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PRESS RELEASE : Britain’s growth sectors to get major skills boost from new ‘fast track’ apprenticeships reforms [February 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 7 February 2026.

Young people will be given a quicker route into high-quality jobs on major projects as the Government slashes red tape to fast-track the process.
- Faster approval process to update apprenticeships and develop short courses to address urgent skills needs in major projects
- Reforms come ahead of National Apprenticeship Week to help young people move into high-quality jobs faster while turbocharging growth
- Bureaucracy tackled to cut apprenticeship approval times from 18 months to as little as three months as government continues drive to help more young people onto apprenticeships
Young people will be given a quicker route into high-quality jobs on major projects as the Government slashes red tape to fast-track the process.

As industries evolve, so must the training that prepares people to work in them. Whether it’s new safety standards on building sites or the skills needed to construct and operate the latest offshore wind turbines, apprenticeships need to keep pace.

A new accelerated approach will mean updates to training or development of new short courses can be completed in as little as three months, ensuring the workforce is ready to deliver the major projects that will drive growth.

This forms as part of the Growth and Skills Levy reforms, delivering 50,000 more apprenticeships for young people backed by £725 million funding. These measures will play an integral role towards the Government’s ambition to get two-thirds of young people into higher-level learning or apprenticeships.

The offer will help companies meet their business needs more quickly, while reflecting the Government’s consultation on ensuring companies bidding for major infrastructure contracts contributes to high-quality jobs, skills and apprenticeships. It reinforces the Government’s expectation that investment in workforce development should go hand in hand with delivering major projects and driving growth.

To mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden visited Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, to see first-hand how apprenticeships are delivering skilled jobs in advanced manufacturing and engineering.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

“Britain’s future depends on getting more young people into good jobs with real prospects. These reforms will slash bureaucracy so we can train people faster in the industries where they’re needed most.

“At Cammell Laird, I’ve seen how apprenticeships are delivering the skilled workforce our country needs — from shipbuilding to advanced manufacturing. We’re building on that success with our additional £725 million Growth and Skills Levy investment to create 50,000 new apprenticeships.

”We need to give more young people a faster route into secure, well-paid work by ensuring British businesses have the talent they need to grow.”

The latest reforms come as the government ramps up support for young people to take up apprenticeships, including through a recent major £725 million investment to pivot the system towards the workforce of the future. They will make the process more agile and responsive to employers’ needs and allow training to be delivered more quickly where employers need skills most.

As part of the new Major Investment and Infrastructure Service, this will support the delivery of major infrastructure and private investment projects from Northern Powerhouse Rail to new energetic materials factories for UK defence and ensure local people have pathways into new jobs.

The system will use occupational experts to meet specific needs and will focus on making quick revisions to existing standards, for example updating construction standards in the light of regulatory changes following Grenfell.

During the visit, the Secretary of State met apprentices working on one of the largest apprenticeship programmes in the UK maritime industry, and visited the local Engineering College, which trains over 100 apprentices a year in partnership with Cammel Laird.

Cammell Laird is a major UK shipbuilder employing hundreds of apprentices across Merseyside, working closely with local education providers to train the next generation of engineers, welders and project managers.

David McGinley, Chief Executive Officer of APCL Group said:

“APCL Cammell Laird was delighted to welcome the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden to its facility ahead of National Apprenticeship Week. The Secretary of State’s visit provided APCL with the platform to demonstrate the importance of our award-winning apprenticeship programme to the UK’s industrial capability.

“Our Group is currently supporting over 270 young people in their training across the UK. APCL Cammell Laird and the wider APCL Group’s shipbuilding and ship repair capability is underpinned by our apprenticeship programme which continues to deliver the next generations of shipbuilders and engineers.

“The ongoing success of our apprenticeship programme is vital if we are to ensure that the UK retains its shipbuilding strength. APCL remains deeply committed to this scheme.”

The new accelerated approach will allow government to move faster where demand is highest, delivering priority updates to apprenticeships more quickly, while maintaining quality standards — supporting sectors critical to growth, productivity and national infrastructure.

The announcement comes ahead of the 19th annual National Apprenticeship Week, which focuses on Skills for life.

Recent reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy will deliver more apprenticeships for young people and help match skills training with local job opportunities. The reforms will support 50,000 new apprenticeships, helping more young people move quickly into secure, well-paid work while supporting employers to grow.

Employers and training providers are encouraged to engage with Skills England and the Department for Work and Pensions to help shape accelerated apprenticeships, and to make use of the Growth and Skills Levy to invest in their future workforce.

Nigel Cann, CEO of Sizewell C, said:

“Apprentices are the lifeblood of a project like ours. We’ll be recruiting 1,500 over the course of construction, with 540 of those coming from our host county of Suffolk, and they’ll work across a huge range of roles here.

“Apprenticeships not only help deliver nationally significant projects like Sizewell C, they help meet the skills demand for our industries and offer a vital engine for social mobility in the UK, offering young people opportunities regardless of their background.

“Accelerating routes into apprenticeships means accelerating opportunity, social mobility, and growth here in the UK. So we absolutely welcome the measures announced today by the Work and Pensions Secretary.”

Tania Gandamihardja, Group HR Director at BAE Systems, said:

“We currently have a record 5,100 apprentices in learning and they are critical to our skills pipeline. They enable us to deliver programmes of national importance such as the Global Combat Air Programme, the UK’s next-generation SSN-AUKUS submarines and Type-26 frigates alongside disruptive technologies such as cyber, space and drone capabilities.
“This announcement will accelerate our ability to offer new and updated apprenticeships keeping our people at the forefront of cutting-edge defence technologies. Incorporating the most advanced innovations in apprenticeships will also help us attract the 1,100 apprentices we need to join our company this year. We will work closely with the UK Government to create the new apprenticeship standards to meet the skills needs of the defence sector.”

Becki Robertson, Vice President of Human Resources for Agratas, said:

“Battery manufacturing in the UK is advancing rapidly, and to deliver projects of great scale and ambition like ours, we need people with the right skills, at the right time.
“This accelerated approach to apprenticeship and short course delivery will make a real difference to our business and the battery sector, providing agility and flexibility to respond to industry developments, and delivering the vital skills we need now and in the future.
“It will help us maximise apprenticeship pathways for our evolving requirements, develop a talent pipeline and upskill our workforce, supporting us to deliver this critical project at pace.”

Philippa Burt, HR Director for Hinkley Point C, said:

“We welcome these apprenticeships reforms as they will help boost opportunities for young people at the same time as delivering more effectively the skills needed by major infrastructure projects. 1,700 apprentices have already been trained at Hinkley Point C, helping overcome nationally significant skills gaps in key trades and high growth sectors.

We’ve seen the huge difference apprenticeships make to the lives of young people on our project, growing their careers and confidence. Accelerating access will see many more lives transformed and help build on the skills legacy large projects offer for future growth and industrial capacity.”

Julia Pyke, Clean Power Commissioner and Managing Director of Sizewell C said:

“Slashing red tape so that more apprenticeships can be created in clean energy companies is great news for communities hosting the infrastructure, and for growing the skilled workforce the country needs for a just transition”
February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : The Gambia’s WTO Trade Policy Review – UK Statement [February 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2026.

UK Statement at The Gambia’s World Trade Organization Trade Policy Review. Delivered by Kumar Iyer, Ambassador and Permanent Representative for the UK Mission to the WTO and UN in Geneva.

Chair, let me warmly start by welcoming the Gambian delegation, led by Minister Mod K. Ceesay to their 4th Trade Policy Review. We are grateful to both the Government of The Gambia and to the WTO Secretariat for their Reports. Let me also express my gratitude to you, our chair, Ambassador Torebayev from Kazakhstan and our discussant, the Ambassador from Türkiye Ambassador Çakil. Your insights have been invaluable and the way that you have facilitated this discussion is extremely important to us and we value greatly the processes of TPRs.

I would also like to thank my very good friend, Ambassador Professor Kah, not only for his excellent leadership and engagement on behalf of The Gambia, but his wider representation on behalf of the LDC Group. Without that engagement, I really believe the WTO would be a weaker institution and a weaker place.

Bilateral Relationship

Chair, The UK and The Gambia share deep historical ties. We continue to see this relationship flourish with cooperation on justice-sector reform, defence partnerships, peacebuilding and governance. Contemporary links between our countries are also significant, and British nationals have topped the tourism and foreign entry figures in recent years in The Gambia, which illustrates the interest that our citizens have in the country.

Let us also celebrate the remarkable recent growth in trade between our countries. UK imports from The Gambia rose to £143 million in the year to Q3 2025, an increase of £51 million on the previous year.

I was also pleased to see the UK recognised as a key source of FDI in the Secretariat Report too, which highlights the close economic ties.

The UK welcomes The Gambia’s sharing of our focus on the growth agenda. We are enhancing trade and investment opportunities by providing tailored support to UK-linked businesses. The Gambia already supplies UK supermarkets (Waitrose and Tesco) and has potential to expand agricultural exports to the UK in addition to opportunities for UK investment in infrastructure, renewable energy and tourism. A very well-timed UK trade mission very recently has visited Banjul, an already important re-exporting hub, in the last two days, just two days ago on the 2nd and 3rd of February, to explore this potential further.

As a football fan, I am personally very pleased to welcome the Gambian export of Yankuba Minteh who is having a very good season at Brighton and Hove Albion, and we welcome many more Gambia exports of footballers to the UK Premier League.

UK – West Africa Narrative

Further to Banjul’s hub role for the subregion, we also see that West Africa has huge economic growth potential. We are continuously seeking deeper trade and investment relationships that will generate mutual economic opportunity and prosperity.

Baroness Chapman’s Africa Approach sets out a long‑term partnership with African countries, working with African leadership to drive mutual economic growth, tackle shared challenges like climate and migration, and champion African voices in global decision‑making.

MSMEs

The UK commends The Gambia’s efforts to support the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, through its National Policy for MSMEs (2019–2024) and its Digital Trade and E-Commerce Strategy. The UK would welcome hearing more from The Gambia regarding its Digital Trade Strategy, and how this aims to boost MSMEs’ participation in domestic and international trade at a future MSME IWG.

Gender

The UK praises The Gambia’s efforts to promote an inclusive economic environment, notably through its Gender and Women Policy, which was launched between 2010-20, Gender Equality National Development Plan (2018-2021), and ICT Empowerment Strategy for Youth and Women (2021-2024). We appreciated The Gambia’s presentation on its Trade and Gender initiatives at the IWG on Trade and Gender in May 2024. The UK would welcome hearing more at a future IWG on how The Gambia aims to tackle informality, in the informal economy specifically, which, as we know, disproportionately affects women entrepreneurs.

WTO – Development Relationship

The UK commends the important role The Gambia is playing as the coordinator of the LDC Group. The Gambia’s strong leadership has led to constructive engagement across the WTO, and this continues to ensure that the LDC voice is heard in key WTO discussions.

I would like to thank The Gambia for their role as co-chair of the EIF Taskforce which has made clear recommendations for improvements in Phase 3. We were proud to have served on that Taskforce and the EIF Board under your leadership.

Relating to the EIF, I am pleased to see the contribution it is making to supporting women entrepreneurs, developing a new national trade policy, and trade-related climate actions. We are keen to hear more about how this work is progressing in supporting climate-resilient infrastructure and resilience building in agriculture. I also want to echo the Report’s recommendation to utilise the Action on Climate and Trade programme to support the integration of trade-related measures into The Gambia’s Nationally Determined Contribution and sectoral plans.

WTO

Beyond its coordinator role in the LDC Group, The Gambia participates in several forward-leaning initiatives here at the WTO. We welcome The Gambia’s participation in the IFDA and the ECA, which is particularly of great importance to the UK, and its engagement in certain environmental initiatives, namely the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) and Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP).

The UK joined the Multiparty Interim Appeals Arrangement for WTO disputes last year as part of the UK Trade Strategy. We encourage The Gambia to consider joining the MPIA also and we would be eager to discuss this with them.

Equally, we urge The Gambia to apply the Services Domestic Regulation disciplines in the interest of promoting transparent and efficient regulatory frameworks.

Closing Remarks

Chair, as I conclude, I wish to note that The Gambia will celebrate its 61st Independence Day on the 18th of February. The United Kingdom warmly acknowledges The Gambia’s achievements as an independent trading nation and extends its best wishes for a Happy Independence Day and continued prosperity for all Gambians.

Chair, I would like to thank again the WTO Secretariat, the discussant and The Gambia for the huge amount of work that has gone into this, and of course your good self.

February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Targeted financial support for aspiring social workers [February 2026]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 6 February 2026.

Social work students to receive targeted financial support, under plans set out in a consultation launched by the government today.
- Government to offer better financial support for social work students to set up a career in sector
- Changes aim to improve access and break down barriers into social work careers to provide vital care for children and families, older people and people with learning disabilities and mental health
- This follows the launch of the Fair Pay Agreement – backed by £500 million – and improved skills and qualifications for care workers, as the government reforms adult social care
Social work students will receive more targeted financial support where there is the greatest need, including those from low-income backgrounds, under plans set out in a consultation announced by the government today.

It will seek feedback from universities, social work students, social workers, local authorities and NHS trusts to maximise the effectiveness of the existing Social Work Bursary (SWB) and the Education Support Grant (ESB).

Together, these provide £50 million annually to support social work students and have provided support since 2003. However, uptake of the Social Work Bursary has declined in recent years, with around 1,500 unclaimed bursaries in 2024-25 out of the 4,000 available.

These proposed changes will bring down barriers and aim to improve access to a vital career.

Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said:

I hugely value the thousands of social workers across the country who care for the vulnerable people in our society.

This consultation will make sure that support is targeted to the social work students that need it most. Ultimately, this will bolster our workforce with aspiring and hardworking, compassionate social workers.

We are on the road to transforming adult social care careers by launching the Fair Pay Agreement for care workers, the first ever universal career structure and improved training and qualifications. This is a further step as we build a National Care Service and work with the sector to deliver the workforce it needs.

Chief Social Worker for Adults Sarah McClinton and Chief Social Worker for Children and Families Isabelle Trowler said:

This consultation is vital to understand views from across the profession, including current and future students, higher education institutes and employers on how the Social Work Bursary and Education Support Grant can best support high-quality students into social work education and ultimately help them have long and rewarding careers in social work.

The consultation runs for eight weeks and closes on 7 April 2026. Responses can be submitted online: Proposed changes to the Social Work Bursary and the Education Support Grant – GOV.UK

Currently, the Social Work Bursary provides support to undergraduates who receive around £4,900 and postgraduates who receive around £11,300 and the Education Support Grant contributes to the costs of practice placements, where students gain hands-on experience. Bursaries or grants do not need to be paid back, unlike student loans.

Through the 10 Year Health Plan the government is shifting more care out of hospital and into the community and social workers will play a vital role in this shift, as part of Neighbourhood Health Services.
February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Sexual predator, Scott Chapman, has sentence extended after Solicitor General intervenes [February 2026]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 6 February 2026.

A man who raped and sexually abused a teenage girl had his sentence extended after the Solicitor General intervened.

Scott Chapman, of Hereford, had his sentence increased by nearly two and half years after the Solicitor General referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The court heard that Scott Chapman befriended a 14-year-old girl he met online.

Scott Chapman, who was 20-years-old at the time, was aware of the girl’s age before sexually abusing the victim on several occasions.

In one incident in April 2021, Scott Chapman raped the victim despite protests to stop and when confronted by the teenager, denied the assault had taken place.

The victim said in a personal statement, that the experience has had a significant impact on her life,  causing lasting psychological and physical harm.

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP said:

Scott Chapman is a dangerous sexual predator. He sexually abused a young girl on several occasions causing untold mental and physical harm.

I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to the victim for the trauma she has endured. I welcome the court’s decision to increase Scott Chapman’s s sentence, preventing this dangerous offender from harming anyone else.

On 18 September 2025 at Worcester Crown Court, Scott Chapman was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to rape, sexual activity with a child, and sexual communication with a child.

On 5 February 2026 at the Court of Appeal, Scott Chapman’s sentence was extended to six years and eight months.

February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Three century old sculpture at risk of leaving the UK [February 2026]
The press release issued by the Department of Culture and Media on 6 February 2026.

A temporary export bar has been placed on Michael Rysbrack’s sculpture of two ‘putti’ supporting an architrave.
- Valued at £750,000, the sculpture is recognised to be of outstanding artistic quality
- Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the sculpture for the nation
An export bar has been placed on Michael Rysbrack’s sculpture of two ‘putti’ supporting a column to allow time for a UK buyer to be found.

The sculpture was crafted to be one of a pair of chimney pieces, possibly for the grand Bedford House in London. Standing over a metre tall, the sculpture is cut from marble. It has been praised for its excellent quality and condition despite being nearly three hundred years old.

Owning similar sculptures was very popular amongst the British aristocracy during the eighteenth century. Rysbrack’s sculpture is inspired by ancient Greek and Roman art, with ownership of the sculpture symbolising interest and knowledge of the Classical World.

The depiction of the ‘putti’ – childlike figures – is recognised to be of extraordinary artistic quality. At the time of the sculpture’s creation, new research and understanding of childhood development was changing attitudes to children in London society. Rysbrack himself became a governor of London’s Foundling Hospital, which cared for orphaned children.

Michael Rysbrack was born and trained in Antwerp, but is best known for his career in England. He was inspired by Classical art for many of the sculptures he created, including those he crafted for Westminster Abbey.

Culture Minister Baroness Twycross said:

The incredible detail on this marble sculpture of two childlike figures demonstrates a remarkable mastery of the craft. The quality of the putti is a clear testament to why Michael Rysbrack’s sculptures were so highly sought after in the eighteenth century.

Today, we continue to appreciate world class art such as this. I hope that this export bar can help secure this sculpture for the public to enjoy.

Committee Member, Stuart Lochead said:

Likely designed for Bedford House, London, this set of putti originally formed part of a monumental fireplace. Despite its scale, the carving is notably delicate: the flesh and hair of the two figures are rendered with remarkable tenderness. The use of infant imagery marks a pivotal moment in Rysbrack’s career. Having recently been elected Governor of the Foundling Hospital in London, alongside William Hogarth, the sculptor’s work reflects on the changing attitudes toward childhood in early eighteenth-century Britain. Displayed in one of London’s most important houses, this refined marble group would represent a significant loss if exported.

This is the fourth temporary export bar issued since the start of the year by this Government. It follows attempts to protect an 18th century bust of John Gordon of Invergordon, a £9 million Baroque painting by Claude Lorrain, and an 18th century terracotta dog sculpture by groundbreaking female sculptor, Anne Damer.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the sculpture met the second and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding aesthetic importance and its outstanding significance to the study of the work of Rysbrack; sculpture in the 18th century in architectural and social history; and the representation of children in portraiture.

The decision on the export licence application for the sculpture will be deferred for a period ending on 5 May 2026 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the sculpture at the recommended price of £750,000 (plus VAT of £150,000 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for four months.

Notes to editors
1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the sculpture should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk.
2. Details of the ITEM are as follows: Michael Rysbrack, Antwerp, 1694 – London, 1770. Two putti supporting an architrave, c.1735-7. Marble, 131.3 cm high 131 cm wide
3. Provenance: Probably 4th Duke of Bedford, by descent to 5th Duke of Bedford; sold Christie’s, London, the Bedford House sale, 5 May 1800, lot 71, to 11th Duke of Norfolk; by descent to 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th Dukes of Norfolk; offered for sale by the 15th Duke of Norfolk (Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 1847-1917) at the Arundel Castle sale, Sparks & Son, 14 and 15 April 1891, either lot 289 or lot 299 (‘two figures of boys, in bold relief, supporting richly carved cornice, statuary marble, 4ft 3in high; 3ft wide’ and ‘The companion ditto’); sold Christie’s, London, 1 December 1911, lot 85 (‘TWO PORTIONS OF A CHIMNEY-PIECE, of white marble, each sculpted in high relief with two children supporting a frieze—51 in high, 44 in. wide—Italian, 17th Century’), to Harding for £162-15s [=155 guineas]. Private collection UK before 1960; from whom purchased by the current owner in 1979.
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Three countries to take back illegal migrants after visa threat [February 2026]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 6 February 2026.

Illegal migrants and criminals from 3 African countries will be deported following a threat by the Home Secretary to shut down their visas to Britain.

A month after the Home Secretary threatened visa penalties, Namibia and Angola agreed to cooperate on returns. The Home Secretary has now secured cooperation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) just weeks after she stripped VIPs and decision makers of preferential visa treatment, as well as revoking fast-track visa processing services for all nationals.

Within 3 months, cooperation has been secured, and flights are already off the ground, showcasing the effectiveness of threatening visa penalties. These results show successful delivery of reforms set out by the Home Secretary in November, marking a major step forward in restoring order and control to the immigration system. 

While Angola, Namibia and DRC are now cooperating on returns, other countries are still frustrating the returns process and not taking back their nationals who have no right to remain in the UK.

The Home Secretary has been clear that those who refuse to work with the UK on returns cannot expect a normal visa relationship, with further threats expected where countries are not cooperating.

The new approach follows the Prime Minister urging departments to pull every lever possible to restore order and control to the immigration system, and adopting a more transactional approach with countries depending on their cooperation on returns.

Removals of illegal migrants with no right to be in the UK are at an all-time high, with 58,500 people removed or deported since this government came into power, and now over 3,000 nationals from these 3 countries could be eligible due to the cooperation received.

The move forms part of sweeping reforms being delivered by the Home Secretary to rip away the incentives that draw illegal migrants to Britain and ramp up removals of those with no right to be in the country.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood MP said:

My message is clear, if foreign governments refuse to accept the return of their citizens, then they will face consequences.

Illegal migrants and dangerous criminals will now be removed and deported back to Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

I will do what it takes to restore order and control to our borders.

February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Arrest made & vehicle seized in waste investigation in Merseyside [February 2026]

The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 6 February 2026.

Multi-agency operation into suspected illegal waste dumping in Liverpool results in arrest and vehicle seizure.

An arrest has been made and heavy goods vehicle seized during an investigation into suspected illegal waste dumping in Merseyside.

On Monday 2 February, following allegations of illegal dumping, the Environment Agency joined forces with the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC) and Merseyside Police in the operation at an alleged illegal waste site in Liverpool.

Jennifer Brittlebank, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

We’ve taken immediate action following suspected illegal waste activity in Liverpool.

We share the public’s disgust with illegal dumping and the significant harm it causes to the environment and communities.

Waste crime will not be tolerated and we continue to work tirelessly with our partners to take action against those suspected of being involved.

Phil Davies, Joint Unit for Waste Crime manager, added:

This arrest is another fantastic example of the combined and co-ordinated law enforcement capabilities being used in the fight against waste crime.

We continue to work hard to protect communities and the environment, and we would encourage people to report incidents of waste crime and information about those who are responsible.

Merseyside Police Neighbourhood Inspector Michelle Ingram said:

It is pleasing to see this investigation progress with an arrest. Merseyside Police will continue to support our Environment Agency and local authority partners to tackle the harm caused by waste crime.

Expanding the Joint Unit for Waste Crime
The JUWC is hosted by the Environment Agency and involves 12 partner agencies. It has led or attended 361 multi-agency days of action, which resulted in 186 associated arrests by other agencies by September 2025.

The JUWC recently expanded, doubling in size increasing its resource and skillset to shut down serious and organised waste criminals. With experienced Environment Agency enforcement and investigation officers and ex-police officers bringing a wealth of crime-fighting knowledge and tactics.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information should report it to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK provides vital humanitarian support as Ukraine suffers through brutal winter [February 2026]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2026.

The UK government has been supporting more than 1 million Ukrainians affected by the energy crisis this winter.
- As Ukraine suffers its worst winter in a decade, UK-funded deliveries of generators, hygiene kits and other vital components are providing urgently-needed assistance in response to the dire humanitarian situation
- With the latest trilateral peace talks set to begin in the UAE, the UK has partnered with UNICEF and Ukrainian energy and water suppliers to restore the supply of water and heating to those that need it most in display of our unwavering support for Ukraine
As temperatures drop below -20C across Ukraine, the UK government has been supporting more than 1 million vulnerable civilians affected by the energy crisis this winter.

The UK’s latest delivery of generators comes ahead of peace talks in the UAE as Russia continues to step up its barbaric attacks, brutally launching 70 missiles at vital Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Monday night – the largest missile attack in more than a year.

The UK Government is working closely with UNICEF and Ukrainian energy and water suppliers, to help provide generators, pipes, cables, and other items to restore the crucial supply of water and heating to Ukrainian homes, schools and villages affected by the Russian attacks.

Amid freezing temperatures with strikes hitting residential buildings, many people including the elderly population have been stuck in cold, dark homes without running water or the ability to cook a hot meal. Schools and hospitals have also been affected, with severe disruption to medical services and some schools unable to provide in-person learning for students, denying children the basic right to a safe, warm classroom and the opportunity to see teachers and friends.

This week, 28 UK-funded generators have been urgently dispatched to water and heating companies across Ukraine, where they will provide hundreds of thousands of residents with emergency utility supplies. This is in addition to the 21 generators that were dispatched from December 2025.

Last month, 730,000 Ukrainians in Zaporizhzhia City and Oblast plunged into darkness without water, electricity or heating also had their water supply restored within just 90 minutes by switching to reserve power, thanks to UK-funded high-capacity diesel generators.

A further 10 generators are expected to arrive over the next week to ensure the continuity of water supply and district heating in priority locations across Ukraine.

Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty said:

Russia’s savage tactics will not work - their relentless efforts to deny innocent Ukrainians basic necessities like heating, electricity and water in the brutal cold of winter will not break their resolve.

Despite the efforts for peace by Ukraine – Putin is continuing to hit innocent women, men and children – even in the middle of a brutal winter.

The UK is proud to stand with Ukraine and continue this lifesaving work with UNICEF.

The UK has provided over £1 billion in humanitarian and energy support since the start of the full-scale invasion, which is helping to keep the lights on and Ukrainian homes warm when vulnerable civilians need it most.

Rapid on-the-ground assistance has been provided to hundreds of thousands of people across the country, including:
- UK support to local authorities in Mykolaiv Oblast has funded the installation of independent heating systems for two schools, Mykolaiv Lyceum Vidrodzhennia and Oleksandrivskyi Lyceum. Solid fuel boilers now allow in-person education to continue for 780 students, meaning the schools can focus on providing vital learning and care for children.
- In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, UK support is helping to install a new water unit to make heating services more resilient for around 42,000 residents, while elsewhere in Kherson City we have helped deliver valves and pipes to repair heating and power after a Russian attack in December left 40% of the city without heating. A nearby boiler house serving 8,000 people has been completely rehabilitated, with stabilised heating expected to be restored for a further 30,000 people this month.
- Distribution of hygiene kits in Kharkiv City following Russian attacks in January alongside the delivery of pre-insulated pipes and cables to Kharkiv’s municipal heating company to restore heating services for the population.
- Thermal insulation materials for the district heating networks rehabilitation for 89,000 village residents in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, improving efficiency and lowering fuel costs.
- UNICEF water trucks that have delivered 75m³ of water to several large reservoirs within Odesa city, 25m³ of water to Kherson.
In total, the UK is one of Ukraine’s leading bilateral donors and has committed over £577 million in humanitarian assistance for Ukraine and the region since the start of the full-scale invasion.

This is alongside over £470 million of in-kind, grant and loan financing committed to the repair, protection and recovery of Ukraine’s energy sector and its long-term reconstruction and clean transition. This includes £153 million in contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund for grid level repairs, protection and additional power generation.

In addition to the humanitarian response, the UK has committed to delivering £3 billion of military aid to Ukraine every year until the end of the decade, for as long as it takes. Together with our ERA loan, we will provide Ukraine with £4.5bn in military aid this year – more than ever before.

Despite the efforts of the UK and likeminded international partners in responding to Russia’s callous attacks, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine remains dire. It is more important than ever than Putin ceases to stall and delay, and engages meaningfully in discussions in Abu Dhabi to bring about a just and lasting peace and end the relentless suffering for the people of Ukraine.
February 9, 2026
NEWS STORY : TV licence fee to rise to £180 in April

STORY

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced that the annual cost of a TV licence will rise to £180 from 1 April 2026. This increase, which represents a rise of £5.50 from the current rate of £174.50, has been calculated in line with the consumer price index (CPI) as part of the 2022 Licence Fee Settlement. Households using black and white television sets will also see a proportionate increase, with their annual fee rising by £2 to a new total of £60.50.

The government has stated that this adjustment is necessary to provide the BBC with a stable financial footing, ensuring it can continue to deliver its public service mission and support the UK’s wider creative industries. According to recent figures, the BBC remains the nation’s most prominent media brand, with 94% of UK adults using its services every month. Beyond the BBC, the uplift will also benefit the Welsh-language broadcaster S4C, which is expected to receive approximately £100 million in funding for the 2026/27 period.

To mitigate the impact on households facing financial pressure, several support measures remain in place. Free licences will continue to be available for residents aged 75 and over who receive Pension Credit, while blind individuals and those living in residential care remain eligible for significant discounts. Additionally, the government highlighted the continued availability of the Simple Payment Plan, which allows licence holders to spread the cost of the fee across smaller, more manageable instalments.

This announcement comes as the government progresses with its Charter Review Green Paper, a public consultation exploring various options for the future funding of the BBC beyond the current charter period, which ends on 31 December 2027. Under the current agreement, the fee is set to rise once more in line with inflation in April 2027 before the settlement expires. Ministers have emphasised their commitment to ensuring that any future funding model is sustainable, fair and affordable for all licence fee payers across the country.

February 9, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Cost of TV licence fee set for 2026/27 [February 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 6 February 2026.

The annual cost of a TV licence will rise to £180 from 1 April 2026, as required by the 2022 Licence Fee Settlement, in line with inflation.
- TV licence fee to rise in line with inflation to provide the BBC with stable financial footing to deliver for audiences and support the wider creative industries
- The government continues the Charter Review Green Paper public consultation on options for BBC future funding
- Support for households in severe financial difficulty is available and free licences for over-75s on Pension Credit
The increase follows the methodology of calculating the licence fee in line with the consumer price index (CPI) until the end of the BBC Charter Period.

This means the cost of an annual colour TV licence will rise by £5.50, or the equivalent of an extra 46p a month.

The increase in the cost of the TV licence will help keep the BBC on a stable financial footing, enabling it to continue to deliver on its Mission and Public Purposes. The BBC is the UK’s number one media brand, with 94% of UK adults using the BBC each month last year and it remains the UK’s most widely used and trusted news outlet.

The government recognises the financial pressures on households and is committed to ensuring the BBC’s funding model is sustainable, fair and affordable. The government has committed to the licence fee for the remainder of this Charter Period. To support the public with the cost of the TV licence, we will also continue to support the Simple Payment Plan to spread payments through smaller instalments. Free licences remain available for over-75s on Pension Credit, with reduced fees for care home residents and blind individuals.

This comes alongside the ongoing Charter Review, which will ensure the BBC is sustainably funded to provide value for licence fee payers, commands the public’s trust with impartial editorial standards and drives growth, opportunity and good jobs across the country.

The BBC has recently announced a series of initiatives with the aim of bringing trusted public service content to more young people and families where they are. This includes a new content partnership with YouTube, with a CBeebies Parenting YouTube channel launching later this year, as well as six themed channels featuring content from CBBC shows. The BBC is also partnering with the British Library to provide storytelling for pre-schoolers and their parents at library events across the UK.

S4C, which receives all its public funding from the licence fee, will also see its revenue increase proportionately, receiving approximately £100 million in 2026/27 to support the growth of the Welsh creative industries.
February 9, 2026