Tag: 2024

PRESS RELEASE : Business Secretary announces new DBT non-executive directors [December 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 17 December 2024.

New members to provide independent advice and support on Department for Business and Trade’s work.

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has today announced the appointment of eight new non-executive members of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Board.

The board members are:
- Paul Drechsler CBE as Lead Non-Executive Director
- Professor John Latham CBE as Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) and Non-Executive Director
- Iain Anderson as Non-Executive Director
- Katharine Braddick as Non-Executive Director
- Mike Clancy as Non-Executive Director
- Nita Clarke OBE as Non-Executive Director
- Dr Roni Savage as Non-Executive Director
- David Sayer as Non-Executive Director
Non-Executives have been appointed for 3 years and will provide independent advice, support and scrutiny on the department’s work. The new Non-Executives bring a wide range of senior experience across the public and private sectors, as well as a wealth of knowledge relevant to delivering the Secretary of State’s priorities.

Background

Non-Executives are experts from outside government who provide advice, support and challenge to the department in the delivery and performance of key policy areas and against priority outcomes.
- The Secretary of State has appointed Nita Clarke without competition in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments and following consultation with the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Nita’s appointment will bring additional skills and experience in employee engagement, partnership, and employee voices in the workplace.
- Karina McTeague will continue in her role as ARAC Chair until the 2023-24 Annual Report and Accounts are laid, after which John Latham will take up this role and Karina will step down.
- These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. Under this Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as having been employed by a political party; held significant office in a political party; stood as a candidate for a political party; publicly spoken on behalf of a political party; or made significant donations or loans to a political party. Iain Anderson has declared political activity and speaking publicly for both for the Conservative Party and for the Labour Party. Nita Clarke has declared political activity for the Labour Party.
January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Billion pound funding boost for police to keep streets safe [December 2024]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 17 December 2024.

The vital funding boost includes a significant increase to the police core grant from last year, a key part of our Plan for Change.

Police across England and Wales will be given a £1 billion boost as the government takes action to restore neighbourhood policing and make our streets safer, the Home Secretary has announced.

Part of the government’s Plan for Change, this will take total funding up to £19.5 billion for next year.

The majority of this funding – up to £17.4 billion and an increase of up to £987 million compared to last year – will be given to Police and Crime Commissioners, allowing them to tackle crime in their communities, rid town centres of antisocial behaviour and apprehend persistent offenders. This equates to a cash increase of up to 6.0% and a real terms increase of 3.5%.

This money will include:
- £339 million more for the police core grant to help forces with general running costs and to be allocated by forces to tackle local priorities. This is significantly more than the £184 million rise announced last year
- all costs arising from changes to National Insurance Contributions (NICs), helping police to balance their budgets
- new funding of £100 million to kickstart the recruitment of 13,000 additional neighbourhood officers, community support officers and special constables, as announced by the Prime Minister earlier this month.
- £65 million more for the National and International Capital City (NICC) grant for the London forces, to recognise this has not kept pace with inflation and rising demands of policing the capital
In addition to the money being given to Police and Crime Commissioners, the Home Office is also investing an extra £140 million for Counter Terrorism Policing, ensuring that they have the resources they need to deal with the threats we face and protect the public from serious harm.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Today’s settlement provides a substantial increase in funding for policing to help deliver on this government’s Safer Streets mission. This vital funding boost will enable forces to kickstart the recruitment of neighbourhood police officers and crack down on the crimes blighting our high streets and town centres.

We recognise the financial and operational challenges that police forces across the country have faced in recent years, and that is why we are providing a significant and much-needed increase in funding to help forces protect the public and keep our streets safe.

We will also work closely with forces at a national and regional level to maximise efficiency and innovation, so that every penny they receive goes as far as possible and provides real value for the public.

The provisional funding settlement will be central to the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change and will help to deliver the manifesto pledge that policing will be reformed to deliver for communities.

The government will put an extra 13,000 police into our neighbourhoods. Dedicated police officers who are visible, named and contactable will support communities and work closely with residents and businesses.

The settlement also comes after the Home Secretary also announced a major package of police reform, including a new Police Performance Unit to track local performance and drive up standards, and a new National Centre of Policing to harness new technology and forensics.

Projects that sit within other national priorities are also being protected, including:
- £612 million to help modernise police forces, enhancing their ability to share data, intelligence and evidence with each other and law enforcement partners. This funding will be essential in tackling the increasingly tech-savvy criminals who wreak havoc on people and businesses
- £50 million for Violence Reduction Units, delivering on the government’s pledge to halve knife crime
- £30 million to tackle the ongoing battle against serious organised crime through county lines routes
Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said:

We are determined to deliver for the people up and down this country and make good on our promise to reform policing, halve knife crime and tackle anti-social behaviour head on.

This settlement aims to do just that, providing a significant and substantial increase in funding that will allow polices forces to get a grip on criminality, to make our streets and communities safer.
January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Update about New Towns Taskforce membership [December 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 17 December 2024.

Lyn Garner has today (17 December 2024) been appointed to the New Towns Taskforce. She will replace Eamonn Boylan who will stand down from the Taskforce ahead of starting his new role as interim Chief Executive of Homes England in January 2025.

As previously announced, Eamonn Boylan will start in his new role as interim Chief Executive of Homes England from 15 January 2025. Eamonn will therefore stand down as a member of the New Towns Taskforce ahead of this date.

The New Towns Taskforce is an independent advisory panel which has been established to support the government to deliver the next generation of new towns. To ensure that the Taskforce maintains its independence, Eamonn has decided to stand down as a member in early January 2025.

Eamonn has brought vital experience about large-scale regeneration projects to the Taskforce and has shaped early thinking on the delivery mechanisms required to ensure new towns are successful communities. He will continue to support the Taskforce’s work in his new role, ensuring that Homes England’s delivery expertise continues to be drawn upon in the coming months.

Today, the government has appointed Lyn Garner to the Taskforce. Lyn is a Director and Chair of Future of London, the outgoing Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, and has been the Senior Professional Lead for Greater London Authority (GLA) Group Housing Delivery since 2022. Lyn has over 25 years of experience working in leadership positions across housing, regeneration and finance.

Lyn brings her extensive real-world large-scale delivery experience to the Taskforce. Her valuable expertise will inform the Taskforce’s recommendations on the mechanisms and reforms required to ensure the delivery of the next generation of New Towns.

The New Towns Taskforce continues to make rapid progress to present their recommendations to ministers by summer 2025. Since September 2024, the Taskforce have met regularly to discuss the role that our next generation of new towns can play in kickstarting national economic growth. The Taskforce also launched a call for evidence in November which invited local areas to submit opportunities for large developments.

January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Ukrainian cherub to be official Scotland Office card [December 2024]

The press release issued by the Scotland Office on 17 October 2024.

Scottish Secretary chooses Ukrainian schoolgirl’s artwork for Christmas card.

A picture of a blonde cherub painted by a 12-year-old Ukrainian girl living in Edinburgh is to be Scottish Secretary Ian Murray’s official Christmas card.

Amelia Marchenko, who is originally from Ukraine’s Donetsk region, now lives in Edinburgh with her parents, two sisters and one brother. The family had to flee conflict in Ukraine in 2014 and again in August 2022.

Amelia also painted an image of a Santa hat and sleigh, which will also be used for Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill’s official Christmas card.

The Edinburgh branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) ran a competition amongst the children and young people who attend activities in the Ukrainian Community Centre. Mr Murray met many of the young people who use the centre when he visited earlier this year.

Amelia was among dozens of young Ukrainian artists who submitted entries to the competition. Her winning design features a cherub with golden hair set against a backdrop of traditional Ukrainian and Scottish symbols, bringing together both cultures in a festive celebration.

Mr Murray said:

As we gather to celebrate this festive season, I am absolutely delighted that we are sharing this special Christmas card featuring artwork by the very talented Amelia Marchenko. All the designs submitted by the Ukrainian children were fantastic, but hers definitely edged it.

Having visited Edinburgh’s Ukrainian Community Centre’s teens club in August, I was inspired by their creativity, resilience and spirit. Amelia’s beautiful design represents not only the joy of the season, but also the warmth of Scotland’s welcome to those Ukrainians who have made our country their home.

I wish everyone a peaceful Christmas and a bright New Year.

This is the first time the Scotland Office has run a competition for its Christmas card design. The children were invited to submit artwork, in any medium, that captured the essence of Christmas and the spirit of peace and goodwill.

The competition was open to children aged 5-16 who attend the Ukrainian Community Centre. Participants were encouraged to incorporate elements of both their Ukrainian heritage and their new Scottish home in their festive designs. The judging panel, which included Mr Murray and representatives from AUGB Edinburgh, were particularly impressed by the creative ways the young artists blended both cultures in their artwork.

Electronic versions of the card with the winning design will be sent by Mr Murray to organisations and stakeholders across Scotland. Amelia received a congratulatory letter and certificate from the Secretary of State, and her original artwork will be framed and displayed in the Scotland Office.

The Edinburgh branch of AUGB was founded in 1947 and has provided a social and cultural place to meet for the Ukrainian diaspora. Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, AUGB has worked closely in partnership with community and voluntary sector partners which have welcomed and supported displaced people from Ukraine that have called Scotland their home since the Russian invasion. The Ukrainian community centre in Edinburgh provides a vital community hub, offering everything from language classes to cultural activities and support services.

The Ukraine Club in Edinburgh supports more than 500 people each week. The Ukrainian youth work partnership and the cultural programme at the Ukrainian community centre is funded by the UK Government and the National Lottery Community Fund. The National Lottery Community Fund is supporting the project with a £116,930 Improving Lives grant.

January 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with Prime Minister Michal of Estonia [December 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 December 2024.

The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Kristen Michal ahead of the Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Tallin this morning.

The Prime Minister began by thanking Prime Minister Michal for hosting such a successful and important summit at a crucial time for European security.

The leaders reflected on the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) dinner last night and the group’s strong support for Ukraine, which was underscored by action, rather than warm words. They discussed the importance of increasing pressure on Putin through further military and economic support for Ukraine, and the strategic use of sanctions.

Estonia and the UK were vital defence and security partners, and that cooperation continued to go from strength-to-strength, the leaders agreed.

It was further exemplified by the opening of a new London headquarters for Estonian defence firm Frankenburg Technologies today, the Prime Ministers noted.

Updating on his EU reset, the Prime Minister said that he believed a closer relationship between the UK and EU countries would bring benefits for both British and EU citizens across a wide range of areas, including in growth and security.

Turning to the clean energy agenda, the Prime Minister updated on his successful visit to Norway yesterday, and his mission to deliver clean power by 2030 and accelerate to net zero. The leaders agreed on the need to go further and faster to support energy security and lower costs for bill payers.

They looked forward to speaking again at the JEF summit.

January 3, 2025
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