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PRESS RELEASE : Nigel Topping CMG appointed Chair of the Climate Change Committee [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 22 July 2025.

Nigel Topping CMG has been appointed as Chair of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) by the UK and devolved governments today (22 July).

This follows the Secretary of State, Ed Miliband, and the Northern Irish, Welsh and Scottish devolved government Ministers selecting Nigel Topping as the preferred candidate for the role, as well as a successful pre-appointment hearing in front of the Energy Security and Net Zero and Environmental Audit Committees on Wednesday 16 July.

The Energy Secretary has written to Nigel Topping to confirm his appointment, welcoming him to the role and confirming his confidence in him to lead the Climate Change Committee. He has also written to Professor Piers Forster, to thank him for his leadership as interim Chair of the CCC following Lord Deben’s departure in 2023.

The Chair will play a key role in the committee’s work of advising government on the delivery of its carbon budgets, with a critical few years ahead as the government accelerates to net zero as part of its clean energy superpower mission.

Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, said:

I want to congratulate Nigel Topping on his appointment as Chair of the Climate Change Committee.

We highly value the Climate Change Committee’s independent advice on how we can achieve net zero, so I am thrilled to have Nigel in this important role – as he brings extensive experience, including from his time serving as the UN High Level Climate Action Champion for COP26.

Net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century and Nigel’s business expertise will help us to maximise on this opportunity as we deliver our clean energy superpower mission – boosting energy security, creating good jobs, bringing down bills and tackling the climate crisis.

Nigel Topping, Chair of the Climate Change Committee, said:

It is an honour to be appointed Chair of the Climate Change Committee at this pivotal moment. The UK has an opportunity to deliver on its climate commitments in a way that reduces costs for households, powers our industries forward, and makes our economy more successful. It’s also important to ensure resilience against growing climate impacts and I look forward to working with Baroness Brown who leads our adaptation work.

I’d like to offer my sincere thanks to Professor Piers Forster, who has been our interim Chair since Lord Deben stepped down. He has led the Committee through an incredibly busy period overseeing advice on the UK’s Seventh Carbon Budget, three devolved carbon budgets, and a number of key progress reports to government.

I am committed to upholding the rigour and independent nature of the Committee’s advice, while harnessing our country’s wealth of scientific, financial and business talent.

Nigel Topping’s selection follows a competitive recruitment process in line with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

Notes to Editors

The UK government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and Northern Ireland Executive agreed to appoint Nigel Topping. The decision-making Ministers were:
- Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland Executive
- Gillian Martin MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Scottish Government
- Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister of Wales and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government
Nigel Topping’s term as Chair will begin on Wednesday 23 July.
July 28, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : More infected blood victims set to receive compensation under changes to scheme [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 July 2025.

The Government outlines changes to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme in response to the Infected Blood Inquiry Additional Report.
- Government makes changes to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme in response to new recommendations from the Infected Blood Inquiry
- Changes include modifications for those who have endured treatments with adverse side effects, and chronic Hepatitis C individuals
- Further changes will address compensation for affected victims and their estates
More victims of the infected blood scandal will be able to claim compensation as the government proposes changes to the existing Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.

Changes could result in over a thousand people receiving a higher amount of compensation than they would have under the existing scheme.

The proposed changes will ensure that those who endured treatments with adverse side effects, such as interferon, will receive higher compensation to what is currently provided.

The changes will also provide further compensation for the impacts currently recognised by the Infected Blood Support Scheme ‘Special Category Mechanism’, provided to chronic Hepatitis C individuals who have experienced a significant impact on their ability to carry out daily duties.

Further changes will address compensation for affected victims. Under the existing scheme, if an affected person – a spouse, partner, sibling, parent or unpaid carer of an infected person – passed away, their claim would die with them.

However, changes to the scheme will now mean that if the affected person has died or dies after May 21st 2024, their estate will be able to make a claim. While the total number of affected victims is not known, this could enable significantly more people to receive compensation.

These changes come in response to 16 new recommendations from the Infected Blood Inquiry, published in its Additional Report on Compensation on Wednesday 9th July.

Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, Nick Thomas-Symonds, set out these changes today in Parliament.

He said:

When I appeared before the Inquiry in May, I said that I would take a constructive approach and – carefully – consider the issues that had been put to me.

I have concentrated on removing barriers to quicker compensation, working with IBCA, and am determined to deliver improvements based on this new report.

Our focus as we move forward must be working together to not only deliver justice to all those impacted, but also to restore trust in the state to people who have been let down too many times.

Today, the government has also announced that Clive Smith, President of the Haemophilia Society, will be the Chair of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee.

Mr Smith will lead the work to create a national memorial to the victims of the Infected Blood Scandal. This project will include plans for a UK memorial and support memorials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In line with the Infected Blood Inquiry’s recommendation, the Committee will also develop plans for commemorative events and is planning to hold the first by the end of 2025.

Incoming Chair of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee Clive Smith said:

A memorial to the thousands who have died from the contaminated blood scandal is long overdue. It is a great privilege to be asked to lead this important work on behalf of the community.

I am conscious that we are already behind in relation to implementing the Infected Blood Inquiry’s recommendation that community events be held on a 6-month basis post the Inquiry reporting. We intend to correct that by the end of this year.

I look forward to working with the whole community across the UK on building an appropriate memorial to those we have lost and to act as a lasting memorial to the Nation of what can happen when patient safety is not prioritised.
July 28, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : National security powers to be updated to reduce the burden on businesses [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 July 2025.

Investment security rules under the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021 will be simplified to ease the burden on businesses as part of the Plan for Change.

Plans to reduce unnecessary red tape for businesses by ensuring mandatory notifications are no longer needed for certain internal reorganisations and the appointment of liquidators
New consultation will put businesses at the heart of potential changes to the sectors facing the greatest scrutiny by the government’s investment security powers
Semiconductors, Critical Minerals carved out into standalone sectors and Water to be considered for addition to list of sensitive sectors
NSIA Annual Report shows just 4.5% of notifications were called in for review, with the vast majority cleared to proceed in 30 days
Investment security rules under the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021 will be simplified to ease the burden on businesses as part of the Plan for Change.

The changes, currently being developed, will when they come into force reduce unnecessary bureaucracy for businesses, no longer requiring them to notify the Cabinet Office’s Investment Security Unit when undertaking certain types of internal reorganisations or appointing liquidators, special administrators and official receivers.

Analysis has shown these types of transactions rarely warrant investigation. Simplifying the rules will ease the regulatory burden and help the government focus its attention on the deals presenting greater risk to national security.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden said:

The government has been clear about our ambition to cut red tape for businesses, while taking firm action to protect national security as we deliver the Plan for Change.

Data shows our investment security powers are working well, but there’s more we can do to ensure our tool kit keeps pace with the modern economy. We’re taking action to hone the type of transactions facing the greatest scrutiny, as well as consulting on updates to the sectors of the economy specified in the legislation. Businesses are at the heart of these plans and I look forward to engaging widely in the weeks ahead.

The announcement comes as the government also publishes a new consultation—due to launch on 22 July and conclude on 14 October—-on separate plans to update the sectors of the economy subject to greater scrutiny under the National Security and Investment Act 2021.

Acquirers of businesses operating in seventeen sensitive sectors must currently notify the Investment Security Unit about relevant acquisitions before the deal can be completed. These sectors were first defined in 2021 and have not been updated since.

Building on business feedback, and to improve clarity and bring the sectors up to date with the latest economic and technological developments, the government is proposing creating new standalone categories for Semiconductors and Critical Minerals, which currently fall under the Advanced Materials sector. Computing Hardware, which is currently a standalone sector, would move under the Semiconductors sector.

Pat McFadden has also requested businesses’ views on bringing certain deals in the water sector into scope of the NSI Act’s mandatory notification requirements. This new requirement, while not expected to affect large numbers of deals, reflects increasing risks to the sector’s resilience in a growing threat landscape.

Alongside the reforms and consultation, the Cabinet Office is also publishing the National Security and Investment Act Annual Report. This sets out the Investment Security Unit’s activity between 2024-2025.

It shows that the government saw an increase in the number of notifications received year on year, rising from 906 to 1,143.

Similar to last year, only 4.5% of notified acquisitions reviewed were called in for further assessment, with the vast majority of businesses notified within 30 working days that no further action would be taken.

The government issued 17 final orders: 16 allowing the acquisitions to proceed subject to conditions and one requiring divestment.

Like last year, the largest proportion of notifications involved acquisitions in the Defence, Critical Suppliers to Government and Military & Dual Use areas of the economy, and acquirers associated with the UK, followed by the US.

Of the 17 final orders issued, the largest number involved acquirers associated with the UK, followed by acquirers associated with China and acquirers associated with the USA. Defence and Military & Dual Use acquisitions also accounted for the largest number of final orders.

July 28, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New Executive Chair to strengthen government’s plan to unleash life sciences for a healthier, wealthier Britain [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 22 July 2025.

Steve Bates OBE appointed to help champion research and innovation and the use of technology to transform health and grow the UK economy.
- Industry leader Steve Bates OBE appointed as Executive Chair for the Office for Life Sciences.
- Office for Life Sciences to report into Health, Science and Business departments, recognising the industry’s importance to the health and growth missions in the Plan for Change.
- Appointment is immediate action on Life Sciences Sector Plan pledge to strengthen links between sector and government.
Industry leader Steve Bates OBE has today (Tuesday 22 July) been appointed as Executive Chair of the Office for Life Sciences, the cross-Government unit that champions research, innovation and the use of technology to transform health and grow the economy across the UK.

The Office for Life Sciences (OLS) will report directly into the Business Secretary in addition to the Health Secretary and Technology Secretary, recognising that driving economic growth and investment in this key sector will be a crucial part of the OLS agenda in support of the Plan for Change.

The moves show the government is taking immediate action to deliver the Life Sciences Sector Plan, the ambitious blueprint for unleashing the UK’s circa £100 billion life sciences sector as a force for economic growth and bettering the nation’s health, in aid of the Plan for Change. Forming one of the 8 core pillars of the modern Industrial Strategy, the Plan sets out the government’s commitment to deepening its ties with the life sciences sector, and strengthening the Office for Life Sciences to do so.

It builds on the positive momentum coming from recent successes for OLS, such as the recent £1 billion investment deal with BioNTech which the Office was instrumental in delivering, and backing for groundbreaking research like that supported by Our Future Health and UK Biobank, as well as its role in the up to £600 million investment to deliver a Health Data Research Service that will be unmatched globally – bringing the power of data to bear to unlock breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Steve Bates is a recognised industry figurehead, having led the UK BioIndustry Association as CEO since 2012. He sits on the UK Life Sciences Council, and was a founder member of the UK Government’s Vaccine Taskforce. Steve was made OBE for services to innovation in 2017 and became a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2020.

Steve Bates OBE said:

The UK is great at life sciences. Great science, growth finance, world leading entrepreneurs, agile regulators, and key health data assets, all network here within a sector focused industrial strategy.

I know we can deliver global health outcomes and UK economic growth because we did so through the Vaccine Taskforce during COVID. I look forward to selling the sector’s great story to the globe. It’s a privilege to help life science businesses start, grow, scale and renew in the UK ecosystem to deliver economic growth, prosperity and health.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

The life sciences sector plays a unique role, as a catalyst for both economic prosperity, and better health outcomes for people across the UK. Its ongoing success will be pivotal to both our Plan for Change, and our modern Industrial Strategy.

It is only right that we draw upon the nation’s best talent and expertise to push this sector on to even greater heights, and to that end I am delighted that Steve will be joining us in these endeavours.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

We’re turning the UK into a life sciences powerhouse and harnessing the genius of our country’s greatest scientific minds.

I know that Steve will bolster this mission and help make Britain the envy of the world when it comes to medical innovation.

Under his leadership, I’m confident the Office for Life Sciences will continue to drive groundbreaking research and fulfil the Plan for Change’s goal to transform healthcare for patients across the country.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

We want to make the UK a life sciences superpower. That’s why we earmarked it as a priority sector in our modern Industrial Strategy, which sets out how we will back the industry to keep it at the forefront of global innovation.

This single front door for industry to engage with government will be key to achieving our life sciences mission, as will appointing talented leaders like Steve – boosting the sector to deliver on our Plan for Change to grow the economy.

The Office for Life Sciences is a Directorate of 120 civil servants, which drives policy and delivery in the Life Sciences sector, supporting the government’s ambitions on economic growth and improved health that sit at the heart of the Plan for Change. Currently overseen by the Health Secretary and Technology Secretary, it will now also have more formalised links into the Department for Business and Trade to support the government’s Industrial Strategy.

In his new role, Bates will act as an ambassador both domestically and internationally for the UK life sciences sector. He will work across government and the wider public sector to ensure engagement with industry around policy and investment happens productively and at pace, working closely with all 3 Secretaries of State, providing support and expert advice as required.

The UK is already a global leader in life sciences, with the sector worth around £100 billion to the economy, and employing around 300,000 people. These moves show the government’s determination to immediately deliver on its goals for the sector, as laid out in the Life Sciences Sector Plan. Developed in close coordination with the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, the Plan is a vision for doubling down on the sector’s strengths – turning cutting-edge research into real-world results: new treatments, faster diagnoses, and more lives saved. It’s about making sure breakthroughs happen here – and stay here – creating jobs, improving lives in every part of the country, and driving growth.
July 28, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Miscarriages of justice victims given access to vital support [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 22 July 2025.

Victims of miscarriages of justice will no longer lose out on key benefit support, thanks to legislative changes coming into force today.
Miscarriage of justice victims will no longer have their compensation counted when applying for benefits.

New legislation will unlock vital support for those victims, helping them back on their feet.

Comes alongside boost to amount victims will be able to receive in compensation payments.

Justice for the wrongly convicted vital to Government’s ambition to restore trust in the system as part of Plan for Change.

The change ensures that awarded compensation will no longer be taken into account when applying for means-tested benefits – such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Housing Benefit.

Until now, compensation for miscarriage of justice cases pushed some people over the savings limit for claiming certain benefits, leaving them ineligible for much-needed help.

To restore trust and fairness to our systems as part of the Plan for Change, the government is acting to ensure victims receive the support they deserve to rebuild their lives.

It comes after a campaign for rule changes to unlock benefit entitlement for those who have received miscarriage of justice compensation payments.

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

Rebuilding trust in our systems begins by restoring trust with those the system has failed.

We can’t return the years lost by miscarriage of justice victims — but we can, and must, ensure they have every opportunity to restart their lives so they can make the most of the years ahead.

That’s why we’re bringing in this milestone legislation, and I encourage anyone who has received a miscarriage of justice compensation payment to come forward, so we can ensure they receive the help they are entitled to.

The move comes as part of wider government action to restore justice and build trust in public services.

In a boost for victims, the Ministry of Justice recently announced an uplift to the amount a miscarriage of justice victim will be able to receive in compensation by 30%, raising the maximum payout to £1.3 million for long-term wrongful imprisonment.

Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, said:

Miscarriages of justice steal irreplaceable time and devastate lives. Better benefit support combined with the uplift of the compensation cap will make a real difference, providing not just financial redress but rightfully deserved recognition to individuals affected.

We can’t turn back the clock, but I hope these changes go some way in making the future brighter than the past for those who have already lost so much.

It also follows similar legislation already in place to ensure compensation awarded to victims of the Infected Blood Scandal, Horizon Post Office scandal, and LGBT people dismissed from the Armed Forces, won’t affect their benefit entitlement.

Additional Information

The benefit disregard will apply to all compensation payments paid via the United Kingdom Government and Devolved Governments compensation schemes for miscarriage of justice.

The disregard scheme will exempt miscarriage of justice compensation payments when assessing eligibility for: income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit and Universal Credit.

If you would like to know more about how this may affect you, or whether you may wish to consider making a claim to benefit, please see here.
July 28, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : £63 million lift-off for clean aviation fuels [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 22 July 2025.

Winning 17 companies will share £63 million to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and support 1,400 jobs in the UK.
- 17 UK companies developing sustainable aviation fuel to receive share of new £63 million funding boost, supporting around 1,400 jobs
- latest investment builds on this year’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) drive, which will help position the UK as the world leader in homegrown sustainable aviation fuel production
- latest investment supports greenlighting of multiple airport expansion schemes to kickstart economic growth and deliver on our Plan for Change
Passengers are a step closer to greener flights as the Aviation Minister today (22 July 2025) announced the 17 cutting-edge UK companies that will share £63 million to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.

The boost will support around 1,400 jobs and secure Britain’s position as the global leader in the green aviation market – critical to provide the clean fuel that’s essential to realise sustainable growth in the aviation sector.

Today’s investment means government has provided £198 million to date through the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF) to scale up cleaner aviation technologies. Creating a clean aviation ecosystem will help power the next generation of airport infrastructure and capacity scale up, kickstarting economic growth and delivering the UK’s clean energy superpower ambitions to deliver on the Plan for Change.

Low carbon fuel production could add up to £5 billion to the economy by 2050, position the UK as a global hub for SAF production and enable the UK to go further and faster with expansion plans.

Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, said:

This £63 million is lift off for Britain’s green aviation revolution. We’re not just backing brilliant British innovation, we’re creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and positioning the UK at the forefront of the global sustainable aviation market.

From the labs of Sheffield to the runways of the future – this is how we kickstart economic growth, secure energy independence and make Britain a clean energy superpower.

SAF is an alternative to fossil jet fuel which reduces greenhouse gas emissions on average by 70% on a lifecycle basis, from feedstock to biofuel, making it the key technology that will allow UK aviation to grow capacity while achieving net zero commitments.

The SAF Bill will help secure the future of the aviation sector by boosting green fuel production in the UK and delivering cleaner flights. This bill will give investors the confidence to back sustainable aviation fuel production. It will help grow the sector, providing good green jobs and enabling the delivery of carbon savings.

Announcing the new funding at the University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre – which just received £1.5 million in this latest round – the Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, saw firsthand the groundbreaking work on aircraft engine testbeds and revolutionary aviation fuels.

Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian, Managing Director of the University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre, who is leading the project, said:

It is fantastic to see the University of Sheffield playing a leading role in the development of sustainable aviation fuel and supporting the aviation industry in its efforts to reduce its emissions. At Sheffield, we have some of the most advanced SAF research facilities in Europe and are excited to work with partners from the industry to help them test and develop new fuels and next generation clean energy technologies.

The AFF winners include a range of companies and are spread across the country, such as OXCCU Tech, which is developing a demonstration plant at Oxford Airport, to LanzaJet, which is building a commercial-scale plant in Teesside.

Andrew Symes, CEO and Co-Founder of OXCCU, said:

Support from the Advanced Fuels Fund is a key step in scaling our technology. This funding enables the detailed design and construction of OX2, our demonstration plant launching in 2026, and builds on the successful delivery of OX1. It brings us closer to producing lower-cost, lower-carbon aviation fuel and supports the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in SAF production.

Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet, said:

We’re proud that Project Speedbird, developed in partnership with British Airways, has been recognised by the Department for Transport as part of its continued commitment to advancing SAF in the UK.

This support demonstrates confidence in LanzaJet’s technology and the critical role ethanol-to-SAF can play in delivering economic growth, creating jobs and decarbonising air travel. Project Speedbird is vital to building a national SAF industry in the UK and to unlocking opportunity and innovation in the region.

We thank DfT for its leadership and vision in accelerating the transition to net-zero aviation.
July 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK to lead crackdown on cyber criminals with ransomware measures [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 22 July 2025.

Measures to tackle the threat of ransomware and protect businesses and critical services will be taken forward with industry following public consultation.

Hospitals, businesses, and critical services are set to be protected under measures designed to crack down on cyber criminals and safeguard the public, following public consultation on ransomware proposals.

Ransomware is software used maliciously by cyber criminals to access victims’ computer systems. Systems and data can be encrypted, or data stolen, until a ransom is paid. Ransomware is estimated to cost the UK economy millions of pounds each year, with recent high-profile ransomware attacks highlighting the severe operational, financial, and even life-threatening risks.

Public sector bodies and operators of critical national infrastructure, including the NHS, local councils and schools, would be banned from paying ransom demands to criminals under the measure, with nearly three quarters of consultation respondents showing support for the proposal.

The ban would target the business model that fuels cyber criminals’ activities and makes the vital services the public rely on a less attractive target for ransomware groups.

Under the proposals, businesses not covered by the ban would be required to notify the government of any intent to pay a ransom. The government could then provide those businesses with advice and support, including notifying them if any such payment would risk breaking the law by sending money to sanctioned cyber criminal groups, many of whom are based in Russia.

Mandatory reporting is also being developed, which would equip law enforcement with essential intelligence to hunt down perpetrators and disrupt their activities, allowing for better support for victims. Consultation responses showed strong support for a new mandatory reporting regime to better protect British organisations and industry.

The new package of measures will lead the way in tackling ransomware and are designed to strike against cyber criminals’ business model, bolstering our national security and protecting key services and businesses from disruption – delivering on our Plan for Change. They follow an extensive consultation with stakeholders across the UK which showed strong public backing for tougher action to tackle ransomware and protect vital services.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said:

Ransomware is a predatory crime that puts the public at risk, wrecks livelihoods and threatens the services we depend on.

That’s why we’re determined to smash the cyber criminal business model and protect the services we all rely on as we deliver our Plan for Change.

By working in partnership with industry to advance these measures, we are sending a clear signal that the UK is united in the fight against ransomware.

In addition to the proposed new measures, the government continues to urge organisations across the country to strengthen their ability to maintain operations in the event of a successful ransomware attack. This includes having offline backups, tested plans to operate without IT for an extended period, and a well-rehearsed strategy for restoring systems from backups.

Cyber criminals have not only cost the nation billions of pounds but in some cases have brought essential services to a standstill.

The devastating consequences are not just financial but can put lives in danger, with an NHS organisation recently identifying a ransomware attack as one of the factors that contributed to a patient’s death.

These attacks have brutally exposed the alarming vulnerability at the core of our public and private institutions, from flagship British retailers and essential supermarkets including the Co-op to NHS hospitals.

British Library Chief Executive Rebecca Lawrence said:

The British Library, which holds one of the world’s most significant collections of human knowledge, was the victim of a devastating ransomware attack in October 2023.

The attack destroyed our technology infrastructure and continues to impact our users, however, as a public body, we did not engage with the attackers or pay the ransom. Instead, we are committed to sharing our experiences to help protect other institutions affected by cyber-crime and build collective resilience for the future.

NCSC Director of National Resilience Jonathon Ellison said:

These new measures help undermine the criminal ecosystem that is causing harm across our economy.

Ransomware remains a serious and evolving threat, and organisations must not become complacent. All businesses should strengthen their defences using proven frameworks such as Cyber Essentials and our free Early Warning service, and be prepared to respond to incidents, recover quickly, and maintain continuity if the worst happens.

Co-op CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq said:

We know first-hand the damage and disruption cyber-attacks cause to businesses and communities. That’s why we welcome the government’s focus on Cyber Crime.

What matters most is learning, building resilience, and supporting each other to prevent future harm. This is a step in the right direction for building a safer digital future.

These robust proposals are part of the government’s Plan for Change to defend businesses, services, and infrastructure against cyber threats to better protect the public.

Read the government response to the ransomware consultation on GOV.UK.

July 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Modernised aid budget will focus on impact, value for money and transparency [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 July 2025.

New figures published today show how the international aid budget will deliver value for money for the British taxpayer and maximum impact for the most vulnerable overseas.
- new figures released today (Tuesday 22 July) set out how the government will spend the aid budget in 2025 to 2026, prioritising areas where Britain can make the biggest difference
- the new approach means the UK will prioritise spending through the most impactful multilateral organisations like the World Bank and Gavi, the vaccine alliance, while working to drive reform of these institutions
- Development Minister Baroness Chapman today confirms UK support for the World Bank’s International Development Association, with the fund expected to benefit 1.9 billion people in next 3 years
New aid funding figures published today (Tuesday 22 July 2025) show how the international aid budget will deliver value for money for the British taxpayer – and maximum impact for the most vulnerable overseas. The cut in the aid budget to 0.3% of Gross National Income from 2027 means every penny must count if the UK is to make progress on its biggest development priorities: to tackle humanitarian, health and climate crises.

Today’s aid figures, published in the FCDO’s annual report and the first to be released since the cut was announced in February, give an indication of the new approach the Development Minister Baroness Chapman will take. They follow a comprehensive line-by-line strategic review of aid conducted by the minister, which focused on prioritisation, efficiency, protecting planned humanitarian support and live contracts while ensuring responsible exit from programming where necessary.

The pivot will see global organisations with a proven track record of impact, like the World Bank and Gavi, prioritised to deliver better results for the UK taxpayer and the world’s poorest people.

The UK will also continue to play a key humanitarian role supporting those in crisis, including in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, and will hold a reserve fund to respond to future crises at pace.

However, underperforming multilateral organisations will face funding cuts in future, and as the UK moves to spend less on aid, bilateral support to some countries is also dropping.

While bilateral support for some countries will drop, the UK will instead increasingly share expertise, like that of our world leading scientists and financial sector. It will focus on tackling the climate crisis, health threats and humanitarian emergencies, creating stability and growth to help deliver the Plan for Change at home. The National Security Strategy published earlier this year said British interests are best served through effective multilateral cooperation.

As part of its growing support for impactful multilateral organisations, the UK today confirmed it will honour a pledge to the International Development Association (IDA) – the World Bank’s fund for the poorest countries – having agreed a new way to make payments that reduces costs to UK taxpayers and provides the same value to the Bank. IDA is expected to benefit 1.9 billion people in the next 3 years.

Minister for Development Baroness Chapman said:

We are modernising our approach to international development. Every pound must work harder for UK taxpayers and the people we help around the world and these figures show how we are starting to do just that through having a clear focus and priorities.

The UK is moving towards a new relationship with developing countries, becoming partners and investors, rather than acting as a traditional aid donor. We want to work with countries and share our expertise – from world leading science to the City of London – to help them become no longer dependent on aid, and organisations like the World Bank and Gavi are central to how we can work with others to solve some of the biggest challenges of our time: humanitarian disasters, pandemics and the climate crisis.

The UK’s support for the multilateral system will come with a renewed push for its reform to maximise efficiency and impact for people on the ground. It follows UK funding announced for another multilateral organisation Gavi, the vaccine alliance, last month, which will help save up to 8 million lives.

The World Bank support was originally announced last November, but all UK aid funding was subsequently reviewed following the 0.3% announcement in February this year. Every £1 the UK invests in the World Bank’s IDA fund, enables £4 of finance for developing countries. The IDA fund is expected to benefit 1.9 billion people in next 3 years.

The World Bank President Ajay Banga today welcomed the UK’s funding commitment. He said:

We are grateful to the United Kingdom for honouring its pledge to IDA. In a time of tight budgets and growing global risks, this is not just generosity – it’s strategy. Every taxpayer pound is multiplied many times over through the Bank’s ability to mobilise capital and partner with the private sector.

These resources help create jobs in developing countries – jobs that build self-reliant economies, reduce the drivers of instability, crime, and migration, and grow the middle class. In turn, they create future consumers of UK products and investment opportunities that strengthen the UK economy over the long term.

The UK’s new approach aligns with recent calls from Global South leaders for a move away from traditional aid to a focus on investment and partnerships, including from the African Development Bank, and the former Kenyan President.

Alongside the figures released today, the government has also published an equality impact assessment, which found plans to reduce the aid budget will “protect against disproportionate impacts on equalities” overall.

The government will publish indicative multi-year allocations for 2026 to 2029 in the autumn, providing an even clearer picture of the UK’s future direction in international development.

Background
1. The full ODA spending allocations were published in the FCDO’s annual report and accounts on 22 July 2025.
2. The equality impact assessment was published alongside the annual report and accounts.
3. The UK announced last November it would pledge £1.98 billion to the World Bank’s IDA21 – from July 2025 to June 2028. All UK aid funding was subsequently reviewed following the decision to reduce the aid budget in February. We have now agreed to accelerate our payments to the Bank, reducing their need to borrow from markets. This means that while the UK will provide the Bank with around 10% less cash in total, the Bank will regard our contribution as equivalent to our original pledge. A number of other donors accelerate their payments to provide early support to the Bank and to increase the value of their funding in the same way.
4. The Foreign Secretary announced new humanitarian support for Gaza on Monday 21 July 2025.
July 27, 2025
NEWS STORY : UK Unveils World-First Sanctions Regime Against People Smugglers

STORY

The UK Government has launched a groundbreaking sanctions regime, the first of its kind globally, aimed at dismantling organised criminal gangs responsible for facilitating irregular migration. Announced by the Foreign Secretary on 22 July 2025, the new powers enable the freezing of assets and travel bans for anyone complicit in people smuggling to the UK.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that this marks a “landmark moment” in the Government’s efforts to combat organised immigration crime. He emphasised that the sanctions are designed to reach individuals anywhere in the world, making it illegal for the UK financial system to engage with them. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper added that the regime will allow the UK to target the assets and operations of people-smugglers wherever they operate, cutting off their funding and dismantling their networks.

The new regime complements existing law enforcement efforts and new powers introduced through the Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. It is part of the government’s broader ‘Plan for Change’ and a three-pronged strategy to “disrupt, deter, return” irregular migration globally. The Border Security Command has received a significant budget boost to fund specialist investigators and new technology to further disrupt these criminal operations.

The government asserts that the exploitation of vulnerable people by these criminal networks is a key driver of irregular migration to the UK. With nearly 24,000 migrants having made the perilous journey across the Channel so far in 2025, the issue remains a significant challenge. The new sanctions aim to send a clear message that there is “no hiding place” for those who profit from human misery.

July 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK brings forward world’s first sanctions regime to smash the gangs responsible for irregular migration  [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 July 2025.

Anyone complicit in facilitating people smuggling to the UK will be at risk of having their assets frozen and being banned from travelling to Britain, under new powers announced by the Foreign Secretary today.
- anyone complicit in facilitating people smuggling to the UK could be sanctioned from tomorrow
- targets will have assets frozen, be shut off from the UK financial system and banned from travelling to the UK, under new regime targeting supply of money and material enabling irregular migration
- new sanctions are the latest tool in UK’s arsenal to secure Britain’s borders, reduce irregular migration and deliver on the Plan for Change
Anyone complicit in facilitating people smuggling to the UK will be at risk of having their assets frozen and being banned from travelling to Britain, under new powers announced by the Foreign Secretary today.

Tomorrow, the FCDO will impose the first wave of sanctions on gangs involved in people smuggling and driving irregular migration to the UK, as well as their enablers, such as financiers and companies involved in the sale of small boat equipment.

The plans are a key example of the FCDO using innovative foreign policy approaches to deliver on the Plan for Change for the British people. The regime will be the world’s first dedicated to targeting people smuggling and organised immigration crime, with the exploitation of vulnerable people by criminals and their associated networks being one of the key drivers of irregular migration to the UK.

Migrants who pay people-smugglers are also at a high risk of working in modern slavery conditions in the informal economy, being returned to their home country, or losing their lives at sea.

Sanctions can disrupt the flow of money and materials – including freezing property, bank accounts and other assets – which allow organised criminal gangs to facilitate irregular migration to the UK. Sanctions are designed to reach individuals located anywhere in the world, who will be publicly named so that it is illegal for the UK financial system to engage with them.

As part of the government’s Plan for Change and mission-led approach, the FCDO has been breaking down siloes by working closely with investigators at the National Crime Agency, Border Security Command, and other key partners to identify the most impactful targets, with the first sanctions planned for tomorrow.

The first targets will cover a range of wrongdoing, from the supply of small boats being used on cross-Channel journeys, to the trade in fake passports, as well as middlemen facilitating payments through Hawala networks, to the gang leaders themselves.

The regime will complement new powers for law enforcement being introduced in the Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, ensuring we have the widest toolkit available to smash the gangs. Sanctions can be used to target organised immigration crime gangs and their enablers, wherever they are, including where traditional law enforcement and criminal justice approaches cannot reach.

People smuggling and human trafficking are a challenge to global security, and the Government is working to strengthen our relationships with key partners, including the EU, to better secure the UK’s borders.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, said:

For too long, criminal gangs have been lining their corrupt pockets and preying on the hopes of vulnerable people with impunity as they drive irregular migration to the UK. We will not accept this status quo.

It is our moral duty and a key part of our Plan for Change to do all we can to smash these gangs and secure Britain’s borders.

That’s why the UK has created the world’s first sanctions regime targeted at gangs involved in people smuggling and driving irregular migration, as well as their enablers. From tomorrow, those involved will face having their assets frozen, being shut off from the UK financial system and banned from travelling to the UK.

Today’s announcement reflects how the whole of government is working together on the single mission of securing Britain’s borders. The new regime complements work by the National Crime Agency and Border Security Command (BSC) to tackle organised immigration crime and tackle the causes of irregular migration to the UK in source and transit countries.

The BSC has seen a budget boost of £280 million per year by 2028 to fund new specialist investigators, new technology and cutting-edge surveillance equipment to disrupt and destroy criminal gangs.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

The new sanctions regime marks a decisive step in our fight against the criminal gangs who profit from human misery. It will allow us to target the assets and operations of people-smugglers wherever they operate, cutting off their funding and dismantling their networks piece by piece.

Through the Border Security Command and key partners like the National Crime Agency, we are strengthening our ties with other nations to tackle this global problem.

Together, we are sending a clear message that there is no hiding place for those who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk for profit.

Today’s announcement is part of the FCDO’s 3-pronged ‘disrupt, deter, return’ strategy to tackle irregular migration globally. In addition to disrupting organised immigration crime networks through sanctions, the FCDO works with source and transit countries to deter would-be migrants from making a dangerous journey in the first place, and works with the Home Office to negotiate the return of people who have no right to be here to their countries of origin, including criminals and failed asylum seekers.

Since the election, over 35,000 people have been returned, up 13% on the same period in the year before.
July 27, 2025