News & Articles
GOVERNMENT UPDATES
GOVERNMENT UPDATES
Chancellor’s National Wealth Fund to deliver growth and boost security
Chancellor sets new strategy for National Wealth Fund to reflect our Plan for Change, unlocking billions of pounds of private investment into the UK.
Statement of Strategic Priorities to the National Wealth Fund
The Chancellor has issued the Statement of Strategic Priorities to the National Wealth Fund, setting its strategic direction and priorities for this Parliament.
Launch of the UK Strategic Public Investment Forum
Summary of a stocktake of the UK public financial institutions landscape and announcement of a new CEO-level Forum to improve collaboration.
Equality (Race and Disability) Bill: mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting
The consultation seeks views on how to implement mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers in Great Britain.
Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper
This consultation seeks views on the approaches government should consider around reform of the health and disability benefits system and employment support.
Direct consumer enforcement guidance and rules
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is consulting on draft direct consumer enforcement guidance and rules.
Summary of responses and responses published. Consultation closed.
UK and China restart meaningful climate change dialogue
Energy Secretary calls for action and cooperation from China to tackle the climate emergency.
First published.
A new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth
An Action Plan setting out the government’s approach to regulation and regulators
First published.
Minister Thomas-Symonds speech at the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
Minister Thomas-Symonds speech at the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
First published.
Local Enterprise Partnership functions: decision on funding
The government has decided to proceed with the withdrawal of funding for the functions formerly delivered by Local Enterprise Partnerships, and for the Business Board Network.
First published.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has responded to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) call for evidence as part of its review of Ofgem.
First published.
Designated standards
Designated standards: new or amended notices of publication
Proposed updates to the lists of standards for businesses.
Proposals to amend added for general product safety, personal protective equipment (PPE), pressure equipment, pyrotechnic articles and measuring equipment.
Goods Movement
Sending parcels to and from Northern Ireland
How to move goods, in parcels or large letters, between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland.
Guidance for the implementation of the Windsor Framework has been updated.
Data requirements for parcel carriers who move consumer parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
Data requirements for parcel carriers who move parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
First published.
Find out how to send parcels from Great Britain and Northern Ireland if you’re a business.
First published.
Internal Market Movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
Find out about moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
A link to guidance on how to submit Internal Market Movement Information for ‘not at risk’ goods has been added. Update on the implementation of the Windsor Framework has been added.
Register for the VAT Import One Stop Shop Scheme
How to register for the VAT Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) Scheme to report and pay VAT due on imports of low value goods to consumers in the EU, Northern Ireland, or both.
Information on what you need to do with your IOSS VAT identification number when importing low value goods has been added
Notices made under The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
Notices made under The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 which have the force of law.
Notices made under The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 have been updated for customs authorisations that contain standard conditions that persons approved for those customs authorisations must comply with.
Trade, investment, and export support
UK and Philippines upgrade trade relationship through inaugural talks
UK and the Philippines today hold first Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) in London.
e-Commerce/Digital
Protecting Intellectual Property Rights on e-commerce stores
Understand how Alibaba, Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Temu and Tiktok help rights holders protect their intellectual property.
Section on Shein added.
Sanctions
The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 ensure sanctions relating to Russia are implemented effectively after the UK leaves the EU.
HM Treasury Notice, Russia, 20/03/2025 added.
HM Treasury Notice, Russia, 19/03/2025 added.
Belarus is currently subject to UK financial sanctions. This document provides a current list of designated persons.
HM Treasury Notice, Belarus, 19/03/2025 added.
Skills, employment, and training
The Companies Act 2006 (Recognition of Third Country Qualifications and Practical Training) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 amends section 1221 of the Companies Act 2006 and paragraph 9 of Schedule 11 to that act.
Page updated with most recent SI updates.
Young people to benefit from creative education boost
New package announced to support young people to access high-quality arts education and enrichment activities as well as AI and tech opportunities.
First published.
How to contact DWP partnership teams for England, Scotland and Wales.
The national partnership team contact for the South West is now Josh Double
HSE updates
HSE has published the:
UK REACH Report, which outlines the relevant activities covering the 2023 to 2024 Work Programme
UK REACH Work Programme, which describes operational work for 2024 to 2025
View the UK REACH Report and Work Programme on the HSE website.
In preparing the UK REACH Work Programme, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the Scottish and Welsh governments (the Appropriate Authorities) work closely with HSE and the Environment Agency to prioritise issues for regulatory action under UK REACH.
View the rationale for UK REACH priorities, established under the previous government to draft the 2024 to 2025 Work Programme.
HSE publishes UK REACH substance evaluation 2024-2026 rolling action plan (RAP), in line with obligations under Article 44 of UK REACH
View the RAP for 2024 to 2026.
Substance evaluation under UK REACH aims to clarify concerns that the manufacture and/or use of these substances could pose a risk to human health or the environment.
As part of this process HSE has worked with the Appropriate Authorities to develop and agree criteria for prioritising substances for substance evaluation. View the criteria on our website
Sustainability, Resources and Waste, including EPR (packaging)
Just weeks to go for many businesses to submit 2024 packaging data for pEPR
Obligated businesses must submit 2024 packaging data by 1 April 2025 under new extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR) scheme
First published
Sending parcels to and from Northern Ireland
How to move goods, in parcels or large letters, between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland.
Guidance for the implementation of the Windsor Framework has been updated.
Interministerial Group for Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change communiqué: 6 March 2025
A note of the meetings held by the Interministerial Group for Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change.
First published.