Sam Carling

The Online Safety Act has safeguards for freedom of expression and will give platforms that cross a certain threshold (known as ‘Category 1’ services under the framework) specific duties to safeguard news journalism and content of democratic importance. Ofcom will be able to review providers’ compliance with these duties when they come into effect. As an independent regulator, any investigations and enforcement decisions are a matter for Ofcom.

The Government recognises the influence major online platforms can have on public discourse. This is why the Online Safety Act gives platforms over a designated threshold (known as ‘Category 1 services’) new duties to protect journalism and other content of democratic importance on their services. These duties are designed to safeguard pluralism in online debate and ensure that platforms in scope treat democratic content consistently and transparently.

The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections, food standards and animal welfare.

The Government recognises farmers’ concerns about imports produced using methods not permitted in the UK. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to promote the highest food production standards.

The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections, food standards and animal welfare.

The Government recognises farmers’ concerns about imports produced using methods not permitted in the UK. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to promote the highest food production standards.

In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events is important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability and promote national reconciliation. The UK is committed to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, as guaranteed under international human rights law.

The UK condemns recent acts of terrorism and violence in Balochistan and extends condolences to those families affected. The UK is deeply concerned about reports of human rights abuses and violations in Pakistan, including in Balochistan province. The British High Commission regularly raises these issues with the Government of Pakistan at a senior level, including the need to address allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

In order to comply with 2015 Pension Remedy legislation (The Armed Force Remediable Service Regulations 2023), updated guidance is required from the Government Actuary's Department (GAD) to enable the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) to respond to requests for Cash Equivalent Transfer Valuations (CETVs) and to implement Pension Sharing Orders that relate to a member's remediable service.

Given the complexity of the 2015 Pension Remedy, the necessary guidance has been compiled in two stages.

The revised methodology has been finalised for individuals who are active or deferred members, or are pensioners who have made their remedy choice and whose relevant under/over payments have been settled. Work on requests received on or after 1 October commenced at the end of May 2024. These cases continue to be dealt with as swiftly as possible in order of the date they were received.

The calculation method is not yet confirmed for pensioner members who are yet to make their remedy choice within their election period, or where a remedy choice has been made, but any relevant under/overpayments have not been settled. The MOD is therefore currently unable to issue CETVs to these members.

Once the Ministry of Defence (MOD) receives these calculation instructions, the process and quality assurance checks will be put in place to process the outstanding cases. To mitigate the impact on those individuals affected, the MOD will, on receipt of a valid request for a CETV, prioritise the issue of the Remediable Service Statement.

Information has been published on the AFPS pages on Gov.UK at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/668cf40cd9d35187868f46a9/2015_Pension_Remedy_-_Divorce_Information_Note.pdf