Tag: 2025

Peter Kyle – 2025 Speech at Giant Ideas
The speech made by Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, on 16 June 2025.
I speak to you having just wrapped up what was, in my department, one of the biggest weeks of the year.

It was the outcome of the Spending Review.

The Data Bill, after months, passed into law. And it was also London Tech Week.

If you haven’t been before, think of it like Coachella. But swap Lady Gaga for tech founders in leather jackets, blue jeans and Britney mics.

This was my 2nd Tech Week, but this year felt different.

Not just because it was my first as Tech Secretary.

But because the atmosphere had changed.

The optimism was more tangible. The energy more urgent.

The atmosphere in Olympia more excited and exciting.

Nowhere was that excitement more obvious than when it came to securing the UK’s stake in a future shaped by AI.

You had the Prime Minister announcing a £1 billion investment, to make our computing power 20x greater by 2030.

You had buzz from international investors. Who have poured £45 billion into AI here since July.

And you had Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, declaring that the UK had reached a ‘Goldilocks’ moment: When our combination of world-class universities, AI start-ups and sheer ambition makes Britain ‘Just right’ as an investment destination.

It won’t surprise you to know that I agree.

We will turn our country into an AI superpower. But our ambition alone won’t define us.

What will define us is how we achieve that ambition. Last week, I was reminded of the question in my mind the day I came into office:

How do we shape the future of AI in a way that is progressive? In a way that leaves no one behind?

Because we tend to talk about AI as an unstoppable force.

But progress is never inevitable. It can be halted in its tracks.

Fourteen years of slow or no growth, declining family incomes and a decaying public realm prove that. How change happens – and who benefits – is up to us.

We have agency over what the age of AI looks like.

It could be a Wild West Story, where the strongest and boldest make most – and the rest make do.

Or it could be a story about opportunity and security. Where we all benefit from the scope and scale, health and wealth of the progressive change it brings.

The way I see it, we can use our agency to shape 3 things:

Where we build.

Who does the building.

And what products come out the other side.

Let me take each in turn.

First, where we build.

Where we build

Technology has always promised to be the great equaliser.

But that promise has proved elusive. For decades, the way we have invested in technology has been a Tale of Two Britains:

Growth concentrated in the wealthiest parts of our country.

With communities elsewhere left dependent on traditional industries.

This time, we can do things differently.

The unique geography of AI turns our country’s economic map on its head.

The places that languished in the wake of 1980s de-industrialisation make prime locations for AI infrastructure. Because they’re often the only places that can supply enough power. And enough space to exploit it.

These are the areas we’ll be looking to prioritise as we create AI Growth Zones: Hotspots of infrastructure that will crowd in private investment.

When we asked communities to put themselves forward, over 200 places enthusiastically responded. The hunger for AI is not just coming from government and big businesses. But from across Britain.

For the places that qualify, the results will be transformative. Because I’m not talking about a data centre as an anonymous black box by the side of the motorway. An economic island cut off from the surrounding area, with very few jobs and opportunities for working people.

But as a hub that attracts AI start-ups and scale-ups.

Creates new campuses for training and knowledge-transfer.

And starts a ripple effect of good, future-proofed jobs, with all the economic security that brings.

Where the excess heat from that data centre is not wasted. But used to power local homes, boost agricultural production, warm community swimming pools.

For that vision to work, local people must be at the core.

That takes me to who does the building.

Who does the building

A progressive approach to AI is impossible without a population with the skills to be part of it.

We have to equip people with what they need to seize the extraordinary opportunities this technology brings.

A few days ago, the Prime Minister kick-started a national AI skills drive. It will upskill people at every age, every stage of education, across the country.

From new funding for TechFirst, giving students in every secondary school in Britain the chance to start a career in tech. To a partnership with industry, equipping 7.5 million UK workers with essential AI skills by 2030.

These are exciting, decent jobs in the industries of tomorrow, for Britain’s prosperous communities of the future. If we can show people that, we will persuade them that it pays to be shapers of AI.

I want to show them that it pays to be consumers of it, too.

That takes us to what we build.

What we build

We sometimes talk about AI in a way that’s removed from real life.

Abstract headlines about ‘growth’ or ‘revolution’ don’t give people much to hold on to.

I want to show people that AI isn’t just an idea for the newsroom or the boardroom. But a reality in the classroom, the doctor’s office, the operating theatre. Because across the UK, there are researchers and companies using AI for the public good.

Last week, I announced a project called OpenBind.

At the Harwell Science Campus in Oxford, our best scientists will come together. To build the world’s biggest set of data on how drugs interact with the proteins in our bodies. Better data means better AI models. Models that can predict which compounds will turn into cures. As Demis Hassabis said himself, this is a brilliant initiative for UK science.

Breakthroughs we make here could cut the cost of developing treatments by up to £100 billion. And see us not just treating disease. But beating it for good.

I began by arguing that the state has agency over how we build AI.

Perhaps the ultimate way to use it is by not only by backing others who build it. But by building it ourselves. With a smarter, smaller state that works better for the people we’re here to serve. Take the AI-powered chatbot we’ve built for GOV.UK.

Soon, you won’t have to trawl through 500,000 pages to apply for Universal Credit or work out your tax code. The answer will come to you. Giving people more time to do the things they like with the people they love.

It isn’t always easy to explain to people what AI means for them.

With tools like this, we don’t need to tell them.

We can let them discover the power of AI for themselves.

As we find ourselves in the ‘Goldilocks’ moment, there is no time to waste.

We have a small window to decide how this revolution will differ from those which came before.

To make sure this isn’t the same Tale of Two Britains.

By building in the places that have been left behind for too long. By giving everyone in the country the opportunity to do well, for themselves and their families, in the digital age.

And by building things that make their lives easier, healthier, happier.

The agency to do all of those things sits with us. We’ve just got to have the courage and the conviction to use it, positively and progressively.

To create opportunity and security for all.

For me, that really is the Giant Idea.
June 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New Chair of The Pensions Ombudsman appointed [June 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 19 June 2025.

Deborah Evans is today confirmed as the new Chair of The Pensions Ombudsman.
Ms Evans currently serves as a non-executive Director and chair of the compliance Committee at the Property Ombudsman. She will take over from Anthony Arter who has been interim Chair since January 2024. She will take up the post on 1 July.

The Pensions Ombudsman provides a vital service, by independently investigating and resolving complaints concerning occupational and personal pension schemes. It also plays an important role in ensuring savers receive their entitled benefits and helping pension providers understand their obligations.

Ms Evans’s appointment comes as the Government’s Pension Schemes Bill continues its passage through Parliament. Measures include strengthening the legal standing of the Pensions Ombudsman so that pension overpayment cases can be resolved and pension overpayments refunded quicker, reducing waiting times for customers.

Minister for Pensions, Torsten Bell said:

I am pleased to announce Deborah Evans as the new Chair of The Pensions Ombudsman.

I look forward to working with her as she brings her leadership and expertise to this vital role, helping to uphold high standards of fairness and accountability across the pensions sector.

I am confident she will make a positive impact for savers and pensioners across the country.

Deborah Evans said:

Pensions are vital in providing adequate income in retirement and have a huge impact on people’s lives.

The role of the Pensions Ombudsman plays a crucial role in ensuring that complaints are dealt appropriately and independently, keeping the system fair.

I look forward to leading the board to help the organisation succeed and drive improvements throughout the pensions sector.

Alongside her role at the Property Ombudsman, Deborah Evans is also Director and Chief Executive of Lawyers in Local Government, and Chair of Governors at Trent College. She will bring extensive experience in leadership and governance, from both the public and regulatory sectors.

Additional Information

The Chair of The Pensions Ombudsman is appointed by the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions. The appointment was made following an open competition regulated by The Office for the Commissioner of Public Appointments.

As Chair, Deborah Evans will receive £24,000 per year for a minimum time commitment of 36 days annually.
June 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with Prime Minister of Bahrain [June 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 June 2025.

The Prime Minister welcomed His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain to Downing Street today.

The leaders reflected on the strength of the UK-Bahrain relationship, and welcomed the UK becoming a full member of the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) today. The agreement will deepen trilateral cooperation with Bahrain and the United States on regional security at a critical time, both agreed.

The Prime Minister also welcomed the signing of the Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership, building on the two-way investment partnership between the countries, and how this will unlock new investment, growth and jobs into the UK, delivering on the Plan for Change.

The leaders also underscored the importance of the new Defence Cooperation Accord between the two countries, deepening joint military training and building on the two nations’ strong naval ties.

Highlighting the strength of the 200-year relationship between both nations, the leaders looked forward to further cooperation, including trade negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, the leaders called for de-escalation and both agreed on the need for enduring and closer relationships across the region to support stability.

The Prime Minister and Crown Prince looked forward to speaking again soon.

June 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Millions more families to get £150 off energy bills this winter [June 2025]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 June 2025.

The Warm Home Discount will be expanded meaning 6 million households will receive £150 off their energy bills this winter.
2.7 million extra households will receive £150 off their energy bills next winter as the Warm Home Discount is expanded – putting money directly into people’s pockets

this increases the number of households who are eligible to over 6 million in total – including 900,000 families with children and a total of 1.8 million households in fuel poverty

latest intervention follows a raft of cost of living support for those who need it most – from expanding free school meals to childcare support – which is only possible after government stabilised the economy and fixed the foundations through the Plan for Change

Millions of households will see their energy bills cut by £150 this winter, as the government delivers another major package of support to ease the cost of living for working families through the Plan for Change.

Over 6 million households will benefit this year – an increase of 2.7 million households, including 900,000 more families with children and a total of 1.8 million households in fuel poverty. Every billpayer on means-tested benefits will now qualify, removing restrictions that previously excluded many who needed help and providing peace of mind to millions more families.

This major expansion of support for working families is the latest in a raft of cost of living support made possible because the government has stabilised the economy, fixed the foundations and repaired the public finances – deliberate choices which are helping provide security and more money in the pockets of working families through the Plan for Change.

Since last summer, interest rates have been cut 4 times, lowering mortgage costs, free school meals have been rolled out for over half a million more children so that kids can focus on learning rather than hungry bellies, free breakfast clubs are being expanded to every child in the country, school uniform costs have been cut, the 30 hours of free childcare scheme has been extended to more working parents.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

I know families are still struggling with the cost of living, and I know the fear that comes with not being able to afford your next bill.

Providing security and peace of mind for working people is deeply personal to me as Prime Minister and foundational for the Plan for Change. I have no doubt that, like rolling out free school meals, breakfast clubs and childcare support, extending this £150 energy bills support to millions more families will make a real difference.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

Millions of families will get vital support with the cost of living this coming winter, demonstrating this government’s commitment to put money in people’s pockets through our Plan for Change.

The energy price cap is also falling in July and today’s announcement adds a further £150 in direct support for millions.

This expansion of the Warm Homes Discount means families can plan for winter in the knowledge that they will receive support, giving them certainty and peace of mind before summer.

The government has also protected working people’s payslips from higher taxes, frozen fuel duty and are increasing the minimum wage to give pay rises of up to £1,400 a year to millions of low-income workers. Everyone over the State Pension age in England and Wales with an income of, or below, £35,000 a year will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, bringing the total to 9 million pensioners.

Today’s announcement goes even further than cutting energy bills by helping those who racked up debts during the energy crisis of 2022-2024. Backing Ofgem’s proposed debt strategy will cut consumers’ energy bills by reducing the cost of paying for energy debt, alongside other reforms.

The expansion of the Warm Home Discount will be offset by new efficiency savings across the energy system. For example, Ofgem have confirmed a decrease in the operating cost allowance of the price cap for the average billpayer which will take money off bills.

Ofgem’s plans to reduce the overall stock of consumer debt, which is currently recouped via a levy on all bills, will also produce savings that help to fund the Warm Homes Discount.

These reforms complement the government’s drive to bring down bills in the long term by replacing the UK’s dependence on fossil fuel markets controlled by petrostates and dictators with clean homegrown power.

This is the Plan for Change in action – combining short-term help with a proper long-term strategy for change that lowers people’s energy bills and puts more money in their pockets.

Adam Scorer, Chief Executive, National Energy Action said:

It’s hugely positive that across Great Britain, many more low-income households on means-tested benefits will get some direct support to tackle unaffordable bills and record energy debts this winter.

Vitally, this includes many more low-income working-age households with children, who are living with the daily consequences of not having access to enough energy at home.

Andrew Sissons, Deputy Director of Sustainable Future at Nesta, said:

Extra help for those households most in need is an important part of the energy bill system, and this change will go some way to help make energy bills fairer and more affordable for many this winter.

David Buttress, CEO of OVO, said:

This announcement is welcome relief for millions of families. Expanding the Warm Home Discount is a step in the right direction – targeting help where it’s needed most, directly into people’s pockets.

Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive, Energy UK said:

Extending the Warm Home Discount so that millions more households get help with their energy bills this winter is welcome news.

Energy bills are still hundreds of pounds higher than at the start of 2022 and with customer debt at record levels, we hope to see more measures to help those most in need – by pressing ahead with Ofgem’s debt relief scheme, accelerating progress on a new improved targeted support scheme and looking at other ways to cut bills right across the board, such as moving the policy costs off electricity that currently make it artificially expensive.

Chris O’Shea, CEO, Centrica said:

Today’s announcement will bring real warmth when it matters most. Expanding the Warm Home Discount means millions more families will see £150 off their energy bills this winter — and that’s welcome news.

I’m delighted that the Secretary of State has delivered this benefit for the millions of families who need help most. At Centrica, we’re proud to be doing our part too, helping customers through both the British Gas Energy Trust and the voluntary £140 million customer support package for British Gas customers.

Chris Norbury, CEO of E.ON UK, said:

We welcome the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, which will help ease pressure on millions of households this winter. Targeted support like this is exactly what’s needed to ensure energy is affordable for those who need it most.

A strong commitment to technologies and solutions that can lower bills today — such as insulation, solar panels, smart tariffs and battery storage — can make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.

Alongside the Future Homes Standard and funding for the Warm Homes Plan, this is another positive move towards a fairer, more affordable energy system for everyone.

Notes to editors

Today we have confirmed that following consultation, the Warm Home Discount scheme will be expanded to remove the high-cost-to-heat threshold in the current Warm Home Discount (England & Wales) Regulations 2022 (for winter 2025/2026) and increasing the level of spend available in Scotland for suppliers to allocate through the Broader Group.

The change will mean that all households where the means-tested benefit recipient (or their partner or legal appointee) is named on the energy bill will now be eligible to receive the £150 electricity bill rebate.

The number of families who will receive the discount for the first time, broken down by region, include:

North East England: 100,000

North West England: 280,000

Yorkshire and the Humber: 210,000

East Midlands: 160,000

West Midlands: 270,000

East of England: 250,000

London: 570,000

South East England: 350,000

South West England: 220,000

Wales: 110,000

Scotland: 240,000

The number of additional households supported under the expanded scheme in each region is calculated by applying the regional proportion of qualifying benefit recipients from DWP’s statxplore tool to the total additional 6.1 million households estimated in the Warm Home Discount Expansion consultation document.

For the North West, for example, the proportion of qualifying benefit recipients is 13%, thereby 13% x 6.1m = 780,000 recipient households. Of these, 500,000 are already in receipt according to the most recent Warm Home Discount statistics (2023/2024), so around 280,000 are estimated to be additional.
June 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : 1,500 jobs created at UK nuclear weapons headquarters as sector boasts above average wages [June 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 19 June 2025.

Thousands of high-skilled jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships have been created to help keep the United Kingdom protected around the clock, with newly published figures highlighting the economic benefits of the defence nuclear industry.
- New figures reveal that 1,500 skilled roles have been created in the last year at the UK’s nuclear weapons technology centre AWE.
- Government study shows that people working in defence nuclear industry receive 20% above average UK salary.
- Defence Secretary visits top secret site as £15 billion investment in sovereign UK nuclear warhead supports the Plan for Change with nearly 10,000 jobs across the UK.
It comes as the government’s delivers a landmark £15 billion investment in this parliament into the renewal of the UK’s sovereign nuclear warhead – confirmed through the recent Strategic Defence Review – to keep the British people safe while supporting almost 10,000 UK jobs.

The figures from government analysis published today also show that average salaries in the defence nuclear industry reach £45,500 – 20% higher than the UK average.

Over the last year, 1,500 new skilled staff, and double the number of apprentices and graduates, have joined AWE in Aldermaston, Berkshire – the UK’s nuclear weapons technology centre – all vital to the success of the nuclear deterrent by playing a critical role in the development and maintenance of the nuclear warhead stockpile.

It comes as John Healey was the first Defence Secretary to visit AWE since 2018, and he hailed the economic growth impact for the local area, as AWE celebrates its 75th anniversary.

The AWE workforce of 9,500 staff, including 3,000 engineers and 1,500 scientists, demonstrates the defence nuclear sector as an engine for economic growth, backing the government’s Plan for Change. This milestone year reflects AWE’s crucial contribution to the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent – keeping a nuclear-armed submarine at sea continuously – ensuring the security of the nation and our NATO allies around the clock.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

The nuclear weapons technology delivered at AWE keeps us all safe every minute of the day. The skilled men and women working here play a fundamental role in deterring global conflict and that cannot be underestimated.

However, our nuclear deterrent doesn’t just protect us, it also powers prosperity. From the design and development of the warhead in Aldermaston, to shipbuilding in Barrow and maintenance in Plymouth, to deployment for operations from Clyde, defence is an engine for growth. The Defence Nuclear Enterprise delivers on the Plan for Change by backing thousands of jobs across the country.

Through the Strategic Defence Review we are unshakeable in our commitment to maintaining our nuclear deterrent – it is the ultimate guarantor of our national security and the security of our NATO allies.

AWE is part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) – the partnership of organisations that operate, maintain, renew and sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent as part of a national endeavour which supports more than 48,000 jobs across the country – set to rise to 65,000 in the next decade.

Through the Nuclear Skills Plan, nearly 4,000 early career starters are projected to have entered the wider nuclear sector over the last year, with the total number of graduate and apprenticeship roles in the sector aiming to double over the next 10 years.

During his visit, the Defence Secretary met with staff, scientists and apprentices to acknowledge the establishment’s legacy, celebrate current achievements, and highlight the importance of investing in future talent. AWE welcomed nearly 500 graduates, apprentices and placement students in 2024/25 – double the previous year – many of them from local communities.

The defence nuclear industry wage premium also brings prosperity to some of the most economically disadvantaged communities in the UK, with over half of those employed in the defence nuclear industry living in areas targeted for economic regeneration.

The visit comes after the SDR and Spending Review provided the commitment and funding for the UK to produce a new submarine every 18 months in future years. It follows the commitment to grow the UK’s attack submarine fleet to up to 12 under the AUKUS partnership.
June 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Decade long Infrastructure Strategy to deliver stability, investment and national renewal [June 2025]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 19 June 2025.

10 Year Infrastructure Strategy published today (19 June) will deliver on the Government’s growth mission, as part of the Plan for Change, transforming how infrastructure projects are planned and delivered.
- Safer hospitals, modernised schools, and renovated courts to replace crumbling public sector buildings, as Strategy pledges at least £9 billion per year over next decade for renewal of Health, Education and Justice estates
- New approach to infrastructure will include vital reforms to ensure planning and delivery is joined up, backed by £725 billion in long-term funding for maintenance and major projects.
The soaring maintenance backlog which has left our schools, colleges, hospitals and courts in a state of disrepair will be turned around as part of the government’s landmark 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy published today (19 June).

The Strategy sets out a long-term plan for how the government will invest in infrastructure and ensure that funding is spent effectively and efficiently, marking a new approach to how projects are planned and delivered.

This government is committed to doing things differently to deliver infrastructure and fix the failures of the past, having accepted all of the James Stewart Review’s recommendations on HS2. The Strategy provides the certainty and stability needed to attract investment, boosting British supply chains and jobs, and takes a joined-up view to improve planning and delivery across all types of infrastructure.

It will also encourage inward investment by providing a long-term vision that gives investors the confidence and certainty they need to truly commit funding to projects, creating job opportunities and boosting living standards for people across the country, delivering on the Plan for Change.

These plans are backed by at least £725 billion of government funding over the coming decade, from which at least £9 billion will be allocated in 2025-26 to address the critical maintenance needs of health, education and justice estates, rising to over £10 billion per year by 2034-35.

This will increase access to quality, modern public services, following years of underinvestment, and deliver significant real-world benefits for patients, students, staff, and communities.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

Infrastructure is crucial to unlocking growth across the country, but for too long investment has been squeezed. Crumbling public buildings are a sign of the decay that has seeped into our everyday lives because of a total failure to plan and invest.

We’re not just fixing buildings – we’re enhancing public services, improving lives and creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth in communities throughout the UK.

This will deliver the decade of national renewal we promised Britain, and fulfil our Plan for Change goals to kickstart economic growth, and build an NHS fit for the future.

The 10-year maintenance investment will deliver tangible improvements for people across the country:
- Health: Over £6 billion per year will create safer hospital environments across England with reduced waiting times, improved patient outcomes, and better working conditions for NHS staff. By eliminating RAAC concrete and addressing critical infrastructure risks, patients will receive care in modern facilities that support rather than hinder their treatment and recovery.
- Education: Investment in school and college maintenance will rise to almost £3 billion annually, transforming learning environments across England and providing safe and high-quality spaces for children and young people, improving educational outcomes and breaking down barriers to opportunity.
- Justice: At least £600 million investment each year will improve safety and security in prisons across England and Wales, reducing incidents and creating environments more conducive to rehabilitation. Enhanced court facilities will help reduce backlogs and improve access to justice.
This strategic investment approach will help break the cycle of deterioration and emergency repairs that has characterised public infrastructure maintenance for decades. By adopting a preventative approach, services will face fewer disruptive closures, operate more efficiently, and deliver better value for taxpayers in the long term.

The programme directly supports the government’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future, with healthcare facilities that enable earlier diagnosis and better treatment outcomes. It also advances the mission to break down barriers to opportunity by ensuring all children have access to quality learning environments, regardless of where they live.

To support delivery of this strategy, the government is funding at least £725 billion for the country’s infrastructure over the next decade, ensuring that public infrastructure capital funding continues to grow in line with inflation after the current Spending Review period. This funding certainty will help government and industry plan further ahead, allowing for more efficient delivery of UK wide infrastructure.

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), established by the government this year, will work with partners across government and industry to effectively implement the strategy across the whole of the UK. NISTA will periodically review the progress made and work with devolved governments to ensure that infrastructure strategy across the UK is joined up.

Becky Wood, Chief Executive Officer of NISTA, said:

This investment is a welcome part of the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy and will help us to address some of the challenges that our key public services have faced over recent years.

Strategic preventative maintenance based on longer-term plans is a more effective approach than making decisions in the absence of certainty about the future – and will ensure our vital public services remain resilient and fit for purpose.

By approaching replacement and maintenance of our infrastructure in an informed and systematic way, we can target interventions effectively and plan properly for the future.

More information

The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy outlines the government’s comprehensive approach to infrastructure investment across all sectors.

This funding commitment follows recommendations from the National Audit Office on the need for long-term, sustainable maintenance funding.

The funding in the 10YIS includes:
- £1 billion to carry out maintenance on key transport infrastructure, including crumbling bridges, flyovers and crossing.
- £590 million to start work on the Lower Thames Crossing.
- £16 billion of new public investment will help build over 500,000 new homes, which will also unlock over £53bn of private investment.
Tracy Blackwell, Chief Executive Officer, Pension Insurance Corporation said:

The government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy is a good step in the right direction – providing clarity, ambition, and commitment to long-term investors in UK infrastructure, like Pension Insurance Corporation. We welcome the clearer pipeline of projects and a renewed focus on social value, something that is of real importance for local people. The Government’s wider efforts on planning reform, transparent delivery bodies, and reducing the regulatory burden will supplement this new strategy – offering a much more investable environment across the UK.

Lord O’Neill of Gatley said:

The Strategy set out today is a serious plan for addressing the long-running challenges that have prohibited investment for years. The government needs to be transparent in how it selects its infrastructure investments to drive growth and this Strategy is a big step forward in doing that. I look forward to further detail on the government’s plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Keith Lawson, Executive Vice President, Jacobs said:

Jacobs welcomes the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy as a testament to the Government’s commitment to driving economic growth, empowering communities, and providing market certainty. We are excited about the potential for this ambitious strategy to attract new talent to our sector, embrace new technologies, and promote the UK’s ability to compete globally.

By investing in public services, transport, and clean energy, we are not only addressing today’s needs but also laying the foundation for a resilient future. The combined efforts of the Spending Review, NISTA, and the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy provide the stability, coordination, and long-term vision necessary for efficient infrastructure delivery.

At Jacobs, we are committed to partnering with the Government to deliver these vital projects, creating lasting positive impacts across the UK.
June 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Sexual predator has prison sentence increased [June 2025]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 18 June 2o25.

A sexual predator who posed as a 12-year-old to obtain explicit photos from children has sentence increased following the Solicitor General’s intervention.

Joshua Wilson (26) from Bedworth, Warwickshire, had his sentence increased by one year and ten months after the case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP, under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The Court heard that between May and September 2023, Wilson contacted two children on social media. He requested nude images and sent sexually explicit images of himself to one of them.

In October 2024, following his arrest and whilst on bail, Wilson contacted a nine-year-old girl on social media.

Posing as a 12-year-old boy, Wilson video called her and requested she show her genitals to him.

Wilson was also found to be in possession of numerous indecent images of children and had uploaded some onto an instant messaging service.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Joshua Wilson’s crimes were sickening. He sought to befriend and sexually exploit vulnerable children.

I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase his sentence following my intervention.

On 7 March 2025, Wilson was sentenced to four years imprisonment for three counts of making indecent photographs of children, one count of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act, one count of distributing indecent photographs of children, four counts of sexual communication with a child, one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act, and one count of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

On 17 June 2025, Wilson’s sentence was increased to five years and 10 months after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

June 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Rabies case confirmed following contact with animal abroad [June 2025]
The press release issued by the UK Health Security Agency on 18 June 2025.

UKHSA is reminding travellers to be careful around animals when travelling to rabies affected countries.

An individual from the UK has sadly died after becoming infected with rabies, following contact with a stray dog during a visit to Morocco. The individual was diagnosed in Yorkshire and the Humber.

There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case as there is no documented evidence of rabies passing between people. However, as a precautionary measure, health workers and close contacts are being assessed and offered vaccination when necessary.

Rabies is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal. It is nearly always fatal, but post-exposure treatment is very effective at preventing disease if given promptly after exposure to the virus.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding travellers to be careful around animals when travelling to rabies affected countries due to the risk of catching the disease.

Dr Katherine Russell, Head of Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, at UKHSA, said:

I would like to extend my condolences to this individual’s family at this time.

If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found then you should wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay in order to get post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies.

There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case. Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK, and worldwide there are no documented instances of direct human-to-human transmission.

Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. No human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats have been reported since 1902.

Between 2000 and 2024 there were 6 cases of human rabies associated with animal exposures abroad reported in the UK.

Rabies is common in other parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa. All travellers to rabies affected countries should avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever possible, and seek advice about the need for rabies vaccine prior to travel.

You should take immediate action to wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water, if:
- you’ve been bitten or scratched by an animal while you’re abroad in a country with rabies
- an animal has licked your eyes, nose or mouth, or licked a wound you have, while you’re abroad in a country with rabies
- you’ve been bitten or scratched by a bat in the UK
Local medical advice should be sought without delay, even in those who have been previously vaccinated.

When given promptly after an exposure, a course of rabies post-exposure treatment is extremely effective at preventing the disease. If such an exposure occurs abroad, the traveller should also consult their doctor on return, so that the course of rabies treatment can be completed. If travellers have not sought medical advice abroad, they should contact their doctor promptly upon return for assessment.

For more information on the risk of rabies in different countries, see the country information pages on the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s (NaTHNaC’s) website, TravelHealthPro.
June 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : ECHR “must evolve” to restore public confidence in rule of law, says Lord Chancellor [June 2025]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 18 June 2025.

The European Convention of Human Rights “must evolve” to restore public confidence in the rule of law, the Lord Chancellor told European ambassadors in a speech today.

Speaking to the Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg, the Lord Chancellor said that while the UK is resolutely committed to the ECHR, the trust of the public is beginning to erode as the application of rights “feels out of step with common sense.”

Making her argument for reform, she said that “the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law – once widely assumed – now face distortion, doubt, even hostility.”

Speaking at the meeting, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood, said:

Across Europe, public confidence in the rule of law is fraying.

There is a growing perception – sometimes mistaken, sometimes grounded in reality – that human rights are no longer a shield for the vulnerable, but a tool for criminals to avoid responsibility. That the law too often protects those who break the rules, rather than those who follow them.

This tension is not new. The Convention was written to protect individuals from the arbitrary power of the state. But in today’s world, the threats to justice and liberty are more complex. They can come from technology, transnational crime, uncontrolled migration, or legal systems that drift away from public consent.

This comes as the Government commits to legislation to clarify the law around Article 8, the right to private and family life, which many foreign offenders have exploited in order to avoid deportation. In her speech, the Lord Chancellor said that “if a foreign national commits a serious crime, they should expect to be removed from the country.”

While this Government has ramped up removals of foreign national offenders with more than 4,400 removed since the election – up 14% compared to the same period 12 months ago – further action is being taken forward to increase removals even further.

The Lord Chancellor went on to highlight the changes being made in the UK to tackle immigration – including tightening the application of Article 8 to give courts the clarity they need so our immigration rules are no longer abused. This is particularly important as the Government introduces sentencing reforms to tackle a prison system at breaking point.

The Lord Chancellor set out that:

In the UK, we are restoring the balance we pledged at the birth of our Convention: liberty with responsibility, individual rights with the public interest. There must be consequences for breaking the rules.

Which is why we are clarifying how Convention rights – particularly Article 8 – operate in relation to immigration rules. The right to family life is fundamental. But it has too often been used in ways that frustrate deportation, even where there are serious concerns about credibility, fairness, and risk to the public.

We’re bringing clarity back to the distinction between what the law protects and what policy permits. Prisoners claiming a right to socialise – under Article 8 – is not just a legal stretch. It damages the public perception of human rights altogether.

Legislation brought forward by the Home Office will strengthen the public interest test to make it clear that Parliament needs to be able to control the country’s borders and make decisions over who comes to, and stays in the UK, striking the right balance between individual family rights and the wider public interest.

It will clarify Article 8 rules and set out how they should apply in different immigration routes so that fewer cases are treated as “exceptional”.

She went on to say that:

These are the reforms we are pursuing at home. The question for all of us now is whether the Convention system, as it stands, has the tools to resolve these tensions in a way that keeps the public with us.

As I have said, our Convention has evolved before, through new protocols, new rights, and new interpretations. Always to reflect changing times, while staying true to its purpose.

However, reform of the ECHR must be “a shared political endeavour among us as member States”, the Lord Chancellor told the Council of Europe.

The Lord Chancellor concluded by saying:

The European Convention on Human Rights is one of the great achievements of post-war politics. It has endured because it has evolved. Now, it must do so again.

June 26, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Welfare bill will protect the most vulnerable and help households with income boost [June 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 18 June 2025.

Additional protections for millions of vulnerable people on benefits are set to be written into law, under new measures being introduced to Parliament today.
- New welfare legislation to ensure there are robust protections in place to support the most vulnerable and severely disabled.
- Nearly 4 million households to benefit from uprating of Universal Credit standard rate, the largest, permanent real-terms increase to basic out of work support since 1980, according to the IFS.
- More than 200,000 people with most severe, lifelong conditions to be protected from future reassessment for Universal Credit entitlement.
- 13-week period of financial support for those affected by PIP changes as part of upcoming welfare reforms.
- Comes alongside £1 billion employment support package that will unlock opportunity and grow the economy as part of the Plan for Change.
The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill will provide 13-weeks of additional financial security to existing claimants affected by changes to the PIP daily living component, including those who their lose eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer’s element of Universal Credit.

The 13-week additional protection will give people who will be affected by the changes time to adapt, access new, tailored employment support, and plan for their future once they are reassessed and their entitlement ends.

This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP.

This government inherited a broken social security system, with costs spiralling at an unsustainable rate and millions of people trapped out of work. The case for change is stark:
- Since the pandemic, the number of PIP awards has more than doubled – up from 13,000 a month to 34,000 a month. That is around 1,000 people signing on to PIP every day – that is roughly the size of Leicester signing up every year.
- The surge has been largely by driven by a substantial increase in the number of people who report anxiety and depression as their main condition. Before the pandemic (in 2019), 2,500 people a month were awarded PIP for these conditions, this has more than tripled to 8,200 a month in 2023.
- Almost 1 million young people – 1 in 8 – are not in education, employment or training.
- 1-in-10 people of working age are now claiming a sickness or disability benefit.
- Without reform, the number of working age people on disability benefits is set to more than double this decade to 4.3 million.
- Spending on working age disability and incapacity benefits is up £20 billion since the pandemic and is set to increase by almost that much again by the end of this Parliament, to a staggering £70 billion a year.
That’s why, through the introduction of this Bill; the government is fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot – putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:

Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it.

This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity.

This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot – putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.

As part of our commitment to protect the most vulnerable and severely disabled, peace of mind will also be given to 200,000 individuals in the Severe Conditions Criteria group – individuals with the most severe and permanently disabling conditions who will never be able to work – as they will not be called for reassessed for Universal Credit (UC) under new legislation.

Those protected from reassessment will also be paid the higher rate of UC health top up of £97 per week, so they can live with dignity and security, knowing the reforms to the welfare system mean it will always be there to support them.

In the coming weeks, legislation will also be drafted for a Right to Try Guarantee. This will ensure that trying work will not, in and of itself, lead to a reassessment or award review, breaking down barriers to employment.

Reforms being delivered by the legislation introduced today go hand in hand with a £1 billion employment support package to support more people with health conditions back into work, unlocking opportunity and growing the economy as part of the Plan for Change.

Funding will offer personalised employment and health support for individuals on out of work benefits, with 500,000 people having already been supported into employment. This is a quadrupling the level of annual spend on supporting sick and disabled people into work, from the £275m in 2024/25 we inherited, to over £1bn in 2029/30.

Nearly 4 million households will also receive an income boost with the main rate of Universal Credit set to increase above inflation every year for the next four years – estimated to be worth £725 by 2029/30 for a single household 25 or over. This is around £250 higher than an inflation only increases.

The Bill will also rebalance Universal Credit rates by reducing the health element for new UC claims to £50 from April 2026, fixing a system which encourages sickness by paying health element recipients more than double the standard amount.

To open up opportunities to work, everyone affected by changes to the UC health element from April 2026 will be offered support from a dedicated Pathways to Work adviser, with 1,000 advisers in place across Britain.

All of those affected by reforms will be actively contacted and given the offer of a conversation about their support needs, goals and aspirations; offered one-to-one follow-on support, and given help to access additional work, health and skills support that can meet their needs.

The reforms build on the Get Britain Working White Paper that will overhaul Jobcentres, empower Mayors and local leaders to tackle inactivity, and deliver a Youth Guarantee so every young person is either earning or learning, as part of the Government’s ambition to deliver an 80% employment rate.

Additional information
- The Bill will introduce a new additional eligibility requirement for the daily living component of PIP so that a minimum of 4 points must be scored on at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component. It will also rebalance Universal Credit.
- The Work and Pensions Secretary gave a speech at the IPPR on setting out the case for reforming the welfare system: Welfare reform: Speech to the IPPR by Work and Pensions Secretary – GOV.UK
- Based on current forecasts, the rebalancing mean single households 25 or over, will see their standard allowance rise to around £106pw by the end of this parliament.
- Current UC health top up is more than double the UC standard allowance for a single claimant.
There are 4 criteria for the healthcare professional to consider, all of which must apply for the claimant to meet the SCC, namely whether:
- The individual’s level of function will always meet LCWRA
- The individual’s condition will last for the rest of their life
- There is no realistic prospect of recovery of function, and
- The condition has been diagnosed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional in the course of the provision of NHS services.
June 26, 2025