The House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee has published the UK Government’s response to its Sixth Report of Session 2024–26 on the draft Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2026. The Order would temporarily extend the Scottish Parliament’s legislative competence, enabling it to legislate on the approval and regulation of substances and medical devices used in an assisted dying regime. In its response, the government reiterates its neutrality on assisted dying and describes the Order as a ‘narrow, technical and limited’ measure agreed with the Scottish Government, intended to protect the devolution settlement while preserving the integrity and consistency of the UK‑wide medicines regime. The government declined to publish draft section 104 orders ahead of Stage 3, stating that these depend on the final form of the Bill. It also clarified that any regulation making powers enabled under the temporary competence could not be amended or repealed by a future Scottish Parliament once the time limit expires, though Scottish Ministers would retain the ability to update regulations with the Secretary of State’s agreement if such powers are included in the Bill. The government also confirms that the Order will be debated in a Delegated Legislation Committee.

The government has responded to the Treasury Committee’s 8 December 2023 Special Report on the Edinburgh Reforms one year on. The economic secretary to the Treasury, Bim Afolami, said he disagreed with a number of the report’s conclusions, ‘some of which appear to be inconsistent’. The government particularly rejected ‘any suggestion that the reforms will not have a substantial impact on the UK economy and the competitiveness of the UK financial services sector, or that the reforms could be responsibly delivered any faster than they are progressing’.

The International Trade Committee has published the government’s response to its special report on the UK trade negotiations with New Zealand. In the response, the government has said that it values parliamentary debate on Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and has committed to ensuring these debates can be held if requested. However, the government has also said that the current practice of general debates is flexible enough to allow for the government to negotiate deals in the national interest, while allowing Parliament to oppose them if necessary, and so will not be providing opportunities for additional scrutiny.

The UK government has published its response to the Women and Equalities Committee's (WEC) report recommending the introduction of statutory bereavement leave for pre-24-week pregnancy loss. In its response, the government has agreed that more can be done to support parents who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks and has expressed that the WEC’s report was invaluable in highlighting both the emotional and physical impacts that pregnancy loss can have on employees and their partners, as well as the gap in support for those who experience a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. Whilst the government recognises that grief is a personal issue and affects people in different ways and at different times, it is mindful that many experience pregnancy loss as a form of bereavement. As set out during the Report Stage debate on the Employment Rights Bill, the government has accepted the principle of bereavement leave for pregnancy loss.

The government has published its response to the Work and Pensions Committee’s May 2026 report on supporting disabled people at work. It partially accepts the Committee’s recommendations on reasonable adjustments, flexible working, workplace health provision, disability inclusion and evidence gathering, and accepts recommendations on assistive technology and mandatory disability pay gap reporting. The response notes that a number of issues addressed in the report will be at least partially addressed in upcoming legislation.

The Cabinet Office has published the government’s response to the second part of the consultation on the draft regulations implementing the Procurement Act 2023. Part two of the consultation addressed transparency, the Central Digital Platform and provision of certain Supplier Information, as well as proposals for transitioning to the new regime. The government has noted that it will refine drafting of the statutory instrument (SI) to improve structure and clarity of the SI, as recommended in the consultation. It has said that the final version of the SI will be laid in Parliament in due course, combining provisions in both consultations into one single SI. The Procurement Act 2023 is expected to come into force from October 2024.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has published the government’s response to ‘Defence and Security Industrial Strategy: Consultation on amendments to the Single Source Contract Regulations’ (SSCRs). The government has welcomed most of the proposals in the responses to the consultation. The MOD has said that it plans to introduce amendments, through secondary legislation, to amend the Single Source Contract Regulations, SI 2014/3337. These proposed amendments will follow an affirmative procedure. The MOD has also said that there will be further consultations on the necessary changes to Statutory Guidance and any further legislation.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published the government response to its consultation on measures relating to the land-based gambling sector. The response sets out the land-based gambling regulatory measures that the government intend to implement including removing the prohibition on the direct use of debit cards on gaming machines subject to appropriate player protection measures.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has publishes the consultation outcome on proposed amendments to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, SI 2014/2936. The primary outcome is the decision to remove the regulations' expiry date of 31 March 2025 and institute a five-year review cycle. Responses to other suggestions in the consultation were broadly positive however DHSC has concluded that there needs to be more consideration before implementing these proposed changes through legislation.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published the government's response to the independent rapid review launched in January 2023 on mental health inpatient care and settings, and how information and data can be used to improve care. The government has considered 13 recommendations and how they complement existing work by NHS England. The government supports most of the recommendations proposed by the review, including establishing a ‘measuring what matters’ programme to recognise the most impactful metrics in spotting early warning signs of quality and safety issues, allowing every provider and commissioner of NHS funded-care to have access to digital platforms which hold core patient information, and further work on data collections on death in mental health inpatient settings. A ministerial-led bespoke steering group has been set up to oversee a work programme based on the recommendations of the review.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (NIAC) has published the government’s response to its report on ‘The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement’ which was published on 4 December 2023. The government concluded that a review of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published the Government’s response to its report on the Crime and Policing Bill, which addresses recommendations on anti-social behaviour, public order and human rights safeguards.