Tag: 2025

PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement – offer to assist with treatments of patients from Gaza in the Occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem [September 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 September 2025.

UK and partners call on Israel to restore the medical corridor to the West Bank for vital healthcare.

As the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip continues to unfold, there is an urgent need to scale up medical treatment of patients from Gaza.

We, the undersigned, stand ready to provide support in the form of e.g. financial contributions, provision of medical staff or equipment needed for the treatment of patients from Gaza in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

We strongly appeal to Israel to restore the medical corridor to the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, so medical evacuations from Gaza can be resumed and patients can get the treatment that they so urgently need on Palestinian territory.

We furthermore urge Israel to lift restrictions on deliveries of medicine and medical equipment to Gaza in line with Israel’s obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law; to urgently and fully enable the UN and other humanitarian partners to do their life-saving work in Gaza; and in line with UN Security Council resolution 2286 (2016) to ensure that medical personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties are respected and protected, their safe and unimpeded passage is facilitated, along with their equipment, transport, and supplies.

This statement has been signed by:
- The Foreign Ministers of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom
- The Ministers of Development Cooperation of Finland and the Netherlands
- The EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.
September 30, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Ministers meet JLR bosses and supply chain companies to help secure future of car industry [September 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 23 September 2025.

Peter Kyle and Chris McDonald met JLR’s CEO and senior executives at its Gaydon headquarters to discuss latest situation.
- Business Secretary and Industry Minister visited Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) today to show support for the company and meet with supply chain businesses.
- Government is in daily contact with JLR and cyber experts to listen to concerns and what support can be provided to get production back online.
- Government is continuing to work with industry to deliver security for the sector as part of modern Industrial Strategy and Plan for Change.
Today [23 September], Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Industry Minister Chris McDonald met with JLR’s CEO and senior executives during a visit to the company’s Gaydon headquarters.

Discussions included talks on the impacts of the cyber incident and how JLR can work towards restarting production.

Ministers received in-person briefings on the latest situation, before touring the site and hearing from workers who have been off work since the cyber incident occurred.

During these discussions, both Ministers acknowledged the severity of the situation which is impacting a key sector that supports thousands of skilled jobs which enables growth and innovation across the UK’s manufacturing sector.

This is the latest show of support for the firm and wider auto sector as the government is delivering the biggest set of announcements for the sector in the last decade – including securing landmark trade deals to boost exports and updating the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate to support UK manufacturers to safeguard jobs in the auto industry.

Following the visit, the Business Secretary and Minister for Industry also visited Webasto’s Sutton Coldfield site to engage with the impacted supply chain firm and learn about the supply chain’s resilience following the cyber incident.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said: 

I know this is a deeply worrying time for all those affected by the ongoing cyber incident and that’s why I visited JLR today to hear from the company, supply chain and workers.

Getting JLR back online as soon as possible is my top priority, providing much needed certainty to workers and suppliers.

This government is on the side of our world-leading automotive sector and by working closely with JLR and the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) we are doing everything we can to minimise the impact of this incident, as well as helping the sector thrive long into the future through our modern Industrial Strategy.

Since last week Ministers have met with representatives from businesses, trade unions, trade associations and local authorities to discuss the impacts of the ongoing incident and show support, while the National Cyber Security Centre is working tirelessly to help coordinate the operational response to the incident.
September 29, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announces the appointment of Independent Expert [September 2025]
The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 23 September 2025.

The Independent Expert will take up the role, within the existing Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) legislative framework, on 23 September 2025.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP has today announced the appointment of Fleur Ravensbergen to the role of Independent Expert on paramilitary group transition to disbandment. The appointment has been made jointly with Jim O’Callaghan, the Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

The Independent Expert will take up the role, within the existing Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) legislative framework, on 23 September 2025 and is expected to complete the scoping and engagement exercise and submit their report by mid-August 2026.

Biography

Fleur Ravensbergen is an independent conflict resolution and negotiation practitioner, and a lecturer in conflict resolution and governance at the University of Amsterdam. She has broad and deep experience of supporting dialogue around the world including in the Middle East, Central Africa and Europe. She is a member of the Peace and Security Commission of the Advisory Council of International Affairs (AIV) which advises the Dutch Government and parliament on peace and security. She serves as the Facilitator for ABN AMRO’s Human Rights Grievance and Remedy Mechanism and is an Advisory Council Member for Fight for Humanity – a Geneva-based human rights organisation. Previously she co-founded and was Deputy Director of the Dialogue Advisory Group, an Amsterdam-based NGO that facilitates dialogue in armed conflict.

Political Activity

All UKG appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories within the last five years to be made public.

The appointee has declared no such political activity in the past five years.

Regulation

This appointment is not regulated by the UK’s Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Terms of appointment

The appointment will be for a period of one year. The Independent Expert role attracts a remuneration of £650 per day and is not pensionable.

Background

The UK Government and the Government of Ireland announced in February 2025 that they would jointly appoint an Independent Expert to carry out a short scoping and engagement exercise to assess whether there is merit in, and support for, a formal process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment.

The objective of the Independent Expert is, through independent scoping and engagement, to assess whether there is merit in and support for a formal process that ensures the transition to disbandment of paramilitary groups and to produce a report by mid August 2026.

The Independent Expert will carry out their work in line with the overarching objectives of the IRC which are:
- promoting progress towards ending paramilitary activity; and
- supporting long term peace and stability in society and stable and inclusive devolved Government in Northern Ireland
In carrying out their functions, the Independent Expert will be mindful throughout of the overarching vision of the Fresh Start Agreement for the “continued transformation of our society,” and the goal of “the primacy of the democratic political process in Northern Ireland and the ending of paramilitarism” as well as the recommitment to tackling paramilitarism made by the parties in the New Decade, New Approach Agreement in 2020.

Functions

To achieve their objective, the Independent Expert will carry out a programme of exploratory engagement with inter alia:
- representatives of communities affected by paramilitarism, including victims of paramilitary activity;
- representatives of wider society in Northern Ireland;
- representatives of the statutory agencies likely to have a role in aspects of implementation of a formal process of engagement with paramilitary groups aimed at facilitating their disbandment;
- representatives of paramilitary groups who have an interest in ending the violence and wider harms caused by paramilitary groups
To achieve their objective the Independent Expert will consider through this programme of engagement, inter alia, the following:
- Issues that are currently perceived or presented as a barrier and issues that could enable paramilitary group transition to disbandment;
- the advantages and disadvantages of a formal process of engagement with paramilitary groups aimed at facilitating their transition to disbandment;
- the feasibility and advisability of such a formal process;
- levels of willingness to engage in a formal process ;
- expectations of what would be achieved through participation in such a process;
- the issues likely to arise over the course of a formal process of engagement; and
- the extent to which such a process would substantially contribute to furthering the commitments of the Fresh Start Agreement to work collectively to achieve a society free of paramilitarism.
The Independent Expert will produce a report by mid-August 2026 setting out what could be in scope of a formal process that ensures the transition to disbandment of paramilitary groups and the levels of public support for such a process. This should include recommendations on whether there would be merit in establishing a formal process of engagement with paramilitary groups aimed at facilitating their transition towards disbandment, and if so, how such a formal process could be established to have the highest chance of success including in terms of structure, milestones, timeframe and reporting/verification arrangements.

The Independent Expert should reflect in their report, based on what they have heard through their engagement, on alternative or additional approaches which could help promote progress towards ending paramilitary harm and activity and support long term peace and stability in NI and may merit further consideration.

Approach and delivery

In carrying out the functions described above, the Independent Expert will engage the UK Government, the Government of Ireland and respective law enforcement agencies, the NI Executive and other statutory agencies, local councils, political parties, communities, and civic society organisations in order to understand their perspectives on the issue.

The Independent Expert will have a strong focus in their work on recommendations aimed at promoting and supporting practical, comprehensive and effective trauma-informed measures and initiatives that aim to bring about the continued transformation of society envisioned in the Fresh Start Agreement.

Throughout their scoping and engagement, the Independent Expert should actively encourage the ending of all paramilitary and criminal activity. They should make clear that PSNI and their partners will continue to work to bring those involved in paramilitary criminality to justice and that group behaviours will be taken as an indication of levels of commitment to transition to disbandment, in particular, supporting the police and criminal justice system in tackling criminality, including drug dealing, extortion, and child criminal and sexual exploitation. The Independent Expert should remind their interlocutors that the IRC and others have been clear about the behaviours that would demonstrate a commitment to moving from violence and harm and these include:
- Ending recruitment to paramilitary groups;
- Giving up paramilitary structures and activity;
- Ceasing mobilisation of members;
- Ceasing to exercise coercive power and control in communities;
- Ending of all paramilitary style attacks and all other forms of violence, threat of violence or intimidation;
- Disposal of any remaining weaponry and materiel;
- Allowing people to exit from paramilitarism without cost or consequence;
- Publicly supporting the PSNI and criminal justice system in tackling criminality and committing to democracy and the rule of law; and
- Engaging with legacy bodies.
September 29, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New Revolut HQ caps £110 billion week of investment in UK financial services sector [September 2025]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 23 September 2025.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will declare the UK ‘open for business’, following a £110 billion investment surge from major financial services firms in the past week alone.
- £3 billion investment from Revolut will create 1,000 new high-skilled jobs in the UK, including a new global headquarters in London.
- This latest commitment takes total investment from major financial services companies to over £110 billion – in a single week, following announcements by Blackstone, BlackRock and PayPal.
- At the opening of the new London HQ the Chancellor declares UK ‘open for business’ as Leeds Reforms push Britain to the front of global race for financial services businesses, which will help put more money in people’s pockets through the Plan for Change.
Global fintech leader Revolut will today (23 September) open its new global headquarters in Canary Wharf, setting out plans to invest £3 billion in the UK and create 1,000 high-skilled jobs over the next five years.

This comes on the heels of last week’s £100 billion investment from asset manager Blackstone, £7 billion from BlackRock and £1.25 billion in inward investment from leading US financial firms including PayPal and Bank of America – generating 1,800 new jobs in major cities including London, Edinburgh, Belfast, and Manchester.

The wave of investment from financial services companies comes just months after the Chancellor cut needless financial red tape to ensure the UK wins the global race for financial services investment as part of the modern industrial strategy.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

The UK is well and truly open for business under this government. Through our Leeds Reforms we’re making Britain the best place for financial services companies to do business, pushing us ahead in the global race for investment and putting more money in people’s pockets through the Plan for Change.

Nik Storonsky, CEO and Co-founder of Revolut, commented:

Our mission has always been to simplify money for our customers, and our vision to become the world’s first truly global bank is the ultimate expression of that. From our roots here in the UK, we’ve grown to serve over 65 million customers globally, and today’s opening of our new Global HQ in London is the launchpad for our future. This HQ will be central to driving our growth towards our next milestone of 100 million customers.

To power that journey from our home market, we are investing £3 billion in the UK over the next five years. This commitment will not only create 1,000 new jobs but will also fuel the innovation from our London hub that will help us deliver on our global ambitions.

The major investments from financial services firms over the past week include:
- Blackstone is aiming to invest in excess of £100 billion of assets in the UK over the next decade. This includes their £10 billion investment in a data centre in Blyth.
- BlackRock expects to allocate over £7 billion to the UK market next year on behalf of its clients and is investing £500 million into enterprise data centres across the country.
- Bank of America is set to create up to 1,000 new jobs in Belfast, marking its first-ever operation in Northern Ireland — a major milestone that underscores the region’s growing role in global financial services.
- Citi Group today confirms it is investing £1.1 billion across its UK operations, including a further commitment to growing its presence in Northern Ireland where the bank is already one of the top employers in Belfast now employing over 4,000 people — firmly establishing Belfast as a major technology powerhouse.
- In Manchester, S&P Global are investing over £4 million into their Manchester offices which will support 200 permanent jobs boosting their nearly 3,000-strong UK workforce.
- As part of the UK’s expanding fintech and digital innovation sector, PayPal is announcing a £150 million investment in product innovations and growth that will benefit customers throughout the UK, reinforcing Britain’s position as a key market for the brand globally.
These investments in the UK are a vote of confidence in the UK’s economic plan, built on stability, investment and reform.

The Leeds Reforms set out the widest ranging reforms to financial regulation in over a decade, making the UK more attractive to global financial services firms.

This includes new support for fintech introducing tailored support to help FinTechs, with new start-ups getting a single regulatory point of contact to help them through the scale-up phase. The contact will be able to provide technical support to help them understand the regulatory requirements they need to meet in order to grow.

Revolut’s investment marks its commitment to the UK, where it has grown to become a global fintech leader with more than 10,000 employees and revenues of over £3 billion.

The company now serves over 65 million customers worldwide, including 12 million in the UK, and has set its sights on reaching 100 million customers globally by mid 2027. Revolut’s success exemplifies the strength of the UK’s fintech sector, which boasts around 3,000 firms supporting tens of thousands of skilled jobs nationwide.
September 29, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : David Crisp and Laura Burnett are appointed to the Treasure Valuation Committee [September 2025]

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 23 September 2025.

The Secretary of State has appointed David Crisp and Laura Burnett as Trustees to the Treasure Valuation Committee for terms of 5 years.

David Crisp

David Crisp has been a Metal Detectorist for over 36 years and has recorded over 1300 single items. He believes that metal detecting done properly is a benefit to saving our 500,000+year-old Legacy of man-made items from the UK and its dependents.

He has been on the committee of the Trowbridge & District Metal Detecting Club for over 30 years and is the finder of the largest single hoard of Roman coins ever found in the UK. For the past two years he has also been Communications Officer to the National Council for Metal Detecting and until last year, was one of the main organisers of the RCM detecting events that have raised huge amounts for cancer care charities.

Laura Burnett

Laura Burnett is a specialist in archaeological finds. She has authored articles and books on medieval and post-medieval objects, writing for public and specialist audiences in local, national and international publications. As a Finds Liaison Officer for 12 years she has extensive experience of the material reported as Treasure, the practical workings of the Act, and the concerns of finders, landowners and museums. She is currently undertaking doctoral research at the University of Exeter on 17th century trade tokens.

September 29, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Government Reappoints a Trustee to the Royal Armouries Board [September 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 23 September 2025.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Professor Steven Gunn as Trustee of the Royal Armouries for a 4 year term from 1 March 2025.

Professor Steven Gunn

Steven Gunn is Fellow and Tutor in History at Merton College, Oxford and Professor of Early Modern History. He teaches and researches the history of later medieval and early modern Britain and Europe.

His books include Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk (1988), Early Tudor Government, 1485-1558 (1995), War, State and Society in England and the Netherlands, 1477-1559 (2007), Henry VII’s New Men and the Making of Tudor England (2016), The English People at War in the Age of Henry VIII (2018) and An Accidental History of Tudor England: From Daily Life to Sudden Death (2025).

He speaks regularly to Historical Association branches and similar groups and has contributed to radio and TV programmes such as In Our Time, Great Lives, Time Team and Cunk on Britain. He is currently researching life and death in Tudor prisons and the political cultures of sixteenth-century European aristocracies.

Remuneration and Governance Code

This role is not remunerated. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election.

Professor Steven Gunn has declared no political activity.

September 29, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 60 – UK Statement for the Item 4 General Debate [September 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 September 2025.

UK Statement for the Item 4 General Debate. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Kumar Iyer.

Thank you Mr Vice President,

The Taliban continue their assault on the rights of the Afghan people. Women and girls are barred from education and most employment, and face severe restrictions on nearly all aspects of their lives. Religious minorities are persecuted, journalists and activists face intimidation, and arbitrary detentions, torture, and public executions continue. We urge the Taliban to respect the rights of all Afghans.

In Iran, the arrest of over 20,000 people since the 12-day war in June is of serious concern. Many of these arrests are a means to scapegoat and target already marginalised groups, including members of the Baluchi and Kurdish ethnic minorities, and Baha’i, Christian and Jewish religious minorities. The continued use of the death penalty as a political tool is appalling and we reiterate that we oppose the death penalty in all circumstances.

In China, we remain deeply concerned about religious and cultural restrictions in Tibet, unjust detention of activists like Sophia Huang, and widespread censorship and surveillance. China must honour its human rights commitments and restore fundamental freedoms. In Hong Kong, we take reports about Jimmy Lai’s health conditions very seriously. We continue to press for an independent assessment. Jimmy Lai’s prosecution is politically motivated; he should be released.

Thank you.

September 29, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 60: UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Report on Nicaragua [September 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 September 2025.

UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s Report on Nicaragua. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

We are grateful to the High Commissioner for his report.

The continued deterioration of human rights in Nicaragua is deeply concerning. The report reinforces the need for sustained international scrutiny of the systemic dismantling of democratic institutions and repression of civil liberties.

The Nicaraguan authorities’ regrettable decision to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council and other international human rights mechanisms must not deter that scrutiny.

The arbitrary expulsion of citizens, denial of re-entry, and deprivation of nationality are unacceptable and must end.

Moreover, the reformed cybercrime law will enable the arbitrary criminalisation of peaceful expression, contributing to a climate of fear, censorship and of intimidation particularly for journalists in Nicaragua.

The report also sheds further light on violations of the rights of indigenous peoples and people of African descent, as well as evidence of the suppression of religious freedom.

To the Office of the High Commissioner,

We would welcome your views on how the international community can best support implementation of your recommendations and ensure accountability for these serious violations.

Thank you.

September 29, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Civil Service staff networks to only meet outside working hours and have all events signed off by senior managers [September 2025]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 23 September 2025.
- New rules issued to all Civil Service staff networks to ensure they remain impartial and represent the Civil Service.
- All events will need to be signed off by a senior civil servant and must take place outside of working hours
- New guidance introduces strict controls to crackdown on recent examples of inappropriate events hosted by networks.
New rules have been issued to all Civil Service staff networks to ensure their activities remain within the Civil Service Code.

Civil Service staff networks can support staff in a number of areas and support a productive working environment.

However, Ministers and Civil Service leaders have been concerned by recent reports of inappropriate events being conducted by some networks in the Civil Service.

The new guidance states that all events must now be signed off by a senior civil servant before preparations even begin. The changes also make clear that events should always take place outside working hours, unless they directly benefit the organisation, such as learning and development – in these instances sign off from an individual’s line manager is required to attend the event.

The rules also re-confirm that all networks must remain impartial at all times and must not attempt to influence government policy in any way – as already set out in the Civil Service Code.

Any employees who breach the Civil Service Code, including in relation to network activity, may be subject to disciplinary action. Under the guidance, network activity may be suspended or ceased if networks do not comply with the new rules

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, said:

We are taking action to prevent inappropriate uses of networks in the Civil Service.

While the vast majority of networks and their events are run within the rules, this new guidance delivers clarity. It will ensure all network members and leaders are aware of the need to remain impartial at all times and fulfil the expected behaviours set out in the civil service code.

Alongside new rules on events, the guidance provides further clarity to all networks to ensure any activities, communications or meetings comply with the Civil Service Code. The code sets out that all civil servants must act impartially and with integrity – putting the obligations of public service above any personal interests.

The guidance also provides further clarity for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) networks specifically. Including the need to promote all view points equally, and ensure their role – to promote equality and inclusion in the Civil Service for everyone – is not lost in pursuit of a particular issue.

The new guidance ensures that all networks have a better understanding of their obligations under the Civil Service Code, ensuring they can continue to operate effectively, and fulfil their intended purpose.
September 29, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Water saving plans to reduce bills and unblock new homes [September 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 September 2025.

Strengthened Water Efficiency Standards will boost housebuilding and keep more money in families’ pockets.

Simple water-saving measures could save families in new homes over £100 a year on bills, while supporting a wave of new housing across Britain – delivering on the Plan for Change.

The government’s new efficiency rules will tackle water shortage bottlenecks and unblock stalled developments in areas of water scarcity helping to deliver the pledge of building 1.5million homes by 2030.

A consultation launched today will propose small changes to Building Regulations that could see new homes fitted with water-saving features such as aerated taps and showerheads, and dual flush toilets.

The change to the design standard will make new build housing more water efficient, equivalent to 20 litres per person per day. Analysis has shown this could save £111 a year on energy and water bills in new homes.

The small measures will also help the environment by reducing the amount that needs to be taken from rivers, lakes, and delicate chalk streams for public supply.

Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds, said:

We are getting Britain building faster, and a key element to growth is smarter water consumption.

Removing the water shortage barriers that have stalled development for too long will mean unlocking thousands of new homes while saving families money.

Not only will this make customer bills cheaper; it will protect the environment and unlock thousands of new homes as part of our Plan for Change.

The 12-week consultation looks to amend the current Building Regulations 2010 Part G2, which are insufficient to meet the parallel challenges of housing delivery and water conservation.

A reduction of 20 litres per person per day could see an additional 1,000 new homes unlocked for every 5,250 homes built. This is particularly helpful in areas like Cambridge and north Sussex where planning has previously been blocked because water demand outstripped supply.

The measures will support the government’s commitment to reduce water usage in England by 20% per person per day by 2038. It also puts us on track to use just 110 litres per head of the population by 2050.

Future innovations, such as using harvested rainwater to flush home toilets, are also being considered in a call to evidence that is running alongside the consultation.

England has seen seven consecutive months of below-average rainfall, with five areas in drought and more expected to follow soon despite the recent rain. Climate change and increased water demand means the nation needs to become more efficient with the water it has.

Defra has worked closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to develop the consultation and ensure it supports housebuilding goals.

Dr. Tom Dollard, Chair, Good Homes Alliance welcomed the consultation saying:

Our membership is facing real challenges in delivering new homes due to a lack of water capacity in their areas.

If we are to meet the Government housing delivery targets and unlock economic growth then we must start building more ‘water smart’ homes and neighbourhoods.

We would like to see a refreshed Part G that is aligned to the water neutrality hierarchy, and a fittings-based approach combined with a water labelling scheme that would deliver water efficient homes at scale across the UK.

We encourage all stakeholders from across industry to respond to this important consultation.”

Ed Lockhart, CEO of Future Homes Hub:

Water shortages are already constraining housing growth and the water supply shortfall at national and regional levels will widen without concerted action.

To sustain delivery of new homes at the levels required for everyone to have a decent home, homes need to become progressively more water efficient, alongside largescale investment in water infrastructure and demand management in other sectors.

That is why the Future Homes Hub proposed a water efficiency roadmap for the new homes sector in the 2024 Water Ready report. We therefore welcome the Government consulting on proposed efficiency measures and look forward to working with the Government to ensure water efficiency can be implemented affordably at scale whilst delivering on customer expectations.”

September 28, 2025