Written Statements

Thursday 3rd September 2026 Written Statements

Thursday 3 September 2026

Warner Bros. Discovery: Proposed Acquisition by Paramount

Thursday 3rd September 2026 Written Statements

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

On 30 June 2026, my Department wrote to Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery on my behalf, informing them under the Enterprise Act 2002 public interest regime that I was minded to intervene in the proposed merger between the two companies, and I issued a written ministerial statement setting this out, which is available at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-06-30/hcws162

The parties were given the opportunity to make representations to me by 6 July in response to my concerns. Paramount put forward a set of assurances, seeking to address the issues I raised. These assurances included a range of commitments on future investment in the UK, maintaining the distinct editorial identities of key services, and the editorial independence of news. Following further discussions with DCMS officials, Paramount offered to strengthen those assurances and turn them into legally binding commitments by way of a “deed of undertaking” made in my favour.

On 6 August, the Competition and Markets Authority announced its decision that there are no competition aspects of this proposed merger in the UK that necessitate its further intervention.

In parallel, after careful consideration, I decided not to issue a public interest intervention notice, on the basis that the assurances and further legally binding commitments I secured from Paramount provide a set of protections that will help safeguard the continued availability of a diverse range of broadcasting and on-demand services in the UK; the continuation of their distinct editorial identities; and the distinct editorial identities of key UK news programmes. Paramount has committed to providing me with annual statements of compliance with the undertakings in the deed, and DCMS will closely monitor their implementation. In the circumstances, I have decided to accept the deed and have informed the parties of my decision. A copy of my public statement issued on 6 August, the letter of assurances from Paramount and the deed can be found on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-statement-proposed-acquisition-of-warner-bros-discovery-by-paramount-decision-of-no-intervention-on-public-interest-intervention-or-foreign-sta

Having made this decision and informed the parties, I made a public statement on 6 August, and wish to formally update Parliament of my decisions, now that it has returned from summer recess.

I have made this decision based on the specific powers currently available to me under the Enterprise Act 2002, which only relate to matters concerning the UK broadcasting and news media landscape. As set out in the “Watch this Space” Green Paper published on 23 June, the media sector is undergoing a profound and rapid transformation. I believe it is of the utmost importance to protect plurality, diversity and distinct British voices across our wider creative industries, including film, and I share the concerns about the impact consolidation could have on the UK’s creative industries.

I have met with Paramount CEO David Ellison to obtain specific assurances about the impact of this proposed deal on film outputs and diversity of content. I look forward to continuing to work with both Paramount and sector leaders to ensure that our world-leading creative industries feel real benefits as a result of these discussions. Beyond this, as set out in my public statement, I am also considering all avenues to ensure the Government have the ability to protect plurality, diversity and British content when it is under threat.

Video on demand services

In my previous written ministerial statement, I noted that should I decide to intervene in this case, I would bring forward secondary legislation to amend the plurality of control public interest consideration set out in the Enterprise Act, to enable Ofcom to examine the impact of the proposed acquisition on video on demand services. While DCMS will no longer be bringing forward secondary legislation in relation to this specific merger, I may do so in future, given the role on demand viewing now plays in the market.

Foreign state influence regime

Having considered the proposed merger under the statutory foreign state influence regime, I have concluded that I do not have reasonable grounds to suspect that my duty to issue a foreign state intervention notice has arisen. I am therefore currently not minded to intervene in this case. I will reassess the position if any new information comes to light suggesting otherwise.

[HCWS309]

Gamebirds: Call for Evidence

Thursday 3rd September 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jenny Riddell-Carpenter)]

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Lords (Baroness Hayman of Ullock) has made the following written statement:

As set out in the land use framework and the animal welfare strategy for England, the Government committed to strengthening the evidence base on gamebird rearing, release and shooting in England.

I am today announcing that a call for evidence will launch on 4 September 2026 as the next step in delivering that commitment.

Gamebird rearing, release and shooting are established activities within rural land use and management. They can contribute to rural economies and land management, but their environmental, animal health, animal welfare and wider impacts are not yet fully understood. The call for evidence will gather information and evidence to improve understanding of both the positive and negative impacts associated with these activities.

The call for evidence will consider the rearing of gamebirds, the release of reared birds from captivity, associated shooting and land management activities, and impacts at local, regional and national level. It will seek evidence on biodiversity, protected sites and habitats, biosecurity and disease, bird of prey crime, animal welfare, use of natural resources, and other relevant environmental or social impacts.

Evidence gathered through this exercise will be carefully reviewed, including by independent external reviewers for information on release and shooting. This will support DEFRA’s understanding of these activities and their impacts and inform any future policy development. No decisions have been taken at this stage on whether to introduce any changes, and any future proposals would be subject to public consultation.

The call for evidence will be published on gov.uk and will be open for responses until 1 November 2026.

[HCWS308]

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules

Thursday 3rd September 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Jo White)]

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is today laying before the House a statement of changes in immigration rules.

Changes to “Appendix Skilled Worker” to support victims of modem slavery

The sponsorship system is designed to ensure that overseas recruits have a genuine job to come to, that they will be paid appropriately, and that they can enjoy their employment rights. However, we have seen instances of skilled worker visa holders who entered the UK in good faith, complied with the terms of their visa and have experienced exploitation. This is simply unacceptable. Our crackdown on rogue employers continues and this includes taking action against sponsors who have exploited or enslaved their workers. To date, UK Visas and Immigration has revoked more than 7,500 sponsor licences, including 1,800 in the care sector alone. But we recognise that there is more to be done to ensure that victims are protected and supported by our immigration system, as set out in the immigration White Paper.

To ensure that victims of exploitation do not face further vulnerabilities, the changes we are making now allow victims who entered the UK legally and have been recognised as victims of modern slavery to undertake work in any occupation for the remaining duration of the visa validity. This incentivises victims to come forward early and guards against those who seek to weaponise the sponsorship system in order to exploit vulnerable workers.

Changes to facilitate the UK rejoining the Erasmus+ programme

UK standard visitor route

I am expanding the provisions of the visitor immigration route to facilitate new short-term activities under the Erasmus+ programme, which the UK agreed to rejoin as part of the UK-EU common understanding package at the UK-EU summit in May 2025.

I am introducing new changes to “Appendix V: Visitor” of the immigration rules to permit visitors under the Erasmus+ programme to study at UK state schools and academies. State-funded schools and academies will now be able to host Erasmus+ participants under short-term study placements for up to six months.

The changes to “Appendix V: Visitor” will also introduce new eligibility requirements and safeguards to ensure that Erasmus+ participants are legitimate and, where necessary, have permission from their parent or legal guardian and their home institution to undertake Erasmus+ activities in the UK.

Additionally, to facilitate new activities stemming from participation in the Erasmus+ programme, I am introducing new changes to “Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities”. All Visitors will now be able to partake in workshops, debates, and attend skills competitions.

A new section reserved for Erasmus+ activities will be introduced to “Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities”, which will allow participants to undertake courses and provide or receive training, and undertake traineeships—all at UK based organisations and academic institutions. Erasmus+ participants may also partake in coaching and training assignments at UK-based sports organisations through the standard visitor route.

Student route

To facilitate the wide array of activities being undertaken through the Erasmus+ programme, I will be introducing new changes to the UK’s student immigration route.

I will be implementing new amendments to “Appendix Student” to allow Erasmus+ participants to undertake study activities at RQF level 2 and above or SCQF level 5 and above for Scotland. The changes made to “Appendix Student” will also exempt courses through Erasmus+ from the requirement that a course must lead to an approved qualification.

Additional amendments to “Appendix Student” will be made so that, where an Erasmus+ course includes a work placement, the course does not need to lead to an approved qualification and, for below-degree courses, the confirmation of acceptance for studies does not need to be assigned by a student sponsor that is not a probationary sponsor.

The study conditions set out in “Appendix Student” and “Appendix Child Student” will be amended to permit Erasmus+ participants to study at a state-funded school or academy, where the institution holds a sponsor licence and sponsors the Erasmus+ student.

I will be making further changes to the student sponsor licence arrangements to allow state-funded schools and academies to hold sponsor licences to sponsor inbound Erasmus+ students.

Government authorised exchange visa scheme

I will be opening a new scheme on the GAE immigration route to facilitate eligible Erasmus+ programme placements. This will permit those entering the UK for the purposes of Erasmus+ to partake in a range of supernumerary work placements and internships as an Erasmus+ participant.

These changes to the immigration rules are being laid on 3 September 2026. The changes will come into effect on 8 October 2026, 29 October 2026, 30 November 2026, and 9 December 2026, as detailed in the statement of changes.

[HCWS311]

Young Offender Institutions: Authorisation of PAVA Use

Thursday 3rd September 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Jake Richards)]

In April 2025, the then Lord Chancellor announced the authorisation of PAVA spray for use by a specially trained and selected group of staff in the three public sector young offender institutions: HMYOI Feltham A, HMYOI Werrington and HMYOI Wetherby. This authorisation was granted for a period of 12 months and was accompanied by enhanced oversight, monitoring and evaluation arrangements.

The introduction of PAVA in the YOIs was intended to provide staff with an additional means of responding to the most serious incidents of violence, where its use is necessary, proportionate and appropriate to prevent serious harm to young people in custody or staff. It remains authorised only as a measure of last resort. As the only distance-based tactical option available to specially trained staff in these settings, PAVA provides an important capability to respond to serious violence rapidly to reduce the risk of injury to staff and young people.

Violence within the children and young people’s secure estate continues to present significant challenges. While work continues to improve safety, stability and outcomes for young people in custody, staff must be equipped to respond effectively to the most serious and dangerous incidents.

Having considered the available evidence, including operational experience, monitoring data and ongoing evaluation of the use of PAVA in YOIs, during recess agreement has been reached across Government to extend the authorisation for a further 12 months in the three public sector YOIs and I wrote on 11 August to the Justice Committee and the Justice and Home Affairs Committee to inform them of my decision. I am making this statement today to ensure all colleagues are aware.

This extension will provide further time to gather evidence on the effectiveness, appropriateness and impact of PAVA in youth settings. Throughout the extension period, every incident involving the drawing or use of PAVA will continue to be reviewed and evaluated as part of established oversight arrangements including ongoing monitoring of its use and the impacts on children with protected characteristics.

Data and emerging trends will be subject to ongoing scrutiny through existing governance processes, including oversight by the independent restraint review panel. An independent expert will continue to monitor the use of PAVA and provide advice on its operation, impact and any issues relating to proportionality.

Over the extension period, NHS England data and evidence relating to children on whom PAVA is used in the three public sector YOIs will be incorporated into the evidence gathered by the Youth Custody Service. This will help strengthen the evidence base and inform assessment of any health impacts, with input from the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England; any impacts on the emotional and behavioural wellbeing of children, including any longer-term implications as they develop into adulthood; and the impacts on children with protected characteristics and other vulnerable groups.

Ministers will continue to receive regular reporting on the use of PAVA, including on its effectiveness, any disproportionate impacts identified, and the actions being taken in response.

Our long-term ambition is to significantly reduce the use of force across the youth secure estate. To achieve this, we must continue to bring down levels of violence across the estate.

This is a key objective of the youth custody transformation plan, which is due to be published in the coming months. Alongside this, we will continue to improve standards for children in custody.

[HCWS310]