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PRESS RELEASE : New records detail how AI helps government make quick, accurate decisions to boost trade, speed up responses and more [December 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 17 December 2024.

New records reveal how algorithmic tools are being used in public services to enhance citizen support, enable quick and accurate decision-making, and drive technological improvements in critical government services.
- New records show how algorithmic tools are used by government departments and agencies to provide reliable and quicker services to the public and businesses.
- While improving transparency on the use of AI across Whitehall, the move also shows how technology is helping deliver the Plan for Change by improving public services, supporting businesses to export and more.
- Examples show how the science and technology department plans to use technology across public services in its new role as the digital centre of government.
New records show the inner workings of algorithmic tools being used to help public services to support citizens, make quick and accurate decisions, and drive forward the use of technology to improve vital government services and cut backlogs.

The Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) records published today (17th December), demonstrate how, for example how:
- the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is using AI to more quickly provide Britons with information when they need help abroad
- the Ministry of Justice is using algorithms to help researchers better understand how people interact with the justice system
- other departments are using AI to improve job adverts
It comes as the Science Secretary’s department continues to shape the new ‘digital centre’ of government to boost technology adoption across the public sector and improve public services, supporting all the government’s 5 missions and boosting public service reform under the Plan for Change.

Last week, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, set out that the benefits of technology like AI must be felt in the public services as well as in the private sector, and the power of tech should be used to modernise government.

Science Secretary Peter Kyle said:

Technology has huge potential to transform public services for the better, we will put it to use to cut backlogs, save money and improve outcomes for citizens across the country.

Transparency in how and why the public sector is using algorithmic tools is crucial to ensure that they are trusted and effective. That is why we will continue to take bold steps like releasing these records to make sure everyone is clear on how we are applying and trialing technology as we use it to bring public services back from the brink.

Among the records published today, the Department for Business and Trade has revealed that it is using an algorithmic tool to predict which companies export goods to other countries, in turn driving economic growth and supporting the government’s Plan for Change.

Officials in the department are then able to make more targeted decisions about which companies they reach out and offer help to, so high potential exporting businesses can reach more international customers quickly.

Before the tool was put in place, officials had to use more manual methods to sift through data on the over 5 million companies registered on Companies House to target support – slowing down help the government could offer, and missing opportunities to support high-growth businesses.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

Our Plan for Change will deliver economic growth, and for that to succeed we need to support companies across the UK to realise their full potential when it comes to exporting around the globe.

Our use of AI plays a vital and growing role in that mission, allowing high-growth businesses to maximise the export opportunities available to them, while ensuring that we are using taxpayers’ money responsibly and efficiently in delivering economic stability.

New today, the government is also setting clear terms for the tools algorithmic transparency records will cover, so people know how the government is making use of AI. This confirms that central government organisations will publish a record for any algorithmic tool that interacts directly with citizens or significantly influences decisions made about people, unless a narrow set of exemptions apply such as national security. It also confirms that records will be published for tools once they are being piloted publicly or are live and running.

The records set out how reliable data is used to train AI models, what underlying technology is used in each case, and how any risks are managed effectively. In every case where civil servants use algorithmic tools to make quicker decisions, the records also show how trained staff remain behind the ultimate decision-making process.

Notes to editors

The full list of ATRS records for tools released today is as follows:
- Home Office – Complexity Application Routing Solution – Visits (CARS(V))
- DBT – Find Exporters
- FCDO – Consular Digital Triage – Written Enquiries LLM
- HMT – Correspondence Triage Automation Tool
- HMT – HMT Modelling Policy Engine
- DSIT – Ask Ops Chatbot
- DSIT – Succession Select
- MoD – Textio
- MoJ – Data First (Splink)
- NICE – NORMA (NICE-ONS Recommendation Matching Algorithm)
- Oak National Academy – Aila: Oak’s AI lesson assistant
- Cafcass – Genesys Chatbot
- MaPs – Pension Calculator
- Network Rail – Network Rail’s Digital Assistant
January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Independent review to ensure access to high quality arts and culture in every region [December 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 17 December 2024.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announces a new independent review of Arts Council England will launch in the new year.
- Review will explore how to improve access to arts and culture in all areas of the country to drive access to opportunity
- Former Culture Minister Baroness Margaret Hodge appointed as lead reviewer
An independent review of Arts Council England (ACE) will launch in the new year to ensure every region across the country has access to high-quality arts and culture.

Baroness Margaret Hodge, a former Minister of State for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism, has been appointed by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to lead the review aided by an advisory panel featuring experts from across the arts and cultural sectors.

The Terms of Reference will be agreed and published in due course, however, key priorities of the review will include:
- Exploring ACE’s role in supporting excellence across the country, ensuring that everyone is able to participate in and consume culture and creativity, regardless of their background or where they live
- Exploring how ACE engages with its partners and stakeholders at all levels to ensure that national and local priorities work harmoniously to benefit the public
- Evaluating ACE’s role in developing a strong and vibrant creative sector which supports both grassroots creativity and internationally renowned works of art
- Considering ACE’s role in the wider cultural funding ecosystem, and mechanisms to strengthen the role of local voices in decision making
- Assessing ACE’s mandate to ensure it is clear and appropriate for the 21st century and it is able to deliver high quality arts and culture on a national, regional and local level
It comes as part of the Government’s efforts to break down barriers to opportunity through its Plan for Change with investment and reform to deliver growth, create more jobs, and rebuild Britain in a decade of national renewal.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

Arts and culture must be for everyone, everywhere.

No matter your background or the place you live, we should all be able to experience the joys that dance, theatre, music, museums, even borrowing a book from a library brings.

For too long only the privileged few in select parts of the country have been able to have access to high-quality arts or to believe a career within them was possible.

This review is the first step on the journey to restoring people’s connection with the arts and culture in every region of the country.

I am absolutely delighted that Baroness Hodge has agreed to take up this role. Her wealth of experience will help us to break down barriers to opportunity in arts and culture and give our young people the chance to shape their own future.

Lead reviewer Rt Hon. Baroness Margaret Hodge said:

I am absolutely thrilled to be asked to lead the review of the Arts Council. I am passionate about the rich contribution the arts can make to all of us, as individuals, in our communities and to the economy.

I look forward to engaging with the Arts Council and with a wide range of stakeholders across the country as we consider the challenges and opportunities the Arts Council faces.

The expert advisory panel assisting Baroness Hodge with the review will be published in due course, alongside the agreed Terms of Reference for the review.

In addition, the government has extended the tenure of Chair of Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, by 18 months to maintain stability during the review process.

ENDS

Notes to editors:
- Arts Council England is an executive non-departmental public body, and was established by Royal Charter in 1946.
- It makes funding decisions at arm’s length from the government of the day, using taxpayers’ and National Lottery players’ money to support engaging and innovative projects and organisations across the whole of England.
- ACE is one of the government’s primary vehicles to support the arts in England; its role encompasses funding and investment, research, support and advice to the sector, and partnership promotion. It works in partnership with a broad range of individuals and organisations across artforms and at the local, regional and national levels.
January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Water companies to be forced to double compensation for failures [December 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 17 December 2024.

Government acts decisively to force water companies to double the compensation paid to customers and businesses for service failures.

Water customers around the country will benefit from significantly higher payments to compensate them for water company service failures, the Government has confirmed today (17 December 2024).

Following public consultation, new and increased compensation will be compulsory for water companies to pay to customers and businesses in the event of issues like water supply outages, sewer flooding or low water pressure.

Issues like low water pressure could see payments of up to £250, compared to just £25 currently available, and payments for internal flooding from sewers could rise to £2,000 or more, compared to £1,000 under current rules.

Following a supply interruption in South Staffordshire last month as a result of a burst water main, compensation for residents was not compulsory. Under new regulations, this incident could have warranted payment of £150 for households and £300 for businesses.

The disruption experienced by residents in Bramley, Sussex in May after a historic fuel leak from a third-party petrol station led to a ‘Do Not Drink’ notice for 600 properties did not warrant mandatory compensation, though Thames Water offered a £30 voluntary payment. Today’s reforms would trigger a compulsory payment of £220 for households and £440 for businesses.

During a recent water quality incident in Brixham, Devon following an outbreak of cryptosporidium, there was no statutory entitlement to compensation for those affected. Under new rules, customers could be entitled to at least £10 per 24 hours, potentially amounting to more than £500 for incidents over 8 weeks such as that in Brixham.

In recognition of the impacts of these incidents, today’s reforms underscore the government’s commitments to hold water companies to account for poor performance and to stand up for consumers who receive compromised water services.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, said:

Customers have too often been let down by water companies, with supply cut off, low water pressure and in some cases even contaminated tap water.

We are clear that the public deserve better compensation when things go wrong, so I’m taking action to make sure that happens.

This is another step forward in our plans to reforms the water sector so it serves customers and the environment better.

Payment rates when water service standards are not met have remained unchanged since 2000, meaning reform is long overdue.

When supply interruptions take place, some water companies voluntarily offer compensation for their customers. However, there is no statutory requirement to do so, and compensation rates can vary significantly amongst companies and regions.

The changes will see the list of circumstances that can trigger compensation expand, to include when Boil Notices are issued by water companies when drinking water quality standards drop, or when firms fail to conduct meter readings or installations as promised.

This follows a public consultation which showed overwhelming public support for the changes, with an average of 84% water customers agreeing with the proposals, and 70% of businesses.

Mike Keil, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), commented:

The current Guaranteed Standards Scheme is not fit for purpose, so we welcome the swift action the Government has taken to bring about long-overdue improvements.

The increased payment levels when things go wrong, alongside fewer reasons for companies to avoid making payments, means that there are far greater incentives for water companies to get things right first time. The overhaul of these standards marks a step forward in improving consumer protection and repairing fractured trust in the water sector.”

The Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) establishes baseline expectations for customer service in the water sector, including timely restoration of water supply after interruptions, prompt responses to written complaints, and effective management of sewer flooding risks.

Strengthened protection and compensation for households and businesses was announced as part of the government’s initial steps towards ending the crisis in the water sector. In addition, the Water (Special Measures) Bill, which sees its second reading in the House of Commons this week, will:
- Strengthen regulation to ensure water bosses face personal criminal liability for lawbreaking.
- Give the water regulator new powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met.
- Introduce new powers to bring automatic and severe fines.
- Require water companies to install real-time monitors at every sewage outlet with data independently scrutinised by the water regulators.
- Give Ofwat the power to set rules to increase customer representation in decision-making to hold companies to account.
Furthermore, the government has launched the largest review of sector since privatisation, creating an Independent Commission to examine the water sector and its regulation.

The Commission forms the next stage in the Government’s long-term approach to ensuring we have a sufficiently robust and stable regulatory framework to attract the investment needed to clean up our waterways, speed up infrastructure delivery and restore public confidence in the sector.
January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : HS2 Ltd Chair to step down [December 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 17 December 2024.

Leadership will commence under new CEO as we work to deliver the HS2 line cost-effectively for passengers and taxpayers.
- HS2 Ltd Chair, Sir Jon Thompson, to step down in spring
- search for a new Chair will begin soon, ensuring consistent leadership throughout the next stage of the project
- HS2 will be delivered cost effectively between Euston and Birmingham to benefit passengers and taxpayers
The Chair of HS2 Ltd, Sir Jon Thompson, has announced he will step down from his position in spring after almost 4 years on the Board.

Sir Jon joined the Board of HS2 Ltd as a Non-Executive Director in April 2021 and subsequently was appointed Chair of Britain’s largest rail project. Recently, as Executive Chair, he also provided continuity at a pivotal time for the project while the new Chief Executive Mark Wild was recruited.

During Sir Jon’s tenure, he has guided HS2 Ltd and its supply chain – a workforce of currently over 30,000 – to construct the infrastructure that will carry the high-speed track.

The recruitment of a new Chair will commence shortly to identify a successor who will lead HS2 Ltd through the next phase of the HS2 project.

Sir Jon’s successor will work with Mark Wild, one of the most respected figures in the infrastructure industry, who joined the organisation at the start of the month as CEO to oversee the completion of the high-speed railway.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:

I want to thank Sir Jon for his work over nearly 4 years to progress Britain’s largest rail project.

He has provided strong leadership during challenging times for the project, and we are grateful for his service.

The coming months will see fresh leadership commence under new CEO Mark Wild, as we work to grip budgets and deliver the line cost-effectively for passengers and taxpayers.

Today’s announcement comes after the government gave the project much-needed certainty by confirming HS2 will be delivered between Birmingham and Euston while pledging to grip budgets and bring the project back on track to deliver it cost-effectively for passengers and taxpayers.
January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Legislation breaks down barriers to opportunity for all children [December 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 17 December 2024.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill introduced to Parliament today, putting children’s interests at the heart of government policy.
Protecting children at risk of abuse and stopping vulnerable children falling through the cracks are at the heart of a landmark children’s bill, set to be introduced in Parliament today (17 December 2024).

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is central to delivering on the government’s Plan for Change, which will put children’s futures at the centre of rebuilding public services, and break down barriers to opportunity. The measures will help ensure all children get the best start in life, to drive the sustainable, lasting change that children and families need – and deserve – to achieve and thrive.

Over recent years, there have been a number of shocking cases of children being failed by a disjointed system. The measures introduced today will write children’s best interests into law and make child-centred government a reality.

The bill will introduce new registers to identify children who are not in school. With better knowledge of where children are, councils can more easily deliver the support that’s needed and ensure a high quality education is being provided.

The bill will also pave the way for a unique identifier number for children across services – like the national insurance number works for adults.

Parents will no longer have an automatic right to educate their children at home if their child is subject to a child protection investigation or under a child protection plan. If a child’s home environment is assessed as unsuitable or unsafe, local authorities will also now have the power to intervene and require school attendance for any child.

Teachers and educators are often the first to spot warnings of abuse or neglect, and last year, schools were the second largest referrer of cases into children’s social care. Measures in the bill will make sure that teachers and schools are always involved in decisions around safeguarding children in their area.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

In recent years, too many children have been failed by their last line of defence: the state.

This bill will be a seminal moment for child protection. No more words, no more lessons learnt. This government will put children first at every turn.

That means a child-centred government, with better protections for young people and real join up between children’s social care, schools and local services. Alongside further measures to drive high and rising standards in our schools, this bill will deliver on this government’s Plan for Change, so that all children, whatever their circumstances, can achieve and thrive.

Breaking the cycle of crisis intervention is critical to securing better outcomes for children. Families should be able to rely on being able to access the help they need to keep their family together, but too often, disjointed services stand in the way.

The government is doubling the investment for family help services to £500 million next year, allowing local authorities to support vulnerable families and protect children before issues escalate to tragedy. The significant cash boost will strengthen family security and go towards providing wrapround support for families struggling with issues like substance misuse or mental health, getting help to the family and identifying children at risk earlier in the process, before problems get worse.

Better data sharing is critical to ensuring issues can be spotted earlier and acted on. The unique identifier number for children will allow those responsible for the safeguarding and welfare of children to better join together relevant data, preventing children from falling through the cracks.

While there will always be cases where children need to go into the care system, with earlier intervention, families can often be supported to stay together.

That’s why the new laws will see all councils offer Family Group Decision Making – a service that brings extended family members together where a child is on the brink of entering care. This comes alongside a requirement on councils to publish a local kinship offer, so that family members and friends stepping in to care for children know what support is available to them. This could include training or access to peer support groups which provide valuable support networks for new carers.

The bill will also support the government’s crackdown on excessive profit-making by children’s social care providers, including introducing a backstop law to potentially cap the profit providers can make.

New measures under the bill will also help deliver on commitments to drive high and rising standards in education. They include:

councils will be able to welcome proposals for all types of school, not just academies, so new schools are opened by the provider with the best local offer for local children and families

teachers entering the classroom will hold or be working towards qualified teacher status. They will also need to complete a statutory induction period.

every schoolteacher will have the same core pay and conditions offer, and schools will have greater flexibility to attract and retain the best teachers

schools and councils will have to work together when it comes to school admissions, with councils given greater powers to ensure admissions decisions reflect local needs including the placement of vulnerable children

failing schools run by local authorities will not be automatically forced to become an academy, opening up a broader range of levers to quickly drive-up standards

The government’s Plan for Change will rebuild Britain with investment and reform to drive a decade of national renewal and put politics back in the service of working people. As part of this, the government has committed to ensuring tens of thousands more children are school ready, helping deliver our mission to close the opportunity gap. To address the obstacles holding children back the government has already taken steps to extend early language support, invested £15 million to deliver the first phase of school-based nurseries, and improved training and guidance for early educators to better support and assess children with special educational needs.
January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : The Syrian people have our full support as they build a new future – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 December 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

Colleagues, this is a moment of hope and a new chapter for the Syrian people. They have suffered enormously under the Assad regime’s cruel grip.

It is a moment to mourn and seek accountability for those that have been lost and a chance to ensure that the nation handed down to future generations is one built on democracy, stability and peaceful co-existence.

I will focus on three points addressing the transitional period, humanitarian support and accountability.

First, the transition period.

We cannot underestimate the challenge ahead. The UK, alongside the UN and our Arab, US and EU partners has been clear that the Syrian people have our full support as they proceed with the momentous task of building their future.

We call on the new interim authorities to support an inclusive political dialogue on Syria’s future governance, protect the rights of all individuals, respect international humanitarian law and develop a process of equitable justice and accountability. We will judge them by their actions. The world is watching.

Of course, the fall of Assad does not mean that security in Syria will automatically improve. We must remain seized of the threat of a Daesh resurgence, and the UK is fully committed to supporting Syria’s fight against terrorism.

Respect for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is crucial for the peace and security of the region. We call on all parties to cease hostilities in Syria.

Second, humanitarian support.

This is an opportunity to end the suffering that Syrians have endured for far too long. We welcome the positive engagement that the Emergency Relief Coordinator has had in Syria with the new interim authorities.

We have seen millions of Syrians displaced from their homes, without proper access to food, medicine, basic services or an education for their children.

For those returning home and seeking to rebuild their lives, the international community must stand together to support their immediate needs.

In the past week the UK has announced an additional $78 million aid package to support the most vulnerable Syrians, including Syrian refugees across the region.

Third, accountability.

We stand with the hundreds of thousands of Syrians who were arbitrarily detained, tortured and murdered at the hands of the regime. We also remember the men, women and children of Ghouta, Douma and Khan Shaykhun, victims of Assad’s horrific use of chemical weapons.

We, the international community, must continue to pursue accountability for these atrocities, including the preservation of records, alongside full implementation of Resolution 2118.

The UK has provided a further $150,000 to the OPCW Syria missions to help rid Syria of its chemical weapons stockpile once and for all.

President, as we look to 2025 and beyond, we call on the international community to come together and support Syria as it seeks the future it has waited for. The future it has fought for. And the future it deserves.

January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK consults on proposals to give creative industries and AI developers clarity over copyright laws [December 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 17 December 2024.

This consultation seeks views on how the government can ensure the UK’s legal framework for AI and copyright supports the UK creative industries and AI sector together.
- new proposals seek to bring legal certainty to creative and AI sectors over how copyright protected materials are used in model training, supporting innovation and boosting the growth of both sectors crucial to our Plan for Change
- a balanced package of proposals aims to give creators greater control over how their material is used by AI developers, and enhance their ability to be paid for its use
- the proposals will also seek greater transparency from AI firms over the data used to train AI models alongside how AI-generated content is labelled
- AI developers would have wide access to material to train world-leading models in the UK, and legal certainty would boost AI adoption across the economy
The UK has today launched a consultation on plans to give certainty to the creative industries and AI developers on how copyright material can be used to train AI models. Supporting the UK Government’s Plan for Change, the move will help drive growth across both sectors by ensuring protection and payment for rights holders and supporting AI developers to innovate responsibly.

Both sectors are central to the Government’s Industrial Strategy, and these proposals aim to forge a new path forward which will allow both to flourish and drive growth. Key areas of the consultation include boosting trust and transparency between the sectors, so right holders have a better understanding of how AI developers are using their material and how it has been obtained.

The consultation also explores how creators can license and be remunerated for the use of their material, and how wide access to high-quality data for AI developers can be strengthened to enable innovation across the UK AI sector.

These proposals will help unlock the full potential of the AI sector and creative industries to drive innovation, investment, and prosperity across the country, driving forward the UK government’s mission to deliver the highest sustained growth in the G7 under its Plan for Change.

Currently, uncertainty about how copyright law applies to AI is holding back both sectors from reaching their full potential. It can make it difficult for creators to control or seek payment for the use of their work, and creates legal risks for AI firms, stifling AI investment, innovation, and adoption. After previous attempts to agree a voluntary AI copyright code of practice proved unsuccessful, this government is determined to take proactive steps with our creative and AI sectors to deliver a workable solution.

To address this, the consultation proposes introducing an exception to copyright law for AI training for commercial purposes while allowing rights holders to reserve their rights, so they can control the use of their content. Together with transparency requirements, this would give them more certainty and control over how their content is used and support them to strike licensing deals. This would also give AI developers greater certainty about what material they can and cannot use and ensure wide access to material in the UK.

Before these measures could come into effect, further work with both sectors would be needed to ensure any standards and requirements for rights reservation and transparency are effective, accessible, and widely adopted. This would allow for smooth application by AI developers and right holders alike, ensuring rights holders of all sizes can reserve their rights and that any future regime delivers our objectives. These measures would be fundamental to the effectiveness of any exception, and we would not introduce an exception without them.

The consultation also proposes new requirements for AI model developers to be more transparent about their model training datasets and how they are obtained. For example, AI developers could be required to provide more information about what content they have used to train their models. This would enable rights holders to understand when and how their content has been used in training AI.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, said:

The UK has an incredibly rich and diverse cultural sector and a ground breaking tech sector which is pushing the boundaries of AI. It’s clear that our current AI and copyright framework does not support either our creative industries or our AI sectors to compete on the global stage.

That is why we are setting out a balanced package of proposals to address uncertainty about how copyright law applies to AI so we can drive continued growth in the AI sector and creative industries, which will help deliver on our mission of the highest sustained growth in the G7 as part of our Plan for Change.

This is all about partnership: balancing strong protections for creators while removing barriers to AI innovation; and working together across government and industry sectors to deliver this.

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

This government firmly believes that our musicians, writers, artists and other creatives should have the ability to know and control how their content is used by AI firms and be able to seek licensing deals and fair payment. Achieving this, and ensuring legal certainty, will help our creative and AI sectors grow and innovate together in partnership.

We stand steadfast behind our world-class creative and media industries which add so much to our cultural and economic life. We will work with them and the AI sector to develop this clearer copyright system for the digital age and ensure that any system is workable and easy-to-use for businesses of all sizes.

Licensing is essential as a means for creators to secure appropriate payment for their work, and these proposals lay the groundwork for rights holders to strike licensing deals with AI developers when rights have been reserved. For example, a photographer who uploads their work onto their internet blog could reserve their rights, with confidence that their wishes will be respected and generative AI developers will not use their images unless a licence has been agreed. This would support the creative and media industries’ control, and their ability to generate revenue from the use of their material and provide AI developers with certainty about the material they can legally access.

This combined approach is designed to strengthen trust between the two sectors, which are increasingly interlinked, clearing the way for developers to confidently build and deploy the next generation of AI applications in the UK, in a way that ensures human creators and rights holders have a shared stake in AI’s transformative potential.

The government welcomes licensing deals that have already been agreed, including by major firms in the music and news publishing sectors. But it is clear that many more creatives and right holders have not been able to do so under the current copyright regime. The creative industries, and businesses of all sizes, need more help to control their content and strike licensing deals. The government is determined to make it easier for them to do this.

The consultation also recognises issues related to the protection of personality rights in the context of digital replicas, such as deepfake imitations of individuals, and will seek views on whether the current legal frameworks are sufficiently robust to tackle the issue.

As AI continues to develop at a rapid pace, the UK’s response must evolve alongside it. The government welcomes all stakeholder views on these proposals and is committed to making progress by collaborating with creators, rights holders, and AI developers to co-design the right copyright and AI framework for the UK, which will allow both sectors to thrive.
January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Capture victims to receive redress [December 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 17 December 2024.

Government publishes its response to the independent Kroll report on Capture software.
- Following independent Kroll report, government commits to redress for postmasters who have suffered losses as a consequence of Capture errors
- Work to be completed quickly with those affected to determine appropriate redress for those without criminal convictions
- Government confirms £37.5 million subsidy to support Post Office network as company sets out £20 million boost for postmasters
Today the government has officially recognised Capture, the software which preceded Horizon, could have created shortfalls affecting postmasters. It has asked the Post Office to urgently review its files and evidence so the CCRC and SCCRC can ensure no one was wrongfully convicted of a Horizon-style injustice.

Responding to the independent Kroll report into the software, the Business Secretary has promised to provide redress for postmasters who suffered losses as a result of Capture. The government will work swiftly with victims to determine its form and scope, alongside eligibility criteria, by Spring 2025.

The Capture accounting system was rolled out across some Post Office branches from 1992 before it was replaced by Horizon in 1999. The government commissioned the independent report following postmasters coming forward publicly in January indicating they had faced detriment due to the Capture system. In its report, Kroll concluded Capture could have created shortfalls.

The response comes as the government marks £499 million paid to more than 3,300 Horizon victims. We are delivering on our promise to ensure swift and fair redress to postmasters, more than doubling the amount of redress paid out since coming into government 5 months ago.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

It is thanks to testimony of postmasters that this has been brought to light and failings have been discovered.

We must now work quickly to provide redress and justice to those who have suffered greatly after being wrongly accused.

I’d like to encourage anyone who believes they have been affected by Capture to share their story with us so we can put wrongs to right once and for all.

Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas said:

It’s taken a long time to reach this point which is why my priority now is to deliver justice and redress to postmasters as swiftly as possible.

We will do everything we can to correct the mistakes of the past and ensure they are not repeated.

Postmasters have raised concerns with me that their income has not kept up with inflation over the past decade. The Government therefore welcomes that the Post Office is going to make a one-off payment to postmasters to increase their remuneration.

Due to the length of time which has passed since the Capture system was in use several issues have complicated the investigation including:
- Far greater timescales, meaning a greater population of the users may have sadly died
- Loss or destruction of relevant evidence for example relating to shortfalls, suspensions, terminations, prosecutions, and convictions
- At least 19 different operational versions of the Capture software during the period
- Ambiguous number of users during this period
Unlike Horizon, it is currently uncertain how many criminal prosecutions were based on Capture evidence. These challenges also mean it will be difficult for claimants to corroborate their claims with evidence.

The Post Office has indicated it holds further information on convictions and prosecutions during the Capture period. The government has asked them to carry out their review of these records urgently and send information to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) and Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC).

Ensuring postmasters receive the justice they deserve is an immediate priority for this government. The Kroll report does not take a view whether any possible convictions were unsafe. We will continue to facilitate the provision of information to the CCRC and SCCRC, alongside the Post Office, in connection with the review of cases involving the use of Capture as the approach to redress is developed at pace.

Minister Thomas will also announce the government is supporting the Post Office network with a further £37.5 million subsidy. It comes as the Post Office today announces a £20 million boost for postmasters to address their concerns that their income has not kept up with inflation over the past decade.

Under the Plan for Change, this government will make public services deliver for working people once more. The Post Office is an important British institution at the heart of local communities, but for too long neglect has enabled significant issues to take root. We will strengthen the Post Office network – pledged in our manifesto – so the people’s trust can be restored.
January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Government buys back 36,347 military homes to improve housing for forces families and save taxpayers billions [December 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 December 2024.

A major deal to bring the Armed Forces housing estate back into public ownership has been agreed by the government.
- Landmark deal struck to bring military housing estate back into public hands.
- Major deal unlocks new-build housing projects for military families plus essential refurbishments.
- End to huge annual rental bill to save around £230 million per year.
Billions of pounds will be saved by the deal over the next decade, delivering savings for taxpayers and enabling additional investment into homes for military families. The landmark move reverses a sale undertaken by the Government in 1996.

The Defence Secretary describes today’s announcement as a “decisive break” with the failed approach of the past, which will enable the first steps to be taken to fix the long-term decline in housing for military families and deliver homes fit for heroes. He will also commit to using the deal to help achieve the Government’s milestones on kickstarting economic growth and boosting housebuilding across the country.

Today’s deal will bring to an end to an arrangement which has seen the taxpayer spend billions of pounds on rental payments for military housing while still being liable for rising maintenance costs and handing back billions of pounds worth of military properties.

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will buy back 36,347 houses, making major redevelopment and improvements possible. The deal is part of the Government’s drive to boost military morale, tackle recruitment and retention challenges and renew the nation’s contract with those who serve.

The MOD, supported by UK Government Investments, and Annington have formally agreed that the MOD will reacquire the service family estate sold in 1996, which is now valued at £10.1 billion when not subject to leases, and is being purchased for £5,994,500,000, representing excellent value for money.

The new deal will see the immediate saving of more than £600,000 of taxpayers’ money each day, with the current annual bill of £230 million in rent being eliminated. These savings to the defence budget will help to fix “deep-set problems” in military housing, and support the development of a high-quality new homes for military families.

The announcement comes as the Government kickstarts work on a new military housing strategy, to be published next year. Key principles of the strategy will include: a generational renewal of Armed Forces accommodation; new opportunities for forces homeownership; and better use of MOD land to support the delivery of affordable homes for families across Britain.

The first steps in the strategy will include the rapid development of an action plan to deliver on the “once in a generation” opportunities unlocked by today’s deal. This work will involve independent experts, forces families and cross-government input.

This will support the Government’s Plan for Change, which is built on the strong foundation of national security. It also comes alongside the Prime Minister’s Homes for Heroes pledge to exempt veterans from rules requiring a connection to a local area before accessing social housing.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:

This deal shows our government is determined to deliver homes fit for our heroes. This is a once in a generation opportunity, not only to fix the dire state of military housing but to help drive forward our economic growth mission, creating jobs and boosting British housebuilding.

Our armed forces and their families make extraordinary sacrifices: theirs is the ultimate public service. It is shameful that in the lead up to Christmas, too many military families will be living with damp, mould and sub-standard homes – issues which have built up over the past decade.

We are determined to turn this around and renew the nation’s contract with those who serve. These important savings to the defence budget will help fix the deep-set problems we inherited. I thank the teams who have helped us reach this landmark deal at pace – another example of this government delivering for defence.

There is still a lot of work to do to deliver the homes our military families deserve, and these problems will not be fixed overnight. But this is a decisive break with the failed approach of the past and a major step forward on that journey.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones said:

This is a landmark deal that will start saving the taxpayer money immediately, all while driving forward our mission to create growth across the country.

Not only does it open the door to major development and improvements across the military housing estate, but most important of all, it will help us on our mission to build more houses and deliver our service personnel the homes they deserve.

The original agreement did not strike an appropriate balance of risk and reward, and it is estimated the taxpayer is nearly £8 billion worse off as a result. Money which should have been better spent on maintaining and improving our service family homes.

Eliminating the liabilities associated with the leases creates budgetary headroom to partially fund this purchase, meaning that the public expenditure impact of this measure, and the impact on net financial debt, is confined to £1.7 billion.

The 1996 sale saw 55,000 houses sold for an average of just £27,000 each property. In buying these houses back, the government will control properties worth almost ten times that average value and will no longer be paying £230 million annually in rent.

Other areas of the deal that have cost taxpayers money or prevented improvements to the estate include:
- Annually handing back hundreds of empty properties to Annington, totalling more than 18,000 properties since 1996 – worth an estimated £5.2 billion by today’s valuations.
- Although the deal included a discount from market rent rates, the MOD – and therefore the taxpayer – have been responsible for all maintenance on all properties.
- If the MOD spent money improving a property for service families, in some circumstances this could incur greater rental costs under the terms of the deal.
- Despite most of the properties having been built in the 1950s and 1960s, the deal has prevented the MOD from being able to demolish properties or build additional houses for Service Families.
Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said:

Housing provision is a constant part of life for Service Personnel and their families, who support them closely throughout their military careers. We understand the importance placed on this for people’s morale and decisions on whether to continue in the Armed Forces long-term.

This deal is a crucial step in being able to deliver meaningful change for those who serve – an opportunity to regain control of the estate and move forward with substantial redevelopment and refurbishment. This work will provide military families the higher-quality houses they fully deserve. It is very significant and very welcome.

Following today’s deal, the MOD can start work on substantive redevelopment and improvements. The agreement frees up our ability to build on the Service Family Accommodation estate with a more modern estate, helping reduce maintenance costs and, as part of work facilitated by the deal, programmes to build new houses are being accelerated.

Planning applications will be submitted in the coming days for 265 new houses and apartments at RAF Brize Norton, and further plans will be submitted in the Spring for around 300 new houses at Catterick Garrison.

The potential for improvements to the estate can already be seen where family housing is being provided outside of the 1996 deal. At Imjin Barracks in Gloucestershire 176 modern homes are being built, which include low-carbon heating systems and solar panels, reducing energy costs for military families and improving sustainability.

The landmark deal to repurchase the estate from Annington follows the MOD’s comprehensive success in the High Court last year. The agreement brings the properties back to public ownership and delivering long term value for money for current and future taxpayers.

Since July, the Government has slashed recruitment red tape to make the process more straightforward for those wanting to join the military, announced the largest Armed Forces pay increase for 22 years and recently the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill passed its Second Reading in the House of Commons.

Background

The estimated overall budgetary impact of the agreement over the next 10 years – if no deal had been agreed – would be around £5.9 billion in rent payments and capital charges, as well as additional properties currently valued at around £1.3 billion being handed back to Annington.

Taxpayers being £8 billion worse off as a result of the deal:
- £4.3 billion spent in rent.
- 18,000 properties handed back to Annington – with an estimated current market value of £5.2 billion.
- £1.7 billion income generated in 1996 for the taxpayer as part of the original deal.
- Total – £7.8 billion worse off.
January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Government outlines new action to tackle radicalisation [December 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 17 December 2024.

The Home Secretary has announced a package of measures to better protect the public and young people from youth radicalisation.

The public and young people will be better protected from the growing issue of youth radicalisation through new enforcement tools, extra police funding and improvements to Prevent – the UK’s programme which diverts people away from radicalisation, the Home Secretary has announced.

In recognition of the increasingly complex national security environment – including the threat from terrorism – the government is increasing funding for counter-terror police by £140 million next year, and for the UK intelligence community by £499 million, taking their funding to a record level.

With the proportion of young people in counter-terrorism casework increasing, the government will also bolster the tools available to tackle terrorist risk in these cases with the creation of new youth diversion orders.

Unlike existing counter-terrorism risk management tools, youth diversion orders will be specifically designed for young people to better manage cases which require intervention beyond Prevent. They will reduce the risk of further involvement with the criminal justice system – a key aim of the government’s Safer Streets Mission and the Plan for Change – by enabling the police to intervene earlier, working with partner agencies, before a young person’s activity risks escalating to the level at which a prosecution becomes necessary.

Youth diversion orders build upon a recommendation from the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Jonathan Hall KC. The measures that are imposed will be subject to judicial oversight and will allow the police to impose both risk management and rehabilitative conditions, such as Prevent interventions or restrictions to online activity. Youth diversion orders will better enable the counter-terrorism system to divert young people involved in activity of terrorism concern online and in our communities.

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said:

National security is one of the government’s foundations and fundamental to our Plan for Change, which is why we are putting in record levels of funding to our security partners.

For some time now, law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been warning about the rapid increase in youth radicalisation, driven in large part by online activity. Today we are setting out new powers to tackle this and making major improvements to the Prevent programme to recognise the complex range of threats we face.

I am determined that we bring in the changes needed to move young people away from these dangerous ideologies and make the whole system more effective.

While Islamist terrorism remains the primary threat, followed by extreme right-wing terrorism, the overall threat picture is changing to include a growing cohort of young people radicalised online who do not align with any particular ideology and instead have fixations with violence. Recent Prevent statistics showed most referrals were for individuals with a vulnerability but no ideology or counter-terrorism risk.

To address this, the Home Secretary also outlined reforms to strengthen Prevent, the UK’s programme which diverts people away from radicalisation.

These will ensure that the programme keeps pace with the increasingly complex and evolving terrorist threat, stopping people from being drawn towards dangerous and extremist ideologies, carrying out acts of terrorism or supporting terrorism. The measures include:

conducting an end-to-end review of Prevent thresholds, and updating policy and guidance, including on repeat referrals, to ensure they reflect the full range of threats we see today
broadening the interventions available to people supported by the Channel early intervention programme – in addition to ideological mentoring, we will seek to reflect the increasingly diverse drivers of radicalisation, by exploring options to support at-risk individuals with cyber skills, family interventions, or practical mentoring
undertaking a strategic policy review to identify and drive improvements in how individuals referred into Prevent who are neurodivergent or suffer from mental ill-health are supported and managed
strengthening our approach to the monitoring and oversight of referrals that do not meet Prevent thresholds, by launching a pilot in January to test new approaches to cases that are transferred to other services to ensure there is proper monitoring and requirements in place
A new permanent independent Prevent commissioner will also be recruited with the specific remit of reviewing the programme’s effectiveness, identifying gaps and problems before they emerge.

The independent commissioner will oversee the implementation of the new measures outlined by the Home Secretary.

Security Minister, Dan Jarvis said:

There has been a serious emerging trend of increased youth radicalisation across the country, with the proportion of MI5 investigations into under-18s surging threefold in the last 3 years.

Our first duty will always be to keep the public safe, and the measures we’ve set out today will help ensure the Prevent programme keeps pace with the threats we face and has the tools it needs to succeed.

The government will continue to take every possible step to counter dangerous ideologies and stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

January 3, 2025