Written Statements
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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Trade Remedies Authority Recommendation Rejection: Bicycles
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (Jonathan Reynolds)
On 23 August 2024, the UK’s Trade Remedies Authority initiated a transition review of the anti-dumping measure applied on bicycles and certain bicycle parts of Chinese origin—including bicycles consigned from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Tunisia. The review assessed whether dumping and injury to UK producers would likely recur if the measure was revoked.
During the review, the TRA invited evidence to be submitted by both domestic and international industry and organisations. After careful consideration of the facts, it recommended to me that the measure should be extended for a further five years from its original date of expiry—to 29 August 2029—at the same duty rates of 0% to 48.5%.
I have considered the evidence contained within the recommendation made by the TRA and wider matters in the public interest, including the UK’s obligations under the relevant World Trade Organisation agreement. As a result of these deliberations, I have decided to reject the TRA’s recommendation and take a different decision.
My decision is still to extend the measure for a further five years, from the original expiration date, and at the same duties of 0% to 48.5%—as the TRA has recommended—but I would amend the description of category 2 goods to bring the measure back into alignment with how the measure was applied prior to our exit from the European Union. I believe this to be in the public interest. The reason for this is that those trade remedy measures applied by the EU on behalf of its 28 member states prior to Brexit were applied on behalf of the UK. The Government at the time determined that all those trade remedy measures were applied by all 28 EU member states, including the UK. Consequently, the UK should continue to apply all 43 transitioned trade remedy measures in the same way until such a time as each measure is individually reviewed. This anti-dumping measure was one of those 43 measures.
My decision therefore corrects the definition of category 2 goods and brings the application of the anti-dumping measure back into alignment with how the measure was applied prior to our exit. This ensures that the anti-dumping measure continues to be applied consistently with how it was prior to our exit from the EU. It will also necessitate His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs considering whether any UK importers of certain bicycle parts should be refunded where they otherwise should not have paid a duty.
The decision on this measure came into effect on 23 July 2026. The Government published a public notice on 22 July 2026 to give effect to this decision.
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Trade Remedies Authority Recommendation Rejection: US-origin HVO Biodiesel
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (Jonathan Reynolds)
On 22 July 2026, the UK’s Trade Remedies Authority concluded a subsidy investigation on imports of US hydrotreated vegetable oil biodiesel, submitting to me its final determination. The TRA recommended that a definitive anti-subsidy measure be imposed, with fixed duties of between £257.80 and £266.68 per tonne, dependent on the US exporter. This recommendation was made on the basis that, in the period of investigation, UK domestic industry was being injured by subsidised US imports of HVO biodiesel.
In all investigations, the TRA is required to conduct the economic interest test. This assessment considers whether the imposition of a measure would be in the economic interests of the UK. In an investigation, this test is presumed to be met, unless there is clear evidence to the contrary. In this investigation, the TRA considered that a definitive measure would not be in the UK’s economic interests.
I recognise that the relevant World Trade Organisation evidentiary criteria for imposing a definitive anti-subsidy measure have been met. However, on balance, I judge that it would not be in the public interest to do so. I took this decision due to the significant scale by which the economic interest test was assessed by the TRA to have not been met. The TRA assessed that while a measure could provide some benefits to UK producers and upstream businesses, these would be significantly outweighed by the costs imposed on downstream businesses, importers and consumers. As a result, and on balance, I judge that the prospective injury case for UK producers and the benefits of imposing a measure are outweighed by the benefits of not imposing one for the UK’s wider economy.
The Government published a public notice on 10 September 2026 to give effect to this decision to not impose a definitive anti-subsidy measure on imports of US HVO biodiesel.
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Temporary Event Notices
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)
Today I am laying before Parliament the Licensing Act 2003 (Permitted Temporary Activities) (Amendment) Order 2026. This instrument will increase the number of temporary event notices that may be given in respect of a single premises from 15 to 20 per calendar year, and the total number of days on which a premises may be used for licensable activities under temporary event notices from 21 to 26 days per calendar year.
This measure forms part of the Government’s wider approach to supporting vibrant high streets and communities. By enabling businesses, community groups and individuals to host more local events, it recognises the contribution that well-run events can make to community cohesion, local economies and the prevention of crime and disorder.
These higher limits applied temporarily in 2022 and 2023 to support the hospitality sector in dealing with the impact of the covid-19 pandemic and help communities come together during that difficult time. The benefits were clear for all to see, so we intend to reintroduce this additional flexibility on a permanent basis.
This is a targeted and proportionate change to the existing licensing framework. The important safeguards already in place to protect communities will remain, including the licensing objectives, local authority oversight, and the ability of responsible authorities to object to TENs where appropriate.
The instrument extends to and applies in England and Wales. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Government intend for the new limits to come into force on 1 January 2027. An economic note will be published alongside the instrument on legislation. gov.uk
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Fiscal Devolution in England
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Jim McMahon)
England is an international outlier in the extent to which decisions are taken centrally, and at the same time has experienced some of the highest levels of regional inequality in the developed world. We believe the two are linked. Too many decisions have been made in Whitehall, far away from the reality of life across the country, and disconnected from the impact of those decisions. These have often not reflected the needs of places and communities across the country.
To change this, the Government have embarked on an ambitious agenda of devolving powers to local leaders with a new assumption of devolution by default. The Government devolution agenda will shift power closer to local communities, with decisions taken by democratically elected mayors and local leaders who understand their areas best.
The landmark English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 introduced reforms to give local leaders clearer powers, greater responsibility and stronger accountability so that decisions affecting places can be taken closer to the communities they affect. These reforms support the Government's wider rewiring the state programme, which seeks to shift power, funding and accountability away from Whitehall and into the hands of local leaders. The Act’s aim is to reverse the centralisation of decision-making which has held our country back for too long and to boost economic growth, strengthen public services, and restore public trust in politics.
For mayors and other local leaders to take greater responsibility for driving growth and improving life in their areas, they must also have greater control over local investment. Giving mayors and other local leaders greater power over tax revenue is a vital step in helping them drive investment and good growth in their areas.
That is why today, MHCLG and HMT have published the Government response to the overnight visitor levy in England consultation. The consultation closed earlier this year, and since then we have continued to engage with mayors, local leaders and stakeholders from the visitor economy to strike the balance between a simple deliverable levy for industry and one which empowers mayors and local leaders to raise revenue for investment in their area.
England is home to some of the world's most iconic visitor destinations, from its vibrant cities, breathtaking countryside and national parks, to historic seaside towns along its spectacular coastline. The visitor economy supports millions of jobs, enriches communities, and enhances the quality of life for millions of people. Yet there are few local levers available to help destinations invest in and sustain this vital industry.
A visitor levy will enable mayors and other local leaders in England to choose to use a proportionate contribution from visitors to the region to reinvest in the local area. It is a major step in giving local leaders greater control over the decisions and funding that affect their areas, putting new powers over locally raised revenue into their hands for the first time in decades. Mayors and other local leaders are best placed to identify the projects and infrastructure that drive growth and make a place attractive for visitors and residents. Local leaders know their local history, local culture, the unique attributes of their places that draw visitors in, and what challenges local areas face. Along with our plans to devolve a portion of income tax and enable mayors to retain some of the business rates generated in their areas, the visitor levy represents our commitment to creating a more accountable state, responsible to local people. This is about giving places the tools they need to drive good growth, in every part of the country.
Giving local leaders in England the power to introduce a visitor levy in their area will bring them in line with Scotland and Wales, as well as local authorities across France and international cities like New York and Amsterdam. We want to provide mayors and other local leaders with a fiscal tool that they can choose to use. We understand that a visitor levy on overnight stays will not necessarily be right for every place, and so the choice of whether to introduce it will be for mayors and other local leaders to take. That ultimately is at the heart of this devolution programme.
To develop the details of the visitor levy we have engaged extensively with the public, accommodation providers, charities and local leaders. In our consultation we tested views on the levy supporting local economic growth, including through strengthening the visitor economy. Our decisions reflect this wide-ranging engagement.
The visitor levy will be set as a percentage of the accommodation cost, ensuring that charges are proportionate to the price of the stay. A percentage rate model helps ensure that the levy is affordable and will mean a stay at a budget friendly hotel or guest house would attract a lower visitor levy than a luxury five-star hotel in London.
All mayoral strategic authorities and foundation strategic authorities will have overnight visitor levy powers. This recognises their role in driving local growth and ensures this fiscal power is available across England, to be used for unlocking stalled investment, improving infrastructure and delivering good growth across the country. The levy will enable mayors and other local leaders to invest revenues in support of the visitor economy, experience and important local priorities.
It will be for mayors and other local leaders to decide if the visitor levy is the right decision for their areas, following a consultation. The Government will provide non-statutory guidance to support those leaders who are considering introducing a visitor levy. Mayors will be able to set out their spending plans by March 2028.
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Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2: Progress Report
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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The Minister for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith (Florence Eshalomi)
My noble Friend the Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Resilience (Baroness Blake of Leeds CBE) has today made the following statement:
The Grenfell Tower fire was a preventable tragedy that claimed 72 lives and exposed deep-rooted weaknesses in the systems designed to keep people safe. It remains a profound failure of oversight and accountability which should never have happened and the bereaved, survivors and local community remain at the heart of our response.
This Government accepted the inquiry’s findings and are today publishing the September 2026 Grenfell Tower inquiry Government progress report to update on work under way to implement the recommendations. Since May 2026, we have completed a further nine recommendations, bringing the total of closed recommendations to 30 since February 2025. We remain on track to deliver all recommendations by the end of 2029.
Alongside the September progress report, we are publishing the interim chief construction adviser’s final report.
Together, the progress report and the interim chief construction adviser’s final report demonstrate continued progress in implementing the Grenfell Tower inquiry’s recommendations and reforming the wider building safety system. They represent important steps towards sustained system-wide change by reducing fragmentation, strengthening accountability and ensuring that those responsible for building and fire safety have the support and oversight needed to keep people safe in their homes.
The Government recognise that lasting change requires sustained transparency and oversight. We have delivered the inquiry’s recommendation on transparency through our new dashboards which publicly track progress to deliver accepted recommendations across inquiries, alongside our regular progress reports on Grenfell implementation. Parliament also has an important role to play in overseeing how Government implement recommendations and I await the outcome of PACAC's work in early 2027.
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Chief Coroner’s Annual Report to the Lord Chancellor
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Davies-Jones)
I am pleased to lay and publish the chief coroner’s 12th annual report to the Lord Chancellor on the operation of coroner services under section 36 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of the work taken forward across the coroner service in England and Wales in the calendar year 2025, under the leadership of the chief coroner. It provides valuable insights into the service’s operations and future direction.
In particular, the chief coroner’s report sets out:
The continuing work to promote consistency in the in the coronial jurisdiction across England and Wales, including the publishing of the “chief coroner’ guidance for coroners on the bench” and
The reconstitution of the chief coroner’s national cadres, including the cadre of coroners for major incidents and the cadre of coroners for service deaths.
I am very grateful to her honour Judge Alexia Durran for her work in preparing the report. I am also grateful to all coroners and their officers and other staff for their continued dedication to improving services for bereaved people through their invaluable frontline work.
The report will be available online, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chief-coroners-annual-report-2025
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Cabinet Committees
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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The Prime Minister (Andy Burnham)
Today I am publishing a Cabinet Committee list. I have placed a copy of the new list in the Library of each House.
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Church Appointments
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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The Prime Minister (Andy Burnham)
I am making this statement to bring to the House’s attention steps that the Government are taking regarding Church appointments.
Restrictions set out in the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 and the Jews Relief Act 1858 prevent persons professing the Roman Catholic and Jewish faiths only from advising the sovereign on appointments to the Church of England and Church of Scotland. I have therefore transferred my constitutional responsibility to advise the sovereign on Church appointments to the Lord Chancellor.
It is, however, unacceptable for there to be a legislative bar against people of any faith performing all the functions of my office. The Government will therefore introduce a Bill at the earliest possible opportunity to correct this antiquated and archaic anomaly.
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