The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and HM Treasury have issued a call for evidence (CfE) to gather insights on the challenges and experiences small businesses face when applying for and accessing debt finance in the UK. The goal is to assess the effectiveness of existing government policies in overcoming barriers to finance and to explore potential improvements to support small businesses and the lending sector. Responses are sought by 8 May 2025.

HM Treasury and the European Commission conducted the third Joint EU-UK Financial Regulatory Forum on 12 February 2025 in London, issuing a joint statement. The forum included representatives from key financial authorities such as the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, the European Central Bank, and the European Supervisory Authorities. Discussions centered on five main themes: policy outlook, banking regulation, digital technology, markets reform, and sustainable finance. Key developments highlighted were the EU's Markets in Cryptoassets Regulation, effective from 30 December 2024, and the proposed T+1 securities settlement cycle implementation by 11 October 2027. The UK noted the conclusion of its green taxonomy consultation and the extension of the Temporary Marketing Permissions Regime for Money Market Funds until the end of 2026.

HM Treasury has published a joint statement with the European Commission confirming continued progress on financial settlement obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement, following the eleventh meeting of the Specialised Committee on Financial Provisions held on 25 June 2025. The EU and the UK exchanged updates on the tasks carried out under the remit of the Committee and reviewed the annual reporting package provided at the end of March 2025, as well as the ninth invoice submitted by the European Commission in April 2025. In line with the Withdrawal Agreement, the invoice is to be settled in four monthly instalments, with the first payment due on 30 June 2025. All previous payments were received in full and on time. Both parties noted the positive engagement to date and reaffirmed their commitment to complying with their legal obligations under the Agreement, while continuing constructive collaboration until all outstanding net liabilities are extinguished.

HM Treasury has published a record of the meeting on 24 March 2025, between the economic secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds and the chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Nikhil Rathi, to discuss the December 2024 update to the FCA’s Perimeter Report. This was the fourth annual meeting to address issues related to the regulatory perimeter, which defines the financial services activities requiring FCA authorisation. Key points of discussion included the need to balance regulation with reducing business burdens, protecting consumers, and ensuring market integrity.

HM Treasury has announced a review of the customs treatment of Low Value Imports, which currently allows goods valued at £135 or less to enter the UK without customs duty. The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) will implement immediate measures including enhanced trade data monitoring, increased support for businesses reporting unfair practices, and accelerated investigation processes. The announcement comes in response to concerns from UK retailers about competitive disadvantages from overseas competitors. HM Treasury will begin stakeholder engagement from June 2025, to examine impacts on consumers and administrative costs. These measures form part of the government's broader strategy to address practices such as the dumping of cheap goods into the UK market.

The HM Treasury has published details of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the UK's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). This agreement aims to enhance cooperation between the two bodies by facilitating the exchange of information pertaining to the implementation and enforcement of financial sanctions. The MoU represents a significant step in strengthening the collaborative efforts of the UK and US in addressing global financial sanctions matters.

HM Treasury has announced a £45bn Northern Growth Strategy centred on Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), the largest transport upgrade in the North of England in a generation. The plan will deliver faster, more frequent rail services linking major cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York, with onward connections to Newcastle and Hull, supported by £1.1bn for planning and design during the current spending review. The government expects the project to reduce journey times, create jobs, support housing and attract investment, estimating that raising productivity in the five most populous northern Mayoral Strategic Authority areas to the UK average could add around £40bn in Gross Value Added annually and generate approximately £15bn in additional tax revenue. These figures are illustrative and based on the Office for National Statistics productivity data and fiscal ratios, assuming gains are additive and do not displace activity elsewhere. NPR will remain within its funding envelope to ensure value for taxpayers, with long-term plans for a Birmingham-Manchester link considered after completion. Local leaders and industry representatives welcomed the announcement as a transformative step to unlock growth and strengthen competitiveness across the region.

HM Treasury has announced a new Youth Guarantee aimed at supporting young people on Universal Credit who have been out of work or education for 18 months. Eligible individuals will be offered guaranteed paid work, building on existing employment  support schemes delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions. The initiative is designed to reduce long-term youth unemployment and will be funded from existing budgets, with further details to be confirmed in the Autumn Budget. Alongside this, over £10m has been committed to ensure every primary school in the UK has access to a library by the end of the current parliament, addressing significant regional disparities in library provision, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

The HM Treasury has announced that General Licence INT/2022/1280876 has been amended to include Permission 5.3A. This new provision stipulates that distributions on VTB Bank PJSC's claim must first deduct the value of any VTB Capital plc assets subject to VTB Bank PJSC enforcement action, as well as the VTB Group Receivables. Additionally, it prohibits the payment of statutory interest for periods during which distributions are not paid due to these deductions. This amendment follows several previous updates to the licence, which has been in effect since 1 March 2022 and relates to financial sanctions involving VTB Bank and its subsidiaries.

HM Treasury has announced that 17 pension providers, managing 90% of UK defined contribution pensions, will sign the Mansion House Accord pledging to invest 10% of workplace portfolios in productive assets by 2030, with 5% ringfenced for UK investments. The voluntary agreement, which expands on the 2023 Mansion House Compact, aims to unlock up to £50bn investment, including £25bn for UK infrastructure and businesses. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has approved the British Business Bank to deliver the British Growth Partnership, facilitating pension fund access to UK venture capital opportunities.

HM Treasury has announced extended deadlines for consultation responses on Basel 3.1 implementation and Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) reforms. The Basel 3.1 Market Risk Transitional Provision consultation will now close at 23:45 on 12 September 2025, while responses for the Overseas Recognition Regimes and key UK CRR definitions chapters, alongside the associated draft legislation, are due by 23:45 on 30 September 2025. These extensions follow feedback requesting additional time for review.

The HM Treasury has announced plans to make further technical changes to the UK's wholesale markets framework as part of broader reforms to the UK capital markets.