Written Statements

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Written Statements

Tuesday 24 February 2026

Sale of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)]

I wish to update the House on the sale of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd.

On 12 February 2026, I issued a public interest intervention notice in relation to the anticipated acquisition of TMGH by the Daily Mail and General Trust plc.

Last week, on 19 February, I made a new order to prevent actions by the parties to the anticipated acquisition that might prejudice the regulatory process or impede my ability to take any action in relation to the merger following the conclusion of the regulatory process.

The Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2026 prohibits transfer of ownership or control of the TMGH business without my prior written consent, as well as integration of the relevant businesses or the transfer of key staff between the parties. The order ensures that the TMGH business continues to be managed separately and as a going concern, maintaining its editorial independence, while the merger is under review.

On 19 February I also gave my consent to RB Investco Ltd (which previously sought to buy TMGH) derogating from the pre-existing Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2024. This derogation provides formal consent for RB Investco Ltd to sell its rights (the so-called “call option”) to purchase TMGH shares to DMGT. The new 2026 order, however, ensures both that those rights cannot yet be exercised, thereby completing the sale, and that necessary legal safeguards are in place to prevent further integration of TMGH and DMGT while the merger is under investigation.

While convention normally requires a period of 21 days between the laying of a statutory instrument subject to the negative procedure and its coming into force, I determined that immediate action was necessary in this instance, given my consent to RB Investco Ltd to sell their call option to DMGT. Any delay in the new 2026 order coming into force would have potentially undermined the regulatory process. For the same reasons, it was also necessary to make and lay the order during the parliamentary recess. In the interests of transparency, copies of the order and the letter confirming my derogation consent were nevertheless published last week on gov.uk.

I will continue to update the House on progress with this media merger case as appropriate.

[HCWS1353]

TV and Video on Demand Services: Regulation

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts (Ian Murray)]

I am pleased to update the House on essential reforms the Government are making to television and video on demand regulation. These measures mark an important step in the Government’s implementation of the Media Act 2024, and extend vital audience benefits and protections to previously unregulated services. To that effect, the Government will shortly lay two statutory instruments:

The On-demand Programme Services (Tier 1 Services) Regulations 2026; and

The Regulated Electronic Programme Guide (Prescribed Description and Transitional Arrangements) Regulations 2026.

We also intend to lay a statutory instrument, when parliamentary time allows, to designate the television selection services that will be captured by the new prominence regime also introduced by the Media Act.

The way in which audiences choose to watch TV has undergone significant change over the last decade. The growth in popularity of on-demand services means there is now more choice than ever. While licensed television channels must comply with Ofcom’s broadcasting code (which sets appropriate standards for audiences to ensure protection from harm and offence) and accessibility requirements (such as subtitles, audio description, and sign language), many of the most popular video on demand services used in the UK today are not regulated to the same extent as broadcast television, and some are not regulated at all.

Similarly, in general, only TV channels which appear on a regulated TV guide (referred to in legislation as “regulated electronic programme guides”) must comply with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code and accessibility requirements. Currently, the only regulated EPGs—set at the point the UK left the European Union—are Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media, and YouView. The proliferation of smart TVs and growth in the number of unregulated EPGs means that audiences are exposed to an increased risk of encountering harmful content, and are unable to complain to Ofcom if they do.

Legislation is therefore required to ensure vital audience protections and accessibility features apply to newer services that are increasingly popular for audiences. However, regulation must be proportionate to ensure industry is not subject to unnecessary regulatory burdens.

The Media Act 2024 introduced a new regulatory framework for VoD services, including powers for the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to designate ‘Tier 1’ services, which will come under enhanced, TV-like regulation by Ofcom. These services will be required to comply with a new video on demand standards code that will set appropriate standards to protect audiences from harmful content, and a new accessibility code, which will set minimum requirements for accessibility features.

Through the On-demand Programme Services (Tier 1 Services) Regulations 2026, the Government will designate video on demand services with more than 500,000 UK users as Tier 1. We estimate this will bring over 20 of the most popular video on demand services (including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+) within scope of the regulations. In designating services with more than 500,000 UK users, the Government have taken a proportionate approach that balances the need for audience protections and accessibility features being available on the most popular services, without placing a disproportionate burden on smaller services which reach fewer people, which may be less able to comply with Tier 1 obligations. Following designation, Ofcom will consult on the new codes, which will be an opportunity for the public and providers to set out their views on the new rules.

The Government will also lay regulations to update the meaning of a regulated EPG, extending vital audience protections and accessibility requirements to newer TV guide services, like Sky Glass and Freely. Any TV channel which can be accessed through a regulated EPG will also be within Ofcom’s remit and therefore required to have a broadcast licence. Furthermore, the regulations will address a regulatory loophole in the existing framework where some TV guide services fall outside regulation despite being easily accessible through regulated services. We estimate that there are 10 EPGs and approximately 70 new TV channels that will be in scope of Ofcom regulation as a result. This measure also supports our public service broadcasters, by extending prominence rules that apply to regulated EPGs to previously unregulated services.

Finally, to support the future sustainability of our public service broadcasters, the Media Act also introduced a new prominence regime, which will require particular TV platforms to carry and give appropriate prominence to designated public service broadcaster video on demand apps. Once commenced, this new regime will ensure UK viewers can continue to find the public service media content they value on demand.

In order to be captured by the new prominence framework, a TV platform must be designated by the Secretary of State via statutory instrument, following advice from Ofcom. Ofcom issued its draft advice on 22 July 2025, which it consulted on, and issued its final statement on 16 December 2025. I can confirm, having thoroughly reviewed Ofcom’s advice and considered all stakeholder responses, that I am minded to agree to Ofcom’s recommended list of designations set out in its final report.

My Department intends to lay a statutory instrument, when parliamentary time allows, to make these designations.

Taken together, these measures will ensure the UK remains at the forefront when it comes to content standards and audience protections, in a rapidly evolving media landscape. However, given the pace of change today and our increasingly fragmented media landscape, we recognise that legislation must continue to adapt to keep pace.

2026 marks 100 years since the advent of television. Yet, despite the vital changes we are making today, much of the legislation which underpins the media landscape was written in an analogue age. The Government will therefore consider what further reforms are necessary to futureproof our regulatory regime, to ensure it continues to serve audiences, support our public service media providers, and allow our world-leading creative industries to thrive, driving growth and innovation across the UK.

[HCWS1354]

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Direction: Hunterston B Nuclear Site

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)]

I am today laying a designation direction, which has been given to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in respect of the Hunterston B nuclear site. The direction reaffirms NDA’s responsibility for the cleaning up and decommissioning of the site, triggering its powers under the Energy Act 2004. The direction has been given jointly with the Scottish Ministers, with the consent of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd and Nuclear Restoration Services, in accordance with sections 3 and 5 of the Energy Act 2004.

This direction marks the first nuclear site of the advanced gas-cooled reactor fleet that will transfer to Government for decommissioning. This is a historic moment for nuclear decommissioning.

[HCWS1352]

National Farmers’ Union Conference: Sustainable Farming

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Reynolds)]

British agriculture employs hundreds of thousands of people, sustains rural communities, shapes the countryside, and contributes billions to our economy.

Today, I wish to update the House on a package of measures to support a productive, resilient and sustainable farming sector, which I am announcing today at the National Farmers’ Union conference in Birmingham.

Since my last update in January, the Government have focused on delivery—moving from promise to practice, and providing the clarity and stability that farmers need to plan, invest and grow.

This is a Government who listen; a Government who act; a Government who believe in British farming. The challenges are real, but so is our commitment.

It is vital that our schemes and policies are grounded in the realities that farmers face. Today’s announcements set out clearer, more predictable schemes and funding that farmers can plan around—with the sustainable farming incentive, grants and capital support shaped directly by farmer feedback.

The new sustainable farming incentive offer

As I confirmed at the Oxford farming conference in January 2026, we will open two SFI application windows this year: an initial window from June for small farmers up to 50 hectares as well as all farms without existing environmental land management revenue agreements, and a further window from September.

Ahead of applications opening in June for those eligible in the first window, we are publishing more information for the new SFI offer in 2026. This includes a streamlined list of actions and information on eligibility for the first window. The new offer has been shaped directly by industry feedback and is designed to support productive, profitable farm businesses while delivering environmental outcomes.

We want as many farmers as possible delivering positive environmental actions, and have an environment improvement plan target to double the number of farms delivering for nature by 2030, so we are introducing a £l00,000 annual agreement cap, with one agreement per farm, to spread funding more fairly across the sector. We are also ending the SFI management payment, so that the budget goes further and is more focused on delivery actions on the ground.

One key feature we are announcing today is that applicants must have a minimum area of 3 hectares to be eligible for the new SFI offer, bringing the scheme in line with recommendations from Baroness Batters’ independent farming profitability review.

£120 million in innovation and equipment grants

Farmers will benefit from £120 million of investment in farm innovation in the financial year 2026-27, including:

£70 million for the farming innovation programme to support practical research and development, including £30 million for the Government’s ADOPT programme; and

£50 million for the farming equipment and technology fund—FETF— to help farmers adopt new technology, cut emissions and boost productivity.

The £70 million in innovation grants announced today form part of the Government’s commitment to invest at least £200 million in agricultural innovation by 2030.

The FETF grant will open on 17 March, and guidance will be published today to ensure farmers and businesses have enough time to prepare an application. We will publish more details on the innovation funding shortly.

Environmental land management capital grants

The latest round of the ELM capital grant offer will open in July 2026, backed by £225 million in funding—50% more funding than was available in 2025. Farmers will be able to apply for funding to plant hedgerows, improve water quality and invest in new livestock infrastructure through the latest round. The offer will help farm businesses invest in infrastructure that supports environmental targets and long-term resilience.

We are announcing this now to enable farmers to be ready to apply and get all the necessary paperwork in place to support an application. Guidance will be available on gov.uk in advance of applications opening. As with last year, we will also be providing regular updates on how much funding has been allocated when the window opens.

Farming and food partnership board

I am establishing a farming and food partnership board, representing a fundamental reset of the relationship between the Government and the farming and food sectors. The first meeting will take place in March. The NFU is confirmed as a member, and we will confirm further members shortly.

The board will oversee the development of sector growth plans, beginning with horticulture and poultry, with further sectors to follow. These plans will identify barriers to growth and profit, including regulatory frictions, examine how costs can be better distributed across the food chain, and forecast and grow market demand through exports, retail, and public sector buying.

Farming road map and responding to the farming profitability review

Over the past few months, we have held workshops, meetings and listening sessions across the country to help us develop the farming road map and ensure it reflects what farmers need on the ground to plan for the future. This engagement activity will continue, and the farming road map will be published later this year.

A clear vision is now forming, built around the themes farmers told us matter most: profitability, productivity, stronger supply chains and environmental sustainability.

Alongside the farming road map, and further to our initial response to Baroness Batters’ independent farming profitability review, we will issue a detailed response.

Animal health and welfare review consultation and poultry biosecurity review

We have funded over 11,000 vet-led reviews to cattle, sheep and pig keepers as part of the animal health and welfare pathway.

We have received a great deal of positive feedback during the roll-out and today I am pleased to launch a consultation on making these vet visits mandatory for cattle, sheep, and pig farmers in England. This is alongside measures to control bovine viral diarrhoea in cattle and porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome in pigs.

In addition, we are expanding the improving farm animal health and welfare service to offer biosecurity advisory reviews for poultry keepers, funded with £390,000 from the Cabinet Office integrated security fund, launching this summer.

[HCWS158]

GP Contract 2026-27

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)]

General practice is the front door of the NHS, delivering millions of appointments each year and providing trusted, continuous care to patients in every community. The Government are committed to supporting general practice, ensuring it is sustainable and at the heart of a modern neighbourhood health service.

I am pleased to inform the House of the outcome of the 2026-27 general practice contract consultation. The final package reflects commitments in the 10-year health plan, including ending the “8 am scramble”, improving timely access to care, tackling GP unemployment and supporting a shift towards prevention. This builds on recent improvements in patient experience, with the monthly health insight survey by the Office for National Statistics showing that in December 2025, over 75% of people said it was easy to make contact with their GP—up from just under 61 % when this Government came into office.

The 2026-27 GP contract includes a £485 million funding uplift, taking total contract investment to over £13.8 billion. This investment is focused on the changes that matter most to patients: easier access to GP appointments and more GPs working in practices. Through an investment in GP recruitment of circa £190 million per annum via the additional roles reimbursement scheme over the past 16 months, the Government have recruited 3,000 newly qualified GPs, preventing them from graduating into unemployment. Growing GP capacity is the most effective way to improve access and for the first time, £292 million of funding is being ringfenced for a practice-level GP recruitment scheme. We estimate this could translate to 1,600 full-time equivalent GPs. The aim is to increase GP capacity that can be specifically focused on improving patient access.

The contract also includes a new requirement that all patients who are deemed clinically urgent by their GP practice must be dealt with on the same day. Delivery of this requirement is supported by the ringfenced GP recruitment scheme.

The contract also strengthens the role of general practice in prevention and neighbourhood health services, including targeted action to improve childhood vaccination uptake. It supports high deprivation areas where coverage has historically been lower, and ensures all those eligible are invited for lung cancer screening through improved data sharing, enables earlier cancer diagnosis. It also includes a £25 million investment to increase referrals into structured weight management and obesity support services for patients who need them most.

This contract embeds advice and guidance into core activity, supporting delivery of the plan for change by enabling more patients to receive the right care without unnecessary referral. This will help reduce pressure on elective services and help tackle waiting lists, while improving patient experience.

This year, the Department of Health and Social Care widened the consultation to engage stakeholders from across the primary care system including GPC England, the Royal College of General Practitioners, National Voices, Institute of General Practice Management, Healthwatch England, the NHS Confederation and the National Association of Primary Care. This broader consultation enabled constructive feedback from across the system, helping to refine proposals and improve the final contract package for both patients and practices.

This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to working constructively with the profession and system partners, and to ensuring that general practice is supported to meet the needs of patients now and in the future.

[HCWS1359]

Identification of Victims of Modern Slavery: Call for Evidence

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Jess Phillips)]

On 16 July 2025, I announced a public call for evidence on identification of victims of modern slavery. The goal of this call for evidence was to hear views from stakeholders on the definitions of a victim of modern slavery, identification and decision-making processes, and futureproofing the modern slavery system.

Today, I am pleased to publish the report on the summary of responses. The call for evidence closed on 8 October 2025, and the Home Office received 119 responses from those with an interest and experience in modern slavery, including people with lived experience of modern slavery, non-governmental and civil society organisations, local authorities, academics, law enforcement, first responders, parliamentarians, and members of the public. We also ran a series of 10 stakeholder engagement workshops with NGOs, local and devolved governments, first responders, law enforcement, statutory partners, and academics. I greatly appreciate all the responses we received.

Over the coming months, we will carefully consider the evidence received to inform further legislative and policy development to ensure the effectiveness of the system for identifying victims of modern slavery. This includes commitments made to reform the modern slavery system set out in the statement on restoring order and control: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-and-returns-policy-statement/restoring-order-and-control-a-statement-on-the-governments-asylum-and-returns-policy

A copy of the summary of responses report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and published on gov.uk.

[HCWS1351]

Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme: Further Extension

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mike Tapp)]

The Government remain steadfast in their support for the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion. From the outset of the conflict, the Government have acted decisively and compassionately, offering sanctuary to over 310,000 Ukrainians through the Ukraine family scheme, Homes for Ukraine scheme, and Ukraine extension scheme. This response reflects not only the generosity and solidarity of the British public in providing sanctuary to those in need, but also the Government’s enduring commitment to international humanitarian principles and to standing with our allies in defence of freedom and democracy—an approach firmly aligned with the UK-Ukraine 100 year partnership, which sets out our long-term alliance and shared values across defence, education, and cultural exchange.

Local authorities and civil society organisations have played a vital role in delivering this support, helping to ensure that Ukrainians arriving in the UK are welcomed and able to rebuild their lives with dignity and security.

This Government have continued to honour their commitment to providing sanctuary for those displaced by Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Building on the success of the Ukraine schemes, the Ukraine permission extension scheme was introduced to offer eligible individuals the opportunity to apply for a further 18 months’ permission to stay in the UK.

The Government have listened to concerns raised by the Ukrainian community in the UK. To ensure continued stability and certainty for Ukrainians in the UK, it was announced that the UPE scheme will be extended by an additional 24 months. This means that individuals may benefit from a maximum of 3.5 years’ permission under UPE, in addition to any time already provided under the Ukraine schemes. This extension reaffirms the UK’s enduring commitment to supporting Ukrainian nationals and their eligible family members.

This extension will remain fee-free, and those granted permission to remain under UPE will continue to be able to access work, benefits, healthcare, and education.

Processing under the UPE scheme continues to operate efficiently, with the vast majority of applications concluded well within the service level agreement. This reflects the strong performance of the system and the commitment to providing timely decisions for those seeking support.

The Government will also expand the application window. Ukrainians will now be able to apply for the extension within the final 90 days of their current UPE permission, a significant increase from the current 28-day period. This change reflects the feedback we have had from applicants and is designed to provide greater flexibility and assurance, allowing applicants to secure their future in the UK with confidence and ease.

Application

To qualify, applicants must:

currently hold permission under UPE;

be physically present in the UK (or islands) at the date of application;

have been living in the UK (or islands) since being granted permission under the Ukraine schemes, including the UPE. Temporary periods spent outside the UK—defined as absences of no more than 12 months, whether continuous or cumulative —will not count as time outside the UK for the purposes of this requirement.

Applications for the UPE extension must be submitted online. It is essential for UPE holders to apply for the extension before the original UPE permission expires. Not doing so will result in the loss of rights to work and access to benefits, healthcare, and housing. Crucially, it means a former UPE holder will no longer hold valid immigration status and will be in the UK illegally. To avoid this scenario, the Government are taking proactive steps, including targeted communications, and are working closely with non-government organisations and community organisations, such as the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, to ensure applicants are fully informed and supported throughout the process.

Safeguarding and children’s applications

Children must continue to have adequate care and accommodation arrangements in place. Where a child is not residing with a parent, parental consent will be sought to confirm the child’s living situation. If, on receipt of a UPE application, there is a reason to be concerned about a child, a referral will be made by the Home Office to the local authority where the child is resident.

Where a child is resident in the UK, having been granted permission under the Ukraine scheme alongside a parent or legal guardian who also holds Ukraine scheme permission, the child’s permission under any UPE extension will be aligned with that of their parent or legal guardian. This alignment supports the best interests of the child.

Children born in the UK to a Ukrainian national parent with permission under the Ukraine schemes will continue to be eligible to apply for UPE.

Temporary sanctuary

The Government have always been clear that permission granted under the Ukraine schemes—including UPE—does not count towards settlement in the UK.

Equally, time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the continuous lawful residence requirement under the long residence route. This position remains unchanged and reflects the Ukrainian Government’s strong desire for its citizens to return when it is safe to do so, in order to contribute to the rebuilding of their country.

It is also important to recognise the broader implications of long-term displacement. A balanced demographic is essential for Ukraine’s recovery and future stability. The return of its citizens will play a vital role in restoring communities, revitalising the economy, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Ukrainian society.

Future policy direction

The Government recognise the importance of providing long-term certainty for Ukrainians living in the UK. We are committed to setting out the future arrangements clearly, and a further statement outlining the long-term position will be issued later this year. This will set out the Government’s approach beyond the extension of the UPE scheme, ensuring that displaced Ukrainians in the UK are supported in rebuilding their lives.

In shaping this approach, the Government will continue to engage with the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain and other community representatives to ensure that policy reflects the lived experiences and concerns of Ukrainians in the UK.

The Government remain steadfast in their support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, and we will continue to work across Departments to deliver a compassionate and coherent response to those affected by the conflict.

[HCWS1350]

Unexplained Wealth Orders Annual Report 2024-25

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

Today, the unexplained wealth order report for the period 2024 to 2025 will be laid before Parliament. The unexplained wealth order report details the number of unexplained wealth orders made by the High Court in England and Wales during that period, and the number of applications made to that Court by enforcement authorities for such an order.

During this reporting period, five unexplained wealth orders were applied for, all of which were granted. Four orders were applied for by the National Crime Agency and one by the Serious Fraud Office, the first agency other than the NCA to apply for an order.

This is the highest number of unexplained wealth orders applied for in one year since their introduction in 2017. This has, in part, been facilitated by reforms to the orders in the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022, which were designed to increase their use. Unexplained wealth orders are intended for particularly high-value and complex cases, which is reflected in their more limited use, compared to other powers. The wide range of alternative civil and criminal powers available to law enforcement agencies to investigate, search for, and seize assets are more appropriate for use in the majority of cases.

Enforcement agencies continue to review whether cases are suitable for a UWO. Copies of the report will be available in the Vote Office, and it will also be published on www.gov.uk.

[HCWS1355]

Court Modernisation

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Written Statements

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Lammy)]

This Government inherited a criminal justice system on the brink of collapse. Trials are taking longer, hearings are being cancelled, and victims are facing unacceptable delays.

As the independent review of criminal courts concluded, without action, the situation will continue to spiral, far beyond the point of recovery. Investment is not enough; even with record financial investment and uncapping sitting days so that the Crown court can sit and hear as many cases as possible, backlogs will continue to rise.

Only structural reform, alongside record investment and efficiencies can deliver faster, fairer justice for victims. Earlier this month, Sir Brian Leveson published the second part of his independent review of the criminal courts, focused on driving efficiency and modernising the system. Today, I announce several initial measures we are taking forward.

IRCC part 2 interim response

I remain grateful to Sir Brian Leveson and his panel of expert advisers for the review, which highlights many areas where we can make a tangible difference to productivity in the courts.

Listing and AI-assisted listing tool:

Sir Brian makes recommendations to improve consistency across court scheduling, or listing as a whole. The responsibility for listing sits with the judiciary. However, the Government have a responsibility to support them. Sir Brian recommends standardising the listing process and taking a national approach for the Crown court—recommendation 92. We support this recommendation and I can announce that the Lady Chief Justice will publish a national listing framework to clarify the listings process in England and Wales, setting consistent principles for how cases are listed efficiently.

Sir Brian also makes recommendations to harness new technology, and AI in particular, to improve the scheduling process—recommendations 94 and 95. We are exploring how data and AI can be used to optimise scheduling and listing, piloting new tools that could support the judiciary in their decision making. We have begun pilots of the new tool in Preston and Isleworth Crown courts. Learning from innovation and technology in the NHS, we are developing the tools to give listing officers more complete information about how long cases are likely to take. If successful, this could materially ease the burden on judges and help to maximise court resources. Together, these recommendations will take us from local listing on pen and paper, to a national, digital and data-led listing process.

Case progression:

Sir Brian recommends an increase in our case progression functions to speed up court processes and case progression. Building on the recent pilot of a case co-ordinator function in the Crown court, we will create a cadre of specialised staff with delegated judicial powers to focus exclusively on progressing cases. I today announce that we agree with Sir Brian’s recommendation to increase the number of staff undertaking these case progression functions in the Crown court—recommendation 109—and will expand the role to every Crown court.

Blitz courts:

Sir Brian’s review also endorses an approach to court scheduling known by some as blitz courts . This involves intensive scheduling where similar cases are listed together over a short period of time, allowing courts to crack through outstanding cases in a focused way. At the discretion of judges, there are plans to use them in London to help address the rising caseload from April 2026. By uncapping sitting days in 2026-27 and beyond, I will enable judges to run blitz courts more regularly to enable more cases to be dealt with more swiftly. Initially the blitz courts in London will focus on cases involving assaults on emergency workers and then move onto other offences suitable for this focused approach, such as cases involving possession of drugs or commercial burglary.

Remote participation:

Remote hearings, where appropriate, can make the court system work more efficiently. Remote video hearings can avoid the need for the transfer of prisoners and can enable busy counsel to undertake more than one hearing a day. We believe greater use of remote technology can make a substantial difference to a modernised, efficient court system.

Sir Brian s review considers the expansion of online hearings and how best this can be done while maintaining fairness and transparency. While Sir Brian recommends maintaining the presumption for in-person trials, he recommends that other types of hearing should happen remotely.

This Government agree. That is why we are investing in modernised video infrastructure to ensure our courts and tribunals have access to reliable, high-quality technology. We are supporting the work led by the senior judiciary to introduce new judicial guidance to promote a remote-first principle and greater consistency for the use of video hearings. This will enable more hearings to take place remotely, which will save time, money and make the system more flexible. How hearings are conducted is rightly a matter for the judiciary, but it is the Government’s job to ensure they have the tools to deliver justice as swiftly and accessibly as possible.

Prisoner escort and custody services:

Sir Brian made a number of recommendations to address the late arrivals of prisoners to court, which can mean cases are held up or adjourned, wasting court time and delaying justice.

We recognise the problems we inherited in prisoner transfer with delays occurring at prisons, en route between prison and court, and at courts themselves in bringing prisoners to the dock. We are gripping this with the establishment of an oversight body chaired by the Ministers for Courts and Prisons to review prisoner transfer from end to end. This will monitor and drive performance improvements in prisoner transfer across the country.

We will improve how we communicate and share data and monitor Prisoner Escort and Custody Services and the criminal justice agencies’ performance more closely. Taken together, we believe this will ensure we have the right resources in the right places at the right times and mean we are better able to act where services are not meeting expectations.

We agree with Sir Brian’s recommendation that PECS should be enabled to use bus lanes when transporting prisoners. This scheme is in use in Manchester, Bristol, Salford and Nottingham. We will work with the Department for Transport to issue guidance on PECS’ use of bus lanes to all local authorities. In London, where traffic regularly causes delays, we are working closely with Transport for London to reduce avoidable delays and keep the justice system moving.

Vision:

Finally, Sir Brian recommended that the Government should set a single, shared vision for partners across the criminal justice system with clearly defined policy objectives. The Government support this recommendation and I will work with the Home Secretary and the Attorney General to realise this vision.

We are carefully considering the remaining detailed recommendations in Sir Brian’s review, across part 1 and part 2, and will set out a full Government response in due course.

As Sir Brian makes clear, improving efficiencies alone is not a silver bullet to the current crisis. However, improved efficiency and modernisation form a key plank of our plan for reducing the delays and restoring confidence to the justice system. It is only the combination of pragmatic reform, investment and efficiencies that will ultimately deliver faster and fairer justice.

Broader modernisation measures

Transparency:

The Government are committed to delivering the most modern and open justice system we have had. Openness and transparency is key to fairness.

Through the Sentencing Act 2026, we have extended to every victim in the Crown court the right to request a free copy of the judge’s sentencing remarks, giving them a clear explanation of how and why the sentence was reached.

Judges in the new Crown court bench division will also explain their verdicts in open court. Under a reformed system, every magistrates court will have audio recording, putting the decision-making process on record.

In the Crown court, the broadcasting of sentencing remarks has shone light on this crucial stage of the criminal justice process and gives the wider public the chance to see justice being done. We intend to build on this success and enable more judges to be filmed when passing sentence. I will be working closely with the Lady Chief Justice to agree where we can go further and broadcast more in order to increase awareness.

Digitising the civil courts:

Civil courts are where millions of individuals and businesses bring claims and determine disputes every year. A modernised civil justice system can help resolve disputes earlier and save businesses significant cost. We know that the current system has a long way to go. The public is right to expect that civil claims and processes reflect the needs of a modern, digitised society.

That is why over the spending review period, we will be investing over £50 million to progress digitalisation of the county court. In addition, we will invest over £20 million for a new digital system in the High Court.

The civil courts play a critical role in supporting the UK’s £7.4 billion legal service trade surplus. This investment is crucial in ensuring the UK remains a world-leading jurisdiction for international dispute resolution and supporting the ongoing attractiveness of the property and business court as a venue for international litigation.

This investment is not just about big business. It is designed to improve access to justice by cutting complexity and cost, and making it easier to resolve common, everyday civil problems, such as when a business is failing to pay a supplier for goods provided or a dispute between a landlord and tenant over the condition of a property. Over a million claims have now been issued on our existing digital services for making money claims and damages claims. Cases consistently progress three times quicker through their early stages using these modern, user-focused services.

The Government are working with the Online Procedure Rule Committee to develop rules for online proceedings that are simple to use, accessible and fair—fit for the digital age.

Lawtech:

Lawtech is central to the Government’s vision for justice, harnessing new technologies to revolutionise legal advice and dispute resolution. Lawtech is driving growth and has enhanced access to justice by helping individuals and businesses to quickly understand their legal problems. The UK is a leading jurisdiction for the development of lawtech; 44% of European lawtech start-ups are based in the UK.

We are making sure the conditions are right for lawtech to thrive. The Government’s industrial strategy puts legal services and lawtech at its heart. To support UK lawtech, I am committing £1.5 million a year for the next three years to support our growing lawtech sector.

[HCWS1356]

Courts and Tribunals: Sitting Day Allocations

Tuesday 24th February 2026 Written Statements

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Lammy)]

Each year, the Government and the senior judiciary work to agree the sitting day allocations and overall funding envelope for His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. This joint approach ensures transparency, supports long-term planning, and enables the system to operate within a realistic and sustainable framework.

Following extensive engagement with the Lady Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals, the Judicial Office, I can confirm that we have reached a landmark settlement for 2026-27. This settlement ensures that courts and tribunals are equipped to operate at, or close to, maximum capacity.

For 2026-27, the Ministry of Justice will provide £2,785 million of total funding—£2,498 million fiscal resource and £287 million in fiscal capital funding. This represents a record investment in our courts and tribunals.

I will continue to increase the allocation in coming years. This settlement provides an unprecedented ability to plan for the long term. While this agreement formally governs the 2026-27 financial year, I have established firm funding commitments through to 2028-29 across all jurisdictions. By providing this three-year horizon, I am enabling HMCTS to plan more effectively, recruit with confidence, and begin to address outstanding caseloads with the stability that only multi-year certainty can provide.

The Crown court backlog continues to rise and stands at over 79,000 cases. My focus, as I have said to the House, is on victims who are being left to wait three, four or five years for their day in court. Central to this allocation, then, is the uncapping of the sitting day allocation for the Crown court for the next financial year, removing any financial constraint on the rate at which HMCTS operates. This will allow the Crown court to sit at record high levels, hearing as many cases as possible, getting swifter justice for victims and tackling the Crown court backlog. Combined with our court reform plans, this investment will help to turn the tide on the open caseload, enabling the system to move to a more sustainable footing over the period.

Beyond the uncapped capacity provided for the Crown court, this settlement delivers significant resources across all other jurisdictions. For magistrates courts, I am funding an allocation of 125,800 sitting days for the next financial year, up from 114,000 in the current financial year, and I am funding increases each year thereafter, with a target of 131,000 days in the final year. I have also set money aside for additional sitting days up to 140,000 in the final year of this spending review period if the system is able to deliver this.

[HCWS1357]