Tag: 2025

PRESS RELEASE : Debarment investigations into Grenfell suppliers paused to safeguard integrity of criminal proceedings  [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 10 July 2025.

Debarment investigations into seven organisations criticised by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry have been paused to prevent any impact on criminal investigations.

Debarment investigations into seven organisations criticised by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, relating to their eligibility for public contracts, have been paused to prevent any impact on criminal investigations.

The Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation following the Grenfell Tower tragedy on 14 June 2017, with a dedicated team of 180 officers and staff working to identify any offences and those responsible.  The Government fully supports the Metropolitan Police in its investigation.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report laid bare an appalling catalogue of failures leading up to the fire, and the Prime Minister has made clear that there must be full accountability – including through the criminal justice process.

The Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service informed the Cabinet Office that continuing the debarment investigations could unintentionally prejudice the criminal investigation and any future criminal proceedings.

To ensure the Metropolitan Police’s criminal investigation and any future proceedings remain the priority, the Cabinet Office has paused its separate, non-criminal debarment investigations at the request of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police. This decision has been made to safeguard the integrity of the Metropolitan Police’s criminal investigation.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, told Parliament of the need to maintain the integrity of criminal proceedings in the pursuit of justice for the Grenfell community. The Deputy Prime Minister is writing to the bereaved, survivors and residents in the immediate community to share this decision and reaffirm the government’s commitment to holding organisations to account.

Investigations into the seven organisations, under new powers of the Procurement Act 2023, were announced immediately after the Act came into force in February.

The Act allows the government to investigate suppliers and, if certain grounds are met, add them to a published debarment list. Public sector organisations covered by the Act must have regard to this list when carrying out new procurements that are covered by the Act’s remit, and can rely on this list to exclude a supplier where appropriate.

When a supplier is added to the debarment list on a mandatory ground, they must be excluded from all procurement activity within scope of the Act, except in very limited circumstances. If an organisation is convicted of a criminal offence that is a mandatory exclusion ground under the Act, this would potentially enable the government to take stronger action.

July 13, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 59 – UK Closing Statement [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 July 2025.

UK Closing Statement for the 59th session of the HRC. Delivered at HRC59 in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President.

We would like to make closing remarks on three resolutions.

In respect of L.20, the UK’s commitment to the safety of journalists and media freedom is unwavering. In accordance with international law, surveillance or interference with encryption technologies must be necessary, proportionate and subject to proper safeguards. Without such safeguards, journalists’ lawful activities should not be investigated or interfered with – either domestically or extraterritorially. In the UK, our investigatory powers legislation protects journalistic freedom by including specific safeguards for confidential journalistic material.

In respect of resolution L.17 on climate change, the UK is concerned that the significance of the Paris Agreement is inadequately reflected. We emphasise that the Paris Agreement is a freestanding treaty and not an annex to the Framework Convention. The UK is fully committed to the Paris Agreement, which urges all parties to tackle climate change in light of different national circumstances.

Human rights must be respected and protected when taking action to address climate change. However, climate finance, debt relief, climate justice and technology transfer are not prerequisites to the realisation of international human rights obligations. International human rights law does not recognise the concept of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, which is specific only to certain international environmental treaties.

Finally, with respect to L.8, the UK has long been a supporter of better and more affordable access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries. However, to maximise the prospects of successfully and sustainably achieving this, technology transfer needs to be on voluntary and mutually agreed terms. The UK has consistently raised its concerns about the phrase “unhindered access” in this and other fora.

The UK thanks the core groups for their constructive engagement on these resolutions.

Thank you.

July 13, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Toxic lead ammunition banned to protect Britain’s countryside [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 July 2025.

New ban on use of lead in ammunition to protect iconic wildlife and clean up the nation’s waterways.

Red kites and white-tailed eagles will receive greater protection thanks to new restrictions on the use of lead in ammunition, Environment Minister Emma Hardy announced today (Thursday 10 July 2025).

To protect iconic British wildlife and clean up the nation’s waterways, new measures will ban shot containing more than 1% lead and bullets with a lead content of more than 3%. Beyond limited exemptions, these types of ammunition will no longer be sold to the public.

The ban will prevent the release of an estimated 7,000 tonnes of the toxic metal into fields, forests and wetlands each year. Up to 100,000 wildfowl, including ducks, swans and waders, die from lead poisoning annually, with birds often confusing the scattered shot for grit and consuming it.

Evidence from the Health and Safety Executive shows lead poses a risk to at least 1 million birds over the coming decades if usage continues at its current rate, while around 40,000 birds of prey such as red kites and white-tailed eagles are at risk from ingesting lead through carrion.

Introducing restrictions will also stop lead from contaminating soil and leaching into rivers when guns are discharged and spread the harmful metal, ensuring ecosystems thrive for both wildlife and people alike.

Environment Minister Emma Hardy said:

Britain is a proud nation of nature lovers, but our rivers are heavily polluted, and majestic birds are declining at an alarming rate.

This new ban on lead in ammunition for most uses will help reverse this – rejuvenating pride in our countryside by protecting precious birdlife and cleaning up rivers.

Non-lead alternatives are readily available, and we’ll continue to work closely with the shooting sector throughout this transition.

Following extensive public engagement, a three-year transition period will support the shooting and hunting sectors to shift to more environmentally friendly alternatives. There will also be a two-year period for outdoor shooting ranges where lead is used to implement measures that prevent pollution from entering the environment.

Alternatives to lead shot have become more efficient and widely available in recent years, with steel and tungsten-based shot being two popular options. The government will continue to engage with the shooting industry to support the transition to alternative ammunition types.

In December 2024, the Health and Safety Executive published their Final Opinion proposing restrictions on the supply and outdoor uses of lead in ammunition – and the government has now taken action to reduce toxic substances from entering the environment.

As part of the restrictions, there will be exemptions in place for the military, police, elite athletes, outdoor target shooting ranges with risk management measures in place, museum collections and other minor uses. Small calibre bullets for live quarry shooting – the outdoor shooting of live animals – and airguns are not in scope of the restriction.

July 11, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New backing for small businesses to protect their intellectual property from security threats [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 10 July 2025.

Up to 500 small or medium-sized companies could benefit from new reviews involving approved experts giving tailored advice to teams on risks they face.
- Up to 500 small and medium sized UK firms backed by government funding to strengthen their security.
- Security review scheme includes expert advice to protect ideas and innovations from powerful competitors including state actors.
- Open to range of sectors from AI to life sciences to help businesses grow securely while boosting our economy and supporting our Plan for Change.
Hundreds of UK tech start-ups and other innovative businesses can now apply for government support to protect their intellectual property from powerful competitors, including threats from other states and hostile actors, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has announced today (Thursday 10 July).

Up to 500 small or medium-sized companies will potentially benefit from new Secure Innovation Security Reviews, which involve approved experts giving tailored advice to teams on risks they face, so they can build thriving businesses which create jobs and support the economy.

This could include advice on strengthening checks on prospective employees to reduce insider threats and ensure their suitability for handling sensitive information, and key cyber security measures to guard against common cyber-attacks.

A range of technology sectors operating throughout the UK will be able to apply, from artificial intelligence to life sciences, advanced materials like semiconductors to renewable energy systems and beyond – backing businesses at the forefront of boosting economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.

Support can help combat the efforts of certain states to steal technological, economic, or military insight, to enhance their own capabilities rather than engaging in fair international competition.

While threats of hostile actors recruiting an insider to exploit their physical access are not new, such threats are becoming more advanced, underlining the importance of integrating personnel, physical, and cyber security to protect start-ups.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

The UK economy is built on the courage, ambition and hard work of small businesses which ultimately benefits us all, creating new technologies and jobs that grow our economy under our Plan for Change.

By supporting firms to protect their innovations, this government-backed scheme will help those who put the hours in to reap the rewards while keeping key companies and sectors safe from malicious larger competitors, including state actors.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said:

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and they need security to thrive.

With 98% of businesses reporting a lack of knowledge to identify security threats, it is crucial they are equipped with the tools necessary to protect themselves against increasingly volatile threats.

This initiative, spearheaded by the National Protective Security Authority and the National Cyber Security Centre, supports businesses to build the skills and the confidence they need to grow.

To take part in the scheme, companies will need to apply through Innovate UK and contribute £500, with £2,500 covered by the government.

National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) figures show 39% of companies have only one protective security or cyber measure in place and 55% do not conduct pre-employment screening of new personnel. By helping businesses to integrate protective security into their wider business strategy, the work can also help to boost customer and investor confidence.

The reviews involve a professional conducting a site visit of the company to carry out a security health check, against a framework developed by the UK’s national technical authorities, NPSA – part of MI5 – and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – part of Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).

They will then provide the company with a bespoke report with recommendations for improvement. The professional will conduct a follow up with the company after 6 months to gauge improvements made since the site visit.

It builds on a pilot scheme in 2023, where 98% fed back that they now have sufficient knowledge to identify the security threats to their business, with the same figure committing to further action strengthen their security.

NCSC CEO Richard Horne said:

Small and medium-sized businesses power the UK’s innovation engine – but where ideas thrive, threats are never far behind.

States, state-backed competitors, and cyber criminals target cutting-edge ideas and valuable data, exploiting gaps in cyber and protective security defences to launch attacks that can cripple organisations and steal their most sensitive innovations.

That’s why building resilience is no longer optional – it’s essential for business growth and survival. I encourage SMEs across the UK to take advantage of the NCSC and NPSA-backed Secure Innovation Security Reviews scheme.

Executive Director of Strategy and Performance at Innovate UK Robert Shaw said:

Innovate UK is proud to be a partner in delivering Security Reviews for spinouts and start-ups in such critical sectors.

If these innovators can protect valuable intellectual property and their competitive edge and demonstrate their commitment to security to investors and customers, they will be better placed to realise their growth potential in the UK, and globally.
July 11, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 59 – UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on Central African Republic [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 July 2025.

UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the Oral Update of the Independent Expert on Central African Republic (CAR). This statement was delivered on 4 July 2025 during the 59th session of the HRC in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr Vice President,

We thank the Independent Expert for his update and welcome the Central African Republic’s continued cooperation with his mandate.

As the Central African Republic continues to strengthen its human rights framework, we welcome the appointment of 11 new commissioners of the Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission. And we encourage a timely resumption of the Commission’s activities.

However, we remain alarmed that reports of human rights violations and abuses continue to increase across the country. We reiterate our call for the Central African Republic to initiate court proceedings to hold to account members of armed groups accused of human rights violations and abuses.

Mr Vice President, holding credible and secure local elections is a crucial step to strengthen local governance ahead of presidential and legislative elections next year. The UK strongly encourages CAR to protect civil and political human rights throughout the electoral period. This is an important opportunity for CAR to demonstrate their commitment to democracy.

Mr Agbetse, following the recent postponement of local elections, how can this council support the timely and inclusive delivery of elections for the people of CAR?

July 10, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : £500m Government investment to boost growth and opportunity for underrepresented entrepreneurs [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 10 July 2025.

Underrepresented investors and fund managers will benefit from £500m of Government backing to help high potential new entrants build the track record they need.
- £400 million package to back investment fund managers from underrepresented backgrounds and drive growth as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
- Additional £50 million for female-led venture capital funds, doubling the British Business Bank’s commitment to £100 million and supporting the Invest in Women Taskforce.
- New report reveals that angel investors are backing more all-female founding teams than all-male teams in the UK for the first time.
Diverse or underrepresented investors and fund managers will benefit from £500m of Government backing to help high potential new entrants develop the track record they need to become the investors of the future.

Targeted at women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and those from deprived backgrounds, there will be a new £400m package from the British Business Bank starting in 2026, which will operate across three pillars:
- Back more diverse fund managers directly through the Bank’s Enterprise Capital Funds programme, the Bank’s scheme to support early-stage businesses with high growth potential.
- Invest more in supporting micro-funds, funds with around £10-15m and the first step on the venture capital ladder for new investors
- Back partners, such as venture capital funds, to invest smaller amounts in talented individuals to build a track record and to provide training, giving those without personal wealth or connections the opportunity to become investors.
Research shows just 2p of every £1 invested in venture capital funding in the UK goes to female-founded businesses and only 13% of senior individuals on UK venture capital investment teams are women.

The initiative announced today aims to reduce the significant gap in venture capital investment for underrepresented founders and investors. It will target at least 50% of investment going to female fund managers.

By backing diverse and emerging fund managers, the initiative not only strengthens the UK’s venture capital ecosystem but also ensures that entrepreneurial ambition is no longer limited by background, gender, or geography. This targeted support will help build a more dynamic, inclusive economy that works for everyone.

Unlocking the potential of underrepresented entrepreneurs and breaking down barriers to opportunity will help drive growth as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, said:

This is exactly what our Plan for Change is about: breaking down barriers to opportunity and kickstarting the growth that creates jobs and puts money into people’s pockets across the UK.

This £500 million investment will back diverse and emerging fund managers, making our economy stronger and more dynamic.

Louis Taylor CBE, Chief Executive Officer, British Business Bank, said:

To deliver the government’s growth mission it is critical that our most promising entrepreneurs can access the finance they need to grow their businesses, no matter who they are or what their background is. The UK equity market currently experiences a significant funding gap for diverse founders, negatively impacting their ability to start a business.

This new £400m Investor Pathways Capital initiative will support diverse and emerging fund managers across the UK, in turn supporting talented entrepreneurs currently underserved by the UK equity market. It has the potential to unlock the UK’s full commercial potential and boost the UK economy.

The initiative comes alongside an additional £50m investment into female-led funds to support the aims of the Invest in Women Taskforce, further expanding access to funding for female investors and entrepreneurs, taking the Bank’s total commitment to £100m.

The news comes alongside the latest Investing in Women Code report out today, which tracks and promotes investment into women-led businesses. It finds that investing in female and ethnic minority-led businesses could add 13% to the value of the UK equity market, underscoring the importance of backing diverse founders. The Code was launched in 2019 in response to the Rose Review’s findings that a lack of funding was one of the most significant barriers to women seeking to effectively scale a business.

There has also been promising progress for angel investment from Code signatories – those investing from their personal wealth – with all female investor teams and mixed-gender teams surpassing all male teams for the first time for investment received. Similarly, across all signatories, more female-only teams received funding than mixed-gender and all male teams.

However, more progress is still needed for investment in women businesses to meet its potential, with the total value of investments going into female led teams much less than that of all-male (15% vs 37%), with the remainder going to mixed teams.

Minister for Investment Baroness Gustafsson CBE said:

Women entrepreneurs have so much to contribute to economic growth, so it is encouraging to see progress in this year’s Code, with more female-led teams receiving investment than male for the first time.

Our Plan for Change is about boosting growth further and that’s why we’re taking action today to support high-potential female-led funds with an extra £50m of funding.

The report will be launched in a parliamentary reception attended by the Chancellor this afternoon.
July 10, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK and Japan sign investment partnership to drive economic growth [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 July 2025.

New partnership paves way for increased UK investment into Japan, supporting Prime Minister Ishiba’s ambitious foreign investment targets.

The UK and Japan yesterday signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) aimed at enabling increased UK investment into Japan, further strengthening the economic ties between the two nations.

The agreement was signed at the British Embassy in Tokyo by Baroness Poppy Gustafsson of Chesterton CBE, UK Minister for Investment, and Mr. Seto Takakazu, State Minister of the Cabinet Office of Japan, who played an important role in compiling the ‘Program for Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment in Japan 2025’ last month.

This strategic partnership establishes a formal framework for collaboration to accelerate UK investment into Japan, supporting Prime Minister Ishiba’s ambitious target of more than doubling Japan’s foreign direct investment stocks to JPY120 trillion (approximately £600 billion) in 2030.

Minister for Investment Baroness Poppy Gustafsson CBE said:

The UK and Japan share a deep and enduring partnership that is committed to mutual prosperity and growth. That’s why I’m delighted to sign this new partnership with Japan – capitalising on the major opportunities for UK businesses to bring their innovative offers to Japan and grow in the Japanese economy.

Key growth sectors with strong potential for increased UK investment include clean energy, digital transformation, biotechnology and healthcare, alongside enabling sectors such as legal, professional and financial services.

This aligns with the UK’s new Industrial Strategy, which sets out plans to transform the UK’s clean energy, digital and technologies, and life sciences sectors over the next decade – providing businesses with the stability and certainty to make long-term investment decisions in the UK.

The MoC builds upon the foundation of the enhanced global strategic partnership outlined in the Hiroshima Accord of May 2023 and complements existing frameworks such as the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and both nations’ membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

To mark the occasion, the British Embassy in Tokyo has launched “Expand in Japan” – an initiative to champion and support UK investors seeking opportunities in the Japanese market. Companies can register their interest here.

The signing comes as the Minister for Investment Poppy Gustafsson is in Tokyo to meet with key Japanese investors and government partners.

It also follows the UK’s recent National Day celebration at Expo 2025 Osaka, where the UK Pavilion, themed “Come Build the Future,” has been showcasing Britain as a global hub of innovation.

Nearly 1,000 Japanese companies have already established operations in the UK, with £87 billion in investment stock. This new agreement aims to strengthen reciprocal investment flows, supporting both nations’ economic growth and security objectives.

Richard Lyle, President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan, said:

We welcome this close partnership which enables UK companies to invest, innovate, and drive growth in Japan – this is a strong signal of Japan’s openness to high-quality investment. UK companies in Japan already create high-quality jobs across the country, develop deep partnerships, and offer world-leading products, services and solutions to multiple sectors in the market.

We will continue to work with the UK and Japanese governments to enable further UK investment into Japan. As a membership organisation supporting British companies in the Japanese market, we look forward to seeing more companies doing business here.

Martin Kent, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, said:

This new partnership with the Japanese Government is about turning ambition into action – unlocking opportunities for UK businesses in key sectors aligned with our Industrial Strategy – and building mutual prosperity with Japan. I look forward to the collaboration, innovation, and growth that will emerge following today’s signing.

Notes to Editors:
- The UK-Japan relationship has been strengthened through multiple agreements including the 2023 Hiroshima Accord, a bilateral free trade agreement in 2020, UK’s accession to CPTPP in 2024, and the launch of the Economic 2+2 in 2025.
- This agreement supports both the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and Japan’s Program for Promotion of Foreign Direct Investment.
July 10, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New data points to growing social and economic impact of charity sector amidst challenging financial environment [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Charity Commission on 10 July 2025.

New insights from sector data suggest that charities have been able to direct additional resources to delivering their aims, amidst a tightening financial squeeze.

The Charity Commission, the regulator of charities in England and Wales, has analysed data drawn from annual returns for the financial year ending 2023 – the most comprehensive dataset available to the charity sector.

Collectively charities that submitted annual returns spent £95.73 billion delivering their charitable aims in 2023, 9.6% more than in 2022, reflecting a further broadening and deepening of the vital societal impact of charities. This was during a period when cost of living pressures were being felt acutely within society.

This impact is underpinned by the generosity of the public, with donations and legacies reaching £31.4bn – almost a third (32.6%) of all charity income. Small charities, which are by far the greatest in number, largely rely on this income.

Businesses also made a considerable contribution to charity with almost half (49.7%) of charities with an income of £100k or more reporting donations from a corporate donor.

The data underlines that volunteers are essential to delivering public good, outnumbering paid workers by a factor of more than 3:1. Around 7 in 10 charities reported they were supported by volunteers in 2023, while 5 in 10 had paid workers (permanent or fixed-term employees and self-employed). The majority of paid workers (98%) were deployed in the UK.

However, for a second year in a row, the analysis drew out some indicators underlining concerns about financial resilience in parts of the sector.

Overall growth in expenditure (9.6%) outpaced growth in income (6.8%) leaving the gap between the two at its narrowest in five years at £0.7bn, down from £2.9bn in 2022.

While more than half of charities (55.1%) have more income than expenditure, around 2 in 5 charities (42.6%) had expenditure that exceeded income. This situation leaves many charities with little or no headroom for investing in longer term or more innovative projects, and depending on reserve levels, a continuation of this trend may mean some charities cease to operate altogether.

The data follows the Commission’s release of separate data earlier this week pointing to increased demand for charities’ services, with 9% of people indicating they had received food, medical or financial support from charities, compared to just 3% five years ago.

Charity Commission Chief Executive, David Holdsworth, said:

Our analysis of charities’ annual returns for 2023 shows the sector is not just delivering life-changing impact across communities but that it is an economic powerhouse for the economy, spending almost £96 billion a year on delivering charitable purposes.

Charities’ work with those from some of our most marginalised and disadvantaged communities unlocks potential, enabling more people to play an active role in society, helping people up, not handing out. This vital work is happening right across England and Wales, often in places and with people the state cannot easily reach.

While our data shows the cost of living crisis has applied significant pressure on charity finances – with the narrowest gap between income and expenditure in recent years – it also shows charities rising to the challenge, spending almost ten per cent more in 2023 than in 2022 to meet increased need.

Each question asked of charities in the annual return is designed to enable the Commission to identify risks and trends in the sector; to help the public make informed and confident choices about charities; and to allow policy-makers, researchers, sector groups and the public to gain a richer understanding of the charity sector in England and Wales.

ENDS

Notes to editors
1. The annual return 2023 represents the most comprehensive data set available on the charity sector, as it is a statutory requirement for charities to provide this to the Commission. The Commission’s analysis of the annual return 2023 is a factual presentation of the data charities have reported to the Commission for 12-month financial periods ending at any point in 2023. Annual Return data is a ‘lagging indicator’ as the information it captures has passed as each charity has up to 10 months to report it after the end of its financial year. AR23 saw an improved number of charities filing returns than in AR22.
2. All registered charities must provide information annually to the Charity Commission (‘the Commission’). The rules vary according to the charity’s size and structure. Registered charities with:
- income up to £10,000 should complete the relevant sections (income and expenditure) of the annual return
- income above £10,000, and all Charitable Incorporated Organisations (‘CIOs’), must prepare and file an annual return
- income above £25,000, and all CIOs, must also file copies of their trustees’ annual report and accounts
July 10, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Barrier to social housing now lifted for vulnerable people [July 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 10 July 2025.

New changes to remove a local connection requirement for young care leavers and domestic abuse survivors comes into effect today.
- Local connection tests officially removed for care leavers under 25 and victims of domestic abuse
- Forms part of the five-step plan to deliver a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing
- Delivering the government’s Plan for Change to provide more vulnerable people with a safe and secure roof over their head
More young people leaving care and domestic abuse survivors can now have greater access to social housing, thanks to new changes removing a local connection requirement coming into effect today.

Last month the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed the government is rewriting the rules for vulnerable groups who have faced barriers to social housing when they do not have a connection to the local area, meaning they can no longer be unfairly penalised. The move has been largely welcomed by charities across the sector including Become and Centrepoint.

Many domestic abuse survivors and care leavers under the age of 25 face unique challenges, such as fleeing an unsafe home to seek safety or adjusting to life outside of the care system, so may be forced to move from area to area without having a local connection.

Government guidance for councils across England, nearly 90% of which currently use local connection tests, sets out their obligations to prioritise vulnerable people applying for social housing. This has now been updated to confirm young care leavers and domestic abuse survivors must be exempt from any local connection tests.

It comes as the government recently published its five-point plan to deliver a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing and pave the way for the biggest boost in a generation. This includes the new £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme to build around 300,000 new homes over the next decade, with at least 60% for social rent.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner said:

“I’m immensely proud this government is delivering real change for some of our most vulnerable in society, making sure more young people and families can have a safe and secure roof over their head.

“It’s only right we remove local connection tests for these groups and from today they will no longer face such barriers – it’s a promise we made and a promise we’ve kept.

“This builds on our Plan for Change to deliver the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation, turning the tide on the crisis we’ve inherited and building hundreds of thousands of new homes to bring down housing waiting lists for good.”

Today’s changes follow the rules overhauled last year to remove local connection tests for all former UK Regular Armed Forces Veterans, regardless of when they last served, as pledged by the Prime Minister.

The government remains fully committed to supporting more vulnerable groups and veterans into social housing but also recognises the challenges faced by councils dealing with unprecedented pressures on housing supply as well as depleted housing stocks.

That’s why the government has now set out ambitions to ramp up housing delivery for this Parliament and beyond, equipping councils and providers with greater tools to invest in existing and new social homes. This includes:
- Bringing forward long-overdue reforms to Right to Buy, including a 35-year exemption for newly built social homes, to protect and reverse the decline in much-needed council housing.
- Extending the flexibilities on spending Right to Buy receipts introduced last year, as well as allowing councils to retain 100% of Right to Buy receipts and from next year combine receipts with grant funding for affordable housing, which will further accelerate the delivery of new homes to replace those sold.
- Introducing a new long-term 10-year settlement for social housing rents to provide the sector with the certainty they need to reinvest in new housing stock.
New funding for a £12 million Council Housebuilding Skills & Capacity Programme has also been announced, which will upskill and expand council workforces to get more spades in the ground for a new era of council housebuilding.

Centrepoint’s Director of Policy and Prevention, Balbir Kaur Chatrik said:

“It wasn’t right that young care leavers were subjected to local connection tests – particularly at a point in their lives where they should be able to move on and thrive.

“Removing this barrier is a huge step in protecting some of the country’s most vulnerable young people and should help in reducing youth homelessness more broadly.”

A care-experienced young person, Tia Shillito-Radicic said:

“The passing of this new legislation is nothing short of life-changing for many care-experienced young people and especially for me.

“This legislation gives me the opportunity to live somewhere safer, closer to my support network, and within reach of my career in the Civil Service. It’s not just about having a roof over my head – it’s about having a foundation to build a future. It’s about independence, security, and dignity.

“Too often, young people in care are uprooted from their communities and placed far from home due to foster care shortages or safeguarding concerns. When we age out of care, we’re then expected to return to the original council that placed us – sometimes hundreds of miles from where we’ve built our lives. That system leaves many of us isolated, detached from the people and places we trust most.

“This legislation changes that. And with it, comes hope. Hope that young people won’t have to start over, again and again. Hope that we can remain close to the support systems we’ve fought to create. And hope that we’ll finally be seen not just as care leavers, but as individuals with dreams, careers, and futures.

“To everyone who worked tirelessly to make this happen: thank you. You haven’t just changed a policy – you’ve helped us hold onto something many of us lose far too often: a sense of home, of belonging, and of hope.”

Further information

Last month the government published a written ministerial statement confirming new changes for young care leavers and domestic abuse survivors. The regulations were laid on 19 June and come into force today.

While the changes remove a specific barrier for these vulnerable groups, the allocation of social housing is still at the discretion of the local housing authority.

On 24 September, the Prime Minister set out his ambition to improve access to social housing for former UK Armed Forces Veterans, young care leavers and domestic abuse survivors.

The government recently set out its long-term plan – Delivering a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing – which includes a commitment to support more vulnerable groups and veterans having access to social housing.
July 10, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New action to tackle illegal and exploitative children’s homes [July 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 10 July 2025.

Up to 200 places will be created for vulnerable children in council-run high-quality children’s homes with £53 million.

The most vulnerable children in society will be better protected from unsafe, illegal children’s homes thanks to over £53 million investment from the government to create 200 new placements in high-quality council-run homes through its Plan for Change.

For the first time, the government has specifically targeted funding at children who have such complex needs that they are at risk of, or have been, deprived of their liberty.

Children in these situations need extra support from social workers and care teams to stop them running away from home and from harming themselves and others.

The new homes will break down barriers to opportunity by providing support for these young people’s complex behaviour and mental health needs in safe and stable environments. A substantial shortage of placements to meet these young people’s needs over recent years has seen them being placed into accommodation that is operating illegally by not registering with Ofsted.

Data from the Children’s Commissioner shows this also comes at an eye-watering cost to councils, who spend an estimated £440 million a year on unregistered placements. Over 30 placements were costing over £1 million each – and this in a world where private providers sometimes siphon off over 20% of placement costs for private profit.

One teenager with both SEND and mental health needs told the commissioner they had been living in a caravan for two months, at a cost of £75,000, out of her council area.

Today’s announcement builds on measures already announced in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to give Ofsted stronger powers to impose fines on illegal homes and new powers for the Secretary of State to cap provider profits if excessive profiteering is not brought under control.

Minister for Children and Families Janet Daby said:

The children’s social care system has faced years of drift and neglect, leading to a vicious cycle of late intervention and children falling through the cracks.

One of the worst symptoms of this is when some of the most vulnerable young people in society are shunted from pillar to post – traumatised by shameful illegal homes, while some private companies rack up ludicrous profits.

Through our Plan for Change and our Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, this government is enabling every child to achieve and thrive by investing in the places children need, cracking down on profiteering with new laws, and rebuilding family support services so parents and carers get the help they need to keep their children happy and safe in loving homes.

It comes as part of ambitious reform to rebalance the children’s social care system away from crisis intervention and towards earlier help to keep children safe, with over £2 billion investment over the course of this parliament.

Green shoots are already being seen as an evaluation published today of areas that tested the government’s early intervention reforms show evidence of improved collaboration between agencies leading to more consistent support for families.

Funding for preventative services has already been doubled this year compared to last year from £250 million to £500 million, so that every family who needs support receives it to stop issues getting worse, with the guidance of a dedicated family help worker.

The government committed to continuing the £500m funding each year until 2028-29 at the Spending Review alongside a further increase of at least £300 million over the coming two years.

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said:

My work as Children’s Commissioner has shown there are too many children who need brilliant care who have instead ended up in illegal – and terrible – accommodation. Instead of receiving care and support, they are side-lined, ignored and left waiting while services fail to take responsibility for these children.

This funding, and the social care provisions of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, is an opportunity to bring that to an end. It will increase the number of loving, safe homes for this group of children – whose needs are often urgent and complex – and must provide loving, therapeutic, joined-up care to help these children flourish.

Chief Executive at Action for Children Paul Carberry said:

It’s vital that children and young people with complex needs receive specialist, therapeutic care in a stable environment. Over recent years, too many children have been placed in unregulated, unsuitable accommodation due to the critical shortage of placements in the system, with sometimes devastating consequences on their health, safety, and wellbeing.

Without the right support, their needs can escalate, and placements can break down.

We wholeheartedly welcome this investment, which will ensure more children with complex needs get the care and support they deserve.

Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, new laws are being brought in to increase the transparency of private providers over their finances, with a backstop provision to introduce a profit cap if providers don’t voluntarily bring an end to exploitative practices.

The department has also brought together an expert ‘market intervention advisory group’, which is working on the details of how the financial oversight and transparency schemes will work in practice to make as quick as possible progress to tackle profiteering, as well as how to bring in more voluntary providers.

Schemes are being considered to encourage charities and ethical investors to open children’s homes, including through innovative funding mechanisms like social financing.

July 10, 2025