Switzerland Free Trade Agreement Negotiations: Round 8
(2 days, 8 hours ago)
Written StatementsRead Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Minister of State, Department for Business and Trade (Chris Bryant)
The eighth round of negotiations on an enhanced free trade agreement with Switzerland took place in Switzerland between 20 and 24 October 2025.
Economic growth is our first mission in Government and trade agreements have an important role to play in achieving this. An enhanced trade agreement with Switzerland could support British businesses, back British jobs, and put more money in people’s pockets.
Services will be at the heart of a new agreement, reflecting that there is around £28 billion in services trade between our two countries in everything from finance and consultancy to legal and transport. The trading relationship supported 130,000 services jobs across the UK in 2020.
Switzerland is the UK’s 10th biggest trading partner and the UK-Swiss trade relationship was worth more than £45.1 billion in the four quarters ending Q1 2025. Services exports accounted for more than £18.4 billion of the trading relationship, making Switzerland the UK’s sixth largest services export partner.
An enhanced FTA with Switzerland aims to deliver long-term certainty for UK services firms, by locking in access to the Swiss market, guaranteeing the free flow of data and cementing business travel arrangements.
The round saw positive progress in a number of areas:
Services and investment
Constructive discussions were held across services, following a series of productive intersessional talks held over the summer. The UK and Switzerland exchanged market access offers prior to the round. Discussions continue to focus on market access supporting UK services exports.
Digital
Constructive discussions continued on digital trade in round 8 with some good progress made across the chapter. With 75% of UK services trade with Switzerland delivered digitally in 2022, the UK is seeking commitments in the FTA that will guarantee the free flow of data between our two countries.
Intellectual property
During this round, the UK and Switzerland discussed intellectual property rights areas. Negotiations will continue with the aim of agreeing a comprehensive framework for the protection of intellectual property.
Goods
Discussions continue to focus on goods market access.
We are close to concluding negotiations on the goods chapter text, which will help streamline the process for UK exports to Switzerland and vice versa.
In addition, good progress was made on the technical barriers to trade chapter, including provisions on technical regulations, international standards and conformity assessment.
Competition
Negotiations concluded on competition issues, promoting open and fair competition for UK firms at home and in Switzerland.
Next steps on FTA negotiations
Round 9 of negotiations on the FTA is set to take place in the UK in early 2026.
The Government are focused on securing outcomes in an enhanced FTA that boost economic growth for the UK and Ministers will continue to update Parliament on the progress of negotiations.
The Government will only ever sign a trade agreement which aligns with the UK’s national interests, upholding our high standards across a range of sectors, alongside protections for the national health service.
UK-Switzerland services mobility agreement
In addition to progress made in the FTA negotiations, the UK and Switzerland have also agreed a further extension to the existing UK-Switzerland services mobility agreement to cover the next four years, up to 31 December 2029.
The extension will ensure that businesses and services providers in the UK and in Switzerland have the certainty they need to continue to make use of this arrangement, while we are negotiating a permanent solution to this in the free trade agreement. This follows the announcement in November 2022 to extend the agreement.
The SMA allows UK professionals to travel freely to Switzerland and to work and deliver services visa-free for up to 90 days per year. The agreement also ensures UK professionals will not face economic interests tests or be required to secure work permits during these first 90 days of service supply.
The agreement also allows Swiss professionals to come to the UK and provide services under contract in a number of key skilled sectors through the UK’s service supplier visa for up to 12 months. This supports broader trade in vital industries of the UK economy, including finance, consultancy, legal services, the tech sector and the creative industries.
[HCWS997]
Bathing Water Regulations 2013
(2 days, 8 hours ago)
Written StatementsRead Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Hardy)
Cleaning up our waters are a priority for the Government. The Government will respond to the recommendations published in the final report of the Independent Water Commission through a White Paper and will bring forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for the environment and customer bills, restoring trust and accountability. Together with the actions the Government have already taken, this will mark the most fundamental reset to our water system in a generation, and we are keen to work closely with stakeholders, looking for a new partnership between Government, the sector, investors, and communities which will deliver the change the public expects.
Bathing waters are a vital public amenity and continue to attract considerable public interest. The Government are committed to improving the quality of our coastal waters, rivers and lakes for the benefit of the environment and everyone who use them. We are continually working to improve and modernise our bathing waters system to support the Government growth agenda.
Today, DEFRA, alongside the Welsh Government, has laid before Parliament a statutory instrument to amend the Bathing Water Regulations 2013. The amendments in the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 reflect the outcome of our November 2024 consultation. The Government response to our consultation was published in March 2025 and outlined our intention to deliver three core reforms alongside several technical amendments. These changes respond directly to calls from stakeholders to modernise the framework governing bathing waters.
Core reform 1 removes the automatic de-designation provision from the 2013 regulations, which states that if a bathing water site receives a classification of “poor” for five consecutive years, it is automatically de-designated, and the Environment Agency or National Resources Wales must issue permanent advice against bathing. Instead, following a site receiving five consecutive “poor” classifications, the EA or NRW will advise the appropriate Minister on whether it is feasible and not disproportionately expensive to improve the site to “sufficient” standard. Ministers will then make a final decision on whether a site should continue to be designated. This change reflects our commitment to fairness and long-term environmental stewardship.
Core reform 2 amends the process to designate a bathing water to include consideration of the feasibility of improving a site’s water quality to at least “sufficient” water quality as a criterion for final designation. This reform also introduces consideration of whether there is likely to be a significant risk to the physical safety of bathers from the particular features of the water (where Ministers have reasonable grounds to believe this), or if it is likely that a large number of bathers will have a significant impact on environmental protection measures at site, prior to final designation. This reform will support tailored, site-specific decisions that better protect public health and the environment.
To support this reform, we are working with an external research organisation to develop a new feasibility assessment to ensure any decisions made under this reform are fair and accurate. This assessment will be developed through a stakeholder-driven process, ensuring transparency and inclusivity in the development of the assessment and associated guidance. This guidance will be published at the beginning of the 2026 general bathing season and application window.
Core reform 3 amends the fixed-date bathing season in the 2013 regulations, allowing Ministers to set site-specific bathing seasons where appropriate. While a general season (15 May to 30 September) will remain in the 2025 regulations, flexible, locally appropriate dates—including monitoring periods—can be determined to reflect actual water use. Next steps on how this reform will operate in practice will be developed in partnership with stakeholders and shared through published guidance in due course.
The technical amendments will modernise the regulatory framework, improving the Environment Agency’s operational efficiency and aligning legislation with best practice. These include removing outdated sampling requirements, clarifying data standards, and streamlining administrative processes.
The reforms will come into force in stages to ensure a balanced and effective roll-out. Notably:
Core reform 1 and core reform 3, along with the technical amendments, will come into force on 21 November 2025.
Core reform 2, which introduces further considerations ahead of designation, will come into force on 15 May 2026.
This phased approach ensures that we act swiftly to prevent the potential automatic de-designation of sites while allowing sufficient time to develop comprehensive guidance for future applications.
These reforms mark a significant milestone in our commitment to protecting public health, enhancing environmental quality, and empowering communities. By modernising the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, we are ensuring that our approach remains fit for purpose in the face of evolving challenges and opportunities.
[HCWS999]
Local Government Reorganisation
(2 days, 8 hours ago)
Written StatementsRead Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness (Alison McGovern)
The Government’s ambition is to simplify local government by ending the two-tier system and establishing new single-tier unitary councils. This is a once-in-a-generation reform, and our vision is clear: stronger local councils empowered across local services, equipped to drive economic growth, improve local public services, and empower their communities.
Strong local government will help grow the economy and drive up living standards—the Government’s No. 1 mission. With one council in charge in each area, we will see quicker decisions to grow our towns and cities, and connect people to opportunity. Reorganisation will speed up house building, get vital infrastructure projects moving, and attract new investment, with more people able to buy their own homes and access high-quality local jobs. It will also help reform local public services. Bringing services like housing, public health, and social care under one roof means that one council can see the full picture and spot problems early—for example, supporting a family in need of housing, and then supporting the children to stay in school. Ensuring public services are effective and responsive to their communities will help to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities, and enable people to reach their full potential.
To this end, on 5 February, councils in the 21 areas of England that still have two-tier local government and neighbouring small unitary authorities were invited to submit proposals for unitarisation. Surrey councils were invited to submit their proposals by 9 May, on an accelerated timetable, due to the unique financial context of the area. Today, the Secretary of State has written to the leaders of Surrey councils about those proposals, and I can update the House on those decisions.
I would first like to thank all councils in Surrey for their hard work and commitment. Their dedication and collaboration has been vital for ensuring that quality proposals for new local authority structures, with the interests of residents at their heart, were brought forward.
Two proposals for unitary local government in Surrey were considered: one from Elmbridge borough council, Mole Valley district council and Surrey county council, for two unitary councils; and one from the borough councils of Epsom and Ewell, Guildford, Reigate and Banstead, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley, Woking, and Tandridge district council, for three unitary councils. As the House was informed on 17 June, these proposals were taken to consultation, which closed on 5 August. A summary of the responses to that consultation will be published today.
We have now considered the proposals carefully against the criteria set out in the invitation letter of 5 February, alongside the responses to the consultation, all representations and all other relevant information to assess the proposals. In summary, these criteria are: whether the proposal achieves for the whole of the area concerned the establishment of a single tier of local government; whether the councils are the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks; whether the unitary structures prioritise the delivery of high-quality and sustainable public services to citizens; whether councils in the area have sought to work together to come to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views; whether new unitary structures support devolution arrangements; and whether new unitary structures enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment.
The Secretary of State has decided to implement the “two unitaries” proposal for Surrey, subject to parliamentary approval. In our judgement, although both proposals met the criteria, the proposal for two unitaries better meets the criteria in the case of Surrey. In particular, we believe it performs better against the second criterion, as it is more likely to be financially sustainable. This criterion is particularly relevant in the unique context of Surrey, where reorganisation is a critical intervention to improve the financial viability of the area’s councils, given unprecedented levels of unsupported debt. Putting Surrey’s local authorities on a more sustainable footing is vital to safeguarding the services its residents rely on, as well as investing in their futures. We will bring to the House, for approval, a structural changes order to implement the proposal for two new unitary councils, East Surrey council and West Surrey council.
I would also like to confirm at this time our commitment to repaying, in principle, £500 million of Woking borough council’s debt in 2026-27. This is a significant and unprecedented commitment, given historic capital practices at the council. It reflects our acknowledgement that, even after the rationalisation of Woking’s historical assets, there is significant unsupported debt held by the council that cannot be managed locally.
The figure of in-principle support we are announcing today is subject to further assurance of the council’s financial position, progress with asset rationalisation, and the local government finance settlement. This is a first tranche of repayment support, and we will continue to explore what further debt support is required at a later point. Any support must take into account value for money for the local and national taxpayer and the council’s continued commitment to reducing debt as far as possible within its local capacity.
Simplifying local government also ensures a strong foundation for devolution. We are committed to working with partners across Surrey, including new unitary authorities once established, to establish a strategic authority for the area in order to ensure that relevant functions held at the county level can continue to be delivered on that geographic footprint where possible, such as transport and adult skills. The establishment of a strategic authority will be subject to the relevant statutory tests being met and local consent. We will also ensure that fire and rescue functions continue to be governed on the same geography.
For the other 20 areas going through local government reorganisation, I would like to emphasise that the decision to implement the proposal for two unitary councils in Surrey does not set any precedent. Decisions will be taken individually, based on the merits of each proposal we receive and the local context.
I will deposit in the House Library copies of the documents I have referred to, which are also being published on gov.uk today.
[HCWS998]