendations made by the inquiry.

I would like to place on record my heartfelt condolences to Zane’s parents for the loss of their beloved boy, Zane. I also wish to thank them for their continued engagement and reaffirm my commitment to ensuring that this inquiry is conducted thoroughly, independently, and with the seriousness and care that this tragedy deserves.

[HCWS216]

I will be making an oral statement on this subject later today.

[HCWS225]

For years Iran’s intelligence services have planned and conducted dangerous, potentially lethal, operations in the United Kingdom and across the world, targeting innocent citizens and undermining our sovereignty. Despite our clear warnings to Iran that this activity is reprehensible, the Iranian threat to the UK persists.

Between March and May, across Europe and in the UK, there were a series of attacks against Jewish communities, journalists and Israeli interests. The criminal group Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, otherwise known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah, have publicly claimed seven attacks at UK locations linked to Jewish and Israeli communities, and Persian-language media, including the antisemitic arson attack on four Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green on 23 March.

Sitting behind IMCR were members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force who almost certainly directed IMCR attacks across Europe.

The repeated targeting of innocent individuals and communities in the UK and across Europe is deplorable and shows the desperate lengths to which Iran is willing to go to intimidate and silence those it sees as opponents.

We have consistently raised unacceptable attacks directly with the Iranian authorities, who have denied our claims and given no credible justification or alternative explanation. Given the range of growing and evolving threats from states and state-backed groups, we have strengthened the powers available to our world-leading police, security and intelligence agencies through the National Security Act 2023.

Last March we went further to tackle the Iranian transnational threat, placing the entire Iranian state, including the IRGC and Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, on the enhanced tier of HM Government’s new foreign influence registration scheme. We also strengthened policing and intelligence responses, as well as sanctioning more than 550 individuals and organisations linked to the Iranian regime.

We will continue to ensure that our police, security and intelligence agencies have the powers and tools they need to stay ahead of those who seek to threaten the UK’s safety and security. The National Security (State Threats) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 8 July 2026. By implementing the recommendations of the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation in the report I commissioned as Home Secretary, this landmark legislation provides law enforcement and the intelligence agencies with additional powers to disrupt and deter foreign power threat activity directed against the UK and its interests.

Alongside our international partners, we remain committed to calling out and countering Iran’s hostile activities here in the United Kingdom swiftly and forcefully. We have summoned the Iranian ambassador to raise this issue in the strongest terms, and will be setting out further measures in the coming days.

The protection of the United Kingdom and its citizens is our foremost responsibility. We will not tolerate threats to our security or to the safety of those who live here. Iran’s actions are irresponsible and unacceptable. They will not be tolerated.

[HCWS220]

The UK Government have published our consultation “Tobacco and Vapes: packaging, appearance and display” on behalf of all four nations of the UK. A copy will be deposited in the Library of the House.

People deserve to live in a fairer UK, where everyone lives well for longer. The 10-year health plan for England sets out our ambitious plans to shift the dial from sickness to prevention. As part of this, we are committed to creating a smoke-free UK and protecting future generations from the harms of tobacco and risks of nicotine addiction. This consultation is the next step in delivering on our commitments.

Tobacco is a uniquely harmful product and there is no safe level of consumption. Smoking remains the single biggest preventable cause of ill health, disability and death in England and costs the country £21.3 billion per year. While vaping is less harmful than tobacco products and can be an effective way for adult smokers to quit, they are not risk-free. The long-term health impacts of these products remain unknown. For these reasons, the Government advice is clear: children, and adult non-smokers should never vape. It is therefore deeply concerning that, as of 2025, around 20% of 11 to 17-year-olds—over 1 million children—had tried vaping.

Evidence suggests that vapes appeal to children for many reasons, including packaging, product appearance, flavours and being easy to access. There are also growing concerns about the appeal of nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches, to children, and the increasing awareness and use among young people.

The Tobacco and Vapes Act, which became law on 29 April 2026, delivers on our core manifesto commitment. From 1 January 2027, our landmark smoke-free generation policy will come into effect, protecting anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 from the harms of tobacco. On 1 June 2027 we intend to bring into effect a comprehensive advertising and sponsorship ban for vapes and nicotine products. Earlier this year, we consulted on proposals to extend smoke-free restrictions to certain outdoor places and to introduce vape-free and heated tobacco-free places —on these we are currently considering responses.

Alongside the 2026 Act, the Government have taken further action. On 1 June 2025 we banned the sale and supply of single-use vapes, and at the autumn Budget 2024 the Government confirmed the introduction of a new vaping products duty from 1 October 2026, accompanied by a one-off increase in tobacco duty.

The forthcoming consultation is the next step in this programme of work. It proposes ways in which the packaging, flavour descriptors, device appearance and retail display of vaping and nicotine products can be restricted to reduce their appeal and availability to young people, while still allowing vapes to be effective quit aids for adult smokers.

Specifically, the consultation proposes that vaping and nicotine products should be in plain white packaging, with limited imagery and branding, and that the colour of vape devices should be restricted to only white, black or grey, to reduce their appeal to children. It also proposes to restrict flavour descriptors to a single, recognised flavour—for example, “Apple”—and restrict the use of names that appeal to children, such as references to confectionary, desserts or alcohol.

Additionally, the consultation seeks views on introducing new regulations to align existing tobacco packaging requirements across all tobacco products, herbal smoking products and cigarette papers, as well as on restricting the appearance of heated tobacco devices. It also proposes aligning retail display restrictions across these products and removing the bulk tobacconist retail display exemption, to ensure a consistent approach to reducing visibility of tobacco products. Under these proposals, the display of tobacco products in bulk tobacconists, including duty-free areas, would now be more restricted.

We are seeking views from a wide range of stakeholders, including:

Members of the public

Health organisations

Industry

Retailers

Local authorities.

The consultation will be open for a total of 12 weeks and will close on 2 October 2026. We are publishing draft impact assessments alongside this consultation. Responses will be critical in informing what final decisions are taken with regard to the future regulation of tobacco, vaping and nicotine products. These final decisions will be outlined in a response, which we will publish once analysis of responses to the consultation is complete.

The proposals in this consultation relate to all four nations of the UK. We hope that many people will take the time to respond to the consultation. I will provide an update to the House on the response to the consultation in due course.

[HCWS215]

On 21 May 2026 I issued a written statement to update the House on progress on delivering the McCloud remedy for affected members of the NHS pension scheme. The delivery of the remedy in the NHS pension scheme is a hugely complex undertaking across the public sector to address the age discrimination that the previous Government admitted in 2018.

In the NHS, over 1.1 million pension scheme members are affected by the McCloud ruling, around 450,000 of whom have already retired. The Department has asked the NHS Business Services Authority, as the scheme’s administrator, to prioritise, where possible, delivery of the McCloud remedy to around 49,000 retired members who are likely to receive higher benefits following their McCloud choice. By 24 June, statements to enable McCloud choices had been sent to 13,982 of these members. Work to calculate and send statements to the remaining members facing detriment is progressing, with a current forecast completion date of December 2027, as set out in my statement on 21 May 2026. Members who have not yet retired will all receive a personalised statement and choice, either when they retire or retrospectively.

I also confirmed in May that the NHSBSA had developed detailed delivery plans for providing remedy choices to all members, including those higher earning members whose pension tax position is affected by McCloud. The NHSBSA has already issued remedial pension saving statements—RPSSs—to 122,036 members and is continuing work to complete the particularly complex statements for 19,694 members whose RPSS remain outstanding. The current forecast for completion of this work is March 2027.

I noted in May that these forecasts and the plan overall were subject to several critical dependencies highlighted by the independent review of NHSBSA’s McCloud functions. These dependencies include procuring external suppliers to supplement the NHSBSA’s capacity to manually calculate remediable service statements, and the release of software to automate statement production wherever possible. In my previous statement I expressed expectations that those dependencies would have advanced sufficiently so that I could issue new statutory deadlines for the issuance of remediable service statements—RSSs —with confidence before summer recess.

The NHSBSA has made progress in maturing those dependencies, including launching an invitation to tender to bolster calculation capacity for RSS and progressing testing on new IT systems that are being developed to automate some elements of statement production. I am pleased to report a positive market response to the invitations to tender. The NHSBSA is consequently taking the time needed to fully scrutinise bids and engage with constructive feedback in relation to the design of the second contract. The automating software has now entered its testing phase and its timetable for delivery will be dependent on the outcome of this testing. I have therefore concluded that further time is required to reduce the uncertainty in the plan timings to a level at which I am comfortable in setting new statutory deadlines. When the current work is sufficiently progressed I will set new RSS deadlines that are realistic and achievable and that protect delivery of normal pension service operations, which continue to run in parallel to remedy activity. I will also publish the independent review’s report and place a copy in the Libraries of both Houses.

Irrespective of when new deadlines are set, delivering the McCloud remedy remains a priority, particularly for those members who are likely to be facing financial detriment. The NHSBSA continues to issue remediable service statements and remedial pension saving statements to scheme members affected by McCloud, in line with the delivery schedule I set out in May. Data is now published monthly by the NHSBSA on the number of remediable service statements issued and remedy choices enacted. This is available at: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/public-service-pensions-remedy-mccloud-remedy-remediable-service-statements-rss-delivery

[HCWS228]

Today I acknowledge the publication of the ninth annual report on “Learning from Lives and Deaths: People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People”, which looks at deaths reviewed in 2024. A copy of the report has also been placed in the Library. LeDeR is a service improvement tool for integrated care boards to reduce health inequalities. This independent report, published by King’s College London, highlights continued inequalities, including that adults with a learning disability die on average 19 years younger than the general population—this remains unacceptable.

The Government are committed to improving outcomes for people with a learning disability and autistic people. Early intervention and ensuring people receive the right care at the right time are central to lasting change. We are taking significant action through the continued roll-out of the Oliver McGowan mandatory training on learning disability and autism across health and adult social care staff; improving identification of people with a learning disability on GP registers, and increasing uptake of annual health checks and health action plans; and the continued piloting of annual health checks for autistic people. NHS England is also rolling out a reasonable adjustment digital flag for all disabled people to ensure that adjustments are recorded and shared appropriately in care records.

I recognise that today’s findings are stark and I want to provide reassurance that we take them seriously. This includes the finding that 78.8% of adults with Down syndrome died before the age of 65. Through the implementation of the Down Syndrome Act 2022, we are striving to improve life outcomes for people with Down syndrome, to raise awareness and understanding of their needs, and to break down barriers to opportunity that they, and other disabled people, face.

The most common category of cause of death for autistic adults without a learning disability remains suicide, misadventure or accidental death. We recognise that autistic people can face barriers to getting the right mental health support at the right time. We are committed to delivering the suicide prevention strategy for England, which aims to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide and highlights the need to provide tailored, targeted support to priority groups including autistic people. The mental health needs of autistic people will also be reflected in the new mental health strategy, including consideration of how services can provide more equitable access to support and make appropriate adjustments.

Over the past year, NHS England has worked with clinicians, people with lived experience, charities and ICBs to improve the LeDeR review process. The revised approach seeks to strengthen a focus on service improvement, and better incorporates LeDeR into local processes. For example, for each death notified to LeDeR, a revised review format will prompt reviewers to reflect on modifiable factors, including barriers to the person living a long and healthy life, and any safeguarding or quality concerns.

As part of this transition, this LeDeR report is the final national academic report.

LeDeR data will be incorporated within a new patient level dataset, which will bring together data on health outcomes for autism, ADHD, and people with a learning disability, including Down syndrome, in England. Using the General Practice Extraction Service, it will aim to address limitations of current data sources and link with wider datasets such as hospital episodes and mental health activity. This marks a transformative opportunity to better understand disparities, and inform targeted local and national solutions. I am committing to the publication of this dataset and will share further details in due course.

This Government are committed to learning from good and poor practice, and to driving improvements at all levels to secure better outcomes for people with a learning disability and autistic people. The action we are taking will build a more complete picture of people’s lives and deaths, informed by what we have heard from people, families and carers.

We remain dedicated to tackling avoidable deaths and expect local areas to continue prioritising LeDeR as part of their actions to reduce health inequalities in their populations.

[HCWS224]

I am today announcing the award of a new £25 million national contract for the independent child trafficking guardianship service, which provides specialist support to potential and confirmed child victims of trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation in England and Wales.

Following a robust procurement process, the contract has been awarded to Barnardo’s. The service will provide independent advocacy and support to children referred into the national referral mechanism, alongside specialist advice and expertise for the professionals working with them. Drawing on expertise in child trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation, independent child trafficking guardians strengthen multi-agency safeguarding responses, help protect children from further harm, support their recovery, reduce the risk of re-trafficking and ensure that their best interests are central to decisions affecting their care and future.

Since its introduction in 2017, the ICTG pilot service has expanded in phases and now operates across two thirds of local authorities in England and Wales. The service has played an important role in strengthening safeguarding arrangements and supporting children’s recovery. However, phased expansion has resulted in uneven access to support and the absence of a consistent national offer.

The need for specialist support is clear. In the year ending March 2025, the ICTG service received 2,730 referrals of potential child victims of modern slavery—an increase of 10 % on the previous year. More than half of those referrals involved UK national children, demonstrating that trafficking and exploitation is affecting children and communities across the country.

The new contract will build on the success of the existing model and support the delivery of a nationally consistent service. Working alongside local authorities, the police and other safeguarding partners, it will ensure that all children identified as potential or confirmed victims of trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation will have access to this specialist service.

The Government remain firmly committed to independent child trafficking guardians, with this commitment reflected in the measures set out in the Immigration and Asylum Bill. This £25 million investment underscores our determination to tackle modern slavery and safeguard vulnerable children, supporting the objectives of the violence against women and girls strategy.

The Home Office will closely monitor delivery of the contract and has committed to independent evaluation to ensure that the service delivers positive outcomes for children and value for money for the taxpayer.

[HCWS217]

The Government are today laying before Parliament draft regulations under the National Security Act 2023, as amended by the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026, to designate three bodies: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, and the main intelligence directorate of the general staff of the armed forces of the Russian Federation Volunteer Corps, or GRU VC. If approved by Parliament, these will be the first designations made under the new regime.

The National Security (State Threats) Act 2026 provides law enforcement and the intelligence agencies with an additional tool to disrupt and deter foreign power threat activity directed against the United Kingdom and its interests. The Act provides a power for the Home Secretary to designate bodies involved in foreign power threat activity, where it is necessary to protect the safety or interests of the United Kingdom.

Designation introduces new criminal offences relating to supporting, assisting, or obtaining material benefit from a designated body. Where an individual engages in espionage, sabotage or foreign interference for, on behalf of, or with the intention to benefit the designated body, they may also be charged under the National Security Act 2023. The maximum penalty for these offences reaches life imprisonment.

For a body to be designated, the Home Secretary must reasonably believe that it is, or has been, involved in foreign power threat activity and must consider that designation is necessary to protect the safety or interests of the United Kingdom. Having considered the available evidence and taken advice from across Government and operational partners, the Home Secretary is satisfied that the statutory test is met in respect of the following three bodies.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

The IRGC is a central component of the Iranian state’s security apparatus, answerable directly to Iran’s supreme leader. Its role extends far beyond that of a conventional military force. It encompasses intelligence activity, the use of proxy actors, and the projection of influence designed to advance Iranian state objectives.

The IRGC Qods Force and IRGC Intelligence Organisation, together with the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, form the Iranian intelligence apparatus. IRGC Qods Force maintains and operates covert intelligence networks around the world and plays a central role in extending Iranian influence across the middle east and beyond.

The United Kingdom has identified activity linked to the IRGC involving threats to life and intimidation on UK soil. In January 2024, the UK announced sanctions targeting Iranian officials responsible for threat to kill on UK soil and criminal gangs who do the regime’s bidding overseas. The Iranian officials designated under these sanctions were members of IRGC Unit 840, which was exposed in relation to plots to assassinate two Iran International TV journalists in the UK.

In 2022, the National Cyber Security Centre issued an advisory alongside international partners exposing malicious activity. The advisory highlighted the threat from cyber proxy actors affiliated with the IRGC targeting a broad range of entities, including entities across multiple US critical infrastructure sectors as well as Australian, Canadian and UK organisations.

The Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right

Between March and May 2026 there were a series of attacks and attempted attacks targeting Jewish communities, journalists and Israeli interests in the United Kingdom and across Europe. These incidents including acts of arson and intimidation, have caused real fear and distress, and have had a profound impact on those communities affected.

The Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, otherwise known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah, has publicly claimed seven attacks at UK locations linked to Jewish and Israeli communities, and Persian-language media, including the antisemitic arson attack on four Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green on 23 March.

Sitting behind IMCR were members of Iran’s IRGC Qods Force, which almost certainly directed IMCR attacks across Europe.

While the IRGC has already been sanctioned in its entirety by the UK, designation of both IMCR and IRGC under this framework will strengthen our ability to disrupt and take enforcement action against those supporting or facilitating this type of activity, and reinforces the UK’s position that these malign actions are unacceptable.

Main intelligence directorate of the general staff of the armed forces of the Russian Federation Volunteer Corps (GRU VC)

The Government assess that the GRU Volunteer Corps forms part of a network of volunteer and proxy formations that are controlled, co-ordinated and overseen by the main directorate of the general staff of the armed forces of the Russian Federation (GRU), Russia’s military intelligence service. The GRU has a long-standing record of state threats activity directed against the United Kingdom and its allies, including the 2018 Salisbury nerve agent attack, and wider sabotage and intelligence activity across Europe.

In 2023, the Russian Ministry of Defence introduced reforms that mandated that volunteer formations fighting in Ukraine should be brought under formal contractual arrangements with the GRU and the Russian Ministry of Defence. Since these reforms, the GRU has directly supervised and funded these volunteer formations, using them as recruitment and deployment mechanisms in support of Russian military and intelligence objectives. This includes elements of the former Wagner Group, which has conducted sabotage activity in the UK, and which now receive direct GRU tasking and supervision.

These arrangements are part of a broader model by which the Russian state combines conventional military capabilities with irregular and deniable forces, intended to project Russian power abroad and undermine European and NATO security.

As such, the Government assess that the GRU Volunteer Corps is involved in foreign power threat activity, including sabotage and other activity directed against the UK and Europe. This designation will strengthen the United Kingdom’s ability to disrupt activity linked to these formations and protect UK national security.

Having carefully considered all the evidence, the Home Secretary has concluded that there is sufficient basis to reasonably believe that each of these bodies is engaged in foreign power threat activity, and that each designation is necessary to protect the safety and interests of the United Kingdom.

[HCWS218]

Every social housing tenant has the right to live in a safe and decent home, receive services that meet their needs, and have their complaints promptly addressed. Yet far too many still live in social homes that are not well maintained or managed and struggle to secure adequate redress. That is why the Government are acting to drive a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of social housing.

Awaab Ishak was just two years old when he died in December 2020 as a result of a severe respiratory condition due to prolonged exposure to mould in the social home his family rented from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. Awaab’s death was wholly avoidable. His parents raised concerns about their living conditions time and time again, but their landlord failed to take any action to treat the dangerous mould present in their home.

In the wake of his untimely death, Awaab’s parents, Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Amin, tenaciously and courageously fought to secure justice, not only for their son but for all of those who live in social housing. I pay tribute to them once again for their passion and persistence.

In response to their campaign, new powers were introduced through the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 enabling a new legal duty to be placed on social landlords to investigate and address serious hazards within clear and enforceable timeframes.

Awaab’s law is vital legislation that empowers social tenants to hold their landlords to account using the full force of the law if they fail to investigate and fix hazards within their homes within set timescales. It also allows tenants to access the Housing Ombudsman if their landlord does not adhere to strict timelines for action.

While progress is also dependent on a more fundamental change in the culture and values of social housing providers, Awaab’s law will play an integral role in ensuring that all social landlords take complaints about hazards seriously, respond to them in a timely and professional manner, and treat tenants with empathy, dignity and respect. It is also the Government’s sincere hope that, over time, it will build trust between landlords and tenants.

Per the written ministerial statement made on 6 February 2025 (HCWS423) the Government are implementing Awaab’s law through a phased approach to ensure this landmark reform will be effective, proportionate and of lasting benefit to social housing tenants.

Phase 1, which came into force on 27 October 2025, introduced a requirement for landlords to respond to damp and mould hazards that pose a significant risk to health within set timescales, alongside a requirement to respond to all types of emergency hazard within 24 hours.

As promised, we have taken a “test and learn” approach to implementing this policy. Working closely with social landlords, tenants, regulators and representative bodies, we have closely monitored and evaluated the impact Awaab’s law is having in practice and the effectiveness of the processes put in place to implement it. This has provided invaluable early insights into the operation of the requirements and has enabled us to refine the policy to ensure that it is proportionate, effective and deliverable.

Today, I am confirming the next phase of the implementation of Awaab’s law. From 30 November 2026, we will extend the requirements to the following significant hazards: excess cold and excess heat, falls, structural collapse and falling elements, fire and explosions, electrical safety, and hygiene. We are also publishing new guidance to support social landlords as they prepare for Awaab’s law to apply to expanded range of hazards.

In addition to expanding the range of hazards within scope of Awaab’s law, we are making changes to ensure that the policy works as effectively as possible.

Clarifying thresholds for the types of hazards covered by Awaab’s law

We have updated the definitions of “emergency” and “significant” hazards that fall within the scope of Awaab’s law to help landlords make their assessments. This will support more consistent application of the requirements and help tenants more easily identify when landlords must act.

Avoiding duplication with existing fire safety rules

Where fire risks relate to parts of buildings that are already covered by existing fire safety legislation—communal areas, for example—these will be managed under those rules rather than being duplicated under Awaab’s law.

We will continue to take a “test and learn” approach as phase 2 is implemented. Building on the evidence gathered through phases 1 and 2, we remain committed to extending Awaab’s law in 2027 to the remaining hazards as defined by the HHSRS (excluding overcrowding).

[HCWS222]

I am announcing today the conclusion of the review of the Legal Services Board as a public body, led by independent lead reviewer Richard Lloyd. The summary and findings can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-legal-services-board-independent-public-bodies-review

It is important that Departments regularly review their public bodies to provide assurance to both Government and the public that these bodies are operating effectively, that their functions remain useful and necessary, and that there is clear accountability without unnecessary duplication. In the context of legal services regulation, effective and proportionate oversight plays an important role in supporting high professional standards across the legal sector and maintaining public confidence in the legal system. This review considered the LSB’s statutory remit, strategic clarity, governance and accountability arrangements, and organisational capability. The review’s focus was on the operation of the LSB as a public body within the existing statutory framework established by the Legal Services Act 2007, rather than on wider legislative reform. That is a subject for another day.

The conclusions of the report are stark. The LSB has, in some respects, lost its way and must take steps to refocus on consumer protection and strategic oversight. Richard Lloyd’s report recognises that there have been a series of regulatory failures across the system which have resulted in significant consumer detriment and are not acceptable. It concludes that decisive action is needed to address these shortcomings and identifies an opportunity to strengthen and support the legal services sector through a more collaborative and effective approach to regulation, supporting both public confidence and the sector’s long-term success. The report identifies this as a critical moment for a reset, driving improvement and renewed focus across the system. It sets out an action-focused programme of recommendations aimed at strengthening oversight of the sector, improving clarity of priorities and accountability, and supporting a more effective, proportionate, outcomes-focused and risk-based approach to oversight and assurance, while maintaining the LSB’s operational independence.

We recognise in the report’s recommendations, which I have discussed with Richard Lloyd, a proactive role for the MOJ as the sponsoring Department to provide clear and robust oversight of the legal services framework while respecting the LSB’s independence. There are already indications of progress at the LSB under its newly appointed leadership, including organisational changes that are aligned with the direction of the review’s recommendations. Going forward we will work with the LSB leadership to ensure their role is effective and that the LSA regime is delivering for consumers of legal services across the country.

The report highlights that consumer protection should remain at the centre of legal services regulation. That includes a greater emphasis on access to justice, effective redress, underserved consumers and emerging risks associated with technology and AI. It sets out recommendations on how the regulatory framework can evolve in a way that maintains public confidence, supports a strong and resilient legal sector, and ensures that lessons are learned and embedded across the system.

I am grateful to Richard for undertaking this review and for his careful consideration of these important issues. It is clear that prompt action is needed, and I will work with my officials and the LSB to consider the report’s findings. I will set out the Government’s response in due course.

[HCWS213]