Tag: Cabinet Office

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 7 May 2025.

The cyber sector will be a “prime target for economic growth” in the upcoming Industrial Strategy, as the government secures Britain’s future and delivers the Plan for Change.

• Cyber will be a “prime target for economic growth” in upcoming Industrial Strategy as government secures Britain’s future and delivers the Plan for Change.
• Boosting cyber sector will deliver double dividend of producing home grown jobs as well as protecting growth in other sectors.
• UK to invest £8 million in Ukrainian cyber defences, more than £1 million to protect Moldovan elections, and extra £7 million in Laboratory for AI Security Research.

The cyber sector will be a “prime target for economic growth” in the upcoming Industrial Strategy, as the government secures Britain’s future and delivers the Plan for Change.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden will say that boosting the cyber sector will deliver the double dividend of producing home grown jobs as well as protecting growth in other sectors by improving cyber security.

Speaking at one of the country’s largest cyber security conferences on Wednesday, the minister will warn that the recent attacks on household retailers are “serious organised crime”.

But he will tell the audience of tech experts and business leaders gathered at CyberUK in Manchester that the digital world also presents a huge economic opportunity for the whole country – with the average cyber salary in North West England already climbing to £54,600.

He will announce that the government will turbo charge the sector in the upcoming Industrial Strategy, which will be a blueprint for kick-starting economic growth to put more money in working people’s pockets.

To ensure the government pulls every growth lever at its disposal, he will add the government is supporting an independent cyber growth report from experts at Imperial College and Bristol University, which will quickly deliver recommendations by the end of the summer.

Pat McFadden’s speech follows cyber attacks on M&S, the Co-op and Harrods, which he will address, saying:

Cyber attacks are not a game. Not a clever exercise. They are serious organised crime. The purpose is to damage and extort. The digital version of an old fashioned shake down. Either straight theft or a protection racket where your business will be safe as long as you pay the gangsters.

What we have seen over the past couple of weeks should serve as a wake-up call for businesses and organisations up and down the UK, as if we needed one, that cybersecurity is not a luxury but an absolute necessity.

Turning to seize the economic prize on offer, he will explain:

But there is enormous potential for cyber security to be a driving force in our economy – creating jobs, growth and opportunities for people. It’s already a sector on the up – with over 2,000 businesses across the UK.

We want the benefits of the cyber industry to reach into communities all across the country. And that is why cyber will be a prime target for economic growth in the upcoming Industrial Strategy, as the Government secures Britain’s future. It is going to be a significant commitment, a vote of confidence in your sector, and one that will tell the world: the UK plans to be a global player in cyber security for decades to come.

Cyber is already contributing to growth across the UK. The sector holds 67,000 jobs, up 6,600 in the last year, and revenues now top £13bn, up by 12% year-on-year.

Recognising the potential for public and private sector cooperation to deliver growth, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will also deliver a progress update on the Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) he launched last November. In just months, it has funded 10 PhDs at the University of Oxford; 9 researchers at The Turing Institute and pioneering research through 8 leading UK universities including Queen’s University Belfast and Lancaster University.

He will rocket charge LASR with an additional £7 million of government funding and announce a new partnership with worldwide technology leader Cisco:

Cisco will work with LASR, and in particular the NCSC, to run challenges across the UK and build a demonstrator here in the North West to showcase how our scientists and entrepreneurs can work together to manage the risks, build the skills and grasp the opportunities of AI security. This is the first collaboration of its kind with LASR, and will be a trailblazer where others can follow to help LASR drive cutting-edge research into the impact of AI on national security.

Cementing the UK’s commitment to the security of its allies, he will announce the government is investing £1.1 million to give the Moldovan Government tools to protect the country’s upcoming Parliamentary Election, alongside additional funding for Ukraine:

Ukraine has put up an incredibly brave fight against Putin’s cyberwarfare, and we have vowed to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine for as long as long as it takes to defend their sovereignty. And so we are going to invest £8 million in the Ukraine Cyber Programme over the next year to continue to counter the Kremlin’s cyber aggression.

The speech comes as the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launches a suite of measures to bolster cyber protection for individuals and businesses across the UK.

Measures set to be unveiled by Minister Clark at CyberUK include:

• A new Software Security Code of Practice will be published today by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, to communicate essential steps every organisation developing or selling software should be taking to secure their products.
• This innovative guidance mirrors previous guidance issued by the government, called the AI Security Code of Practice, which will today be adopted by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute as baseline steps organisations in all countries should follow.
• To help inoculate businesses against cyberattacks, the government will also drive investment into CHERI, a ‘magic chip’ that builds advanced memory protections in microprocessors, blocking up to 70 per cent of common cyber attacks. £4.5 million will be spent helping firms bring these chips to market, find customers and break down barriers to adoption.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 2 May 2025.

Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will set out what action the government is taking to improve cyber security in a speech next week.

• Pat McFadden led briefing with national security officials and National Cyber Security Centre CEO on Friday about support being provided to retailers
• He will use keynote speech at CyberUK to say “companies must treat cyber security as an absolute priority”
• Comes as National Cyber Security Centre works closely with affected organisations to provide expert advice and support

In the wake of a wave of cyber attacks on retailers, Pat McFadden will set out what action the government is taking to improve the country’s cyber security in a speech next week, as the government secures Britain’s future through the Plan for Change.

Recognising the impact such attacks have on working people as they go about their daily lives, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will highlight moves to “bolster our national defences” including through the Cyber Security Bill.

It follows a briefing he led with national security officials and NCSC CEO Richard Horne on Friday about the recent hacks and expert support being provided to retailers.

In the keynote speech at the CyberUK conference in Manchester next week, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will say:

“These attacks need to be a wake-up call for every business in the UK.

“In a world where the cybercriminals targeting us are relentless in their pursuit of profit – with attempts being made every hour of every day – companies must treat cyber security as an absolute priority.

“We’ve watched in real-time the disruption these attacks have caused – including to working families going about their everyday lives. It serves as a powerful reminder that just as you would never leave your car or your house unlocked on your way to work. We have to treat our digital shop fronts the same way.”

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is working closely with organisations that have reported incidents to them to fully understand the nature of these attacks and to provide expert advice to the wider sector based on the threat picture.

They’re also urging leaders to follow the advice on the NCSC website to ensure they have appropriate measures in place to help prevent attacks and respond and recover effectively.

In his speech next week, Pat McFadden will encourage firms from all sectors to consider what cyber protections they have in place.

In a message to business leaders across the UK, he will say: “We are ready to support you. The National Cyber Security Centre is standing ready to support businesses and provide advice, and guidance, on how to raise the cyber security bar.”

Pat McFadden will set out the action the government is taking to boost the country’s cyber protections.

He will say: “We’re modernising the way the state approaches cyber, through the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. That legislation will bolster our national defences.

“It will grant new powers for the Technology Secretary to direct regulated organisations to reinforce their cyber defences It will require over 1,000 private IT providers to improve their data and network security.

“It will require companies to report a wider array of cyber incidents to the NCSC in the future – to help us build a clearer picture of who, and what, hostile actors are targeting.”

Last month (April) the government launched a Cyber Governance Code of Practice. This is a package of measures which shows boards and directors how they can manage digital risks and protect their businesses and organisations from cyber attacks.

It covers a range of areas, including having robust cyber strategies in place, promoting a culture in workplaces so all employees are aware of the potential cyber risks they could face in their daily work, and having incident response plans in place which will mean organisations can respond quickly to cyber incidents as they occur.

Small businesses looking to strengthen their online defences are also encouraged to engage with the NCSC’s Small Business Guide, which provides quick and easy actions to help bolster their defences and support through the Cyber Local scheme, which provides tailored funding to boost regional cyber skills.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 2 May 2025.

UK Government statement on the sandeel Arbitration Tribunal’s final ruling in the UK-Sandeel case.

• The UK Government has received the sandeel Arbitration Tribunal’s final ruling in the UK-Sandeel case.
• While the UK succeeded in the majority of its arguments, the Tribunal identified a procedural error in the decision to close English waters.
• The ruling does not mean the UK is legally obliged to reverse the closure of English waters, and the decision to close Scottish waters was fully upheld.
• The government will undertake a process in good faith to bring the UK into compliance.

The sandeel Arbitration Tribunal has published its final ruling.

This relates to decisions taken in March 2024 by the UK and Scottish Governments to close our North Sea Waters to sandeel fishing. The decisions were taken to protect vulnerable seabird populations and support the wider marine environment.

In April 2024, the EU launched dispute proceedings to challenge the closures. In October 2024, the EU referred the challenge to an arbitration tribunal to rule on the dispute.

The report found that the UK successfully demonstrated that the measures taken to close English and Scottish waters were based on the best available science and had sufficient regard to the principle of non-discrimination. The tribunal also found that the Scottish measures had sufficient regard to the principle of proportionality.

The Tribunal found that during the decision-making process to close English waters to sandeel fishing, the UK did not have sufficient regard to the principle of proportionality, specifically in relation to EU rights during the adjustment period – a requirement under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement  (TCA).

The government will now undertake a process in good faith to bring the UK into compliance.

There is no legal obligation for the UK to reverse the closures while the compliance process takes place, and the report does not indicate that compliance must require reversing the closures.

A government spokesperson said:

We welcome the clarity provided by this decision, and we will undertake a process in good faith to bring the UK into compliance on the specific issues raised by the Tribunal.

The ruling does not mean the UK is legally obliged to reverse the closure of English waters, and the decision to close Scottish waters was fully upheld.

We remain committed to protecting our seabirds and the wider marine environment, in accordance with our commitments to the TCA and other international agreements.

Disputes and the use of resolution mechanisms are a normal part of a mature relationship with international partners. We will continue to act in the national interest as we work towards a strong and lasting partnership with our European neighbours.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 29 April 2025.

EU Commissioner visits London as UK researchers and businesses get access to more Horizon Europe funding calls for quantum and space research.

Minister for EU Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, today welcomes EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, Maroš Šefčovič, ahead of his first official visit to the United Kingdom under this government (Tuesday, 29 April 2025).

Commissioner Šefčovič’s visit follows the recent engagement with European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen last week, providing a significant opportunity to review the progress of ongoing discussions between the UK and the European Union. This engagement is a key step in the lead-up to the UK-EU Summit scheduled for next month.

This visit comes as UK scientists, researchers and businesses working on the latest innovations in quantum and space technologies have now been given access to more Horizon Europe funding, under the new 2025 Horizon Europe Work Programme published last week (Friday 25 April).

Access to Horizon Europe funding, and the opportunities for international collaboration that Horizon presents, will be an important boost to these two sectors which are at the cutting edge of new opportunities for economic growth, helping to drive the Government’s Plan for Change.

These are technologies that will be instrumental to the future of the economy: quantum computing alone is projected to deliver $5-10 billion of benefits globally over the next 3-5 years, while since 2015 the UK has attracted more private investment in space than any other country outside of the United States.

During his visit in the UK, the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, alongside the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, will meet professors at Imperial College London who have benefited from Horizon funding for their projects.

Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds will co-chair the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee with Commissioner Šefčovič, who is also scheduled to meet with the Secretaries of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Northern Ireland Office.

Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations), Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, said:

In just under a month, the United Kingdom will host the UK-EU Summit here in London. Today provides an opportunity to take stock of negotiations and the progress made. We are fully aligned in our ambitions to build a safer, more secure, and prosperous future for people across the UK and Europe.

We will always act in the national interest as we work towards a strong and durable strategic partnership with our European partners, unlocking new opportunities for British citizens and businesses.

UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

Thanks to this welcome news, the opportunities for British researchers and businesses working in quantum, space, and beyond are only set to grow.

They now have greater access to one of the world’s foremost vehicles for R&D funding, and an even bigger chance to build the international ties which we know are critical to advancing knowledge, tackling the world’s biggest challenges, and delivering the economic growth that is at the heart of this Government’s Plan for Change.

I want innovators up and down the UK to seize the moment that stands before them. Horizon’s doors are open to you, and we have support available to help you. Now is the time to bid for funding, build consortia, and take your work to the next level.

The UK gained access to the vast majority (95%+) of Horizon funding calls, when we associated to the programme in 2024, with some very limited exceptions on some emerging technologies.

Today’s breakthrough comes after a period of constructive collaboration between UK and EU teams and means that more British experts working on space and quantum can now confidently bid for a share of the c.£80 billion that is available through Horizon overall.

They can also build consortia with research partners across Europe, and beyond in Canada, Switzerland, and more. This includes complete access to all Horizon Europe quantum funding calls.

Horizon also offers a huge opportunity to businesses and researchers focusing on other cutting-edge technologies, like AI, telecoms, and high-performance computing, including through access to cutting-edge computing resources through EuroHPC. Recent UK-EU engagement has ensured that the UK retains open access to all calls in these areas.

The Horizon Europe programme is an innovation powerhouse –spending over €380 billion on R&D in 20231 – and fostering deep and high-quality links between the continent’s brightest minds, and the UK’s, will be critical if we are to seize the promise for science and tech innovations to support the Government’s Missions to grow the economy, fix the NHS and improve health outcomes and deliver clean energy under the Plan for Change. Innovative and high-potential sectors like space and quantum will be instrumental to rebuilding the foundations of the economy, and kickstarting growth.

Greater access to Horizon is a win for the UK, given the growing importance of space and quantum to the economy and society. The UK space sector already employs 52,000 people and generates an of £18.9 billion each year.

Meanwhile new innovations in quantum – harnessing the unique properties of subatomic particles to process information and solve problems – are already unlocking breakthroughs in healthcare, logistics, financial services and more. On top of this, experts working in fields like AI, high performance computing, and future telecoms continue to enjoy valuable Horizon access, as well as a vast number of other sectors including food and agritech, digital, industry and more.

British researchers having access to more Horizon science funding calls also further emphasises the value of the UK’s participation in the EU’s Copernicus Earth Observation programme.

Furthermore, the UK and EU have a strong shared commitment to developing assured and independent European access to space: work which forms a key part of the UK’s own ambitions for space launch. With plans for the first launches from SaxaVord in the Shetland Islands later this year, the UK is a leading international partner and cooperator in Europe’s space ambitions and it is encouraging that British researchers will be able to access calls that help to further Europe’s ambition.

There is no time to lose for businesses, researchers, and scientists working in quantum, space and beyond to take advantage of this news, because new Horizon funding calls open in the coming weeks. New space and industry calls open from Thursday 22 May, and digital calls open from Tuesday 10 June.

Notes to editors

Since 2024, the government has provided extensive assistance to our R&D communities to maximise their chances of applying and succeeding in Horizon Europe. In addition to concrete funding initiatives, such as Pump Priming,  we recently piloted brokerage visits to Italy, Germany and Spain for UK innovators and researchers looking to build Horizon consortia. Last month, more than 500 of the UK’s leading researchers, businesspeople and scientists gathered at London’s Oval for a Showcase event sharing insight on opportunities available through Horizon. Further information, including practical support on how to apply, is available on the Horizon Hub website. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) also host regular events that help guide businesses and researchers through the opportunities on offer and the application process. We will continue to review the needs of the UK R&D community in order to offer support and facilitate access to Horizon Europe opportunities.

Potential applicants can find Horizon Europe calls (funding opportunities) open to UK-based applicants using the European Commission’s funding and tender opportunities portal.

More information on how to submit applications are available on the European Commission’s website. The pre-publication of the Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programme can be found here.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 28 April 2025.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden has launched the UK Resilience Academy.

• Academy to train more than 4,000 public and private sector workers in crisis skills and expertise every year, strengthening resilience in communities across the UK.
• Biggest upgrade to resilience workers’ occupational standards in a generation to help keep the public safe as part of the Plan for Change.
• Pat McFadden unveils Risk Vulnerability Tool to help Ministers and civil servants support vulnerable groups during a crisis and learn lessons from the Covid pandemic.

Communities up and down the country are set to be better protected in the face of national crises from today as the government opens the UK Resilience Academy – helping to secure Britain’s future as it delivers on the Plan for Change.

The cutting-edge centre will transform crisis training for thousands of public and private sector workers, with at least 4,000 people set to be trained at the Academy’s North Yorkshire campus every year, on courses covering everything from business continuity planning, to crowd management and crisis communications.

The UK Resilience Academy, which will train citizens, businesses, the emergency services, the Armed Forces and the Civil Service, will sit at the heart of a newly formed network of public and private sector organisations – including the College for National Security and the Defence Academy – who have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to improve the quality and accessibility of resilience training.

Today’s announcement comes as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster unveils new software that will allow decision makers to identify groups that are vulnerable to particular risks, by mapping real-time crisis data alongside demographic statistics.

The Risk Vulnerability tool is now available to 10,000 ministers and civil servants across Whitehall and the Devolved Nations. It has been developed by the National Situation Centre and the Office for National Statistics, and will feed directly into government decision making during future crises.

Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said:

Our first duty is to keep people safe – and through our Plan for Change, we are creating strong and resilient communities across the country.

Today, we’re making a generational upgrade to crisis training for thousands of workers, and helping decision makers identify vulnerable groups in a crisis. This is all part of our plan to secure Britain’s future.

In extreme cold weather, the software would show demographic data, such as households that rely either on gas or electricity, or areas with elderly people who would need support with food supplies, alongside near real-time data such as live weather warnings and power outages, helping decision-makers target support to those most in need. When planning for potential flooding, ministers and officials can identify areas where people have less mobility, and target these if evacuation is needed.

This capability will strengthen the government’s approach to crisis management and better protect vulnerable people – learning from past events such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

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

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Samantha Jones as the new Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Samantha is currently a non-executive director at DHSC, and the Chief Operating Officer for Xlinks, a renewable energy company.

Samantha began her career as a nurse in the NHS, and was a hospital Chief Executive before moving to NHS England to lead the New Models of Care programme. She has also led one of the largest primary care providers in England. Since her time in the NHS, Samantha served as an expert advisor to the PM on NHS Transformation and Social Care in 2021, before taking up post as the interim Permanent Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for 10 Downing Street.

Samantha will join DHSC at a critical time, as the government rebuilds the NHS as part of the Plan for Change. Samantha will be building a team to deliver this vital transformation which will include appointing a Chief Operating Officer.

Samantha will replace Chris Wormald, who left DHSC in December last year, to take up the role of Cabinet Secretary.

The Health and Social Care Secretary, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, said:

I am delighted to welcome Samantha in her new role as Permanent Secretary.

Samantha brings a wealth of experience from the frontline of healthcare as a general and paediatric nurse – she knows what it is like to be working on wards and will translate that expertise to her work across the department.

Equally, her work in senior management roles across both Whitehall and the health and social care sector will prove invaluable as we reintegrate NHS England back into the department to cut red tape, reduce duplication and make it fit for the future as part of our Plan for Change.

Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, said:

I am delighted to see Sam take up the role of Permanent Secretary at DHSC, having worked with her closely during my time there. Samantha is an outstanding public servant, who has spent much of her career working to improve and enrich the lives of people across the country.

This is a critical time for DHSC, as they look to welcome their NHS England colleagues back into the department, and work to deliver the government missions and Plan for Change. Samantha is uniquely positioned to drive forward this work, and I look forward to working with her.

I also want to put on record my thanks to Professor Chris Whitty for his leadership of the Department since my departure.

Samantha Jones said:

It is an absolute privilege to be appointed Permanent Secretary at DHSC, working with colleagues across health and social care to support the government’s Plan for Change and deliver a rebuilt NHS, fit for the future.

Having worked alongside the brilliant team at DHSC over the past few years, serving on their board, I look forward to leading a department of committed public servants to improve the health of our nation.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 8 April 2025.

Maura Sullivan has been appointed as Chair of the Cabinet Office Audit and Risk Committee for a term of three years.

The Cabinet Office Audit and Risk Committee offers an independent perspective on the department’s financial, risk, and control arrangements. It also reviews and recommends the approval of accounts for the Cabinet Office, Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists, Civil Superannuation, and the Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme.

The Committee supports the Cabinet Office Board, which provides strategic and operational leadership for the department. It comprises of Cabinet Office ministers, senior executives, and non-executives from outside government.

Maura is a finance professional with an executive career spanning Board level CFO roles in Banking, Asset Management and Pensions.

She has worked in complex international organisations, managed large teams and led and supported large transformation programmes.

Her non executive portfolio currently includes Chair of Audit and Compliance Committee for Marsden Building Society and Chair of Audit & Risk for Gov Facilities Management Services Limited (GovFSL), an arms length body of the MoJ.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 7 April 2025.

Every quango across government will be reviewed, with a view to close, merge or bring functions back into departments if its continued existence cannot be justified.

• The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has written to departments to justify every quango otherwise they’ll be closed, merged, or have powers brought back into the department.
• Changes will drive efficiency and reduce bureaucracy as part of Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, delivering security and renewal for working people.
• New era of global instability means Government must go further and faster in reform.
• Government will consider what legislation may be required to deliver these reforms.

Every quango across government will be reviewed, with a view to close, merge or bring functions back into departments if its continued existence cannot be justified.

The review, commissioned by the Cabinet Office at the request of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is the latest move to re-wire Whitehall and produce a more productive and agile state. It is part of our Plan for Change, delivering security for working people and national renewal.

This follows news last month that NHS England will be brought back into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to put an end to the duplication resulting from two organisations doing the same job in a system currently holding staff back from delivering for patients.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden MP said:

We are taking action to ensure decisions of national importance that affect everyone in this country are made by those who have been elected to do so.

Only by fundamentally re-wiring the state, can we deliver our Plan for Change to secure Britain’s future and serve working people; kick-starting economic growth, rebuilding the NHS and strengthening our borders.

The review will aim to drive out waste and inefficiency across Whitehall, reducing duplication and bureaucracy – saving the taxpayer money and cutting the cost of ‘doing government’.

It is expected that quangos with large policy functions could be brought back into departments, bringing ministerial, elected, scrutiny back to major decisions that affect the public. This would also retain the expertise and experience of staff working in these areas.

All departments must demonstrate the necessity of each one, operating under the presumption that these bodies will be affected unless there is compelling justification for their separate existence.

Where independence from Ministerial decision making is essential, such as quangos which scrutinise government or protect the rule of law, then these will remain unaffected.

The Cabinet Secretary and departmental Secretaries of State and Permanent Secretaries will be held directly accountable for the Arms Length Body (ALBs) that continue to exist following the review.

The review will consider four key principles:

• Ministerial policy oversight – if a policy is of national importance then Ministers should have appropriate oversight and control of its development. Major decisions that affect the country and the public should be taken by those elected by the country to do so.
• Duplication and Efficiency – government should drive out duplication and inefficiency wherever possible, this includes if there is duplication of policy or delivery work between ALBs and Ministerial departments.
• Stakeholder Management – the fact that government needs to engage stakeholders should not be a reason for an ALB to exist, government itself should be working hard to engage with a variety of partners at every stage.
• Independent Advice – where there is a clear justification for independent advice, then this should be conducted at arms length.

Many ALBs are set up in legislation, and previous work to deliver these changes has been hampered by the difficulty in updating and changing individual pieces of ALB legislation. As part of this work, the Government will consider what legislation may be required to ensure the reviews announced today can be implemented and delivered upon.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 6 April 2025.

Spending taxpayer money on unnecessary branded merchandise and staff ‘away days’ will be banned in the latest crackdown on wasteful spending across departments.

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 7 March 2025.

Welsh language training now available to all civil servants through the Civil Service Learning website

Every civil servant in the UK can now access free Welsh Language training thanks to a new initiative.

Government Skills has been collaborating with the National Centre for Learning Welsh to offer civil servants easy access to free Welsh Language training—provided by the Welsh Government—via a programme called Work Welsh.

It is the first time every civil servant in the UK has been given access to free learning on Civil Service Learning, which is specifically focused on helping them learn a new language.

Promoting the Welsh language

Dame Antonia Romeo DCB, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Permanent Secretary Place Champion for Wales and a Welsh language learner herself, said:

“This initiative underpins our commitment to promote the Welsh Language and ensure its presence across all Government departments – supporting the Welsh Government vision to have one million people speaking Welsh by 2050.”

This opportunity is the result of an initiative led by Professor Kim Ann Williamson MBE, Strategic Advisor to the Wales and the Northern Ireland Head of Place with the great support of Rich Williams (Ministry of Justice), Alison Dods (Department of Work and Pensions), Dave Martin (Government Skills) and our Joint Heads of Place for Wales Ross Maude (DCMS) and Professor Tom Crick MBE (DCMS).

An important milestone

Kim Ann, who herself relocated from London to Wales some 28 years ago, said she believes that learning a new language can be a vital part in staff development.

“It’s an important milestone to be able to offer civil servants this opportunity and it highlights our determination to support diverse and thriving civil service communities in regions and nations across the UK.

“Learning Welsh can help foster inclusive teams, particularly where there are Welsh-speaking colleagues. It’s also a wonderful way to forge closer links with the local community and support the Welsh language, heritage and culture.”

Launch in Cardiff

The learning is among a range of courses available on the National Centre for Learning Welsh’s website. But, by providing access via Civil Service Learning, Government Skills is ensuring that civil servants get easy access to the free learning. It can also monitor numbers accessing the learning from the Civil Service.

Representatives from more than 14 government departments attended the launch of the Work Welsh language learning in Cardiff and had the opportunity to hear from Dame Nia Griffith MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales speaking in support of this new learning opportunity.

Work Welsh is accessible via Civil Service Learning.