UK DBT

Interministerial Group for Trade Communiqué: 4 March 2026

The Interministerial Group for Trade published a communiqué following its 4 March 2026 meeting. Ministers from the four UK administrations convene regularly to discuss trade-related issues. The document provides no binding decisions or new policy obligations.

Post Office GLO Compensation Scheme Closes to New Applications 31 July 2026

The UK Department for Business and Trade has announced the closure of the Group Litigation Order (GLO) Compensation Scheme, which provides redress to subpostmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal. The scheme will close to new applications on 31 July 2026 and conclude on 31 December 2026. As of 31 March 2026, approximately 90% of the 492 eligible claimants have received final redress, with £223m paid out to date. The separate Post Office Process Review (PPR) scheme will also close on 30 September 2026.

Consultation on NDA Rules to Protect Workers from Workplace Abuse

The UK Department for Business and Trade has launched a 12-week consultation on proposed regulations to prevent employers from using Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to silence victims of workplace harassment and discrimination. The consultation seeks views on conditions NDAs must meet to remain valid, and who workers can speak to about their experiences. Responses are due by 8 July 2026, with new protections expected to take effect in 2027.

Letter from Secretary of State Peter Kyle to Business and Trade Committee on Consumer Protection System Review

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade wrote to the Chair of the Business and Trade Committee outlining steps the government is taking to review the consumer protection system. The letter was published on 15 April 2026 following correspondence dated 2 April 2026.

Preference Utilisation of UK Trade in Goods, 2024

The UK Department for Business and Trade announces the upcoming release of official statistics on preference utilisation of UK trade in goods for 2024, scheduled for 23 April 2026. The release will provide data on the extent to which UK goods imports and exports utilised tariff preferences under preferential trade agreements (PTAs), including the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). This is a statistical announcement only and does not create any new regulatory obligations.

19 Technical Excellence Colleges, £175M, 65,000 Learners

The UK government announced 19 new Technical Excellence Colleges backed by £175 million in funding. The colleges will provide training for approximately 65,000 learners in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence, and digital sectors. Funding comes from the Department for Education (£97M), Ministry of Defence (£50M), and Department for Business and Trade (£28M).