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  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint Ministerial Statement on Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Operations in Sudan [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint Ministerial Statement on Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Operations in Sudan [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 February 2026.

    Joint Ministerial Statement from the UK and partners on the Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Operations in Sudan.

    We express grave concern over the continued deadly unlawful attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian operations as heavy fighting across the Kordofan and Darfur States continues. The recent severe escalation in drone and aerial attacks including those affecting displaced civilians, health facilities, food convoys and areas near humanitarian compounds have resulted in a significant number of civilian deaths and injuries and is further disrupting humanitarian access and supply lines.

    In recent weeks alone, drone and rocket strikes on trucks and warehouses of the World Food Programme, as well as on health facilities, have resulted in the deaths and severe injuries of civilians and humanitarian personnel and the destruction of urgently needed humanitarian supplies and infrastructure. Intentional attacks against humanitarian personnel, vehicles, or supplies, as well as wilfully impeding relief supplies, are contrary to international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes.

    The Darfur and Kordofan States remain at the epicenter of the world’s largest humanitarian and protection crisis. Sexual and gender-based violence is rampant, famine is confirmed and severe hunger continues to spread. Up to 100.000 people have been displaced in recent months in the Kordofan states alone. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, violations and abuses committed by the RSF and its allied militias in and around El Fasher last October risk being repeated in the Kordofan region. We urgently repeat our call to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allied militias to immediately cease hostilities.

    We condemn the abhorrent violence against civilians, particularly women and children and all serious violations of international humanitarian law in the strongest terms. These violations may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity and must be promptly and impartially investigated, with those responsible for international crimes brought to justice.

    All parties must respect international humanitarian law which includes an obligation to allow and facilitate the rapid, safe and unimpeded access of food, medicine, and other essential supplies to civilians in need. Civilians including humanitarian personnel must be protected at all times, particularly women and girls, who remain at risk of sexual and gender-based violence. Those fleeing must be granted safe passage.

    We stand with the people of Sudan and humanitarian organisations – local and international – who are working tirelessly and under extremely challenging conditions to assist them.

    This statement has been signed by:

    Johann Wadephul, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany

    Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada

    Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy

    Baiba Braže, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia

    Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria

    Constantinos Kombos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus

    David van Weel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands

    Dr. Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta

    Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland

    Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway

    Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management

    Helen McEntee TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland

    Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France

    Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain

    Juraj Blanár, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic

    Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark

    Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia

    Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden

    Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation of Belgium

    Oana Țoiu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania

    Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand

    Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom

    Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia

    Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia

    Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland

    Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Minster for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg

    Ana Isabel Xavier, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal

    Dominik Stillhart, Head of Swiss Humanitarian Aid, Deputy Director General of Swiss Development Cooperation

    Jiri Brodsky, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

    Nikolay Berievski, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria

    Péter Sztáray, State Secretary for Security Policy and Energy Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary

    Croatia

    Poland

  • PRESS RELEASE : Serial waste crook, Varun Datta, forced to pay over £1.4 million for widespread illegal dumping [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Serial waste crook, Varun Datta, forced to pay over £1.4 million for widespread illegal dumping [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 February 2026.

    Company boss handed suspended prison sentence and massive bill for illegally dumping thousands of tonnes of waste across England.

    A prolific waste criminal has been ordered to hand over more than £1.4 million for illegally dumping in excess of 4,275 tonnes of waste across England.

    A nationwide investigation by the Environment Agency uncovered a network of 16 illegal dumping sites, stretching from the northeast to the south coast. Farms, a historic manor house and a nature reserve were among the locations trashed.

    Varun Datta, 36, of Little Chester Street, London, must now pay £1.1 million, reflecting the financial benefit from his crimes, plus £100,000 in compensation and £200,000 in prosecution costs. He was also slapped with a prison sentence of four months suspended for 18 months, as well as 30 days’ rehabilitation and 200 hours of unpaid work.

    The shocking case, which concluded in Birmingham Crown Court last Friday (13 February), involved the prosecution of two other men, with one being fined and the other facing a suspended sentence, rehabilitation and unpaid work. Warrants for the arrest of two other men are still active.

    Emma Viner, Enforcement and Investigations Manager in the Environment Agency’s National Environmental Crime Unit, said:

    We are glad to see the perpetrators brought to justice in this appalling case.

    Despite their attempts to conceal their criminality, our in-depth investigation spanning the length and breadth of the country ultimately uncovered those responsible.

    We will never stop fighting to end the scourge of waste crime which scars our environment and communities.

    Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:

    This is a shocking case of illegal waste dumping, orchestrated by a group of shameless crooks who thought they could operate above the law.

    I welcome the punishments secured by the Environment Agency – which send a clear message to criminals that they have nowhere to hide.

    This government is committed to stamping out this type of criminality across the country by boosting funds to tackle waste crime and introducing tougher checks and penalties for those who break the law.

    In 2018, the Environment Agency seized £131,520 in cash from Datta’s home address. In 2022, a restraint order was applied to two bank accounts ensuring that any future confiscation order could be paid. After pleading not guilty in 2023, Datta subsequently pleaded guilty in June 2025 to knowingly causing controlled waste to be deposited at sixteen sites. The total weight of the waste was around 4,275 tonnes – roughly the weight of 600 African elephants.

    The offences were branded “reckless” by Judge Paul Farrar KC. “Smell and flies were a feature at some of the illegal sites and caused a localised adverse effect to air quality,” he said, with landowners “forced to incur substantial costs in removing the illegal waste.” No environmental permit or valid exemption was in place at any of the sites, which were spread across Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Lancashire, Kent, Surrey, Rutland and Middlesborough.

    The court heard that Datta became a registered waste broker through his company, Atkins Recycling Ltd, in 2015. He acted recklessly by claiming the waste the company handled was being sent to a legal site at Kiveton Park, near Sheffield. However, the loads were actually diverted to unlicensed dumps around the country. It is alleged that an associate, Sandeep Golechha, 55, of Wheatley Close, London, helped to falsify weighbridge documents to cover up the illegal acts.

    The £100,000 in compensation to be paid by Datta relates to the dumping at the former Sulzer Dowding Mills Factory site in Middlesbrough, as well as the Middleton Nature Reserve in Lancashire. Middlesborough Council will receive £70,000 towards the cost of the clean-up, while £30,000 will be awarded to the Lancashire Wildlife Trust for the future management of the Middleton Nature Reserve.

    Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity is asked to report it to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour hotline – 0800 80 70 60 – or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    NOTES FOR EDITORS

    • Datta has been ordered to pay £1,116,432.78 by way of a Confiscation Order. This figure was agreed by the parties. It represents the financial gain to the defendant from knowingly causing the deposit of waste.
    • Mohammed Saraji Bashir, 45, of Windmill Street, Peterborough, had pleaded guilty on 3 June 2025 for knowingly causing controlled waste to be deposited at three sites. He was given a prison sentence of four months suspended for 18 months. He must also complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity and 200 hours of unpaid work.
    • Robert William McAllister, 55, of Iveagh Close, Northwood, London, had pleaded guilty on 7 November 2024 for failing to comply with the duty of care imposed on brokers of waste, in relation to controlled waste that was deposited at two sites. He was fined £750.
    • The Court was told that Bashir and McAllister acted as brokers. They both failed to ensure that the waste transferred was going to permitted sites.
    • Warrants for Sandeep Golechha, 53, of Wheatley Close, London, and Jason Newman, of no fixed abode, are still active.
    • The majority of the waste dumped was mixed municipal waste, wrapped in plastic to form bales.

    The Sites

    1. Unit P, Continental Approach, Westwood Business Park, Margate, Kent
    2. Trelawny House, Straight Drove, Farcet, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
    3. Somersbury Manor, Horsham Lane, Ewhurst, Cranleigh, Surrey
    4. The Drift, Sewstern, Grantham, Lincolnshire
    5. Stockenhall Farm, Stretton, Rutland
    6. Yaxley Lodge Farm, Yaxley, Cambridgeshire
    7. Conquest Drove, Farcet, Cambridgeshire
    8. Humby Mills Farm, Grantham, Lincolnshire
    9. Sycamore Farm, Lower Bassingthorpe, Grantham, Lincolnshire
    10. Peacock Farm, Muston, Leicestershire
    11. Lime Tree Farm, English Drove, Thorney, Lincolnshire
    12. Gill Bridge Farm, Boston, Lincolnshire
    13. The Limes, Spalding, Lincolnshire
    14. The Former Sulzer, Dowding and Mills Factory, Lower East Street, Middlesbrough
    15. Middleton Nature Reserve, Lancashire
    16. Rhyddings Mill, Stonebridge Lane, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire
  • PRESS RELEASE : Dame Antonia Romeo appointed as first female Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service to drive change and implement the government’s agenda [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Dame Antonia Romeo appointed as first female Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service to drive change and implement the government’s agenda [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 19 February 2026.

    The appointment marks the first time a woman has held the role in its over 100 year history.

    The Prime Minister has appointed Dame Antonia Romeo as the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, following a process approved by the independent First Civil Service Commissioner.

    Dame Antonia is currently Permanent Secretary of the Home Office. Building on 25 years of public service leadership, as Cabinet Secretary she will lead the Civil Service to drive change and implement the government’s agenda. 

    Dame Antonia Romeo is currently the longest-serving permanent secretary in government and will become the first female Cabinet Secretary in the more than 100-year history of the role. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    I am delighted to appoint Dame Antonia Romeo as the new Cabinet Secretary. She is an outstanding public servant, with a 25‑year record of delivering for the British people.

    Since becoming Prime Minister, I’ve been impressed by her professionalism and determination to get things done. Families across the country are still feeling the squeeze, and this government is focused on easing the cost of living, strengthening public services and restoring pride in our communities. It is essential we have a Cabinet Secretary who can support the government to make this happen.

    Antonia has shown she is the right person to drive the government to reform and I look forward to working with her to deliver this period of national renewal.

    Dame Antonia Romeo said: 

    It is a huge privilege to be asked to serve as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service.

    The Civil Service is a great and remarkable institution, which I love. We should be known for delivery, efficiency and innovation, working to implement the Government’s agenda and meet the challenges the country faces.

    I look forward to working with all colleagues across the Civil Service to do this, in support of the Prime Minister and the Government.

    Dame Antonia has spent nearly a decade leading economic, public services and security departments. As Permanent Secretary of the Department of International Trade, Dame Antonia set up the new department from scratch as the UK left the EU, bringing together trade policy with promotion and finance for the first time. 

    As Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice she led the official response to the civil unrest of summer 2024, working across the criminal justice system to keep the country safe, and launched the Sentencing Review. 

    At the Home Office she has launched a plan to restore order and control to the asylum system and the biggest reform of policing in decades, and led the publication of the strategy to build a safer society for women and girls in support of the Home Secretary. 

    Appointment process:

    Following the departure of Sir Chris Wormald as Cabinet Secretary, the Prime Minister and the First Civil Service Commissioner agreed a process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary.   

    Once this process was complete, the First Civil Service Commissioner confirmed that Dame Antonia Romeo is an exceptional candidate of the highest calibre, having run two of the largest operational departments in Government, and confirmed her track record makes her the right candidate for the role. 

    First Civil Service Commissioner Baroness Gisela Stuart said: 

    I approved the comprehensive due diligence process and agreed the conclusions drawn, to form the basis for the Prime Minister to make an appointment decision.

    Dame Antonia Romeo has an excellent track record in leadership positions across the civil service, including three Permanent Secretary roles in some of the most complex operational departments in Government.

    Dame Antonia was found to be a suitable candidate for the role during the previous recruitment process in 2024. Under the direction of the First Civil Service Commissioner, consideration has been given to her performance at the Ministry of Justice and Home Office since the previous recruitment process took place. 

    An enhanced due diligence process has also been undertaken by the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office and the interim Government Chief People Officer, which will form the basis for the appointments to the Cabinet Secretary role in future.

    Dame Antonia takes up the role with immediate effect. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : Bold bet on AI to keep UK at forefront of science and research breakthroughs from healthcare, to better public services [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Bold bet on AI to keep UK at forefront of science and research breakthroughs from healthcare, to better public services [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 February 2026.

    First-ever AI Strategy for UK Research and Innovation marks bold plan to make AI deliver for UK’s cutting-edge science and research efforts.

    • First-ever AI Strategy for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) marks bold plan to make AI deliver for UK’s cutting-edge science and research efforts, supporting breakthroughs from health to clean energy and beyond
    • AI ambitions for UK’s largest public research funder backed by record £1.6 billion, directly targeted at the AI sector between now and the end of the decade
    • From screening for cancer to harnessing clean energy, research and innovation is critical to making AI work for good: a key theme of this year’s AI Impact Summit

    AI will be put to work to transform cutting-edge research into innovations that benefit us all – from better healthcare and new public services to cutting edge products. 

    The UK’s largest public research funder UKRI has set out its first-ever plan to put AI to work for the nation’s world-leading innovators today (Thursday 19 February) – building on the UK’s historic strengths in fields like computing and agentic AI. 

    UKRI-backed work on AI is already making a difference across society and the economy – from the world-leading RADAR AI system that detects faults on the railway network in real time, to the IXI Brain Atlas which is supporting more than 40 clinical trials into degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s by helping to analyse brain scans. 

    In the recent Spending Review settlement, UKRI committed a record £1.6 billion of funding directly targeted at the AI sector over the next 4 years, its biggest single investment area for 2026 to 2030. This includes funding for specific activity that UKRI will deliver on behalf of  the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) – which is subject to change as delivery plans are finalised. It also sits alongside significant additional AI investment woven through the broader UKRI budget.  

    The new strategy signals UKRI’s intention to make major investments in mathematics, computer science and engineering research which underpin AI expertise. World-class researchers and businesses across the UK will also benefit from better access to the right tools, training and infrastructure to unlock new growth across the UK. This will help bring to life innovations that make people’s lives better – a key theme of the India AI Impact Summit which continues this week. 

    Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who is leading the UK delegation at the India AI Impact Summit, said: 

    The UK is backing its pioneering AI leadership with more than £1.6 billion in investment to make sure the best of British expertise develops the next wave of AI innovations. Together we are turning potential into progress and that’s the ambition I am bringing to the AI Summit in India this week.

    From spotting cancers earlier to cutting backlogs in public services, new research into AI will be a game-changer, bringing the promise of tomorrow’s technologies to the UK today.

    UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said: 

    The potential of combining our AI expertise with our peerless R&D community is a game-changer. This plan will harness AI to accelerate both the pace and possibility of scientific endeavour.

    We are already seeing AI change the game for what’s possible in fields from health, to energy, and beyond. Boldly backing this technology is how we push our Great British innovators to further success, and build a path to breakthroughs that boost our health, wealth, and wellbeing.

    The strategy also commits to expanding doctoral and fellowship routes co-designed with businesses. It will also support recognised career frameworks for research software engineers, data scientists and ethics specialists – supporting the high-paying jobs of the future.  

    AI is one of the central growth sectors in the UK’s industrial strategy. UKRI’s plan will turn the UK’s scientific excellence into economic advantage by supporting regional clusters, creating new jobs and backing technologies with high-growth potential.  

    Professor Charlotte Deane, Senior Responsible Owner for the UKRI AI Programme and Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, said:  

    The UK has deep strengths in AI. From the country of Alan Turing and Ada Lovelace, we have a world-class tradition in mathematics and computer science. This strategy will turn that research excellence into national advantage.

    To do that, we must make bold choices in areas where the UK can genuinely lead the world. UKRI will play a central role in backing the full innovation pathway from fundamental research to prototypes to scale-up.

    By uniting universities, businesses, industry and government we can unlock the potential we have long had but have not yet fully mobilised.

    Areas of focus 

    Under the new strategic framework, investment will focus on 6 priority areas:  

    • advancing technology development  
    • transforming research through AI  
    • developing AI skills and talent  
    • accelerating innovation for economic growth and societal benefit 
    • championing responsible and trustworthy AI 
    • building world-class AI data and infrastructure 

    Central to UKRI’s plan is building a strong research and innovation community which will support them with the skills they need to become the AI leaders of the future.  

    UKRI-backed AI research is already making a difference to everyday life, from the world’s first system spotting railway faults before they cause delays to a tool detecting online harm to keep us safe. In healthcare, AI-powered brain imaging is helping to identify early signs of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.  

    Now UKRI is now putting its weight behind AI. Under the new strategy, it will help to deliver:  

    • up to £137 million as part of DSIT’s AI for Science Strategy to back AI-enabled scientific discovery starting with drug discovery and new treatments 
    • £36 million to upgrade the University of Cambridge’s “DAWN” supercomputer supporting breakthroughs in areas like healthcare and environmental modelling. 

    Today’s AI is built on decades of curiosity-driven research across mathematics, computer science, neuroscience and linguistics.  

    The strategy will create an environment where discovery-led research continues to thrive. It will simplify programmes and remove barriers, supporting researchers through the journey from fundamental research to prototypes to scale-up.  

  • PRESS RELEASE : Tech firms will have to take down abusive images within 48 hours under new law to protect women and girls [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Tech firms will have to take down abusive images within 48 hours under new law to protect women and girls [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 February 2026.

    New law requires tech platforms to take down non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours or face fines.

    • Government orders tech platforms to detect and remove intimate images shared without consent
    • Firms put on notice that any non-consensual intimate image that is flagged to them must be taken down in under 48 hours
    • Government clear that tackling intimate image abuse should be treated with the same severity the same as child sexual abuse material and terrorist content

    Tech companies will be ordered to take down intimate images shared without a victim’s consent within 48 hours, under new laws to protect women and girls from this distressing abuse.

    Through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, companies will be legally required to remove this content no more than 48 hours after it is flagged to them, and platforms that fail to act could face fines of up to 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue or having their services blocked in the UK.

    The government is determined to make sure that victims will only need to report an image once. This would mean where an image is reported, they are removed across multiple platforms in one go, and from then on, they are automatically deleted at every new upload.

    As part of that work, plans are currently being considered by Ofcom for these kinds of images to be treated with the same severity as child sexual abuse and terrorism content, digitally marking them so that any time someone tries to repost them, they will be automatically taken down.

    In a further step to protect victims, we will publish guidance for internet providers setting out how they should block access to sites hosting this content, targeting rogue websites that may fall outside the reach of the Online Safety Act.

    In recent years, there has been a worrying trend of intimate images being used to threaten, intimidate and distress, and the Prime Minister is determined to hand back control to victims and end their fear that even when an image is taken down, it will only be put up somewhere else.

    Prime Minister Keir Stamer said:

    As Director of Public Prosecutions, I saw firsthand the unimaginable, often lifelong pain and trauma violence against women and girls causes. As Prime Minister, I will leave no stone unturned in the fight to protect women from violence and abuse. 

    The online world is the frontline of the 21st century battle against violence against women and girls. That’s why my government is taking urgent action: against chatbots and ‘nudification’ tools.

    Today we are going further, putting companies on notice so that any non-consensual image is taken down in under 48 hours.

    Violence against women and girls has no place in our society, and I will not rest until it is rooted out.

    Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

    The days of tech firms having a free pass are over. Because of the action we are taking platforms must now find and remove intimate images shared without consent within a maximum of 48 hours.

    No woman should have to chase platform after platform, waiting days for an image to come down. Under this government, you report once and you’re protected everywhere.

    The internet must be a space where women and girls feel safe, respected, and able to thrive.

    Minister for Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones said:

    Intimate image abuse devastates lives. These new measures send a clear message: tech platforms can no longer drag their feet. When harmful content is flagged, it must come down, and fast.

    By requiring companies to remove non‑consensual intimate images within 48 hours, we are finally putting the onus where it belongs – on the tech firms with the power and resources to act.

    It’s a vital step towards making the online world safer, fairer, and more respectful for women and girls.

    The government was elected on a pledge to recognise violence against women and girls (VAWG) as a national emergency, and halve this crime in the next decade. Central to this pledge is keeping women and girls safe online.

    Just weeks ago, the government called out abhorrent non-consensual intimate images being shared on Grok, which led to the function being removed. Ministers are also legislating to make ‘nudification’ tools illegal and bringing chatbots – like Grok – within scope of the Online Safety Act.

    Creating or sharing non-consensual intimate images will also become a ‘priority offence’ under the Online Safety Act, meaning this crime is treated with the same seriousness as child abuse or terrorism.

    This builds on the government’s VAWG strategy, the first step in the government’s plan to transform how society response to these awful crimes, this included more than 200 pledges spanning prevention, supporting victims and pursuing offenders, and this laid out a whole of government, and a whole of society approach.

    The Prime Minister has been clear this is the first step in the mission to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade, and his government is now focused on delivery.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British research expertise to deliver faster cancer diagnosis and cleaner energy [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : British research expertise to deliver faster cancer diagnosis and cleaner energy [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 February 2026.

    Major new backing for medical imaging centres across the UK including tidal energy testing expansion in Orkney and cutting-edge materials.

    • Major new research programmes backed by the government and delivered through UKRI will drive innovation in healthcare, cleaner energy and advanced manufacturing.
    • Pioneering medical imaging centres across the UK will help doctors detect diseases earlier and speed up treatment for patients.
    • Tidal energy testing expanded in Orkney – cementing Scotland’s place as a clean energy superpower and unlocking greener power for communities.
    • £80 million pumped into efforts to produce cutting-edge materials, supporting everything from lighter and more efficient aircraft parts to long-lasting medical implants.

    Patients will see faster cancer diagnoses and doctors will gain new insights into how diseases develop and resist treatments, as part of 3 new research programmes which harness cutting-edge tech to deliver benefits for hardworking people across the country. 

    Unveiled by Science Minister Lord Vallance today (Thursday 19 February), a combined pot of £150 million will support 3 key projects spanning healthcare, clean energy, and the development of state-of-the-art materials. This will help deliver on the government’s plans for national renewal, by growing the economy, improving lives, and helping turn the brightest UK research ideas into new businesses.

    The investment is part of UKRI’s record £38 billion funding settlement, which will specifically target curiosity-driven research, R&D addressing government priorities, and support for innovative companies to start, scale and stay in the UK.

    The UK’s research community has already been backed by a record £86 billion in R&D investment over the coming years, with today’s announcements highlighting how that support is helping researchers go further and faster to deliver positive change and tangible impact for the British public.

    One key area is in the treatment and diagnoses of cancer – a disease which will touch all of us over the course of our lifetimes. The earlier a disease is caught, the better a patient’s chances, while the ability for researchers to understand why a treatment works for one person but not others holds the potential to transform care for millions.

    Backed by £55 million, a new medical imaging programme will create ‘Centres of Imaging Excellence’ in England, Scotland and Wales. These hubs for cutting-edge med tech will bring together the latest scanning technology with clinical expertise to unlock new insights into how diseases develop and why some infections resist drugs. For patients, this means faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatments tailored to them. For the NHS, it means staying at the forefront of medical science while easing pressure on services.

    A project backed by £15 million meanwhile will tap into Britain’s coastline – one of our greatest natural assets – to help generate reliable, clean power. Blue Horizon will expand the European Marine Energy Centre’s world-leading tidal test facilities in Orkney, meaning more companies can trial their turbines in real world conditions, accelerating the journey from prototype to power grid. The investment brings tidal energy closer to becoming a mainstream part of Britain’s energy mix, creating skilled jobs in coastal communities and supporting the government’s mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.

    Scotland’s natural strengths as a renewable energy powerhouse have already seen the country taking on an increasingly pivotal role to deliver growth and opportunity. Lanarkshire’s new AI Growth Zone announced just weeks ago will not only create 3,400 high-value local jobs but will also be powered by on-site renewables. This pioneering approach highlights the potential of renewable energy to power the UK’s science, innovation, and technology ambitions for generations to come.

    Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

    Britain has world-class researchers and a proud history of turning insight and ideas into innovation. Our job is to make sure those ideas don’t just stay in the lab, but become the treatments, technologies and products that improve lives in hospitals, homes and communities across the country.

    Government investment in projects like these – from helping to spot diseases earlier and developing new cancer therapies to taking advantage of our coastline to power the nation – will make a real difference to people and spark the economic growth hardworking communities deserve.

    This represents British research at its best – bringing together ideas, expertise, and technical know-how and turning it into impact.

    Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation Minister, said:

    After 20 years of frontline NHS experience, I know how vital it is that cancer is caught early to give patients a fighting chance.

    Cutting edge research like this could save lives by giving patients faster diagnoses and individually-tailored treatments.

    This is another step on our journey to shift our NHS from analogue to digital, as part of our 10 Year Health Plan.

    As part of today’s announcements, the government is also rolling out an £80 million National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP) – helping deliver on the ambition of its Modern Industrial Strategy. Advanced materials are already part of daily life – they stop our phone screens from shattering when they’re dropped and help electric car batteries charge faster and last longer. They’re also behind critical innovations in healthcare, defence and clean energy.

    Britain has world-leading researchers developing these materials, but promising discoveries too often end up manufactured abroad. The programme unveiled today will bridge that gap, helping UK innovations reach market faster and keeping production in Britain. This sort of innovation is already delivering positive change for the public. Only 3% of UK adults with glioblastoma – the most aggressive brain cancer – currently survive for 5 years, with Cheshire-based QV Bioelectronics now using advanced materials to develop a world-first implant device which delivers targeted therapy directly to the brain. The company has secured £4.5 million, including Innovate UK funding, to now begin first-in-human trials.

    The money announced today will help bring together industry, academia, and government to streamline access to funding, and support targeted pilots which could lead to the eventual development of everything from lighter, more efficient aircraft parts through to long-life medical implants.

    Mike Biddle, Executive Director Net Zero at Innovate UK, said:

    Working alongside Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will help establish a coordinated approach for the UK advanced materials sector and accelerate the pull through of impactful innovations into industry, boosting productivity, resilience and growth nationwide.

    The programmes announced today highlight how curiosity-driven research and a focus on national priorities and support for companies to scale up and grow will deliver sustainable, positive change for British people. This agile, focused, and impactful approach won’t just put British expertise at the heart of innovations and breakthroughs delivering for people here at home, but which are transforming lives for the better all over the world.

    Notes to editors

    The National Materials Innovation Programme will fund 5 areas of activity:

    • connecting researchers with businesses – new networks bringing together universities, companies and government
    • backing high-potential projects – targeted support for the most promising innovations
    • protecting strategic supplies – ensuring the UK can produce materials critical to national security,
    • improving testing and data – developing better ways to measure and verify how new materials perform
    • building international partnerships – working with global partners to attract investment, share expertise and strengthen the UK’s reputation as a world leader in materials science

    The Blue Horizon project is delivered by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, with funding from UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK hands over modernised rehabilitation wards to Ukraine Armed Forces [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK hands over modernised rehabilitation wards to Ukraine Armed Forces [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 16 February 2026.

    UK hands over final modernised medical rehabilitation wards to Ukraine’s Armed Forces under Project Renovator, following two-year Defence collaboration.

    The UK has handed over the last of five modernised medical rehabilitation wards to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as part of Project Renovator. Defence Equipment and Support and the Defence Medical Services have been working together for two years on this project, and representatives were on site to sign the formal handover documents.

    Renovator is a NATO funded project to expand Ukraine’s military medical rehabilitation services and help troops who suffered life-changing injuries to return to the frontline and help them readjust to civilian life. The UK was the first nation to join the project, responsible for refurbishing, equipping and providing training to one site, and providing urgent support to the other sites as they awaited NATO partners. Norway, Sweden, Lithuania and Latvia have now joined the project and the UK is working alongside them to deliver a fully integrated rehabilitation capability for Ukraine.

    Nearly all core work for the project has now been delivered, including; two heating and hot water systems to enhance resilience at two sites; five modernised wards with accommodation, treatment spaces and staff facilities; a range of physical training kit, clinical equipment and diagnostics capabilities to support rehabilitation and training; and four deployed training teams providing specialist clinical shoulder-to-shoulder mentoring and training.  The project has increased bed capacity by 250, and delivered over 21,000 items of equipment.  The final element before achievement of Full Operating Capability will be the installation of a modern CT scanner to enhance diagnostics for complex trauma injuries.

    Colonel Simon Doyle, the Renovator Project Director said:

    This has been an enormous team effort from our Ukrainian hosts and colleagues, industry, and the UK. Standing here now it is difficult to believe that the full scale invasion had put this facility totally out of action, and now it is helping return Defenders to the fight with the brand-new high-quality facilities they deserve. We look forward to helping you on the next stage of developing this amazing facility.

    Colonel Victor Korchenok, the Site Deputy Commander said:

    It is a great honour to mark the handover of the last ward. The UK was the first nation to support Renovator, providing infrastructure development, modern rehabilitation, surgical and diagnostic equipment, and training for our professionals. Each component has greatly enhanced our rehabilitation capabilities and improved the quality of care for our defenders who protect our sovereignty.

    Rickie Nixon, the Defence Equipment and Support Operations Team Leader said: 

    We started this project two years ago, and have come a long way. Our small team has achieved so much here on the Renovator sites, and we are hugely grateful for the opportunity to support our friends in Ukraine on such an important project.

    Andriy Dyshuk, director of Ukrainian construction company Fragola Government Services, said:

    This project demonstrates how proper cooperation between two countries, even in the most difficult conditions, can deliver massive results. It is not just words but the physical outcome that matters. This success was only possible through stakeholder collaboration, and I thank Prevail and the United Kingdom for their efforts.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Parents urged to protect children through vaccination campaign [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Parents urged to protect children through vaccination campaign [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 February 2026.

    New vaccination campaign launched to boost uptake of childhood immunisations.

    • National campaign launches today to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated
    • Routine childhood immunisation prevents around 5,000 deaths and 228,000 hospital admissions every year in England
    • Parents encouraged to check their child’s vaccination status and raise awareness in their communities

    More children’s lives would be saved if they were vaccinated against deadly diseases so the government is today launching a new childhood immunisation campaign.

    Illnesses like measles can spread very easily between children who are not vaccinated, as we are currently seeing in North London.

    Parents will now have easy access to trusted information on childhood vaccines through the government’s new campaign, helping them understand the protection vaccines provide and making it simpler to keep children healthy.

    Illnesses like measles can spread very easily between children who are not vaccinated. The United Kingdom recently lost its World Health Organization (WHO) measles elimination status after over 2,900 cases of measles were confirmed in England in 2024, the highest levels recorded in decades. At the same time childhood vaccination rates were, and still are, well below the 95% WHO uptake target needed to prevent measles outbreaks. 

    Failing to vaccinate children leaves them unprotected against diseases that are easily preventable through free NHS vaccinations.

    The ‘Stay Strong, Get Vaccinated’ campaign encourages parents to ensure their children receive their routine childhood immunisations and aren’t put at unnecessary risk.

    Separately parents are also being encouraged not only to ensure their own children are fully up to date, but also to help raise awareness among family, friends and their wider communities about the importance of routine immunisation.

    Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation and Safety Minister said:

    Vaccination is one of the greatest public health successes of our time, protecting children from serious and sometimes life-threatening diseases. But with vaccination rates falling and the UK losing its measles elimination status, it’s vital we act now. 

    Our campaign will help parents get clear, trusted information about childhood vaccines and the protection they offer. 

    By making vaccines easier to access — including the introduction of chickenpox protection into the childhood programme with the MMRV vaccine — we are supporting families to keep their children safe and healthy, while helping to protect communities across the country.

    Routine childhood immunisations are free and highly effective — they are the safest way to protect our children’s health. UKHSA estimates that childhood vaccinations prevent around 5,000 deaths and more than 228,000 hospital admissions in England every year.

    The government campaign, developed with support from NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency, aims to reverse the decline in uptake by providing clear, trusted information and making it easier than ever for families to access vaccines, including new protection against chickenpox through the combined MMRV vaccine, following on from successful flu and maternal vaccination campaigns.

    Aimed at the parents of children aged 0 to five-years-old, it will include:

    • A new 30-second TV and video on demand advert
    • Online video, social media content and digital display advertising.
    • Gaming and parenting forum partnerships including with Netmums and Mumsnet

    This year NHS has introduced protection against chickenpox into the childhood programme – with the MMRV vaccine protecting children against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox in a single jab.

    Vaccination remains one of the most effective public health interventions, second only to clean water. Immunisation protects millions of children from severe illness, long-term complications and death globally each year. 

    These programmes protect against a wide range of serious diseases, including measles, whooping cough, meningitis, polio and diphtheria. As well as directly protecting vaccinated children, many vaccines also reduce transmission across the population, helping to protect those who are too young or too vulnerable to be vaccinated.

    The MMRV vaccine includes protection against varicella (chickenpox) and the second dose is offered earlier — at 18 months — to ensure more children are fully protected before starting school.

    The varicella vaccine costs parents around £150 for a full two-dose course if accessed privately. The MMRV vaccine is available free on the NHS for eligible children, removing cost barriers and helping ensure equitable access to protection for families.

    Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccination, said:

    Childhood vaccines have protected generations of children from devastating diseases for decades, yet too many children are still missing out on vital protection.

    We’re urging all parents to check their children are up to date with their recommended vaccinations and to book an appointment through their GP practice when invited– it’s quick, it’s free, and it could save their life.

    Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director Immunisation at UK Health Security Agency:

    A decade of falling vaccination rates means that many children remain unprotected from serious but preventable diseases. Measles, whooping cough and other diseases spread quickly in unvaccinated children and can have devastating consequences . The NHS childhood vaccination programme offers the best protection to children against 13 diseases.

    It’s important that parents can easily get clear, trusted information and this campaign reminds parents of the overwhelming benefits of vaccines and to check their children are up to date – it’s never too late to catch-up for vaccines such as MMRV. By taking up the NHS offer, which now also includes protection against chickenpox, parents are helping give their children the very best start in life.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK to champion how AI can supercharge growth, unlock new jobs and improve public services at AI Impact Summit in India [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK to champion how AI can supercharge growth, unlock new jobs and improve public services at AI Impact Summit in India [February 2026]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 16 February 2026.

    UK and international partners to redouble efforts for AI to transform public services, create jobs and drive renewal for people worldwide at AI Impact Summit.

    • UK and international partners to redouble efforts for AI to transform public services, create jobs and drive renewal for people worldwide, as talks get underway at India AI Impact Summit 2026
    • Talks build on the Bletchley, Seoul, and Paris AI summits – focusing AI’s impact on citizens, growth and sustainability
    • Deputy PM and AI Minister lead UK delegation with a range of planned engagements and moves to support global AI innovation

    The UK will use the AI Impact Summit in India this week to champion how AI can supercharge growth, unlock new jobs, improve public services and deliver benefits for people across the globe.

    Led by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and AI Minister Kanishka Narayan, the UK delegation begins a week of discussions focused on how AI can improve everyday life– not just in advanced economies but in every corner of the world.

    They will make the case that AI is the engine of renewal – helping doctors diagnose faster, teachers personalise learning, councils deliver services in minutes, and businesses create the next generation of good jobs.

    The Summit follows the momentum of the Bletchley, Seoul and Paris AI summits, where the UK has consistently shaped the global agenda. At home Britain is powering ahead – deepening partnerships with leading tech firms, working with international governments and delivering on the AI Opportunities Action Plan to unlock jobs and investment.

    Since taking office in the summer of 2024, the government has attracted more than £100 billion worth of private investment alone into the UK’s AI sector – highlighting the huge appetite from global backers to support British AI expertise.

    The UK and India are natural tech partners, with major Indian tech companies like Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro already expanding in the UK. Their backing follows hot on the heels of the PM’s visit to Mumbai in October, where a combined £1.3 billion of investments was pumped into the UK by Indian firms.

    UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said:

    The UK is leading the way on AI innovations and expertise. We are rightly a magnet for investment and talent from across the globe. 

    This Summit is an important moment in determining how we can work together with our international partners to unlock the full benefits and potential of AI, while baking in robust and fair safety standards that protect us all. 

    We are turning ambition into action to deliver UK jobs, growth and prosperity. The business leaders joining us in India will build concrete partnerships and secure investment that delivers opportunity for working people in the UK, India and across the globe.

    UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said:

    AI is the defining technology of our generation – and we’re determined to make sure it delivers for everyone. It can cut waiting times, transform public services, create new jobs and give hard working communities a fresh start – and that’s exactly the message we’re taking to the summit.

    It is central to our plans for delivering national renewal but its benefits can’t and shouldn’t be reserved by the few.

    That’s why the UK is leading from front, pushing a global vision for AI that helps people everywhere to learn more, earn more, and shape the future on their terms.

    On the agenda this week, The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to speak on a high‑level panel on Friday about unlocking opportunity through global languages. He will announce new UK support for an African Language Hub, enabling AI to work in 40 African languages – making the technology more inclusive and accessible for millions.

    This is 1 of 3 new initiatives being announced as part of the £58 million AI for Development (AI4D) programme to ensure that developing countries benefit fully from the AI revolution:

    • Asian AI4D Observatory – supporting responsible AI innovation and governance across South and Southeast Asia.
    • AI4D Compute Hub at the University of Cape Town – giving African innovators the compute power they need to turn ideas into impact.

    Ahead of the Summit, Minister Narayan will also travel across India to see how our 2 countries are working together to reap the benefits of breakthrough tech – including at Indian Institute of Technology – Delhi, which holds India’s record for most unicorn startups produced, as well as travel to Bengaluru, often described as India’s Silicon Valley.

    In New Delhi, the Deputy Prime Minister will explore new British and Indian innovations changing the world in AI and take part in a session looking at how AI can drive inclusive social empowerment and tackle inequality. 

    Collaboration with India is critical to the UK’s ambitions in science and technology. The UK and India are investing tens of millions in cutting edge research – from better batteries and next generation telecoms for rural communities, to genomic medicine that could tackle rare diseases.

    India is also a vitally important market for British businesses generally – with UK firms generating more than £47.5 billion in revenue from their business in India.

    The Prime Minister joined PM Modi last year to unveil Vision 2035, a shared ambition for how the UK and India partner together to unlock the huge potential of this partnership. Unlocking new opportunities for growth across both economies, driving innovation, and shaping the technologies of tomorrow together are key pillars of that commitment.  

    Notes to editors

    Overall, the UK has contributed £58 million to the AI for Development programme, launched alongside partners at the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in 2023.

    Projects being awarded UK support through the AI for Development (AI4D) programme, in partnership with Canada

    Asia AI4D Observatory
    This will support responsible AI innovation and governance across South and South East Asia – helping innovators and people in India, and right across the continent. This is work that will encourage AI adoption in Asia that aligns with development goals, protects people’s rights, and safeguards marginalised groups.

    Masakhane African Languages Hub
    Aiming to make AI accessible 40 African languages – benefitting up to 700 million people.

    AI4D Compute Hub
    To be based at the University of Cape Town and in partnership with Canada, UK investment will help build a new AI4D Compute Hub to democratise access to computing for innovators in Africa. The Hub will help Africa’s innovators access the compute infrastructure they need to bring their ideas to life. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer “No platform gets a free pass”: Government takes action to keep children safe online [February 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer “No platform gets a free pass”: Government takes action to keep children safe online [February 2026]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 February 2026.

    The Government will give parents and carers greater clarity and support as the Prime Minister announces immediate action to make the online world safer for children.

    • PM announces new powers to act within months to keep children safe amid rapid technology changes
    • New action will ensure no platform gets a free pass – as government today will close loopholes that put children at risk, and lays the groundwork for further, faster action
    • PM leads new crackdown on AI chatbots to protect people from illegal content

    The Government will give parents and carers greater clarity and support as the Prime Minister announces immediate action to make the online world safer for children.

    Speaking to parents and young people later today [Monday 16 February], the Prime Minister will make clear this government will act at pace to keep kids safe online as they navigate a digital world that did not exist a generation ago, and one that is shaped by powerful platforms, addictive design and fast-moving technologies.

    The new measures announced today include crackdown on vile illegal content created by AI. The government will move fast to shut a legal loophole and force all AI chatbot providers to abide by illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act or face the consequences of breaking the law. This will ensure the Act keeps up with rapidly evolving harms.

    This follows government action to call out abhorrent non-consensual intimate images being shared on Grok, which subsequently led to the function being removed.

    The Prime Minister will also make clear today that his government is taking new legal powers to lay the groundwork for immediate action following its consultation on children’s wellbeing online. The Government is committed to following the evidence, and these powers will mean we can act fast on its findings within months, rather than waiting years for new primary legislation every time technology evolves.

    That means being able to act quickly on measures like setting a minimum age limit for social media and restricting features like infinite scrolling that are harmful, in line with the consultation. The law is crystal clear: the distribution of nude images of children is already illegal. But the government will also consult on how best to ensure tech companies can safeguard children from sending or receiving such images in the first place.

    The consultation will also confront the full range of risks children face online. This includes examining restrictions on children’s use of AI chatbots, as well as options to age restrict or limit children’s VPN use where it undermines safety protections and changing the age of digital consent. We will also strengthen protections for families facing the most devastating circumstances, by ensuring that vital data following a child’s death is preserved before it can be deleted, except in cases where online activity is clearly not relevant to the death.

    This marks a clear shift in how the UK approaches child online safety, meaning the UK can continue to be a world leader in keeping children safe online.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    “As a dad of two teenagers, I know the challenges and the worries that parents face making sure their kids are safe online.

    “Technology is moving really fast, and the law has got to keep up. With my government, Britain will be a leader not a follower when it comes to online safety.

    “The action we took on Grok sent a clear message that no platform gets a free pass. 

    “Today we are closing loopholes that put children at risk, and laying the groundwork for further action.

    “We are acting to protect children’s wellbeing and help parents to navigate the minefield of social media.”

    Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

    “I know that parents across the country want us to act urgently to keep their children safe online. That’s why I stood up to Grok and Elon Musk when they flouted British laws and British values. 

    “We will not wait to take the action families need, so we will tighten the rules on AI chatbots and we are laying the ground so we can act at pace on the results of the consultation on young people and social media.

    “We are determined to give children the childhood they deserve and to prepare them for the future at time of rapid technological change.”

    The children’s digital wellbeing consultation will launch next month and will be guided by what parents and children say they need now, not in several years’ time.

    Ministers are already engaging with parents, young people and civil society groups, and the message has been consistent and clear that parents want support and fast.

    To help parents immediately, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has launched the ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ campaign. It offers practical guidance on safety settings, conversation prompts parents can use with their children, and age‑appropriate advice on dealing with harmful content, including misogynistic material and ragebait.

    Chris Sherwood, NSPCC CEO, said:

    “We welcome the Prime Minister’s promise to act quickly and decisively to hold tech companies to account and make the online world safer for children. The status quo can’t continue, and without real change the pressure for an under‑16 social media ban will only increase.

    “Much of what is being proposed mirrors what we have been pressing for: proper age‑limit enforcement, an end to addictive design, and stronger action from platforms, devices, and AI tools to stop harmful content at the source. Delivered swiftly, these measures would offer far better protection than a blanket ban.

    “We also strongly support putting children’s voices at the centre of this debate. They understand both the benefits and risks of being online and – after their insights have been overlooked in discussions so far – their experiences must now help guide the decisions made in the months ahead.

    “We need urgent action and an ambitious agenda if the Government is going to take on tech bosses and make a difference for children and young people.”

    Andy Burrows, Chief Executive of Molly Rose Foundation, said:

    “Parents are right to demand urgent action on online safety, and we strongly welcome the Government’s ambition to move quickly and decisively to tackle appalling and preventable harm. 

    “This announcement should reassure parents that change is on the way. It means that children and families could see much needed safety improvements within months, including action against high-risk AI Chatbots and new measures to prevent girls from being coerced into sending nude photos.  

    “This a welcome downpayment but the Prime Minister must now go further. Sir Keir Starmer should commit to a new Online Safety Act that strengthens regulation and that makes clear that product safety and children’s wellbeing is the cost of doing business in the UK.”

    Notes to editors:

    • New powers, to be tabled in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, will enable the Government to act at speed to introduce targeted actions off the back of the upcoming children’s digital wellbeing consultation.
    • Government intends to table an amendment to the C&P Bill to give effect to the measures around preservation of child social media data.
    • Action will be guided by the outcomes of the consultation with parents and children, set to launch next month, and subject to an affirmative vote on the floor of the House of Commons, giving MPs a clear say on the proposals.
    • Government is tabling an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to allow the government to require chatbots not currently in scope of the Online Safety Act to protect their users from illegal content.