Written Statements

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Written Statements

Tuesday 9 June 2026

Companies House Accounts Reforms

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Blair McDougall)]

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 included measures to reform how companies report information and what information they report when filing their annual accounts with Companies House.

The reforms include:

Requiring small companies and micro entities to file profit and loss accounts with Companies House as other companies do;

removing the option for companies to file abridged accounts;

a strengthened eligibility statement for all companies claiming an audit exemption;

the ability for the registrar to require all companies to file accounts via software—using inline extensible business reporting language (iXBRL) format; and

requiring component parts of the filed accounts and reports to all be filed together.

We also plan to bring forward secondary legislation to reduce the number of times a company can shorten its accounting reference period and introduce annotations to the register where a company has not complied with a notice regarding compliance of its accounts with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

ECCTA 2023 also included a requirement for small companies to file a directors’ report. However, as part of the Government’s modernising of corporate reporting programme, the Government announced that we will remove the requirement for any company to produce a directors’ report as part of their annual report and accounts. This change will therefore no longer apply.

The accounts reforms seek to improve the transparency, accuracy and reliability of data on the companies register, to inform business decisions, modernise practices in line with other countries, and tackle economic crime.

In June 2025, Companies House communicated that the reforms would be implemented in April 2027. This sparked some concern about the impact some of the reforms might have on businesses. As a result, we paused implementation to take time to engage with a range of stakeholders.

We have listened carefully to stakeholders’ concerns and after some consideration have taken the decision to proceed with the reforms, but with two changes.

First, we are proceeding with requiring small companies and micro-entities to file profit and loss accounts, but they will be able to opt out of having these published on the public register. We have taken this decision in response to concerns from the business and investment community around the commercial risks for smaller companies of disclosing this information, and the potential impact on investment opportunities.

Details of how smaller companies can opt out of publication will be confirmed in due course. Companies who wish to enjoy the benefits of publication, such as improved access to finance and enhanced transparency, can still do so.

Where a company opts out of publishing their profit and loss accounts, Companies House, law enforcement and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs will still have access to identify and tackle fraud, economic crime and tax evasion.

Second, to give companies and software providers more time to prepare, we will postpone implementing these reforms by one year, from April 2027 to April 2028.

We will also proceed with mandating accounts filing in iXBRL format from April 2028. This will improve the quality of financial data for register users and provide more opportunities over time for companies’ accounts data to be aggregated, compared and subjected to analysis in different ways for use more widely.

We will continue to engage with stakeholders as we prepare the necessary secondary legislation and proceed to implement these important reforms.

[HCWS94]

Employment Right Act Implementation: Unpaid Carers and Time off for Public Duties Consultations

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Kate Dearden)]

Once implemented, the Employment Rights Act 2025 will raise the minimum floor of employment rights, raise living standards across the country and level the playing field for those businesses who are engaged in good practices. There are clear, evidence-based benefits of Government action through the Act. Not acting would mean a continuation of the current issues within the labour market: poor working conditions, proliferation of insecure work, growing inequalities, and fractious industrial relations.

Over 18 million employees will benefit from new protections, but it will be those who are lowest paid in the labour market, in sectors such as social care, hospitality and retail, that will benefit most. Our analysis, using UK and international evidence alongside economic modelling, finds that the Act will help boost employment, and improve job quality and productivity, while having a positive direct impact on economic growth.

Our latest delivery timelines demonstrate this Government’s commitment to delivering these reforms at pace, while giving businesses and workers time to get ready. April 2026 saw the delivery of significant changes that workers will now benefit from, including:

Strengthened rights to statutory sick pay, including expanding eligibility to up to 1.3 million of the most vulnerable workers who previously earned below the lower earnings limit and making it available from the first day of illness rather than the fourth day, meaning workers do not need to choose between working and getting better, improving workplace productivity and reducing the spread of infections in the workplace.

The introduction of day one rights to paternity leave and unpaid parental leave, ensuring new parents are able to spend time with their families.

The launch of the Fair Work Agency, a new body that brings together the patchwork of state enforcement of workers’ rights in one place, with plans to further expand its remit.

This week the Government will publish two consultations to continue our work in delivering these changes for all. Further details are outlined below. Today we are publishing a consultation on the employment rights of unpaid carers, and on 12 June a consultation on time off for public duties.

Consultation 1: Unpaid carers

Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting their loved ones, and this Government recognise the enormous contribution they make to their families and communities, and to wider society. We are aware that too many unpaid carers struggle to combine work with their caring responsibilities. In the plan to make work pay, we committed to reviewing the implementation of the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 and examining the benefits of paid carer’s leave, while being mindful of the impacts on businesses. We set this out in more detail in November 2025 through our terms of reference for the review of employment rights for unpaid carers.

To build on the work of the review so far, we are launching a consultation that seeks views on whether there is more that Government should do. It considers several approaches such as improvements to guidance and communications, and new statutory leave entitlements for unpaid carers. It also asks questions on support for parents of seriously ill children in recognition of the acute challenges that arise for families following a diagnosis of serious or life-threatening illness during childhood, as we committed to do during the passage of the Employment Rights Act.

We will analyse all consultation responses and wider evidence as part of the ongoing review before deciding whether any further interventions are needed.

This consultation will be open for 12 weeks, closing on 1 September 2026.

Consultation 2: Time off for public duties

The Employment Rights Act 2025 set out the Government’s commitment to reviewing the list of public duties in section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 for which individuals are entitled to time off work, with consideration of special constables. The aim of the review was to ensure the list of public bodies and offices that individuals can take time off work to undertake remains fit for purpose and continues to support the effective functioning of modern public services.

The review found that the list of public duties would benefit from updates to reflect changes to public services, governance structures and devolution arrangements. The list also places insufficient emphasis on locally rooted roles linked to community governance and representation. Therefore, these targeted changes are proposed to modernise the entitlement:

Special constables should be entitled to time off under these provisions;

People carrying out eligible public duties with a clear local focus should gain the right to reasonable time off; and

People carrying out public duties for certain national public sector organisations should no longer be entitled to time off work.

Insights drawn from the consultation will help shape the future of this important entitlement and possible legislative changes, ensuring it continues to serve the public interest.

This consultation will be open for 12 weeks, closing on 4 September 2026.

Next steps for consultation

This package of consultations sets out the next steps in delivering our plans. They are critical to shaping the practical implementation of this legislation, helping the Government to deliver reforms that are both effective and inclusive. It is in everyone’s interest to get the relationship between employer and worker right. The Act is the first phase of delivering our plan to make work pay, supporting employers, workers, and unions to get Britain moving forward. The Act will support the Government’s mission to increase productivity and create the right conditions for sustainable, inclusive, and secure economic growth. The Government have further plans for both consultation and the release of Government responses over the coming months and will continue to update Parliament appropriately.

[HCWS100]

Fastest Growing Firms: Government Support Package

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Peter Kyle)]

The Government are today announcing an ambitious new package to provide support for the UK’s high potential scale-ups to grow and stay in the UK.

Scale-ups contribute £2.2 trillion to the UK economy and employ 3.9 million people, despite making up just 0.8% of businesses, yet not enough scale into global leaders.

This Government have taken steps to address the scaling gap through recent measures including the modern industrial strategy, the plan for SMEs and the tax incentives and measures announced in 2025’s autumn Budget.

Now we are going even further, in a sustained cross-Government effort to close the scale-up gap and make the UK the first choice for our top scaling talent as we strive to produce the UK’s first trillion dollar firm.

For high growth, strategically important scale-ups with the potential to be the UK’s first trillion-dollar company, the UK Government will act as the strategic partner, offering a concierge service that will act quickly and decisively to help these companies tackle barriers to growth, whether that is accessing talent or markets—either overseas or HMG procurement—or regulatory barriers.

To strengthen the UK’s pipeline of high growth firms, I have launched an external tender for an expert third party provider to run an 18-month pilot from autumn 2026. As set out in the industrial strategy, I want to broker new relationships with businesses and use the expertise and experience of those partnerships to our full advantage. This will establish tangible and robust 12-month intensive support for scale-up founders that are facing critical tipping points in their growth journey. Companies will receive tailored action plans with the focus of support on networking, markets, investment and talent.

Delivering the growth agenda in lockstep with industry is critical, and I am grateful for the input from my Industrial Strategy Advisory Council and industry experts as we have developed this offer for scale-ups. We will continue working closely with industry to identify where the UK can go further in boldly backing scale-ups. That is why today I have appointed Penny Verbe—who has founded and scaled global companies—as my scale-up adviser, to ensure our support reflects what businesses need and to champion the sector.

[HCWS95]

South Korean Hot-rolled Steel Plate: TRA Recommendation

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Trade (Chris Bryant)]

On 6 June 2025, the UK’s Trade Remedies Authority initiated a dumping investigation on hot-rolled steel plate of South Korean origin. During the investigation, the TRA recommended to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade that a provisional anti-dumping measure be applied for up to six months at duties of between 11.63% and 29.12%, dependent upon the South Korean exporter. This recommendation was made on the basis that the TRA provisionally determined that two domestic producers, Spartan Steel and Tata Steel UK, have been injured by dumping of hot-rolled steel plate of South Korean origin.

While the Secretary of State recognises the TRA’s provisional findings, he has also considered wider matters in the public interest. From 1 July 2026, the Government will implement a new steel trade measure by preserving vital steel production for critical national infrastructure and defence. The application of this measure may impact the need for a provisional anti-dumping measure, and this is a point that the TRA did not consider in its recommendation, which preceded the announcement of the new steel measure.

In this context, and mindful of the impact on the wider UK-South Korea trade relationship, the Secretary of State is satisfied that, in this unique situation, it is not in the public interest to apply the provisional measure.

The Secretary of State’s decision here does not affect any future decision he may take upon receipt of the TRA’s final recommendation regarding this investigation.

The Government will publish a public notice on 9 June 2026 to give effect to this decision

[HCWS102]

Small Business Regulatory Taskforce

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Blair McDougall)]

When regulation works for small business, it works for all. I am committed to ensuring the Government provide the best assistance to those brave enough to start a business and it is only right our regulatory environment supports entrepreneurs. It is for that reason that I am today announcing the establishment of the small business regulatory taskforce. The taskforce has been commissioned by His Majesty’s Government to develop recommendations that will target reducing regulatory burdens faced by small and medium-sized enterprises, including microbusinesses. The taskforce will first meet on 11 June.

These recommendations will drive forwards our work to reduce the administrative burden of regulation by 25% and build on commitments in our small business plan to make life easier to start, run and grow your business in the UK. Small businesses are central to the UK economy. Yet far too often they face disproportionate regulatory and administrative burdens. Evidence gathered by the Department for Business and Trade’s business questionnaire shows that complexity, duplication and inconsistent guidance across regulators can make it harder for smaller firms to comply and grow. This Government are determined to reduce unnecessary burdens on business while maintaining vital protections for workers, consumers, the environment and the wider public interest. The taskforce will seek to improve the clarity and usability of regulation in a way that looks to support and increase innovation, productivity and growth across the SME economy

I will co-chair the taskforce, in my capacity as Minister for Small Business alongside Tina McKenzie, Chair of Policy and Advocacy at the Federation of Small Businesses. It will bring together voices from business, industry and Government to identify evidence-based reforms that can improve the operation, clarity and proportionality of regulation for SMEs. The composition of the taskforce reflects a broad cross-section of the SME economy and will consult on members’ views and suggestions throughout the duration of the process. In doing so, it will build on the success of the 2025 licensing taskforce and help apply the lessons learnt from the John Fingleton-led nuclear regulatory review across the wider economy. The taskforce’s work is expected to include consideration of issues such as modernising regulatory submissions, embedding more SME-friendly approaches to guidance, exploring regulatory passporting initiatives, reviewing the impact of enforcement across regulators and local authorities as well as examining what more Government can do to support SMEs with the capability, resource and technology needed for compliance.

The taskforce is expected to run through the summer, with recommendations and a Government response to be provided in autumn.

[HCWS96]

Grassroots Cricket

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)]

The Government recognise the power of grassroots sport to provide opportunities for connection and community cohesion, as well as improve people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing. Inclusive, affordable, and high quality facilities are a key part of improving access to sport for people from all backgrounds.

On 9 June, this Government announced £3 million investment, through the England and Wales Cricket Board, into five multi-sport covered cricket domes in Birmingham, Bolton, Derby, Newcastle, and Nottingham in 2026-27, which is part of our previously announced £400 million funding for new and upgraded sports facilities in communities across the country. These areas have some of the highest levels of deprivation and inactivity, which have reduced opportunities for local people. This funding doubles last year’s investment of £1.5 million into two cricket domes in Luton and Farington.

As we look forward to the start of the women’s T20 cricket world cup which begins on June 12 at Edgbaston, we want to take this opportunity to get more people involved in sport and physical activity. These cricket domes will increase the overall number of opportunities for physical activity by providing a covered outdoor environment which enables all weather, all year round training and matchplay. All five domes will place an emphasis on continuing the surge in female participation that has been seen in recent years, as well as improving access for other under-represented groups, and providing a multi-sport offer which allows more people to participate in a wider variety of sports and activities that appeal to them.

[HCWS99]

Armed Forces Workforce

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)]

I am today announcing the Government’s decision to accept in full the 2026 pay award recommendations for armed forces remuneration made by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body.

Armed forces personnel will receive their third consecutive above-inflation pay rise of 3.6%, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to renewing the nation’s commitment with those who serve.

The costs of this award will be met from within existing departmental budgets.

As demands on defence rise, we are asking more of our personnel. Our armed forces and the families who support them make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us all safe. This Government and the nation are proud of their professionalism and dedication.

This year’s award will be backdated to 1 April 2026. After the 4.5% pay award in 2025, and the 6% pay award in 2024, most personnel have received a cumulative pay award of 14.1% since April 2024. Service personnel will now have an average annual salary of around £45,710, up by £1,650 from last year.

This is all part of the action that this Government are taking to address the deep recruitment and retention crisis that we inherited. With 14 years of recruitment targets being missed every year, and military morale falling to record lows, with the proportion of personnel rating their morale as “low” increasing from 42% in 2010 to 58% in 2024, this Government are turning that around, with better pay, better housing and better protections.

And we are backing UK armed forces with the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the cold war—hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027.

The award builds on landmark action to buy back and renew 36,000 military family homes, a new childcare scheme saving eligible forces families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland up to £6,000 per year per child by reimbursing early years childcare costs, and legislating for the first ever independent armed forces commissioner, with the powers to investigate issues raised directly by personnel and their families.

The latest statistics show that this work is having an impact. For the year ending 31 December 2025, UK regular forces intake exceeded outflow for the first time since 2021 during the covid pandemic, with intake up 11.6% and outflow down 8.9% compared to the previous year, and total armed forces strength now stands at 182,050. And figures published yesterday in the armed forces continuous attitude survey show that satisfaction with service life has improved, up three percentage points since last year to 45%.

We value the AFPRB’s independent expert advice and insight, and the contribution that the collective membership makes on behalf of service personnel. The AFPRB report has been laid before the House today and published on gov.uk.

Today’s award, which will benefit the whole of the armed forces, reflects the value that we place upon our military community.

The recommendations

The AFPRB’s main pay recommendation was for a 3.6% pay award for all members of their remit group from 1 April 2026. The Government are accepting these recommendations in full.

The AFPRB has also recommended rises and changes to other targeted forms of remuneration, and increases to some accommodation and related charges, which have all been accepted.

Accepting these recommendations represents an annual increase of £1,650 in the nominal “average” salary in the armed forces, as well as an annual increase of £1,250 in the starting salary for an officer. It also ensures that our most junior sailors, soldiers and aviators who choose a full-time career in the armed forces continue to receive the national living wage. The starting salary for other ranks will increase to £27,282, providing an annual increase of £948 for around 14,250 personnel.

The complete recommendations of the AFPRB for pay round 2026 are as follows:

Main pay award

Recommendation 1: That rates of base pay increase by 3.6% for all members of our remit group from 1 April 2026.

Nurses

Recommendation 2: The introduction of the nursing professional pay spine from 1 October 2026 for all nursing ranks up to and including OF3, alongside a senior nursing officer pay spine for OF4 to OF6 nurses.

Recommendation 3: That the value of the nurses’ golden hello should increase to £50,000 from 1 April 2026.

Recommendation 4: That RRP—nursing—should be removed 12 months after the introduction of the new nursing pay spines.

Recommendation 5: To move to a three-year cycle of reviews of nursing pay with the next review in pay round 2029.

United Kingdom special forces

Recommendation 6: In principle the introduction of the special forces remuneration model, with 20 levels and to include cohorts that have a recognised United Kingdom special forces’ selection pathway, for delivery by no later than April 2028.

Recommendation 7: That amendments to the model involving moves of up to two levels and the creation of new levels can be managed and approved by the Ministry of Defence armed forces pay steering group.

Submarine remuneration review

Recommendation 8: The introduction of a second retention payment from 1 April 2026 for OR7 submariners with between 14 and 16 years’ service and OF3 submariners—warfare and engineer officers—with 12 years’ service.

Volunteer reserves training bounty

Recommendation 9: That rates of the volunteer reserves training bounty should increase by 3.6% from 1 April 2026, in line with the main pay award recommendation.

Medical officers and dental officers

Recommendation 10: That the value of defence clinical impact awards and rates of trainer pay and associate trainer pay should increase by 3.6% from 1 April 2026, in line with the main pay award recommendation.

Recruitment and retention payments

Recommendation 11: That all rates of RRPs—including RRP (nursing)—should increase by 3.6% from 1 April 2026, in line with the main pay award recommendation.

Skills payments

Recommendation 12: That the following skills payments should increase by 3.6% from 1 April 2026, in line with the main pay award recommendation:

Cyber skills payments;

Engineering supplement payment;

Defence human intelligence—HUMINT—skills payment;

The trialled payments at level 4 to level 6 of skills based supplement;

Professional supplement (aircrew); and

Nuclear skills supplements.

Compensatory allowances

Recommendation 13: That all rates of compensatory allowances should increase by 3.6% from 1 April 2026, in line with our main pay award recommendation.

Accommodation and related charges

Recommendation 14: That SFA rental charges for CAAS bands A-F should increase by 3.8% and not to be subject to any backdating. No increase in the rates of charges for CAAS bands G and below.

Recommendation 15: No increase in the rates of furniture charges.

Recommendation 16: That SLA rental charges for grade 1 should increase by 3.8%, with increases of 2.5% for grade 2,1.3% for grade 3 and no increase for grade 4 accommodation. These increases are not to be subject to any backdating.

Attachments can be viewed online at:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2026-06-09/HCWS101/

[HCWS101]

Flood Risk Management in England

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Written Statements

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

Investment programme performance in 2024-25 and 2025-26

Between April 2024 and March 2026, the Government invested £2.65 billion to construct new flood schemes and repair existing defences. This investment has made a significant contribution to improving flood resilience across the country.

Following a period of declining asset condition in previous years, this Government have acted to stabilise the condition of flood defence assets. When this Government took office, 92.1% of high consequence assets were at or above their required condition (Q2 2024-25). Thanks to the reprioritisation of £108 million into asset maintenance, this has increased to 93.0% by end of March 2026.

Over the last two years, Government investment has also enabled the completion of new flood defence schemes in every region of England. In total, nearly 62,000 properties have benefited from improved protection against flooding and coastal erosion—almost 10,000 more than the Environment Agency’s target.

Building on this progress, a new investment programme began on 1 April 2026, supported by the new funding rules the Government announced in October 2025. The reforms will make it quicker and easier to deliver the right flood defences in the right places by simplifying our funding rules. They will optimise funding between building new flood projects and maintaining existing defences and ensure that deprived communities continue to receive vital investment.

Targets for 2026-27

In the first year of the new programme, the Government will invest £1.4 billion, which will fund more than 600 projects across the country. This will contribute towards a target of 70,000 properties benefiting from flood risk management interventions by the end of March 2027. “Properties benefiting” is a new metric, replacing the previous “properties better protected”. It will count all properties benefiting from a reduction in flood and coastal erosion risk due to new flood interventions and prevention of risk increases due to maintenance of existing assets. Unlike the previous metric, it will allow us to capture the impact of a wider range of resilience measures, such as nature-based solutions, property flood resilience and sustainable drainage systems.

The Government will also continue to prioritise asset condition. The target for high consequence assets at or above required condition will increase from 92% in 2025-26 to 93.5% in 2026-27.

Investment in 2026-27 will also deliver significant environmental benefits. Projects funded this year are expected to create or improve approximately 800 hectares of habitat and enhance some 250 kilometres of rivers.

The programme will run for ten years to March 2036. During the first three years up to March 2029, the Government will invest £4.2 billion in capital and resource funding.

The Government have committed £7.9 billion capital funding over the whole of the 10-year programme period. Resource funding for the period 2028-29 to 2035-36 will be confirmed at future spending reviews.

This £7.9 billion capital investment, plus the £2.65 billion we spent during the past two years, means that this Government have committed to investing at least £10.5 billion by March 2036.

This long-term commitment will strengthen the nation’s resilience to flooding and provide sustained protection for communities across the country.

Summary of floods funding figures:

£2.65 billion—2-year capital and resource spend 2024-25 and 2025-26

£4.2 billion—3-year capital and resource spend 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29

£1.4 billion—1-year capital and resource spend 2026-27

£7.9 billion—10-year committed capital spend between 2026-27 and 2035-36

£10.5 billion—£7.9 billion committed capital spend between 2026-27 and 2035-36, plus £2.65 billion total spend in 2024-25 and 2025-26

These are spending allocation figures, as announced in February 2025 (£2.65 billion), June 2025 (£4.2 billion) and March 2026 (£1.4 billion). An official statistics publication will follow later in the year providing a more comprehensive summary of floods spending allocations and expenditure from previous years.

Rural flood resilience

This Government are committed to supporting farmers, strengthening food security, and building the resilience of rural communities to flooding. Frequent storms and record rainfall in recent years have highlighted the vulnerability of our farmland and rural communities to flooding and the critical role that well-maintained flood defences and watercourses play in supporting agricultural productivity and rural resilience.

Through the £91 million internal drainage board fund, 94 internal drainage boards have delivered over 270 projects across the country, providing benefits to more than 450,000 hectares of farmland and 250,000 properties. These projects are extending the lifespan of flood assets by an average of 27 years.

The internal drainage board fund has been a considerable success, but I also know that some areas have been hit harder than others by heavy rainfall. This includes Somerset, which I visited earlier this year, to hear first-hand from communities who have been deeply affected.

I am pleased to announce we are providing £50 million to Somerset council to improve local flood resilience. Somerset council will oversee delivery of the funding and will work closely with local partners to deliver local actions. Despite being low lying, and having high water level management costs, Somerset did not benefit significantly from the internal drainage board fund due to the broad ownership of flood assets across the county. This targeted funding addresses this and recognises the unique challenges the area faces. Fund due to the broad ownership of flood assets across the county. This targeted funding addresses this and recognises the unique challenges the area faces.

The funding is in addition to the record level of investment in the flood investment programme.

National forecasting and warning service

Yesterday the latest floods resilience taskforce met, with a focus on improving public engagement with flood risk. Ensuring individuals and communities have the information they need, helps them to understand the risks but also to take the appropriate action.

To support this, the Environment Agency is launching a new national forecasting and warning service. This is a substantial upgrade to England’s flood warning capability, strengthening public safety by delivering clearer, more consistent and more reliable flood forecasts and warnings nationwide.

[HCWS97]

Youth Guarantee: Jobs Guarantee National Roll-out

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Pat McFadden)]

Earlier this year, I updated the House on progress to deliver the jobs guarantee. Since then, phase 1 of the jobs guarantee has started in six areas of the country, with the first young people now in work. We announced the delivery partners for phase 1 in April, and they can be seen here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jobs-guarantee

I am grateful to these organisations for working with us at pace to achieve the first job starts in May. Many more young people will enter work through phase 1 of the jobs guarantee over the coming months.

Today, I am pleased to announce that the application window to identify delivery partners for the national roll-out of the jobs guarantee is now open as we prepare to deliver the jobs guarantee across Great Britain.

The jobs guarantee is a central part of the youth guarantee, supporting young people to earn, learn and move into sustained employment. It responds to a long-standing challenge: too many young people spending the early years of adulthood out of work or education.

In March 2026, the Government announced an additional £1 billion investment in employment and skills support over the spending review, taking total investment in the youth guarantee and growth and skills levy to £2.5 billion over three years.

As we build on this progress and roll out the jobs guarantee nationally, the scheme will be open to all eligible 18 to 24-year-olds who have been claiming universal credit and looking for work for 18 months. It will provide them with a guaranteed, fully subsidised six-month paid job. This will include wraparound employability and in-work support to help participants succeed in their roles. The aim is to support young people in taking that crucial first step into sustained employment. Once rolled out, the jobs guarantee is expected to support up to 90,000 young people into paid employment across Great Britain over the next three years.

The Department for Work and Pensions will award multi-year grants to selected delivery organisations, which will deliver the jobs guarantee in local areas. Successful applicants will bring their experience of the local labour market to source suitable jobs and match young people to roles. They will also use their expertise to provide ongoing support to young people while they are on the scheme.

The grant application window is now open and will run for five weeks, from 9 June to 13 July 2026. Applications are open to organisations with the capability and local expertise to deliver opportunities for young people. I encourage applications from any organisation interested in working with us to deliver the scheme.

This national roll-out marks a significant step in delivering our commitment to every young person that they have the opportunity to succeed.

[HCWS98]