Sarah Smith

There are no general restrictions on shop opening hours aside from Sunday trading restrictions on large shops, which the Government has no plans to change. However, for new properties or those selling alcohol, additional restrictions may apply subject to the planning system and the licensing regime.

There are no general restrictions on shop opening hours aside from Sunday trading restrictions on large shops, which the Government has no plans to change. However, for new properties or those selling alcohol, additional restrictions may apply subject to the planning system and the licensing regime.

Our immediate focus is getting the Online Safety Act (OSA) implemented quickly and effectively. The OSA sets out a clear regulatory framework to tackle both mis- and disinformation where it constitutes illegal content or harmful content to children.

In addition, through our work on media literacy, we are taking steps to empower users with the skills they need to engage critically with online content. Since 2022, we have provided almost £3million in funding to projects helping citizens make safer, more informed decisions online.

Officials also regularly meet with major social media platforms to discuss disinformation activity, emerging risks and platforms’ responses.

The government is committed to supporting families who have endured unimaginable losses. The Online Safety Act will help address challenges faced by bereaved parents when engaging with online services following a child’s death. The Act gives Ofcom the power to require information from regulated services about a deceased child’s online activity following a coroner’s request.

In terms of horrific abusive content, under the Act social media platforms must take responsibility for users’ safety by removing illegal abusive content. These duties on platforms to tackle illegal content are expected to come into effect in Spring 2025.

The Online Safety Act will require social media platforms to take more responsibility for the safety of their users. Platforms will need to remove all illegal abusive content and protect children from harmful content, including hateful and abusive content.

Where anonymous abuse does not meet the criminal threshold, adult users of the largest services (Category 1) will have the choice to filter out content from non-verified users. Those services must also offer user empowerment tools to adult users, which when applied will reduce the likelihood that they are exposed to certain legal content, including abusive content.

The Online Safety Act will require social media platforms to take more responsibility for the safety of their users. Platforms will need to remove all illegal abusive content and protect children from harmful content, including hateful and abusive content.

Where anonymous abuse does not meet the criminal threshold, adult users of the largest services (Category 1) will have the choice to filter out content from non-verified users. Those services must also offer user empowerment tools to adult users, which when applied will reduce the likelihood that they are exposed to certain legal content, including abusive content.

The government is working with Ofcom to implement the Online Safety Act as quickly and effectively as possible. The Act, once implemented, will require services to tackle illegal content online and protect children from harmful content. On 16 December 2024, Ofcom reached a significant milestone by publishing the first draft illegal harms code which sets out measures that services can take to comply with their new duties.

Ofcom will reach several more milestones over the coming months including publication of its: child access guidance; age assurance guidance for pornography publishers; draft guidance on protecting women and girls online; and the draft child safety code.

The Government has confirmed funding for the School Games Organisers (SGOs) until the end of the 2024/25 Academic Year. Funding beyond then will be confirmed ahead of the start of the 2025/26 Financial Year, with funding from April 2026 onwards subject to the ongoing Spending Review.

The Statutory Nuisance Regime under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) is designed to provide protection from nuisances including noise, odour, smoke, fumes, artificial light, infestations and accumulations. Local authorities are responsible for investigating nuisance problems brought to their attention under the EPA.

If they agree that a statutory nuisance is happening, has happened or will happen in the future, councils must serve an abatement notice (usually on the person responsible). This could result in an unlimited fine if the recipient does not follow the rules of the abatement notice. It could also result in prosecution and an additional fine if found guilty in a Magistrates Court.

Local Authority Environmental Health Officers are qualified to make decisions on what can be considered a statutory nuisance within the local context and issue an abatement notice immediately. At this present time, there are no current plans to change the regime to include local consultation.

This Government has committed to publishing a Trade Strategy which sets out the UK’s approach to trade. The Trade Strategy will consider a range of levers to achieve our economic and international objectives. As with all policy, the Government keeps import duty under ongoing review.