Written Statements

Friday 16th October 2026 Written Statements

Friday 16 October 2026

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: October 2026 Update

Friday 16th October 2026 Written Statements

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General (James Murray)]

The Government are introducing a carbon border adjustment mechanism from 1 January 2027. It will ensure that highly traded, carbon-intensive goods imported into the UK face a carbon price comparable to the price that would be paid were the goods produced in the UK.

Following Royal Assent of the Finance Act 2026, which provides the legislative framework for the UK CBAM, the Government laid the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Calculation of CBAM Rate and Determination of Carbon Price Relief) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026-809) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Emissions and Verification) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026-995). The regulations set out the rules for technical components of the policy.

Today, the Government are publishing information on two key components used to calculate liabilities for CBAM: (i) the CBAM rate and (ii) default emissions values. This will help importers, businesses and international partners understand and prepare for their future CBAM liabilities.

We are today publishing illustrative CBAM rates for the first quarter of 2027, for each sector, as well as a worked example—all based on existing legislation. This is illustrative guidance only and is based on preliminary data. It will give businesses an initial indication of potential CBAM costs. It does not generate a tax liability. The official rates for the first quarter of 2027 will be published before the end of the calendar year. Following this, the official rates will be set and published on gov.uk by the Government at the beginning of each quarter.

We have also published default emissions values. These are the default emissions values that will apply to CBAM from January 2027. Default emissions values—expressed in tonnes of CO₂e per good—provide UK importers of CBAM goods with a Government-defined default for the emissions in their imported CBAM goods, and can be used where the actual emissions cannot be determined by the UK importer. They are vital to ensure liable persons can comply with the UK CBAM, even where actual reported emissions data is not available. The Government guiding principle in setting default values is to ensure that there is no advantage to liable persons in using default values rather than determining the actual embodied emissions of imported CBAM goods, as set out in schedule 17, part 4, to the Finance Act 2026.

As confirmed in a statement to Parliament in July, the UK CBAM will use single product-level default values, calculated on a trade-weighted average basis. Data from the EU is excluded. This helps to ensure the values better reflect the emissions embodied in goods for which the default values are most likely to be used, as well as recognising the commitment expressed by the UK and EU to link their emissions trading schemes which will result in EU-origin goods being exempt from UK CBAM.

A markup on default values helps to balance supporting the objectives of the CBAM and facilitating a transition to actual emissions reporting. On that basis, a markup of 10% has been applied in all sectors, except fertiliser where no markup is applied.

The default values published today will be in place for 2027 and 2028. The Government also commit today to introducing country-specific default values from 2029. This is in line with the Government previous commitment to move to an alternative approach when feasible. The appropriate level of markup will also be reviewed at this time.

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/money/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism.

HMRC will continue to publish guidance and engage with businesses ahead of the UK CBAM’s introduction on 1 January 2027.

[HCWS387]

Newspaper Mergers

Friday 16th October 2026 Written Statements

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

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

On 14 April 2026, I gave my consent to RB Investco Ltd to derogate from the Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2024 to sell its rights—under a “call option”—to purchase the entire issued share capital of TMGH to Axel Springer SE. On 17 April, as required by my derogation consent, I received written confirmation from the parties that this transaction had taken place.

As the proposed merger between the Telegraph Media Group Ltd, TMGH and RB Investco described in the public interest intervention issued by the previous Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 26 January 2024 is no longer in progress or in contemplation, I will not be referring this matter to a more in-depth “phase 2” investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority. As a result, the January 2024 PIIN and the Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2024 have ceased to be in force.

As part of the phase 1 investigation into the proposed merger involving RB Investco, reports from Ofcom and the CMA were received in March 2024; the Ofcom reports advised on the public interest considerations and the CMA reports advised on my predecessor’s jurisdiction to investigate. As required by the Enterprise Act 2002, these reports have now been published on gov.uk. Redactions in these reports follow the legal framework set out in the Enterprise Act 2002 which requires that I must have regard to sensitive, commercial or private information.

The proposed merger between TMGH and the Daily Mail and General Trust plc is also no longer in prospect and therefore I will also not be referring this matter to a “phase 2” investigation. As a result, the 2026 public interest intervention notice and the Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2026 have also ceased to be in force. Short reports by Ofcom and the CMA, which confirm that the transaction is no longer in progress or in contemplation, have now been published on gov.uk.

The decisions and steps outlined above mean that all regulatory interventions under the Enterprise Act in relation to TMGH are now closed. With its new owners, Axel Springer, taking over, this marks an end to this long period of uncertainty for the Telegraph newspaper and its staff.

[HCWS386]

Covid-19 Inquiry Module 4 Report: Government Response

Friday 16th October 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Yvette Cooper)]

On Thursday 16 April 2026, the Covid-19 Inquiry published its fourth report, which focused on the role of vaccines and therapeutics throughout the pandemic and put forward five recommendations for the Government to consider. Today, the Government published their response and set out the actions we are taking to address them.

Our thoughts remain with all those affected by the pandemic. We recognise the impact that these experiences have had on individuals and families, and the importance of ensuring that their experiences are heard and reflected in the lessons we learn from the inquiry. I also want to recognise all those who served the public with dedication, compassion and courage in the most challenging of conditions.

Baroness Hallett’s module 4 report recognises the remarkable success of the vaccines and therapeutics programmes. Effective vaccines were developed, authorised and deployed at exceptional speed, while still going through the robust clinical trial and safety process necessary for such interventions. Therapeutics were identified quickly to treat those who became seriously ill. The report sets out how vaccines protected many people against the most serious effects of covid-19, saved lives, reduced pressure on healthcare systems and helped to ease the wider social and economic effects of the pandemic.

The report also highlights the factors that made this possible. This includes the UK’s world-leading position in biomedical sciences, the dedication of doctors, scientists and researchers supported by the UK’s academic institutions and research funders, the skills of those managing the programmes, and the staff and volunteers keeping the vaccination centres running. I also want to thank the public for coming forward to be vaccinated to protect those around them.

The Government are also grateful to Baroness Hallet and the Covid-19 Inquiry team for identifying important lessons for the future in relation to planning and responding to future pandemics. This publication sets out our response to the module 4 report and recommendations.

We recognise there is more to do, and we are continuing to learn from the inquiry’s findings and address the issues identified. We must ensure that future vaccination and therapeutics programmes earn people’s trust, are accessible to everyone who needs them and are guided by the best available evidence, as these programmes were. We must continue and build on our work with communities to understand and address the barriers that influence vaccine uptake.

The inquiry notes that safety monitoring must continue to evolve and proposes reform of the vaccine damage payment scheme to ensure it is fair to those seriously harmed or bereaved following vaccination, and recognises the trauma and distress caused to families facing long waits for the processing of their claims. We take these concerns very seriously and will look further at what needs to be done to improve the scheme.

We must maintain investment in research, manufacturing capability, surveillance systems and health data infrastructure, forging closer relationships with key life science partners to support improvements.

Our focus is on practical action. There are four areas we need to address for vaccine uptake: clearer NHS organisation, more flexible services, better public information and joined-up digital records. We are also taking forward reforms to improve pandemic preparedness, health resilience and the UK’s life sciences capability. Our recently published pandemic preparedness strategy aims to enhance our approach to future health emergencies and developing the underlying capabilities needed to respond rapidly.

Investment in research, surveillance and health data will further improve our ability to respond to emerging threats. This work also builds on the ambitions of the “10 Year Health Plan for England” which sets out a long-term vision to make the NHS fit for the future, delivering better, faster care, with a workforce that is more empowered, flexible and fulfilled. It places prevention at the heart of NHS reform in England, including through improved vaccination programmes, greater use of new vaccine technologies, better use of high-quality and connected health data to support prevention and early intervention, and closer collaboration between the NHS, universities and industry.

The findings from module 4 are ultimately about innovation, trust and preparedness. By learning the lessons set out in the report, we can boost our resilience, improve public confidence and ensure that the UK is better equipped for future health emergencies.

[HCWS389]

Building Safety Regulation Part K: Call for Evidence

Friday 16th October 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith (Florence Eshalomi)]

The Building Safety Regulator will later this month publish a call for evidence on part K of the Building Regulations and approved document K, the statutory guidance on how to comply with the requirements in the regulations. The call for evidence will seek views on gaps, issues and potential improvements across part K and its associated guidance.

The BSR must keep under review the safety of people in or about buildings in relation to risks regarding buildings; and the standard of buildings. It puts residents at the heart of its work and promotes higher standards and culture change in the built environment.

Part K of the building regulations sets requirements to protect building users from falls, collisions and impacts in and around buildings. It covers requirements for features in all buildings, such as stairs, ladders, handrails, ramps, guarding windows, doors, glazing and vehicle barriers. Approved document K provides the statutory guidance on how to comply with these requirements.

This call for evidence seeks views on gaps, issues, or improvements that could be made to part K and its associated guidance. This follows Government commissioned research published in October 2025, which gathered objective, evidence-based information on domestic stair design, including step dimensions, consistency, and handrail provision, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evidence-to-support-potential-changes-to-approved-document-k-guidance-on-domestic-stairs

I encourage all interested parties to respond to the call for evidence. The evidence received will help inform future consideration of part K and approved document K, including whether any further changes may be justified.

[HCWS388]