Tag: Cabinet Office

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.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 20 August 2025.

With just weeks to go, people across Northern Ireland are being reminded to expect the second ever national Emergency Alert test. The system is designed to help protect lives by delivering urgent safety advice directly to mobile phones during major emergencies.

Mobile phones connected to 4G and 5G networks across the country will receive the alert at approximately 3pm on Sunday 7 September. During the test, phones will vibrate and emit a loud, siren-like sound for up to ten seconds. A message will appear on screen, making it clear the alert is a drill and that no action is needed.

The drill follows the live deployment of the system in Northern Ireland during Storm Éowyn in January this year. UK Government minister Pat McFadden authorised that message to help save lives after widespread red weather warnings were issued. Approximately 4.5 million mobile phones received the alert, in the largest-ever live deployment of the system.

Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said:

We saw the Emergency Alert system’s value first-hand during Storm Éowyn in January and this test will be important in making sure we are prepared for future emergencies

We need to ensure the system is working effectively so people in Northern Ireland get critical information when lives are on the line.

Storm Éowyn, an intense extratropical cyclone, struck Northern Ireland on Friday 24 January 2025.  A red wind warning was issued by the Met Office for the entire region for the peak of the storm.  The Emergency Alert was broadcast at approximately 6pm on 23 January 2025, warning of the threat to life posed by the storm and urging people to stay indoors.

During the national test on September 7, mobile phones will vibrate and emit a loud siren-like sound for up to ten seconds. A test message will appear on screens, making it clear the alert is a drill.

Ahead of the test, the government is running a public information campaign to notify people it is taking place, including communications targeted at vulnerable groups such as victims of domestic abuse. The campaign has featured the first national information video in British Sign Language.

Last week, the full text of the test message was revealed for the first time, saying:

This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.

You do not need to take any action. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.

Find simple and effective advice on how to prepare for emergencies at gov.uk/prepare.

Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information or to view this message in Welsh. Ewch i gov.uk/alerts am ragor o wybodaeth neu i weld y neges hon yn y Gymraeg.

This second test follows a government commitment to test the system regularly to make sure it works optimally and familiarise the public with the alerts. This is in line with standard practice in other countries, such as Japan and the USA.

As well as making clear the test is just a drill, the message will point the public to GOV.UK/PREPARE, a one-stop website offering practical advice about steps households can take to prepare for emergencies.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 19 August 2025.

Greg Jackson has been appointed as a Non-Executive Member of the Cabinet Office Board for a period of three years.

His term started on 21st July 2025 and will conclude in 2028.

The Cabinet Office Board provides strategic leadership for the department, comprising Cabinet Office ministers, senior executives, and non-executives from outside government.

The Non-Executive Board Members are responsible for providing support and challenge to the department’s ministers and senior officials on the delivery of key policies and programmes.

Greg Jackson is the CEO of Octopus Energy Group. He has previously worked as the Co-founder and Chairman of Consultant Connect Ltd (2015-2022), Managing Director of HomeService Alliance (2013-15), Non Executive Director at Zopa (2010-18), CEO of Tangent Labs (2008-10) and CEO/Founder of C360 UK Ltd.

Greg is also an Honorary Fellow at Pembroke College Cambridge, and holds an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Teesside.

 

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 19 August 2025.

Professor Adeeba Malik CBE DL has been appointed as an Independent Member of the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC).

The appointment will be for a period of five years, with her term beginning on 1 September 2025.

Professor Adeeba Malik CBE DL has over 35 years experience of working in the voluntary sector and has held several ministerial and non-ministerial appointments at local, regional and national level. She is the Deputy Chief Executive of QED Foundation.

A former High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, her current public service roles includes Member of a State Honours Committee; External Expert Advisor to the Home Office Strategic Race Advisory Board and Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.

HOLAC recommends individuals for appointment as non-party-political life peers and vets nominations for life peers to ensure the highest standards of propriety.

It is an advisory non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Cabinet Office.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 13 August 2025.

Paul Kissack is appointed as the new Permanent Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has appointed Paul Kissack as the new Permanent Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Paul, who is currently the Group Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust,  will start the role in October.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt. Hon Steve Reed MP said:

I’m delighted to welcome Paul to the department. His experience and expertise will ensure we achieve our objectives as a government. I look forward to working with him to make our country a better place.

Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald said:

I would like to congratulate Paul Kissack on his appointment as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Paul’s experience of public service delivery in the UK (and New Zealand), and his most recent role leading the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, makes him excellently suited to lead Defra at this time and drive delivery of the Department’s missions.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Tamara Finkelstein for her excellent leadership of the Department over the last six years and David Hill for his role as interim Permanent Secretary.

Incoming Permanent Secretary, Paul Kissack said:

I am delighted to be rejoining the Civil Service and honoured to be returning to Defra. Restoring the natural environment and enhancing the sustainable use of natural resources – through cleaner water, greener land, purer air and reduced waste – is fundamental to a strong economy and delivering the Plan for Change.

And the work of the Defra Group – from food security to bio-security to flood defences – is critical to ensuring our national resilience and protecting the public. I am hugely looking forward to working with colleagues across the Defra Group, across Government and the many stakeholders who share these ambitions for our country in the years ahead.

The appointment follows an external recruitment exercise chaired by the independent First Civil Service Commissioner.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 24 July 2025.

Statement on the one-year anniversary of the landmark UK-India Technology Security Initiative.

On the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the landmark UK-India Technology Security Initiative (TSI), the UK and India reaffirmed their shared commitment to harness frontier technologies to drive economic growth and strengthen national security.

Both parties welcomed the Initiative’s achievements to date and underscored the transformative potential of the TSI to deliver cutting-edge innovations and generate investment across the entire technology value chain.

The TSI has already enabled industry, academia and government to deliver new strategic opportunities. Over the past year, both sides have:

• Launched a flagship £7 million joint research programme on Future Telecoms in 2024 to support joint Open RAN and 5G/6G testbed development.
• Formalised collaboration between key telecoms lab facilities – India’s Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and the UK’s Smart RAN Open Network Interoperability Centre (SONIC) for bilateral collaboration in telecom innovation, testing and emerging technology.
• Accelerated development in responsible and trustworthy AI, including through the first UK-India Conference on AI opportunities, held in Bengaluru in February 2025.
• Completed the successful first phase of the world’s first UK-India Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory. Phase Two, supported by £1.8 million of new funding, will deliver the world’s largest digital data infrastructure on the critical minerals value chain and establish a new satellite campus at the Indian School of Mines in Dhanbad.
• Strengthened our partnership in FEMTECH – Women-Orientated Health Tech by collaboration between National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• Initiated several new partnerships between private sector from both sides in the fields of Telecoms, Critical Minerals, Advanced Materials and AI.

To further our strategic collaboration, both sides will:

• Harness together, the benefits of the global AI revolution and boost economic growth through a UK-India joint centre for AI that will promote trusted real world AI innovations and widespread adoption.
• Advance next generation, secure-by-design telecommunications through joint research, development and innovation, strategically collaborating on advanced connectivity and cyber resilience. Establish an India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre to pioneer AI-driven telecoms, non-terrestrial networks and secure 5G and 6G. Work together through international fora like ITU and 3GPP for 6G.
• Secure resilient and sustainable critical mineral supply chains to power the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Establish a UK-India Critical Minerals Guild to transform financing standards and innovation. Together, the two sides will prioritise processing, R&D, recycling, managing risk to supply chains, market development etc. and will champion circular economy principles and advance traceability.
• Use the UK-India biotechnology partnership to unlock the potential in biofoundries, bioprinting, biomanufacturing, bio-based materials, advanced biosciences and drive innovation across health, clean energy and sustainable agriculture. Explore the possibility of setting up a UK-India Biotechnology Accelerator.

The UK and India continue to work together across other TSI commitments including the collaboration on Graphene and 2D Materials Technology.
In recognition of the TSI’s success, the two leaders agreed to expand the TSI into new frontier domains, particularly to unlock engagement on futuristic, secure and strategic technologies. This expansion will further align UK and Indian national security priorities and unlock new opportunities for industry and researchers.

Both parties called on industry, including start-ups and academia to further catalyse the UK-India technology partnership and to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the TSI.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 July 2025.

The Government outlines changes to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme in response to the Infected Blood Inquiry Additional Report.

• Government makes changes to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme in response to new recommendations from the Infected Blood Inquiry
• Changes include modifications for those who have endured treatments with adverse side effects, and chronic Hepatitis C individuals
• Further changes will address compensation for affected victims and their estates

More victims of the infected blood scandal will be able to claim compensation as the government proposes changes to the existing Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.

Changes could result in over a thousand people receiving a higher amount of compensation than they would have under the existing scheme.

The proposed changes will ensure that those who endured treatments with adverse side effects, such as interferon, will receive higher compensation to what is currently provided.

The changes will also provide further compensation for the impacts currently recognised by the Infected Blood Support Scheme ‘Special Category Mechanism’, provided to chronic Hepatitis C individuals who have experienced a significant impact on their ability to carry out daily duties.

Further changes will address compensation for affected victims. Under the existing scheme, if an affected person – a spouse, partner, sibling, parent or unpaid carer of an infected person – passed away, their claim would die with them.

However, changes to the scheme will now mean that if the affected person has died or dies after May 21st 2024, their estate will be able to make a claim. While the total number of affected victims is not known, this could enable significantly more people to receive compensation.

These changes come in response to 16 new recommendations from the Infected Blood Inquiry, published in its Additional Report on Compensation on Wednesday 9th July.

Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, Nick Thomas-Symonds, set out these changes today in Parliament.

He said:

When I appeared before the Inquiry in May, I said that I would take a constructive approach and – carefully – consider the issues that had been put to me.

I have concentrated on removing barriers to quicker compensation, working with IBCA, and am determined to deliver improvements based on this new report.

Our focus as we move forward must be working together to not only deliver justice to all those impacted, but also to restore trust in the state to people who have been let down too many times.

Today, the government has also announced that Clive Smith, President of the Haemophilia Society, will be the Chair of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee.

Mr Smith will lead the work to create a national memorial to the victims of the Infected Blood Scandal. This project will include plans for a UK memorial and support memorials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In line with the Infected Blood Inquiry’s recommendation, the Committee will also develop plans for commemorative events and is planning to hold the first by the end of 2025.

Incoming Chair of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee Clive Smith said:

A memorial to the thousands who have died from the contaminated blood scandal is long overdue.  It is a great privilege to be asked to lead this important work on behalf of the community.

I am conscious that we are already behind in relation to implementing the Infected Blood Inquiry’s recommendation that community events be held on a 6-month basis post the Inquiry reporting.  We intend to correct that by the end of this year.

I look forward to working with the whole community across the UK on building an appropriate memorial to those we have lost and to act as a lasting memorial to the Nation of what can happen when patient safety is not prioritised.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 22 July 2025.

Investment security rules under the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021 will be simplified to ease the burden on businesses as part of the Plan for Change.

Plans to reduce unnecessary red tape for businesses by ensuring mandatory notifications are no longer needed for certain internal reorganisations and the appointment of liquidators
New consultation will put businesses at the heart of potential changes to the sectors facing the greatest scrutiny by the government’s investment security powers
Semiconductors, Critical Minerals carved out into standalone sectors and Water to be considered for addition to list of sensitive sectors
NSIA Annual Report shows just 4.5% of notifications were called in for review, with the vast majority cleared to proceed in 30 days
Investment security rules under the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021 will be simplified to ease the burden on businesses as part of the Plan for Change.

The changes, currently being developed, will when they come into force reduce unnecessary bureaucracy for businesses, no longer requiring them to notify the Cabinet Office’s Investment Security Unit when undertaking certain types of internal reorganisations or appointing liquidators, special administrators and official receivers.

Analysis has shown these types of transactions rarely warrant investigation. Simplifying the rules will ease the regulatory burden and help the government focus its attention on the deals presenting greater risk to national security.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden said:

The government has been clear about our ambition to cut red tape for businesses, while taking firm action to protect national security as we deliver the Plan for Change.

Data shows our investment security powers are working well, but there’s more we can do to ensure our tool kit keeps pace with the modern economy. We’re taking action to hone the type of transactions facing the greatest scrutiny, as well as consulting on updates to the sectors of the economy specified in the legislation. Businesses are at the heart of these plans and I look forward to engaging widely in the weeks ahead.

The announcement comes as the government also publishes a new consultation—due to launch on 22 July and conclude on 14 October—-on separate plans to update the sectors of the economy subject to greater scrutiny under the National Security and Investment Act 2021.

Acquirers of businesses operating in seventeen sensitive sectors must currently notify the Investment Security Unit about relevant acquisitions before the deal can be completed. These sectors were first defined in 2021 and have not been updated since.

Building on business feedback, and to improve clarity and bring the sectors up to date with the latest economic and technological developments, the government is proposing creating new standalone categories for Semiconductors and Critical Minerals, which currently fall under the Advanced Materials sector. Computing Hardware, which is currently a standalone sector, would move under the Semiconductors sector.

Pat McFadden has also requested businesses’ views on bringing certain deals in the water sector into scope of the NSI Act’s mandatory notification requirements. This new requirement, while not expected to affect large numbers of deals, reflects increasing risks to the sector’s resilience in a growing threat landscape.

Alongside the reforms and consultation, the Cabinet Office is also publishing the National Security and Investment Act Annual Report. This sets out the Investment Security Unit’s activity between 2024-2025.

It shows that the government saw an increase in the number of notifications received year on year, rising from 906 to 1,143.

Similar to last year, only 4.5% of notified acquisitions reviewed were called in for further assessment, with the vast majority of businesses notified within 30 working days that no further action would be taken.

The government issued 17 final orders: 16 allowing the acquisitions to proceed subject to conditions and one requiring divestment.

Like last year, the largest proportion of notifications involved acquisitions in the Defence, Critical Suppliers to Government and Military & Dual Use areas of the economy, and acquirers associated with the UK, followed by the US.

Of the 17 final orders issued, the largest number involved acquirers associated with the UK, followed by acquirers associated with China and acquirers associated with the USA. Defence and Military & Dual Use acquisitions also accounted for the largest number of final orders.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 18 July 2025.

UK and Germany agree to phased opening of German eGates for UK travellers.

• Germany agrees to phased opening of e-gates for the over 3 million Brits visiting each year
• Follows UK-EU Summit in May and agreement that there were no legal barriers to allow UK citizens access to e-gates in more EU Member States after the introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System

Millions of UK travellers to Germany will be able to use e-gates in the future thanks to a new agreement made between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz today (Thursday 17 July). Part of a landmark bilateral treaty between the two countries.

Germany will roll out the first phase of e-gates access for UK travellers by the end of August, starting with frequent travellers such as Brits with family in Germany or who travel regularly for business. Access for all UK nationals will be possible once Germany has completed  technical updates to its entry systems as it introduces the new EU’s Entry/Exit System.

3.2 million Brits visited Germany in 2023, with numbers growing steadily since the Covid pandemic. Opening up e-gates in Germany, and across the EU, will support UK trade and tourism and boost growth through the Plan for Change.

The agreement follows the successful UK-EU Summit in May, where the UK and EU made clear that there were no legal barriers to even more EU countries allowing UK citizens to use eGates at airports. EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas Symonds also visited Berlin in June to discuss e-gates, among other issues, with German ministers.

Since then, the UK has secured e-gates access for UK citizens traveling to Bulgaria and now into Germany. Other countries and airports have also opened up access, including Portugal (Faro airport) and  the Czech Republic (Prague airport) and Estonia has confirmed they will open up access at (Tallinn airport) in 2026.

EU Relations Minister, Nick Thomas-Symonds said:

eGates can make the slog of travelling through an airport that bit easier, which is why I have been working with the EU and member states to get more airports opened up to Brits abroad.

With £30 billion of services trade between the UK and the EU, this agreement isn’t just good for holidaymakers, it’s good for British businesses too. Making traveling easier between Europe’s biggest economies, to get deals done and boost growth.

The UK and Germany have a trading relationship worth almost £150 billion a year. Germany is the UK’s second largest trading partner behind the USA, where the UK agreed a new trade deal last month.

The UK exports almost £30 billion worth of services to Germany each year, a growing market for British service providers. Services trade, like financial services, IT and consultancy are heavily reliant on face to face meetings and this e-gates agreement will save British firms valuable time.

While many EU countries now allow UK citizens to use e-gates, the government is continuing to work with others to do so.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 16 July 2025.

Working people across England are set to benefit from better public services, with ‘innovation squads’ sent in to back community ideas and work with the frontline as part of a £100 million ‘Test, Learn and Grow’ reform programme.

• 10 communities across England will get ‘innovation squads’ as part of £100 million government reform programme to deliver the Plan for Change.
• Flagship reform will end ‘Whitehall knows best’ and focus on testing solutions directly in local areas with frontline workers and communities who know best.
• Policy officials, tech specialists and other experts will be deployed to directly test new ways of fixing some of the biggest local problems.

Working people across England are set to benefit from better public services, with ‘innovation squads’ sent in to back community ideas and work with the frontline as part of a £100 million ‘Test, Learn and Grow’ reform programme to deliver the Plan for Change.

The teams, deployed to the places from central government will work alongside local government and service users to tackle the biggest challenges directly affecting local communities and people.

Challenges the teams will look at will include increasing the uptake of Best Start Family Hubs to support parents and young children, establishing neighbourhood health services, better supporting children with special needs, getting more people into work, rolling out breakfast clubs, and tackling violence against women and girls.

The squads, working with tech specialists and other experts will have an explicit mandate to try new things and be creative, collaborating directly with frontline workers and people using services.

Cabinet Office Minister, Georgia Gould said:

For too long residents and frontline workers have had to navigate fragmented and underfunded public services, people feeling like they have to arm up to battle to get the support they need.

We are going to end this. The test, learn and grow programme will bring the centre of government out of Whitehall and into communities, working with those who deliver and use public services to solve problems together, as part of our Plan for Change. We will reform public services from the ground up so people always come first.

The programme is a flagship part of the government’s reform programme. Instead of trying to devise perfect solutions from Whitehall, the teams will work directly with affected communities to test out what works.

The ‘test and learn’ approach – outlined by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in December – will help tackle our biggest national challenges and make better policy across the board.

The approach has already been trialled successfully in four areas across England. Earlier this year, ‘innovation squads’ tested new ways to get more families through the door of local family hubs in Sheffield, resulting in many more local families using the hubs. In Liverpool they worked with the council to build an innovative data-led platform to manage temporary accommodation.

The news comes following the launch of a new partnership for the programme, working with external experts, academics and local authority networks to further enhance and spread learnings from the programme across the country.