Innovation Minister Alyn Smith has confirmed £10 million investment to develop two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs) for Scotland.
Plans are underway to allocate sites in the east and west of the country to support the development of skills for well-paid careers in areas such as defence engineering, advanced manufacturing and maritime technology.
Along with Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn, Mr Smith has today written to Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard and Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander, to confirm the Scottish Government will match UK Government funding needed to underpin future industrial growth and competitiveness.
Mr Smith said: “Scotland is well placed to seize the opportunities arising out of the defence industry – with a highly skilled workforce, world-class colleges and universities and internationally recognised manufacturing.
“DTECs will allow workers to upskill and connect the next generation to opportunities in sectors where demand for a highly-skilled workforce is rising rapidly.
“I am pleased to confirm we will partner with the UK Government to develop plans for DTECs in Scotland and build on the £3.7 billion to Scotland’s economy provided by the defence sector.
“Our Programme for Government committed to establishing a responsible defence industrial growth programme to maximise the economic opportunities arising from increased defence spending. We will work with partners to ensure our workers are equipped with the right skills for emerging jobs in this vital sector.”
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “In March we announced a £10 million commitment to develop two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges in Scotland.
“I’m pleased that the Scottish Government has now agreed to match fund these colleges to give our young people the skills they need to secure high-skilled, well-paid careers in Scotland’s defence sector in the years to come.
“Scotland is a defence industrial powerhouse and is already benefiting from increased UK Government investment as we deliver a defence dividend for Scotland, creating new skilled jobs, new training places and new opportunities for communities while keeping us and our allies secure.
“It is crucial that we continue to develop the skilled workforce needed to support this growing sector.”
Consumers urged to check doormats and letterboxes for a letter confirming £150 off bills
345,000 Scottish households to receive the Warm Home Discount automatically this winter – an increase of around 250,000
This follows action to remove VAT from electricity bills, giving people breathing space on the cost of living
From today, Scottish households should check their doormats and letterboxes for confirmation they will get £150 off their energy bills this winter.
Around six million households across Britain will benefit from the Warm Home Discount this winter, with nearly 2.3 million additional families, including around one million with children, receiving the rebate last year after the expansion of the scheme.
This winter, 345,000 Scottish households will receive the £150 rebate automatically – an increase of around 250,000 – benefitting from reforms to the way the Warm Home Discount is administered.
The onus has previously been on many Scottish households to get in touch with their supplier to receive the money. These changes have simplified the process for the majority of those eligible in Scotland, bringing the scheme closer into line with that in England and Wales – where most recipients already get the rebate automatically.
The Warm Home Discount follows on from the VAT cut on electricity bills in October, capping bus fares at £2 and removing £150 of costs off bills earlier this year, giving families breathing space this winter.
Minister for Energy Consumers Polly Billington said:“I know that many Scottish families will be struggling with their energy bills this winter.
“That is why I urge those who think they qualify for the Warm Home Discount to keep an eye out for a letter confirming their eligibility.
“Energy is an absolute essential, which is exactly why in October we cut VAT on all electricity bills and earlier this year we removed £150 of costs off bills, giving families breathing space this winter.”
Letters will be issued from this week through to January 2027 and will advise if the recipient will either get the Warm Home Discount automatically or if they need to phone the helpline to receive the money.
Households asked to phone the helpline and provide extra information to ensure they get the discount this winter must do so before 26 February 2027.
BUT IS MORE ‘REGIONAL EMPOWERMENT’ ENOUGH FOR SCOTS?
In a speech today, the Prime Minister will invite Scotland’s First Minister to work with him on the common good of pushing more power out of both Westminster and Holyrood, unlocking jobs and opportunity in every region.
Delivering his remarks after speaking with young people today in Lanarkshire, Andy Burnham will emphasise the Scottish Government is one of the most centralised devolved administrations in Europe, with Holyrood not giving people who know their areas best enough of a say, despite significant devolution from Westminster over the last 27 years.
Because power was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament, the Prime Minister will argue the next stage of devolution should place more decision-making in the hands of Scotland’s regions and cities to drive reindustrialisation.
As part of that offer, he will call on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government through No10 North and the Scotland Office to develop a new model of regional empowerment for Scotland, ensuring communities with their own strengths, identity and ambitions can seize new economic opportunities and unlock their potential.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “During my first week in office, I told the First Minister that I wanted to work with him to spread opportunities to communities across Scotland’s regions and cities.
“Through No10 North, we are rewiring the state and I want to make sure regions in Scotland are fully part of this.
“This is me making an offer to the Scottish Government. With us working together, there is no limit to what we can achieve for the Scottish people.”
The Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander said: “Devolution has done a great deal, but power was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament. People in North Lanarkshire, in Fife or in the Highlands know what their communities need better than any minister, whether they sit in London or Edinburgh.
“The Prime Minister’s offer to the Scottish Government is a genuine one, and the Scotland Office is ready to roll up its sleeves alongside them to make it happen. Two governments, one goal – good jobs and real opportunity in every corner of Scotland”.
Latest poll suggest more Scots would vote for independence if another referendum was called today.
Chancellor announces Edinburgh as host city for 2027 G20 finance meeting
Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from across the world will gather at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre from 8 to 9 July 2027
The UK will host the twenty-second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting in Edinburgh next year. The gathering will take place on 8 and 9 July 2027 and will be a core feature of the UK’s programme of events across its Presidency year.
Speaking at the IMF in Bangkok today, Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey expressed pride at the prospect of hosting counterparts in Scotland’s capital.
The work of the G20 and our relationship with G20 partners has real impact in the UK. In recent years G20 members have brought thousands of investment projects into the UK, creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC). This is the second time the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors G20 meeting has been held in Scotland. In 2009, the group met in St Andrews where they coordinated responses to the 2008 financial crisis to drive economic recovery.
The G20 Leaders’ Summit will take place in Manchester on 27 and 28 November 2027. As well as this event, and the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Edinburgh, a range of locations across the UK will host further high profile ministerial meetings.
The UK Government is determined to ensure the Summit and the year-long Presidency will benefit people in every part of the UK – bringing the G20 to nations and regions across the UK.
The Prime Minister set out his intention to put AI at the heart of the UK’s G20 Presidency at UNGA last month. He detailed how the UK will bring the right people together on the key issues: delivering on the potential of AI for good and dealing with the risks to ensure that AI development is safe.
Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey commented:“As the UK’s second financial centre, Edinburgh is a fitting host for the G20 finance meeting.
“Alongside the Leader’s summit in Manchester, and other meetings around the nations and regions, the G20 is a real opportunity for the whole of the UK.”
Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander commented:“The UK’s presidency of the G20 is a huge opportunity for the whole of the country.
“Bringing the world’s finance ministers to Edinburgh recognises our capital’s reputation as a global financial centre.
“This is a significant moment for Edinburgh and the whole of Scotland – the event showcases Scottish innovation and ambition to a global audience.”
EICC board chair, Cllr Lezley Marion Cameron, said: “I am delighted the Edinburgh International Conference Centre is again hosting world leaders and economic decision makers.
“To do so is a privilege and a responsibility. It also boosts Edinburgh’s offering as a business events city and shows confidence in the EICC’s facilities and track record of delivering international political and financial gatherings to world class standards.
“Our excellent EICC team, led by CEO Amanda Wrathall, will work closely with partners to ensure all aspects of this G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors business meeting is executed with the necessary care, precision and expertise for which the EICC is warmly and widely respected and renowned.”
Preparations are already underway, with EICC working closely with international, national and local partners to ensure world-class facilities, technology, delegate services and security arrangements are in place ahead of the meeting.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “We’re pleased to have been chosen to host the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Edinburgh next Summer and look forward to welcoming the world’s most prominent financial decision makers to our capital city.
“Edinburgh has long earned its global status as a major centre for financial services, with our history in the sector spanning over three centuries. We’re proud to be the UK’s second largest financial centre outside of London and of our longstanding reputation, expertise and innovation in the finance sector.
“With a strong track record of delivering events on the world’s stage, we look forward to having all eyes on us next year – and working with partners at both a Government and local level to showcase the very best of what Edinburgh has to offer.”
Hosting the G20 finance meeting will be a significant operation and Edinburgh has experience hosting major events such as sporting fixtures, the arts festival, national and international conferences.
The G20 brings together 19 of the world’s largest economies and the European Union and the African Union.
Together, it makes up 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population and is the main international forum for coordinating the world’s largest economies.
Prime Minister to host President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street today to underline the UK’s rock-solid support for Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes‘
UK will ‘double down’ on support for Ukraine, with the Prime Minister set to tell President Zelenskyy that he has asked Ministers to draw up further sanctions, military support and fiscal packages to provide urgent support in the coming weeks, and will accelerate delivery of critical air defence missiles
Comes as the Chancellor presses partners at the IMF meetings to step up support for Ukraine and ensure Russia heeds the US’ call for a full energy ceasefire.
President Zelenskyy will arrive in the UK this morning as the UK calls on international partners to step up sanctions on Russia and increase pressure on Putin to respect the United States’ calls for an energy ceasefire.
It comes as the UK doubles down on support for Ukraine, including delivering £45 million of surface-to-air missiles deliveries and standing by plans to fully implement a maritime services ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports – restricting Russia’s access to the UK’s world leading shipping and insurance services.
The UK will accelerate deliveries of British Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs), which have proven extremely effective against jet-powered drones that are being used to strike far beyond the front lines in Ukraine, including Kyiv and beyond.
The drones are faster and can fly far higher than propeller-driven Shaheds, making them harder to detect and destroy before they hit targets.
The UK has already committed £1.6 billion to deliver more than 5000 LMMs to Ukraine over the next four years and will accelerate £10 million of the £45m package of missiles announced today to meet Ukraine’s most urgent winter requirements.
Ahead of the two leaders meeting today, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Our rock-solid support to Ukraine is vital for keeping us safe here in the UK and ensuring those on the frontlines have the equipment they need to push back Russia.
“My message to the Ukrainian people could not be clearer, we are with you for as long as it takes, and we will go further and faster in our support to back your courageous fight for peace in Europe.
“It is not just the right thing to do, but it’s the necessary thing to do. Russia’s aggression cannot be allowed to succeed on our continent.”
The Prime Minister has also asked Ministers to draw up further sanctions, military aid, and fiscal packages to provide urgent support in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Chancellor John Healey will use his meetings at the IMF in Bangkok to urge partners to fully implement an equivalent ban on Russian LNG, following the UK’s lead. This comes after the Foreign Secretary did the same with partners at the Warsaw Security Forum yesterday.
As Russia continues its bombardment of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and energy infrastructure, the Chancellor will argue that this must be met by European resolve and unity – ensuring our unshakeable commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty stands strong.
Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey said: “Conflict in the Middle East and in Europe is hitting people across the world.
“As the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Putin continues, our commitment to the Ukrainian people is unshakeable.
“I urge partners to back the ban on Russian LNG, like we have done in the UK, to curtail the war chest funding Putin so desperately wants.”
The Home Secretary has expanded dedicated police support and launched a review into protective security for those in public life
Security arrangements for high-profile public figures will be urgently examined to ensure those most at risk are better protected amid rising threats to their safety.
The horrific murder of Ann Widdecombe is one of several recent events to raise serious questions about the security of those in public life.
In response, the Home Secretary has today announced an independent review of the UK’s protective security system to combat the growing risks of terrorism, extremism and state threats, as well as harassment and intimidation.
The review will be carried out by Sir Stephen Lovegrove, who will look at whether current security arrangements are fit for purpose, in particular ensuring there is adequate protection for those most at risk.
This includes high-profile individuals (including royals), government ministers, MPs, locally elected representatives, and other prominent individuals in British politics. His review will not include an assessment of individual cases.
Dedicated police support will be expanded to leaders of political parties who are not MPs, as well as peers, former MPs, former members of the devolved parliaments and political party spokespeople.
Sir Stephen will look at how existing security is provided, whether funding and measures are being used effectively and proportionately, and how decision-making can be more consistent in response to threat and risk. The review will build on the work of Sir Robert Buckland, who is conducting a separate review into the murder of Sir David Amess MP, which will consider the security of MPs in their constituencies.
The Home Secretary announced the review in an address to Parliament on national security threats.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Those who enter public life do so to serve. Robust debate and criticism are part of the job. Threats, abuse and violence are not.
“An attack on any individual in public life is an attack on every one of us, and it is an attack on democracy itself.
“We owe it to those public servants we have tragically lost, and to everyone who believes in a fair and open country, to ensure those who serve receive the protection they deserve.”
This full-scale review will encompass the protection being provided to high-risk individuals and sites such as government buildings and diplomatic estates.
Whilst the terms of reference and timeframe are subject to agreement with Sir Stephen, the Home Secretary will consider any recommendations to reform and rebalance the system, ensuring future security arrangements are adequate to meet the current threat whilst providing value for money for the taxpayer.
The review comes as politicians, elected representatives, and those in public office are facing heightened risks and threats to their safety. In May’s local elections the Electoral Commission found that 55% of all candidates experienced some form of harassment and intimidation, as did the same proportion of candidates at the 2024 General Election.
The government is working to ensure that no one in this country is deterred from representing their community, taking part in British politics, and standing for public office because of fear for their safety. Through the Defending Democracy Taskforce, the Security Minister continues to drive forward work across government to tackle the full range of threats to our democracy.
Andy Burnham announces £48 million industry partnership to back dementia research and speed up the development of new treatments
PM announces £48 million industry partnership to back dementia research and speed up the development of new treatments
Dementia to be one of the first priorities for the new Health Data Research Service that will join up NHS and research data for the first time to help new drugs reach patients faster
Comes alongside commitment to deliver a new National Care Service and reform social care to improve support for people living with dementia and their families
People living with dementia and their families will benefit from a major new partnership making it easier to join clinical trials and helping promising new treatments reach patients faster.
The Government is investing £33 million through the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme, alongside funding from Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK and Gates Ventures, to tackle one of the biggest barriers to dementia research: recruiting enough people into clinical studies to test promising new treatments.
The investment will support the work of The BARBARA Alliance, a UK-wide not-for-profit partnership bringing together government, industry, academia, charities and people with lived experience of dementia.
Its flagship programme, BARBARA, will create a single, co-ordinated platform linking the UK’s health data, research and clinical trial capabilities, making it easier for researchers to find participants and for people across the UK to take part in studies. By tackling one of the biggest bottlenecks in dementia research, the programme will help speed up clinical trials and bring promising new treatments to patients faster.
Dementia remains one of the greatest health and social care challenges facing the country. Nearly one million people are living with the condition in the UK today, and around one in two people will be affected by dementia in their lifetime, either living with the condition, being a carer or both.
The condition places enormous pressure on families, carers, the NHS, and social care services. Dementia is estimated to cost the UK more than £42 billion a year, with the vast majority of costs falling on social care and unpaid care provided by family and friends, and the cost to the NHS at £7 billion.
Yet too few people currently take part in dementia research, compared to other diseases. Anybody over the age of 18 years old can sign up, with or without a dementia diagnosis or memory concerns through the NIHR’s Join Dementia Research service. Taking part gives people the chance to contribute to the search for better treatments and help bring hope to the millions of families affected by dementia.
Speaking ahead of the Innovation Nation Summit, the Prime Minister said there was no reason why Britain could not lead the world in the search for new dementia treatments and that for too long dementia has been treated as something to be managed later on in life rather than a condition which can be properly treated and ultimately cured.
Today’s investment forms part of the Prime Minister’s wider mission to improve support for people living with dementia and their families. Alongside plans for a National Care Service, the Government is backing research that could help people live independently for longer and ease pressure on health and care services.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Dementia is a devastatingly cruel disease, not only for those who live with it, but for the families who care for them. For too long, we have accepted dementia as something to be managed later in life, rather than a disease we can defeat. I don’t accept that. In fact, I have real hope that we can come together and do exactly that.
“I want Britain to be the country that makes the breakthrough and delivers the cure for dementia the world has been waiting for. That is why I am making dementia research a national priority – by backing the NHS, universities, researchers and industry to drive the breakthroughs we desperately need.
“This investment goes hand in hand with our plans for a National Care Service, helping ensure that people living with dementia get the care and support they need, and giving families peace of mind that their loved ones will be cared for.”
Health and Social Care Secretary, Yvette Cooper said: “This cruel disease has done so much damage to families across our country, and for too long we have lacked the tools to fight back. This investment will help us turn the tide on dementia, helping us to speed up diagnosis, accelerate research and give more people the chance to take part in trials that could transform their futures.
“We are also determined to ensure that every person living with dementia gets the care they deserve, and that no family is left to fend for themselves when a loved one needs support. So, alongside this new investment, we will ensure that the treatment of dementia is one of the central priorities of our new National Care Service.
Hilary Evans-Newton CBE, Chair of the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme and Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We know that people affected by dementia want the opportunity to be part of the search for better treatments. More than 90% we’ve surveyed told us they would like to take part in research, helping to shape a better future for everyone affected by the condition.
“The BARBARA Alliance has been created to change that. By tackling the barriers to dementia research and speeding up recruitment to clinical trials, this funding will help more people contribute to breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment.”
CEO of the BARBARA Alliance Jessamy Baird MBE said: “The BARBARA Alliance was essential in clearing some of the barriers that are preventing our life sciences sector from delivering new treatments to patients.
“What makes us different is our work across the whole sector, working with people with lived experience of dementia, charities, commercial companies, the NHS, and regulators,
“Taking part in a trial not only means that someone can contribute to the future course of the disease, they also get the opportunity to receive interventions, treatments and better care, which can help them and their loved ones.”
Kaivan Khavandi, SVP, Head of R&D Translational & Development Sciences, GSK said: “Our partnership in The BARBARA Alliance is a crucial step to advance research into dementia.
“By working together with the UK government and other partners, we aim to create a more dynamic and agile way to accelerate scientific trials. We’re proud to be a founding member and believe the partnership will help bring much-needed innovation to patients faster.”
Ken Rhodes, Vice President of Neuroscience research at Bristol Myers Squibb said: By bringing together unique datasets that advance AI/ML approaches, BARBARA will help the Alzheimer’s field ask better questions and accelerate progress for patients in need.
“Consortia like The BARBARA Alliance are critical in Bristol Myers Squibb’s efforts to explore both symptomatic and disease-modifying approaches, all in service of our ultimate ambition to bring medicines to patients faster.”
Niranjan Bose Managing Director, Health & Life Sciences, Gates Ventures said: “Recruiting the right people, at the right time, remains one of the biggest bottlenecks in developing new treatments for Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The UK has a remarkable opportunity to change that by bringing together its strengths in health data, the NHS, AI, research and clinical trials.
“The BARBARA Alliance is exactly the kind of investment the field needs — making it easier for people to find and participate in research, while connecting data, research and clinical capabilities across the UK, and a faster path for researchers to evaluate promising new treatments and recruit participants more efficiently. Gates Ventures is proud to support this partnership and its ambition to turn scientific progress into treatments that reach patients faster.”
The Prime Minister also announced that dementia will be one of the first priorities for the new Health Data Research Service (HDRS), a flagship commitment of the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan.
Backed by up to £600 million from Government and the Wellcome Trust, HDRS will bring NHS and research data from across the UK into a single, secure system for approved research. Scientists will be able to identify eligible patients and recruit participants more quickly.
Britain has some of the world’s most powerful health data, but it is fragmented across different systems and organisations. Joining it up will help researchers understand how diseases develop, find suitable participants and translate discoveries into treatments.
By making dementia one of its first priorities, HDRS will help cement Britain’s position as a global leader in dementia research while giving more people the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge studies and clinical trials.
The service will also complement the work of The BARBARA Alliance, which will help more people take part in trials, while the Health Data Research Service will give scientists the evidence and insight needed to design better studies and drive new discoveries which could bring treatments to patients faster.
The announcement comes a week after the Prime Minister set out a new settlement for older people, bringing together a State Pension that continues to rise every year with plans for a National Care Service that would provide free personal care for older people.
As people live longer, the systems designed to support them have not kept pace. The current social care system is too often failing older people, their families and care workers, while placing growing pressure on the NHS. The proposed National Care Service would be built on the same founding principles as the NHS, ensuring everyone can access the support they need and helping people live independently for longer.
Under the plans, older people would be entitled to a basic level of free personal care, including support with everyday activities such as washing, dressing, eating and personal hygiene. The reforms are intended to give families greater peace of mind, protecting people from the fear that needing care later in life could leave them without the support they need.
As part of her review, Baroness Casey has been asked to provide recommendations on how and when to build up the national care service. Her work will include public deliberation to ensure the public’s priorities are reflected in recommendations and ongoing cross-party talks seeking to build political consensus.
Yesterday’s announcement also follows the launch of UKRI’s £80 million Dementia Challenge last week, which will test nine innovative technologies in the NHS, including faster MRI brain scans and remote cognitive assessments, to speed up diagnosis and improve patient outcomes.
The programme aims to help ensure 92% of people receive a diagnosis within 18 weeks of referral, up from around 60% today, by rapidly scaling innovations that prove they work in real-world settings.
Together with the new investment in clinical trials, this marks a major step towards turning Britain’s scientific strength into hope for millions of families affected by dementia, while reducing the financial burden on families and the state.
Controversial plans for some criminal trials to be heard by judge alone to be scrapped under changes to court reforms
Wider changes to criminal courts to cut the record number of cases waiting to be heard will be fast-tracked
‘Victims will not be waiting endlessly for justice’ Justice Secretary pledges
CONTROVERSIALplans for some criminal trials to be heard by judge alone in England will be scrapped, meaning more serious cases will continue to be heard in front of a jury, keeping juries the cornerstone of British justice.
This will mean the Justice Secretary can be ‘fully focussed’ on fast-tracking the broader changes needed to drive down the record number of cases waiting years to be heard – fixing a crisis that is leaving too many victims in limbo before they see their perpetrator in the dock.
Millions will be invested in new technology to modernise the outdated courts and slash inefficiencies, judges will be given the resources they need to hear more cases, and vital structural reforms will deliver a court system fit for the 21st Century.
This will give magistrates the power to hand out longer sentences, meaning the courts can deal with cases quicker and get victims justice faster.
Technical and lengthy fraud and financial offences will be allowed to be heard by a judge alone, freeing up jurors from the personal and financial burdens created by complex, months-long trials.
And courts will have the final say over where cases should be heard, preventing criminals accused of relatively minor crimes trying to game the system by electing a jury trial in an attempt to avoid prison.
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Norris, said: “This government inherited criminal courts on the brink of collapse, with victims waiting years for their day in court.
“I remain committed to bringing down the backlog and delivering swifter justice for those who so desperately need it. But I have heard the strength of feeling on the proposals for increasing the number of judge-alone trials in the Crown Court and have made the decision to change course.
“This allows us to start that work far earlier, ensuring that under this Government we do not have victims waiting endlessly for justice.
“Justice delayed is justice denied, and I am committed to maximising efficiencies in our system alongside record investment. I remain committed to structural reform which is crucial if we are to bring down the backlog.”
The changes announced today will be made to the Courts and Tribunals Bill, due back in Parliament later this month.
When it returns, the government will also make a statutory commitment to consider any impacts of the structural reforms on ethnic minorities and people of different backgrounds, led by an independent reviewer.
Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC said: ”Justice delayed is justice denied. We must take action to bring down the backlog using every lever we have. That’s why we will set out, in our response to Lord Leveson’s report, the steps we are taking to make the courts more efficient.
“Whether that is using AI to support the listing of cases, rolling out further virtual hearings, or taking steps to ensure defendants arrive to court on time, we will turn the tide and deliver the swifter justice victims deserve.”
Today’s announcement comes just weeks after new figures confirmed the backlog in the Crown Court had reached a record high. Nearly 81,000 cases are now stuck waiting for justice and of these almost a third had been waiting for a year or longer.
The UK Government said: ‘No single measure can fix years of underinvestment and decades where the system has not kept up with the pace of change.’
‘That is why the government is doing all it can to get victims fairer, faster justice – long-term reform, underpinned by vital efficiency and record investment.
The Government will publish its full response to both parts of Lord Leveson’s review in the coming weeks.
The Bill will return to the House of Commons on 13 October.
Neurodivergent people can thrive in the workplace when they are given tailored employment support an independent report has found
Independent report finds neurodivergent people can flourish in work when given the right support based on their needs rather than a diagnosis.
Connect to Work and Pathways to Work Advisers are already helping neurodivergent people build fulfilling careers, with hundreds moving into work already.
The response sits alongside the government’s wider drive to support disabled people and people with health conditions into work, backed by £3.5 billion of funding by the end of the decade.
Published today, the Expert Academic Panel on Neurodiversity’s Report and Recommendations sets out how best to support neurodivergent employees to succeed at work.
It notes that greater employment participation has the potential to lessen the burden on the health and welfare systems and boost economic growth.
The report calls for:
Support that responds to individual strengths and challenges, based on need rather than diagnosis
Strengthening of existing disability employment policy; and awareness of best practice
Further research to address gaps in the evidence base;
Practical, evidence-based strategies to help neurodivergent employees succeed
Wider adoption of Universal Design principles so workplaces are built with everyone in mind from the outset. Neurodivergent people bring valuable skills and perspectives to the workplace, the report notes and that removing barriers to communication, and environment allow people to do their best work.
The UK Government is already putting this into practice through Connect to Work, part of the wider £3.5 billion disability employment investment.
Its specialist pathway for neurodivergent and learning-disabled people builds support around each person’s individual strengths and needs, helping them find roles where they can excel.
Connect to Work is available across England and Wales and will help thousands of neurodivergent and learning-disabled people build careers by the end of the decade. By the end of June, 1,000 people on the specialist Connect to Work pathway for neurodivergent and learning-disabled people had moved into work, with 470 of those young people.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “When we get the right support in place, neurodivergent people thrive at work.
“That’s good for them, good for business and good for the economy. Everyone deserves a fair chance to succeed.
“Connect to Work is already proving this approach works, and we’ll keep building on it so more neurodivergent people get the tailored support they need to build fulfilling careers.”
Neurodiversity Panel Chair Professor Amanda Kirby said: “Neurodivergent people have enormous talent to offer the economy, yet too often that talent goes untapped because support hasn’t matched their needs.
“Our report shows that when neurodivergent people get the support they need, everybody benefits: employees find roles where they can excel, businesses gain from different skills and perspectives, and the wider economy grows stronger as more people contribute.”
In 2024/25, only 34 percent of all disabled people with autism were in work, in comparison to 55 percent of disabled people overall.
This stark gap resulted in the launch of The Expert Academic Panel on Neurodiversity in January 2025 to advise the Government on how to help more neurodivergent people build successful careers.
The panel also recommended that, where possible,workplace systems and environments are built for everyone from the outset, rather than relying on adjustments being made for individuals reactively.
In response, the Government has launched a sixteen-week policy discovery exercise to look at where these Universal Design principles could be applied to workplaces in future.
Much of this work to fulfil the recommendations is in train already, including:
Reforms to our Disability Confident Scheme, including removing the option for employers at the entry level to renew at this level to encourage employers to progress up the scheme;
Nearly 500 additional staff to be recruited to clear inherited backlog in the Access to Work scheme and help people get the support they need quicker;
The national expansion of WorkWell backed by £259m, helping up to 250,000 people with health conditions to stay in or return to work;
The deployment of 1,000 Pathways to Work advisers who’ve already helped over 100,000 people the previous Government wrote off;
£60 million Pathways to Work Innovation Fund, encouraging businesses and charities to transform how disabled people and those with health conditions are supported into work.
Alongside this, the government has invested in a £2.5 billion youth employment support package, which will create nearly 500,000 jobs and training opportunities to help young people into work.
New Vaping Products Duty and Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme come into effect from 1 October 2026.
All vaping liquids manufactured in, or imported into, the UK from 1 October are now subject to excise duty.
New vaping duty stamps to start appearing on retail packaging, which will support the high street by helping to combat illicit trade.
A new excise duty on vaping products has come into force in the UK today (1 October 2026) to reduce the affordability and appeal of vaping, especially to young people and non-smokers.
Vaping Products Duty is charged at £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid and will be paid by manufacturers, importers and warehousekeepers approved by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). It is a commercial decision whether the duty cost is passed on to retailers and consumers.
HMRC has also launched the Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme. Once fully rolled out, vaping duty stamps will provide digital traceability throughout the supply chain, enhancing consumer protection, and helping the high street by strengthening the fight against illicit trade.
This will also support the government’s commitment to back legitimate businesses, crack down on rogue operators and create fairer, safer high streets.
To support businesses, HMRC has introduced a six-month grace period meaning wholesalers and retailers can sell any existing eligible unstamped, non-duty liable, stock until 31 March 2027.
But from 1 April 2027, all vaping products sold in the UK must carry a valid vaping duty stamp and consumers should only buy duty-stamped vaping products. Anyone who suspects a vaping product may be illicit can report it to HMRC.
Tobacco duty rates have increased today to maintain the financial incentive for current tobacco smokers to switch to vaping. This is a one-off (pro-rata) increase of £2.20 per 100 cigarettes or per 50 grams of tobacco, in addition to the standard tobacco duty escalator.
James Murray, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General, said: Our new measures will help get illicit vapes off high streets across the country.
“We’re backing all those retailers who play by the rules by making it easier for law enforcement agencies to take action against those who don’t.”
Karin Smyth, Minister of State for Health, said: “Our public heath advice is clear: while vaping is less harmful than smoking and can help adult smokers to quit, children and non-smokers should never vape.
“These measures are an important step in our ambition to tackle youth vaping by reducing the affordability of vaping products, which goes hand-in-hand with the work we are already doing to tackle the appeal and availability of vapes on our high streets.”
Further changes to vaping and tobacco-related products that come into effect today are:
vaping duty stamps will start to appear on retail packaging
new personal allowance rules for travellers bringing vaping products into the UK
