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  • PRESS RELEASE : Court and tribunal fees [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Court and tribunal fees [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 26 February 2025.

    An update on upcoming increases to selected court and tribunal fees.

    In early April 2025, and subject to parliamentary approval, the Ministry of Justice will increase 171 court and tribunal fees to account for changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The income generated from these uplifts will help to support the efficient and effective running of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

    The department recovers a modest contribution towards the costs of providing HMCTS services from court and tribunal users, where they can afford to do so. The department has a history of increasing court and tribunal fees by inflation to ensure that fees keep pace with increased costs to HMCTS as a result of the general rise in prices, while at the same time minimising the cost to the taxpayer.

    The majority of the 171 fees in scope will be increased by 3.2% to reflect the change in CPI between March 2023 and March 2024, with a small number of fees increased by 13.5% to reflect backdated inflation to March 2022. These fee increases are all rounded to the nearest pound. These fee changes will produce a significant level of additional funding that will go towards improving service delivery, subsidising the cost of related court and tribunal services for which we do not charge a fee, and reducing the overall cost to the taxpayer.

    The Help with Fees remissions scheme remains available for those with lower financial means who are unable to afford a court or tribunal fee. More information on the scheme can be found on GOV.UK.

    As well as increasing fees, the department will be reducing the value of a further 24 fees to ensure they remain aligned with the latest estimate of their underlying cost.

    A full list of the fee changes, including the 171 to be increased and the 24 to be reduced, can be found in the table below. The government’s intention is for the changes to go live from 1 April for applications received by courts or tribunals on or after that date. Until then, the current fees will continue to apply.

    Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008

    SI Reference ID Description Current New
    1.4a Recovery of Land (High Court) £528 £545
    1.4b Recovery of Land (County Court) £391 £404
    1.5 Any other remedy (County Court) £365 £377
    1.5 Any other remedy (High Court) £626 £646
    1.6 Filing proceedings against an unnamed party £65 £67
    1.8a Permission to issue proceedings £65 £67
    1.8b Assessment of costs (under Part 3, Solicitors Act 1974) £65 £67
    1.9a For permission to apply for judicial review £169 £174
    1.9b On applying for a request to reconsider at a hearing a decision on permission £424 £438
    1.9ba On an application for judicial review where fee 1.9(b) has been paid and permission is granted at a hearing £385 £436
    1.9c Permission to proceed with judicial review if started with application for permission to apply for JR £847 £874
    1.9d Permission to proceed with judicial review where started other than with permission to apply for JR £169 £174
    2.1a Hearing fee: Multi track case £1,175 £1,334
    2.1b Hearing fee: Fast track case £545 £619
    2.2 Appellant’s/respondent’s notice (High Court) £285 £294
    2.3a Appellant’s/respondent’s notice (County court small claims) £142 £147
    2.3b Appellant’s/respondent’s notice (County court other claims) £166 £171
    2.4(a) General application (on notice) excluding Protection from Harassment Act 1997 & Court Fund Pay Out £303 £313
    2.4(b) General application (on notice) Protection from Harassment Act 1997 & Court Fund Pay Out £184 £190
    2.5(a) General application (by consent/without notice) excluding Protection from Harassment Act 1997 & Court Fund Pay Out £119 £123
    2.5(b) General application (by consent/without notice) Protection from Harassment Act 1997 & Court Fund Pay Out £59 £61
    2.6 Application for summons or order for witness to attend court £21 £4
    2.8 Issue of a certificate of satisfaction £15 £19
    3.1b Petition for bankruptcy (presented by creditor/other person) £332 £343
    3.4(a) Request for a certificate of discharge from bankruptcy £75 £22
    3.7 Voluntary winding up fee £50 £16
    3.9 Submission of nominees report £35 £11
    3.11 Application within proceedings (by consent/without notice) £29 £30
    3.12 Application within insolvency proceedings (with notice, where no other fee is specified) £109 £112
    3.13 Search of bankruptcy and company records (County Court) £45 £11
    3.2 Petition for an administration order £332 £343
    3.3 Any other petition £332 £343
    3.5 Insolvency – other application £308 £318
    3.8 Notice of intention to appoint administrator £55 £57
    5.3 Issue of default costs certificate – Civil £78 £80
    5.4 Appeal (detailed assessment proceedings) – Civil £274 £283
    5.5 Request/application to set aside a default costs certificate £143 £148
    6.1 On the filing of a request for detailed assessment for Court of Protection £96 £99
    6.2 Appeal against a Court of Protection costs assessment decision £77 £79
    6.3 Request to set aside a default Court of Protection costs certificate £72 £74
    7.1 Sealing a writ of control/possession/delivery (High Court) £78 £80
    7.2 Order requiring a judgment debtor or other person to attend court £65 £67
    7.3a Third party debt order or the appointment of a receiver by way of equitable execution £131 £135
    7.3b Application for a charging order £131 £135
    7.4 Application for a judgment summons £131 £135
    7.5 Register a judgment or order, or for permission to enforce an arbitration award, or for a certificate or a certified copy of a judgment or order for use abroad £78 £80
    8.1 Issue warrant of control £91 £94
    8.2 Request for attempt of execution of a warrant at new address £36 £37
    8.3 Order requiring judgment debtor to attend court £65 £67
    8.4a Application for a third party debt order £131 £135
    8.4b Application for a charging order £131 £135
    8.5 Application for a judgment summons £131 £135
    8.6 Issue of a warrant of possession/warrant of delivery £143 £148
    8.7 Application for an attachment of earnings order – Civil £131 £135
    8.9 Application for enforcement of an award of a sum of money or any other decision made by any court, tribunal, body or person £52 £54
    8A.1 Service by a bailiff of an order to attend County Court for questioning £131 £135
    10.1 Bills of sale £33 £34
    10.4 Appointment of a High Court judge as arbitrator or umpire £671 £692
    10.5 Hearing before a High Court judge (per day or part day) as arbitrator or umpire £671 £692
    11.1 On the issue of a warrant for the arrest of a ship or goods £20 £21
    13.1a Filing an appellant’s/respondent’s notice in the Court of Appeal where permission to appeal/extension of time is applied for £626 £646
    13.1b Filing an appellant’s/respondent’s notice in the Court of Appeal where permission to appeal is not required or has been granted £1,421 £1,466
    13.1c Court of Appeal – Appellant/respondent filing an appeal questionnaire £1,421 £1,466
    13.2 Court of Appeal – On filing a respondent’s notice £569 £587
    13.3 Court of Appeal – On filing an application notice £626 £646

    Magistrates’ Court Fees Order 2008

    SI Reference ID Description Current New
    1.1 Application for a justice of the peace to perform function not on court premises £28 £29
    2.1 Application to state a case for the opinion of the High Court £151 £156
    2.2 Appeal (deduction from earnings order) £21 £22
    2.3 Appeal – proceedings under Schedule 5, Licensing Act 2003 £68 £70
    2.4 Appeal (no other fee specified) £68 £70
    3.2 Request for a certificate of satisfaction £18 £19
    3.3 Request for a certified copy of a memorandum of conviction £20 £15
    3.4 Request for certificate/certified document (no fee specified) £22 £23
    4.2 Application for Child Support Liability Order £25 £14
    6.1 Request for licence/consent/authority (no other fee specified) £30 £31
    6.2 Application for renewal/variation of an existing licence £30 £31
    6.3 Application for the revocation of licence (no other fee specified) £30 £31
    7.2 For every oath (etc) where no other fee is specified £30 £31
    8.1 Commencing proceedings where no other fee is specified £249 £284
    8.2a Application for leave/permission to commence proceedings (no other fee specified) £138 £142
    8.2b Commencing proceedings where leave/permission has been granted £138 £142
    8.3 Contested hearing £567 £644
    9.2 Application for any other warrant (no other fee specified) £89 £92
    10.1 Application for a warrant of commitment (council tax proceedings) £264 £212
    10.2 Application for a warrant of commitment (Child Support Act 1991) £45 £46

    Family Proceedings Fees Order 2008

    SI Reference ID Description Current New
    1.1 Originating proceedings where no other fee is specified £270 £279
    1.2 Application for a divorce, nullity or civil partnership dissolution £593 £612
    1.3 Application for matrimonial or civil partnership order £402 £415
    1.5 Amendment of application for matrimonial/civil partnership order £95 £59
    1.6 Answer to application for matrimonial/civil partnership order £245 £234
    1.7 On application for an order of assessment of costs £55 £57
    1.8 Application for parental order £255 £263
    2.1a Parental responsibility (section 4(1)(c) or (3), 4A(1)(b) or(3) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1b Parental responsibility (section 4ZA(1)(c) or (6) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1c Guardians (section 5(1) or 6(7) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1d Section 8 orders (section 10(1) or (2) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1e Enforcement orders (section 11J(2) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1f Compensation for financial loss (section 11O(2) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1g Change of child’s surname or removal from jurisdiction while residence order in force (section 13(1) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1h Special guardianship orders (section 14A(3) or (6)(a), 14C(3) or 14D(1) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1i Secure accommodation order (section 25 of the Children Act 1989) – England £255 £263
    2.1ia Secure accommodation order (section 25 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014) £255 £263
    2.1j Change of child’s surname or removal from jurisdiction while care order in force (section 33(7) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1k Contact with child in care (section 34(2), (3), (4) or (9) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1l Education supervision order (section 36(1) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1m Variation or discharge etc of care and supervision orders (section 39 of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1n Child assessment order (section 43(1) of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1o Emergency protection orders (sections 44, 45 and 46 of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1p Warrant to assist person exercising powers under emergency protection order (section 48 of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1q Recovery order (section 50 of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1s Warrant to assist person exercising powers to search for children or inspect premises (section 102 of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1t Applications in respect of enforcement orders (under Schedule A1 of the Children Act 1989) £112 £116
    2.1u Amendment of enforcement order by reason of change of address (under Schedule A1 of the Children Act 1989) £77 £79
    2.1v Financial provision for children (paragraph 1(1) or (4), 2(1) or (5), 5(6), 6(5), (7) or (8), 8(2), 10(2), 11 or 14(1) of Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1w Approval of court for child in care of local authority to live abroad (paragraph 19(1) of Schedule 2 of the Children Act 1989) – England £255 £263
    2.1wa Approval of court for child in care of local authority to live abroad (Wales) £255 £263
    2.1x Extension of supervision order (paragraph 6 of Schedule 3 of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1y Extension or discharge of education supervision order (paragraph 15(2) or 17(1) of Schedule 3 of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.1z Appeals concerning foster parents (paragraph 8(1) of Schedule 8 of the Children Act 1989) £255 £263
    2.2 Care and supervision order (Section 31 of the Children Act 1989) £2,437 £2,515
    2.3 Appeal relating to Children Act fees 2.1(a) to 2.1(s) (v) to (y) and 2.2) £237 £245
    2.4 Appeal against a contribution order – England £237 £245
    2.5 Appeal against a contribution order – Wales £237 £245
    2.6(a) Section 72 Cancellation, variation or removal or imposition of condition of registration of child minder or day carer (England) £255 £263
    2.6(b) Section 34 Cancellation of registration of child minder or day carer (Wales) £255 £263
    2.7 Commencing child mind or day carer appeal for application (England or Wales) £237 £245
    3.1 Application/permission to apply for adoption £201 £207
    3.2 Application for a placement order (under Section 22 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002) £539 £556
    3.3 Application to the High Court with regards to inherent jurisdiction with respect to children £201 £207
    4.1 On an application for a warning notice to be attached to a contact order £54 £56
    5.1 Application (without notice) £58 £60
    5.2 Application for decree nisi, conditional order, separation order (no fee if undefended) £59 £61
    5.3 Application (on notice) (unless otherwise listed) £184 £190
    5.4 Application for a financial order (other than consent order) £303 £313
    6.1 Filing an appeal notice from a district judge, one or more lay justices, a justices’ clerk or an assistant to a justices’ clerk £138 £142
    7.2 Search of central index of parental responsibility agreements £45 £17
    9.2(d) On filing a request for detailed assessment where fee 9.1 does not apply £1,345 £1,365
    9.3 Issue of default costs certificate £65 £18
    9.4 Appeal (detailed assessment proceedings) – Family £231 £238
    9.5 Request/application to set aside a default costs certificate £121 £125
    10.2 Application for a maintenance order to be registered under the Maintenance Orders 1950 or 1958 Act £55 £57
    11.1 Application for order for financial provision £237 £245
    12.1 Application to question a judgment debtor or other person £59 £61
    12.2 Application for a third party debt order/appointment of a receiver £85 £88
    12.3 Application for a charging order £42 £43
    12.4 Application for a judgment summons £80 £83
    12.5 Application for an attachment of earnings order – Family £37 £38
    13.1 Application for enforcement of a judgment or order – warrant of control against goods £110 £114
    13.2 On a request for further attempt at execution of a warrant at a new address where the warrant has been returned to the court not executed £30 £6
    13.3 Issue for a warrant of possession or a warrant of delivery £131 £135
    14.1 Sealing a writ of execution/possession/delivery £66 £68
    14.2 On a request or application to register a judgment or order; or for permission to enforce an arbitration award; or for a certified copy of a judgment or order for use abroad £66 £68
    15.1 Request for service by a bailiff of document (see order for exceptions) £45 £46

    Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) Fees Order 2009

    SI Reference ID Description Current New
    1 Permission to appeal r21 £242 £250
    2 Notice of reference r28 / appeal r24 £303 £313
    3 Absent owner application (Compulsory Purchase Act 1965) £550 £624
    4 Restrictive covenant application r32 re s84 Law of Property Act 1925 £968 £999
    5a Rights of light application r41 to s2 Rights of Light Act 1959 – Definitive certificate £1,320 £775
    5b Rights of light application r41 to s2 Rights of Light Act 1959 – Temporary & Definitive certificate £1,650 £761
    6 Interlocutory application £121 £125
    11a Hearing as to entitlement – s84 Law of Property Act 1925 – discharge/modify restrictive covenant £605 £624
    11b Order without hearing (r46) – s84 Law of Property Act 1925 – discharge/modify restrictive covenant £275 £166
    11c Substantive hearing of originating application – s84 Law of Property Act 1925 – discharge/modify restrictive covenant £1,210 £1,249
    11d Engrossing Minutes of Order – s84 Law of Property Act 1925 – discharge/modify restrictive covenant £220 £41
    12 Hearing or preliminary hearing of reference/appeal (no amount awarded) £605 £624

    Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) (Judicial Review) (England and Wales) Fees Order 2011

    SI Reference ID Description Current New
    1.1 Permission to apply for Judicial Review £169 £174
    1.1a Judicial Review – Oral renewal £424 £438
    1.2a Proceed with Judicial Review – permission granted at oral hearing £385 £436
    1.2b Proceeding with Judicial Review after permission granted £847 £874
    1.3 Permission for Judicial Review – permission to proceed where proceedings started otherwise than by application for permission £169 £174
    2.1 Judicial Review General Application – On notice (where no other fee is specified) £281 £290
    2.2 Judicial Review General Application – By consent or without notice (where no other fee is specified) £110 £114
    2.3 Judicial Review – Application for a summons or order for a witness to attend the Tribunal £55 £57

    Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order 2004

    SI Reference ID Description Current New
    3.1 Duplicate/second grant for same deceased person £20 £21
    6 Deposit of wills £22 £23
    7 Inspection of will/other document retained by the registry £20 £23
    11 Settling documents £4 £5

    First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fees Order 2013

    SI Reference ID Description Current New
    1.1 Commence proceedings (application or appeal) in a leasehold or residential property case, where no other fees applies £110 £114
    1.2 File proceedings for approval of the exercise of a power of entry £110 £114
    1.3 Mobile homes application (pitch fee other than Local Authority sites) £22 £23
    1.4 Mobile Homes – Application for determination to take into account cost of owner improvements – para 1.4 £22 £23
    1.5 Mobile Homes – Determination of Local Authority pitch fee £22 £23
    1.6 Mobile Homes – Application for determination to take into account cost of owner improvements – para 1.6 £22 £23
    2.1 Notice of hearing date for 1.1 or 1.2 application – only one payable if applications joined together £220 £227

    First-tier Tribunal (Gambling) Fees Order 2010

    SI Reference ID Description Current New
    1.1* Appeal s141 Gambling Act 2005 – casino operating licence s65(2)(a) £14,000 £4,521
    1.3* Appeal s141 Gambling Act 2005 – general betting operating licence s65(2)(c) £10,000 £4,521
    1.4* Appeal s141 Gambling Act 2005 – pool betting operating licence s65(2)(d) £10,000 £4,521
    1.5* Appeal s141 Gambling Act 2005 – better intermediary operating licence s65(2)(e) £10,000 £4,521
    1.10* Appeal s141 Gambling Act 2005 – lottery operating licence s65(2)(j) £9,400 £4,521
    1.11 Appeal s141 Gambling Act 2005 – personal management office licence s127 £1,760 £1,816
    1.12 Appeal s141 Gambling Act 2005 – personal operational function licence s127 of that Act £880 £908
    2 Appeal s337(1) Gambling Act 2005 – order to void a bet s336(1) £9,400 £4,521

    Court of Protection Fees Order 2007

    SI Reference ID Description Current New
    4 Application fee (Article 4) £408 £421
    5 Appeal fee (Article 5) £257 £265
    6 Hearing fee (Article 6) £494 £259

    Gender Recognition (Application Fees) Order 2006

    SI Reference ID Description Current New
    2 Application for a Gender Recognition Certificate £5 £6

    *Please note that fees 1.1 – 1.10 in the First-tier Tribunal (Gambling) Fees Order 2010 will all be consolidated under one fee at £4,521 from 1st April.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Hospices receive multi-million pound boost to improve facilities [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Hospices receive multi-million pound boost to improve facilities [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 26 February 2025.

    The government has confirmed the release of £25 million for upgrades and refurbishments today for hospices across England.

    • An additional £75 million will be available from April as part of the largest investment in hospices in a generation
    • The funding will modernise facilities, improve IT systems and ensure patients receive the highest quality care

    Families across England will start to see improved end-of-life care as the government brings in major upgrades to hospice services nationwide.

    New investments in hospices will make sure people receive compassionate care in comfortable, dignified surroundings during their most vulnerable moments by:

    • creating outdoor gardens where memories can be shared
    • upgrading patient rooms, so they feel more like home

    Every change is focused on supporting families when they need it most.

    The improvements will help ensure that, during life’s most challenging moments, patients and their loved ones receive the highest-quality care in the most appropriate and comfortable settings.

    Hospices will begin receiving £25 million for facility upgrades and refurbishments from today as part of the biggest investment into hospices in a generation.

    The cash will be distributed immediately for the 2024 to 2025 financial year, with a further £75 million to follow from April. More than 170 hospices across the country will receive funding, including those run by Marie Curie and Sue Ryder, as well as independent hospices like Zoe’s Place in Liverpool.

    This cash forms a key part of the government’s Plan for Change, improving care in the community where people need it most.

    Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock said:

    This is the largest investment in a generation to help transform hospice facilities across England. From upgrading patient rooms to improving gardens and outdoor spaces, this funding will make a real difference to people at the end of their lives.

    Hospices provide invaluable care and support when people need it most and this funding boost will ensure they are able to continue delivering exceptional care in better, modernised facilities.

    The immediate cash injection, allocated through Hospice UK from the Department of Health and Social Care, will enable hospices to:

    • purchase essential new medical equipment
    • undertake building refurbishments
    • improve technology
    • upgrade facilities for patients and families
    • implement energy-efficiency measures

    The larger £75 million investment will support more substantial capital projects, including major building works and facility modernisation, throughout the next financial year.

    Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, said:

    The announcement before Christmas of £100 million of additional funding for hospices in England was a significant boost, and today’s news of the allocation of the first £25 million of this funding will be a huge relief for our members.

    Several years of rapidly rising costs have curtailed the extent to which hospices have been able to invest in their infrastructure for the longer term. This additional support will enable them to do so – and relieve the immediate pressures on hospice finances.

    The hospice sector is ready to support the government’s ambition to shift more care into the community. This couldn’t be more important for people approaching the end of life, when it’s vital to have the right care, in the right place.

    The greater stability provided by the government’s funding injection this year and next gives us a golden opportunity to now reform the palliative and end of life care system, so it’s fit for the future.

    Nick Carroll, Chief Executive of children’s palliative care charity Together for Short Lives, said:

    We’re really pleased that the Department of Health and Social Care has moved quickly to finalise the details of this much-needed funding and ensure it is ready for distribution.

    We know that children’s hospices across England face an increasingly challenging funding landscape, with costs continuing to rise significantly. This investment will help children’s hospices continue to deliver essential care for seriously ill children and their families across England.

    A key focus of the investment will be digital transformation, enabling hospices to modernise their IT systems and improve data sharing between healthcare providers. The funding will also support the development of outreach services, allowing hospices to extend their care beyond their physical buildings. This includes investing in mobile equipment and technology that will help support people who wish to receive end-of-life care in their own homes.

    Creating more welcoming spaces for families is another priority, with funding allocated for the renovation of family rooms and outdoor areas. These improvements will provide peaceful, comfortable spaces where families can spend precious time with their loved ones during difficult periods.

    The funding forms part of the government’s commitment to improving end-of-life care services across England, so hospices can continue providing exceptional care in the best possible environments.

    It also supports the government’s ambitions in the 10 Year Health Plan to shift healthcare out of hospitals into the community and from analogue to digital, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting.

    Further information

    Hospice UK is managing the distribution without charging administration fees.

    Breakdown of funding

    Hospice Amount (£)
    Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust 302,003
    Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service 47,956
    Arthur Rank Hospice Charity 235,374
    Ashgate Hospicecare 211,820
    Barnsley Hospice 80,039
    Bassetlaw Hospice 7,274
    Beaumond House Community Hospice 32,852
    Birmingham (adjusted for 12 months) 345,224
    Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice 73,256
    Blythe House Hospice 39,958
    Bolton Hospice 107,466
    Bury Hospice 61,674
    Butterfly Hospice 12,215
    Butterwick Hospice Limited 60,656
    Campden Home Nursing 23,060
    Children’s Hospice South West 275,928
    Claire House Children’s Hospice 172,160
    Community Hospice for Greenwich and Bexley 231,143
    Compton Hospice 217,778
    Cornwall Hospice Care 161,125
    Demelza Hospice Care for Children – Demelza Kent 242,135
    Derian House Children’s Hospice 115,875
    Dorothy House Hospice Care 297,862
    Douglas Macmillan Hospice 328,758
    Dove Cottage Day Hospice 9,309
    Dove House Hospice 111,822
    Dr Kershaw’s Hospice 92,588
    Earl Mountbatten Hospice 332,433
    East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices 222,453
    East Cheshire Hospice 130,738
    East Lancashire Hospice 85,513
    Eden Valley Hospice 92,849
    Ellenor 137,518
    Farleigh Hospice 268,268
    Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice 75,232
    Francis House Children’s Hospice 152,127
    Garden House Hospice 124,170
    Great Oaks, Dean Forest Hospice 25,137
    Halton Haven Hospice 55,394
    Harlington Hospice Association 116,191
    Hartlepool and District Hospice 60,881
    Haven House Children’s Hospice 88,446
    Havens Hospices 261,310
    Heart of Kent Hospice 97,348
    Helen and Douglas House 136,890
    Hope House Children’s Hospices (Hope House) 144,966
    Hospice at Home West Cumbria 33,871
    Hospice at Home, Carlisle and North Lakeland 31,287
    Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle 95,256
    Hospice in the Weald 199,653
    Hospice of St Francis (Berkhamsted) 121,619
    Hospice of the Good Shepherd 81,185
    HospiceCare North Northumberland 18,653
    Hospiscare (Exeter) 180,911
    Isabel Hospice 120,401
    Jessie May 22,929
    John Eastwood Hospice 12,573
    Julia’s House Ltd 131,315
    Kate’s Home Nursing 8,843
    Katharine House Hospice (Banbury) 35,454
    Katharine House Hospice (Stafford) 97,658
    Keech Hospice Care 189,753
    Kemp Hospice Trust 21,942
    Kirkwood Hospice 160,020
    Lakelands Hospice 9,251
    Lawrence Home Nursing 9,586
    Lewis-Manning Hospice 49,050
    Lindsey Lodge Hospice 78,577
    Longfield 50,229
    LOROS Leicestershire and Rutland Hospice 302,751
    Marie Curie (unadjusted) 1,250,000
    Martin House Children’s Hospice 148,596
    Mary Ann Evans Hospice 37,177
    Mary Stevens Hospice 83,256
    Naomi House and Jacksplace Children’s Hospice 122,736
    Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice 114,605
    North Devon Hospice 104,128
    North London Hospice 283,640
    Nottinghamshire Hospice 72,123
    Oakhaven Hospice 157,402
    Overgate Hospice 85,938
    Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice 280,455
    Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent, Canterbury 290,911
    Primrose Hospice 29,035
    Princess Alice Hospice 264,319
    Priscilla Bacon 3,958
    Prospect Hospice 127,153
    Queenscourt Hospice 137,157
    Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People 145,128
    Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care 278,579
    Richard House Children’s Hospice 85,846
    Rosemary Foundation – Hospice at Home 17,247
    Rossendale Hospice 25,229
    Rotherham Hospice 121,115
    Rowcroft – The Torbay and South Devon Hospice 158,301
    Royal Trinity Hospice 318,609
    Saint Catherine’s Hospice (Scarborough) 104,720
    Saint Francis Hospice 191,131
    Saint Michael’s Hospice (Harrogate) 140,243
    Severn Hospice 229,964
    Shipston Home Nursing 10,206
    Shooting Star CHASE 169,787
    Sidmouth Hospice at Home 16,934
    Sobell House Hospice 78,633
    South Bucks Hospice 19,251
    Springhill Hospice 111,983
    St Andrew’s Hospice (Grimsby) 92,589
    St Ann’s Hospice (Cheadle, Cheshire) 228,447
    St Barnabas Hospices (Sussex) 368,232
    St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice 236,601
    St Catherine’s Hospice (Crawley) 203,142
    St Catherine’s Hospice (Lancashire) 166,720
    St Christopher’s Hospice 526,754
    St Clare Hospice (West Essex) 144,945
    St Cuthbert’s Hospice 68,486
    St Elizabeth Hospice 239,262
    St Gemma’s Hospice 225,450
    St Giles Hospice 213,793
    St Helena Hospice 237,083
    St John’s Hospice, Lancaster 126,624
    St Johns, London 147,500
    St Joseph’s Hospice Association 66,973
    St Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney 313,531
    St Leonard’s Hospice 144,606
    St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice 84,318
    St Luke’s Hospice (Basildon) 256,843
    St Luke’s Hospice (Harrow and Brent) 129,220
    St Luke’s Hospice (Sheffield) 223,481
    St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth 176,616
    St Margaret’s Hospice – Somerset 204,046
    St Mary’s Hospice 86,382
    St Michael’s Hospice (Hereford) 166,755
    St Michael’s Hospice (North Hampshire) Basingstoke 86,086
    St Michael’s Hospice, Hastings 146,943
    St Nicholas Hospice Care 97,852
    St Oswald’s Hospice 252,524
    St Peter and St James Hospice and Continuing Care Centre 78,032
    St Peter’s Hospice (Bristol) 251,252
    St Raphael’s Hospice 131,769
    St Richard’s Hospice (Worcester) 172,108
    St Rocco’s Hospice 88,421
    St Teresa’s Hospice 76,912
    St Wilfrid’s Hospice (Eastbourne) 179,191
    St Wilfrid’s Hospice (south coast) – Chichester 141,670
    Sue Ryder (unadjusted) 1,250,000
    Teesside Hospice Care Foundation 74,899
    Thames Hospice 224,843
    The Martlets Hospice 253,129
    The Myton Hospices 223,905
    The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House 81,531
    The Prince of Wales Hospice 70,669
    The Rowans Hospice 171,289
    The Shakespeare Hospice 32,216
    Treetops Hospice Care 65,496
    Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care Services 205,071
    Tynedale Hospice at Home 16,145
    Wakefield Hospice 78,381
    Weldmar Hospicecare Trust 177,100
    Weston Hospicecare 71,633
    Wigan and Leigh Hospice 123,224
    Willen Hospice 143,687
    Willow Burn Hospice 24,014
    Willow Wood Hospice 60,478
    Willowbrook Hospice 99,908
    Wirral Hospice St John’s 131,516
    Woking Hospice 160,768
    Woodlands Hospice 20,172
    Zoe’s Place – Baby Hospice 75,336
  • PRESS RELEASE : Plan to increase digital skills to deliver growth and opportunity for all [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Plan to increase digital skills to deliver growth and opportunity for all [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 26 February 2025.

    Government sets out first steps to break down barriers to digital inclusion affecting 1 in 4 Britons to help put more money into people’s pockets.

    • Tech Secretary: Improving digital skills essential to economic growth and success of Plan for Change
    • Government sets out first steps to break down barriers to digital inclusion affecting 1 in 4 Britons to help put more money into people’s pockets
    • Comes as Ministers secure backing of business, with Google vowing to deliver intensive digital skills training to support adults with low digital skills

    Millions of people in Britain are set to gain greater digital skills, as ministers tackle the scourge of digital exclusion currently holding too many people back from boosting their employability and accessing vital services.

    With daily tasks like speaking to a GP, applying for jobs, or renting and buying a house becoming increasingly digitalised, improved digital skills and access to technology hold the key to many of the government’s commitments in the Plan for Change. Businesses are also set to gain from greater skills, with too many employers currently struggling to recruit candidates with the digital skills required to help them grow their business and ultimately boost economic growth.

    Research shows that people who are digitally excluded can face higher costs for things like home insurance, train travel and food – with people paying up to 25% more than consumers who are online.

    The Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has set out today (26th February) urgent actions to begin fixing digital exclusion, publishing a new Digital Inclusion Action Plan that will help people in Britain reap the benefits of the online world.

    This includes funding for local initiatives targeted to the most digitally-excluded groups, including the elderly and low-income households and partnering with inclusion charity Digital Poverty Alliance to provide laptops to people who are digitally excluded.

    Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

    The technological revolution we are living in is not only transforming everyone’s lives, but is advancing at breakneck speed, and will not slow down any time soon.

    Leaving people behind in the process could threaten our mission to maximise technology for economic growth and better public services, which is central to our Plan for Change.

    Only by making technology a widely accessible force for good can we make it a positive catalyst for societal change – whether that means helping a sick patient speak to a GP remotely or giving a young person the devices they need to apply for online jobs or renting a flat.

    Charities, local and combined authorities will have access to funding for digital inclusion programmes, boosting communities’ digital access, skills and confidence in the online world. This new funding will empower Mayors and other local leaders to develop local solutions for the most digitally excluded groups in their areas, recognising the challenges they face will be different across the country.

    It also includes pledges by key technology companies to help the government achieve its mission of breaking down the digital divide. Google and BT have pledged to deliver digital skills training to thousands in the UK while Vodafone has committed to help one million people by donating connectivity and technology, affordable services, and upskilling communities.

    Telecoms Minister Chris Bryant said:

    Digital services are a key part of everyday life. Banking, parking your car, searching for the best value insurance, these are all part of modern life. But digital innovation cannot be a privilege of the wealthy or the young.

    From boosting digital skills to improving access to laptops, today we are setting out clear actions to give everyone across the UK the skills, confidence, and opportunity to make the most of the digital world and thrive in our modern society.

    Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said:

    There is still too much digital exclusion in the UK.  Technology should be accessible to all, and I welcome the recognition of Mayoral Combined Authorities as leaders in driving locally-led solutions. In Greater Manchester, we aim to empower every resident with the essential skills and tools to thrive in a digital world.

    Through a deeper collaboration with the government, we will unlock the potential of technology, building a fairer, more prosperous future for all, ensuring no one gets left behind.

    Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said:

    Digital inclusion is not just about providing access to technology; it’s about unlocking opportunities for everyone. In the Liverpool City Region, we’ve seen first-hand the transformative power of ensuring that nobody is left behind in the digital age.

    With this new`government initiative, we are taking a giant step forward in closing the digital divide, giving individuals the tools they need to succeed and thrive, whether that’s through education, employment, or improving their everyday lives.

    Figures show that many in Britain risk being left behind if no action is taken, with 1.6 million people in the UK currently living offline, meaning they lack the devices, connection or skills to get online, and around a quarter of the UK population struggle to use online services.

    Widespread access to technology will boost economic growth and raise living standards in every part of Britain, equipping people with better skills to enter a competitive workforce and giving investors the confidence that the British public will exploit tech innovation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Macron of France [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Macron of France [February 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 25 February 2025.

    The Prime Minister spoke to President Macron this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister said he was looking forward to travelling to the US this week and the leaders reflected on President Macron’s visit to Washington yesterday. They agreed that President Trump’s leadership in working towards a durable peace in Ukraine was welcome.

    They both reiterated that Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations, and the UK and Europe are ready to play our part.

    The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon, after the Prime Minister returns from Washington D.C.

  • PRESS RELEASE : We urge all parties to sustain the ceasefire deal: UK statement at the UN Security Council [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : We urge all parties to sustain the ceasefire deal: UK statement at the UN Security Council [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 February 2025.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

    We welcome the return of the hostages during Phase One, after an appalling ordeal.

    And we call for the release of all the remaining hostages, including Avinatan Or, who also has links to the UK.

    We mourn the death of Oded Lifshitz, who had strong links to the UK, and we strongly condemn the vile killing of the Bibas family and the lack of dignity provided to deceased hostages.

    We support all work, all efforts to hold to account Hamas, the PIJ and other terrorists who kidnapped so many innocents on October 7th.

    And I recall that this Council has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages in all four of our resolutions since October 7th and I repeat that call today.

    The ceasefire agreement reached on January 16th marked a crucial first step towards ending the devastation and suffering in Gaza and achieving a sustainable peace.

    We are calling for three things.

    First, Palestinian civilians should be able to return home and rebuild their lives.

    The people of Gaza have suffered unimaginable horrors, with over 46,000 people killed, and homes and lives destroyed.

    The UK supports regional efforts to cohere around a single plan for the next phase and reconstruction in Gaza.

    These plans should be Palestinian led with the PA front and centre along with a strong role for civil society.

    Second, we welcome the improvement in aid supplies since the ceasefire agreement. But make no mistake, the humanitarian situation remains dire.

    We still need to see a sustained increase in the volume and types of goods reaching civilians, especially shelter and medical items.

    There can be no backsliding on this.

    We call for an urgent update to the “dual use list” to allow essential supplies in, and for commercial deliveries to be reinstated.

    The ceasefire has demonstrated the central role of the UN and humanitarian actors, including UNRWA.

    However, the humanitarian space is tightening with ongoing visa restrictions and legislative proposals impacting NGOs.

    So we call on Israel to continue to work with the UN and partners to ensure aid reaches people in need.

    Third, the UK is seriously concerned at the expansion of Israel’s operations killing and displacing civilians in the West Bank.

    We recognise Israel’s right to defend itself, but it must show restraint and ensure its conduct is proportionate.

    Restrictions on Palestinian movement in the West Bank are excessive.

    These fuel further instability and jeopardise the prospects for long-term peace.

    President, in conclusion, we urge all parties to sustain the ceasefire deal, implement the agreement in full and support efforts to move to phase two for the hostages and their families, for Gazan civilians and for all the Israeli and Palestinian people who deserve a peaceful and secure future on the basis of a two-state solution.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New public procurement rules to drive growth, opportunities for small businesses and exclude suppliers that fail to deliver [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New public procurement rules to drive growth, opportunities for small businesses and exclude suppliers that fail to deliver [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 25 February 2025.

    A new public procurement regime under the Procurement Act 2023 is now in force.

    • Procurement Act 2023 now in force, delivering growth, driving value for money, and giving small businesses greater access to nearly £400billion of yearly spend.
    • Strong new powers to exclude and debar suppliers from contracts on grounds of national security or poor performance.
    • Public can scrutinise procurement decisions on new Central Digital Platform.

    New laws putting growth, small businesses and transparency at the heart of public contract awards are now in force, as part of a transformation of the government’s commercial landscape that delivers on the Plan for Change.

    A more open public procurement regime driving value for money is now in place through the Procurement Act 2023, which sets rules that all public bodies must follow when they buy goods and services.

    The Act will boost growth by slashing red tape for small and medium sized businesses applying for government contracts – combining multiple regulations into one simple set, and publishing procurement data in a standard, open format on a Central Digital Platform.

    It is bolstered by a new National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) that sets out this government’s Mission-led priorities which the public sector must have regard to in its procurement activity.

    The changes open up opportunities for small businesses to bid for public sector contracts, helping deliver growth and opportunity across the UK. It ends late payments that put small businesses at risk, introducing a mandate of 30-day payment terms for all public sector contracts.

    Costs for both business and the public sector will be reduced through simple new processes that drive innovation, offering greater flexibility for buyers to tailor procurement to their exact needs. For example, providing public bodies more opportunities to negotiate with suppliers, and using built-in stages to procurement cycles such as demonstrations and testing prototypes.

    Cabinet Office Minister Georgia Gould said:

    Public sector procurement can now fully deliver on the Plan for Change – unleashing local growth, opening up opportunities and embedding transparency and accountability.

    The Procurement Act, supported by our new National Procurement Policy Statement, will tear down barriers that stop small businesses from winning government work, giving them greater opportunity to access the £400 billion spent on public procurement every year, investing in home-grown talent and driving innovation and growth.

    Shirley Cooper, Crown Representative for Small Businesses, said:

    This once–in-a-generation change to public procurement laws will provide enormous opportunities for small businesses to take a greater share of contracts.

    The Act, which goes live alongside our bold new National Procurement Policy Statement, will drive economic growth and deliver on the Government’s Missions and the Plan for Change.

    I thank the public sector for the considerable amount of work done to prepare for and understand these new rules, and how they can fully benefit both businesses and the taxpayer.

    To deliver on this, a Central Digital Platform is now in operation which will streamline processes and cut red tape, allowing suppliers to register their details and see all bidding opportunities in one place. This will encourage more suppliers to bid for government work, increasing competition and in turn supporting economic growth.

    Citizens can also scrutinise public procurement data published on this platform, as part of the Act’s rules for greater transparency.

    The Government will also use tough new powers to investigate supplier misconduct, including underperforming suppliers and those that pose security risks to supply chains, with the ability to debar or exclude them from contracts.

    The Procurement Review Unit (PRU) and National Security Unit for Procurement (NSUP), now operational as dedicated resources in the Cabinet Office, will carry out this work. The NSUP will take robust action against any organisation, actor or entity which presents a national security threat.

    ADDITIONAL QUOTES

    Emma Jones CBE, founder of Enterprise Nation, said:

    Accessing public sector work can act like a growth accelerator for SMEs. Government contracts are solid and reliable and pay within 30 days. They help SMEs develop and invest in new processes, products and efficiencies, as well as take on more staff in their local community.

    By seeing Government procurement through this lens, opening up contracts to more diverse and community-based businesses will be a powerful way to deliver economic growth.

    My organisation has already been busy readying SMEs for this moment. This legislation is the beginning of the next step in the journey to increasing government spend with SMEs and boosting the economy.

    Terry Corby, founder and CEO of Good Business Pays, said:

    The public sector spends around £300 billion every year and represents a huge opportunity to drive growth in the UK. Buying more from SMEs, making it easier for them to tender for work and get paid faster will help drive growth in our communities across the UK.

    The commitment to pay all suppliers through the supply chain in under 30 days is important. If implemented well, the new Procurement Act will represent the biggest step-change towards best practice payment culture. I founded Good Business Pays five years ago, and provide a great example for all commercial organisations to follow.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister sets out biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, protecting British people in new era for national security [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister sets out biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, protecting British people in new era for national security [February 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 25 February 2025.

    The Prime Minister has today (Tuesday 25 February) set out his commitment to increase spending on defence to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027.

    • Defence spending to increase to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament.
    • Reinvigorated approach to defence industry will drive economic growth and create jobs across the UK, while bolstering national security and protecting borders.
    • Commitment will see the biggest investment in defence spending since the Cold War as the UK enters era of intensifying geopolitical competition and conflict.

    As the UK faces a period of profound change, with conflicts overseas undermining security and prosperity at home, the Prime Minister has today (Tuesday 25 February) set out that his commitment to increase spending on defence to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027.

    He has also set an ambition to spend 3% of GDP on defence in the next parliament, as economic and fiscal conditions allow, in order to keep the British people safe and secure for generations to come.

    As set out in the Plan for Change, national security is the first duty of the government. In recent years, the world has been reshaped by global instability, including Russian aggression in Ukraine, increasing threats from malign actors, rapid technological change, and the accelerating impacts of climate change.

    The Prime Minister has today set out how the UK will be stepping up to meet this generational challenge with a generational response.

    The announcement comes the day after the third anniversary of Russia’s barbaric illegal war in Ukraine and shows that the UK will step up and meet this pivotal moment of global instability head-on, with a commitment that will see the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.

    The Prime Minister knows that the working people of Britain have paid the cost of malign actors abroad, whether through increased energy bills, or threats to British interests and values. He is committed to making the country safer, more secure, and increasingly resilient against these interconnected threats.

    Today’s announcement demonstrates the UK’s global leadership in this space. In calls with foreign leaders over the weekend, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s commitment to securing a just and enduring peace in Ukraine and the need for Europe to step up for the good of collective European security.

    The investment in defence will protect UK citizens from threats at home but will also create a secure and stable environment in which businesses can thrive, supporting the Government’s number one mission to deliver economic growth.

    The increased spending will sustain our globally competitive industry, supporting highly skilled jobs and apprenticeships across the whole of the UK. In 2023-24, defence spending by the UK Government supported over 430,000 jobs across the UK, the equivalent to one in every 60.

    68% of defence spending goes to businesses outside London and the South East, bolstering regional economies from Scotland to the North West.

    Through the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, this substantial investment will drive R&D and innovation across the UK, including developing technologies such as AI, quantum and space capabilities.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    It is my first duty as Prime Minister to keep our country safe. In an ever more dangerous world, increasing the resilience of our country so we can protect the British people, resist future shocks and bolster British interests, is vital.

    In my Plan for Change, I pledged to improve the lives of people in every corner of the UK, by growing the economy. By spending more on defence, we will deliver the stability that underpins economic growth, and will unlock prosperity through new jobs, skills and opportunity across the country.

    As we enter this new era for national security, Britain will once again lead the way.

    In addition to our plan to reach 2.5%, the Prime Minister also announced that the definition of defence spending will be updated to recognise what our security and intelligence agencies do to boost our security, as well as our military. This change means that the UK will now spend 2.6% of GDP on defence in 2027.

    This shift recognises that the activities of our intelligence increasingly overlap and complement that of our Armed Forces, emphasising the need for total deterrence against the modern hybrid threats we face, from cyber-attacks to sabotage.

    The increase in defence spending will be funded by reducing Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI and reinvesting it into defence.

    This difficult choice reflects the evolving nature of the threat and the strategic shift required to meet it whilst maintaining economic stability, a core foundation of the Plan for Change. Meeting the fiscal rules is non-negotiable, and the government will take the tough but necessary decisions to ensure they are met.

    The UK remains fully committed to making the world a safer and more prosperous place. In the current geopolitical environment, the Prime Minister is clear that the best way to do that is by deterring and preventing conflict and targeting our aid more effectively. For example, we have delivered an increase of £113m in humanitarian funding for people in Sudan and those who have fled to neighbouring countries, which will help to reduce migration flows to the UK and help address one of the major humanitarian crises of our era.

    The government remains committed to reverting spending on overseas aid to 0.7% of Gross National Income, when the fiscal conditions allow.

    This comes alongside an ongoing review into ODA spend which will ensure that every pound of development assistance is spent in the most impactful way.

    This increase in defence investment will help us build a modern and resilient Armed Forces. It will accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge capabilities that are vital to retain a decisive edge as threats rapidly evolve. Targeted investment will reverse the hollowing out of recent decades and rebuild stockpiles, munitions, and enablers depleted after a period focused on international terrorism and global crises.

    This modernisation will be supported through improved productivity, efficiency, and financial discipline across defence.

    The Prime Minister has also committed to publishing a single new national security strategy, bringing together all reviews into one document and reflecting the decisions on resource set out today. This will be published following the Spring Statement next month and ahead of the NATO Summit in June.

    The new commitment on spending comes ahead of Prime Minister’s visit to Washington DC this week, where he will tell President Trump that he wants to see the UK-USA bilateral relationship strengthened and deepened even further, to secure the prosperity and security of both nations for decades to come.

    The government has already significantly increased investment in its national security capabilities, increasing spending on defence by nearly £3 billion in this year alone at the Budget. In addition to growing the defence budget, spending on the Single Intelligence Account was increased by around £340 million between 2023-24 and 2025-26, ensuring that our world-leading intelligence agencies maintain their cutting-edge capabilities.

    Notes to editors

    Defence spending benefits every nation and region of the country – 68% of defence spend with UK businesses goes outside of London and the South East. In 2023-2024, the MOD spent the following across the UK:

    • £7.1bn in the South East
    • £6.9bn in the South West
    • £3.8bn in the North West
    • £2.1bn in Scotland
    • £2.1bn in London
    • £1.6bn in the West Midlands
    • £1.5bn in the East of England
    • £1.4bn in the East Midlands
    • £910m in Wales
    • £630m in Yorkshire and the Humber
    • £380m in the North East
    • £240m in Northern Ireland

    This spending supported a breadth of industry specialisms across the country. Early work on the Defence Industrial Strategy suggests that the following UK sub-sectors have the highest growth potential: AI, autonomous systems, combat air, cyber, missiles, nuclear submarines, quantum, shipbuilding design and space.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Remarks At Ukraine Reception

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Remarks At Ukraine Reception

    The remarks made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 24 February 2025.

    It’s a privilege to welcome you all here to Downing Street this afternoon.

    This, of course, is not only my office and the centre of our government but it is also my home. So it is appropriate that I throw open the doors to my home to you and make you feel welcome in this building, which is where you should be.

    And particularly fitting that you are here in my home today as we recognise people who have been welcomed into homes across the country, and I know there are many of you here.

    I’ve just had the privilege and the opportunity to talk with a number of you who have been here some for some little time now and often with children. There are people here who have come, people here who have opened their doors and there are many others across the country.

    We are really proud of the people who have opened their doors, opened their hearts as well – because it’s not just a shelter, it’s opening hearts and making you feel welcome particularly in this time of conflict and uncertainty.

    And I said to the people I was talking to just now, I would love to be able to get you all together here again on a future occasion that isn’t an anniversary of an awful conflict because that is, of course, what it is today.

    Because in the face of that conflict, I do think the bond between our two countries has got stronger and stronger. I think it was a good strong bond anyway, but it has got much stronger and that’s happened across the kitchen tables up and down the nation, as well as the meeting tables.

    And of course, I have had the privilege of meeting President Zelenskyy very many times now, on a number of occasions in different places, including here in Downing Street and, of course, in Kyiv.

    I’ve actually been to Kyiv four times. I went twice before the conflict, because before I was a politician, I was the chief prosecutor and we were working with criminal justice colleagues in Kyiv. And so I have seen Kyiv in peace – a brilliant, fantastic city – and I’ve seen it twice, once as leader of the opposition and just a few weeks ago as Prime Minister, in this terrible conflict.

    When I was there just a few weeks ago, I was able to express our solidarity and support, and I was struck again by the resilience and strength of the Ukrainians, because that sense of civic duty, going and doing everyday work, and treating it as work for the nation was very, very strong.

    When I was there four weeks ago, I went to the burns unit at one of the hospitals and saw for myself some of those who have been on the frontline who were being treated in hospital with terrible burns from blasts, really life-changing injuries, and civilians as well who had been caught up in blasts.

    In one sense, it’s obvious when you’re in conflict you are going to see things like that but when you’re there and you see it right there, the human impact is huge.

    Because this isn’t just about discussions of defence and security in Europe, although it is that, it isn’t just about sovereignty and it is that, it is about the impact on human beings.

    When I was there I met children in a school in Kyiv, they were primary-school age so they were 8, 9, 10-years-old, living under the threat of bombardment all of the time. It’s what they are growing up with and I met some of them who had already lost their parents on the frontline at that tender age. That is really humbling, it really brought home to me the human impact of all of this.

    Politics is about the decisions you make but it is also about who you have in your mind’s eye when you make your decisions. And I think it is very important that we have you in our mind’s eye.

    When I was there with President Zelenskyy just a few weeks ago, we then went to have our discussion as two leaders and at that point a drone – a Russian drone – was up in the sky and had to be shot down right above the presidential palace, which for me was just a real reminder of what it is like to live in Kyiv and to have that threat every day now with the drones going up. It brought home to me the uncertainty and the fear – not just obviously for yourselves and the people living in the conflict, but all of their loved ones, and your family and extended family, and friends, and communities who are there and must be in your mind’s eye all of the time. And for your children and your country in the years to come.

    So, amongst my messages here this afternoon is you are not alone.

    We stand with you, and we have stood with you throughout this conflict and we will walk with you through this conflict, and we will continue to do so for as long as is necessary.

    I am proud that we opened our homes; I’m proud of our NHS workers in the hospital I went to Kyiv, who had gone out there with their skills to try and work with those working in the hospitals; the soldiers that are training Ukrainian troops.

    This is incredibly humbling work. I went to see it for myself down in Salisbury. Not only the professionalism of our troops who are doing the training but also the Ukrainian civilians, as they were, who had come to do the training. Through interpreters I talked to a number of them and they had been plumbers, they had been architects, working in local government, and here they were training to go to the frontline. And it was training that would normally take months being truncated into weeks. It was a real sense of what it is like to go through this awful conflict.

    Because we know that this fight is about Ukraine – it is about you, your communities – but it is also about us. This is bigger than Ukraine – it is, of course, about Ukrainian sovereignty but it not just Ukrainian sovereignty. It is about our way of life, our freedoms, about security and defence in Europe, and security and defence here in the United Kingdom, and the values that we hold dear.

    That’s why last time I was there I signed a 100-year partnership with Ukraine which is to signal the ongoing relationship that we want to build over many, many decades to come.

    It’s why we are sending £4.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine this year – that’s more than ever before. And working with our international partners to guarantee the security of Ukraine for generations to come.

    Because I strongly believe that whatever happens next, Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position. We must, we must, we must get peace through strength.

    The temptation is always there to think that it is job done, or something is about to happen. We have got to make sure that we continue with our full support, whether that is capability, whether that is money, whether that’s training – all the other support that we can put in. And that’s my constant message in the discussions I am having with international leaders

    We also need to be really clear as there are lots of discussions at the moment about negotiations: we can’t negotiate about Ukraine without Ukraine – you just can’t – and we must be absolutely clear about this.

    After everything you and your people, your country has been through, all the suffering and hardship – this is about the future of Ukraine and Ukraine must be at the table. It’s an absolute pre-condition.

    And we must work for a lasting peace. One of my biggest fears is that there is a ceasefire which is a temporary reprieve but simply gives Putin the space to come again and that would be the worst of outcomes.

    It must be a lasting peace for you, your children and your children’s children, so that you can live as you should be able to live, in a proud, safe and sovereign Ukraine; able to make sovereign decisions as a country about the alliance that Ukrainians want to make; the partnerships that Ukrainians want to make, and the way of life that Ukrainians want.

    So we will not falter in our support.

    We will not stop our efforts to end this war.

    And we will not rest until the people of Ukraine can live peacefully and safely in their own country.

    So thank you for being here; I do hope that I can have the privilege of seeing you here or elsewhere on an occasion where we are not celebrating another anniversary of this conflict but genuinely celebrating freedom and peace for Ukraine and for Europe.

    Thank you very much.

    Slava Ukraini.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government to increase Higher Level Stewardship payments and re-open Capital Grants Offer [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government to increase Higher Level Stewardship payments and re-open Capital Grants Offer [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 February 2025.

    The government is increasing payment rates for those in existing Higher Level Stewardship and confirming the ELM standalone Capital Grants offer worth £45m in 2025/26 will re-open in the summer.

    Farmers and land managers who have been at the forefront of nature-friendly farming in England will see an uplift to Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) payment rates, the government has announced today (Monday 24 February).

    The increased payment rates, which will apply for agreement holders across a range of HLS options will provide a boost for farmers – often living and working in upland areas – who have been the pioneers of nature-friendly farming.

    It will bolster support for farmers delivering high-quality environmental outcomes to maintain species-rich grasslands, managing our most important habitats and delivering a range of high-quality environmental outcomes.

    In a further boost for nature recovery and the environment, the popular standalone ELM Capital Grants scheme will re-open in the summer, worth around £45 million in 2025/26.

    The Rural Payments Agency is now processing the remaining 4,000 applications held when the scheme paused. These agreements will be worth £120 million over their lifetime.

    We are also supporting farmers to improve productivity and protect the environment with a £110 million investment in equipment and technology grants.

    The newly designed grant competitions launching this spring will focus on helping the sector transition to net zero and unlock opportunities from the Precision Breeding Act.

    Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said:

    This government’s focus is on ensuring farming becomes more profitable and businesses are viable for the future – delivering the long-term food security this country needs.

    Investing in innovation and technology will help farmers produce food more sustainably and profitably, and get the equipment they need to help their bottom line.

    And with nature being so crucial to long-term food security, we’re rewarding the pioneers of nature-friendly farming – including many upland farmers.

    Our £110 million investment in innovation, equipment, technology includes:

    • The launch of one round of the Farming Equipment and Technology (FETF) Fund in the spring, providing grants of between £1,000 and £25,000.
    • New Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) grants worth more than £42.5 million, including competitions focussed on unlocking the benefits of precision breeding and supporting the net zero transition.
    • Our new ADOPT fund will provide £20 million of additional funding for farmer-led trials that bridge the gap between new technologies and their real-world application, giving farmers the confidence investments in tech will deliver the returns they need.

    Alongside these grants, we are also extending the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme to continue to support and improve England’s most precious areas of natural beauty, and improving animal health and welfare through government funded vet visits.

    Through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway farmers will be able to apply for visits to cover every eligible species they have from this week, and from summer they will also be able to apply for a visit for every eligible herd or flock of the same species.

    Additionally, the recruitment campaign for the Commissioner for Tenant Farming Sector role is now live. The Commissioner will encourage behaviour in the sector to meet standards set out in the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice for England.

    As part of the government’s Plan for Change, we are delivering on the Government’s New Deal for Farmers, with the first steps set out by the Secretary of State at the Oxford Farming Conference.

    We will work with the sector to boost profitability through fair competition across the supply chain, use planning reforms to support food production and monitor food currently bought in the public sector and where it is bought from.

    We will help farmers diversify income streams and make additional money from selling surplus energy from solar panels and wind turbines by accelerating connections to the grid.

    We are going further to develop a 25-year farming roadmap to make the sector more profitable in the decades to come.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government announces raft of new policies and major investment to boost profits for farmers [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government announces raft of new policies and major investment to boost profits for farmers [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 February 2025.

    Environment Secretary to announce reform package to boost farmers’ profitability as part of the Plan for Change.

    New reforms to make farming more profitable will be announced today by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed.

    Speaking to farmers at the NFU conference in Westminster, Steve Reed will reveal new plans to deliver a profitable farming sector, while reaffirming Government’s cast iron commitment to food production, and unlocking rural growth.

    The speech will announce a raft of new policies to put money into the pockets of British farmers including:

    • Extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years giving farms a pipeline of workers and certainty to grow their businesses. Annual quota reviews will ensure we strike the right balance – supporting farms while gradually reducing visa numbers as we develop alternative solutions.
    • Back British produce: British farmers handed a major boost under new requirements for government catering contracts to favour high-quality, high-welfare products that local farms and producers are well placed to serve. The move marks a major leap in achieving the government’s ambition for at least 50% of food supplied into the £5 billion public sector catering contracts to be from British producers or those certified to higher environmental standards.
    • £110 million investment in technology: The Farming Innovation Programme which supports research and development of agri-technology for farmers, for example the chemical free cleaning for integrated milking equipment, which lowers energy costs and chemical use. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund provides grants of up to £25,000 to buy new equipment such as electric weeders to reduce chemical use.
    • Protecting farmers in trade deals: The government will uphold and protect our high environmental and animal welfare standards in future trade deals.
    • Strengthening Britain’s biosecurity: Setting up a new National Biosecurity Centre to transform the Animal and Plant Health Agency animal health facility at Weybridge, investing £200 million to improve our resilience against animal disease to protect farmers and food producers.

    Speaking about profitability, Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is expected to say:

    The underlying problem is that farmers do not make enough money for the hard work and commitment they put in.

    I will consider my time as Secretary of State a failure if I do not improve profitability for farmers across the country.

    My focus is on ensuring farming becomes more profitable because that’s how we make your businesses viable for the future. And that’s how we ensure the long-term food security this country needs.

    This builds on the commitments made at the Oxford Farming Conference, where the Environment Secretary set out the government’s vision for farming including:

    • Using planning reforms to support food production: Ensuring our reforms make it quicker for farmers to build the buildings, barns and other infrastructure they need on their farms to boost food production.
    • Diversifying income streams: Helping farmers make additional money from selling surplus energy from solar panels and wind turbines by accelerating connections to the grid, supporting them during difficult harvests and supply shocks.
    • A fair supply chain: Boosting profitability through fair competition across the supply chain. New rules for the pig sector will come this spring, ensuring contracts clearly set out expectations and changes can only be made if agreed by all parties. Similar regulations for eggs and fresh produce sectors will follow with the government ready to intervene with other sectors if needed.