Written Ministerial Statements

Tax policy update

In line with the tax policy-making framework, the Government consulted on a number of tax policies announced at Spring Budget 2020. Today, the Government is publishing responses to some of the consultations that were extended due to COVID-19, alongside dr...

Machinery of Government

Responsibility for the Justifying Authority for new nuclear power transferred from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 October 2020.

HMICFRS’s Inspection Report: An inspection of the National Crime Agency’s relationship with the Regional Organised Crime Units

The National Crime Agency (NCA) leads the fight against serious and organised crime (SOC). It has the power to task other law enforcement partners and a capability, with local to international reach, to disrupt the impact of SOC on the UK. This is the sev...

Transport Update

I have been asked by my Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State, to make this Written Ministerial Statement. This statement concerns two applications made under the Planning Act 2008 relating to the A303. The first application concerns the propose...

Avian Influenza: Further protection measures for kept birds

High Pathogenicity H5N8 Avian Influenza has been circulating in Europe in recent weeks. There have now been two diagnosed cases in poultry in the UK, in Cheshire and Herefordshire, as well as several findings in wild birds in south-west England. The risk ...

Service Justice System Update

I am today informing the House that, after further and full consideration of an earlier decision announced in February 2020 in response to the Service Justice System (SJS) Review, I have taken a decision to maintain jurisdictional concurrency when dealing...

National Security and Investment Bill and response to the National Security and Investment White Paper

I am today introducing the National Security and Investment Bill to update the Government’s investment screening powers and strike the right balance between maintaining an open economy and giving us the tools we need to intervene in cases of serious conce...

Notification of Contingent Liability

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England decided at its meeting ending on 04 November to ask for an expansion in the maximum limit of purchases that may be undertaken by the Asset Purchase Facility (APF). This will encompass up to £150 b...

Action 19 of the Economic Crime Plan

As part of the Government’s July 2019 Economic Crime Plan[1], the Treasury undertook to consider the case for a Government power to block listings[2] on UK financial markets on the grounds of national security. This work has concluded and indicates that t...

Higher Education Update

As a Government we have made a commitment to ensure students living at university will be able to go home at the end of term, if they choose to do so. Today, I am announcing the measures that we are putting in place to enable students to return home as sa...

National Security and Investment Bill and response to the National Security and Investment White Paper

My Right Honourable friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma has today made the following statement:I am today introducing the National Security and Investment Bill to update the Government’s investment screen...

Update on transparency of intergovernmental relations

Today, the Government is announcing new measures to improve the transparency and accountability of relations between the UK Government and the devolved administrations.We are taking these steps because the Government recognises that effective transparency...

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s report on the extent of any institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales

Today the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published its latest report, which can be found at www.iicsa.org.uk. This report relates to its investigation into the extent of any institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse wit...

Public service broadcasting, and the Licence Fee Settlement

There is an increasing consensus that the UK’s system of Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) needs to evolve if it is to transition successfully to the internet era. That is why today the government is announcing a new Advisory Panel to provide independent ...

Ministerial equivalence and exemption directions in financial services for the European Economic Area

The Equivalence Determinations for Financial Services and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/541) provides powers for the Treasury to make equivalence directions and exemption directions for the European Economi...

DWP Update

My honourable Friend the Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work (Justin Tomlinson MP) has made the following Written Statement.Yesterday marked twenty-five years since the introduction of the landmark Disability Discrimination Act. The Dis...

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s report on the extent of any institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales

My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Priti Patel) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:Today the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published its latest report, which can be found at www.iicsa...

Update on transparency of intergovernmental relations

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Cabinet Office (Michael Gove), has today made the following Written Statement:Today, the Government is announcing new measures to improve the transparency and accountability of r...

Public service broadcasting, and the Licence Fee Settlement

My Right Honourable friend the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden CBE MP, has made the following statement:There is an increasing consensus that the UK’s system of Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) needs to evolve if i...

Ministerial equivalence and exemption directions in financial services for the European Economic Area

My honourable friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury (John Glen) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.The Equivalence Determinations for Financial Services and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 201...

Modern Slavery: 2020 UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery

Today, I am publishing the 2020 UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery. The Report covers the whole of the UK and has been drafted in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government. This report sets out an ...

Private Pensions: Simpler Annual Benefit Statements

The Government has published its response to the consultation on the approach to delivering simpler annual pension benefit statements. Participation in pension saving has been transformed through the success of Automatic Enrolment. However, there is a gro...

Future Regulatory Framework Review and Solvency II Review

In the written statement Financial Services Update on 23 June [HCWS309], the Chancellor announced that the Government would commence the next stage of the Future Regulatory Framework (FRF) Review and bring forward a review of certain features of Solvency ...

Modern Slavery: 2020 UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery

My rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Priti Patel) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:Today, I am publishing the 2020 UK Annual Report on Modern Slavery. The Report covers the whole of the UK and has been...

Rail update

I am updating the House that the Department for Transport has negotiated a further Direct Award for the Cross Country rail franchise. I am pleased to inform the house that the Government has signed a new contract with Arriva to ensure vital train services...