Daily index of UK government & Parliament publications
Analysis of 10 key publications
The Ministry of Justice, Department for Science Innovation and Technology, and Home Office have tabled amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill that will criminalise possession and publication of two categories of harmful pornography: material depicting incest between family members, and content showing adults roleplaying as children. The legislation also introduces potential criminal liability for technology executives whose platforms fail to remove non-consensual intimate images, with penalties including imprisonment and fines. Ministers frame the move as part of their commitment to halve violence against women and girls, though the amendments represent a significant expansion of what constitutes a criminal offence in the digital sphere.
The Defence Secretary has announced that the Ministry of Defence intends to purchase interceptor missiles known as "Skyhammer" from Cambridge Aerospace, a veteran-founded British start-up, to protect UK Armed Forces and Gulf partners against Iranian-style attack drones. The government expects the first substantial tranche of missiles and launchers in May, with additional deliveries within six months. This announcement, made at the London Defence Conference, signals both a shift towards rapid procurement of emerging defence technology and confidence in British private-sector innovation to meet evolving security threats.
Export activity received a considerable boost with two separate defence-industrial announcements. UK Export Finance has unlocked £128 million in financing to enable exports of British-made submarine rescue vehicles to the Indonesian Navy, with over £67 million in supply contracts flowing to Bristol-based Submarine Manufacturing and Products Limited and York-headquartered Forum Energy Technologies. Separately, the Cambridge Aerospace order represents a further validation of British defence manufacturing capacity. Together, these deals inject substantial sums into domestic supply chains and underscore the government's strategy to position advanced manufacturing as a pillar of post-pandemic economic growth.
The Department for Science Innovation and Technology has launched a call for evidence on banning civilian ownership of radiofrequency jamming devices, which criminals increasingly use to disable vehicle tracking systems, compromise doorbell security, and facilitate shoplifting. The devices, often disguised as everyday items such as digital watches, pose risks to critical national infrastructure and pose a particular problem for vehicle theft gangs. This represents another layer of the government's broader push to regulate harmful technologies, following the pornography legislation, though the relatively nascent nature of the evidence base suggests this remains an emerging policy frontier rather than an imminent legislative change.
The Prime Minister has conducted diplomatic engagements with both Pakistan and Qatar on managing the aftermath of regional military escalation. In a call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the UK government welcomed a ceasefire agreement and emphasised the importance of upcoming talks progressing towards lasting peace and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. A parallel meeting in Doha with Qatar's Amir and Prime Minister conveyed British solidarity following Iranian attacks, highlighted the operational success of the UK-Qatar Joint Squadron, and committed to strengthening defence and economic cooperation. The diplomatic intensity signals that while a ceasefire is in place, UK policymakers consider the consolidation phase as critical and uncertain, requiring sustained engagement with regional powers.
The Environment Agency secured a guilty plea from United Utilities following an incident in which a scour valve test on High Rid Reservoir released over 30,000 fish into the unsuitable environment of Bessy Brook, killing or injuring more than 16,000. The company was fined £60,000 plus costs and a victim surcharge, marking the first time a water company has been sentenced under the Keeping and Introduction of Fish Regulations 2015. This regulatory milestone suggests the Environment Agency is prepared to prosecute utility companies for operational breaches with environmental consequences, even when caused by routine maintenance activities.
The Office for National Statistics has published experimental real-time indicators tracking economic activity and social change, employing rapid-response surveys and novel data sources to complement traditional statistical releases. Separately, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published implementation guidance on the Renters' Rights Act 2025 for social housing, clarifying that while private landlords face changes from 1 May 2026, most social housing assured tenancies will not transition to the new periodic tenancy model until October 2027. The staggered implementation timeline suggests government concern about managing operational complexity across the housing sector, though the factsheet provides limited substantive detail on specific implementation challenges or resourcing.