Written Statements

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Written Statements

Wednesday 4 November 2026

Changes to the UK Designs Framework: Consultation Response

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment (Chris McDonald)]

Today, the Government are publishing and laying before both Houses of Parliament their response to the consultation on changes to the UK designs framework. This publication marks an important step forward in ensuring that the UK designs framework supports designers and is fit for the digital age.

According to a Design Council report, the UK’s “design economy” makes a significant contribution and grew at nearly twice the rate of the UK economy between 2019 and 2023. Of the £136.7 billion that the design economy contributed to the UK in 2023, digital design accounted for 59%. It is vital that the designs system is modernised to support the digital design sector.

The design sector is made up predominantly of microbusinesses, which are businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Accessible and effective design protection is essential to help designers and businesses to thrive and continue contributing to economic growth.

In the autumn of 2025, the Government published a consultation on changes to the UK designs framework. The consultation set out proposals to create a designs system fit for the future, one that is simpler, more effective, and better able to support UK creativity and innovation, in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

The consultation received responses from design businesses, legal professionals, academics, and representative and trade bodies. We have analysed each of these responses which have shaped a package of targeted reforms.

Today, the Government set out their intention to:

Modernise the designs system for effective protection of digital designs, including animated designs and graphical user interfaces.

Simplify aspects of the legal framework for unregistered designs, without reducing the breadth of protection that is a strength of the UK system.

Introduce a statutory 30-month deferment period for designers to keep their design confidential whilst making commercial preparations. This will align the UK more closely with EU and international design systems.

Allow supplementary unregistered designs to arise following global disclosure anywhere in the world.



Allow the registrar to conduct a targeted search and examination of design applications, to prevent registration of designs that are not new. This will reduce the burden on third parties to challenge invalid design registrations.

Widen access to enforcement by exploring how registered design disputes can be heard in the small claims track of the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court.

The Government are committed to ensuring that the UK is a world-leading environment for design and technology-driven innovation. We will continue to work closely with parliamentarians and stakeholders on implementation of these measures. Our aim is to build a designs system that protects creativity, supports growth and enables designers and businesses to make the most of their intellectual property.

[HCWS450]

Responsible Business Conduct

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (Jonathan Reynolds)]

In the trade strategy, the Government committed to an evidence-based review of the UK’s approach to promoting responsible business conduct, to assess whether our current framework remains fit for purpose. This highlighted areas where the UK’s approach could be strengthened, and today I am updating the House on the Government’s proposed action to address those findings.

In our review, we found the UK’s current framework for preventing forced labour to be fragmented and overly reliant on voluntary action and reporting measures. While the Modern Slavery Act 2015 was world leading at the time of its introduction, international standards and legislative practice have since moved on, leaving the UK out of step with G7 partners and other major trading economies. While plans to strengthen the Modern Slavery Act through the Immigration and Asylum Bill are an important step, we recognise that further action is needed to bring us into line with key partners. Having carefully considered our findings, alongside the Government’s commitments on economic growth, reducing administrative burdens and maintaining the integrity of the UK internal market, we have concluded that a phased and proportionate approach is appropriate. The Government’s priority is to focus on those interventions most likely to deliver tangible improvements for workers, consumers and businesses, while ensuring that reforms are practical, targeted and capable of being implemented at pace.

We will legislate to introduce a mandatory human rights due diligence regime across the UK for services, and in Great Britain for goods. Only the largest businesses, with the capability and leverage to manage these risks within their supply chains, will be in scope. It will apply to UK businesses with a global turnover of over £350 million, as well as non-UK businesses with a UK-generated turnover of over £350 million. These businesses will be required to identify, assess and address risks of human rights abuses and labour exploitation within their operations and supply chains. The regime will be risk-based, proportionate and reflect how responsible businesses already manage risk by aligning with established international standards, including the OECD guidelines for responsible business conduct and the UN guiding principles on business and human rights.

Under this due diligence regime, we will introduce powers to be able to remove goods made with forced labour from the Great Britain market. A regulator will be empowered to investigate businesses suspected of placing such goods on the market and, where due diligence obligations have not been met and forced labour is identified, direct their withdrawal. This will provide a clear and targeted mechanism for tackling some of the most serious abuses in global supply chains and protecting responsible businesses from unfair competition.

In Northern Ireland, we will apply the EU’s forced labour regulation—EUFLR—under the Windsor framework. Both regimes ensure that goods made with forced labour can be withdrawn from the market and aim to deliver a similar effect in practice.

Alongside this, we will establish a centralised responsible business conduct guidance hub on gov.uk, bringing together guidance, tools and templates in a single location. This will support businesses, particularly those developing due diligence processes for the first time. We will work closely with stakeholders on the design and implementation of these measures and introduce them as soon as parliamentary time allows.

The Government are clear that reform must be proportionate and pragmatic. Requirements will focus on larger businesses best placed to manage supply chain risks, prioritise action over unnecessary paperwork and align with international standards.

This package will safeguard the competitiveness of responsible businesses, strengthen confidence in UK markets and help ensure that goods linked to forced labour do not reach UK consumers. The British public rightly expect that products sold in the United Kingdom are not tainted by forced labour. Responsible businesses should not be undercut by those that turn a blind eye to exploitation. And this Government will not countenance exploitation in the supply chains that serve the UK market.

[HCWS454]

Integrated Security Fund: 2025-26 Annual Report

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

I have today published the Integrated Security Fund’s 2025-26 annual report, which sets out how the fund has supported delivery of the Government’s national security priorities over the past year. The integrated security fund is the Government’s cross-Government national security fund, helping to tackle the most significant threats to the United Kingdom’s security at home and overseas.

The UK’s security environment is becoming more contested, complex and unpredictable. The threat from state-linked actors, terrorists and organised criminals is evolving rapidly, while advances in technology create both opportunities and new risks. In response, the Government must act early, work across departmental boundaries and bring together the full range of national security expertise. The fund enables that approach, investing more than £800 million during 2025-26 through programmes delivered across over 20 Government Departments and agencies to strengthen UK security, build the resilience of partners, and develop capabilities for the future.

This report demonstrates the tangible impact of that investment. At home, the fund strengthened resilience against cyber, economic and state-based threats, helping to protect critical national infrastructure, improve cyber-defences across Government and enhance intelligence sharing through the Government cyber co-ordination centre. It also supported action against cyber-enabled crime, fraud and organised criminal networks.

Overseas, the fund supported UK interests and partners facing the most acute security challenges. This included support to Ukraine and other partners in Eastern Europe in response to Russian aggression and hostile activity by foreign states, helping to strengthen cyber-security, counter disinformation and sustain essential services for vulnerable communities. The fund also enhanced maritime security in the middle east and helped partners tackle illicit finance and other threats to economic security.

The fund is also investing in the capabilities that will underpin the UK’s long-term resilience. Through programmes such as CyberFirst and TechFirst, it is developing the next generation of cyber and technology specialists, while investment in biosecurity is strengthening the UK’s ability to identify and respond to emerging biological threats.



As threats continue to evolve, in 2026 and beyond, the Government are using the fund to focus resources where they can have the greatest impact. From supporting Ukraine and strengthening cyber-resilience, to addressing challenges in the middle east and countering state-linked threats, the fund remains a vital instrument for protecting our country’s security, prosperity and interests. Through an integrated, agile and forward-looking approach, it will continue to play an important role in keeping the UK safe in an increasingly challenging world.

[HCWS451]

Northern Ireland Act 1998: Windsor Framework Decisions

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations (Mr Hamish Falconer)]

On 10 November, I will be meeting with the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič, for this Government’s third meeting of the withdrawal agreement joint committee. As part of this important meeting, the UK and the EU will take decisions to support our commitment to the Windsor framework.

This joint committee marks an important milestone in the lead up to the UK-EU summit on 20 November in Brussels, where we aim to strike important deals that will boost our growth in every postcode, cut red tape and provide more opportunities to young people. On the table are deals covering agrifood and drink products, emissions trading, a youth experience scheme and deeper co-operation on illegal immigration. The agreements we hope to strike at the summit will have further specific benefits for Northern Ireland—removing a wide-ranging set of sanitary and phytosanitary and agrifood requirements for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The decisions we make at the withdrawal agreement joint committee will be taken in line with the Government’s wider objectives.

At the joint committee, we will sign a joint declaration with the EU. The effect of this will be to ensure that “not at risk” parcels—that is, those sent to consumers in Northern Ireland moving under the Windsor framework facilitation schemes—will not be impacted by the recently introduced “handling fee” in the EU, ensuring they pay no fees or charges. These arrangements are the result of close UK-EU co-operation to protect Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market, while supporting its privileged dual-market access to the EU.

The Government will also agree specifically to decisions that will add two acts to the Windsor framework. This Government are committed to tackling barriers to trade for businesses across the UK. Northern Ireland has a special trading relationship with the EU under the Windsor framework, and it is therefore only right that the Government review all elements of Northern Ireland’s regulatory arrangements to ensure that it can make the most of its unique dual-market access.

In accordance with paragraph 18(3) of schedule 6B to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I am setting out in this statement why I am of the opinion that the conditions are met for these particular measures to be agreed, on the basis that neither of those acts would create a new regulatory border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, so the condition in paragraph 18(2)(b) of that schedule is met.

Forced Labour Protections—Regulation (EU) 2024/3015

This regulation will apply in Northern Ireland in order to preserve Northern Ireland’s unique and vital dual-market access to the EU and the rest of the UK internal market.

The decision to add the EU forced labour regulation to the Windsor framework is made in tandem with the Government’s decision to further eliminate human rights abuses and forced labour from UK-wide supply chains. This has been outlined in the Government’s written ministerial statement regarding their approach to responsible business conduct. These measures will introduce a mandatory due diligence regime across the UK for services, and in Great Britain for goods, with the aim that this will take effect alongside the application of the EU rules in December 2027.

This will include a targeted power to withdraw goods from the market in Great Britain where they are made with forced labour and a business has failed to meet the required standard of due diligence. As these measures aim to achieve the same outcome in practice as the EU forced labour regulation in Northern Ireland, supply chain risks should be intercepted and resolved in Great Britain before goods move to Northern Ireland.

This regulation’s application will not create a new regulatory border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Available trade data indicates that annual Northern Ireland imports involving potential forced labour risks represent a minimal proportion of overall trade. Furthermore, the EU forced labour regulation relies on intelligence-led investigations, rather than routine border checks. Any practical effect is expected to be minimal. As such, this regulation will have no material effect on the flow of goods within the UK internal market, preserving Northern Ireland’s unique and vital dual-market access to the EU and the rest of the UK internal market.

Artificial Intelligence Act—Regulation (EU) 2024/1689

This regulation will apply in a limited and targeted way in Northern Ireland. That is necessary to maintain an open border on the island of Ireland. Full application of the AI Act in Northern Ireland would not have been in line with the Windsor framework, or acceptable to the Government, given Northern Ireland’s integral role in the UK’s AI strategy—demonstrated by the £7.5 million investment for the Centre for Secure Information Technologies cyber AI hub at Queen’s University, announced last week at the Budget.

Following lengthy and constructive discussions with the EU, the AI Act as applied in Northern Ireland will apply only to the placing on the market of physical products with closely integrated AI systems. This is in contrast to the application in the EU, which also includes regulation of wider AI systems and stand-alone software incorporating AI, such as web-accessed applications and general purpose models.

The AI Act regulates AI systems based on the level of risk. Some systems are prohibited, such as those intended for social scoring, emotional manipulation or non-consensual nudification. Other systems are “high risk”—for example, because malfunctioning of AI could cause risks to human safety—and must meet certain requirements, such as those relating to data governance, technical documentation and risk and quality management systems. “Limited risk” systems engaging directly with people or generating synthetic outputs face lighter-touch requirements. Some AI systems do not fall into any of these categories.

This regulation will not create a new regulatory border. Its limited application means that Northern Ireland businesses that adopt or develop AI software, applications and online tools, will generally not be within scope of the AI Act, except when those AI systems are closely integrated in physical products. The regulation will mainly apply to physical products in scope of the Windsor framework that already adhere to EU law. This provides Northern Ireland manufacturers with certainty about their unique dual-market access to the EU market and the rest of the UK market. Furthermore, our assessment is that products subject to prohibitions or high-risk requirements are currently relatively rare, and that in any case, in many affected sectors, businesses supplying Northern Ireland are typically EU-facing, meaning that they will comply with EU law requirements.

The Government remain fully committed to ensuring that the UK maintains its position as a world leader in AI, and to supporting innovation while ensuring that a proportionate regulatory regime ensures that AI-enabled devices are safe, with risks being addressed by existing expert regulators and at a sectoral level. The Government have been clear in our ambition to support innovation and growth across the whole of the United Kingdom.

Next steps

The Government will shortly submit explanatory memoranda to Parliament pertaining to each of the two decisions that we will make. These will set out in further detail the Government’s view on any impacts that the above-mentioned regulations would have on Northern Ireland, as well as additional evidence I considered when reaching my conclusion that none of them would lead to a new regulatory border.

We are steadfastly committed to protecting the UK internal market and Northern Ireland’s place within it, as well as promoting growth in Northern Ireland through its unique dual-market access. These objectives will be realised not just through the decisions made at the joint committee, but through the agreements that we aim to secure at the UK-EU summit later this month.

I can confirm that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is writing to the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly personally to update him on these next steps. I will place a copy of the Secretary of State’s letter to the Assembly Speaker in the Library of the House for future reference.

[HCWS455]

National Savings and Investments

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Torsten Bell)]

On 19 May 2026 I updated Parliament on the steps being taken by National Savings and Investments to address historical failures in the handling of some bereavement claims and the remediation scheme established to reunite affected estates with funds that should have been returned earlier—HCWS44. I reported that up to 34,000 estates had been affected by this issue, with a total value of £367 million.

The Treasury instructed NS&I to put this right swiftly and fairly, requiring a delivery plan detailing how they intended to do so to be published in May¹. It also appointed Sir Jim Harra, former first permanent secretary at HM Revenue and Customs, to take over as chief executive of NS&I on an interim basis, to provide a fresh start. Today, NS&I has provided an update on its delivery of its remediation programme, which it will continue to do on a quarterly basis until completion².

As detailed in its update, NS&I has continued to analyse its data to establish how many estates have been affected by its bereavement claims issue. As such, the total number of estates affected has fallen to 30,300 cases, with a total value of approximately £181.9 million. Of these, NS&I is in the process of contacting all affected estates with holdings of £10 or more to reunite them with the full value of their holdings that should have been returned to them earlier and to compensate them. As reported in the update, this will see up to 15,600 estates with a total value of up to £181.83 million contacted.

The remediation programme remains underway, and NS&I continues to expect to complete this programme in the first half of 2027.

In addition, I have today laid NS&I’s annual report and accounts and product accounts 2025-26—HC 703. Alongside this, NS&I is also publishing an accounting officer assessment relating to its transformation programme³.

The annual report and accounts include a provision for the estimated costs of the remediation scheme. As the issue emerged after the supplementary estimate process had concluded, NS&I was unable to seek sufficient additional provision through that process. As a consequence, the Comptroller and Auditor General has issued an excess vote qualification on the accounts.

Today’s publications also provide an update on NS&I’s transformation programme. An updated business case setting out the delivery of a simplified solution has now been approved, and NS&I has published an accompanying accounting officer assessment setting out the rationale for proceeding with the revised approach and the steps being taken to address issues identified by independent reviews, the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee. To increase its oversight of the programme, the Treasury has established a sponsor and oversight board that will act as the principal governance forum for considering and determining material programme trade-offs affecting cost, timelines, scope and benefits, and will provide Ministers with an assurance that the programme remains on track.

NS&I continues to be key to the Government debt financing programme. However, this has been a challenging year for the organisation. As I committed to the House, NS&I’s interim chief executive, Sir Jim Harra, has undertaken a review into the background to the bereavement claims issue and what lessons must be learned. That review will be published by the end of the calendar year. I have also appointed Luke Jensen as permanent chair of the NS&I board, further strengthening the organisation’s leadership and oversight as it delivers its priorities.

¹https://www.nsandi.com/about-us/press-releases/2026/nsi-bereavement-claims-delivery-plan

²https://www.nsandi.com/about-us/press-releases/2026/nsi-bereavement-claims-quarterly-update

³https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-major-projects-portfolio-accounting-officer-assessment-nsi

[HCWS453]

Broadcast Media Mergers

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Written Statements

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

On 15 October 2026, my Department wrote to Sky UK Ltd and ITV plc to inform them I was minded to intervene in the anticipated merger between Sky UK Ltd and ITV Media and Entertainment Holdings Ltd under the Enterprise Act 2002 and inviting them to submit representations. Having fully considered their representations, I have decided to issue a public interest intervention notice.

My decision to issue a PUN relates to concerns I have that public interest considerations specified in section 58 of the Enterprise Act 2002 may be relevant to the anticipated merger and that these considerations warrant further investigation.

At this stage, the issuing of a PUN triggers the requirement for the Competition and Markets Authority to report to me on jurisdictional and competition matters, and for Ofcom to report to me on the media public interest considerations in section 58 of the Enterprise Act 2002, specifically:

the need for free expression of opinion in news media;

the need for, to the extent that it is reasonable and practicable, a sufficient plurality of views in news media in each market for news media in the United Kingdom or a part of the United Kingdom;

the need, in relation to every different audience in the United Kingdom, or in a particular area or locality of the United Kingdom, for there to be a sufficient plurality of persons with control of the media enterprises, serving that audience.

Under section 42 of the 2002 Act, I may include new public interest considerations in an intervention notice for Ofcom to consider in relation to the merger, if I am of the opinion that they ought to be specified. I have informed the parties that I have also decided to intervene on the following public interest ground which is not currently specified in the Act, but which I believe should be:

the need for the availability throughout the United Kingdom of a wide range of (i) broadcasting; and (ii) on-demand programmes; which—in each case, taken as a whole—is of high quality and calculated to appeal to a wide variety of tastes and interests.

The legislation already specifies a public interest consideration on the need for the availability, throughout the UK, of a wide range of broadcasting which is both of high quality and calculated to appeal to a wide variety of tastes and interests. As I explained in my written statement dated 15 October, I believe that this consideration should be modified to apply to on-demand programmes as well as broadcasting, in line with modern viewing habits and my specific concerns regarding this merger.

Next steps

The decision letters to the parties, and other relevant updates, will be published on www.gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-anticipated-acquisition-of-itv-media-and-entertainment-holdings-limited-by-sky-uk-limited

I will bring forward legislation which amends section 58 of the Act to extend the application of the public interest consideration relating to the availability of a wide range of broadcasting, to on-demand programmes.

I have asked both the CMA and Ofcom to report back to me by 27 January 2027. Following these reports, I will need to decide whether to refer the matter for a more detailed investigation by the CMA under section 45 of the Act.

DCMS will update Parliament after both reports from the regulators have been received and considered.

Finally, on the evidence available to me I do not consider that my duty to issue a foreign state intervention notice has arisen. If new or additional information comes to light which suggests that a foreign state newspaper merger situation may be created as a result of the arrangements currently in progress being carried into effect, I will be obliged to refer the merger to the Competition and Markets Authority under section 70A of the Act.

[HCWS452]

UN Biodiversity Conference—COP17

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jenny Riddell-Carpenter)]

Nature underpins our food and water security, health, economic resilience and prosperity. The Government remain committed to halting and reversing biodiversity loss and to implementing the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework at home and internationally.

The 17th conference of the parties to the convention on biological diversity—CBD COP17—concluded in Yerevan, Armenia, on 31 October. The conference adopted nearly 50 decisions, including the first global review of collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework. The review found that, although progress is being made, the world is not on track to meet the framework’s 23 targets by 2030 without accelerated action. The United Kingdom played an active and constructive role in securing the central package of decisions needed to maintain international momentum towards 2030.

The principal outcome was agreement of the Yerevan pathway, the negotiated response to the first global review. It sets priorities for faster implementation, including reforming incentives harmful to biodiversity; increasing financial, scientific and technical support for developing countries; aligning national budgets and economic decisions with the global biodiversity framework; and strengthening planning, monitoring, reporting and review. The UK welcomes this assessment of the implementation gap and will continue to support practical action to turn global commitments into measurable results.

Parties also reached agreement on resource mobilisation. The outcome recognises the need to increase finance from all sources, establishes criteria to guide a financial mechanism for the period after 2030, and provides a voluntary route for additional countries to signal an interest in contributing.

COP17 also advanced the multilateral mechanism for sharing benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources and the Cali fund. The decision retained the voluntary approach for UK businesses and did not increase the indicative contribution rates agreed at COP16. It established temporary arrangements for allocating funding to developing countries and a programme of further work on the operation of the mechanism. Four UK companies have now contributed to the Cali fund, supporting biodiversity while protecting open research and innovation.

Further decisions enabled the new subsidiary body on article 8(j) to begin its work with the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, and advanced co-operation on marine and coastal biodiversity, including with the agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. The UK also helped secure recognition of the critical contribution of the intergovernmental science policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services, defending independent science and evidence-based decision making.

We were disappointed that not all of the COP’s work was completed within the time available, and that decisions on biodiversity and climate change and language on harmful subsidies were less ambitious than the UK had sought. Nevertheless, the overall package enables parties to continue accelerating implementation. The UK will continue to promote practical synergies between the Rio conventions and the reform of subsidies and other incentives harmful to biodiversity.

Alongside the negotiations, the UK announced £1.94 million to support the Wildlife Trusts’ purchase of the Rothbury estate, helping to secure a nationally important landscape for long-term nature recovery. The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust will work with local communities, tenants and farmers to develop a shared vision for the estate, supporting wildlife, farming and rural livelihoods. Our 30by30 publication “From Commitment to Conservation”, which was launched during COP17, shows how countries, communities and conservation partners are turning the global 30by30 commitment into practical conservation outcomes. This is available online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-the-30by30-commitment

The UK also announced that, over the next three financial years, around £6 billion of UK aid will support international climate finance, with around a quarter expected to benefit nature.

This builds on the UK’s £330 million pledge to the ninth replenishment of the global environment facility and our intention to invest £400 million in the tropical forests forever facility, supporting developing countries to protect nature and mobilise finance for standing forests. We have also convened the world’s first climate and nature security taskforce, bringing together expertise from across security, the military, academia and industry to strengthen our preparedness for the risks posed by climate change and nature loss. As the Foreign Secretary recently set out, building resilience to climate, economic and security shocks is a matter of both values and national interest. We will carry that focus into our G20 presidency, working with partners to strengthen resilience, protect shared prosperity and support greater global stability.

The Government also published “Growing Places: Mobilising Private Finance for Local Nature Recovery”, setting out how we will unlock private investment in nature by strengthening demand, building confidence in nature markets and helping local partners to develop investable projects. This is available online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobilising-private-finance-for-local-nature-recovery

This will support nature recovery alongside sustainable growth and more resilient communities.

In England, we will drive delivery towards our 2030 global targets through the environmental improvement plan, backed by over £7 billion for nature recovery.

This includes delivering on our commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030—known as 30by30. We will also continue to reform agricultural subsidies, moving from land-based payments towards rewarding farmers for environmental benefits through environmental land management schemes, alongside food production. We will improve protected sites and are investing £26 million to support local nature recovery strategies to target action where it will have greatest impact. We will also invest £25 million in peatland restoration in 2027-28 to 2028-29, prioritising areas at greater wildfire risk, alongside support for land managers to create fire ponds and firebreaks. At sea, we will strengthen protection of marine habitats through fisheries management measures in English waters.

This sits alongside other measures to accelerate our work to drive nature recovery at home, including investing £60 million to support 130 conservation projects across England in 2026-27 to 2028-29, helping to support the recovery of over 350 threatened species. A further £30 million will support species recovery on the national forest estate, and another £30 million will support the creation of wildlife-rich habitat in protected landscapes. We will also support opportunities to reintroduce native species, as we have with bringing beavers back, where there are clear environmental and socioeconomic benefits.

COP17 delivered a balanced but hard-fought package, although it did not resolve every political disagreement. Further work will be required before COP18, which Ecuador will host in 2028. The UK will continue to work with parties and partners to accelerate implementation, protect the integrity of science, mobilise resources from all sources, and ensure that nature recovery supports security, prosperity and resilience.

[HCWS448]

DHSC and NHS England: Organisational Update

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Written Statements

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

Over the summer I reviewed the Department of Health and Social Care’s reform plans, the legislation and the work underway across the Department and NHS England to deliver the vision set out in the 10-year health plan. I have been clear that our focus must remain on the health and care of patients and communities across the country, and on supporting the staff who deliver those services.

On 1 April 2027, subject to the passage of the Health Bill, we will bring NHS England back into the Department of Health and Social Care. As set out in the 10-year health plan, we cannot continue with two parallel national organisations carrying out so many overlapping and unco-ordinated functions. This is particularly important as we strengthen partnerships and integration between the NHS and social care, and shift more care into the community and towards prevention.

As we devolve power out to the frontline, the new DHSC must transform into a streamlined and agile organisation executing a core set of national functions effectively. The national centre should offer local areas a single vision, clarity on the future strategy, and a set of national priorities and minimum standards. It should also oversee the execution of a sophisticated and clear rules-based system that rewards success, co-ordinates an overall improvement offer and intervenes where performance falls short.

Before the 2012 reforms, most of these functions sat within the Department of Health. This included the period between 2006 and 2012, when the NHS achieved its strongest performance and public satisfaction levels. Our future model will therefore draw on that experience of effective national leadership and delivery, while reflecting the needs of today’s health and care system.

We will maintain the crucial role of the NHS chief executive and establish an NHS Group within DHSC, focused on NHS operational delivery and working alongside the Department’s other core responsibilities, including policy development, social care and public health.

The vast majority of NHSE’s current national delivery functions will transfer into the NHS Group. Elsewhere, we will bring together existing DHSC and NHSE expertise in combined teams, strengthening our ability to bring policy makers together with operational service delivery experts across a range of issues. This will be particularly important for areas such as neighbourhood health, where delivery depends on close working between the NHS, social care, other Government partners and the voluntary sector.

I want to see greater devolution to local organisations and communities, alongside closer alignment between the NHS, social care, MSAs—mayoral strategic authorities—and local councils.

We will therefore continue work and consultation on how boundaries, partnerships and the alignment of powers should evolve across regions, MSAs and local areas.

NHS regional teams will support this transition, given their knowledge of local circumstances, communities and patients needed to support performance improvement. These teams will not transfer into DHSC on 1 April 2027.

To support the continuing work of the seven existing regional teams, we will establish a transitional special health authority. It will be accountable directly to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, through the NHS Group within the Department.

The transitional special health authority will not exercise national functions. Its purpose is to support existing regional teams, allowing them to remain close to the frontline organisations they support, rather than being centralised within the Department. We have agreed that this should be a temporary arrangement that will support the transition towards a more devolved model.

This can be achieved within the existing legislative framework and does not require amendments to the Health Bill. The legislation already provides for the establishment of the special health authority and for relevant functions of the Secretary of State to be conferred.

I also believe that decisions about care must be informed by the experiences of patients and the public. That is why I have chosen to retain and strengthen Healthwatch, and why the Department will soon appoint a new Patient Experience Director. This role will support patients and families who have experienced harm and injustice, listen to their concerns and help them get answers.

Alongside the voices of patients and families, we must draw more fully on the expertise of those who provide care. I will therefore establish the first clinical council, bringing together a small group of senior clinicians to strengthen clinical leadership across the system and advise Ministers on the NHS’s major clinical priorities. Their experience of treating patients and improving services will directly inform our decisions.

These reforms must help us get back to what the NHS does best: caring for people when they need it most. That is the purpose behind every target and every plan—not changing structures for their own sake, but so that patients get timely care and families get the support they need.

[HCWS447]

Law Enforcement: Biometrics, Facial Recognition and Similar Technologies

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)]

I am today announcing the publication of the Government’s response to the public consultation on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies in England and Wales.

The consultation sought views on which types of data, technologies and activities should be covered by the framework, who the framework should apply to, and what safeguards and oversight should be in place to protect privacy and other rights. It received over 13,800 responses from members of the public, academics, industry, regulators, civil society groups, the police and others.

Analysis of responses showed support for a new statutory framework for use of technologies such as facial recognition by the police and others. Respondents emphasised the importance of strong safeguards, transparency, accountability, effective independent oversight and the protection of individual rights.

That is why the police reform Bill will introduce a new framework to underpin use of biometric and overt surveillance systems for law enforcement and some safeguarding purposes, by the police and other public bodies. The framework will ensure that policing can innovate in a repeatable and consistent manner, supporting adoption of emerging biometric and overt surveillance technologies that improve policing effectiveness and public protection. New powers will be supported by a statutory code of practice, and a new independent oversight body will monitor and enforce compliance.

Consultation responses also raised questions about private sector uses of biometric technologies. The police reform Bill will therefore also contain complementary measures to ensure that rules for private sector uses of technologies such as facial recognition for the prevention and detection of crime are consistent with law enforcement use, where this is appropriate.

A copy of the Government’s response and supporting materials will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and published on gov.uk.

[HCWS449]