Research: Value for Money (VfM) Study on the Governance and Budgeting Arrangements for Mega Projects
The Office for Value for Money (OVfM) released a study on the governance and budgeting arrangements of mega‑projects, introducing a bespoke funding and oversight model for current and future initiatives. The report, first published in June 2025, was updated in April 2026 to correct a presentation error that over‑inflated the HS2 programme’s 2019‑price cost by £4.4 bn (about $5.5 bn). The correction adjusts the estimate from £31.2 bn to £26.8 bn in 2019 prices, but OVfM says it does not affect the study’s conclusions. An HTML‑accessible version was also added.
Transparency Data: Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion: Terms of Reference
The UK government has released the terms of reference for a new Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion, chaired by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and involving nine other departments. The group will develop a coordinated strategy to...
Transparency Data: Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion: Meeting Summaries
The UK Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion released meeting summaries for its 21 January 2026 session and the 14 May 2025 gathering. The group steers the government’s digital inclusion agenda, aligning ministries on a shared vision, priorities, and delivery methods. By publishing these documents,...
Policy Paper: Balance Sheet Framework
The UK Treasury has released an updated Balance Sheet Framework, a comprehensive guide for public‑sector organisations on managing assets, liabilities and entities across three portfolios. The April 2026 revision adds an annex with guidance on public‑sector data valuation and the handling...
Chancellor Rallies Retail Banks Behind Her Economic Plan
Chancellor Rachel Reeves gathered the CEOs of Barclays UK, Lloyds, Santander UK, NatWest, Nationwide and HSBC to outline her economic plan amid heightened global uncertainty. She emphasized the financial services sector’s role in stabilising households and businesses while unveiling progress...
Consultation: Reforming the Senior Managers & Certification Regime
The UK government has released a consultation outcome outlining reforms to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR). The proposals drop rigid statutory certification rules, allow the FCA and PRA to adopt a proportionate, risk‑based approach, and streamline senior‑manager approval...
Policy Paper: World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund 2026 Spring Meetings, Development Committee: UK Governors' Statement
At the 113th Development Committee meeting in Washington, UK Development Minister Baroness Chapman and Chancellor Rachel Reeves presented the UK Governors’ statement for the World Bank and IMF Spring 2026 gatherings. The statement reaffirmed Britain’s commitment of £1.2 billion (≈ $1.5 billion) to...
Transparency Data: Trade Specialised Committee on Goods
The UK’s Trade Specialised Committee on Goods, a joint forum under the UK‑EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), has published minutes and agendas for its five meetings spanning 2021‑2025. The committee meets at least annually to address Chapter 1 goods‑market‑access issues...
Chancellor Statement to Parliament
At the IMF spring meetings, the UK Chancellor outlined a coordinated economic response to the Middle‑East conflict, highlighting fiscal discipline and energy‑security measures. He cited inflation at 3%, a £20 bn (≈$25 bn) deficit‑reduction target, and a growing buffer of £23.7 bn (≈$29.6 bn)....
A Streamlined Approach to Payment Systems Regulation Consultation
The UK government plans to fold the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) into the Financial Conduct Authority, delivering the change through primary legislation when parliamentary time permits. The consolidation will shift all PSR responsibilities—competition, innovation, and consumer protection in payment services—to...
Policy Paper: Policy Note: Draft Statutory Instrument Amending the Cryptoasset Regulations
The UK Treasury published a policy note and draft statutory instrument to amend the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026. The proposed changes aim to provide clearer rules for stable‑coin payment services, eliminate barriers for additional crypto use...
UK Fintech Backed to Embrace Future Payments Technology
The UK government announced a new fintech package at Fintech Week to modernise payment services regulation, support tokenised assets, stablecoins and AI‑driven payments, and appoint a Wholesale Digital Markets Champion. The plan includes a consultation on a unified regulatory framework,...
UK Takes Lead in Protecting Developing Countries From Debt Crises
The UK government, via the London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt, introduced two private‑sector instruments to speed up sovereign debt restructurings in developing nations. The “Pause Clause” proposal permits temporary deferral of debt payments after major shocks, while an implementation...
Correspondence: DAO 01/26 Letter: Reforms to the Spending Control and Accountability Framework
HM Treasury issued DAO 01/26, announcing reforms to the UK’s spending control and accountability framework in response to the Office of Value for Money’s final report. The changes reset approval limits and streamline controls, allowing faster, more efficient expenditure decisions while...
Government Cuts Electricity Bill for 10,000 Manufacturers in Boost for UK Competitiveness
The UK government announced that the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will be expanded to cover more than 10,000 manufacturers – a 40% increase – and deliver one‑off payments in 2027 that cut electricity bills by up to 25%. The...
Chancellor Drives Global Push for ‘Responsive and Responsible’ International Action in Face of War
British Chancellor Rachel Reeves led a joint statement with finance ministers from 11 economies to coordinate a responsible response to the Middle East conflict’s economic fallout. The ministers pledged to keep trade open, safeguard energy shipments through the Strait of...
Joint Statement From Finance Ministers on the Middle East: 15 April 2026
Finance ministers from major economies issued a joint statement welcoming a newly announced cease‑fire between the United States, Israel and Iran. They stressed that ending hostilities is essential to restore safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and to limit...
Policy Paper: Decision No 1/2026 of the Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programmes Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement,...
On 15 April 2026 HM Treasury issued Decision No 1/2026, a policy paper that amends Protocol I of the EU‑UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The amendment refines the framework governing the United Kingdom’s participation in Union programmes, including research, innovation and climate initiatives....
Policy Paper: OFSI Strategy: 2026 - 2029
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) released its 2026‑29 strategy, a three‑year plan to keep UK financial sanctions effective, resilient and impactful. It responds to rising geopolitical tensions and increasingly sophisticated evasion tactics by emphasizing data‑driven threat analysis. The...
Official Statistics: Forecasts for the UK Economy: April 2026
On 15 April 2026 HM Treasury released its monthly “Forecasts for the UK economy” report, a side‑by‑side comparison of independent forecasters’ projections. The 19‑page PDF presents short‑term outlooks for 2026‑27 and medium‑term scenarios through 2030, covering both calendar and financial‑year horizons. The...
Guidance: Preston Guidance: March 2026
The UK Treasury has published the March 2026 Preston guidance, releasing updated earnings and interest factors that employers must use to calculate pension reinstatement for part‑time workers. The guidance stems from 2000‑2001 European Court of Justice and House of Lords decisions...
Policy Paper: U.S. – UK Financial Regulatory Working Group Winter 2026: Joint Statement
The U.S. Treasury and Britain’s HM Treasury released a joint statement summarizing the 12th meeting of the U.S.–UK Financial Regulatory Working Group held on February 25, 2026. The officials highlighted coordinated actions on crypto oversight, climate‑related financial disclosures, cyber‑risk monitoring,...
Britain’s Innovators Backed with Around £100m of New Investment
The UK government has launched a £100 million (≈ $127 million) annual investment boost by expanding the Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) scheme and doubling limits for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCT). The reforms quadruple EMI’s asset ceiling to...
Research: UK Official Holdings of International Reserves: March 2026
The UK’s March 2026 statistical release shows official international reserves totaling £115.5 billion (approximately $148 billion), a 1.2% increase from the previous month. Gold holdings rose to 310 tonnes, valued at roughly $5.5 billion, while foreign‑currency assets grew on the back of higher US‑dollar positions....
Guidance: Financial Reporting Advisory Board Terms of Reference
The Financial Reporting Advisory Board (FRAB) released an updated set of Terms of Reference on 2 April 2026, following its March meeting. The document, originally published in 2013, defines FRAB’s mandate to guide the UK government’s financial reporting framework that underpins public...
Guidance: Treasury Approvals Process for Projects and Programmes
HM Treasury’s updated Guidance on the Treasury Approvals Process, refreshed in April 2026, consolidates project scrutiny into a single integrated approval point and adds new requirements for mega‑project transparency. The revision mandates early Treasury sign‑off on Strategic Outline Cases for high‑value...
Guidance: OFSI General Licence INT/2022/2300292
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) issued General Licence INT/2022/2300292 to authorize utility‑related payments that would otherwise breach UK sanctions. Since its debut in November 2022, the licence has been amended several times, most recently on 31 March 2026 to permit all forms...
Accredited Official Statistics: GDP Deflators at Market Prices, and Money GDP March 2026 (Quarterly National Accounts)
The Treasury released the latest official GDP deflator series on 31 March 2026, covering historical index data from 1955‑56 through 2024‑25 and OBR‑forecasted values through 2030‑31. The deflator figures are drawn from ONS series L8GG (financial years) and MNF2 (calendar years), with...
Fuel Finder Now Helping Drivers Shop Around for the Best Deals
The UK government’s Fuel Finder scheme has been integrated into seven leading apps and websites, giving drivers near‑real‑time access to pump prices across the country. By aggregating data from retailers, the service lets motorists compare stations with a tap, potentially...
Guidance: Supply Estimates Guidance Manual
The UK Treasury released a 2026 edition of its "Supply Estimates: a guidance manual," updating the original 2011 version. The revision incorporates current parliamentary practices, spending limits, and procedures agreed with Parliament and the National Audit Office, while removing outdated...
Guidance: OFSI General Licence INT/2023/2824812
On 27 March 2026, the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) announced the extension of General Licence INT/2023/2824812 until 26 March 2028. The licence, first issued on 28 March 2023 and previously extended in March 2025, authorises non‑designated persons to engage in bond restructuring activities that...
Challenging the Government to Sell Land or Property
Independent estimates show the public sector controls roughly 40% of developable sites and 27% of brownfield land suitable for housing. The UK government's Right to Contest scheme allows businesses, local authorities and the public to challenge the continued ownership of...
Policy Paper: Mortgage Charter 2026
The UK Mortgage Charter 2026 sets new lender standards to give borrowers short‑term payment flexibility as mortgage rates climb. The government, acknowledging concerns from families and businesses, convened a meeting with lenders representing 75% of the market and UK Finance....
Transparency Data: CCP Resolution Liaison Panel Minutes 2025
The Treasury released minutes from the CCP Resolution Liaison Panel (RLP), a body created under paragraph 10 of Schedule 11 to the Financial Services & Markets Act 2023. The RLP advises the Treasury on how the new CCP resolution regime affects clearing houses,...
Guidance: Strategy and Delivery Plan Guidance: Mega Projects
The UK government has issued new guidance requiring Senior Responsible Owners and Accounting Officers to develop, approve, and publish a Strategy and Delivery Plan (SDP) for any project designated as a Mega Project. The SDP framework aligns with the Treasury’s...
Starter Guide to UK Sanctions
The UK government’s starter guide outlines who must comply with sanctions, the types of measures—financial, trade, transport, immigration and director disqualification—and the reporting obligations for firms. It explains how designated persons and specified ships are identified, how asset freezes operate,...
Corporate Report: HM Treasury Women in Finance Annual Review (March 2026)
The HM Treasury Women in Finance Annual Review for March 2026 shows signatories are advancing on their Charter commitments. In 2025, 71 % of participating firms either met or are on track to meet their targets for female representation in senior management....
Guidance: Women in Finance Charter
In 2015 a government‑commissioned review found women comprised only 14% of executive committees in UK financial services. The findings spurred HM Treasury to launch the Women in Finance Charter, now signed by over 400 firms representing roughly 1.1 million employees worldwide....
Guidance: Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations Requests Privacy Notice
HM Treasury has published a Privacy Notice governing Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations requests, linking it to the Treasury’s Personal Information Charter. The notice outlines data‑protection standards, DPO contact information, and how requesters can exercise their rights....
Transparency Data: HM Treasury Business Appointment Rules Advice, October to December 2025
HM Treasury has published transparency data covering business‑appointment advice given between October and December 2025. The dataset details guidance provided to former senior civil servants (SCS1 and SCS2) and equivalent special advisers on taking outside roles. It aims to document compliance...
Chancellor Sets Out Plan to Crackdown on Profiteering and Drive Britain's Energy Security
The Chancellor unveiled an anti‑profiteering framework giving the CMA new powers to curb price gouging, legislation to fast‑track nuclear projects by 2027, and a review of import tariffs to lower food costs. The package also extends the 5p fuel‑duty cut,...
Policy Paper: Cabinet Office and HM Treasury Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Action Plan: 2025 to 2028
The UK Cabinet Office and HM Treasury have published a small and medium‑sized enterprise (SME) action plan covering April 2025 to March 2028. The policy aims to lower barriers for SMEs to win public‑sector contracts and to raise the share...
Policy Paper: Chancellor Meeting with Gilt-Edged Market Makers: Minutes - March 2026
On 23 March 2026 the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister for Pensions convened a meeting with economists from the primary dealer firms that act as wholesale gilt‑edged market makers (GEMMs) at HM Treasury. The session focused on the participants’ views...
UK Government Commits up to £9m to Support Mossmorran's Future
The UK Government announced up to £9 million (approximately $11.5 million) to help secure the future of the Mossmorran ethylene plant site in Fife after its closure. The funding is contingent on viable investment proposals and the identification of commercial partners. A...
Corporate Report: Government Annuities Investment Fund Report & Accounts 2025
The UK Government Annuities Investment Fund (GAIF) released its 2025 Report & Accounts, a 30‑page, 332 KB PDF, formally laid before Parliament to satisfy a legislative reporting mandate. The document details the fund’s asset allocation, investment returns, and governance framework, confirming...
Corporate Report: Whole of Government Accounts 2024 to 2025: Guidance for Preparers
HM Treasury released comprehensive guidance for the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) 2024‑25 on 29 May 2025, with the latest update on 20 March 2026. The package includes user‑guidance PDFs for central and local government, Excel mapping tools, template forms, and an annex of...
Scotland-France Ferry Link Moves Closer with £3 Million UK Government Commitment
The UK government has pledged £3 million from its Growth Mission Fund to upgrade Border Force and customs facilities at Rosyth port, paving the way for a direct ferry service to Dunkirk. The investment is contingent on a commercial agreement between...
Advance Corporation Tax Reform: Call for Evidence
HM Treasury has launched an open call for evidence on reforming the United Kingdom’s Advance Corporation Tax (ACT) regime. The government will repeal the restrictive ‘shadow ACT’ rules on 1 April 2026 and is consulting on a possible full phase‑out of the...
Guidance: Preston Guidance: February 2026
The UK government has published the February 2026 Preston guidance, delivering updated earnings and interest factors for employers to calculate pension reinstatement for part‑time staff. The guidance follows landmark European Court of Justice and House of Lords decisions that granted part‑timers...
Transparency Data: HMT Workforce Management Information: February 2026
HM Treasury has published its February 2026 internal workforce management data, detailing monthly staff headcounts and pay‑bill costs across the department and its agencies. The figures are presented for transparency but are not official statistics and have not been centrally...