Richard Guttridge

The Department for Work and Pensions will begin rolling out powers from October to recover benefit debts directly from bank accounts and seek temporary driving disqualifications through the courts. Driving bans will target people who owe at least £1,000, can afford to repay, and have deliberately avoided doing so without reasonable grounds. Courts must consider factors such as essential driving needs, and bans may initially be suspended while agreed repayments are made. The government says the measures are aimed at persistent debtors rather than people facing financial hardship and is urging recipients of debt letters to arrange affordable repayment.

From April 2027, working-age savers under 65 will reportedly face a reduction in the annual cash ISA allowance from £20,000 to £12,000, while the overall ISA allowance remains £20,000. Pensioners will retain the full cash allowance. Savers can place the remaining £8,000 in stocks and shares ISAs, but cash held in those accounts will incur a 22% charge on interest. The policy is intended to encourage greater investment in stocks and shares, and experts advise affected savers to use the existing allowance before the changes take effect.

The UK government is proposing random roadside eyesight checks for drivers, with the DVLA potentially revoking licences when motorists fail to meet minimum vision standards. The measures could apply to all drivers, while people over 70 may also face mandatory eyesight checks and possible cognitive testing. The proposals are intended to reduce deaths and injuries without unnecessarily limiting older drivers’ mobility, although police chiefs may question whether they have the resources to conduct regular tests.