Written Statements

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Written Statements

Tuesday 15 September 2026

Defence Nuclear Enterprise; Annual Update

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Wes Streeting)]

I am today placing in the Library of the House the Defence Nuclear Enterprise 2026 annual update to Parliament.

Since its inception, the United Kingdom has used its nuclear deterrent every day. It remains as relevant today as it was then. Since taking office in 2024, this Government have made clear our commitment to maintaining the UK’s nuclear deterrent, highlighted through our triple lock. This guarantees the building of four Dreadnought nuclear submarines in Barrow-in-Furness, that we will maintain our continuous at-sea deterrent, and the delivery of all future upgrades to ensure its safety and effectiveness. This commitment is even more critical today than it was then and was reinforced through the strategic defence review and the defence investment plan, which outlined this Government’s plan to invest £63 billion into the UK’s deterrent over the next four years, representing more than a £20 billion increase on the previous four.

Over the past 12 months the Defence Nuclear Enterprise —DNE—has continued to drive delivery of our programmes that are of critical importance to the security of the UK and that of our Allies.

In September 2025 we marked major milestones with the steel cut for Dreadnought Boat 4, marking the start of its construction, and the commissioning of HMS Agamemnon into the Royal Navy. In July 2026, the Prime Minister announced an £8.4 billion investment in industry to begin delivery phase 4 of the Dreadnought build programme, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and delivering growth in every postcode. We are transforming infrastructure across our locations, including at Rolls-Royce Submarines Ltd’s Raynesway facility and BAE Systems’ Barrow shipyard, to support a continuous production rate of one submarine every 18 months, as announced in the spending review. The warhead programme, supported by £15 billion of investment over this Parliament, continues to progress as we develop our replacement warhead, Astraea.

Delivering value for money across our programmes is an absolute priority, and we are driving productivity across the enterprise and breaking down barriers to delivery. This includes working with partners across Government to deliver the recommendations of the Fingleton review of nuclear regulation, which identified significant opportunities to streamline regulation, speeding the delivery of nuclear projects. The Government have accepted the review in full and committed to implementation by the end of 2027.

In June, the Government announced that they had agreed to seek to establish a new House of Commons-only Committee, appointed by the Prime Minister, to conduct scrutiny of DNE expenditure and programmes. As recommended in the SDR, and by the Public Accounts Committee, this will enhance our ability to demonstrate to Parliament how the DNE is delivering value for money for the taxpayer.

I look forward to driving this work over the next year, working together in the face of ever-evolving uncertainty and conflict across the globe.

The attachment: Defence Nuclear Enterprise 2026 (DNO-26-057 DNE 2026 Annual Update to Parliament_v05-1.pdf), can be viewed online at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2026-09-15/HCWS345/

[HCWS345]

Statehood and Sea-level Rise

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for International Development (Kirsty McNeill)]

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific (Baroness Winterton of Doncaster) has today made the following statement:

In recent years, many small island developing states have continued to voice concerns about the issues they will have to deal with as a result of the encroaching sea. These issues are particularly acute and urgent for those islands only a few metres above current sea levels.

The UK has for many years worked in partnership with those island states to address the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels, and we will continue to do so. It is also right for the UK to address the concerns of SIDS about the implications for their statehood of potential future rising sea levels.

It has been the long-held position of the UK under successive Governments that the normal criteria applied for recognition of statehood are that the entity should have, and seem likely to continue to have, a clearly defined territory with a permanent population under effective control of the Government, and independence in external relations. The UK has, however, accepted that other factors may also be relevant.

In this respect, His Majesty’s Government acknowledge the real and present challenge that rising sea levels induced by climate change pose for states. As sea levels rise, coastlines are likely to regress, and territory may become completely inundated and lost. Such scenarios should not automatically call into question the statehood of those island states already recognised by the UK, nor should the disappearance of one of the normal criteria for statehood necessarily require us to withdraw recognition.

I can confirm that in such scenarios, the starting point for His Majesty’s Government is to continue to recognise a state, notwithstanding the loss of some or all of its land territory to rising sea levels. Due regard would then need to be given to the prevailing circumstances in each case, which would include—among other considerations—the other criteria of statehood set out above, and the wishes of the people of that state.

These would, in modern times, be situations without precedent, and if they arise, the international community should approach them with due care and sensitivity.

[HCWS348]

Venezuela: Diplomatic Relations

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)]

The United Kingdom has long supported the right of all Venezuelan people to shape their own future through a peaceful, democratic process. We remain steadfast in our commitment to free, fair elections, and the promotion of human rights and other fundamental freedoms in Venezuela.

Developments in Venezuela since 3 January have created an important opportunity for the international community to support the restoration of democracy. Working closely with the United States and with international partners, the UK considers that this moment calls for pragmatic engagement to help advance a credible transition and to encourage further reforms. We welcome the Venezuelan-led political talks between Jorge Rodriguez and Dinorah Figuera, and the progress already achieved through this process to date.

Accordingly, the Government have decided to upgrade their diplomatic relations with Venezuela. We will deepen our engagement with the Interim President, Delcy Rodriguez, and with her Government in pursuit of UK priorities. As part of this approach, the UK and Venezuela have agreed our intention to upgrade our representation to ambassador.

Upgrading our relations will strengthen our ability to play a constructive role in support of a democratic transition. It will enable us to advocate more effectively for the upholding of human rights, and play a role in the recovery and reconstruction of the country following the devastating earthquakes of 24 June. It will enhance our capacity to support British nationals, and promote UK businesses in Venezuela, and it will enable us to contribute positively to regional stability and the security of our overseas territories in the Caribbean.

This decision is part of a broader international re-engagement, in which key partners and multilateral institutions are also re-establishing or upgrading their relationships with Venezuela, based on a shared understanding that engagement, both constructive and challenging, is the best way to influence outcomes on the ground.

This approach does not represent any change in the UK’s assessment of recent electoral processes, including those held in 2024, nor does it signify endorsement of any party. The UK’s long-standing position is to recognise states, not Governments.

The UK’s priority remains working towards a peaceful, democratic transition that reflects the will of all Venezuelans. I will keep the House informed as our approach develops.

[HCWS349]

UK Medical Specialty Training Programmes: Prioritisation of Doctors

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)]

We have now laid before Parliament the Medical Training (Prioritisation for Specialty Training Programmes) Regulations 2026. These regulations specify categories of person who will be prioritised for interviews and offers for UK medical specialty training programmes from 2027 onwards.

The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 introduced a system of prioritisation for the allocation of postgraduate medical training places across the UK. It delivered the commitment in the Government’s “Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England” to prioritise UK medical graduates for foundation training and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors with significant NHS experience for specialty training places.

The Act is designed to support a sustainable medical workforce that can meet population health needs, reducing the UK’s reliance on the international labour market, and ensuring we make best use of the substantial taxpayer investment in UK-based medical education and training. By creating a clear pathway from medical school to specialty training, we strengthen domestic talent and improve retention.

For specialty training, the Act prioritises graduates of medical schools in the UK or Ireland; international medical graduates who studied in Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, to reflect international agreements; and individuals who have completed or are completing the UK foundation programme or the relevant previous stage of a UK specialty training programme.

For specialty training offers made in 2026 only, the Act also prioritises individuals holding the following immigration statuses: British citizens; Irish citizens who do not require leave to enter or remain in the UK; Commonwealth citizens with the right of abode; individuals with indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK; and those with EU settled and pre-settled status. These provisions were intended to act as a proxy to capture applicants most likely to have significant experience of working as a doctor in the NHS.

For specialty training places starting from 2027, the Act provides a power to specify by regulations groups to be prioritised, by reference to criteria indicating significant experience of working as a doctor in the NHS or health and social care in Northern Ireland, or described by reference to their immigration status, in a way that best delivers our policy intent.

During the Bill’s parliamentary passage, we committed to engaging with stakeholders on future regulations in this area. In spring 2026, NHS England undertook targeted stakeholder engagement on behalf of the four UK Governments. This included, among others, the medical royal colleges, bodies representing international medical graduates, trade unions including the BMA, NHS providers, the General Medical Council, think-tanks and medical schools. Most stakeholders favoured moving away from immigration status as the basis for prioritisation once NHS experience can be measured directly. Views on an appropriate minimum threshold for NHS experience were more mixed and based on limited evidence due to how recently prioritisation had been implemented, and we do not believe that we have a sufficiently robust evidence base to define alternative criteria setting a threshold for NHS experience in regulations at this stage.

The urgency of the Act meant that for 2026 it came into force after applications had closed and only introduced prioritisation for the offer of places. This meant that the evidence available from the 2026 recruitment round is necessarily limited, as prioritisation could have had little effect on applicants’ behaviour.

Having considered the available evidence, we have concluded that the immigration statuses that applied for specialty training offers made in 2026 remain the most appropriate basis for prioritisation at this stage. These statuses capture people with a permanent, unrestricted right to live and work in the UK and remain an effective proxy to capture doctors most likely to have significant experience working with the NHS. While we recognise this is not a direct measure of NHS experience, applicants with these immigration statuses are more likely to have worked in the NHS for a significant period of time or to remain working in the NHS for longer.

Using these immigration statuses from 2027 provides continuity with 2026 prioritisation arrangements while enabling evidence gathering from future recruitment rounds to support a fuller assessment of potential alternative approaches for future years.

These regulations do not amend the other categories of person already prioritised for specialty training places under the Act as set out above. These regulations also do not affect the prioritisation regime for foundation training under the Act.

[HCWS350]

Thirlwall Inquiry: Final Report and Recommendations

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Yvette Cooper)]

Please refer to the oral statement I have made today on this subject.

[HCWS352]

Anti-Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Strategy

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

Today the Government published the anti-money laundering and asset recovery strategy 2026-29, setting out our response to the money laundering that enables serious and organised crime across the UK and threatens our national security.

Money laundering fuels drug trafficking, people smuggling, fraud and corruption. It can also enable terrorism, hostile state activity and other threats to national security. It damages communities, distorts legitimate markets, and undermines confidence in the UK’s financial and legal systems. Criminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods, including complex corporate structures, cryptoassets and emerging technologies, and cash-based laundering. To address these growing risks, a co-ordinated and intelligence-led response is required.

Backed by over £550 million of investment over three years and resulting in an increase of 500 new law enforcement officers and specialists by end 2029, the strategy sets out three objectives: first, to make the UK’s defences more effective and efficient, while making it simpler and safer for honest businesses to grow; secondly, to disrupt money laundering and dismantle high-harm criminal networks at home and abroad; and finally, to recover more criminal assets for law enforcement, victims and the public.

To achieve these objectives, we will better target, integrate and empower the UK’s anti-money laundering and asset recovery system.

First, we will target the highest priority threats, focusing on the criminals and activities that cause the most harm, and reducing low-value activity. We will focus action on risks including cash-based money laundering, criminal activity on the high street and the abuse of professional and financial services. We will intensify enforcement against criminal fronts, strengthen controls on post office cash deposits, and reform anti-money laundering supervision to make it more consistent, intelligence-led and outcomes-focused. We will also consult on changes to reduce low-value compliance and reporting activity, ensuring proportionate requirements that focus efforts on areas of highest risk.

Secondly, we will integrate financial intelligence and deepen collaboration between Government, law enforcement and the private sector to identify criminal networks earlier, and support faster disruption and asset recovery. We will establish a new national financial intelligence service within the National Crime Agency’s National Economic Crime Centre, bringing together public and private sector intelligence to identify criminal networks earlier and support faster disruption and asset recovery. We will strengthen the UK Financial Intelligence Unit, including through building a new suspicious activity reports digital service, and by improving access to and usage of financial intelligence across policing. We will also deepen international partnerships against shared illicit finance risks, piloting a multinational public-private information-sharing partnership and improving co-operation to trace, restrain and recover assets held overseas.

Thirdly, we will empower the system with the people, powers and technology required to act. We will intensify the response to professional money laundering networks and enablers, by investing in financial investigators, forensic accountants and cryptoasset capabilities. We will expand the asset management office to support all agencies with powers to recover assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. We will also consider further legislative changes to improve training for law enforcement, the judiciary and the legal profession.

Taken together, these reforms will strengthen the UK’s ability to prevent illicit finance, disrupt the criminal networks that depend on it and recover the assets that sustain them. They will protect communities, support legitimate businesses and ensure that victims and the public benefit when criminal assets are recovered, making the United Kingdom a harder place for criminals to operate and a safer place to live, work and do business.

This strategy forms part of the Government’s wider approach to economic crime, alongside the UK anti-corruption strategy and the UK fraud strategies.

The anti-money laundering and asset recovery strategy 2026-29, CP 1677, has been laid before the House and is also available on gov.uk.

[HCWS353]

Amendments to the Poisons Act 1972: Consultation

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

The Government remain committed to protecting the public from the threats posed by dangerous substances that could be misused to cause serious harm. As part of this responsibility, the Government keep the framework that governs explosives precursors and poisons under regular review to ensure that it remains effective, proportionate and responsive to any evolving risks.

Today I announce the Government’s intention to launch a six-week public consultation regarding proposed amendments to the Poisons Act 1972. This process will seek views from the public on several changes that are intended to strengthen public safety and national security, and it is expected to launch during the conference recess.

The proposals support the Government’s commitment to respond decisively to the findings of the Southport inquiry, particularly by strengthening controls where substances present a clear risk. They also form part of a broader approach to reducing access to means of harm in a proportionate way.

Overview

The consultation follows ongoing policy development and consideration of the current legislative framework in the light of evolving threats, lessons learnt from recent incidents, evidence provided to public inquiries, and wider concerns regarding the accessibility of certain hazardous substances.

The consultation will invite views on a number of proposals, including:

The introduction of controls on materials containing the highly toxic plant-derived substances ricin and abrin, in particular castor beans and rosary peas;

the reclassification of sodium nitrite from a reportable poison to a regulated poison above a specified concentration threshold;

the regulation of explosives precursors sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate above specified concentration thresholds;

amendments to specified concentration thresholds of already regulated explosives precursors sodium chlorate, sodium perchlorate, potassium chlorate and potassium perchlorate; and

a range of technical and operational improvements to the underpinning framework, including updates to licensing arrangements, record-keeping requirements and existing concentration thresholds.

The Government recognise that many of these substances have legitimate commercial, scientific, agricultural, educational and recreational uses. The purpose of the consultation is therefore to assess the potential impact, proportionality and deliverability of any proposed changes before decisions are taken. No final decisions have been made at this stage. Consultation responses will help to inform the Government’s consideration of whether legislative changes should be brought forward.

The consultation proposes a range of options, from maintaining the current arrangements through to a broader package of reforms. Responses will help determine the most effective and proportionate approach to managing the risks presented by these substances while supporting legitimate users and minimising unnecessary burdens on business. The consultation will be supported by targeted stakeholder engagement, to ensure that a balanced and well evidenced view is obtained.

Consultation

The consultation will be available on gov.uk and will be accessible for six weeks. It is intended to:

Gather further evidence on the impacts of the proposed measures across affected sectors, including businesses, suppliers, online marketplaces and individual users;

improve understanding of the nature and scale of legitimate uses;

test the proportionality and seek insight into the practical implications of any proposed controls or thresholds; and

inform final ministerial decisions ahead of any legislative changes.

Following the consultation period, the Government will carefully consider responses and publish a summary of the findings. Subject to the outcome of the consultation and subsequent ministerial decisions, any necessary legislative changes will be delivered through secondary legislation.

Explosives precursors and poisons legislation is reserved in Scotland and Wales, and officials will continue to engage with the devolved Governments throughout the consultation process. Northern Ireland authorities will be engaged as appropriate, recognising the distinct legislative context.

Protecting the public is the first duty of Government. This consultation represents an important opportunity to ensure that the legislative framework governing dangerous substances remains effective, proportionate and responsive to current risks, while continuing to support legitimate use.



Upon publication, a copy of the consultation will be placed in the Library of each House.

[HCWS346]

Exceptional Financial Support: Transformation Funding

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Jim McMahon)]

After a decade and a half of austerity, over-centralisation and rising demand for targeted services, we have inherited a system in which too many councils have been left struggling to manage financial pressures.

Over the past two years, the Government have taken steps to fix the foundations for a more sustainable funding system for local government in England. In February, the Government delivered the first multi-year local government finance settlement in a decade, with a fairer and simpler approach to allocating funding for day-to-day services. This was alongside major reforms to high-cost services, including children’s services, homelessness and rough sleeping, and action to resolve special educational needs and disabilities deficits by writing off 90% of councils’ dedicated schools grant high needs deficits accrued to the end of 2025-26.

This has been part of a wider commitment to support councils differently and work in partnership to deal with the causes that are contributing to system strain, rather than short-term measures that focus only on the symptoms.

Following requests from 37 areas, in February the Government agreed to provide exceptional financial support of £1.5 billion to enable all of them to set a balanced budget—while being clear that we would continue to work with them to provide the support and challenge necessary to break the damaging cycle of councils having to borrow or sell assets to manage financial pressures.

Today I am updating the House on a further step that we are taking, by providing £91 million of targeted funding that will support some of those councils in the most challenging financial positions to invest in prevention and modern, effective services that will underpin long-term sustainability.

As the Government set out when confirming exceptional financial support, the most important first step has been to fix the underlying drivers of financial failure by delivering a fairer local government settlement that puts funding where it is needed most. Most councils in receipt of exceptional financial support see significant increases in core spending power over this Parliament, which demonstrates that we are getting money to where it is needed most.

However, we know that the challenges facing councils are complex, and there is no single solution. The Government are working to support and challenge councils in a range of ways, tailored to their circumstances.

In a small number of councils where there is clear evidence that councils’ challenges are rooted in or exacerbated by weak financial management or governance arrangements, the Government are taking the appropriate action under the best value framework. Depending on the severity of issues, this can mean commissioning an inspection, appointing commissioners or envoys, or issuing a best value notice to set clear expectations for local improvement where a council is at clear risk of not meeting their best value duty. In July this year, my Department confirmed that new or renewed best value notices would be issued to four of the councils that received EFS in February, and, reflecting more significant concerns, we commissioned a best value inspection in Bedford borough council, which we expect to report in due course.

Aside from those already subject to statutory intervention, for each of the councils that received exceptional financial support, MHCLG has also commissioned the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy to work with each of the councils to identify the steps needed to support its financial recovery. This support is funded by MHCLG, and the first set of 15 reviews have now been published on gov.uk—providing councils with a clear diagnosis and road map for improvement. To support that improvement, in a number of places the Department and the Local Government Association are also working with councils to provide targeted support, for example to improve capacity.

We have also today written to 14 of the councils to confirm some additional funding to accelerate their plans for service reform and transformation. These councils are: Bradford, Brighton and Hove, Haringey, Havering, Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly, Lambeth, Redbridge, Redcar and Cleveland, Sefton, Stoke-on-Trent, Trafford, Waltham Forest and West Berkshire.

My officials have worked with those councils as they have developed robust plans for showing how targeted additional investment could transform high-cost services and put the council on a more sustainable long-term footing. The councils will be supported to implement their plans with a share of £91 million in further support across 2026-27 and 2027-28.

This investment marks a turning point in how the Government intend to support councils to manage their financial position, with greater emphasis on long-term prevention rather than short-term fixes.

Through this approach, the Government aim to demonstrate that with co-ordinated, purposeful investment and effective support and expertise across Government, councils can move towards more sustainable models of service delivery over the long term. Stoke-on-Trent, for example, will use this funding to accelerate the roll-out of the Families First Partnership programme locally. These reforms will help children get the best start in life, break down barriers to opportunity, and reduce the long-term pressure on local authority budgets.

Changing the way we work with councils in financial difficulty is a key part of our mission to rewire the state and raise living standards. We will draw lessons from these projects and encourage councils to share their learning widely.

This written ministerial statement applies to England only.

[HCWS347]

Homes for Ukraine: Funding

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith (Florence Eshalomi)]

Over the past four years, the Government have remained committed to supporting Ukrainians fleeing Putin’s illegal and unjustified full-scale invasion. Through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, we have welcomed over 181,000 Ukrainians to the UK. Our commitment to Ukraine and its people remains steadfast, as the Prime Minister made clear last month in making Kyiv the destination for his first international visit.

The Government are sincerely grateful to sponsors and hosts who have opened their homes to those fleeing from the invasion. They have played a truly pivotal role in helping Ukrainian families to find safety, stability and community in the UK. The response across the last four years reflects the generosity and solidarity of the public in providing sanctuary to those in need. In addition to sponsors and hosts, councils and voluntary and community sector organisations have been central to the strength and effectiveness of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Since the launch of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has provided two core types of funding to support those seeking sanctuary in the UK. Local authorities receive the Homes for Ukraine tariff—a payment made in respect of each arrival to meet their costs associated with the delivery of the programme. Sponsors and hosts can also claim thank you payments as a gesture of appreciation for their generosity in opening their homes. To date, the Government have provided over £1.81 billion in funding for the scheme.

The Homes for Ukraine scheme has evolved from an initial emergency response into a more established programme. The Government are therefore making changes to Homes for Ukraine funding to ensure that the scheme remains sustainable, so that we can continue to support those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Changes to Homes for Ukraine funding

The following changes will take effect from 1 January 2027:

Where sponsors/hosts are claiming thank you payments from local authorities, the Government will reimburse local authorities via the Homes for Ukraine sponsor thank you grant at a rate of £100 per month, per household, irrespective of how long a guest has been on the Homes for Ukraine programme. This is a reduction from the current rate of £350 per month. All thank you payments made by local authorities during the Ukraine permission extension visa period will be reimbursed at a rate of £100 per month for a maximum of 18 months. Sponsors/hosts and guests are encouraged to consider what this change means for them. If a sponsor/host is looking to end sponsorship, then they could explore moving on to a more formal rental arrangement. Advice on renting a room in their home (including through the Government’s rent a room scheme) or renting out a property is available on gov.uk.

The Homes for Ukraine tariff will decrease from £5,900 to £3,300 for arrivals after 1 January 2027 to ensure this funding remains affordable. This funding can continue to be used flexibly to meet local and individual needs, and remains at a sustainable level that continues to meet core administrative costs, while still enabling investment in rematching and homelessness prevention activity.

Funding for the most vulnerable arrivals—unaccompanied minors—will remain at the current levels, in recognition of the complex needs and safeguarding requirements associated with unaccompanied minors. Local authorities will continue to receive multi-year tariff funding via the Homes for Ukraine eligible minor grant, which remains at £10,500 per arrival in year one and £6,100 for subsequent years.

Implementation and next steps

The Government will be writing to sponsors/hosts, local authority leaders and chief executives, and colleagues in the devolved Governments, to set out the planned changes to Homes for Ukraine funding.

Updated guidance will also be published on gov.uk. This guidance sets out the changes and what they mean in practice, including arrangements for local authority quarterly claims.

[HCWS351]

Contingencies Fund Advance

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Written Statements

[The Minister for Courts and Legal Services (Sarah Sackman)]

I hereby give notice of the Ministry of Justice’s intention to seek a further advance from the Contingencies Fund totalling £1,850,000.

This is the second occasion on which the Ministry of Justice has sought a Contingencies Fund advance for this work. An initial advance of £1,700,000 was announced in a written ministerial statement on 28 April 2026. The further advance would bring the total pre-Royal Assent funding for the interim inquests digital solutions to £3,550,000.

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill is currently progressing through Parliament and is not now expected to receive Royal Assent before November 2026. The further advance is required to maintain delivery ahead of Royal Assent.

Parliamentary approval for additional resource of £1,850,000 for this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the Ministry of Justice. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £1,850,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.

[HCWS344]