The UK government has announced that people with a Ukraine Family Scheme, Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme visa will be able to apply for a further 18 months of leave. The renewal route will open next year and will grant leave on the same terms and conditions. Applicants can apply within three months of their leave expiring.

The government has announced that responsibility for local economic growth and devolution strategy will transfer from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to a new No.10 North as part of wider machinery of government changes. No.10 North will become the government's centre for devolution and local economic growth, assuming responsibility for local economic growth and devolution strategy from MHCLG and local economic growth policy from HM Treasury (HMT). MHCLG and HMT will retain their remaining functions in these areas and the government states that the changes are intended to ensure that local economic growth policy and regional empowerment are considered together across government.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published a Water White Paper setting out a once-in-a-generation reform of the water system through the creation of a new single water regulator with stronger powers. The government proposed tougher oversight and clearer accountability for water companies, replacing fragmented and reactive regulation with a prevention-focused approach. A Chief Engineer will be embedded within the regulator to restore hands-on scrutiny of infrastructure, supported by mandatory ‘MOT-style’ health checks on water assets. The regulator will gain powers to intervene quickly where companies underperform, supported by dedicated supervisory teams and no-notice inspections. The White Paper also introduced measures to reduce disruption, pollution and household costs, including smart water metering, mandatory efficiency labelling on appliances, sustainable drainage and stronger action on sewer misuse. A new statutory Water Ombudsman will have binding powers to resolve customer complaints and require fair compensation. The reforms are supported by coordinated local water planning and major investment, including £11bn to improve storm overflows, nearly £5bn for wastewater treatment upgrades, and a wider £60bn programme to protect rivers by 2050, backed by £104bn of private investment and to be implemented through a 2026 Transition Plan and new legislation.

The government has announced £10.5m funding to help prepare the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone and Eurostar at St Pancras for the introduction of the EU’s new digital border system, the Entry/Exit System (EES), in the Autumn. The EES (which was announced by the European Commissioner for Home Affairs on 16 August 2024 to enter into operation on 10 November 2024) aims to record entry and exit data for non-EU nationals to the EU. This will require fingerprints and a photograph of travellers being taken at the border. The funding has been put in place to reduce the risk of queueing and disruption. It will be used at the Port of Dover to expedite work on the Granville Dock Project where the Western Docks will be infilled and used as a site for EES processing. At Eurostar and Eurotunnel, this funding will be used to install kiosks, undertake testing to reduce the risk of disruption, and support recruitment and training of staff for the EES.

Law360, London: The government urged the Court of Appeal on 12 October 2021 to dismiss a ruling allowing insurers to cap the money they must reimburse HM Treasury for benefits paid to asbestos victims, arguing that it was not the court’s place to reform the regime.

A bond issued by a government.

The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee has published the government’s response to its report on the government’s plans for digital ID. The government confirms that the national Digital ID programme has been cancelled and will not proceed, including the proposed mandatory use of digital ID for right to work checks. Wider work on digital identity will continue through the statutory digital verification services (DVS) regime, GOV.UK One Login, the GOV.UK Wallet and government-issued digital credentials.

Law360, London: The UK government has been refused permission to intervene in a landmark appeal over motor finance commission payments that has left finance firms fearing they will be hit with a huge compensation bill, Britain's highest court confirmed on 17 February 2025.

Law360: The government has issued a statement clarifying its proposed approach to bringing pension wealth within the scope of inheritance tax in 2027.

Law360, London: The UK government collected £2.1bn in insurance premium tax in the last quarter, HMRC said on 23 January 2024, as customers continue to feel the effects of rising insurance costs.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published a letter dated 11 March 2024 received from Home Secretary James Cleverly requesting a rapid review of the Graduate route. Launched in July 2021, the Graduate route allows students who have successfully completed a degree to remain in the UK for two years (or three for PhD students) in order to look for work here. The review is to examine whether the route is achieving its objectives of attracting and retaining bright and highly qualified students to the UK to drive the economy forwards, including researching why the proportion of international students studying at 'lower tariff institutions' is rising.

The government has updated the webpage hosting its Fair Deal guidance to confirm that it is fully committed to the full timely implementation of the letter and principles of the Fair Deal and Cabinet Office Statement of Practice (COSoP) policies under the oversight of HM Treasury.