The Cabinet Office has published the government response in its consultation on reforms to the public procurement regime, building on the reforms introduced by the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023), to increase opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) while maintaining compliance with international trade commitments. The consultation ran from 26 June 2025 to 5 September 2025. The Cabinet Office reported 811 responses. Respondents generally supported measures aimed at increasing procurement spend with SMEs and VCSEs, including the use of three-year targets and enhanced transparency reporting. Respondents highlighted the need for clear guidance, a degree of flexibility in implementation, and safeguards to limit additional administrative requirements. Additionally, respondents welcomed the prompt payment exclusion mechanism, although some preferred a shorter payment window. There was also support for flexibility in people‑focused services contracts, subject to accountability and value for money. Respondents supported a mandatory public interest test in principle (subject to appropriate safeguards) and there was broad support standardised social value metrics, but there were also concerns about potential unintended consequences, market disruption and impacts on smaller or non‑local suppliers. Some measures will require primary legislation amending PA 2023, alongside secondary legislation and guidance. The response reiterates that the primary objective of the consultation was to gather expert feedback on proposals for amending PA 2023. Legislative implementation is dependent upon securing parliamentary time.

In 2022 and 2023 two consultations were held in relation to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. The consultations were centred on issues raised as part of recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. The 2022 consultation sought views on the Scheme’s ‘unspent convictions rule’ and the 2023 consultation asked for views on the Scheme’s scope and time limits. The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that it will not make changes to the Scheme’s scope, time limits and unspent convictions rule at the present time.

The Home Office has published the government response in accordance with s72 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (PCSCA 2022) to recommendation eight of the Law Commission’s review of hate crime legislation. The government has agreed with the Law Commission’s recommendation ‘that sex or gender should not be added as a protected characteristic for the purposes of aggravated offences and enhanced sentencing.’

The Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee (DPRRC) has published its eighteenth report of session 2024–2025. The report contains the Government's response to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee's tenth report on the Mental Health Bill [HL] which addresses the Committee's recommendations on specific clauses. The Government has accepted recommendations on Clause 18 regarding urgent electro-convulsive therapy, and in respect of clause 52(concerning the power to make consequential provisions) has agreed to amendments that limit powers and ensure parliamentary scrutiny. However, the Government did not accept the recommendation to subject guidance under Clause 4, related to autistic people and those with learning disabilities, to parliamentary procedure, arguing that the guidance is meant to assist statutory functions without creating legal duties. The Government expressed a commitment to continue working with the Committee as the Bill progresses.

The government has issued its response to the House of Lords Home-based Working Committee’s report ‘Is working from home working?’, setting out a cross‑government position on remote and hybrid working and reaffirming its commitment to flexible working as part of the Plan to Make Work Pay.

Pensions analysis: On 22 November 2023, as part of the Autumn Statement 2023, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Treasury published its response to the call for evidence which had sought to deepen the evidence base around trustee capability in investment decision-making. The response concluded that the majority of trustees are knowledgeable and were aware of their duties and are well advised. The response also suggests that the DWP are considering four further developments. Rosalind Connor, Managing Partner at Arc Pensions Law, considers the government’s response and its implications for schemes.

The Department for Business and Trade has published the government response to its consultation on distributing tips fairly as well as an updated draft statutory Code of Practice. The purpose of the consultation was to put in place a statutory Code of Practice for the fair and transparent distribution of tips following the introduction of the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 (E(AT)A 2023), which will ensure that employers will no longer be able to retain tips left by customers.

The UK Government has issued a response to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS) regarding concerns about threats to UK democracy during the 2024 General Election. The response addresses issues raised by the Committee, including the role of social media companies in combating disinformation, delays in implementing the Online Safety Act and the forthcoming Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. The government reported regular meetings with social media platforms to discuss its actions on misinformation, whilst acknowledging that further work is necessary. The JCNSS Chair emphasised the ongoing risk of electoral interference and the need for continued vigilance, indicating that the Committee will maintain close scrutiny of the government's efforts to safeguard democratic processes.

The government has responded to the Justice Committee’s recommendation for a comprehensive review of the County Court by Spring 2026.

Corporate Crime analysis: John Binns, Partner at BCL Solicitors LLP, considers what the focus of the Law Commission’s review of Part 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA 2002) was, what changes the government indicated will be made to confiscation proceedings, which of these changes will have the most impact and why, and whether there have been any missed opportunities for change.

Planning analysis: On 27th February 2025, the Labour Government published its response to the consultation titled Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill-consultation on implementation of plan-making reforms’. This consultation ran for 12 weeks from 25/07/2023 until 18/10/2023 and set out the previous Conservative Government’s proposals and direction of travel for the implementation of certain key aspects of a new plan-making system. It sought views on proposals to implement parts of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023) which relate to plan-making, to make local plans and minerals and waste plans simpler, faster to prepare and more accessible.

The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, has presented to Parliament an independent ‘AI Opportunities Action Plan’, written by Matt Clifford CBE. This sets out a comprehensive strategy to cement the UK's position as a global leader in AI development and adoption. The action plan is structured around three central objectives which include: (1) laying the foundations to enable AI, (2) transforming lives through AI and (3) securing the future with homegrown AI. The plan includes a number of recommendations on skills and visas policy as part of its vision to train, attract and retain the next generation of AI scientists and founders.