Speech on reforming the public sector delivered by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden at University College London, Stratford. Thank you for joining me today.
Government delivers on the Prime Minister's Plan for Change to build an energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses for good. Government delivers on the Prime Minister's Plan for Change to build an energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses for good.
Councils will share a record funding settlement of more than £15 billion subject to passing of the 2025-26 Budget, provisional allocations show. The 2025-26 Local Government Settlement includes a £289 million increase in funding to be used by councils to meet local needs and £120.5 million additional funding for pay deals.
The Chief Statistician has released figures on the 2024 Scottish harvest. Total cereal production from the 2024 harvest is around 3.0 million tonnes.
Citizens Advice Bureaux to provide support in six more areas The Scottish Government has awarded £400,000 to Citizens Advice Scotland to improve access to help for people struggling with Council Tax debt. Building on successful pilot schemes funded in 2023-4, the additional funding will enable targeted advice on Council Tax debt to be provided in six new areas: West Lothian, East Lothian, Dumfries and Galloway, Highlands, Argyll and Bute and East Renfrewshire.
More than 1,200 hectares of degraded rainforest habitat are now on the road to recovery thanks to Scottish Government funding. Almost £5 million has already been invested in rainforest restoration since 2023 and a further £5 million for ongoing restoration efforts was allocated as part of the draft 2025/26 Budget.
The European Central Bank has cut interest rates for the fourth time this year amid political turmoil in its largest economies, France and Germany. Policymakers cut the deposit rate from 3.25% to 3%, having begun cutting from a record high of 4% in June.
Government to review Internal Market Act six months earlier and engage with devolved governments throughout. Government to review Act six months earlier.
An explainer on the Spending Review process, and what it means for you. What is a Spending Review? A Spending Review is the process the government uses to set all departments' budgets for future years.
A new anti-dumping measure ranging from 33.03% to 83.5% could benefit UK excavator producers by up to £3.4 million per year, the TRA has found. The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has proposed that a new anti-dumping measure of up to 83.5% be applied to imports of excavators from China to the UK.
The Security Minister spoke at the UK Finance Economic Crime Congress to set out how the government is working to detect, disrupt and defeat economic crime. Let me start by thanking UK Finance for inviting me and for organising the Economic Crime Congress.
The international delivery expert Parcelhero has released a new free-to-use tool that helps avoid Customs charges, potentially save £100s on international parcels. Many Brits are sending gifts to friends and family overseas this month.
New statutory guidelines published for businesses producing and distributing lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes. The government has published new statutory guidelines for businesses producing and distributing lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes, as the latest step in tackling fires caused by unsafe e-bikes and associated products.
Flu positivity jumps to 17.1% as vaccine take-up rates lag behind levels needed to protect the NHS and levels of norovirus highest in a decade for the time of year. The government's medical experts are calling on eligible groups to ensure they book their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations before the deadline on 19 December.
Wednesday 18 December - 2nd Class 2nd Class Signed For. Friday 20 December - 1st Class 1st Class Signed For.
The amended regulatory framework will speed up trial approvals and encourage innovation in trial design without compromising patient safety. New legislation is being laid in Parliament today that will address the research sector's need for a more efficient, streamlined and adaptable regulatory framework for clinical trials.
Fourteen thousand new prison places, with a target to open by 2031, form part of a 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy to make sure we always have the spaces needed to keep the public safe. £2.3 billion towards prison builds over the next two years, with a target to open up 14,000 places by 2031.
20 new clinical research hubs to be set up across UK to accelerate research into the next generation of treatments. Funded through a £100 million of public-private investment from pharmaceutical companies, boosting economic growth New centres will shift research into the communities across the country, giving more people the chance to benefit from the latest innovative treatments.
Security for hard working families as government sets mandatory higher housing targets for councils across the country. Planning reform sees lower quality ‘grey belt' land defined in national planning policy for the first time, with tough new ‘golden rules’ on development to guarantee affordable housing, local services and green spaces .
A package of measures to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses will be delivered next year with funding in the draft Scottish Budget 2025/26. As part of £15 million investment, at least £4 million will be invested to expand the number of women entrepreneurs by providing tailored support at the earliest stages of business creation.
