Briefings and responses

The Home Office have launched a consultation on legislative proposals for ransomware. Their proposals aim to introduce legislation to increase incident reporting and reduce payments to criminals.  

The LGA welcomes the Government’s plans set out in the Get Britain Working (GBW) White Paper to integrate the Jobcentre Plus (JCP) network with the national careers service (NCS).

Obesity continues to be a key public health challenge for both councils and wider public finances. It is estimated that the NHS spends £6.5 billion on obesity-related health care each year, whilst the cost to wider society is estimated to be £27 billion per year. Under a backdrop of public health grant reductions, councils have spent over £1billion tackling child and adult obesity since responsibility for public health transferred to councils in 2013.

The LGA recognises the transformative potential of the government's digital agenda to revolutionise public service delivery and welcomes the establishment of a central hub for digital transformation.

The LGA has long called for a new Modern Slavery Bill. We would like the Bill to clarify in domestic law the support victims of modern slavery are entitled to. At the moment, the picture can be very complex, with victims having potential entitlements if they have certain characteristics (such as needs under the Care Act, or their immigration status) or under international law.

This briefing provides a summary of new key announcements in the Chancellor’s 2025 Spring Statement, delivered on Wednesday 26 March, relevant to local government.

The LGA supports the ambition of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, and includes several long-standing LGA asks. However, concerns remain about how the Bill will ensure that councils – who best understand the needs of their areas – remain central to the planning process.

The free school meals system is an important component of the support that is provided to low income families and the broader work to tackle health inequalities and rising food insecurity.

We encourage the Government to ensure that all parts of the funding system – including funding for temporary accommodation, homelessness prevention, and supported housing - are working in tandem to achieve value for money and deliver the goal of ending homelessness.

These FAQs are not an exhaustive list. We will continue to add new questions and answers as and when they arise.