Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance: Uprating
(1 day, 6 hours ago)
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The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (James Murray)
The Tax Credits Act 2002 and Social Security Administration Act 1992 place a statutory duty on His Majesty’s Treasury to review the rates of child benefit each year in line with the general level of prices. There is a further statutory duty on the Treasury to increase guardian’s allowance in line with price growth. I have now concluded the review for the tax year 2026-27.
I have decided to increase child benefit rates in line with the consumer prices index for the year to September 2025, which is 3.8%. Guardian’s allowance will also increase by the same rate. This means that, from 6 April 2026:
the child benefit rate for the eldest child will increase from £26.05 to £27.05 per week;
the child benefit rate for other children will increase from £17.25 to £17.90 per week;
guardian’s allowance will increase from £22.10 to £22.95 per week.
I have determined that there will be no need for changes to tax credits rates in the tax year 2026-27, as there are no tax credits awards after 5 April 2025. The new rates will apply across the United Kingdom. I will deposit the full list of these rates in the House Libraries shortly.
[HCWS1100]
Ajax Armoured Vehicle: Safety
(1 day, 6 hours ago)
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The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard)
I am releasing this statement to the House today to provide an update to Parliament on the British Army’s armoured cavalry programme, commonly known as Ajax. The programme has now reached initial operating capability. However, a recent training exercise has raised concerns regarding the safety of the vehicles.
As safety is my top priority, prior to IOC I asked for and was given assurances in writing by senior Ministry of Defence personnel that the system was safe.
On 22 November 2025, around 30 service personnel operating Ajax reported noise and vibration symptoms during a training exercise. The exercise was stopped immediately in line with our safety protocols, and those affected received full medical care and attention and continue to be monitored. There have not been any hospitalisations and none of the symptoms is life-threatening.
The safety of our service personnel remains a top priority for the MOD. As such, and out of an abundance of caution, I have directed a pause on use of Ajax for training and exercising while a safety investigation is carried out.
The rapid escalation of medical concerns, and halting the exercise immediately, demonstrates both the professionalism of our people and an improved safety culture functioning as designed, with the chain of command acting appropriately and with the required urgency. It is important to highlight that Ajax is continually being tested and developed. This approach enables our soldiers and industry partners to work collaboratively to address challenges as they are identified.
The Defence Accident Investigation Branch and the Army Safety Investigation Team are working with General Dynamics at pace to conduct an investigation into the incident.
The Ministry of Defence will provide further updates in due course, upon completion of the investigation.
[HCWS1099]
State Threat Prevention and Investigation Measures: 20 March to 19 September 2025
(1 day, 6 hours ago)
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The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)
Section 55(1) of the National Security Act 2023 requires the Home Secretary to report to Parliament as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of every relevant three-month period on the exercise of their STPIM powers under the Act during that period.
STPIMs were introduced through the 2023 Act and came into force on 20 December 2023. There have been no STPIM cases imposed to date.
[HCWS1098]
Statutory Review of State Pension and Benefit Rates 2026-27
(1 day, 6 hours ago)
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The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Pat McFadden)
I have concluded my statutory annual review of state pension and benefit rates under the Social Security Administration Act 1992. The new rates will apply in the tax year 2026-27, with most increases coming into effect from 6 April 2026.
I am pleased to announce that the basic and new state pensions will be increased by 4.8%, in line with the increase in average weekly earnings in the year to May to July 2025.
This delivers on our commitment to the triple lock, increasing these rates in line with the highest of growth in prices, growth in earnings or 2.5%. From April, the full annual rate of the new state pension will increase by around £575. The full annual rate of the basic state pension will increase by around £440.
The standard minimum guarantee in pension credit will increase by 4.8% in line with the increase in average earnings. From April, it will be £238 a week for a single pensioner and £363.25 a week for a couple, ensuring the incomes of the poorest pensioners are protected.
Other state pension and benefit rates covered by my statutory review will be increased by 3.8%, in line with the increase in the consumer prices index in the year to September 2025.
This includes most working-age benefits and other benefits for people below state pension age; benefits to help with additional needs arising from disability; statutory payments including statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay; and additional state pension. The pension credit savings credit maximum amount will also increase by 3.8%.
The Universal Credit Act 2025 removed the standard allowance and health elements of universal credit, as well as their employment and support allowance equivalents, from my review. The Act provided increases to certain rates. For example, the standard allowance for a single person aged 25 or over will increase by around £295 a year. That is over £110 more than if uprated by inflation alone. For couples, where one member is aged 25 or over, it will increase by around an additional £465 a year. That is approximately £180 more than if uprated by inflation alone.
These increases will apply across Great Britain.
In England and Wales, personal independence payment and other benefits to help with additional needs arising from disability, and the rate of carer’s allowance, will also increase by 3.8%. In Scotland, these are devolved matters.
All social security, including state pensions, is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland.
While not part of my formal uprating review, I can confirm that local housing allowance rates and the benefit cap will be maintained at their current levels and not increased for 2026-27.
I will place the full list of proposed state pension and benefit rates for 2026-27 in the Libraries of both Houses and on gov.uk in due course.
[HCWS1101]