HM Treasury has published guidance on changes to salary sacrifice pension arrangements effective from April 2029. The guidance introduces a £2,000 annual cap on National Insurance contributions (NICs) exemption for employee pension contributions made through salary sacrifice, with amounts above this threshold subject to employer and employee NICs. Income Tax exemption will remain unchanged for all salary sacrifice pension contributions. Employers must report total sacrificed amounts through existing payroll software, with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to publish further implementation guidance before April 2029.

The HM Treasury (HMT) has published a policy paper providing a summary of its inaugural meeting of a new twice-yearly engagement series held on 6 March 2025, between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and economists from primary dealer firms in the gilt market (the wholesale Gilt-edged Market Makers or GEMMs). The meeting focused on discussions around global and UK economic prospects. The Chancellor emphasised the government's commitment to growth and fiscal responsibility, highlighting the upcoming Office for Budget Responsibility forecast on 26 March 2025 and the zero-based Spending Review scheduled for 11 June 2025.

HM Treasury has published the overview document of its Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, completing the publication of its ten-year strategic plan for the UK financial services sector. The strategy, developed following a call for evidence that concluded in December 2024, aims to position the UK as a primary global destination for financial services firms to invest, innovate and operate. The overview accompanies the full strategy document published on 15 July 2025.

HM Treasury (HMT) has published a policy note setting out proposed amendments to the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, SI 2017/692 (MLRs), accompanied by the draft Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment and Miscellaneous Provision) Regulations 2025. The policy note  proposes targeted amendments to the MLRs to address regulatory gaps, enhance proportionality and emerging risks, including in cryptoasset regulation, pooled client accounts, and trust registration. Responses are sought by 30 September 2025, with final legislation expected to be laid before Parliament in early 2026.

HM Treasury has published a policy statement setting out its approach to the regulation of Appointed Representatives (AR) in UK financial services. The statement proposes targeted reforms to improve oversight and consumer protection while maintaining the regime’s role in supporting competition and innovation.

HM Treasury has published its Regulation Action Plan – Progress Update and Next Steps, setting out measures to cut the administrative burden of regulation on business by 25 percent (equivalent to £5.6 billion a year) by the end of this Parliament. The Action Plan, first issued in March 2025, forms part of the government’s wider Modern Industrial Strategy to ensure the UK’s regulatory framework promotes growth, innovation and productivity.

HM Treasury has published its statutory report examining the effects of the Civil Liability Act 2018 on motor insurance costs and policyholder benefits. The report analyses how the Act's whiplash reforms and changes to personal injury discount rates have affected insurers' costs in England and Wales. The publication fulfils Treasury's obligation under the Act to report to Parliament by 1 April 2025 on cost changes and policyholder impacts.

HM Treasury has published its consultation response on the proposed targeted support regime and confirmed it will proceed to lay the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2026 as soon as Parliamentary time allows. The targeted support regime is intended to improve the availability and affordability of help with consumer financial decision-making through amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001. The consultation response summarises the feedback received and sets out the government's final position on proposed legislative changes, with respondents generally supportive of the approach. The new targeted support regime is scheduled to be in force in early April 2026, with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated firms able to apply for permissions from March 2026. The government had welcomed comments on the draft statutory instrument by 29 August 2025, alongside the Financial Conduct Authority's parallel consultation on draft rules for targeted support with the same deadline.

HM Treasury (HMT) has published a working paper, detailing the government's plans for its 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy. The Strategy aims to address uncertainty in infrastructure planning and policy, which has hindered investment and increased costs for consumers, by providing a long-term plan for social, economic, and housing infrastructure. It will outline an institutional framework to support its implementation, detailing the role of public financing institutions such as the National Wealth Fund and aligning with other strategic initiatives, such as the Industrial Strategy. Key aspects include the creation of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority to oversee implementation and alignment with a new long-term spending framework, setting capital budgets for at least five years. The Strategy will focus on three main objectives: enabling resilient growth, delivering clean energy, and supporting public services. It will be developed alongside the Spending Review, with both set for publication in June 2025.

HM Treasury has published a review of the Women in Finance Charter assessing the impact of a decade of the Charter on signatories and the financial services industry, and presenting the findings of the 2026 signatory survey. It has also updated the list of over 400 signatories.

The Technical Group of the Accelerated Settlement Taskforce, chaired by Andrew Douglas, has submitted a report to HM Treasury on the UK's transition to T+1 securities settlement, proposing 11 October 2027 as the implementation date. The report outlines 12 'critical' and 27 'highly recommended' actions, following the March 2024 recommendation by the Accelerated Settlement Taskforce to move to a T+1 settlement cycle by the end of 2027. The government has welcomed the report and will respond shortly.

HM Treasury (HMT) has published its response to feedback to its consultation entitled ‘A Smarter Ring-Fencing Regime: Consultation on near-term reforms’. As a result of feedback showing widespread support for the proposed reforms but also highlighting some policy and legal issues, the government has made adjustments to draft secondary legislation. The final version has now been laid before Parliament. The reforms take forward reforms to the ring-fencing regime announced as part of the government’s Edinburgh Reforms.