Written Statements

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

Monday 9 March 2026

Telegraph Media Group: Proposed Sale

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)]

RB Investco Ltd, which previously sought to buy Telegraph Media Group Holdings, is in the process of selling its call option to do so. On 19 February 2026, I gave RB Investco permission to derogate from the pre-existing Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2024, in order to sell its call option to the Daily Mail and General Trust. This permission was granted without prejudice to any decision I might have made following the outcome of the investigations by Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority that were triggered by the public interest intervention notice I issued on 12 February 2026 in relation to the same prospective transaction.

On Friday 6 March 2026, I was informed by representatives of RB Investco that the existing deal with DMGT was no longer in prospect and that RB Investco intends to accept instead an offer from the German media company Axel Springer.

Under the terms of the 2024 order, transfer of the ownership of the Telegraph Media Group Holdings is only permitted with the prior written consent of the Secretary of State. On 6 March I also received a formal request from the representatives of RB Investco to allow RB Investco to derogate from the 2024 order in order to sell its call option to Axel Springer.

I will thoroughly assess the proposed new deal under the public interest and foreign state influence media mergers regime, in my quasi-judicial role, as set out in the Enterprise Act 2002.

I remain acutely aware that the ongoing uncertainty is detrimental to the stability of the Telegraph, and particularly for its staff, and it is of paramount importance to me that a resolution is reached without further delay.

I will update Parliament again at the earliest appropriate moment.

[HCWS1380]

WaterSure

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Hardy)]

I am announcing proposed reforms to the affordability support scheme WaterSure—the first significant update to the scheme since 1999. This Government are committed to a fair, affordable, and accessible water system and we are acting to protect vulnerable families from rising bills.

WaterSure provides vital support for households with essential high-water usage, whether due to a medical condition or because three or more children live at home. More than 260,000 households currently save an average of £325 a year through the scheme.

We are introducing four key reforms to strengthen WaterSure which we intend to bring forward through a statutory instrument. These reforms will extend support, and remove unnecessary barriers:

First, we are widening eligibility to households receiving non-means tested disability benefit—Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, and Attendance Allowance—where a medical condition leads to high essential water use and household income is below an income threshold of £25,745—the income profile of a representative Universal Credit household with a disability. Over 50,000 additional households could benefit.

Second, we will ensure every WaterSure customer receives the strongest level of protection available by requiring water companies to apply the best discount possible for recipients, whichever is lower between the company’s average metered bill, or overall average bill. Around 130,000 households are expected to save more as a result.

Third, we are introducing a new single-occupier bill cap to correct a historic unfairness where single disabled households with high essential water use could not benefit from the existing average-household bill cap, despite similar medical needs. Over 50,000 individuals living alone with a disability are expected to save a further £100 per year.

Finally, we are removing the option for companies to require a medical practitioner’s certificate for conditions not individually listed in regulations. All companies already accept broader evidence, such as appointment letters or prescriptions. This change ensures that applicants are not deterred by unnecessary costs.

This Government are rebuilding a water system that is fairer, more transparent and more responsive to the needs of vulnerable customers. These reforms to WaterSure are an important step in delivering our mission to put consumers first and restore trust in our essential services.

[HCWS1386]

UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Reynolds)]

The Government and the European Commission agreed in May 2025 to pursue a new sanitary and phytosanitary agreement that will make it easier, cheaper and quicker to move food, plants, animals and related goods across our borders.

British businesses throughout the agrifood and related sectors currently face unnecessary costs, burdens and delays when trading with our closest and largest market. The agreement will address these issues:

Businesses will save money. Those trading with the EU—both exporters and importers, large and small—will benefit from less money spent on complex paperwork at the border. Routine border checks by port health authorities that currently apply to dairy, fish, eggs and red meat imports will be removed, reducing fees, costs associated with queuing and delays, and lowering the risk of spoilage.

Trade will flow faster. Fresh produce will reach supermarket shelves more quickly. Supply chains will become more resilient, strengthening food security here and in Europe. And for the first time since Brexit, agrifoods will move without physical checks and excessive paperwork between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Markets will be unlocked. Trade in products such as fresh sausages and burgers, certain types of shellfish and seed potatoes will resume, supporting British businesses to expand their production. Consumers on both sides of the Channel will have greater access to the high-quality products they value and will ease pressures on food price inflation.

Negotiations are expected to conclude in the coming months, and we are aiming for businesses to be ready for, and benefit from, the deal from mid-2027.

Businesses of course need clarity, time and support to prepare. The agreement will require all businesses affected to align with relevant elements of EU SPS legislation, and this may necessitate adjustments to, for example, processing methods, certification and labelling requirements, IT systems, and other aspects of compliance and assurance. This will apply to all businesses in the relevant sectors, regardless of whether they export to or import from the European Union. We are committed to providing timely, sector-specific guidance as soon as negotiations allow.

To that end, we are today publishing details on which legislation is in scope of the agreement, the broad changes this will entail and the sectors that will therefore be affected. We are also stating clearly our ambition for businesses to be able to benefit from the deal in mid-2027.

We know that some sectors will need more time and support than others to be ready and are today launching a call for information so that businesses can tell us what support and guidance they need. We will use that information to co-design and deliver support and guidance with businesses through to mid-2027. This will be further supported by a new stakeholder advisory board.

Businesses can already begin taking steps to get ready: engaging with trade bodies, signing up for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs alerts, and considering how potential changes may affect their operations.

The sanitary and phytosanitary agreement will mark a major stride in resetting and modernising our relationship with the EU, grounded in our shared interests, common challenges and practical co-operation. It will deliver real benefits for British businesses. By preparing now, businesses can ensure that they are ready to make the most of those opportunities from day one.

I will continue to update the House as negotiations progress and as further guidance becomes available.

[HCWS1381]

Fraud Strategy 2026

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

My noble Friend the Minister of State, Lord Hanson of Flint, has today made the following written ministerial statement:

Today the Government publish their fraud strategy 2026, outlining their response to tackling to most common crime in the UK.

Fraud affects millions of people and businesses every year. It causes severe financial losses and emotional harm, and it undermines confidence in our economy and our digital systems. These crimes are often committed by transnational, organised crime groups who are becoming more sophisticated. These criminals are leveraging technology, exploiting global networks and adapting faster than ever, and this requires an equally sophisticated response. The fraud strategy 2026 sets out our plan to tackle fraud. Working alongside law enforcement and industry, it is built on three pillars: disrupt, safeguard and respond.

First, we will disrupt fraud before it reaches victims by reducing criminals’ access to the tools they use to reach victims. To achieve this, we will launch the Online Crime Centre—a new capability that will bring together law enforcement, intelligence agencies and industry expertise to identify and dismantle fraud networks. We will also work with industry and regulators to shut down some of the most frequent avenues for criminals, including those that abuse the telecommunications networks, social media and online advertising. With the majority of fraud having an overseas element, we will also strengthen international disruption efforts and build a global coalition including by sponsoring the 2026 Global Fraud Summit, hosted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and Interpol.

Secondly, we will safeguard UK citizens and businesses by reducing vulnerability and building resilience among individuals and businesses. We will expand proactive policing initiatives and use advanced data models to identify fraud hotspots and deploy targeted interventions, especially to the most vulnerable. We will also provide clear, accessible advice to help people recognise fraud, protect their personal information and take action before harm occurs. Building on the success of the “Stop! Think Fraud” campaign, we will scale up our national communications effort to deliver consistent, impactful messaging across multiple forms of communication.

Thirdly, when fraud does occur, we must respond with the support and justice that victims are entitled to. We will standardise victim support services and ensure each victim receives consistent care, regardless of where in the country they live. Following its launch this year, the new Report Fraud service will replace Action Fraud with a new, modern and user-friendly platform that simplifies reporting and provides timely updates, offering greater intelligence for law enforcement to act on. We will also explore the use of civil powers to complement criminal proceedings so that we can respond more swiftly and deliver faster, more effective justice for victims.

This strategy represents our efforts to fight fraud alongside partners. Delivering against the commitments in the strategy will make the United Kingdom a harder place for criminals to target and a safer place to live, work and do business.

The fraud strategy, Cmd 1523, has been laid before the House and is also available on gov.uk.

[HCWS1383]

Economic Crime Information Sharing

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

Economic crime is a significant threat to our national security and to the prosperity of the UK. To effectively prevent, investigate and disrupt economic crime, it is vital that public bodies and private sector entities are able to share and exploit data. Where an organisation has access only to its own information, it is unable to spot criminal networks operating across sectors, businesses and jurisdictions.

In recent years, Government, law enforcement and the private sector have made significant progress to enhance information-sharing capabilities, having launched in 2015 the UK’s joint money laundering investigations taskforce, which has evolved into a multi-layered capability that now includes public-private threat groups and time-limited cells that address specific economic crimes. More recently, also underpinned by section 7 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, the National Crime Agency and financial sector partners have created a dynamic data-led arm of public-private partnership that integrates banking data with law enforcement data to target poly-criminality, known as data fusion.

However, it is clear that the legislative landscape remains complex. Regulations operate differently across sectors, there are operational challenges in joining together separate datasets and, more broadly, there is often a lack of confidence and trust to share information due to the threat of legal challenge.

That is why I am pleased to announce that the Government are today publishing a call for evidence on economic crime information sharing. This call for evidence focuses on identifying legal, operational and cultural barriers to effective data sharing for the purposes of tackling crime, as well as opportunities to strengthen the system through reform.

I invite individuals and organisations to share their views with Government, including law enforcement, regulators, prosecutors, businesses in the anti-money laundering regulated sector, technology platforms, telecoms providers, online marketplaces, and others that hold valuable data relevant to economic crime threats.

A copy of the call for evidence will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and published on gov.uk.

[HCWS1382]

Social Cohesion Action Plan

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Steve Reed)]

This Government have published “Protecting What Matters”, which has been laid before Parliament as a Command Paper, setting out initial steps to strengthen social cohesion in the UK.

Our first duty as Government is to protect our country. That means fighting back against hostile actors from home and abroad and bringing those of us who are proud of the UK together in pursuit of a safer, stronger, more prosperous country.

As a nation we are proof that people from different backgrounds can live, work and contribute together. But the foundations on which this country has been built, from which our principles of compassion and community were originally drawn, have been rocked.

Economic shocks, austerity, technological change, demographic changes and the rise in extremism have each made people feel as if they have lost a sense of control over their lives, their country and their community. They have reacted not just at the ballot box, but through online echo chambers exacerbated by malevolent algorithms, and in the polarisation of public life leaving us more detached from one another and less resilient.

The threat this presents to our cohesion is not academic. People from different backgrounds getting on together is not a nice-to-have, it is a fundamental precondition to the Britain we have come to expect and one that is needed for Britain to thrive in the 21st century.

This plan is what patriotism means to this Government. And if you say or imply instead that patriotism has anything at all to do with the colour of someone’s skin or their religion, then you are wrong, and we will fight you. We choose to celebrate our national successes and historic achievements, we choose to come together in the best of times and the worst of times, and we choose to take on those who try to divide us.

Our “Protecting What Matters” plan sets out our initial steps:

Confident communities: Recognising that communities thrive when there are strong connections between people from all walks of life, we will invest in the spaces and structures that bring people together and restore a sense of pride in the places we live. Headline policies include:

Committing up to £5.8 billion across almost 300 places, including up to £800 million over 10 years to a further 40 areas where social cohesion is under pressure, as part of the Pride in Place programme.

Investing £500,000 to fund additional community-led, school-linking projects, on top of the local authorities already funded.

Stronger oversight of home schooling to ensure all children receive a suitable education and meaningful opportunities to meet, learn and play with their peers.

Cohesive communities: Cohesive communities not only bring people together but create the conditions for them to integrate and live full lives. This publication clarifies our shared responsibility to manage the pace of change in our communities, support integration and remove divides within communities, encouraging people to come together and foster a shared sense of belonging and understanding. Headline policies include:

Setting clear integration expectations for communities, focused on stronger social connections, shared identity, a shared language and participation in work.

Mandating that citizenship is taught in both primary and secondary schools in order to highlight the relevance of the democratic process and constitutional principles such as the rule of law, as well as raise awareness of threats to democracy

Developing a social cohesion measurement framework to provide clearer, consistent metrics to measure local cohesion, and developing a cross-Government integration strategy underpinned by strong collaboration with local and strategic authorities

Tackling religious hatred through actions including rolling out training across the civil service, further protective security funding for faith communities, and ensuring hate crimes are prosecuted with the full force of the law.

Acting on the recommendations of Sir David Bell’s review into antisemitism in schools and colleges, and on the recommendations of Lord Mann’s review of how the healthcare system deals with antisemitism and other forms of racism.

Adopting a definition of anti-Muslim hostility that focuses on protecting individuals. With levels of anti-Muslim hate crimes at a record high, this non-statutory definition will serve as a tool to improve understanding, reporting, and wider approaches to tackling anti-Muslim hostility. It will support wider efforts to tackle religious hatred and build safer, more cohesive communities, while crucially ensuring everyone’s rights to freedom of expression are protected. Copies of the definition have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

Resilient communities: Citizens have a right to expect that the Government will foster the conditions in which connection, pride, and confidence can flourish. Underpinning all of this is keeping people safe both online and offline, and stopping those who seek to undermine our shared values by radicalising others into committing acts of extremism. Community cohesion is therefore critical to our national security. Headline policies include:

Embedding the Government 2024 extremism definition across Government, working closely with frontline partners such as the police, recognising that a consistent understanding of extremism is essential to tackling it effectively.

Publishing an annual “State of Extremism” report setting out the nature and scale of the current threat facing the UK and Government action to counter its activity and influence.

Strengthening Charity Commission powers to tackle extremist abuse, including the power to shut down charities and suspend trustees.

Strengthening measures to counter extremism in university campuses, including monitoring of non-compliance with the Prevent duty.

Enhancing our specialist disruptions unit to detect, expose and counter extremist influence across the UK.

Expanding the reach of our visa taskforce to stop extremists entering the UK.

Boosting media literacy and ensure greater transparency for online platforms.

I hope the House will support this action plan because its aims and policies are long-term, but we will be unwavering regardless, because we have already made our choice: in place of division, we have chosen unity.

We know that the real Britain has made that choice too. The real Britain is where parents put on after-school clubs and summer fetes to bring their kids together. The real Britain is where towns come out in the pouring rain to support their local football club, with the same passion as they would support their nation in the world cup. The real Britain is where councillors and officers fight for the place they call home, day-in, day-out. The real Britain is out there—it might not be as loud or as brash as those who seek to divide us, but it is far, far greater in number. Real patriotism is about backing them up. Real patriotism is on their side.

[HCWS1389]

Supported Housing Advisory Panel

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness (Alison McGovern)]

Supported housing helps people to live as independently as possible in the community. With good quality care or support and the right accommodation, some of the most vulnerable people in society can thrive.

I am delighted to confirm that the Supported Housing Advisory Panel has now been formally established, marking an important milestone in delivering the requirements set out in section 1 of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.

The panel will play a vital role in offering valuable insight and expert advice on the implementation of the Act, helping to ensure that the changes introduced have a meaningful and positive impact on the quality of supported housing. In addition, the panel will provide guidance on wider issues affecting supported housing, contributing to stronger oversight and improved outcomes for residents.

Further details about the panel, including its full membership, can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/supported-housing-advisory-panel

I very much look forward to working with the panel and to hearing their insights as this important work progresses.

[HCWS1388]

Patrick Finucane Inquiry

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)]

On 11 September 2024, I announced the establishment of an independent statutory inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane in February 1989, under the Inquiries Act 2005. This decision was in response to the 2019 judgment of the Supreme Court, which found that the previous investigations into the murder had been insufficient to enable the state to discharge its obligations under article 2 of the European convention on human rights.

Today, the Government have published the terms of reference for the Patrick Finucane inquiry. This follows the appointment of the right hon. Sir Gary Hickinbottom as Chair of the Patrick Finucane inquiry and the Baroness O’Loan and Francesca Del Mese as assessors to the inquiry, which I announced on 13 June 2025.

The terms of reference have been developed following formal consultation with Sir Gary, as required by the Inquiries Act. Sir Gary, in turn, consulted the family of Patrick Finucane who provided very helpful feedback and observations. I would like to thank Sir Gary and the Finucane family for their engagement and feedback throughout the process.

Patrick Finucane was brutally murdered in his home in Belfast in front of his wife, Geraldine (who was also wounded), and his three children. This was a barbaric and heinous crime. I commend the tireless campaign of Mrs Finucane and her family over the course of 37 years in seeking answers about the brutal murder of their loved one, and I am pleased that the inquiry will now finally be able to get under way.

I am satisfied that the terms of reference, as set out below, will enable the state to discharge its obligations under article 2 of the ECHR.

I have placed a copy of the terms of reference in the Library of the House.

The Patrick Finucane inquiry is now formally established. Its terms of reference are attached.

Attachments can be viewed online at: http://www. parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2026-03-09/HCWS1387

[HCWS1387]

Intelligence and Security Committee: Cloud Technologies Report

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)]

On Monday 5 January, I received the Intelligence and Security Committee’s closed report on cloud technologies.

I thanked the Committee for their diligent work and for the independent and robust oversight they provide.

The Government shared a formal closed response to the report with the ISC on Friday 6 March.

[HCWS1385]

General Lighthouse Authorities: Light Dues 2026

Monday 9th March 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Keir Mather)]

A safe, efficient and innovative maritime sector is fundamental to the United Kingdom’s economic strength and global competitiveness. The general lighthouse authorities are central to this ambition. Through their maintenance of essential aids to navigation and their rapid response to new wrecks and emerging hazards, the GLAs safeguard some of the busiest sea lanes in the world and enable the smooth and reliable movement of the goods that the UK’s economy depends upon.

This high standard of maritime safety is the result of the contribution of the shipping industry through the light dues system. Light dues ensure that the GLAs’ services are funded directly by those who benefit from them, without requiring support from the UK Exchequer. However, like many essential services, the GLAs are facing increasing operational costs and pressures. Without action, these pressures could compromise their ability to deliver the resilient and modern navigational infrastructure that maritime users rightly expect.

To support the high-quality service on which the maritime sector relies, I have decided to increase the light dues rate by one penny, to 46p per net registered tonne for 2026-27, and by a further penny, to 47p for 2027-28. These modest adjustments will provide the stability and certainty that the GLAs need to plan and deliver their critical programmes of work.

Light dues will continue to be reviewed annually. This ensures that the GLAs remain firmly focused on delivering an efficient, value-for-money service while upholding the safety and reliability that underpin the UK’s reputation as a world-leading maritime nation.

[HCWS1384]