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PRESS RELEASE : Electronic ID for Cattle mandatory in step forward for UK biosecurity [June 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 2 June 2025.

Changes introduced to cattle identification, registration, and reporting for cattle in England.

Cattle identification and traceability in England will change over the next 2 years, in a major step forward in disease control and trade across the farming sector, Defra has announced today (Monday 2 June).

From Summer 2026, Defra will introduce changes to cattle identification, registration and reporting that will improve the government’s ability to respond effectively to disease. These changes will also simplify regulations and support industry to boost productivity, food security and international trade.

New requirements will see Electric ID (EID) mandatory for all new-born calves from 2027, using low frequency (LF) technology. This means animals with eID eartags are able to be scanned when animals are moved, rather than a visual read and manual input of the tag number. Electronic cattle traceability will strengthen the UK’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to animal disease outbreaks, protecting farmers and the rural economy.

This will be supported by a new cattle movement reporting system which will be easier to use for farmers, markets, abattoirs and regulators alike. This will simplify existing regulations and support the livestock industry to boost productivity, food security and international trade.

This comes as the government announced a £200 million investment in the UK’s main research and laboratory testing facilities at Weybridge to bolster protection against animal disease, and the recent announcement that livestock farmers in England can apply for a series of free annual vet visits on farm to check for diseases and receive biosecurity recommendations and tailored animal health and welfare advice.

Biosecurity Minister, Baroness Hayman said:

This is a significant milestone in modernising how we manage cattle health, welfare and traceability in England.

These reforms strike the right balance in supporting farmers with clearer, simpler rules while helping the sector strengthen its productivity, resilience and global competitiveness.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Christine Middlemiss said:

Electronic identification is a game-changer for disease traceability. It allows for faster, more accurate tracking of cattle movements, which is crucial in responding to outbreaks and maintaining our high biosecurity standards.

This shift puts England in step with best global practice and today’s early confirmation will provide the livestock industry the clarity it needs to begin preparing now — ensuring that the right tags, readers and systems are available at scale ahead of rollout.

Defra will also take a more proportionate approach to enforcement, which will give keepers the opportunity to correct issues before further action is considered, as part of a broader move to reduce red tape while strengthening biosecurity.

Following the wide-reaching sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) deal recently agreed at the UK-EU summit, this decision will further benefit livestock businesses in England by reducing trade friction and boosting their ability to export agri-food products abroad.

Today’s changes follow the UK Government’s Cattle Identification Consultation 2023 which has been published today, which signalled strong industry support for the measures introduced.

June 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Nearly £1 billion for NHS frontline after agency spend crackdown [June 2025]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 2 June 2025.

Government crackdown on rip-off temporary staffing agencies delivers unprecedented savings, as NHS trusts are urged to eradicate agency spending altogether.
Reforms delivered through Plan for Change deliver mammoth NHS savings – with funding going to better patient care and staff pay

Major milestone in government pledge to completely eliminate all spending on temporary NHS agency staff

Health Secretary and NHS England Chief Executive will consider legislative action if further progress not made

NHS patients and staff are benefiting from an almost £1 billion boost for the frontline, as a government crackdown on rip-off temporary staffing agencies delivers unprecedented savings.

The Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced strict agency spending limits last November and ordered trusts to reduce their spend on agency staff by 30% in the short term so more money could be reinvested in the frontline and the wider NHS workforce.

Latest figures show spending on agency staff has already fallen by almost £1 billion in 2024 to 2025 – a huge reduction which has helped funding go towards improving the quality of care patients receive, helping to reduce waiting lists, and enhancing safety – as reducing reliance on agency staff has been shown to decrease clinical incidents.

The savings are part of a package of reforms delivered by this government which have collectively allowed above-inflation pay rises to all NHS staff, including resident doctors and nurses, this year to be fully funded.

The Secretary of State and NHS England Chief Executive Jim Mackey have today written to all trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs), urging them to build on this progress and ultimately eradicate agency spending altogether. If the government does not feel further progress has been made by the autumn, it will consider taking further legislative action.

Health Minister Ashley Dalton said:

The taxpayer has been footing the bill for rip-off agencies for too long – while patients have languished on waiting lists and demoralised staff faced years of pay erosion.

That’s why we are pledging to eliminate this squander, and through our Plan for Change we are making major progress and seeing a radical reduction in costs.

We’re already backing our health workers with above-inflation pay rises and now nearly £1 billion is being reinvested back to the frontline, getting patients off waiting lists and putting money back into our workforce’s pocket.

The NHS was forced to spend a staggering £3 billion on agency staff in 2023 to 2024, money that could have been used to tackle record waiting lists and improve patient care. Recruitment agencies have charged NHS trusts up to £2,000 for a single nursing shift, thanks to the 113,000 staffing vacancies across the service.

The government’s laser focus on reducing waste means all NHS workers, including doctors and nurses, will receive real terms pay rises for the second year in a row, fully funded from central budgets.

It is funding a pay rise of 4% for consultants, specialty doctors, specialists and GPs, with dentists also receiving a contract uplift to increase their pay.

Resident doctors will see their pay rise by an average of 5.4% (a 4% rise plus a consolidated payment of £750) and we expect the average full-time basic pay of a resident doctor will reach about £54,300 in 2025 to 2026. Agenda for Change (AfC) staff, which includes nurses, health visitors, midwives, ambulance staff, porters and cleaners, will see their pay rise by 3.6%. The starting salary for a nurse will now be around £31,050, up from around £27,050 in 2023.

A new delivery group is being established across the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to monitor progress on tackling agency spending, and ensure trusts are taking robust action.

Trusts were previously ordered to reduce ‘Bank’ use – NHS staff who work temporary shifts at hospitals – by at least 10%, on top of strict agency spending limits across the health service. They have now been told to evaluate them against the local market to ensure they are not more than the average equivalent agency rate.

Elizabeth O’Mahony, Chief Financial Officer at NHS England, said:

The NHS is fully committed to making sure that every penny of taxpayers’ money is used wisely to the benefit of patients and the quality of care they receive.

Our reforms towards driving down agency spend by nearly £1 billion over the past year will boost frontline services and help to cut down waiting lists, while ensuring fairness for our permanent staff.

Nicola McQueen, Chief Executive at NHS Professionals, said:

We strongly welcome today’s bold and progressive workforce policy announcement from the Secretary of State to significantly reduce external agency spending and put more investment back into patient care.

NHS Professionals was created with the core purpose of reducing the NHS’s reliance on expensive external agencies. NHS Bank services are transforming workforce deployment, boosting productivity, and driving substantial cost reduction across the NHS.

Last year we displaced over £680 million of external agency fees across NHS trusts and healthcare organisations, providing more than 40 million hours of patient care. We look forward to working closely with our NHS client trusts and partners to deliver even more savings across the NHS.
June 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Forgotten assets to help families and young people thrive [June 2025]
The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 2 June 2025.
- First ever Dormant Assets Scheme Strategy unlocks £440 million funding for people and communities who need it most – redirecting money from long-unused accounts to important social causes
- Money will get young people involved in music, drama and sport, plus give thousands of vulnerable households access to affordable loans, delivering opportunity through Plan for Change
- Financial institutions including JP Morgan and AON welcomed to No11 today, as Chancellor and Culture Secretary encourage them to participate in the Scheme and support local communities
Families struggling with sudden costs and young people in deprived areas will get vital help, as £440 million from forgotten assets is put to work in communities across England through the first-ever Dormant Assets Scheme Strategy.

This includes £132.5 million to give young people in disadvantaged neighbourhoods new chances to take part in music, sport and drama to build skills for the future, improve their employment opportunities and ensure access is no longer the preserve of a privileged few.

A further £132.5 million will benefit those in financially vulnerable circumstances, providing them with the affordable credit and support they need to manage their money well. This will mean that people facing money worries will have a safety net for when things go wrong – from a broken fridge to an unexpected car repair – instead of leaving them at the mercy of loan sharks.

Local charities and community groups will also get extra funding, so they can run projects like food banks, youth clubs, and community events. This support will help bring people together, tackle loneliness, and make neighbourhoods safer and friendlier for everyone.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy welcomed major financial institutions including JP Morgan, Schroders, AON, Jupiter Asset Management, Aberdeen Group and other industry champions into No11 Downing Street today, highlighting the tangible difference this money can make to local communities and encouraging future participation to support these important causes.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy said:

From supporting young people and enhancing financial inclusion to driving social investment, this transformational funding will reach some of the most disadvantaged areas across the country and have a real impact on people’s lives as we deliver our Plan for Change.

Made possible thanks to the ongoing support of our industry partners, I’ve been delighted to speak to financial institutions today as we look to bring in new sectors to support growth and drive opportunity across England.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

We’re turning forgotten assets into fresh opportunities by unlocking £440 million that would otherwise be sitting idle to help young people realise their potential, and ensure vulnerable families aren’t excluded from the financial products they need. Through our Plan for Change, we’re backing communities and boosting opportunities to deliver growth and put more money in people’s pockets.

Chris Cummings, CEO of the Investment Association said:

We look forward to the further expansion of the Dormant Assets Scheme to the investment and wealth management sector. The Scheme has the potential to deliver real positive change to communities across the UK and our industry both warmly supports the initiative and is committed to exploring participating at the earliest opportunity.

The Dormant Assets Scheme is an important opportunity for our industry to come together with government and deliver a positive, measurable social and environmental impact.

The Dormant Assets Scheme has successfully released £1 billion to date to support thousands of frontline organisations and individuals in some of the most disadvantaged communities across the country. Funding has been channelled into a range of initiatives including tackling youth homelessness, supporting charities with the cost of living and breaking down barriers to financial inclusion to help vulnerable groups.

The £440 million package announced today represents a significant uplift with an estimated £90 million over previously announced figures set to become available through the Scheme in England by 2028.

Allocations set out in the Strategy will drive forward the growth and opportunity missions in the government’s Plan for Change, with full distributions to include:
- £132.5 million for young people with funding going to services, facilities and opportunities to provide them with the skills and resources needed to succeed
- £132.5 million for financial inclusion and education, equipping individuals with the tools and knowledge to build financial security
- £87.5 million for social investment to strengthen the financial resilience of the voluntary sector, including £12.5 million reaching organisations that support youth outcomes
- £87.5 million for community wealth funds, which will empower local people to make decisions about their communities, creating stronger neighbourhoods.
Notes to editors:
- The Dormant Assets scheme redirects money from long-unused financial accounts to social causes, while preserving the original owners’ right to reclaim their funds.
- The Dormant Assets Scheme Strategy sets out this government’s bold vision for the pioneering Dormant Assets Scheme, unlocking funds to support the communities who need it most.
- The Strategy for the Scheme is centered around three long-term objectives:
  - Achieving long-term systems change through innovative programmes.
  - Protecting the integrity of the Scheme and its funding.
  - Becoming the best practice standard mechanism to deal with dormancy.
- The Strategy reaffirms the importance of the collaboration between government and the financial services sector to make a success of the Dormant Assets Scheme
- Last year, the government committed between the four named causes of the Scheme – financial inclusion, youth, social investment and community wealth funds – to break down barriers and drive growth as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
- Participants in today’s roundtable included representatives from JP Morgan, Schroders, AON, Jupiter Asset Management, Aberdeen Group, alongside industry champions from across banking, investment, wealth management, insurance and pensions sectors.
June 3, 2025
Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments on the Strategic Defence Review

The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, in Scotland on 2 June 2025.

Good morning to all of you, thank you for being here this morning –

Thank you for sharing the work that you are doing here, some of which we can see right behind us.

Because this is a legendary Govan shipyard.

And it’s really good to be able to be here in this massive space, and to be back on the Clyde.

As you may have seen a couple of months ago –

Just after dawn, on a drizzly morning –

If you can believe it –

I took a boat out onto the firth,

To meet one of our vanguard-class submarines…

As it came back in off patrol.

And it was a record-breaking patrol.

And we boarded the sub. It had just surfaced. It had been at sea…

Maintaining our continuous-at-sea deterrent…

For months on end –

A really long shift –

And met what was quite a remarkable crew.

And I will remember that day for the rest of my life.

Because it was very clear to me that there is no greater duty than the one that they carry –

No task more vital.

Our security…

NATO’s security…

Depends on them.

And I had the privilege of being shown around and talked to many teams on the sub…

Saw them rushing to their battle stations to conduct a firing drill…

And wherever I went on the sub, whichever team I was talking to…

From the engineers, the cooks, the navigators –

Over and over again –

There was a sort of unofficial motto that they told me – their motto:

“Nothing works unless we all work together.”

And in this moment of danger and threat for our country –

That is the spirit we need.

The Strategic Defence Review that I am launching today…

Will bring that unity of purpose to the whole of the United Kingdom…

To mobilise the nation in a common cause…

Recognising, in these dangerous times,

That when it comes to the defence of the realm…

And the defence of everything we hold dear…

Nothing works unless we all work together.

From every man and woman serving in uniform,

To the workers building the next generation of subs in Barrow…

From the brilliant workers and apprentices right here in Govan…

Building the new Type 26 frigates – like the two you can see being built behind me today…

To our tech experts, our scientists, our engineers –

Who are pioneering battlefield innovations and cyber defences –

Every part of society…

Every citizen of this country…

Has a role to play.

Because we have to recognise that things have changed.

In the world of today –

The front line, if you like, is here.

The threat we now face is more serious, more immediate and more unpredictable…

Than at any time since the Cold War.

We face war in Europe, new nuclear risks, daily cyber attacks…

Growing Russian aggression in our waters…

Menacing our skies…

Their reckless actions driving up the cost of living here at home…

Creating economic pain…

And hitting working people the hardest.

A new era in the threats we face,

Demands a new era for defence and security…

Not just to survive in this new world –

But to lead.

We will never gamble with our national security.

Instead, we will act –

In the national interest.

And that’s why I placed national security…

At the heart of our Plan for Change…

That’s why I launched this Strategic Defence Review…

Within days of becoming Prime Minster.

And now it has delivered.

And I want to thank the reviewers –

Especially Lord Robertson who is with us today.

Thank you so much for your work and the work of the other reviewers.

What you have delivered is a blueprint to make Britain safer and stronger:

A battle-ready, armour-clad nation…

With the strongest alliances…

And the most advanced capabilities –

Equipped for the decades to come.

And we have already acted –

Announcing the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War.

Raising it to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 –

Setting the ambition to hit 3% in the next Parliament…

Subject to economic and fiscal conditions.

And today – following through on this review –

I want to set out three fundamental changes that we’re going to deliver.

First, we are moving to warfighting readiness –

As the central purpose of our armed forces.

When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces…

The most effective way to deter them is to be ready –

And, frankly, to show them that we’re ready –

To deliver peace through strength.

Now Britain has the finest service men and women in the world.

We’re showing them the respect that they deserve

By delivering the biggest Armed Forces pay rise in 20 years,

And by pledging, today, that we will end the hollowing out of our Armed Forces.

We’ll build a fighting force that is more integrated, more ready, more lethal than ever –

Backed by a stronger Strategic Reserve – fully trained and ready to mobilise at any time.

Second, everything we do will add to the strength of NATO,

As we step up to take greater responsibility for our collective defence.

The NATO alliance means something profound:

That we will never fight alone.

It is a fundamental source of our strategic strength.

That’s why our defence policy will always be “NATO first.”

Something that is written through this review.

The transformation we are driving in our defence must add up to…

Britain’s biggest contribution to NATO since its creation.

So that when we are building new capabilities at home –

We are making our allies safer too –

Strengthening Europe –

And strengthening our bridge to the US,

As Britain’s first partner in defence.

Third, we will innovate and accelerate innovation to a wartime pace…

So we can meet the threats of today and tomorrow…

As the fastest innovator in NATO.

Now this doesn’t mean replacing people or hardware –

Quite the opposite –

It means learning the lessons of Ukraine, which I have discussed many times with President Zelenskyy…

To ensure every capability we have works seamlessly together –

Drones, destroyers, AI, aircraft…

Each different branch of our armed services…

Fully integrated…

To create an Army which is ten times more lethal by 2035.

And in delivering all of this –

We are more ambitious than ever for the change it can bring.

To deliver…

Not just security for our country –

But renewal too.

After the Cold War, many nations cut defence spending,

Freeing up public funds…

Creating what was called a “peace dividend”

Which people felt in their public services and the quality of their lives.

Faced with new circumstances today –

We must deliver for working people again –

To seize, now,

A “defence dividend” for the British people…

Using this moment to drive jobs and investment…

Throughout the country –

Like here in Govan…

Providing local opportunities, skilled work – community pride.

Ensuring that everyone across the United Kingdom has a role to play in this effort, yes –

But, also, that everyone has a stake in its success.

And – I want to spell this out very simply…

To achieve this…

We’re going to build.

We’re going to use this investment –

And this once-in-a-generation reform…

To drive renewal up and down the nation…

Creating new jobs…

Creating skills and opportunity…

Driving huge growth in industrial capacity.

Let me give just one or two examples.

I can announce today…

That we are going to build at least six new munitions factories in the United Kingdom –

Generating over 1,000 jobs.

We will build thousands of new long-range weapons in the United Kingdom…

To boost European deterrence…

Supporting around 800 more jobs.

We will defend our homeland…

By investing in our air and missile defence –

To better protect these islands.

We will create a hybrid Royal Navy…

Blending drones with warships, submarines, and aircraft to patrol the North Atlantic and beyond –

Supporting thousands of brilliant shipbuilding jobs –

Including right here in Govan.

Under our Aukus alliance with the US and Australia…

We will now deliver up to 12 attack submarines –

Protecting Britain’s waters…

Scaling up the industrial base in Barrow –

And all along the supply chain…

To deliver a new sub every 18 months –

Again, creating thousands of jobs.

We will also invest in world-leading drone capabilities and battlefield technology…

In better kit for our warriors abroad…

And better housing for them and their families at home.

And – finally…

I can confirm today that we are investing £15 billion…

In our sovereign warhead programme…

To secure our deterrent for decades to come –

Creating 9,000 jobs…

And thousands more in the supply chain across the country,

Part of the historic renewal of our nuclear deterrent –

As the ultimate guarantor of our safety and our security.

The moment has arrived –

To transform how we defend ourselves…

And to renew our nation –

An investment in British pride and the British people…

A defence dividend –

That will be felt in the pockets of working people…

And the prosperity of the country…

Securing growth for generations to come…

Part of a new contract to unite the Kingdom…

A new spirit of service, flowing from every part of society –

From the supply lines to the front lines –

Everyone benefitting, everyone playing their role –

Doing their duty to the nation and to each other –

To preserve our way of life –

And the things that we hold dear…

Because when it comes to security and renewal:

Nothing works unless we all work together.

Thank you very much indeed.

June 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New UK-Moroccan partnerships to grow UK economy [June 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 June 2025.

Foreign Secretary in Morocco to forge new business opportunities with Morocco.
- British companies front of the queue to deliver infrastructure for the 2030 FIFA World Cup – injecting money into the UK economy
- game-changing deals with ministries of water, health, and trade, unlocking contracts in a market where public procurement opportunities are estimated at around £33bn over the next three years, including a £1.2bn Casablanca Airport project, with UK companies a key part of Morocco’s ‘Airports 2030’ programme
- agreement to partner with Morocco’s national healthcare transformation reforms, worth over £2bn, will create opportunities for UK health sector and a new £150m hospital project, for UK finance and clinical expertise to deliver a 250-bed hospital in Casablanca, will drive revenue for an NHS trust
The UK has strengthened its partnership with Morocco advancing our relationship worth over £4 billion annually and unlocking opportunities for UK businesses during Foreign Secretary visit to Morocco, ahead of 2030 World Cup.

As part of the Government’s drive to boost economic growth, the UK and Morocco have announced a series of agreements to deepen collaboration and build business ties between both countries delivering its Plan for Change to boost growth, create jobs and put more money in people’s pockets.

The Foreign Secretary has signed a series of partnerships unlocking opportunities for UK businesses in projects across the country, where public procurement opportunities are estimated at around £33bn over the next three years. This includes the possibility of infrastructure firms supporting World Cup host cities such Marrakech, Casablanca, and Rabat.

This will put British businesses at the front of the queue to secure contracts to build Moroccan infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup – injecting money into the construction sector. Since the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, UK expertise and industry has been involved in every major global sporting tournament. Today’s deal places British businesses in an advantageous position to support the 2030 World Cup, continuing Britain’s strong legacy of delivering sporting infrastructure and enduring impact.

Other announcements include closer UK-Morocco cooperation on migration, counterterrorism, and joint action to tackle water scarcity and climate change, delivering greater security and green growth opportunities for both countries.

A cooperation agreement on water and ports infrastructure, worth up to £200m, will promote UK expertise in sustainable water management, smart logistics, and green port technologies. An agreement on procurement will create a unique foundation for UK companies to access public tenders in Morocco, with national treatment exemptions ensuring a level playing field for UK innovation and expertise.

The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:

Africa has one of the greatest growth potentials of any continent – this young, dynamic population makes the continent an engine room for growth.

Growth and prosperity will underpin our relationship Morocco and beyond, helping forge new opportunities at home and abroad.

That is why I am visiting the country, to foster new business relationships between the UK and Morocco, and deliver on our commitment to strengthen our economy. These announcements mean UK businesses will be able to score big in the delivery of the 2030 World Cup.

The UK has chosen to endorse autonomy within the Moroccan state as the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a mutually-agreed and lasting solution to the Western Sahara dispute, one that can deliver on our commitments to conflict resolution in the region and self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.

Minister for Trade Policy, Douglas Alexander said:

Morocco is becoming an increasingly important trade and investment partner for the UK.

Growth is this government’s top priority and stronger ties with economies like Morocco will pave the way for new opportunities, supporting British businesses and creating jobs.

UK companies are already securing major commercial wins in Morocco, playing a vital role in delivering critical infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup.

As part of the visit, the Government has announced that it will adopt a new UK policy position towards Western Sahara. The conflict, ongoing for almost 50 years, has undermined stability and stifled prosperity in the region particularly for the Sahrawi refugees in the Tindouf camps.

As a member of the UN Security Council, and as a friend to countries across the region, the UK’s new position seeks to support a mutually-agreed solution to the conflict that supports the UN-led process and respects the principle of self-determination. Approaching the 50-year anniversary of the conflict, it is vital that we leverage this window of opportunity to secure a lasting solution to the dispute, and one that delivers a better future for the people of the Western Saharah.

The Foreign Secretary’s visit to Morocco is part of the Government’s agenda to reboot cooperation with countries across the continent, underpinned by the UK’s Progressive Realist approach to Foreign Affairs. Across Africa, this means building genuine partnerships that are rooted in mutual respect across trade and investment, security, and tackling the drivers of irregular migration.

The visit will be used to announce a new deal for the UK healthcare sector to supply equipment to hospitals and medical centres across the country. The deal represents a boost to the UK exports of medical and life sciences equipment, with Morocco due to spend up to £2.8 billion pounds to transform their health care system.

The Foreign Secretary is attending the Ibrahim Governance Weekend (IGW) in Marrakech where he will meet with counterparts and leaders from across the African continent to discuss shared challenges including security, defence and the climate crisis.
June 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Landmark government trial shows AI could save civil servants nearly 2 weeks a year [June 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 2 June 2025.

More than 20,000 civil servants took part in a government-led trial using generative AI to support their daily work – with early results showing time savings equivalent to nearly 2 working weeks per person, per year.
- Over 20,000 civil servants were given the latest AI tech for 3 months, using it to draft documents, summarise meetings and more
- from policy officials using it to cut through jargon and streamline consultations, to Work Coaches speeding up support for job seekers – officials said the tech boosted their ability to deliver the Plan for Change
- comes as expansive research shows half of office work can be helped by AI, as government continues push to save £45 billion by creating a lean, modern state using tech
AI can significantly reduce time spent on government tasks – freeing up time, capacity and boosting productivity, with a landmark trial of 20,000 civil servants showing they could save nearly 2 weeks each annually by using the technology.

This is the equivalent of giving 1,130 people a full year back – every year – to focus on higher-value tasks, innovation or public service impact, rather than admin-based work – with the potential for this to rise significantly if used across the entire civil service, transforming productivity and public service delivery at scale.

The findings show the use of AI across the Civil Service will directly support the government’s Plan for Change by driving innovation, fostering economic growth, and modernising how public services operate.

The trial found that using generative AI such as Microsoft 365 Copilot to assist with everyday tasks – including drafting documents, summarising lengthy emails, updating records, and preparing reports – saved users an average of 26 minutes per day. That adds to nearly 2 weeks of time saved per year per person, delivering a significant productivity boost when scaled across the public workforce.

At Companies House, staff use Copilot to handle routine customer queries and speed up tasks like drafting responses and updating records. At the Department for Work and Pensions, work coaches are using it to personalise advice for jobseekers – helping them get faster, more tailored support.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle highlighted the findings in a keynote discussion at SXSW London today, where he joined former Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss reimagining government and public service delivery in the age of AI.

Commenting on the results he said:

These findings show that AI isn’t just a future promise – it’s a present reality. Whether it’s helping draft documents, preparing lesson plans, or cutting down on routine admin, AI tools are saving civil servants time every day. That means we can focus more on delivering faster, more personalised support where it really counts.

As we deliver our Plan for Change, we’re backing innovation like this to boost productivity and growth – not just in the private sector, but in public services too. AI is changing the way government operates, helping us work smarter, reduce red tape, and make better use of taxpayers’ money.

Darren Hardman, CEO, Microsoft UK said:

AI is the most transformative technology of our time and we’re already seeing its potential to reshape public service delivery. Whether that’s DWP work coaches helping more jobseekers into work, local authorities improving social care for the most vulnerable in society or NHS clinicians with more time to see patients, the potential is profound.

As a strategic technology partner to the UK government, we have an amazing opportunity to help improve both the quality of the services people receive and the way they access them. This could unlock new levels of growth, efficiency, and innovation for the country.

The government’s Microsoft 365 Copilot experiment shows what’s possible when people are empowered with the right tools: 26 mins per day (almost 2 weeks per year) less time on admin, more time delivering what matters. And the really exciting part is, this is just the beginning.

A DWP Work Coach involved in the trial said:

Using Copilot, I was able to help a self-employed customer – Customer X – revitalise her small business. Together, we created tailored social media posts to boost her online presence and used AI to identify cost-saving opportunities. Within a week, she’d secured 7 new client bookings. She’s now using Copilot to streamline admin and manage bookings – freeing up time to grow her business. It’s a powerful example of how AI can deliver real results for the people we support.

Complementing these findings, research from the Alan Turing Institute published today finds that AI could support up to 41% of tasks across the public sector, offering significant time savings. In schools, for example, teachers spend nearly 100 minutes a day on lesson planning – up to 75% of which could be supported by AI, freeing more time for the classroom. Civil servants spend around 30 minutes daily on emails, where AI could cut this effort by over 70%. From drafting documents to updating records, the research shows AI is well-placed to handle routine admin – supporting public servants across departments.

This forms part of the government’s broader effort to modernise the state and achieve £45 billion in savings by making public services faster, simpler, and more accessible—across health, education, and beyond – while rolling out digital tools like the GOV.UK App, Chat, and Wallet, and tackling outdated legacy systems that currently cost billions in lost productivity.

Notes to editors

Figures are derived from self-reported daily time savings provided by participants, averaged across the full cohort of 20,000 individuals.

The £45 billion figure is composed of 3 main levers:
1. Simplify and automate delivery across public sector (£36 billion)
2. Migrate service processing to cheaper online channels (£4billion)
3. Reduce fraud and error with digital compliance solutions (£6 billion)
June 2, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Redesigned flight paths to deliver quicker, quieter flights and boost growth [June 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 2 June 2025.

Modernising our airspace will help to reduce pollution from flying and help pave the way for new technologies like flying taxis.
- passengers will benefit from quicker flights and fewer delays, while residents could enjoy quieter take-offs through new government plans
- redesigned flight paths will create more direct and efficient routes, propel airport expansion and turbocharge growth as part of the Plan for Change
- plans will help to reduce aviation’s climate change impacts and help pave the way for new technologies like flying taxis to take to the skies, delivering a boost for innovation and jobs
Holiday-makers will enjoy quicker flights and fewer delays as part of new laws set out today (2 June 2025) to open up new and more direct routes, propel airport expansion and boost growth.

The changes laid in Parliament today will enable the largest redesign of UK airspace since it was first formed in the 1950s, when there were only around 200,000 flights per year, compared to 2.7 million in 2024. The new UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) will be fully operational by the end of 2025 and will be run by NATS (En Route) plc (NERL).

Modernising the airspace will open up capacity, supporting growth and thousands of jobs in the aviation and tourism sectors, as well as reducing delays and emissions per flight resulting from planes circling in the sky while waiting to land.

Redesigned ‘skyways’ could also allow planes to climb quicker during take-off and descend more smoothly, reducing noise and air pollution for residents who live along flight routes.

The UKADS’ initial focus will be on redesigning London’s airspace, with expansion at Heathrow alone expected to create over 100,000 extra jobs, turbocharge economic growth, strengthen the UK’s status as a global hub and deliver major benefits for airlines and passengers.

Over a longer timeframe, the UKADS could design routes that support flight paths for new and emerging technologies such as drones and flying taxis, spurring British innovation and delivering highly skilled jobs in the tech space.

The Department for Transport will continue working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to ensure the swift delivery of these new and improved routes, as well as to ensure independent oversight of the UKADS roll-out.

Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, said:

Redesigned ‘skyways’ will turbocharge growth in the aviation industry, not least by boosting airport expansion plans and supporting job creation, driving millions into the UK economy as part of the Plan for Change.

Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying and will set the industry up for a long-term, sustainable future.

The measures will help secure the long-term future of the sector and make it more resilient to disruption. The plans come as global forecasts show a near doubling of passengers and cargo in the next 20 years.

One modernisation measure in the south west of England has already been estimated to save 12,000 tonnes a year, enough to power 7 trips around the world, with further modernisation plans expected to deliver even greater results.

Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

Modernising our airspace infrastructure is key to enabling the growth of the sector and helping mitigate its impacts.

Our work with government and stakeholders on the creation of the UK Airspace Design Service is another important step in the journey to streamline and improve confidence in the ability to deliver airspace change decisions.

Martin Rolfe, CEO of NATS, said:

The UK’s airspace network is one of the busiest and most complex in the world. We handle a quarter of Europe’s traffic despite having only 11% of its airspace, with one of the best safety and delay records anywhere. However, we have to modernise airspace if we are to maintain this level of performance as traffic grows towards 3 million flights per year.

The government’s announcement to create a UK Airspace Design Service is a crucial step, building on the work we’ve already completed in other parts of the UK. We look forward to working with the government and the CAA to finalise the details regarding the best way to implement the plan and the processes required to ensure UKADS is successful.

Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, the trade association for UK airports, said:

The UK’s airspace is a critical piece of our national infrastructure and these proposals will help modernise it, bringing forward new technologies and routing methods that will make it more efficient, cleaner, and provide passengers with a better experience.

Our airspace is some of the most complex in the world and we welcome the new UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) that will bring together all the parties involved to help overcome some of the challenges this creates.

Airports have led the calls for this approach to be adopted and we are pleased that government is fast-tracking it for implementation by the end of the year. Our members, firstly in the London area and then perhaps more widely across the UK, look forward to getting to work with UKADS to deliver the changes that will make our airspace fit for the 21st century.

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said:

Modernising UK airspace is long overdue and these changes will help to speed up a programme that will provide tangible reforms, from a reduction in delays, improved resilience and lower carbon emissions.

This is a major priority for airlines and we look forward to working with Ministers and all parts of UK aviation to complete a once in a generation infrastructure programme as quickly as possible and ideally by the end of the decade, so we can continue delivering for passengers and cargo customers whilst meeting our commitment to net zero.

Alison FitzGerald, Chief Executive Officer of London City Airport, said:

We welcome the government’s support for airport growth and the recognition of the economic and societal benefits that air travel brings to the UK. London and the South East has some of the most complex airspace in the world, and this announcement will help create the conditions for a more modern, efficient, and sustainable airspace system.

Modernising our airspace is essential to unlocking future growth, reducing delays, cutting emissions, and improving the passenger experience. We look forward to working closely with government, industry partners and local communities to deliver these vital changes.

Heathrow’s Chief Operating Officer, Javier Echave, said:

This is an important step to making UK aviation more modern, efficient, and reliable for the millions of people and businesses who rely on available airspace capacity. As the UK’s gateway to growth, we are committed to continue working with the government to unlock the economic benefits of an expanded UK airspace, while cutting carbon and noise impacts.
June 2, 2025
NEWS STORY : UK to Build Up to 12 New Attack Submarines Under Strategic Defence Review
STORY

The UK Government today confirmed plans to significantly expand its nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarine fleet, ordering up to 12 next-generation SSN-AUKUS boats. The announcement, made by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey, follows recommendations in the newly published Strategic Defence Review calling for a shift toward “warfighting readiness” to deter mounting global threats.

Under the AUKUS partnership with the United States and Australia, the Royal Navy’s submarine force—currently seven Astute-class vessels—will be reinforced by these new SSN-AUKUS boats, which will begin construction in Barrow-in-Furness in the late 2020s and enter service in the late 2030s. The UK will also invest an additional £15 billion in its sovereign nuclear warhead programme to ensure the effectiveness of its strategic deterrent submarines for the coming decades.

The Strategic Defence Review, led by former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, comprises 62 proposals to modernise Britain’s Armed Forces. Key points include:
- Warfighting Posture: A permanent shift from “expeditionary” to “warfighting” readiness, emphasising rapid response against high-intensity threats, particularly from Russia and China.
- Submarine Expansion: Doubling the planned submarine fleet to twelve SSN-AUKUS vessels, enhancing undersea surveillance, special-forces deployment, and strike-capable platforms equipped to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles.
- Nuclear Warhead Upgrade: A £15 billion commitment to develop a new warhead design, securing the UK’s at-sea deterrent well into the 2050s.
- Munitions & Industry: Funds allocated for six new munitions factories producing up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons, safeguarding around 800 defence industry jobs and ensuring stockpile resilience.
- Cyber & Electronic Warfare: Creation of a unified Cyber and Electromagnetic Command to coordinate offensive and defensive cyber capabilities, alongside advanced electronic-warfare systems.
- Modern Technologies: Accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence, autonomy, hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, with new R&D facilities and partnerships with domestic tech firms.
- Defence Spending: A pledge to raise defence outlays from 2.2 percent of GDP today to 2.5 percent by 2027, with an ambition to reach 3 percent in the next parliamentary cycle.
Defence Secretary John Healey stressed that the larger submarine fleet, combined with the warhead upgrade, will “ensure the UK remains one of the most potent undersea powers in the world” and will “send a clear signal to any adversary that British deterrence is unwavering.” He added that the influx of new contracts into Barrow-in-Furness and other shipyards will “provide a decade of secure, high-skilled jobs” while bolstering the nation’s sovereign shipbuilding capacity.

Prime Minister Starmer underlined that this investment forms part of his “Plan for Change” agenda, aimed not only at protecting the UK but also at driving economic growth. “By committing to twelve SSN-AUKUS submarines,” he said, “we’re not only deterring those who would threaten our security, but also creating thousands of good jobs and revitalising Britain’s defence industrial base.”

Additional measures within the Review call for reversing previous troop cuts, improving military housing, and bolstering recruitment to address shortfalls in the Army and Royal Air Force. While some funding details remain subject to future budgetary approval, the Government has accepted all recommendations in full, signaling a decisive pivot toward higher readiness and strategic resilience. Construction on the first SSN-AUKUS boat is expected to begin in 2028, with the full twelve-submarine fleet scheduled for delivery by the early 2040s. In the interim, the UK will continue to operate its seven Astute-class attack submarines and maintain its Vanguard-class ballistic-missile submarines as its strategic nuclear deterrent.
June 2, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK to expand submarine programme in response to Strategic Defence Review [June 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 1 June 2025.
- UK to build up to 12 attack submarines as part of AUKUS programme in response to the rapidly increasing threats
- Builds on £15 billion investment set out for the UK’s sovereign nuclear warhead programme, keeping the UK safe for generations to come and delivering on the Plan for Change
- Nuclear investments will transform critical parts of the defence nuclear industry, directly supporting 30,000 highly skilled jobs up-and-down the country and the doubling of apprentice and graduate roles across the next ten years.
The Prime Minister will announce tomorrow that the UK’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet will be significantly expanded, with up to 12 new SSN-AUKUS boats to be built.

The increase in submarines will transform the UK’s submarine building industry and, following the £15 billion investment in the warhead programme outlined, will deliver on this government’s Plan for Change, supporting 30,000 highly skilled jobs up-and-down the country well into the 2030s, as well as helping work to deliver 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the next ten years.

The announcement comes as the government unveils its new Strategic Defence Review tomorrow. The externally-led review is expected to recommend that our Armed Forces move to warfighting readiness to deter the growing threats faced by the UK. The report makes 62 recommendations, which the government is expected to accept in full.

Responding to the report, the government will make significant commitments to its armed forces and deliver greater security for working people through the government’s Plan for Change.

That includes:
- A landmark shift in our deterrence and defence: moving to warfighting readiness to deter threats and strengthen security in the Euro Atlantic area;
- Increasing stockpiles of munitions and support equipment, ensuring that production capacities can rapidly scale up in response to crises or war;
- The procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons for the UK Armed Forces, supporting around 800 defence jobs, and boosting our military capabilities
- A new CyberEM Command to put the UK at the forefront of cyber operations, alongside £1bn investment in pioneering digital capability; and
- Improving the lives of thousands of British military personnel and their families through more than £1.5 billion of additional funding to repair and renew armed forces housing.
The Prime Minister is expected to say:

From the supply lines to the front lines, this government is foursquare behind the men and women upholding our nation’s freedom and security.

National security is the foundation of my Plan for Change, and this plan will ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering a defence dividend of well-paid jobs up and down the country.

This Strategic Defence Review will ensure the UK rises to the challenge and our Armed Forces have the equipment they need that keeps us safe at home while driving greater opportunity for our engineers, shipbuilders and technicians of the future.

Alongside the commitment to expand the UK’s conventionally armed attack submarine fleet, the government is securing the future of the Royal Navy’s Continuous At Sea Nuclear Deterrent, backed by a £15 billion investment into the sovereign warhead programme in this parliament and supporting more than 9,000 jobs.

It is the first time the UK has outlined the full scale of its investment plans in its warhead programmes and is further evidence of the Government’s triple lock commitment to the nuclear deterrent: to maintain our continuous at-sea deterrent; to build the new fleet of Dreadnought submarines; and to deliver all future upgrades necessary.

This will see significant modernisation of infrastructure at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston and supporting more than 9,000 jobs at the Berkshire site, and thousands more across the UK supply chain – from Scotland to Somerset.

The nuclear warhead programme includes some of the most advanced and sensitive science, engineering and manufacturing facilities in the UK.

Both the UK’s sovereign warhead programme and the UK’s conventionally-armed submarine fleet will make Britain and NATO safe for decades to come.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression.

With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering on our Plan for Change with 30,000 highly-skilled jobs across the country.

Already supporting more than 400,000 skilled British jobs, UK defence is a crucial engine for economic growth, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change – supported by the Government’s historic uplift in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from 2027, and the ambition to hit 3% in the next parliament, when economic and fiscal conditionals allow.

Currently the UK is set to operate 7 Astute Class attack submarines, which will be replaced with an increased fleet of up to 12 SSN-AUKUS submarines from the late 2030s.

The boost to the SSN-AUKUS programme will see a major expansion of industrial capability at Barrow and Raynesway, Derby, with the build of a new submarine every 18 months in the future.

The increase in capacity at the two sites will allow the UK to increase its fleet to up to 12 attack boats, as part of the AUKUS partnership.

To ensure the demands of this expanded programme can be met, government is working closely with industry partners to rapidly expand training and development opportunities, aiming to double defence and civil nuclear apprentice and graduate intakes. This will result in 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles over the next ten years.

The SDR calls for significant investment into the UK sovereign warhead programme this parliament, while maintaining the existing stockpile.
June 2, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New munitions factories and long-range weapons to back nearly 2000 jobs under Strategic Defence Review [June 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 1 June 2025.

Procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons and £1.5 billion to build at least six munitions and energetics factories.
- Work to create more than 1,000 new jobs and support around 800 more across the UK, driving defence as an engine for economic growth and supporting the Plan for Change.
- Delivers the Strategic Defence Review’s focus on warfighting readiness to deter and follows historic uplift in defence spending.
The UK will build at least six new munitions and energetics factories and thousands more long-range weapons to strengthen Britain’s Armed Forces and create new jobs across the country.

Through the Strategic Defence Review – published in the coming days – the UK’s defence and deterrence is being bolstered with thousands of long-range weapons and a new £1.5 billion government investment in munitions and energetics factories.

Together the investment will back around 1,800 highly-skilled jobs across the UK, putting money in the pockets of working people, and supporting the government’s Plan for Change by driving growth in every region and nation.

The SDR recommends creating an ‘always on’ munitions production capacity in the UK allowing production to be scaled up at speed if needed. It says the MOD should also lay the industrial foundations for an uplift in munitions stockpiles to meet the demand of high-tempo warfare.

Taking the lessons from Ukraine which shows that our military is only as strong as the industry that stands behind it, the measures will boost British jobs while improving the warfighting readiness of both British Armed Forces and industry.

The additional funding will see UK munitions spend hit £6 billion this Parliament. It follows the Prime Minister’s historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, recognising the critical importance of military readiness in an era of heightened global uncertainty.

Commitments include:
- £1.5 billion in an “always on” pipeline for munitions and building at least 6 new energetics and munitions factories in the UK. Creating more than 1,000 skilled manufacturing jobs, the factories will produce munitions and energetics, which are key components of weapons, including propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics.
- Up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons for the UK Armed Forces, supporting around 800 defence jobs.The lessons from Ukraine demonstrate the importance of long-range weaponry and boosting our military capabilities.
The SDR sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform defence and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad. It ends the hollowing out of our Armed Forces and will also drive innovation, jobs and growth across the country, allowing the UK to lead in a stronger NATO.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

The hard-fought lessons from Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine show a military is only as strong as the industry that stands behind them.

We are strengthening the UK’s industrial base to better deter our adversaries and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad.

We will embrace the Strategic Defence Review; making defence an engine for economic growth and boosting skilled jobs in every nation and region as part of our Government’s Plan for Change.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

A strong economy needs a strong national defence, and investing in weaponry and munitions and backing nearly 2,000 jobs across Britain in doing so is proof the two go hand-in-hand.

We are delivering both security for working people in an uncertain world and good jobs, putting more money in people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change.

The new investments will form an ‘always-on’ approach for priority munitions. They will provide a steady drumbeat of investment to industry sustaining a thriving defence industrial base that drives growth and jobs to deliver on the Plan for Change, while strengthening the UK’s commitment to NATO.

The funding will help transform the UK’s Armed Forces readiness and ability to endure in prolonged campaigns, providing the industrial foundations needed to support our Armed Forces in warfare, as demonstrated by the conflict in Ukraine.
June 2, 2025