Blog

PRESS RELEASE : Government steps up drive to reconnect young people with £1.6 billion in unclaimed savings
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 29 June 2026.

Taskforce set up by government to encourage young people to claim their Child Trust Funds.
- Nationwide, HSBC UK, Sheffield Mutual and One Family among members of new taskforce meeting for first time as government takes action to reunite young people with unclaimed Child Trust Funds
- The Taskforce will improve coordination across government and industry to encourage more young people to access their unclaimed matured funds
- More than 750,000 young people have unclaimed accounts worth £2,200 on average
Hundreds of thousands of young people could soon be reunited with unclaimed savings worth more than £1.6 billion, as the government launches a new push to trace matured Child Trust Funds (CTFs).

Around 6.3 million Child Trust Fund accounts were opened for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, predominantly by parents and guardians, with the remainder established by HMRC. Accounts can go unclaimed for a number of reasons difficulty locating them, people forget they have them, or a decision to leave the funds invested for the time being.

Child Trust Funds were introduced to give every child a financial asset at adulthood, and this government is doing everything it can to make sure young adults are aware of and can access their accounts.

To make this happen, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Rachel Blake MP, has convened a new Child Trust Fund Taskforce, bringing together CTF providers and the Government to drive a coordinated effort to increase reunification of accounts.

Members of the Taskforce will include One Family, Coutts, Nationwide, HSBC UK, Pilling, The Coventry (Co-operative), Sheffield Mutual, Unity Mutual, Forester, Healthy Investments and The Share Foundation – with the first meeting happening today.

More than 750,000 young adults still have unclaimed matured accounts, holding £2,200 on average. The funds were originally set up by the government for those born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. The Taskforce will improve coordination across government and industry to encourage more young people to access their unclaimed matured CTFs. 

Rachel Blake, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said:

Too many young people are missing out simply because they are not aware of where their Child Trust Fund is or how to access it.

We are acting to fix that by bringing government and industry together – improving coordination and making it easier for people to find and claim what’s rightfully theirs.

JP Marks, HMRC’s Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, said:

Many young people have Child Trust Fund accounts with an average £2,200 waiting to be claimed. This is their money, and we want to do all we can to help them find and access it.

If you think you have one, you can use the ‘Find my Child Trust Fund’ tool on GOV.UK to find out where your account is held.

The Taskforce will bring providers together to improve tracing approaches, test more effective engagement with young people, and drive practical actions that lead to more accounts being claimed.

Today’s move builds on existing action to tackle unclaimed matured accounts, including ongoing HMRC communications campaigns and direct letters going out to eligible 21-year-olds.

Anyone born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011 can search for their account on GOV.UK. The search is free, requires only a National Insurance number, and takes minutes. Those aged 18 or over can access funds immediately.

Jim Islam, Chief Executive Officer, OneFamily, said:

We welcome the creation of the Child Trust Fund Taskforce to help more young people access their savings. We know from our own experience that making this process as easy as possible is essential and we look forward to working together with government and industry partners.

Child Trust Funds have already provided a valuable financial boost to millions of individuals who have claimed their accounts as they enter adulthood, making a real difference to people’s lives.

We’re committed to playing our part in helping people who have not yet claimed. Anyone born after 1 September 2002 who has already turned 18 will have a Child Trust Fund, and can search for their account on the government website.

Philip Kurtenbach, Head of Product Management & Governance, Wealth & PB, HSBC UK said:

At HSBC UK, we’re committed to putting customers at the heart of everything we do. We know that having a fund to support young people as they start adult life can make a real difference – opening up opportunities at a pivotal moment in their lives. That’s why we’re supporting the HMT Taskforce as the industry comes together to ensure the funds reach those they were intended for.

Richard Stocker, Head of Savings, Nationwide said:

Nationwide is pleased to be part of the Child Trust Fund taskforce and fully supports its aims. We remain committed to working collaboratively across the industry to build on the progress made so far and deliver a meaningful outcome on this important issue.

Notes to editors
- The Child Trust Fund scheme was introduced in 2005 to give every child a financial asset for the future. It applied to eligible children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, with the Government making a payment into each account.
- Accounts began maturing on 1 September 2020, and more than 750,000 matured accounts remain unclaimed, with an average value of about £2,200. Many eligible young people, now aged 15 to 23, may not know they have an account. The total value of unclaimed funds runs into hundreds of millions of pounds.
- The Taskforce aims to break down barriers to opportunity and give young people the best start to adult life. It also aligns with the National Youth Strategy, which identifies financial insecurity as a key pressure and calls for practical action.
30/06/2026
NEWS STORY : Illegal Waste Cleared From West Yorkshire Site After Court Action

STORY

An illegal waste site in West Yorkshire has been cleared after court action brought by the Environment Agency.

Andrew Leadbeater, 57, pleaded guilty in April to two charges relating to waste offences at a site in Wyke Lane, Wyke, Bradford. West Yorkshire Magistrates’ Court ordered him to clear the land of rubbish by 17 June.

Complaints about fly-tipping and burning at the site were first made to the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in 2023. During a visit by the council in June that year, Leadbeater said some of the waste had been fly-tipped on his land and admitted burning material at the site. He said he would stop burning and arrange for the land to be cleared.

In June 2024, Leadbeater contacted the council to complain that fly-tipping had again taken place on his land. Council officers visited and found a significant amount of waste before referring the case to the Environment Agency.

Environment Agency officers later spoke to Leadbeater, who said he knew about the waste but did not know who had deposited it. He said he had tried to secure the site and agreed to remove the waste urgently.

Follow-up visits in November 2024 and March 2025 found the waste had not been removed. The Environment Agency then issued a notice requiring Leadbeater to clear all waste from the land by 22 September 2025, but he failed to comply. He also failed to attend an interview with the Environment Agency in October 2025.

Leadbeater was charged with operating a waste site without an environmental permit and failing to comply with an Environment Agency notice to clear the waste. The rubbish included fire-damaged trailers and mixed household waste.

He was given two months to clear the site, along with a 12-month conditional discharge and £6,067.50 in costs.

Ben Hocking, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, said illegal waste operations had a negative impact on residents’ lives and welcomed the full clearance of the site. He said the case showed the agency was taking action against waste crime and urged anyone with information about unlawful waste activity to report it.

The Environment Agency said it is stepping up action on waste crime through a new 10 Point Plan, which aims to strengthen prevention, improve detection and deliver more consistent enforcement.

30/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Burundi [June 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 June 2026.

UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Burundi. Delivered at the 62nd Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you Mr Vice President.

The United Kingdom thanks the Special Rapporteur for his update. We recognise the importance of his mandate and encourage the government of Burundi to grant the Special Rapporteur access.

The UK is concerned by ongoing reports of shrinking civic space, and the suppression of opposition voices in Burundi. As we approach the 2027 election, we ask the government of Burundi to ensure all Burundian people can exercise their democratic rights, and express their views peacefully, without fear of intimidation.

We note with concern the broader humanitarian and regional context, including pressure arising from displacement. We welcome Burundi’s efforts to host refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and the UK has provided £2.3million through the World Food Programme to support these efforts.

Mr Vice President, the recent Ebola outbreak in the region is of deep concern. The UK has announced £800,000 of financial support to strengthen preparedness, as any spread to Burundi would pose a serious risk to its people.

Special Rapporteur, ahead of next year’s elections and in the context of regional conflict and health insecurity, how can the international community support Burundi to uphold civil liberties and democracy?

Thank you

30/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 62: UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of the Congo [June 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 June 2026.

UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Delivered at the 62nd Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr Vice President.

The UK welcomes the Commission of Inquiry’s initial deployments and thanks the Commissioners for their update. We underline the importance of the Commission’s work continuing without further delay and welcome the Democratic Republic of Congo’s engagement so far.

We remain gravely concerned by the ongoing human rights situation in eastern DRC. Widespread violations and abuses continue, committed by all parties to the conflict. The scale of conflict-related sexual violence is appalling. We remind all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law and underline that perpetrators of any violations must be held to account.

Mr Vice President, the Ebola spread threatens to intensify an already severe human rights crisis in eastern DRC, driving displacement and fuelling instability. Rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access is more urgent than ever to contain the spread. Continued conflict will disrupt the response.

The UK calls on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and implement all ceasefire commitments.

Humanitarian personnel and material must be able to move unhindered across eastern DRC and regionally. All humanitarian responses must remain civilian-led, and we urge all parties across the region to cooperate on an effective response.

Thank you.

30/06/2026
NEWS STORY : Wolverhampton Fraudster Sentenced After Illegally Claiming £30,000 in Covid Loans

STORY

A Wolverhampton company director has been given a suspended prison sentence after fraudulently claiming £30,000 through the Covid Bounce Back Loan scheme.

Sohail Cheema, of Richmond Road, Wolverhampton, falsely claimed that his company had a turnover of £60,000 when applying for two separate £15,000 Bounce Back Loans in 2020. Businesses were only entitled to one loan under the scheme, which was designed to support genuine companies during the pandemic.

The Insolvency Service said Cheema’s company, Sohail Cheema Limited, had been set up to allow him to gain agency employment as a self-employed bus driver and was not actually trading. None of the money obtained was used for the economic benefit of the business, as required by the scheme.

Cheema transferred the full proceeds of both loans out of his business accounts on the same day they were received. The money was moved to his personal accounts and to his wife’s account, before later forming part of a £90,000 payment to a third party in August 2021.

He pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering following an investigation by the Insolvency Service. At Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday 29 June, Cheema was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also disqualified from acting as a company director for 10 years, ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and required to carry out 20 days of rehabilitation activity.

David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said Cheema had deliberately made two fraudulent applications despite knowing he was not entitled to the money. He said Bounce Back Loans had been a lifeline for genuine businesses during the pandemic and warned that the Insolvency Service would continue to pursue those who exploited the scheme.

Sohail Cheema Limited went into liquidation in May 2021. The Insolvency Service said it is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained money under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

30/06/2026
NEWS STORY : Energy Firm Named After £569,000 Russia Sanctions Settlement

STORY

An energy services firm has paid more than £500,000 to HM Revenue and Customs after breaching Russia sanctions regulations. Petrofac Facilities Management Limited paid a £569,157 compound settlement and has become the first company to be publicly named by HMRC after accepting such a penalty. The breaches took place in 2022 and 2023 while the company was winding down its Russian operations.

HMRC said the company supplied sanctioned industrial goods to individuals connected to Russia and provided technical assistance relating to those goods. Petrofac Facilities Management Limited self-reported the breaches and fully cooperated with the investigation.

The decision to name the company marks a change in HMRC’s approach to compound settlements for strategic export and sanctions offences. The department said naming companies in appropriate cases would improve transparency and bring its approach more closely into line with other UK sanctions enforcement bodies.

Edwige Hill, Deputy Director in HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said non-compliance with Russia sanctions was a serious offence. She said the Government, together with international partners, had implemented the most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy, and that naming those involved sent a clear message about the consequences of breaching sanctions rules.

HMRC said it may now include public naming as a condition when offering compound settlements for strategic export and sanctions offences. The department said the approach would support consistency with bodies such as the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation.

A compound settlement allows HMRC to settle alleged sanctions and strategic export offences out of court through the payment of money. HMRC said such settlements are offered only where it believes there is sufficient evidence to prosecute.

The case underlines the continuing enforcement risks for companies connected to Russian operations, even where firms are in the process of withdrawing from the market. HMRC said businesses breaching sanctions may face large financial penalties or referral for criminal prosecution.

30/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : UK Foreign Secretary concludes visit to Egypt [June 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 June 2026.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced over $15 million of funding to support Egypt’s humanitarian response and economic resilience, as the UK and Egypt prepare to conclude a Strategic Partnership.

The UK Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, made her first visit to Egypt from 17 to 18 June. During her visit, the Foreign Secretary met with interlocutors including Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty and Chief Commissioner of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) Dr Ali Shaath.

The Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Abdelatty co-chaired the third meeting of the bilateral Association Council. The 2 ministers took stock of the bilateral relationship, and discussed ways of deepening co-operation on growth, migration, and regional security, looking forward to the agreement of an Egypt-UK Strategic Partnership later in the year.

On the region, the ministers discussed how to further align the 2 countries’ efforts to secure lasting stability and peace, including in relation to the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, Gaza, Sudan, and Lebanon.

In her meeting with Dr Ali Shaath, the Foreign Secretary reiterated the UK’s firm belief that the future of Gaza must be Palestinian-led. The Foreign Secretary welcomed the NCAG’s vital role in leading Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction, as Gaza transitions to Palestinian Authority governance as part of a pathway towards a two-state solution. She discussed the importance of Palestinian policing in Gaza as a first step towards implanting the 20-point Peace Plan, and the vital importance of rapid shelter provisions for displaced people.

Egypt continues to play a crucial role in addressing the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza. This is why the Foreign Secretary announced an additional £3 million ($3.9 million) in UK funding, including to support the Egyptian Red Crescent in scaling up aid delivery, by providing logistics support to the Egyptian Red Crescent’s humanitarian aid operations, through the IFRC’s Middle East appeal.

On bilateral issues, the Foreign Secretary acknowledged the impact of regional conflicts on Egypt’s economy, and announced a new £8.7 million ($11.5 million) partnership with the World Bank to provide technical assistance for Egypt’s ambitious economic reform agenda and longer-term economic development. The programme will provide advice and analysis to the Government of Egypt to boost inclusive private sector-led growth, making it easier for businesses to invest, trade and expand, ultimately boosting Egypt’s economic resilience.

Meeting Sudanese migrants – at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – who have escaped the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, the Foreign Secretary described migration as “a global challenge requiring global co-operation” and announced £9 million ($11.9 million) of UK funding to help countries across North Africa – including Egypt – deal with the migration impacts of regional conflicts.

British Ambassador to Egypt Mark Bryson-Richardson said:

The Foreign Secretary’s visit demonstrates the UK’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and working closely with Egypt during this time of regional uncertainty. The UK and Egypt work together to drive stability, support prosperity, and build the foundations for lasting peace across the region and we look forward to the formal elevation of the UK-Egypt relationship into a Strategic Partnership later this year.

On Gaza, the UK provided over £80 million in humanitarian and early recovery support to Gaza last year. This has helped deliver food to 650,000 people and improved water and sanitation access for 300,000.

30/06/2026
Keir Starmer – 2026 Remarks to Hospitality Leaders

The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, in Downing Street on 29 June 2026.

Today we’re talking about young people and opportunity.

Very often as politicians, most of us say that we want every child or young person to go as far as their talents and ability will take them, and I’m comforted by things like that.

The trouble is, it’s not really true if they’ve grown up in poverty, if they’re wanting to take the non-university route into work, or if they’re one of the 13% or more who are not in employment, training or education.

Today I want to focus on how we provide opportunity to them.

So, the three steps that we’ve put in place – which are more of a broad strategic view – are building blocks.

Firstly, on poverty, how do we stop children growing up in poverty? There are a number of really important measures, which, when you put them together, begin to make this realistic.

First is breakfast clubs – children get to school really early and to have something to eat before school, and for some children they would otherwise not get breakfast, so that’s hugely important, and that also helps them learn. It’s useful for parents and carers as well, because they can get to work and actually that is really good for the children, because the socialisation of being with other children before school really matters.

Second is pre-school childcare, from nine months to four years. I can’t overstate how proud I am of this, because it saves parents a lot of money.

As anyone who uses childcare already knows, including my family when ours were younger, it means that children get the chance between nine months and four years to have that good childcare, and that means when they arrive at school they’re more likely to have an equal start in life.

Almost every primary school I go to talk to, those who are receiving the children at age four, they will say there’s a massive difference between those that are reasonably advanced, ready to learn, and those who are way behind. And already at age four, there’s a gap that schools are trying to make up, so that really makes a good difference. And then the two-child benefit limit will be lifted, so that’s building block number one.

Building block number two is what I call the technical tilt – but this is the tilt towards technical skills, and not always thinking that university is the only route. So, we’ve set up new technical excellence colleges across the country with an intense focus on things like advanced manufacturing, digital, defence, energy – the things that are going to be needed most in the future – with a real sense of excellence there.

I have taken down the target of the number that go to university and replaced it with a different target, which is that two thirds of our young people should either go to university or go on high-level skills routes.

Now, for anyone going to university – many times I’d wax lyrical about what a difference it made to my life, being the first in my family to go to university. I have not denigrated those who go to university, but I think we’ve overdone it now. I don’t think we’re giving the guidance to those that don’t go to university, who actually are using their brains and their skills in a different way, and there are several young people that felt pushed into university, then after a year or so realised it wasn’t right for them, and ended up doing something else.

And then there is prioritising youth apprenticeships, so rather than just all apprenticeships across the board, there is a focus on young people.

Then the third pillar, if you like, is the additional support we need to give to those who are not in employment or training or education. Two things I want to highlight here: first is the youth guarantee.

Now this helps young people apply for work, helps them with the support they need, but the most important thing is, if after 18 months they’ve still not managed to get a job, there’s a guarantee of a job placement for six months. From previous schemes we know is probably the single most effective way to help people. Just working differently for six months than the cycle they’re in can transform outcomes.

And then from tomorrow we’re announcing a £3,000 incentive to businesses to take young people who’ve been out of work for six months and give them a job, on this strong belief that I’ve got, which is if we are able to get people into work, then most of them will actually hold down the job. Some will need more support, but getting that first step into work is critical.

So, they’re the three areas I wanted to talk to you about. What I want to make sure is that having put these blocks in place over the last two years, the next stage of this administration, this government, takes that on and builds from there. But what I really want now is to hear from you, and I assume you’re involved in some of the schemes, so where we’ve already got something going, it’d be good to get some first-hand feedback on how it’s working and how we could improve it, because it is crucial that when we say every young person should go as far as their talent and ability will take them, we mean it.

And I have a vested interest, I should declare, not just as Prime Minister – I’ve got two teenage children. My son is 18 tomorrow, and therefore these are live discussions in our household. And actually, it’s really interesting to see first-hand the sort of pressures and opportunities that young people actually go through when they’re in their teenage years.

30/06/2026
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meets hospitality leaders to boost opportunities for young people [June 2026]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 29 June 2026.

The Prime Minister hosted a roundtable discussion this morning with hospitality organisations working to support those facing barriers to employment, training and education, setting out the government’s ambition to ensure every young person can fulfil their potential regardless of background.

He set out the government’s focus on technical education and skills, arguing that university should not be seen as the only route to success. He outlined plans to increase participation in high-level skills training, expand technical excellence colleges and prioritise youth apprenticeships to meet the needs of the economy of the future.

The Prime Minister also set out the government’s wider approach to supporting young people, including action to tackle child poverty through breakfast clubs, expanded childcare and lifting the two-child benefit limit, alongside the Youth Guarantee and a new £3,000 incentive for businesses to recruit young people who have been out of work for six months.

He invited participants to share first-hand experiences of existing schemes and how they could be improved.

30/06/2026
NEWS STORY : Low Pay Commission Pays Tribute to Nigel Cotgrove

STORY

The Low Pay Commission has paid tribute to Nigel Cotgrove, who has died after a short illness while on holiday. Cotgrove, a member of the Commission, was remembered by Simon Sapper on behalf of colleagues as a highly respected figure in the British trade union movement who devoted his working life to the service of others. The tribute said he had championed the interests of workers across telecommunications, information technology, financial services and other sectors.

He spent 31 years with the Communication Workers’ Union, first as a research officer and then as a national officer. By the time he retired in 2020, he was the union’s longest serving officer. The Commission said he had earned a reputation for diligence, integrity and a strong understanding of the issues affecting working people.

Cotgrove was particularly known for his work on pensions, leading negotiations across the telecommunications and financial services sectors and helping to secure and protect members’ retirement benefits. His work included negotiations on BT pension arrangements and major reforms, including the development of the BT Hybrid Scheme.

After retiring from the CWU, Cotgrove continued in public service. He became a trustee director of the BT Pension Scheme, served on the members’ panel of the National Employment Savings Trust and was appointed to the Prison Service Pay Review Body. He was appointed a commissioner of the Low Pay Commission in 2024 and also served as a member of the Central Arbitration Committee.

The tribute described Cotgrove as a thoughtful, principled and effective advocate who combined a sharp analytical mind with genuine concern for people. It said his work was shaped not by personal recognition, but by a belief that working people deserved dignity, security and a voice in decisions affecting their lives.

Low Pay Commission colleagues said they would remember him as a kind and thoughtful colleague and a good man. The Commission said he leaves a legacy of gratitude and respect among colleagues, friends and those who benefited from his work.

30/06/2026