Economic statistics classifications and developments in public sector finances: October 2025

This article provides a summary of the most recent economic statistics classification decisions and provides transparency around our current methodology work to public sector finance (PSF) statistics, including the implementation of classification decisions.

Most methodological changes to the PSF statistics are prompted by the need to keep pace with the evolving economy, including the need to properly reflect classification decisions in the measurement of public sector fiscal aggregates. Where necessary, this article will outline the impact that our methodological changes have on PSF statistics. For more information about future developments, see our Looking ahead - developments in public sector finance statistics: 2025 article.

Classification decisions facilitate the allocation of UK organisations to sectors of the UK economy based on their characteristics. These decisions are informed by the application of international statistical guidance contained within the United Nations System of National Accounts 2008 (SNA 2008), along with the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010) and the accompanying Manual on Government Deficit and Debt 2022 (MGDD 2022) where useful and appropriate. More information on classification decisions can be found in our public sector classification guide.

The guide enables the identification of those bodies classified to the public sector to inform the public sector boundary in the UK national accounts. The guide also includes other classification decisions, including transactions and schemes. Information on the organisations and transactions we expect to assess and classify in the next 12 to 18 months can be found in our forward work plan. For more information see our Public sector classification guide and forward work plan.

A summary of the most recent classification decisions can be found later in this release. For more information on classification decisions, see our Public sector classification guide (756.3 KB xlsx). Classification decisions are implemented in official statistics at the earliest opportunity using sound methodology. All practical considerations are taken into account, including resource availability, within wider prioritisation.

Organisations – Institutional units

Great British Energy - Nuclear

Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) was formed to deliver the government's long-term nuclear programme. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero established GBE-N's predecessor, Great British Nuclear, under the Energy Act 2023 on 20 March 2024. It replaced the previous British Nuclear Fuels structure. Great British Nuclear was renamed GBE-N on 10 June 2025, but this was a name change only. GBE-N has been classified to the central government subsector effective from 20 March 2024, as it is an institutional unit under public sector control and a non-market body.

UK Deposit Management Organisation Limited

The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is an initiative aimed at reducing litter and improving recycling rates for single-use drinks containers.

The DRS regulations for England and Northern Ireland allow appointment of a deposit management organisation to oversee DRS implementation and management in England and Northern Ireland. For Scotland, the DRS Scotland regulations, and Scotland (Designation of Scheme Administrator) Order 2025, allow appointment of a scheme administrator. The UK Deposit Management Organisation Limited (UK DMO Ltd) is the appointed deposit management organisation for England and Northern Ireland, and the scheme administrator for Scotland.  

We concluded that UK DMO Ltd is an institutional unit. It is not under public sector control because its board comprises industry representatives and non-executive directors, with no public sector appointments. Under all relevant regulations, UK DMO Ltd can pursue other activities, and receives no public funding or guarantees. Therefore, UK DMO Ltd is classified as "not in the public sector", effective from 26 February 2025, the date it was incorporated. 

Disbanded or deleted entities

The following organisations related to the repurposed British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) structure have been listed as disbanded or deleted entities in the public sector classification guide.

• BIL Solutions Limited - with effect from 21 October 2022.

• BNFL (IP) Limited - with effect from 26 May 2009.

• BNFL Enterprise - with effect from 3 March 2009.

• British Nuclear Services Limited - with effect from 24 March 2020.

• Fellside Heat and Power Limited - with effect from 20 January 2009.

• Neos Nuclear Limited - with effect from 26 June 2025.

• Nuclear Flask Hire Limited - with effect from 13 May 2008.

• Nuclear Transport Limited - with effect from 8 April 2008.

Forward work plan

The Forward work plan (46.9 KB xlsx) contains information on the organisations and transactions we expect to assess and classify in the next 12 to 18 months, as changing priorities allow. However, it does not contain everything that may be classified.

The following cases have been added to the forward work plan this month.

Building Safety Levy

The UK Government announced in the March 2025 Spring Budget a Building Safety Levy on new residential buildings in England, which will come into force on 1 October 2026. We will therefore carry out a classification assessment of this new charge.

Civil Aviation Authority Pension Scheme

We will carry out an assessment of the Civil Aviation Authority Pension Scheme, which will include classification of the pension scheme administrator and pension manager.

GA Trains Limited

Greater Anglia is the trading name of GA Trains Limited. On 22 May 2025, the UK Government confirmed that DfT Operator Limited will take over the operation of Greater Anglia's rail passenger services on 12 October 2025. We will therefore carry out a classification assessment of GA Trains Limited.

Deposit Return Scheme (England, Northern Ireland and Scotland) transactions

This month, we classified UK Deposit Management Organisation Limited, the organisation appointed to operate the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The transactions associated with the Deposit Return Scheme will be classified in due course.

For more information on our classification process, as well as our forward work plan and public sector classification guide, see our Economic statistics classifications web page.

Please email the Economic Statistics Classifications team at econstats.classifications@ons.gov.uk with any queries about the classification decisions or the classifications process.

Improving the quality of local government data

Local authority data provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the devolved administrations (the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive) are used to report expenditure, revenue, assets, and liabilities data for the local government subsector within public sector finances statistics.

There have been challenges in obtaining timely and high-quality estimates for recent periods, particularly for expenditure by local authorities. Therefore, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), HM Treasury, MHCLG and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) have agreed to form a joint Local Government Financial Information task force to investigate and address these concerns. The overall objective is to improve the flow of data to the ONS and the quality of our statistics. The first phase of work will focus on financial data for local authorities in England.

The members of the task force will be existing staff with expertise in local government financial information and statistics. Investigations will begin late in 2025, and we will provide further information in 2026 in future editions of this article.

Autumn Budget November 2025

On 26 November 2025, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will present the 2025 Autumn Budget, outlining the UK government's plans for taxation and public spending. The statistical treatment of the policies announced in the Autumn Budget will be discussed in the next edition of this article, publishing on 19 December 2025.

Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N)

On 13 November 2025, the UK government announced that it will initially invest £2.5 billion through Great British Energy – Nuclear to fund the development of the UK's first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at Wylfa on Anglesey.

Further details on the classification of Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N), can be found in Section 2: Economic statistics classification announcements.

For queries about the information discussed in Section 3: Improvements and data updates in public sector finances statistics and Section 4: Review of emerging issues in the economy, please contact public sector inquiries by emailing public.sector.inquiries@ons.gov.uk.