Post Office Capture Redress Scheme
(1 day, 17 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Blair McDougall)
Today I have launched the Capture redress scheme, which is now open for applications.
This represents a significant milestone in our commitment to provide redress for postmasters who suffered financial shortfalls due to the Capture software.
Following the independent investigation on Capture, the Government announced that we would be providing redress for affected postmasters. In June we set out our approach to redress, and I am pleased that today we are delivering on that commitment.
The experiences shared by affected postmasters have been invaluable in shaping the scheme that we launch today.
Who is eligible?
Postmasters who used the Capture software in their branch between 1992 and 2000 and suffered a financial shortfall as a result of the Capture software can apply. Applications are also open to those with legal authority to act on behalf of deceased postmasters or those who lack capacity to apply themselves.
This scheme is specifically for those without a criminal conviction related to Capture. If any convictions related to Capture are identified as unsafe and overturned by the courts, we remain committed to ensuring that appropriate redress is given.
Payments
As a demonstration of our commitment to swift action and to provide immediate support before the cases are assessed by an independent panel, eligible claimants will receive a preliminary payment of £10,000 upon confirmation of eligibility.
Once eligibility is confirmed, an independent panel will assess all the evidence provided, taking a holistic view, and decide upon an appropriate award. The award will be based on a banding model ranging from £10,000 to £300,000, reflecting both financial and personal impacts. The preliminary payment will reflect the lowest band and where, following assessment, a postmaster has been awarded a higher band, this amount will be topped up.
In exceptional cases, where circumstances are particularly severe and supported by detailed evidence, the panel may consider an award exceeding the £300,000 upper band limit.
All awards will be exempt from income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax. They will also be exempt from national insurance contributions and, where applicable, corporation tax, and will be disregarded for the purposes of means-tested benefits, including universal credit and housing benefit.
How to apply
As previously set out, we are launching the scheme starting with a phased roll-out for an initial group of 150 claimants. This approach will allow us to test and refine the process. Applications for phase 1 can be made via an online form. Full guidance and application details are published on gov.uk.
Any lessons from the first phase will inform any refinements needed ahead of wider roll-out in phase 2, which will launch swiftly after completion of phase 1. Ipsos, an independent research agency, will be delivering an evaluation to inform this. Should we enhance any payment aspects of the scheme following phase 1, these improvements will be applied retrospectively to early participants.
Appeals and legal support
Claimants who, following assessment of their applications, are found ineligible can request an independent review of this decision.
Additionally, claimants have the right to appeal the award offered in certain circumstances where there is new evidence, procedural error or material error. If appeal grounds are met, the award may be amended following a review by the scheme’s independent panel chair.
We encourage all claimants to seek legal representation. The Government have published a legal cost framework that law firms can sign up to. The framework will ensure that postmasters can seek legal representation from the firms listed in the framework without having to pay legal fees. The Government will pay these legal fees directly as part of the scheme.
We strongly advise that postmasters check that a legal representative is content to operate within the terms of the cost framework to avoid being charged.
Today we deliver on our commitment to provide redress for those negatively affected by the Capture software.
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UK Export Finance Contingent Liability: Jaguar Land Rover
(1 day, 17 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Chris McDonald)
A departmental minute is being laid before Parliament today setting out the particulars of a new contingent liability associated with Jaguar Land Rover.
It is normal practice, when a Government Department proposes to undertake a contingent liability in excess of £300,000 for which there is no specific statutory authority, for the Minister concerned to present a departmental minute to Parliament giving particulars of the liability created and explaining the circumstances; and to refrain from incurring the liability until 14 sitting days after the issue of the minute, except in cases of special urgency.
Given the particular urgency of the Jaguar Land Rover financing requirement, particularly in order to provide urgent support to members of its supply chain, it is regrettable that we were unable to provide the House with the normal period for consideration prior to the guarantee being entered into. Due to an administrative error, it is also regrettable that we were not able to provide the House with a departmental minute with the previous WMS on this matter. We are rectifying that today.
JLR requested that UKEF provides its export development guarantee product to a commercial loan for working capital of £1.5 billion, repayable over five years, to help it manage the impact of the recent cyberattack on its export business and wider operations. UKEF had existing exposure to JLR and providing this additional support fell outside UKEF’s normal underwriting criteria. If this liability is called, provision for any payment will be sought through the normal supply procedure.
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Clean Energy and Climate Action Plans
(1 day, 17 hours ago)
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The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)
Today, I am making a statement on the Government’s approach to meeting our carbon budgets, and the benefits this brings to the British public and industry—delivering growth, increasing energy security and lowering bills. I am proud of the progress the UK has made to date, but further action is needed to build on that success and fully embrace the opportunities clean energy and climate action present for our country.
We are publishing the carbon budget and growth delivery plan, which sets out how we will meet our targets while driving economic opportunity and delivering for those across the UK.
We are also publishing the government response to the Climate Change Committee’s 2025 progress report in reducing emissions. This responds to the points that the CCC raised and sets out key Government achievements in the past year.
Alongside this, we are publishing an investor prospectus, which signposts the opportunities for companies and investors that will drive clean economic growth.
Finally, we are also publishing the methane action plan. This is forward looking and action-focused, detailing the key methane abating policies we have developed as part of our carbon budgets, alongside highlighting progress the UK has made so far.
Together, these publications demonstrate the rapid progress we are making towards our mission to become a clean energy superpower, showcasing the breadth of action across Government. We will grow our economy and create good jobs, while improving our nature and biodiversity. These plans will deliver a wide range of economic and societal benefits, protecting our country for the long term and delivering immediate benefits for households:
Energy security
This government is taking back control by investing in homegrown clean power to protect the British people. Great British Energy, our publicly owned clean energy company, has kicked off its first projects —putting solar panels on around 250 schools, around 260 NHS sites and 15 military sites to cut their bills and save money that can be reinvested in frontline services. We are also ushering in a new golden age of nuclear. In July, a final investment decision was taken to build Sizewell C in Suffolk with £14.2 billion funding allocated for this Parliament, as well as investment in nuclear fusion and over £2.5 billion for small modular reactors.
Jobs and growth
Clean energy and climate action will create new businesses, attract huge levels of investment into the UK, and create highly skilled, well paid job opportunities across the country. Our recently published clean energy jobs plan sets out how Government, industry and trade unions will work together to recruit the workers needed for our mission and ensure people across Britain can benefit from the good jobs with high wages that clean energy brings. For too long the competitiveness of British industry has been held back by the high cost of electricity. In the industrial strategy, we announced additional support for 7,000 energy intensive firms through the British industrial competitiveness scheme, which will reduce electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour. These reforms complement the Government clean power 2030 target, which is the only way to bring down bills for good by ending the UK’s dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets.
Improved quality of life
From warmer homes to cleaner air to more affordable travel, clean energy and climate action will improve the lives of people across the UK. We will shortly publish our warm homes plan, kicking off Britain’s biggest programme of home upgrades in generations. This will be backed by £13.2 billion of public investment to upgrade up to 5 million homes over this Parliament to lower bills and tackle fuel poverty. Meanwhile, the electric car grant, launched in July, is making EVs cheaper by offering discounts of up to £3,750 on eligible models. This complements wider efforts to make electric vehicle charging easier, fairer and more accessible for all.
Protecting our natural world
We must address the climate and nature crisis together. That is why we are supporting farmers with up to £2.7 billion per year of funding for farming and nature recovery which includes funding for nature schemes such as tree planting and peatland restoration. In addition, the Government are investing £816 million in our tree planting programme through to 2030. By 2030, we will also invest £85 million to bring back our wild peatland.
We have moved at speed on our mission over the last 16 months, but we have much further to go to address the long-term challenges we face as a country and bring the benefits to families and businesses as quickly as we can.
This Government will keep fighting to seize the opportunities that clean energy and climate action offer, acting to protect the British people now and for generations to come.
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Extending the Right to Work Scheme: Consultation
(1 day, 17 hours ago)
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The Minister for Border Security and Asylum (Alex Norris)
The Government focus is on restoring order, control and fairness to the UK immigration and asylum system, bringing down net migration and promoting economic growth. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill creates a range of new measures to strengthen UK border security. The immigration White Paper, “Restoring control over the immigration system”, presented to Parliament in May, sets out the planned reforms to legal migration. A core principle behind our approach is that the rules must be respected and enforced.
I am launching a consultation on extending the employers and businesses within scope of the legal requirement to carry out checks on workers and prevent illegal working. A copy of the consultation will be placed in the Library of each House, and it will also be available on gov.uk.
It remains a criminal offence for migrants to work illegally in the UK. However, modern labour market models are becoming more attractive to illegal workers due to the perceived lack of consequences for working without permission. Illegal working acts as a pull factor to the UK for irregular migration and is inextricably linked to low or no pay, as well as indicators of modern slavery such as inhumane working hours or conditions.
Legislation setting out employer responsibilities to prevent illegal working has been in place since 1997. Since 2008, employers have been required to carry out prescribed right to work checks on all employees regardless of a person’s nationality prior to the start of employment: the right to work scheme. However, this scheme only applies to individuals classified as an “employee”.
The risks associated with this long-standing, narrow scope have been brought into sharp focus by developments in the modern labour market. There are whole sectors where businesses can engage workers without the legal responsibility to complete a right to work check, for example agency workers and casual contract arrangements in the gig economy.
Therefore, through changes being made by the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, the Government are extending the scope of employers and businesses required to carry out checks on their workers and prevent illegal working. This will ensure that those who engage individuals as casual or temporary workers under a worker’s contract, individual subcontractors and online matching services who provide details of service providers to customers will all be required to carry out right to work checks. This safeguard will ensure that businesses acting lawfully will not be undercut on labour costs by those who exploit the system.
The Government are committed to supporting employers in preparing for this change and adapting their processes to ensure compliance.
The consultation seeks views on how the measure will be enforced, shaping the guidance and statutory codes of practice that will be published when the regulatory changes are commenced. The consultation provides an opportunity to further develop understanding of the recruitment and employment practices in the labour market.
The consultation will run for six weeks, closing at 11.59 pm on 10 December 2025. The Government will publish its response thereafter, and will finalise the guidance and amend the statutory codes of practice through secondary legislation.
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Whiplash Reform Programme: Post-Implementation Review and Call for Evidence
(1 day, 17 hours ago)
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The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Sarah Sackman)
I would like to inform the House that today we are launching a post-implementation review of the whiplash reform programme.
The review will assess the measures introduced in part 1 of the Civil Liability Act 2018. This includes the statutory definition of a whiplash injury, the fixed tariff of damages for whiplash injuries where the duration of the injury, or injuries, does not exceed two years, and the ban on seeking or offering to settle a whiplash claim without medical evidence.
The review will also consider the supporting secondary legislative change to increase the small claims track limit from £1,000 to £5,000 for road traffic accident-related personal injury claims. The impact and effectiveness of the industry owned and operated official injury claim service, introduced to help claimants affected by the reforms, will also be assessed.
To inform the review, we are launching a stakeholder call for evidence today to gather expert opinion, data and evidence on the impact and effectiveness of the whiplash reforms. This call for evidence will run for eight weeks and will close on 22 December 2025.
The responses to the call for evidence will provide vital insight into the effectiveness of the measures in achieving their intended aims. They will be considered alongside data provided by operational partners and other Government Departments to inform the final assessment of the reforms.
We plan to publish the post-implementation review of the WRP in spring 2026.
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