Written Statements

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

Wednesday 25 March 2026

Corporate Civil Enforcement Regime

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Blair McDougall)]

The enforcement activities of the Insolvency Service—tackling economic crime, disqualifying directors for corporate misconduct and winding up companies in the public interest—serve to protect market integrity. This, in turn, fosters economic growth by maintaining a trustworthy environment, conducive to investment and entrepreneurship.

A robust corporate enforcement regime capable of tackling all forms of corporate abuse is essential for providing a level playing field for legitimate businesses, so that they can thrive and grow. It encourages good corporate governance standards, provides the confidence to do business, and helps attract investment for companies based in the UK.

Following a comprehensive review of the corporate civil enforcement framework, I have concluded that while disqualifying directors and winding up companies remain important for addressing corporate misconduct, they do not, as they are, provide the flexibility needed to deal with today’s fast-moving and complex business landscape.

I am therefore publishing a consultation today that contains a range of options that would modernise the regime and add new flexibilities for dealing with varying degrees of misconduct. These options broadly fit into three categories:

Structural reforms

To modernise the enforcement framework, we could introduce additional tools to enhance flexibility and improve efficiency. These reforms would enable Government to address a broader range of corporate abuse, while supporting a more proportionate and targeted response to lower-level misconduct. The proposals seek to accelerate enforcement processes, speeding up the removal of individuals responsible for corporate abuse, and strengthening protections for the public and the wider marketplace.

Options include: introducing tailored restrictions for directors—as opposed to outright bans—when misconduct is due to ignorance, rather than an intent to commit wrongdoing; a faster process to ban directors from the marketplace where companies have been liquidated on public interest grounds due to causing harm; and updating and simplifying disqualification proceedings, by shifting defended cases from the courts to a tribunal model.

Information gathering powers

Strengthening the Government’s powers to seek and gather information necessary to support effective and efficient investigations into corporate abuse. This will ensure powers are fit for purpose, particularly in the light of the new powers introduced by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.



Procedural changes

Improving and modernising the current procedure for director disqualification. Making the processes more efficient and ensuring fairness and clarity for all parties.

Consultation next steps

The consultation invites general feedback on the options for reform, which will inform further policy development and identify preferred options. The consultation will be open for 12 weeks. I encourage those interested to respond to this consultation and use this opportunity to provide their views. The full consultation is available on gov.uk.

[HCWS1448]

Corporate Re-domiciliation

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Blair McDougall)]

I am pleased to announce that the Government are today launching a public consultation on detailed design proposals of an inward UK corporate re-domiciliation regime as part of our industrial strategy commitment to modernise company law.

The UK is a great place to locate and grow a business, with companies wanting to benefit from the business-friendly environment, world-class regulatory and legal framework, competitive corporate tax regime and extensive network of trade agreements. Under current processes, moving a company’s place of incorporation to the UK involves the creation of a new legal identity. This is costly, complex and can introduce commercial risks due to the need to transfer assets and contracts. An inward re-domiciliation regime, on the other hand, would enable foreign companies to transfer their place of incorporation to the UK while maintaining their legal identity, significantly reducing the disadvantages associated with the current routes. For some companies, the introduction of a regime would provide a practical and viable route to establishing a UK presence for the first time.

Economic growth is the No. 1 mission of this Government, and by making it easier for companies to move their place of incorporation to the UK, we will maximise opportunities for increased investment and skilled jobs. Companies moving to the UK will increase demand for professional and business services. In addition, the regime will support our plan to strengthen the UK’s position as the global location of choice for financial services firms to invest, innovate and grow. Both these sectors are among those identified as having the greatest growth potential in our modern industrial strategy.

To ensure that the regime is attractive, the regime will provide business with clarity and predictability, with proportionate and appropriate safeguards. Insolvent companies, or companies that are subject to specified sanctions—or whose directors, persons with significant control or members are subject to sanctions—would not be eligible, for example. Once a company has re-domiciled to the UK, it will be treated in the same way as a company originally incorporated in the UK, where all UK legal requirements would apply. Companies House will be responsible for operating the regime and will recover the costs associated with applications through fees.

The consultation will run for 12 weeks and may be of particular interest to multinational businesses, foreign incorporated companies, business representative groups, company law experts and professional services firms.

I will place copies of the consultation in the Libraries of both Houses, and it will be published on gov.uk.

[HCWS1447]

Intergovernmental Relations Dashboard

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chris Ward)]

The Government commitment to working in genuine partnership with the devolved Governments continues to be reflected in the depth and consistency of our engagement.

As the Prime Minister said when he first came to office, to ensure that we are indeed a United Kingdom, it is crucial to give greater importance to respect and collaboration in the service of all people, across all parts of this country. This is essential to tackle our shared challenges and build a United Kingdom that works for everyone.

Between April and September 2025, UK Government Ministers held 214 meetings with their counterparts in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, across formal intergovernmental structures and direct bilateral engagement.

This level of contact, maintained even across the summer recess period, remains higher than in comparable periods and reflects the value we place on sustained, collaborative working relationships.

Beyond formal forums such as the British-Irish Council and Interministerial Standing Committee, ministers and their devolved counterparts met across a wide range of policy areas—from trade strategy and EU matters to migration and economic growth—demonstrating that collaborative working is now embedded across Government.

This pattern of engagement reflects a broader truth: that the most effective solutions for people across the United Kingdom are found when Governments work together, drawing on the knowledge and priorities of each Administration.

As the publication of this dashboard shows, this Government remain fully committed to the devolution settlements and genuine partnership with the devolved Governments to deliver for people all across the United Kingdom.

[HCWS1449]

Covid-19 Inquiry Module 2: Government Response

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister (Darren Jones)]

On 20 November 2025, the covid-19 inquiry published its second report, which examined core decision-making and political governance across the UK and put forward 19 recommendations for the Government to consider. Today, the Government published their response and set out the actions we are taking to address them.

The covid-19 pandemic was a traumatic chapter in our country’s history. Families lost loved ones, businesses suffered or were forced to close, and many across the country were left with life-long health impacts. The Government debt built up to cover the economic impact of the crisis is still being paid back today; the impact on NHS waiting lists remains a long-term challenge.

The Government welcome the inquiry’s module 2 report and I want to express my gratitude to Baroness Hallett and her team for their rigorous examination of the issues it raises.

It is a sobering read. Responding to the pandemic was a highly significant logistical challenge to our system of government, and indeed to Governments all around the world. However the module 2 report nevertheless exposes several failures of the Government at the time: a failure to respond quickly enough; to treat the impact on vulnerable people and children seriously enough; to provide clear, unequivocal public health messaging; and to turn scientific advice into coherent policy in a transparent, methodical way. There are many lessons to learn from the mistakes, failures—and successes—where they were made.

This Government have already made significant changes to their crisis response structures in response to the covid-19 inquiry module 1 report. Without effective governance, we cannot expect to respond to crises effectively. The Prime Minister, Cabinet and civil service must be structured, willing and able to make fast, evidence-based and compassionate decisions that will save lives and livelihoods, informed by the scientific evidence. In July 2025, we also published our resilience action plan which explains this Government’s strategic approach to increasing the UK’s resilience. Our response to the module 2 report today builds on that.

We have already updated the UK Government’s crisis management doctrine, known as the Amber Book, which sets out the decision-making framework for responding to a crisis. This includes establishing the principles for a successful taskforce structure, to oversee the response to protracted whole-of-system crises, and has informed the development of internal risk-specific operational plans for catastrophic risks like pandemics.

The report also notes that clear and inclusive communication is integral to a successful Government response to an emergency. The Government Communication Service crisis communications operating model has been updated to clarify communications roles and responsibilities before, during, and in the aftermath of a crisis. We have issued new advice to help Departments create robust communication plans for their specific risks, and our STOP model for crisis planning now mandates that all communications consider people with additional needs. This ensures that our messaging is accessible and inclusive by default, in line with the Equality Act 2010, the public sector equality duty, and the British Sign Language Act 2022.

As recommended by the module 2 report, we are also working towards commencing the socioeconomic duty under section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 in England. Additionally, in 2025, we published updated guidance for identifying and supporting vulnerable people during an emergency.

We have also worked closely with our counterparts in the devolved Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to draft our response to this report. Our shared aim is to ensure that intergovernmental machinery is configured to enable better co-ordination between Governments while respecting the importance of local accountability. The devolved Governments should be invited to COBR and taskforce meetings during an emergency where relevant. Furthermore, guidance has been updated to ensure the three chief scientific advisers from the devolved Governments are invited to Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies meetings from the very outset of an emergency.

As the Government implement our response to the module 2 report, our progress will be recorded and tracked transparently using our covid-19 inquiry dashboard. These may seem like technical changes, but in an increasingly disruptive global context, having processes in place to make the right marginal call in moments of volatility can have profound and long-lasting impacts.

Many will naturally want to put the difficulty of covid-19 behind us, but given the long-lasting impact on the British economy and public services, it is right for Government to take these lessons seriously. And we owe it to those who died, suffered and struggled during the pandemic too. I am grateful to Baroness Hallett and her team for their rigorous examination of what went wrong, on the basis of which we are acting, to make sure this and future Governments can do better next time.

[HCWS1456]

2024 Horserace Betting Levy Review

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

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

I am repeating the following written ministerial statement made today in the other place by my noble Friend the Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling and Department for Culture, Media and Sport Lords Minister, Baroness Twycross:

The Government recognise the significant contribution that racing makes to the nation’s economy and sporting landscape. Britain is the birthplace of modern horse racing, and British racing is world-leading and includes sporting jewels such as the grand national and Royal Ascot. It is the second most attended sport in Great Britain, and saw increased attendances in 2025.

Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct Government-mandated levy, which helps to drive improvements in the sport. The horserace betting levy is paid by bookmakers with annual gross profits on British horseracing of over £500,000, at a rate of 10%. The levy is collected by the horserace betting levy board, and directed towards supporting breeds of horses, the advancement or encouragement of veterinary science and education, and the improvement of horse racing. Last year’s levy yield was £108 million, which exceeds the previous year’s figure of £105 million. The Government last introduced changes to the levy in 2017 by regulations made under the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014, which made a commitment to a further levy review by 24 April 2024. That review was undertaken by the last Government by the 2024 deadline, and this statement sets out the conclusions of that review.

First, in the light of the recent changes to gambling taxation, we want to provide stability and certainty to the gambling sector. For this reason, the Government do not feel it is appropriate to pursue legislative changes to the rate of the horserace betting levy at this time. Secondly, we do not support the extension of the levy to overseas racing. This is because the combination of the existing levy and commercial opportunities already appropriately reflects the specific relationship between the racing and betting industries in Great Britain.

A sustainable future for British horseracing is the shared goal of the betting and racing industries and joint action is required to achieve this.

The Government are steadfast in their support for racing. We welcome initiatives to improve the governance structure within the sport, modernise the fixture list and improve horse welfare. We will continue to support the BHA and wider racing stakeholders to achieve these aims. British racing is the envy of the world and we would encourage the industry to work as one—and with the betting industry—to ensure a sustainable future to ensure the continued success of this national treasure.

[HCWS1450]

Inclusion and Capital Funding

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)]

I am today announcing:

£860 million of capital funding for the 2026-27 financial year to support the creation of around 11,000 places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities or who require alternative provision as part of our delivery of 60,000 new specialist places;

Details of over £2.1 billion in capital maintenance funding for the 2026-27 financial year so that buildings at over 22,000 schools and sixth-form colleges in England provide a safe and effective learning environment; and

Details of how the first year of the £1.6 billion investment in mainstream inclusion announced in the schools White Paper will be allocated. From 2026-27 the new inclusive mainstream fund grants will allocate this funding to mainstream schools, 16-19 providers and early years settings to support inclusive practice.

Funding for SEND and AP places

We are allocating £860 million in high needs capital to support all local authorities to create high-quality places that are suitable to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND. This is part of the £3.7 billion capital announced to help deliver 60,000 new specialist places.

We want schools to be inclusive by design, with strong mainstream provision and excellent specialist support. This funding will support a transformative expansion of inclusion bases, adapt mainstream settings to improve their accessibility and inclusivity, and create special school or AP places for pupils with the most complex needs.

To support this, local authorities will be asked to sign a memorandum of understanding aligned with these objectives.

I thank local authorities with planned special or AP free schools for confirming to the Department how they would like to proceed. Local authorities opting to create the same number of school places for children with SEND through alternative funding will also receive confirmed allocations today. Where local authorities have indicated that they want to continue with the special or AP free school, we have confirmed this choice and will move forward with delivery of over 5,000 places.

Condition funding

High-quality and inspiring school and college buildings are essential to delivering a world-class education and creating the conditions for all children and young people to achieve and thrive. Evidence suggests that learning in buildings that are in poor condition can have a negative impact on attainment.

This is why I am also announcing the allocation of over £2.1 billion in condition funding for capital maintenance for the financial year 2026-27. This includes: over £1.4 billion in school condition allocations for eligible responsible bodies, including local authorities, large multi-academy trusts and large voluntary aided school bodies, such as dioceses, to decide how to invest across over 18,000 schools; over £450 million available for the condition improvement fund for the almost 4,000 schools in smaller and stand-alone responsible bodies, including sixth-form colleges—with the outcomes of applications to the fund to be announced later this spring; and almost £220 million in devolved formula capital, which is allocated directly for 22,176 schools and sixth-form colleges to spend on their own capital priorities.

This supports the Government’s education estates strategy, published in February 2026, which set out plans for an education estate that supports opportunity for all, backed by a 10-year plan to deliver a decade of renewal to transform schools and colleges.

Inclusive mainstream fund

In addition to the investment in the physical estate, the schools White Paper, “Every Child Achieving and Thriving”, announced £1.6 billion for an inclusive mainstream fund for mainstream schools, 16 to 19 providers and early years settings to deliver improved inclusion practice over the next three years. This investment is about making the changes that put inclusion at the heart of every setting, so that every child and young person can achieve and thrive.

Today I am confirming the details of how over £500 million of this funding will be allocated in the financial year 2026-27. Through separate grants, £47 million will be allocated for early years; £400 million for mainstream schools; and £83 million for 16 to 19 providers. We have published methodology documents to explain how the funding will be allocated, with funding formulae varying between phases, in recognition of the different contexts.

We have published a calculator tool so that schools can see a close estimate of the funding that they will receive through the inclusive mainstream fund in 2026-27. This will support schools’ planning in advance of finalised allocations being paid in June 2026. For early years, we have also published a calculator tool to support local authorities to calculate their total funding allocation and plan for how they will pass on the funding to early years settings in their area.

The IMF is intended to be used alongside core funding allocations to equip settings to plan, prepare and embed evidence-informed approaches and activities to build an inclusive offer for children and young people with SEND. This could include interventions such as staff training to deliver evidence-based interventions; delivering activities and wider opportunities for pupils to build life skills and independence; or creating visual supports, such as timetables and communication aids. Alongside the funding methodologies, the Department has published case studies and examples of inclusive best-practice.

Schools will be required to develop and publish an inclusion strategy, setting out how they will use their resources—including the IMF—to identify and meet need and embed inclusive practice. Colleges will set out their plans within their accountability agreements. Building on existing accountability measures, local authorities will ensure that early years settings are using the IMF appropriately to support inclusion.

Full details of this announcement, including the capital allocations for high needs and condition funding, have been published on the Department for Education section on the gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-needs-provision-capital-allocations

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-mainstream-fund-2026-to-2027

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-early-years-fund-2026-to-2027

[HCWS1451]

NHS England: Financial Directions

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)]

I am revising the 2025-26 financial directions to NHS England made on 31 March 2025, and setting the 2026-27 financial directions to NHS England.

The amendment to the total revenue resource use limit for 2025-26 has been agreed with NHS England, as required under section 223D(4) of the National Health Service Act 2006.

The directions reflect recent funding settlements with His Majesty’s Treasury and include a number of funding transfers from and between the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England.

The 2025-26 total is as set out by HM Treasury at the autumn statement, with some additional transfers in-year, including for pay, industrial action and redundancy costs. The 2026-27 total is as set out by HM Treasury, with some additions from budgets held in the wider DHSC group.

Both directions will be laid before Parliament and published on gov.uk.

[HCWS1457]

Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration: Pay Recommendation

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)]

I hugely appreciate the incredible work of talented staff across our NHS. That is why I am formally accepting the headline pay recommendation from the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration to give them a well-deserved pay rise. This means:

Over 165,000 doctors working in hospital and community health sector will receive a 3.5% pay rise.

For GPs and other general practice staff there will be a 3.5% increase to the pay elements of the GP contract.

Increased funding for the additional roles reimbursement scheme will also be provided to facilitate uplifts for staff in line with DDRB and NHSPRB recommendations.

For dentists there will be a 3.75% increase to the pay elements of the NHS dental contract.

Community dental service dentists, who are salaried, will also receive a 3.75% pay rise.

We are working closely with payroll systems to ensure pay uplifts will be implemented as soon as possible.

These awards are above forecast inflation over the 2026-27 pay year, meaning that the Government are delivering a real-terms pay rise, on top of those in preceding years, underlining the extent to which we value our doctors and dentists. We are in the process of concluding business planning across DHSC and its arm’s length bodies and that will take the DDRB recommendations into account. The existing challenging, productivity and efficiency commitments required by ICBs and providers to deliver break-even positions are the foundations of the Government’s ability to agree this within the existing settlement. This additional pressure above the Government’s affordability position set out in its evidence to the DDRB will be managed by DHSC and ALBs (including NHS England central budgets) so the DDRB increases will not be paid for by cutting frontline services.

I am grateful to the chair and members of the DDRB for their thoughtful consideration of the evidence presented to them; their report recognises the vital contribution that NHS staff make to our country. DDRB have examined the economic picture, and evidence on recruitment, retention, motivation and morale to reach their recommendations.

The DDRB made a further two recommendations, which are not directly related to headline pay, targeted at specific parts of the remit group. I am grateful for these recommendations. However, we need further time to carefully consider these, working with our partners to determine the best way forward. To avoid delays to pay uplifts reaching NHS staff, we will respond separately to these recommendations in due course.

We will continue to implement commitments to improve the support NHS staff receive and their experience at work. Ensuring the NHS is a great place to work is fundamental to improving the patient experience: from reducing the backlog in elective care, to ensuring timely access to GP appointments.

Next Steps

We have listened to the workforce and understand the difficulties they face when pay awards are not delivered on time. Last year, this Government committed to speeding up the pay review process, remitting the pay review bodies months earlier than in previous years, and also submitting written evidence earlier. I am pleased to be announcing the pay awards earlier than the previous year, which means that doctors and dentists will see pay in their pay packets closer to April. We will continue work across Government to keep bringing forward the pay round for all public sector staff.

The DDRB report will be presented to Parliament and published on gov.uk. I will update the House at the earliest opportunity on ongoing negotiations with the BMA Resident Doctors Committee.

[HCWS1462]

Pandemic Preparedness Strategy

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Mrs Sharon Hodgson)]

I am today announcing the publication of the new pandemic preparedness strategy, outlining the UK Government plan for improving our pandemic preparedness capabilities between now and 2030.

The covid-19 pandemic was the most significant crisis that we have faced in generations. It touched every aspect of our lives, and its impacts continue to be felt across our communities. It showed that a future pandemic is one of the most profound threats to our society.

The UK is already a world leader in life sciences. Building on our strengths and the huge amount of work that has taken place since the pandemic to improve preparedness, the 2025 UK Government resilience action plan set out a new national approach to resilience, based on continuous assessment of readiness and mobilising the whole of society.

This strategy, which is backed by investment of around £1 billion for health protection during the current spending review period, is a demonstration of our resolve to protect the health of our nation, safeguard our economy and minimise the unequal impacts that pandemics can bring. It sets out the improvements that we will make to our health system response capabilities, and how they underpin a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach. It builds on the lessons identified from the covid-19 pandemic and is shaped by the findings of the UK covid-19 inquiry and indicative findings from Exercise Pegasus, the largest non-military exercise ever to take place in the UK. The exercise tested the Government’s ability to respond quickly and effectively during a prolonged crisis, with a full report to be published in the winter of 2026.

The covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the crucial importance of Governments across the UK working together while also respecting, and taking full account of, devolved areas of responsibility.

In support of a joined-up approach to preparedness, all four nations endorse the principles of preparedness set out in the strategy, while individual nations will have their own plans to implement their preparedness.

These principles include protecting those most at risk, with Governments committing to tailoring their capabilities to protect all communities and aiming to deliver an effective and equitable response to pandemics.

The strategy contains commitments across a number of areas that outline how the UK Government will improve pandemic preparedness, many of which have been informed and shaped by the initial findings of Exercise Pegasus. They include to:



Take a dynamic approach to ensure access to vaccines and therapeutics, and address the perceived barriers to the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics for priority pathogens.

Develop the ability to rapidly develop diagnostics for a broad range of pathogens, with scaled up in-house capacity for laboratory testing and whole genome sequencing.

Develop UK manufacturing capacity for vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

Further strengthen surveillance systems to be comprehensive, activation-ready and drawing on diverse sample groups across settings and communities, so that we can detect threats, understand disease spread and enable the analytical capability to act effectively and equitably.

Replenish PPE stockpiles, refine plans for mobilising and distributing PPE, and prepare a cross-Government model for procuring and prioritising the distribution of PPE to critical workers in a pandemic.

Strengthen Government co-ordination mechanisms, drawing from early findings of Exercise Pegasus, including through regularly reviewing and exercising response plans. Guidance will be put in place for local responders.

Publish evidence reviews on the effectiveness of community protection measures and build a suite of measures to support decision making and prioritisation.

Expand communication channels for and improve our understanding of how to make communications relevant to different communities, and strengthen guidance provided to different sectors.

Review the data capabilities needed to support decision-making and evaluate the impacts of pandemic response measures, and enhance data sharing capabilities to enable faster and more transparent information sharing between organisations and with the public in a pandemic.

Co-develop an adult social care pandemic action plan to respond to future threats with sector partners. As part of this, we will focus on how best to support the wellbeing of those with care and support needs and how to improve the resilience and preparedness of the adult social care workforce.

Strengthen the flexibility and resilience of the healthcare workforce, improve the NHS baseline capabilities to manage infections, and develop plans to minimise the risk of cross-contamination across services and maintain continuity of routine care during pandemics.

By integrating our health, security and scientific capabilities, we will protect the NHS, safeguard our economy and save lives.

[HCWS1458]

Global Fraud Summit

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

My noble Friend the Minister of State, Lord Hanson of Flint, has today made the following written ministerial statement:

I am pleased to update the House on the recent Global Fraud Summit 2026 held at the United Nations in Vienna, sponsored by the United Kingdom and co-organised with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Interpol.

The summit brought together over 1,400 delegates, with 40 Ministers, 115 countries represented, and 400 senior tech, banking and broader industry executives.

Fraud is the most experienced crime facing UK citizens and businesses. Of this, we estimate over two thirds to derive in some way from overseas as a product of transnational organised criminality. To drive down this crime, which costs our economy over £14 billion a year and threatens our economic and national security, it is essential to work with other Governments and multilateral forums.

Spearheaded by UK leadership, the summit delivered several key outcomes:

A UN “call to action” committing signatory member states to an intensification of efforts to disrupt fraud and to work closer with industry to achieve these goals.

A new UK initiative, signed by Five Eyes, G7 and industry partners, to work together and step up efforts domestically and internationally to protect consumers and to jointly disrupt transnational organised fraud.

With UK backing, an Interpol-led global taskforce was launched to disrupt the highest harm fraud networks. This includes targeting scam compounds where human trafficking and slavery is used to deliver industrial-scale fraud operations targeting UK citizens from overseas.

These actions follow the launch of the Government’s fraud strategy—Cmd 1523—on 9 March 2026. Within this strategy, we committed to working with all partners, countries and industry alike to collaborate and disrupt the organised criminals that enact so much financial and emotional harm on UK citizens and businesses. This summit demonstrated UK global leadership and resulted in agreed joint action to shut down sophisticated fraud operations and ultimately keep the nation safer from organised crime.

[HCWS1452]

Fire Safety: Approved Document B Consultation

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Samantha Dixon)]

In my statement on 17 December 2025, I emphasised the Government’s commitment to addressing all 58 recommendations made by the Grenfell inquiry following the phase 2 report and noted that we have taken several significant steps already to build a more robust and trusted regulatory system and deliver safe, quality homes for everyone.

In February last year, the Government committed to put Approved Document B—the statutory fire safety guidance accompanying the building regulations—under continuous review. Today, the building safety regulator has launched a consultation on further proposed updates to Approved Document B. The consultation will seek views on: a provision for evacuation lifts in residential buildings above 18 metres in height; consideration of whether alarm coverage or sprinklers are provided in specialised housing; disapplication of Approved Document B for structures taller than 11 metres made from combustible material in structural elements; revision of guidance on fire spread across external walls and balconies; updated roof provisions including photovoltaic panel placement to support safe implementation of the future homes standard; fire resistance in car parks; and small technical clarifications and consideration of the Grenfell inquiry recommendation on BS9414 “Fire performance of external cladding systems”.

These proposals represent an important step in supporting inclusive design, safe evacuation strategies and robust fire safety standards across the built environment. The consultation has been published on the Citizen Space website, which is available at:

https://consultations.hse.gov.uk/bsr/review-of-approved-document-b-fire-safety

The consultation will remain open until Wednesday 17 June 2026.

[HCWS1460]

Local Government Reorganisation

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Steve Reed)]

This Government are undertaking the biggest reform of local government in a generation, ending the two-tier system and replacing it with new single-tier unitary councils. This agenda is key to this Government’s vision of local councils that deliver good services for residents and are equipped to drive economic growth, but can empower their communities.

As a Government, our No. 1 ambition is growing the economy and putting more money in the pockets of working people. Driving economic growth means acknowledging that cities, towns and villages do not all perform the same roles in the national economy—they specialise in what they are best at. Public service demand also is not the same across the country. Some areas have high levels of homelessness and temporary accommodation, others have a high need for adult social care due to an older population. Local leaders, both in councils and mayoralties, need to be able to focus on the specific needs of their area.

Reorganisation presents a once-in-a-generation chance to make sure our councils match the modern realities of our places, making sure outdated boundaries are not constraining growth, particularly in our towns and cities. In too many places, council boundaries are misaligned with the needs of their local communities and how those communities live their lives. In Ipswich, for example, the boundaries have remained largely unchanged since the middle of the 19th century, even as the population has grown. These outdated and misaligned structures slow down decisions, stifle housing growth, and fragment public service delivery.

This is particularly important for key Government priorities on house building, like our target of building 1.5 million homes in England this Parliament. The housing needs of local communities are best met by councils who are closely connected to their communities and understand a place’s local identity. This connection is crucial in ensuring that local government can boost economic growth and design public services that respond to local residents.

Reorganisation must also respect local identity, and the distinctive nature of the rural, urban and coastal communities across our country. We want to see councils that are connected to their local residents and communities; councils that mean something to the people they serve.

Decisions

I am pleased to announce today the next step in our vital reforms to reorganise local government. On 5 February 2025, councils in the 21 areas of England that still have two-tier local government and neighbouring small unitary authorities were invited to submit proposals for unitarisation.

We invited six areas to put forward proposals by 26 September 2025—East Sussex and Brighton and Hove; Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock; Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton; Norfolk; Suffolk; and West Sussex.

My Department received 17 proposals in total across the areas. I would like to thank councillors and officers in these areas for their hard work. As the House was informed on 19 November, all the proposals received were taken to consultation, which closed on 11 January 2026. We have now considered each proposal carefully against the criteria set out in the invitation letter of 5 February 2025, alongside the responses to the consultation, all representations and all other relevant information to assess the proposals. In summary, these criteria are:

whether each proposal achieves for the whole of the area concerned the establishment of a single tier of local government;

whether the councils are the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks;

whether the unitary structures prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens;

whether councils in the area have sought to work together to come to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views;

whether new unitary structures support devolution arrangements;

whether new unitary structures enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment.

Decisions on each area have been made on a case-by-case basis, on their own merits, respecting the differences of local circumstances and local people’s views. In two areas, I have not yet made a decision, and will make a decision as soon as practicable, so reorganisation can be completed on the planned timeline.

Today, I have written to the leaders of councils setting out decisions and/or next steps for all six areas. I have decided to implement the following proposals, subject to parliamentary approval, in these areas:

Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock: five unitary proposal, creating the councils referred to in the proposals as:

West Essex Council (current local government areas of Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford)

North East Essex Council (current local government areas of Braintree, Colchester and Tendring)

Mid Essex Council (current local government areas of Brentwood, Chelmsford and Maldon)

South West Essex Council (current local government areas of Basildon and Thurrock)

South East Essex Council (current local government areas of Castle Point, Rochford and Southend-on-Sea).

Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton: five unitary proposal (option 1A) submitted by Eastleigh, Fareham, Hart, Havant, Portsmouth, Rushmoor and Southampton councils, creating the councils referred to in the proposals as:

North Hampshire Council (current local government areas of Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor)

Mid Hampshire Council (current local government areas of East Hampshire, New Forest, Test Valley and Winchester, less 11 parishes from all four areas)

South East Hampshire Council (current local government areas from East Hampshire, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, three parishes from East Hampshire and one parish from Winchester)

South West Hampshire Council (current local government areas of Eastleigh, four parishes from New Forest, Southampton and three parishes from Test Valley)

Isle of Wight Council will remain as a separate unitary authority.

Norfolk: three unitary proposal, creating the councils referred to in the proposals as:

West Norfolk Council (current local government areas of Breckland, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, and nine parishes from South Norfolk).

Greater Norwich Council (current local government areas of Norwich, 19 parishes from Broadland, and 16 parishes from South Norfolk).

East Norfolk Council (current local government areas of Broadland (less 19 parishes), Great Yarmouth, North Norfolk, and South Norfolk (less 25 parishes)).

Suffolk: three unitary proposal, creating the councils referred to in the proposals as:

Central and Eastern Suffolk Council (current local government areas of West Suffolk, 21 parishes from Mid Suffolk, and Babergh (less 31 parishes)).

Western Suffolk Council (current local government areas of Mid Suffolk (less 29 parishes), and East Suffolk (less 25 parishes).

Ipswich and South Suffolk Council (current local government areas of Ipswich, 31 parishes from Babergh, eight parishes from Mid Suffolk, and 25 parishes from East Suffolk).

In implementing the above proposals for reorganisation in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight; Norfolk; and Suffolk, I will exercise my power to modify the base proposals received from councils, in order to make the boundary changes that the councils requested.

Further information on the decisions taken in these areas can be found in the letters to council leaders in the areas, which will be published on gov.uk later today. A summary of the responses to the consultations for proposals in these areas will also be published today.

In East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, and West Sussex, after carefully considering the four proposals received across the areas, I have not yet made a decision, due to concerns regarding all four of the proposals I received. But I would like to reassure the House that I am still fully committed to delivering reorganisation in these areas with elections in May 2027 and changes coming into effect from April 2028.

I am considering modifications that could address my concerns, including an option for potential modification of the proposals for further consultation. I have set out further details in a letter to council leaders this morning.

I would also like to confirm our commitment to repay in-principle £200 million of Thurrock council’s debt in 2026-27. This is a significant and unprecedented commitment which reflects an assessment of value for money for national and local taxpayers, given the significant unsupported debt at the council linked to historic capital practices. This follows the recent announcement in October 2025 as part of reorganisation in Surrey to repay in-principle £500 million of Woking borough council’s debt in 2026-27.

We have not taken these decisions lightly and they have not been made simply because debt is high at these councils. The decision for Thurrock council reflects an assessment of value for money and acknowledgement that, even after significant local action to reduce debt, the council still holds significant unsupported debt that cannot be managed locally in its entirety. I would like to thank the council’s current leadership for its grip of the financial situation and to recognise the progress that has been made to reduce debt.

Further detail on this can be found in the letter to Essex council leaders, which will be published on gov.uk.

To prevent failures like those seen in Thurrock and Woking from happening again, we will now bring into operation the statutory powers enacted in 2023—but never used by the previous government—which allow direct intervention where authorities take excessive risks in their borrowing and investment practices. These powers will ensure that essential capital investment in services, housing and growth can continue, but within a much stronger framework of safeguards to protect taxpayers from costly and avoidable failure. We will soon launch a consultation to engage with the sector and stakeholders in developing and implementing these powers.

I am pleased to be able to confirm how the £63 million in transition funding announced in February will be allocated—making this the first Government to provide funding for the reorganisation process. We will provide at least £900,000 for each new unitary authority to help establish effective services and governance arrangements, ensuring funding is provided fairly, consistently, and as quickly as possible. This will mean the Essex invitation area receives £4.5 million for five new unitary councils; the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton invitation area receives £3.6 million for four new unitary councils; the Norfolk invitation area receives £2.7 million for three new unitary councils; and the Suffolk invitation area receives £2.7 million for three new unitary councils. We will also provide the Surrey invitation area with £1.8 million for two new unitary councils. This approach reflects the differing levels of complexity involved across areas and allows for a small central reserve to be used later for targeted support if needed. Funding will be issued through established, flexible grant mechanisms and my officials will be in touch with councils to confirm next steps.

Next steps

Delivering reorganisation for the benefit of all residents is a shared endeavour, and ongoing collaboration will be vital to ensure that these reforms are implemented with the interests of residents at their heart.

We remain committed to the timetable we have set out previously, with elections to the new unitary councils taking place in May 2027, ahead of them going live and delivering services in April 2028.

For the other 14 areas going through local government reorganisation, I would like to emphasise that the decisions taken here, and previously in Surrey, do not set any precedent. Decisions will be taken individually, based on the published criteria referred to above, the merits of each proposal we receive, and the local context.

I will deposit in the Library of the House copies of the letter and documents I have referred to, which are also being published on gov.uk today.

[HCWS1455]

Foreign Financial Influence and Interference: UK Politics

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Steve Reed)]

This Government are committed to strengthening our democracy and upholding the integrity of elections, as set out in our 2024 manifesto. We have already made progress on this, with our strategy for modern and secure elections published in July 2025, setting out the actions that we will take to simplify, protect and promote our valued democracy.

The Representation of the People Bill, currently being considered by Parliament, will bring in protections against foreign interference, improve political funding transparency, add tougher checks for political donations and close loopholes—increasing public confidence in the integrity of our democratic institutions.

However, we cannot ignore the fact that vulnerabilities in the UK’s political and electoral systems, particularly with politicians being targeted by foreign states, were exposed in the sentencing for bribery in November 2025 of former MEP Nathan Gill, alongside other recent cases. It is therefore right that we urgently consider whether our firewall is enough.

In December 2025 I commissioned former permanent secretary Philip Rycroft to lead an independent review into foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics. Mr Rycroft has now provided the outcomes of the review to myself and the Security Minister, and today we have laid before the House, using the unopposed return procedure, and published on gov.uk the independent review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics.

The Government welcome Philip Rycroft’s comprehensive, thoughtful and well-reasoned report on foreign financial interference in our democracy. We are taking immediate steps to implement his recommendations for a cap on donations made by overseas electors and for a moratorium on donations made via cryptocurrency, which we will implement through the Representation of the People Bill.

Specifically, we will introduce amendments to the Bill to:

Cap the total value of donations or regulated transactions that an overseas elector can make to, or enter into with any, one or more regulated recipients at £100,000 per calendar year. This cap is a “per elector” cap, meaning that the value of any donations to, or regulated transactions involving, any regulated recipients during the calendar year involving an overseas elector will count towards the cap as it applies to that elector.

Establish a complete moratorium on the making of cryptoasset donations to any regulated recipient, until such point that Parliament and the Electoral Commission are satisfied that there is sufficient regulation in place to ensure confidence and transparency in donations being made in this way. The moratorium will apply to any donation of any value, including donations of a value that would ordinarily fall below the threshold for the controls on donations.

We intend for these measures to apply to all regulated recipients of political donations, and to apply to all elections in the UK. This means that it is intended that the measures will apply to:

Any donation to a registered political party regulated under part 4 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA);

Any controlled donation to a member of a registered political party, a members association or the holder of a relevant elective office—i.e. an MP; a Member of the Scottish Parliament, Senedd or Northern Ireland Assembly; a police and crime commissioner; a member of a local authority or the Greater London Assembly; the Mayor of London or an elected mayor—regulated under schedule 7 to PPERA;

Any regulated transaction involving a registered political party, a member of a registered political party, a members association or the holder of a relevant elective office regulated under part 4A of or schedule 7A to PPERA;

Any relevant donation to a recognised third party regulated under schedule 11 to PPERA;

Any relevant donation to a candidate at any election in the UK—i.e. a candidate at a UK parliamentary election, a Scottish parliamentary election, a Senedd election, a Northern Ireland Assembly election, a local government election in England, Wales and Scotland, a local election in Northern Ireland, a Greater London Assembly election or an election of the Mayor of London, or an election of a police and crime commissioner in England and Wales—regulated under schedule 2A to the Representation of the People Act 1983, schedule 3A to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 or equivalent provision under secondary legislation;

Any relevant donation to a permitted participant to a referendum to which part 7 of PPERA or the Referendums (Scotland) Act 2020 applies;

Any relevant donation to an accredited campaigner at a recall petition under the Recall of MPs Act 2015.

In Scotland and Wales, donations to candidates—rather than parties—are devolved matters, but my intention is to seek a legislative consent motion for our amendments, to ensure that there are no gaps in our safeguards. I will also speak to my counterparts in the Scottish and Welsh Governments to emphasise my commitment to work together to protect our electoral system across the UK.

Critically, the amendments to the Representation of the People Bill will make it clear that, when the legislation comes into force, both of these changes will be applied retrospectively from today. The measures will therefore apply in respect of donations received from today and regulated transactions entered into from today—and for the purpose of the cap on donations from regulated transactions involving overseas electors only such donations or regulated transactions are to be taken into account when determining whether the cap has been reached in respect of any overseas elector.

Political parties and other regulated recipients will need to consider carefully any donations or regulated transactions to which these measures will apply from today until the provisions in the Bill that relate to these measures come into force. A regulated recipient should refuse any donation—or choose not to enter into a regulated transaction—where the donation or regulated transaction would be considered impermissible as a result of these two measures once enacted.

Once the provisions of the Bill for these two measures come into force, a regulated recipient will then have 30 days to return any unlawful donations that they may have received and inadvertently accepted in the interim, or to pay back any money owed under transactions inadvertently entered into or rendered void, after which enforcement action can be taken.

The Government support the wider conclusions drawn by Philip Rycroft on the risks in our system and will reflect swiftly on how best to take these forward, given their more technical nature. We will respond, formally and in full, in advance of Commons Report stage of the Representation of the People Bill.

[HCWS1459]

Rail Reform: Wales and Borders Area

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Transport (Heidi Alexander)]

I am publishing, alongside the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, the memorandum of understanding provided for under clause 24 of the Railways Bill. The publication of this MOU marks a major milestone in the delivery of rail reform and demonstrates our shared commitment to deliver a simpler, better and more integrated railway for the Wales and borders area.

This MOU reflects the strong and constructive collaboration that has taken place between the UK Government, the Welsh Government, Network Rail and Transport for Wales. Our officials and delivery bodies have worked closely and positively throughout its development, underpinned by a strong relationship between UK and Welsh Ministers. We have moved from a shared ambition to building a practical shared approach to the delivery of rail services and infrastructure in Wales and its border regions. The MOU reflects the priorities and ambitions of both Governments, establishing a clear foundation for how we will work together to deliver the railway in Wales and the borders into the future.

The MOU sets out a clear framework for how our Governments will collaborate in the delivery of a more integrated, user-focused railway, with transparent roles, responsibilities and governance. It empowers joint working between TfW and Great British Railways, supports empowered local decision making, and provides a platform for more coherent system planning and improved outcomes for rail users.

Key elements of the MOU include:

Shared objectives and funding period planning for the Wales and borders area—A commitment to develop and publish a set of shared objectives for each funding period, establishing a jointly shaped strategic direction for rail delivery in the Wales and borders area.

Access, use and whole-system planning—Commitments to ensure that decisions on access, capacity and charging reflect the shared objectives and recognise TfW’s multimodal responsibilities. This will allow GBR and TfW to plan together more effectively and support a seamless passenger experience.

GBR Wales and borders/GBR Cymru a r Gororau—An empowered, locally focused corporate structure within GBR, aligned closely with TfW and operating with clearly delegated authorities. This is a significant step in delivering a more joined-up system that reflects the needs of Welsh passengers and cross-border communities.

Partnering arrangements between GBR and TfW—A commitment to develop a formal partnering arrangement between GBR and TfW to support integration of track and train, reduce interface complexity, and promote a more coherent and responsive railway.

Cross-border services—A clear framework for developing, managing and funding cross-border services collaboratively, ensuring continuity, transparency and shared oversight of changes that affect communities on both sides of the border.

Core valley lines (CVL) interface and simplification—Shared ambition to reduce unnecessary regulatory complexity on CVL, and a commitment to develop jointly agreed interface arrangements that support smooth operation of CVL and the rest of the rail network.

Governance of enhancement investment—The continued recognition of the Wales Rail Board as a strategic forum for reviewing funding, business plans and delivery of enhancements; reflecting the continuing maturity of Welsh rail delivery capability.

The publication of this MoU represents the culmination of months of intensive, collaborative work. It signals the strong and practical partnership that will underpin how our Governments deliver rail reform in Wales and the borders. It offers greater transparency for Parliament, the Senedd, industry and the public, setting out clearly how each Government will work with their respective delivery bodies and with each other.

Looking ahead, Network Rail and TfW will now begin work on developing a formal partnering arrangement on behalf of GBR, building on the commitments in this MoU, to allow for closer joint planning, clearer accountability, and stronger alignment across infrastructure and train operations. This work, coupled with the shared objectives for the next funding period, will support the delivery of a more integrated railway that meets the needs of passengers and communities across Wales and the bordering regions of England.

This MOU represents a significant step forward in the journey to deliver rail reform across Great Britain, and to address the existing challenges faced by the Wales and borders railway both now and in the future. We are confident that the MOU will provide a basis for deeper collaboration between the UK Government and the Welsh Government—and, in future, between GBR and Transport for Wales. It will improve reliability and performance, strengthen cross-border connectivity, and deliver a modern railway that better serves passengers and freight and the communities in the Wales and borders area for decades to come.

[HCWS1461]

Ethnicity and Disability Pay Gap Reporting

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Equalities (Seema Malhotra)]

This Government are clear that equality and opportunity are at the heart of our programme of national renewal. Three principles guide our approach: opportunity, fairness and growth. We are committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and improving outcomes for everyone. Everyone deserves to go to work and achieve their full potential, regardless of their ethnicity or disability. By introducing ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting, this Government are supporting employers to create more inclusive workplaces, so that, regardless of background, everyone can thrive.

As set out in our manifesto and in the King’s Speech in July 2024, we are committed to introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers—those with 250 or more employees. Our aim is to develop a reporting framework that is workable for employers and leads to improved outcomes for ethnic minority groups and disabled people. We held a public consultation on these measures between 18 March and 10 June 2025 and conducted extensive engagement to seek views.

Today, we are publishing the findings from the external analysis of the consultation responses and the Government response. As part of the Government response, we have included indicative clauses, which we have developed to illustrate how the primary legislation may work in practice—this is in place of publishing a draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill. We are also publishing the regulatory impact assessment alongside these documents, which outlines the expected costs and benefits of mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting.

The consultation findings show strong and widespread support for each proposal set out in the consultation. The Government response summarises the key findings and sets out further details on our intended approach towards mandatory reporting. This includes aligning ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting with the existing requirements for gender pay gap reporting, which have been in place since 2017. The proposed approach would require large employers to report their ethnicity and disability pay gaps, and the overall composition of their workforce by ethnicity and disability—also known as workforce reporting—as well as the proportion of their employees who have declared their ethnicity and disability data, and actions to address any ethnicity and disability pay gaps.

We have engaged extensively with business and want to acknowledge the positive work they are already doing to achieve more inclusive workplaces. Many businesses have been vocal supporters of mandatory reporting and have already been reporting their ethnicity and disability pay gap data on a voluntary basis, in recognition of the benefits that this can have on their workforces and their organisations more broadly.

Increased transparency on ethnicity and disability pay gap differences will help employers to identify and tackle pay disparities across their workforces, remove barriers to opportunity for ethnic minority and disabled staff, and support low-income households. We are committed to continuing to work closely with employers and stakeholders as we move forward.

This comes as part of the wider Government commitment to break down barriers to work, including a £3.5 billion package of employment support by the end of the decade to help more sick or disabled people into work. We are expanding WorkWell across the country, supporting up to 250,000 people to return or stay in work, and this is backed by £250 million.

We are also providing 300,000 sick or disabled people with tailored help through Connect to Work by the end of the decade, partnering with employers to transform how disabilities are managed at work, following the “Keep Britain Working” review, and have put in place the equivalent of over 1,000 full-time Pathways to Work advisers across Britain to support disabled people into work.

A copy of the Government response will be placed in the Library of each House and will be available on gov.uk.

[HCWS1453]

Crisis and Resilience Fund

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Dame Diana Johnson)]

This Government recognise that greater certainty helps local authorities to design and deliver sustainable plans for local welfare.

As announced by the Chancellor as part of the spending review, from 1 April 2026 the crisis and resilience fund will come into effect in England, providing £842 million per year—£1 billion including Barnett impact—to reform crisis support, while maintaining discretionary housing payments in Wales. This will be the first multi-year settlement for locally delivered crisis support. Alongside this, the Government have made an additional £27 million available through the fund to local authorities in England for 2026-27, to support people in crisis following the sharp increases in oil heating prices, which is targeted at areas with higher reliance on oil heating.

The fund brings together existing provisions by replacing the household support fund and incorporating discretionary housing payments in England when both schemes end on 31 March 2026, simplifying crisis support into a single, streamlined fund. This will make it easier for local councils to deliver help and for people to access it, while ensuring that vital assistance remains available for those who need it. DWP will continue to administer discretionary housing payments in Wales and regulations have been amended to reflect this change.

The crisis and resilience fund is designed to respond to sudden and unexpected financial expenses that place people at risk of hardship, including sharp, unforeseen increases in essential costs. The fund will provide a safety net for people on low incomes who face financial crisis and need immediate support, including help with housing costs. Crucially, it also represents a significant opportunity for local councils to move beyond short-term responses, by enabling investment in preventive approaches that strengthen financial resilience and reduce repeat crisis. The fund supports local councils to work with voluntary and community sector partners to strengthen local support networks, so that crisis support can act as a gateway to wider help that addresses the underlying drivers of hardship, supporting the Government’s wider efforts to reduce poverty, prevent homelessness and end mass dependence on emergency food parcels.

The Government have worked closely with local councils and stakeholders on the detailed design of the fund through a structured co-design process. With scheme guidance, and allocations now published, the crisis and resilience fund gives local councils the clarity and confidence to plan for delivery from the outset.

[HCWS1446]

Employment Support Funding: DWP and Welsh Government

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Andrew Western)]

The UK and Welsh Governments have agreed how they will deliver the UK Government manifesto commitment to devolve employment support funding to the Welsh Government over the course of the current UK Parliament.

That devolution has already begun with the agreement to transfer up to £20 million for the economic inactivity trailblazer pilots across two years, 2025-26 to 2026-2027.

Further funding from agreed new employment programmes being delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions will be transferred to Welsh Government to design and deliver employment support schemes closer to the communities they affect using the Welsh Government’s employability support programme. UK Government employment support already available or with a funding agreement in place will continue and will not be in scope.

This funding will strengthen the Welsh Government’s ability to assist people in Wales to move closer to employment and enter the workforce, helping to improve living standards across Wales and support economic growth.

The memorandum of understanding is available online at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2026-03-25/HCWS1454/

[HCWS1454]