Local Authority round-up 1 October 2026

Health & Social Care

Prime Minister sets out plans for a new National Care Service.

The Prime Minister has announced a new settlement for older people. This includes: a state pension that rises every year, no personal care charges and a high-quality National Care Service to give peace of mind later in life.

The announcement warned that if we don’t fix our broken social care system, it will break the NHS too. There are huge costs to the NHS through pressures on A&Es and an inability to discharge patients home because of lack of adequate social care.

The new National Care Service will be introduced in phases so its scope can grow and it will be fully funded – and not through borrowing.

The current Triple Lock will be maintained throughout this Parliament, increasing the State Pension by over £2,000. From April 2030, the adjusted Triple Lock will mean the State Pension continues to rise by 2.5% or inflation – whichever is higher – and by even more if that is required to maintain its value relative to earnings. This will ensure the living standards of pensioners keep up with the rest of the population. For example, if the value of the State Pension is around a third of average earnings by 2030/31, as average earnings rise, the State Pension will rise in line with that too.

Adjusting the Triple Lock is estimated to reduce state pension spending by around £15 billion a year by the end of the 2030s, rising to £50 billion a year by 2050.

The plans to deliver a National Care service will put an end to years of neglect where vulnerable people have been left at risk. The new system will include personal care, helping with things like eating, bathing and using the toilet.

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Education

Chancellor backs young people by supporting jobs

The Chancellor has announced a package to help people into work, education and training, while building a skilled workforce Britain needs for the future. The package will be facilitated by the National Wealth Fund and used to create and support 130,000 jobs across the UK.

Rolls Royce funding expansion

In a boost for the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector, Rolls Royce will bring a landmark £300 million investment into its manufacturing and engineering facilities across the UK.

The investment reinforces the company’s commitment to the UK’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem, with funding going across the UK and in particular: Derby, Bristol and Glasgow.

Expanding local apprenticeships services

Budget 2025 announced government funding to pilot apprenticeship brokerage in some Mayoral Strategic Authorities. This has now gone further by expanding funding to all 14 existing Mayoral Strategic Authorities with directly elected mayors, so they can help provide local apprenticeship services across England from Spring 2027.

As part of the government’s commitment to expand apprenticeship opportunities for young people, the £100 million of additional funding across 2 years doubles the number of areas matching young people with local businesses. Led by mayors, and driven by the skills and needs of local labour markets, this will deliver thousands more youth apprenticeships, supporting more young people to kickstart their careers.

For more information, please click here.

Education secretary unveils plan for schools to tackle misogyny

Children will be better protected against misogyny as new plans to tackle toxic influences and harmful attitudes in schools are unveiled.

The new approach will help to create a culture of respect and belonging and embed positive attitudes from classroom teaching and enrichment activities to pastoral support and interactions beyond the school gates.

The challenge children face today extend beyond the classroom. New data shows that 50% of girls reported hearing misogynistic comments from other pupils during a week at school in May, while nearly 30% of year 10 and 11 pupils said that they had recently heard comments that made them worry about the safety of girls.

For more information, please click here.