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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government proposes to extend ban on destructive bottom trawling [June 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government proposes to extend ban on destructive bottom trawling [June 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 June 2025.

    Government proposals to ban bottom trawling in more vulnerable marine habitats aim to protect important and rare underwater life.

    Bottom trawling – a fishing method that involves dragging large nets along the sea floor – could be banned across more vulnerable areas of English seas.

    The government is committed to protecting our oceans and today (Monday 9th June) has outlined plans to ban the destructive practice in more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The measures would help protect rare marine animals, as well as the delicate seabeds on which they rely, from indiscriminate and potentially irreversible damage.

    A consultation will invite marine and fisheries stakeholders to share their views and evidence on the prohibition of destructive bottom-towed fishing gear that could affect approximately 30,000km2 spanning 41 MPAs.

    The measures would protect marine habitats ranging from subtidal sandbanks to gravels to muds, and support important marine species such as lobster, clams, soft corals and langoustines.

    A ban on bottom trawling in these areas would help conserve valuable and rare marine life, and allow seabeds to recover from damage caused by destructive fishing practices.

    Such regeneration will produce healthier marine ecosystems across English waters, supporting greater biodiversity in our seas for the enjoyment of everyone, as well as preserving vulnerable underwater life that is essential for nature to heal and thrive.

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:

    Bottom trawling is damaging our precious marine wildlife and habitats.

    Without urgent action, our oceans will be irreversibly destroyed – depriving us, and generations to come, of the sea life on which we all enjoy.

    The Government is taking decisive action to ban destructive bottom trawling where appropriate.

    Director of Policy and Public Affairs at The Wildlife Trusts Joan Edwards said

    For too long damaging activities have been allowed to continue within many of our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) which are supposed to protect the seabed.

    The Wildlife Trusts have been campaigning for a long time for better management of our MPAs and therefore welcome the news today of a consultation to ban bottom-towed trawling in over 40 offshore sites.

    Removing this pressure is a great step forward towards protecting not only the wildlife and fish stocks within those sites, but also the carbon stored in the seabed muds beneath. Following this consultation, we hope that these measures will be put in place rapidly to enable recovery of these sites, a win-win for both nature and the climate.

    Executive Director of Oceana UK Hugo Tagholm said:

    Destructive bottom trawling has no place in marine protected areas. These proposals provide a golden opportunity to safeguard these vital marine sanctuaries from the most damaging fishing practices.

    If these whole-site bans are fully implemented, this could provide an invaluable and urgently needed lifeline for England’s seas, which are so crucial for wildlife and climate resilience.

    The proposed measures would add to the approximately 18,000 km2 of English seabed already protected from bottom-towed fishing gear, and form part of the government’s ambitious programme to protect all English MPAs from harmful activity where needed.

    The design of the measures and choice of MPAs has been based on detailed assessments into the impacts of fishing on sensitive seabed habitats and species at risk of damage by bottom-towed fishing gear.

    The consultation will be launched by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in partnership with Defra, and run for 12 weeks from Monday 9th June to Monday 1st September.

    Elsewhere at the United Nations Ocean Conference, the government pledged a further £4 million to the Global Fund for Coral Reefs to help protect this vital marine habitat, bringing the UK’s total contribution to the fund up to £40 million.

    It also announced £2.8 million investment into the Outrigger Technical Assistance Fund to support sustainable blue economies in small island developing states, and reiterated its commitment to agree an ambitious, legally binding plastic pollution treaty when negotiations resume in Geneva this August.

    This government is committed to protecting and restoring our ocean to good health, delivering on our commitment to protect 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030.

    Last month, the government announced its £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to modernise Britain’s fishing fleet and support the seafood sector in the face of changing global pressures.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Focus on industry and innovation during Defence Secretary and NATO Secretary General’s Sheffield factory visit [June 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Focus on industry and innovation during Defence Secretary and NATO Secretary General’s Sheffield factory visit [June 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 9 June 2025.

    Government delivering on Strategic Defence Review to turbocharge UK defence industry and drive ‘NATO-first’ approach.

    Innovation and growth through the UK’s world-leading defence industry was the focus of a visit to a Sheffield factory today by the Defence Secretary and NATO Secretary General.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte toured Sheffield Forgemasters, which manufactures specialist steel parts used in critical defence programmes, including nuclear-grade steel components for the Royal Navy’s attack submarines.

    The factory, which employs 725 skilled staff, is symbolic of the government’s plan to harness defence as an engine for growth and deliver on the Plan for Change, and how investment in the UK’s defence industry not only boosts British jobs but strengthens the defence and deterrence of the NATO alliance.

    Sheffield Forgemasters has been manufacturing components for nuclear powered, conventionally armed submarines with more than £200m worth of contracts in place under the AUKUS programme. The Government confirmed plans last week to deliver up to 12 SSN-AUKUS attack submarines, which will further strengthen the UK’s contribution to NATO in addition to creating thousands of jobs across the UK.

    It comes the week after the publication of the Government’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which saw the government commit billions of pounds in investment for British defence companies, driving innovation and supporting thousands of jobs around the country – delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.

    The NATO Secretary General has welcomed the industry focus of the SDR and highlighted how it will be key to supporting the deterrent effect of the alliance while boosting collective security.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey said:

    Sheffield Forgemasters sits in one of Britain’s proudest industrial heartlands, and it is at the heart of our drive to shift our sovereign defence industry to warfighting readiness, supporting hundreds of skilled jobs in the process. The work is ensuring this government’s commitment to the defence dividend is met, delivering on the Plan for Change.

    It was a pleasure to tour its factory with the NATO Secretary General, where we discussed this government’s plan to put NATO first as we deliver on our landmark Strategic Defence Review.

    NATO is critical to UK security and global security, which is why we are stepping up to lead in Europe, investing in powerful new technologies to support growth and boost our national security.

    NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte:

    The renewal of the UK’s defence industry will not only enhance Allied security but boost national prosperity as well. It is a vital component in ensuring warfighting readiness.

    The United Kingdom has a rich heritage in manufacturing and innovation, and Sheffield Forgemasters is an excellent example of this. Harnessing this legacy will be critical to enabling NATO to effectively deter and defend against future threats.

    Sheffield Forgemasters will be crucial to delivering the plans set out in the SDR, as they restart manufacturing for artillery gun barrels, the first time they have been produced by the UK in decades underlining the defence dividend delivered by this government’s spending uplift. This follows the Prime Minister’s historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and ambition for 3% in the next Parliament.

    Their work also supports vital equipment supplied to Ukraine, such as L119 Light Guns and the AS90 self-propelled gun.

    It comes after major announcements following the SDR, including: the building of up to a dozen new attack submarines for the Royal Navy; £5bn of confirmed investment in drone and laser weapon technology, up to 7,000 new UK-built long-range weapons to be procured; at least six new munitions and energetics factories in the UK; more than £1.5 billion to improve the state of military housing; and more than £1 billion for pioneering technology to spearhead battlefield engagements.

    Sheffield Forgemasters plays a vital role in this National Endeavour as part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise – the partnership of organisations that operate, maintain, renew, and sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

    The nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of the UK’s national security, helping to guarantee the safety of the UK and our NATO allies.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New steering group to champion disabled people in elected office [June 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New steering group to champion disabled people in elected office [June 2025]

    The press release issued by the Office for Equality and Opportunity on 9 June 2025.

    A new steering group will support disabled candidates in elections, advising on a fund for disability-related expenses to level the playing field.

    • New Access to Elected Office Steering Group set up to support disabled candidates to enter elected office.
    • The group will use their lived experience to ensure disabled people’s views and voices are at the heart of decision making.
    • Cross-party members to work closely with the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, to boost representation of disabled people in future elections.

    Disabled people will be better supported to compete on a level playing field in gaining access to elected office through a new steering group and fund to support with the disability-related expenses that they might face.

    The fund will help break down barriers for disabled candidates and be developed with support from a new government steering group who will advise the government on how to boost opportunity for disabled people in seeking to enter elected office.

    Drawing on their lived experience of disability, accessing funding or standing for elected office, members will work with the Minister for Social Security and Disability to ensure the fund is effective in increasing disability representation in future elections.

    Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, said:

    We want to ensure that disabled people have the right support to pursue a rewarding career in elected office.

    I look forward to working with the new steering group to develop a fund which makes sure that having a disability is not a barrier to success in political life, and that disabled people’s views and voices are at the heart of our efforts to achieve this.

    The minister will also engage with MPs with a specialist interest in supporting disabled candidates, gathering insights which will further inform the fund and efforts to maximise its uptake.

    The steering group will take learnings from the government’s previous Access to Elected Office Fund and Enable Fund, which similarly helped cover the costs of disability-related expenses – including transport support for mobility impaired candidates and the provision of accessible formats and British Sign Language interpretation.

    It follows wider efforts to support disabled people to thrive in work – such as our consultation on mandatory disability pay gap reporting, which will inform how government tackles the gap and puts more money in disabled people’s pockets as part of the Plan for Change.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Scotland Office – First government trade mission since UK-EU deal [June 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Scotland Office – First government trade mission since UK-EU deal [June 2025]

    The press release issued by the Scotland Office on 9 June 2025.

    Minister Kirsty McNeill teams up with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce to champion Scotland and the UK in Spain

    Boosting trade and investment between Scotland and Spain is top of the agenda as a group of 16 Scottish female entrepreneurs, led by UK Government Minister Kirsty McNeill and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC), arrive on Spanish soil today (Monday 9th June).

    The Scotland Office led trade mission will meet with Spanish entrepreneurs, business leaders and politicians to maximise the benefits of the recent UK-EU deal, tackle the Scottish gender export gap, promote Brand Scotland’s iconic goods and services and encourage Spanish investment into Scotland.

    A recent report found that trade in Scotland could increase by more than £10 billion over two years if women-led businesses exported at the same rate as those led by men.

    Women from Scotland’s world class food and drink, tech, manufacturing, energy, tourism, travel, legal services, consultancy, marketing and cosmetic sectors are on the trade mission.

    UK Government Scotland Office Kirsty McNeill said:

    I’m very proud to be teaming up with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and fantastic Scottish women entrepreneurs on a trailblazing mission to Spain to help kickstart economic growth, create jobs and attract investment to Scotland as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change.

    I want the UK to be a leader in promoting gender diversity in international trade and this is a unique opportunity for our women business leaders to build international connections, explore market opportunities, and connect with other female entrepreneurs in one of Scotland’s and the UK’s largest EU markets.

    Through Brand Scotland, we are now giving our country the global platform it deserves.

    Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce Dr Liz Cameron CBE said:

    This trade mission marks a bold step forward in advancing Scotland’s global trade ambitions. By connecting some of our most dynamic women entrepreneurs and leaders with key players in Barcelona, we are opening new doors of opportunity, innovation, and growth. Scotland’s businesswomen are global in their outlook, ambitious in their vision, and ready to lead the way in forging deeper connections around the world.

    The collaboration between the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Scotland Office is a powerful partnership which will boost business growth, increase exports, and champion Scotland as a world-leading trading nation. This mission expands our market access and ensures the future of our business community is more representative, resilient, and internationally competitive.

    This visit marks the first Brand Scotland trade mission since the signing of a partnership agreement between the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Scotland Office on Friday (June 6th). The deal, backed by a £100,000 UK Government grant, is focused on showcasing Scottish businesses globally and attracting inward investment.

    Spain is the UK’s seventh largest trading partner (2024) and Scotland’s 10th with total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) being £64.6 billion, while the UK is the number one European destination for Spanish investment (€83 billion stock). Last year Scotland’s goods exports to Spain reached £0.7 billion, with food and drink leading the way at over £212 million. Most recent figures show that Spain was the number six export destination for Scotch whisky, with sales worth £196 million in 2024. Spain is also among the most valuable destinations for Scottish seafood exports, including a top 20 destination for Scottish salmon exports.

    The trio of trade deals secured by the Prime Minister in recent weeks offers a huge opportunity for Scotland and the UK’s economy.

    The agreement with the EU directly addresses challenges faced by Scottish exporters since 2019, especially in the food and drink sector, as it makes it significantly easier to sell Scottish goods to markets such as Spain (see stakeholder quotes annexed below).

    The two day trade mission comes after Minister McNeill hosted a gathering of female business leaders from across Scotland in Edinburgh in May to identify and tackle export challenges they face.

    While in Spain the Minister will also participate in cultural initiatives, including a concert for Ukraine, being organised by the British Embassy in Madrid.

    Further information

    Trade mission, list of delegates:

    Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Director & Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce

    Dr Jeanette Forbes OBE, CEO, PCL Group

    Dr Poonam Gupta OBE, CEO & Founder, PG Paper Company Ltd

    Arjumand Ara Sheikh, Principal Solicitor and Associate CIPD, Strand Solicitors

    Elaine Borland, Owner, Blowin’Free

    Beth Wright, Co-Founder, HCW Consulting Partners

    Becky Hain, Co-Founder, HCW Consulting Partners

    Katie Cameron, Co-Founder, HCW Consulting Partners

    Sophie Rankine, Managing Director, Sophie Gets Social Ltd

    Lucy Harper, Head of Public Affairs, Lumo

    Shona Cowan, Director, Go-You Ltd

    Rebecca Wilson, Owner, Bec Wilson Creative

    Arabella Harvey, Founder & CEO, Raven Botanicals

    Amber Knight, Director, MacNeil Shellfish Limited

    Libby McQuarrie, Commercial Executive, MacNeil Shellfish Limited

    Rosalind Wardley-Smith, International & Operations Executive Scottish Chambers of Commerce

    Agenda

    Today (Monday) the Minister will attend a women in business lunch in Madrid for senior female business leaders. This will be chaired by Sir Alex Ellis, His Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain. She will also meet with the newly appointed CEO of Navantia UK, Donald Martínez, to discuss Navantia’s progress and future plans for their two shipyards in Scotland.

    Tomorrow (Tuesday) in Barcelona the Minister and all women trade delegation will meet Spanish women business leaders, Barcelona Chambers of Commerce, the British Chambers of Commerce and Deputy Mayor of Barcelona, Maria Eugènia Gay Rossell. The Minister will also meet the President of Catalonia, Salvador Illa to discuss new opportunities for trade and investment for both the UK and Spain.

    Stakeholder quotes

    Head of Trade Marketing – Europe at Seafood Scotland Marie-Anne Omnes said:

    The timing and geographic focus of this ministerial trade mission are highly relevant. Spain is a key market for Scottish companies and presents significant growth opportunities that initiatives like these can help identify. Spanish consumers are knowledgeable about seafood and Scottish products, with an understanding of the importance of product origin. It is essential to strengthen relationships at both government and corporate levels, especially considering that the new trade agreement could facilitate more direct trade between the two countries.

    Director of central Scotland-based MacNeil Shellfish Amber Knight said:

    The partnership between the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Scotland Office is a game-changer for Scottish exporters. For businesses like ours, anchored in rural communities and operating across European markets, this agreement provides the visibility, credibility, and connections needed to grow with confidence. Our expansion into Spain, with a new distribution hub in North Spain is just the beginning. With this renewed focus on promoting Scotland’s world-class products internationally, we can scale our reach, strengthen our brand, and help put Scotland’s sustainable seafood firmly on the global map.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Nine million pensioners to receive Winter Fuel Payments this winter [June 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Nine million pensioners to receive Winter Fuel Payments this winter [June 2025]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 9 June 2025.

    Everyone over the State Pension age in England and Wales with an income of, or below, £35,000 a year will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment this winter.

    • This increased threshold means no lower or middle-income pensioners will miss out, with the vast majority – over three quarters – of pensioners in England and Wales receiving the payment.
    • Support will continue to be targeted, with pensioners above this threshold having the payment automatically recovered or able to opt out.

    Nine million pensioners to receive Winter Fuel Payments this winter as all pensioners in England and Wales with an income of, or below, £35,000 a year will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This extends eligibility to the vast majority of pensioners, with around 9 million, or over three quarters, benefitting. This threshold is well above the income level of pensioners in poverty and is broadly in line with average earnings, balancing support for lower income pensioners with fairness to the taxpayer

    This change will cost around £1.25 billion in England and Wales and see means-testing of the Winter Fuel Payment save around £450 million, subject to certification by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) compared to the system of universal Winter Fuel Payments. The costs will be accounted for at the Budget and incorporated into the next OBR forecast. The Chancellor will take decisions on funding in the round at that forecast to ensure the government’s non-negotiable fiscal rules are met. This will not lead to permanent additional borrowing.

    No pensioner will need to take any action as they will automatically receive the payment this winter, and for those with incomes above the threshold it will be automatically recovered via HMRC. The payment of £200 per household, or £300 per household where there is someone over 80, will be made automatically this winter. Over 12 million pensioners across the United Kingdom will also benefit from the Triple Lock, with their State Pension set to increase by up to £1,900 this parliament.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    Targeting Winter Fuel Payments was a tough decision, but the right decision because of the inheritance we had been left by the previous government. It is also right that we continue to means-test this payment so that it is targeted and fair, rather than restoring eligibility to everyone including the wealthiest.

    But we have now acted to expand the eligibility of the Winter Fuel Payment so no pensioner on a lower income will miss out. This will mean over three quarters of pensioners receiving the payment in England and Wales later this winter.

    Pensioners above the £35,000 threshold will have the full amount of the Winter Fuel Payment they received automatically collected via PAYE, or via their Self-Assessment return. No one will need to register with HMRC for this or take any further action.  Pensioners who want to opt out and not receive the payment at all, will be able to do so, with details to be confirmed.

    Making these changes now gives people certainty and ensures that payments can be made in time for this winter. Payments will be better targeted than before 2024-25 when they were previously paid to all pensioners regardless of their income, meaning those on lower and middle incomes will still receive the help they need, ensuring fairness for both pensioners and taxpayers.

    Approximately 2 million individuals in England and Wales over State Pension age have taxable incomes above £35,000.

    More information

    • Eligibility is based on a person’s age and place of residence during the qualifying week (the third full week of September). For winter 2025/26, the qualifying week will be 15 to 21 September 2025.
    • A person needs to have reached State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week to be eligible.
    • Winter Fuel Payments are worth £200 per household, or £300 per household where there is someone aged 80 or over. Shared payments are made to pensioners not on an income-related benefit.
    • The payment will be recovered from individuals via HMRC based on their individual taxable incomes. There will be no need for household incomes to be aggregated.
    • It will be recovered via PAYE for the vast majority, or in their Self-Assessment tax return for the minority who file and pay their taxes in this way. HMRC will work closely with representative bodies to ensure the process is as simple as possible with clear guidance for taxpayers.
    • For those who would like to opt out from receiving the Winter Fuel Payment, DWP will develop a simple system to enable individuals to do so, removing the need for HMRC to recover the payment. Further information will be on GOV.UK in due course.
    • The government will be publishing an equalities analysis alongside the legislation and a Tax Information and Impact Note at Budget.

    Further background

    • As of winter 2024/25, Winter Fuel Payments were restricted in England and Wales to pensioner households receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits.
    • It is worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over. It is a non-contributory, household payment to support pensioners during the colder months.
    • From 2025/26 Winter Fuel Payments will be payable in England and Wales at £200 for households including someone between State Pension age and 79, and £300 for households including someone aged 80 or over. Where the household is not getting an income related benefit, such as Pension Credit, a shared payment will be made – e.g. a couple, each under 80, not on Pension Credit will receive a payment of £100 each.
    • Winter Fuel Payments are transferred in Northern Ireland. The policy area is devolved to Scotland. The Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive will both receive a mechanical uplift in their funding as a result of this change in England and Wales.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister unveils AI breakthrough to slash planning delays and help build 1.5 million homes [June 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister unveils AI breakthrough to slash planning delays and help build 1.5 million homes [June 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 June 2025.

    Planning permissions will be sped up as the Government rolls out a new AI tool which can scan hundreds of files in seconds – making it easier to make home improvements, while turbocharging the Plan for Change milestone to build 1.5 million homes.

    • PM unveils revolutionary AI tool to transform planning system and speed up housebuilding at London Tech Week
    • ‘Extract’ set to digitise planning documents and bring England’s outdated planning system into the 21st century
    • Breakthrough AI tool to be made available to all councils by Spring 2026, using Google DeepMind’s Gemini model
    • Digital planning transformation to help deliver Plan for Change milestone to build 1.5 million homes

    Planning permissions will be sped up as the Government rolls out a new AI tool which can scan hundreds of files in seconds – making it easier to make home improvements, while turbocharging the Plan for Change milestone to build 1.5 million homes.

    Speaking at London Tech Week, the Prime Minister announced the launch of “Extract” – an AI assistant for planning officers and local councils, developed by government with support from Google.

    For the first time, this cutting-edge technology will help councils convert decades-old, handwritten planning documents and maps into data in minutes – and will power new types of planning software to slash the 250,000 estimated hours spent by planning officers each year manually checking these documents. This will dramatically reduce delays that have long plagued the system.

    Around 350,000 planning applications are submitted a year in England, yet the system remains heavily reliant on paper documents – some hundreds of pages long. Once submitted, each of these documents needs to be manually validated and approved by a planning officer.

    In test trials across Hillingdon, Nuneaton & Bedworth, and Exeter councils, Extract digitised planning records, including maps, in just three minutes each – compared to the 1–2 hours it typically takes manually. This means Extract could process around 100 planning records a day – significantly speeding up the process.

    This represents a step-change in productivity, freeing up thousands of hours for planning officers to focus on decision-making to speed up housebuilding. It will also accelerate the delivery of much-needed housing, improve reliability in the planning process and reduce costs and save time for councils and developers.

    Extract is expected to be made available to all councils by Spring 2026. The government’s ambition is to fully digitise the planning system – making it faster, more transparent, and easier to navigate for working people, councils, businesses and developers.

    The rollout will help deliver the government’s Plan for Change milestone to build 1.5 million homes over the next Parliament and is part of the government’s efforts to harness tech and AI to deliver change and renewal for working people.

    It also comes alongside the government’s wider efforts to digitise the planning system, building on an estimated £59.4m per year spent by councils on digital planning and housing software, delivering an estimated time and cost saving of £527m for the public sector each year.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    For too long, our outdated planning system has held back our country— slowing down the development of vital infrastructure and making it harder to get the homes we need built.

    This government is working hand in hand with business to change that. With Extract, we’re harnessing the power of AI to help planning officers cut red tape, speed up decisions, and unlock the new homes for hard-working people as part of our Plan for Change.

    It’s a bold step forward in our mission to build 1.5 million more homes and deliver a planning system that’s fit for the 21st century.”

    Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said:

    From day one we made an unwavering promise to use every tool at our disposal to build the 1.5 million homes and vital infrastructure through our Plan for Change that our local communities desperately need.

    By using cutting-edge technology like Extract we can fix the broken planning system, cut delays, save money, and also reduce burdens on councils to help pave the way for the biggest building boom in a generation.”

    Co-Founder & CEO of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis said:

    We build our AI models to understand all types of information – from text to handwritten notes and technical drawings – so it’s really exciting to see the UK government choose Gemini to help speed up the planning process and support planners and people across the country.

    Hillingdon Council’s Chief Operating Officer Matthew Wallbridge said:

    ‘The UK Planning System relies on paper-based processes, and AI can help to read and then extract the key information from it, to help both residents and planning officers. The productivity benefits will allow for a faster and cheaper service’.

    Tom Shardlow, CEO Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said:

    Just like many local authorities, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has many plans and documents in storage from historic planning applications over the years. Working with the Extract team, we have seen the outputs from Extract, and how these could improve our service, providing high quality, digital, GeoSpatial data and how this could speed up the process for our Planning Team.”

    The government is now working with Google to develop and expand Extract to all local authorities in England using its Gemini model. The government will expand Extract to handle all planning document types with the aim of supporting local authorities to digitise all planning documents by the end of 2026.

    The planning data, unlocked through Extract, will be uploaded to a publicly accessible gov.uk service page. Open, public data will ensure the planning system is more transparent, accessible and understandable to the public. The government will also explore the best and most efficient ways to deploy Extract into local authorities – this might also include developing an app to scan documents instantly.

    This government is turning the page on the decline of the past and choosing growth with a significant number of planning decisions already made by Ministers since July.

    This includes 18 planning decisions taken by Ministers over 85% of which within the target timeframe, and 18 nationally significant infrastructure projects approved, collectively spanning airports, data centres, solar farms and major housing developments such as the Expansion of London City Airport, a data centre in Buckinghamshire and a new M&S store in Oxford Street, London.

    The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also provide the powers to accelerate the infrastructure and homes needed to deliver on the government’s ambitions – and fast track critical infrastructure such as wind farms, power plants, and major road and rail projects.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Compensation to postmasters reaches £1 billion milestone [June 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Compensation to postmasters reaches £1 billion milestone [June 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 9 June 2025.

    More than £1 billion has been paid out to over 7,300 postmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal – one of the biggest miscarriages of justice of our time.

    • Today’s data reveals over £1bn has been paid out in financial redress to thousands of postmasters across the UK
    • This includes £245m in the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme launched last summer
    • Redress for victims of Horizon scandal has more than quadrupled under this government – delivering on a key manifesto commitment

    More than £1 billion has been paid out to over 7,300 postmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal – one of the biggest miscarriages of justice of our time.

    This figure is a total across the Horizon-related redress schemes, with data published by the government today (Monday 9 June).

    This milestone marks the Government’s ongoing commitment to deliver redress and justice to postmasters as swiftly as possible. Whilst Government cannot fully put right what postmasters have been through, what is being delivered is increased redress and ensuring the compensation process work better than it has done previously.

    Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas said:

    Since entering government, it has been our priority to speed up the delivery of compensation to victims of the Horizon Scandal and today’s milestone shows how much progress has been made.

    We are settling cases every day and getting compensation out more quickly for the most complex cases, but the job isn’t done until every postmaster has received fair and just redress.

    Since entering government, redress paid out to victims of the Horizon Scandal has more than quadrupled to £1,039 million, delivering on a key manifesto promise to ensure justice and compensation are delivered swiftly for those sub-postmasters shamefully affected by the Horizon IT scandal.

    Ministers continue to review each scheme to ensure the process is as smooth as it can be, and welcome feedback and scrutiny from postmasters, campaigners and Parliament and recognise the tireless campaigning in this area over many years. Reforms to increase the roll out of redress has included the following steps.

    Since July 2024, the government has also launched the Horizon Convictions Redress scheme – providing redress to postmasters who had their convictions overturned by the Post Office Offences Act (and the equivalent legislation in Scotland) and also launched the Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeals process.

    In March, Ministers made a commitment that claims for redress under the Post Office’s Overturned Convictions scheme would be transferred into the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Post Office would cease to be involved in the administration of redress for overturned convictions. This is something that postmasters, campaigners and Parliamentarians have called for. As of 3 June, these cases have all been transferred and all future redress for these claimants will be managed by DBT.

    Other milestones include:

    • Launching the Post Office Process Review (PPR) helping to provide redress to postmasters who suffered financial losses caused by products, processes or policies that were designed or delivered incorrectly.
    • Beginning Horizon Shortfall Scheme fixed-sum payments of £75,000 for those who don’t want to go through the full assessment process.
    • Announcing the upcoming publication of a Green Paper which will give the public the chance to have their view on the future of Post Office.
    • Committing to develop an effective and fair redress process for those affected by the Capture IT system.
  • PRESS RELEASE : One stop shop for tech could save taxpayers £1.2 billion and overhaul how government buys digital tools [June 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : One stop shop for tech could save taxpayers £1.2 billion and overhaul how government buys digital tools [June 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 7 June 2025.

    A first-of-its-kind digital marketplace is being built to help shake up how the UK public sector buys technology – hoping to unlock £1.2 billion in annual savings, save time and give public servants the power to rate suppliers.

    • New platform to allow public sector to rate and review tech products, helping hospitals, schools and government departments avoid costly mistakes and make smarter, faster decisions on which tech to buy.
    • Currently in early development, the platform is set to unlock £1.2 billion a year in savings and modernise how the public sector invests £26 billion-a-year on tech.
    • The National Digital Exchange will support the government’s Plan for Change – giving the UK public sector faster access to better deals, while boosting small business involvement by 40% within 3 years.

    A first-of-its-kind digital marketplace is being built to help shake up how the UK public sector buys technology – hoping to unlock £1.2 billion in annual savings, save time and give public servants the power to rate suppliers.

    By making it faster and easier to buy the right technology, the National Digital Exchange (NDX) will aim to drive forward the government’s Plan for Change – helping to deliver simpler, smarter, and more responsive public services for the people who rely on them, while ensuring better value for taxpayers.

    In a major shift, the platform hopes to allow teams across the public sector to access pre-approved tech deals at nationally negotiated prices, with an AI-powered engine that matches them with suppliers based on what they actually need – all in a matter of hours, not months.

    The platform is designed to open the market to more UK tech firms, with a target to boost small business involvement in government contracts by 40% within 3 years.

    It follows the State of Digital Government report which warned that 209 NHS secondary care organisations and 320 local councils go it alone when negotiating tech contracts, despite widely using similar tools – missing out on essential bargaining power. Only 28% of public sector leaders said their organisations were able to track and make sure that their tech suppliers were delivering proper value for their services.

    Users will be able to rate and review what they’ve bought, lifting the lid on which tools have delivered, and where promises haven’t matched performance – creating a platform comparable to an app store for the technology that underpins the British state and essential public services.

    The announcement comes ahead of London Tech Week, where the role of digital innovation in transforming public services will be in the spotlight.

    Minister for AI and Digital Government, Feryal Clark said:

    We’ve all heard the stories – months of red tape, tech that doesn’t deliver, and money wasted. That’s not good enough for the people we serve.

    The National Digital Exchange aims to change that. It will make it faster, fairer, and focused on what works – with real reviews, upfront pricing and smart AI to match buyers with the right suppliers in hours.

    It’s a clear example of our Plan for Change in action: cutting waste, boosting innovation, and backing British tech to deliver better public services.

    The platform, which will be created under the revised Procurement Regulations to help shape a smarter, more open future for digital procurement, and is being developed alongside a ‘digital playbook’ to guide officials responsible for buying technology towards best practice – making sure the long-term impacts of their decisions, and the social value of contracts are considered.

    Today’s news also follows the government announcing plans to test new ways of funding AI and tech projects, aiming to bring a start-up mindset to testing the application and use of AI experiments on small budgets, and then building on proof of success.

    DSIT is also working closely with organisations like techUK helping to ensure the platform reflects the needs of both buyers and suppliers.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement on attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers in Sudan [June 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement on attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers in Sudan [June 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 June 2025.

    Joint statement from the UK and 29 other donor countries on attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers in Sudan.

    Joint donor statement condemning attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers in Sudan by the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

    “We condemn in the strongest terms the attack on a humanitarian convoy of 15 trucks from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Al Koma, North Darfur, on the night of 2 June, which resulted in the death of five members of the convoy and injuring several others. Four of the 15 trucks in the convoy were destroyed in the attack and five more sustained partial damage. These trucks were carrying about 100 metric tons of essential nutrition, health, education, and WASH supplies, intended to support children and families in El Fasher town.

    The deliberate targeting of humanitarian personnel is a violation of international law. Civilians and humanitarian workers must not be targeted by parties to the armed conflict. We urge all parties to allow civilians to safely exit areas with ongoing hostilities, and to guarantee immediate, unconditional, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to deliver assistance to those in urgent need throughout Sudan.

    We repeat our call to the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces and their militias to immediately cease hostilities and uphold their obligations towards international humanitarian law, which includes the obligation to protect civilians and civilian objects – as also reiterated in the UN Security Council resolution 2730 (2024). Once again, we stress the civilian character of humanitarian agencies, the neutral and impartial nature of their life-saving operations, and the need for them to operate across all of Sudan, regardless of area of control.

    This attack represents yet another deadly and unacceptable attack on civilians and humanitarian workers since the beginning of this armed conflict two years ago, in blatant disregard of international humanitarian law. We remind the parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and their assets.

    Last April, the international community strongly condemned the attacks on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps which resulted in the killing of hundreds of civilians and at least 12 aid workers. Just last week, a hospital was targeted in El Obeid, North Kordofan. On several occasions, UN and NGOs offices throughout the country have been directly hit, including WFP’s office in El Fasher only last week. These are just some of the many attacks over the past two years targeting civilians, aid workers and facilities, hospitals, and critical civilian infrastructure, which constitute direct violations of international humanitarian law.

    We deplore all loss of civilian life resulting from acts of war throughout this conflict. The continuous attacks on humanitarian aid workers cannot be normalised. These serious and continued violations of international humanitarian law committed by the warring parties are unacceptable and must cease immediately.

    We support the UN Secretary General’s call for an immediate and independent investigation into this attack and accountability of the perpetrators.

    We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and colleagues of those killed and those who have been injured while working to deliver humanitarian assistance under extremely dangerous conditions.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Scotland Office partnership with Scottish Chambers of Commerce [June 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Scotland Office partnership with Scottish Chambers of Commerce [June 2025]

    The press release issued by the Scotland Office on 6 June 2025.

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, joined by his sleeping baby daughter, and Scottish Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive Liz Cameron sign the deal in Edinburgh.

    A partnership agreement to launch a Brand Scotland overseas trade missions initiative was signed today (Friday) by the Scotland Office and Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC).

    This collaboration will be supported by a UK Government grant of up to £100,000 for 2025/26 aimed at promoting Scottish trade and attracting foreign direct investment into Scotland.

    As part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, Brand Scotland is boosting economic growth by promoting Scottish products and services while attracting international inward investment.

    The initiative will include a series of trade missions focused on showcasing Scottish businesses globally.

    Ian Murray and Liz Cameron signed the agreement at the UK Government’s Queen Elizabeth HQ in Edinburgh.

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

    This agreement will help give Scotland a global platform to sell everything our brilliant country has to offer – from whisky and seafood to our world class services.

    The trio of trade deals secured by the Prime Minister in recent weeks is a huge opportunity for Scotland’s economy – with the most populous country in the world, the richest country in the world and our most important market. This partnership with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce will create valuable opportunities for Scottish firms and help kickstart economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.

    I have already been to Norway, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States to bang the drum for Scotland and with this partnership we will take businesses to even more markets. The Scotland Office will be Scotland’s window to the world.

    Scottish Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive and Director Dr Liz Cameron CBE said:

    Delivering impactful trade missions that will sell Brand Scotland and our innovative and dynamic businesses will strengthen our global presence. This partnership with the Scotland Office is vital for economic growth and will help more businesses trade internationally and encourage more inward investment.

    The world wants our quality products and services and this significant investment in Brand Scotland will create even more opportunities to sell our nation internationally. Our businesses continue to successfully engage with SCC overseas missions and now by combining forces between SCC and the Scotland Office, we can drive our economy further by providing valuable platforms and alliances for more exporters to sell their fantastic products and services to new global markets.

    Scotland is open for business and we welcome Brand Scotland’s support to allow us to trade with confidence on a world stage.

    Leading entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors have also welcomed the agreement.

    Founder & CEO of Greenock-based PG Paper Dr Poonam Gupta OBE said:

    At PG Paper, international trade is the backbone of our business. We have built a multi-million pound business by connecting with over 60 countries. This partnership between the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Scotland Office sends a clear message: Scotland is ambitious, outward-looking, and ready to lead. The Scotland Office initiative will help businesses like ours expand our international reach, forge high-value connections, and drive economic impact both at home and abroad. This is exactly the kind of bold, collaborative action Scotland needs to accelerate exports and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.

    CEO of Aberdeen-based PCL Group Dr Jeanette Forbes OBE said:

    As a global IT and energy tech company operating in over 27 countries, we know first-hand how critical international trade is to business growth and innovation. Trade missions are strategic enablers that unlock new markets, foster long-term relationships, and elevate Scotland’s global standing. The collaboration between Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Scotland Office is exactly the type of public-private partnership needed to amplify Scotland’s voice on the world stage and grow our economies.

    Details of trade missions will be confirmed in due course.