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PRESS RELEASE : Government to crack down on corruption in the property sector [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 27 December 2023.

A consultation launched today will ensure greater transparency and tackle corruption in the property sector, by making it clearer who owns land trusts.
- New proposals to make it clearer who owns trust-owned land.
- Greater transparency to help target illicit finance and corruption in property sector.
- Consultation aims to lift the veil of secrecy currently afforded to land-holding trusts.
As part of decisive action to ensure greater transparency and tackle corruption in the property sector, it will be made clearer who owns land trusts.

The government has today, 27 December 2023, launched a consultation setting out plans to improve the transparency of trust information.

Land ownership through a trust means someone legally owns and manages the land on behalf of the true owner and beneficiary. Currently, the identity of the beneficiary is not always recorded or publicly available, potentially leading to secrecy or corruption in the sector.

The new plans will mean residents, the media and the public will be able to find out more about who owns land and property, who can control it and receives financial benefit from it.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove said:

It matters who really owns land and property. It matters for how and where we build our homes, grow our food, and power our country.

These proposals will lift the veil of secrecy currently afforded to land-holding trusts.

Transparency about land ownership is crucial if we want to make our housing and land markets fairer. In its absence, injustices, corruption and crime can flourish.

Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business Kevin Hollinrake said:

There’s no place for fraud and other illegal activity in our society, so it’s fantastic so see the launch of this consultation which fulfils a government commitment and ensures more is being done to make the trust information held on the Register for Overseas Entities more transparent.

The Register for Overseas Entities is imperative in ensuring we weed out kleptocrats and oligarchs buying up British properties under false names and has already helped identify absent landlords so that they can be held to account.

The changes will make it as easy as possible for people to access all land and property ownership data across the range of different public registers, providing as much free and readily available information as possible.

Greater transparency will help tackle illicit finance and corruption in the system, with offshore trusts in the UK property sector identified as posing a higher risk of money laundering*.

The consultation runs for eight weeks and seeks views on widening access to trust information held on the Register of Overseas Entities and on how ownership of land involving trusts can be made more transparent.

This meets the commitment the government made during the passage of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 to launch a consultation on how we to improve the transparency of trust information before the end of this year. The government intends, subject to this consultation, to bring forward changes as soon as possible thereafter.

Through this act the government strengthened the Register of Overseas Entities – a list of the true owners of offshore companies that own UK land, while the Trust Registration Service in 2017 created the first register of beneficial ownership of trusts with UK links, clamping down on money laundering and terrorist financing.

This builds on new transparency powers announced in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act to demand more information on land and property ownership and look behind the legal ownership of property to find the true ultimate ownership.
28/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Many happy returns from 4,757 festive filers on Christmas Day [December 2023]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 27 December 2023.

Thousands of customers filed their Self Assessment tax return on Christmas Day.

There were 4,757 customers who filed their Self Assessment tax return on Christmas Day, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed.

A day traditionally dominated by eating, drinking, and exchanging gifts saw a perhaps surprising number of customers also find time to go online and complete the essential job of filing their tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year, ahead of the 31 January 2024 deadline.

Over the three-day festive period, 25,769 customers submitted their tax return, an increase compared to the same period last year, with 8,876 filing on Christmas Eve and 12,136 on Boxing Day. The peak time was between 12:00 and 12:59 on Boxing Day, when 1,121 returns were received by HMRC.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

Our Christmas Day filers proved that there is no time like the present to get started on Self Assessment, and with our online tool it can be a simple task that’s easy to fit around other festive commitments. There’s no need to delay, getting it done ahead of the 31 January deadline means less stress and longer to work out payment options. Get started today by searching ‘Self Assessment’ on GOV.UK.

Customers can submit their tax return online, but they do not have to pay until 31 January 2024. However, those who file before 30 December may have the option of paying any tax owed through their PAYE tax code.

HMRC has a wide range of resources online including a series of video tutorials on YouTube, help and support on GOV.UK, to support customers in completing their tax return.

They can pay through the free and secure HMRC app. For a full list of ways to pay any tax owed, visit GOV.UK.

If customers cannot pay in full by the deadline, they may be able to set up a Time to Pay arrangement online if the amount owed is less than £30,000. There is a new affordability assessment for customers to enter their income and spending to calculate disposable income and set up an affordable payment plan.

Customers need to be aware of the risk of falling victim to scams and should never share their HMRC login details with anyone – even a tax agent, if they have one. HMRC scams advice is available on GOV.UK.

Further information

More information about Self Assessment.

The breakdown of figures for those who opted to file during the festive period are:
- Christmas Eve: 8,876 tax returns were filed – the peak time for filing was between 12:00 and 12:59, when 850 returns were received
- Christmas Day: 4,757 tax returns were filed – the peak time for filing was between 12:00 and 12:59, when 402 returns were received
- Boxing Day: 12,136 tax returns were filed – the peak time for filing was between 12:00 and 12:59, when 1,121 returns were received
During December and January, the HMRC helpline is supporting customers who have queries about Self Assessment payments, refunds and who need help completing their tax return.  For all other queries go online where you’ll find guidance, videos and tools that will help you. Go to GOV.UK and search ‘Self Assessment’.

HMRC has lots of information and support available online which includes:
- HMRC’s digital assistant – the assistant will help you find information, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for you can ask to speak to an adviser. You can also access the digital assistant via the HMRC app
- guidance notes and help sheets and YouTube videos provide a wealth of information if you’re stuck or confused
- live webinars where you can ask questions or if you can’t join, you can watch recorded webinars on demand
- technical support for HMRC online services for help signing into online services
- email updates – sign up to HMRC email updates so you don’t miss out on the latest information on Self Assessment
- social media updates – follow HMRC X (formerly Twitter) @HMRCcustomers to get the latest updates on Self Assessment services and useful reminders
- if you need extra support to help your with Self Assessment you can contact a voluntary or community sector organisation who can provide you with help and advice, or you can get support directly from HMRC
The small minority of customers who require extra support or struggle to engage with us digitally can still speak to an adviser.

Customers are reminded to include their bank account details on their tax return so they can get any repayment due quickly and securely.

It is important that customers let HMRC know of any changes to their circumstances. Customers can use the HMRC app to update their details including a new address or name. Customers also need to let us know if they’ve stopped being self-employed or need to change their business details. This can be done online at GOV.UK.
28/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Spring Budget 2024 date confirmed [December 2023]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 27 December 2023.

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has commissioned the Office for Budget Responsibility to prepare an economic and fiscal forecast to be presented to Parliament alongside his Spring Budget on 6 March 2024.

28/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : ‘Pints’ of wine stocked on Britain’s shelves for the first time ever [December 2023]
The press release issued by Department for Business and Trade on 27 December 2023.

‘Pint’ size wine stocked on Britain’s shelves for the first time ever thanks to new freedoms from leaving the European Union
- ‘Pint’ size wine stocked on Britain’s shelves for the first time ever thanks to new freedoms from leaving the European Union
- Still and sparkling wine to be sold in 200ml, 500ml and 568ml ‘pint’ sizes in 2024
- 900 British vineyards set to benefit across the country from new freedoms
Brits will soon be able to purchase ‘pint’ sized bottles of still and sparkling wine, as a new 568ml size is introduced to Britain’s supermarket shelves, pubs, clubs and restaurants, the Department for Business and Trade has announced today (27th December). The move to introduce the 568ml size would sit alongside the 200ml and 500ml measures already available, offering more flexibility and choice for customers.

The UK’s wine sector is set for the boost as part of the Government’s smarter regulation programme to ensure regulations are up to date and agile,. The move comes following engagement with the industry, with businesses now being able to sell prepacked still and sparkling wine in 500ml and 200ml sizes as well as a new 568ml ‘pint’ quantity.

900 vineyards are set to benefit from the new freedoms, boosting production and supporting British businesses, which currently produce around 12.2 million bottles of still or sparkling wine a year*.

These optional reforms from Government are thanks to our new Brexit freedoms via the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and are wholeheartedly backed by industry wanting to reduce burdensome regulations. The changes will help to boost innovation, increase business freedoms and improve choice for consumers.

Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business Kevin Hollinrake said:

Innovation, freedom and choice – that’s what today’s announcement gives to producers and consumers alike.

Our exit from the EU was all about moments just like this, where we can seize new opportunities and provide a real boost to our great British wineries and further growing the economy.

Nicola Bates, CEO of WineGB said:

We welcome the chance to be able to harmonise still and sparkling bottle sizes and we are happy to raise a glass to the greater choice that allows UK producers for domestic sales.

The Windsor Framework also means that newly packaged wine will be able to be sold by bars, restaurants and retailers in Northern Ireland – with products able to move in what is known as the retail “Green Lane”, under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme.

In addition to announcing the deregulatory measure on wine, the Government has published a response to the consultation Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales. Following the extensive consultation, the Government has decided not to introduce any new legislation in this area. But new guidance has been issued to promote awareness and use of imperial measurements.

The Government will continue to keep this legislative framework under consideration, as part of a wider review of metrology EU derived legislation.
27/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : New funding for farmers feeding the world [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 December 2023.

UK support to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will boost food security, protect the planet, and reduce poverty.
- UK support to IFAD will boost food security, protect the planet, and reduce poverty
- it will help promote agricultural growth that is environmentally friendly
- this funding will be focused on helping poor rural farmers and producers
The UK is boosting support to poor rural farmers around the world to boost food security for the future.

Nearly half of the world’s population lives in the rural areas of developing countries and rely on small farms for their livelihoods.

These small farms are critical to feeding the world, producing up to 70% of food eaten in low- and middle-income countries.

To protect these livelihoods and global food security, the UK is pledging £66.7 million to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the UN agency dedicated to supporting those living in extreme poverty rural areas.

Since 2021, the number of people facing a serious lack of food has increased by 34%. In Africa, about 20% of the population faces hunger. Progress against the UN Global Goal on ending hunger and malnutrition is in reverse and current projections indicate that 670 million will still be facing hunger in 2030.

This work is more urgent now than ever. While global food systems are struggling in the face of conflict and economic turmoil and climate change, rural people and small-scale farmers are particularly vulnerable to climate shocks, instability and forced migration.

The UK is leading efforts to find solutions. Last month the UK hosted the Global Food Security Summit which brought together partner countries, organisations and world-renowned experts – including IFAD – to explore ways of ending hunger and malnutrition.

The UK is a founding member of IFAD, whose programmes improve food security and nutrition, empower women and girls and help protect the planet. IFAD-supported projects help farmers to increase yields through enhanced soil and pest management, fertilizer use and access to better quality seeds. They also help rural women grow more food, connect to markets, increase their incomes, and become more literate and financially skilled.

It aims to support more than 100 million poor rural people from its latest replenishment round.

Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell said:

Christmas is a good moment to reflect that the world is in the throes of a serious food security crisis. Feeding the world may sound like a cliché at this time of year, but hunger and malnutrition are a scourge, putting lives and livelihoods under grave threat. The tragic irony is that we live in a world of plenty. It is scandalous that anyone should go to bed hungry for reasons that we have the power to fix.

That is why the UK is investing £66.7 million in IFAD’s work for the next 3 years. Simple steps like better land management and smarter farming practices can help produce more crops and reduce waste. Renewable technology will help farmers rise to the climate challenge in a way that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and protects the natural environment.

We must act before the food crisis reached unconscionable proportions. In less than 30 years’ time there will be 2 billion more mouths to feed in the world than there are today. We urgently need to increase food production and make food systems sustainable.

President of IFAD, Alvaro Lario said:

We are grateful to the United Kingdom for their generous contribution to IFAD’s 13th Replenishment, which confirms their unwavering commitment to eradicating rural poverty and hunger.

This contribution will further strengthen our long-standing partnership, a relationship that has played a vital role in transforming the livelihoods of millions of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable rural people. The UK’s pioneering investments in small-scale agriculture climate adaptation have been instrumental in empowering smallholder farmers and building resilient food systems in the face of climate change.

The UK has been the driving force behind IFAD’s Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP), which channels climate finance to smallholder farmers to build their resilience, increasing yields and enhancing biodiversity.

For each dollar invested in ASAP, IFAD was able to leverage $6.5 from other governments and organisations to help build climate work into all IFAD agricultural projects, supporting an additional 3.2 million people to cope with the impacts of climate change.

Further information
- the UK has been a core contributor to IFAD since it was founded in 1978
- this replenishment covers the 3-year period from 2025 to 2027
27/12/2023
NEWS STORY : Next Budget Date Confirmed to be 6 March 2024

STORY

HM Treasury has confirmed that the next budget will be held on 6 March 2024, which is likely to be the last before the next General Election. The Office for Budget Responsibility has said that it will also publish economic reports on the same day, with some commentators suggesting that tax cuts in the budget are likely.

27/12/2023
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 7 December 1923

7 DECEMBER 1923

Polling continued in the General Election, with the first results being expected in the evening.

Calvin Coolidge, the President of the United States, in his Message to the American Congress, indicated adhesion to the principle of a Permanent Court of International Justice, and indicated his attitude to a proposal in the Senate to accord support for such a body. With regard to the United States tariff law, he stated that it had secured the prosperity of the country.

26/12/2023
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 6 December 1923

6 DECEMBER 1923

Polling took place in the General Election.

Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, speaking in Bewdley, said that his policy was devised to help unemployment. He sincerely believed in the instruments he proposed to use. He said if he failed, his reputation would be gone; but he was going to have a jolly good try.

David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, addressed Liberal rallies at Camberwell and Brighton.

Herbert Asquith, assisted by Lord Buckmaster and Lady Bonham Carter, wound up his campaign in Paisley.

26/12/2023
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 5 December 1923

5 DECEMBER 1923

Speaking at Great Malvern, Stanley Baldwin, assured pensioners that the policy of the Government would involve no peril to their interests, as had been insinuated in Liberal quarters. He characterised it as a discreditable insinuation, which showed the bankruptcy of the party that made it.

Austen Chamberlain was prevented from addressing a meeting at West Bromwich being shouted down by Socialists.

David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, spoke in Cardiff.

26/12/2023
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 4 December 1923

4 DECEMBER 1923

The Prime Minister delivered the last national speech of his election campaign at Liverpool, emphasising the country’s grave situation, and the momentous nature of the electors’ choice.

Viscount Younger defended the fiscal policy of the Government in a speech at Balfron in support of the candidature of Sir Harry Hope.

Election speeches on the Liberal side were made by Herbert Asquith, David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill.

26/12/2023