theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_17

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Libya about recent attacks on Christian communities, including kidnapping and murder, and what steps they are taking to ensure religious freedom is promoted in that country. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: I am deeply concerned about the scale of violations of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) globally, including in Libya. The recent sentencing of individuals for exercising their right to freedom of thought is particularly troubling. No one should live in fear because of their beliefs. The UK urges Libyan authorities to uphold due process and fair trial standards for all. We continue to support the UN-facilitated process for an inclusive political settlement and engage Libyan authorities and international partners to promote human rights. We also raise FoRB concerns through the UN, G7, and Article 18 Alliance.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_18

Lord Dodds of Duncairn:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the protection of minority Christian communities in Iraq, following the attack on Assyrian Christians in Duhok on 1 April. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The Government was deeply concerned by this attack. We champion freedom of religion or belief for all and remain firmly committed to protecting ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq, including Christian communities. The UK regularly raises threats to minority faith communities when engaging with the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and in multilateral fora. At Iraq's Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in June, we recommended that Iraq upholds the right for minorities to freely practice their religion or belief, without fear of persecution. Our programme work supports civil society groups advocating for minority rights and promotes local cohesion. We continue to press for justice and accountability for all communities affected by violence and are working with international partners to ensure the safety and dignity of minority groups across Iraq.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_19

Lord Shinkwin:To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to democratic reform. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: A reformed Palestinian Authority is essential to long-term stability in the region and making progress towards a two-state solution. The UK welcomes the Palestinian Authority's commitment to deliver its ambitious and necessary 'National Program for Development and Reform' in full as a matter of priority in the short, medium and long term. We welcome President Abbas' commitment to hold Presidential and Legislative elections within a year to be conducted under international auspices, supervision and support. Alongside our partners, the UK will continue to support the Palestinian Authority as it delivers its important reform agenda, including on democratic reform.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_20

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure a gendered response to emergency aid given to those affected by the earthquake in Afghanistan and to ensure that no restrictions are applied to women helping the rescue effort in country. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The aftermath of the earthquake in Kunar Province in Afghanistan has been truly devastating and will have a disproportionate and lasting impact on women and girls. We have released £1 million in emergency funding to help our partners deliver critical healthcare and emergency supplies to the most vulnerable, with a significant focus on women and girls. We continue to monitor the situation and will make further allocations if necessary. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will also continue to advocate for unimpeded access for female aid workers in all our communications with the Taliban and partners.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_21

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government how many children from Gaza they are supporting to receive specialist medical treatment in regional Middle Eastern locations. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: On 1st September, the former Foreign Secretary announced an additional £15 million of aid and medical care for Gaza and the region. In July, we pledged £7.5 million of additional support for UK-Med to operate two field hospitals. UK Med have treated over 600,000 Gazans in field hospitals in Gaza over the course of the conflict. We have also provided £3 million to World Health Organization (WHO) Egypt over the conflict, including £1 million announced on 1 August to assist the Egyptian health system, including to treat Palestinians medically evacuated from Gaza.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_22

Lord Austin of Dudley:To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of reports that the Palestinian Authority is making monthly payments to the families of Hamas fighters killed during the 7 October 2023 attacks. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: A reformed Palestinian Authority is essential to long-term stability in the region and making progress towards a two-state solution. The UK welcomes the Palestinian Authority's commitment to deliver its ambitious and necessary 'National Program for Development and Reform' in full as a matter of priority in the short, medium and long term. We welcome the important commitments made by the Palestinian Authority to reform prisoner payments so that welfare payments are needs-based and delinked from violent actions. The Palestinian Authority must now ensure an independent audit verifies that the reforms have been completed. Alongside our partners, the UK will continue to support the Palestinian Authority as it delivers its important reform agenda.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_23

Lord Godson:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent reports of increasing Iranian support for the Polisario Front; and what steps they are taking with allies to address the risks posed by Iranian influence in the Western Sahara conflict. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK has not seen requisite evidence regarding the allegation of Iranian support to the Polisario Front. However, we continue to monitor Iranian activity in the region.

The UK has long condemned the destabilising activity of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its regional partners and proxies. We will continue to work with partners to tackle Iran's destabilising activity.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_24

Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government how much money from the Frontline Digitisation programme was allocated to the NHS App in the financial year 2024–25. \p Baroness Merron: NHS England’s Frontline Digitisation programme was introduced in 2021 to support healthcare organisations to transition from paper-based to digital systems for patient information, clinical notes and access to data.

Its aim is to reach a core level of digitisation following minimum digital foundations, where the health service and the people who use it have digital services and access to the data that they need to effectively manage and improve health and wellbeing. NHS England is providing £2 billion to National Health Service trusts through to 2025/26 to ensure trusts meet a core level of digitisation and have electronic patient records in place.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_25

Lord Bradley:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 23 July (HL9674), how they determine the allocation of (1) capital and (2) revenue funding to hospices in England. \p Baroness Merron: The £100 million capital funding allocation for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England has been calculated by the Department, informed by Hospice UK, and is based on the care expenditure of each hospice.

Some of the organisations that are eligible for this capital funding for hospices in England are national charities, providing services across the United Kingdom. Therefore, a £5 million cap per organisation, of the total £100 million, was introduced to ensure that the Department was not indirectly funding hospice capital projects elsewhere in the UK, beyond England.

This is deemed the fairest model that can release funding to the hospice sector fastest, helping hospices to fully utilise the allocated funds, and doing so in a way which results in best value for money.

Regarding revenue funding for children’s hospices, the £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26 will be disseminated by integrated care boards on behalf of NHS England. As in previous years, individual allocations of the revenue funding have been determined using a prevalence-based model, enabling allocations to reflect local population need.

This is in line with the NHS devolution and promotes a more consistent national approach, supporting commissioners in prioritising the palliative care and end of life care needs of their local population.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_26

The Lord Bishop of Lincoln:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expand the Best Start family hub programmes to offer healthcare and education support services at the weekend. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: On 7 July 2025, the government published ‘Giving every child the Best Start in Life’, which is available on GOV.UK. This outlines the government’s commitment to deliver a new Best Start Family Service to bring together parenting, healthcare and education support services.

We will fund Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority to ensure that children and families who need support the most, especially those from low-income backgrounds or those with additional vulnerabilities can access it.

Local authorities will deliver joined up and enhanced services through family hubs so that all parents and carers can access the support they need, when they need it. Local authorities will receive a programme guide with minimum delivery expectations and will be expected to develop clear plans to establish and enhance family hubs in their area. The role of local authorities will include identifying family hub sites, commissioning services within family hubs and the recruitment of staff to deliver services. Services and their availability, including weekend opening hours, will vary depending on local needs.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_27

Lord Hayward:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether he will publish the percentage change in staff headcount in each House of Lords Administration department over the past 5 years. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The table below shows the percentage change in the number of staff employed by the House of Lords Administration between 31 March 2020 and 31 March 2025. This provides a snapshot of the number of people employed on these two dates, including any short-term appointments. The overall staff headcount in the Administration increased by 16% between these two dates with increases in eight offices and reductions in five.

Changes in the organisational structures such as teams moving between offices can make office-level comparisons more difficult. Figures are also not available for Parliamentary Knowledge and Information, which was created on 1 April 2024. The Parliamentary Commercial Directorate (PCD) was part of the Finance Office in 2020 and will become a joint department on 1 October 2025; if PCD is excluded from these 2025 figures, the overall increase in staffing since 2020 is 3%.

House of Lords Administration Office

Change in Staffing Headcount between 2020 and 2025

Archives Relocation Programme/ Parliamentary Archives

-20%

-8

Black Rod's Office

-4%

-1

Catering and Retail Services

7%

11

Clerk of the Parliament's Office/Lord Speaker's Office*

16%

7

Committee Office

25%

18

Communications

32%

6

Finance Department

-24%

-10

Parliamentary Commerical Directorate

Parliamentary Knowledge and Information

Hansard

-14%

-9

Human Resources Office

46%

11

Journal Office

33%

8

Legislation Office

47%

9

Library

13%

6

Property & Office Services

-11%

-6

Total

16%

*The Lord Speaker's Office became a standalone office in 2022.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_28

Lord Hayward:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether the House of Lords Administration plan to reduce staff headcount in line with the planned reduction in Civil Service jobs by 2030. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The House of Lords Commission agreed in May 2025 to the Administration's recommendation not to increase in real terms its resource budget from 2026-27 for three years, subject to the need to maintain the ability of the House and its Members to carry out their parliamentary duties, and any exceptional external factors. There is no specific staaff headcount reduction target within that.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_29

Lord Hayward:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether it is the policy of the House of Lords Administration to withdraw an employment role that has been vacant for one year. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Heads of Office in the House of Lords Administration review their staffing and vacancies on a quarterly basis, working with Finance and HR teams to remove any vacant posts that are no longer needed. Vacant posts can be removed as soon as they are no longer needed, and the overall vacancy rate is reguarly monitered by the Lords Management Board anf Finance Committee.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_30

Lord Hayward:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what the new roles are of the security staff who were previously allocated to Peers' Entrance. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The operation of Peers' Entrance was met from existing pools of staff. Security officers are allocated to posts flexibly in accordance with the needs of Parliament on any given day. There has been no change to the role of those officers, who continue to be assigned to posts elsewhere on the Parliamentary Estate as required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_31

Lord Mackinlay of Richborough:To ask His Majesty's Government how Making Tax Digital will reduce the tax gap attributable to rogue traders who intentionally evade tax. \p Lord Livermore: Quarterly updates required by Making Tax Digital (MTD) are not the same as tax returns. They are simple, unadjusted summaries of income and expenditure, acting as a snapshot of quarterly trading activity. They will be populated automatically through software and can be submitted easily. This process has been designed to be simple for users and quick to complete.

Quarterly updates will support taxpayers to get their tax right by ensuring timely and accurate record keeping, enabling tailored digital prompts and to view estimates of their emerging tax liability throughout the tax year, making it easier to submit their end of year return.

MTD is intended to address parts of the tax gap caused by unintentional taxpayer error and failure to take reasonable care. By preventing common taxpayer errors, MTD for income tax helps address the small business Tax Gap, adding £1.95bn to the public finances through to 2029/30.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_32

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce inflation. \p Lord Livermore: The Bank of England has the responsibility of controlling inflation, and the Government fully supports them as they take action to return inflation sustainably to 2%. Alongside this, the Government is maintaining stable public finances, reducing borrowing year after year to ease pressure on prices. Borrowing is set to fall by almost a percentage point as a share of GDP this year compared with last, and by a further 0.8ppts next year. The Chancellor has asked departments to prioritise reducing inflation when developing policies for the Autumn Budget, ensuring decisions support stability and long-term growth.

The Government is supporting households with targeted measures to ease pressure on budgets. This includes increasing the Universal Credit Standard Allowance, extending the Household Support Fund with £1 billion a year for crisis support through councils, and expanding Free School Meals to all children with a parent on Universal Credit from 2026. The Warm Home Discount will be expanded to cover around 6 million households.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_33

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure consumer protection under the Financial Conduct Authority's plans to exempt cryptoasset providers from some traditional financial rules. \p Lord Livermore: The Government is bringing forward legislation this year that will create a comprehensive financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets. This regime will mean firms seeking to offer cryptoasset services to UK customers will need to be authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This new regime will build on existing UK protections provided by anti-money laundering regulations and financial promotions rules.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_34

Lord Bailey of Paddington:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to reduce value added tax for hospitality and night-time venues to boost recovery, encourage investment and support long-term growth. \p Lord Livermore: The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses to economic growth and social life in the UK.

VAT is the UK’s third largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Tax breaks reduce the revenue available for vital public services and must represent value for money for the taxpayer.

HMRC estimate that the cost of a 5 per cent reduced rate for accommodation, hospitality and tourist attractions would be around £13 billion this financial year. If the scope were also to include alcoholic beverages, the cost would be approximately £3 billion greater.

The Government keeps all taxes under review, and the Chancellor makes decisions on tax changes at the Budget, in the context of the overall public finances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_35

Lord Mackinlay of Richborough:To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish detailed guidance about the interpretation of digital exclusion in the context of Making Tax Digital. \p Lord Livermore: A significant majority of self-employed individuals and landlords have turnover below the VAT threshold, which is currently £90,000. Since 2022, all VAT-registered businesses have been required to use Making Tax Digital (MTD) regardless of whether they are above of below the VAT threshold. The MTD for Income Tax threshold starts at £50,000 from April 2026, reducing to £30,000 in April 2027 and £20,000 in April 2028. This ensures MTD will extend the benefits of digitalisation to many more businesses, helping them to adopt new digital ways of working, improve productivity and growth and get their tax right. This helps address the tax gap for Income Tax Self-Assessment, which is estimated at £8.7bn in 2023-24 and is particularly prevalent amongst the smallest businesses. HMRC has worked extensively with customers, representative bodies and software developers to ensure that MTD works well for businesses of all sizes.

MTD Quarterly updates are not self-assessment tax returns. They are simple summaries of income and expenditure which can be automatically populated through digital records kept by MTD users. HMRC expects quarterly updates to be accurate based on the best available information at the time, but taxpayers do not have to make a declaration of accuracy when these are submitted, and there will not be penalties for inaccurate quarterly updates.

The Government recognises that not everyone is able to interact with HMRC digitally. Taxpayers who are digitally excluded from MTD for Income Tax will be able to apply for an exemption. HMRC will begin operating the exemption process in the coming weeks.

HMRC will publish detailed guidance when the exemption application process opens for digitally excluded taxpayers. This will explain how taxpayers, or someone acting on their behalf, can apply to be exempted from MTD for Income Tax. HMRC will also write to taxpayers to make them aware of the exemptions. There will also be engagement with business and taxpayer representatives to help disseminate this information.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_36

Baroness Neville-Rolfe:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Smarter Regulatory Framework, in particular the impact of the repeal of retained EU law under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, on promoting sustainable economic growth and the international competitiveness of the UK’s financial services sector. \p Lord Livermore: As of the most recent update in July 2025, HM Treasury has repealed, amended, or replaced 51% of assimilated law it is responsible for, as set out in the Retained EU law and Assimilated Law Dashboard. The great majority of this is financial services legislation.

In the last 12 months, HM Treasury has made SIs to replace the EU’s Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPs) Regulation, and the EU’s Short Selling Regulation.

Sustainable economic growth is a priority of the government. That is why the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, published on 15 July 2025, sets out the government’s approach to delivering a regulatory environment for financial services that is proportionate, predictable, and internationally competitive.

The government has sought to deliver this approach in a way that minimises disruption and produces the most streamlined and accessible framework for firms and creates an agile, workable and coherent regime. For example, through the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Designated Activities) (Supervision and Enforcement) Regulations 2025, which make it easier for the FCA to consistently supervise activities and enforce rules that replace key parts of EU law.

The financial services regulators already have significant rule-making powers, and the government worked closely with them in determining its approach to replacing retained EU law, to ensure that regulators are ready to take on additional responsibilities. It is for regulators like the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Policy Committee, as well as the Financial Conduct Authority, to determine their approach to these new responsibilities They are funded via a levy on financial services firms, and it is their responsibility to set their own funding requirements each year, following consultation, to ensure that they are able to carry out their functions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_37

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Bank of England regarding slowing the Bank of England's bond-selling plan to help reduce UK government borrowing costs. \p Lord Livermore: The Bank of England has operational independence from the government to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy and financial stability. Monetary policy, including quantitative easing, is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England.    The separation of fiscal and monetary policy is a key feature of the UK’s economic framework, it is in line with international standards and essential for the effective delivery of monetary policy, so the government does not comment on the conduct or effectiveness of monetary policy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_38

Lord Kinnock:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Bank of England about suspending its quantitative tightening policy of selling bonds accumulated through quantitative easing, as opposed to allowing maturing debt to expire. \p Lord Livermore: The Bank of England has operational independence from the government to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy and financial stability. Monetary policy, including quantitative easing, is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England.  The separation of fiscal and monetary policy is a key feature of the UK’s economic framework, it is in line with international standards and essential for the effective delivery of monetary policy, so the government does not comment on the conduct or effectiveness of monetary policy.

Since October 2022, HM Treasury has transferred £93.32bn to the Bank of England to cover losses arising from the indemnity of the Asset Purchase Facility, the vehicle used to implement quantitative easing. This covers losses incurred from net interest costs and the sale and redemption of bonds as the portfolio is unwound. Since 2013, the Bank of England has transferred £123.85bn to HM Treasury, giving HM Treasury a net position of £30.53bn to date

Data on these cash transfers between HM Treasury and the Bank of England are made publicly available by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in its monthly Public Sector Finances publication. The data are available in the ONS data series ID MF7A in worksheet PSA9B.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_39

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Bank of England regarding proposals to cap individual holdings of stablecoins at £10,000–£20,000 and £10 million for businesses. \p Lord Livermore: The government recognises that facilitating stablecoin innovation is important for UK competitiveness, and continues to engage with the regulators, including the Bank of England, to ensure a coherent regulatory framework.

The government will bring forward legislation later this year to create a financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets in the UK, including stablecoins.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_40

Lord Bailey of Paddington:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to extend the business rates relief scheme for the night-time economy sector; and what steps they are taking towards business rates reform for that sector. \p Lord Livermore: To deliver our manifesto pledge, from 2026/27, we intend to introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000, which will include many properties used by the night-time economy sector. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Ahead of the new multipliers coming into force, we recognise that businesses will need support in 2025/26. As such, we have extended the RHL business rates relief for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. Under the previous Government, RHL relief was due to end entirely in April 2025.

Eligibility for the new RHL multipliers is intended to broadly reflect the scope of the existing RHL relief scheme and will be set out in legislation later this year. Eligibility for the RHL relief scheme is set out in guidance published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and includes many night-time economy businesses.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_41

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of abolishing 5-per-cent value added tax on domestic energy bills, in particular on the cost of living for households. \p Lord Livermore: The Government is supporting households with energy bills now whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. Gas and electricity are subject to a reduced rate of VAT at five per cent, rather than the standard 20 per cent.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_42

Baroness Redfern:To ask His Majesty's Government what actions they are taking to procure UK-made steel for alterations and additions to (1) Royal Air Force bases, (2) Royal Navy bases, and (3) Army installations. \p Lord Coaker: The UK steel sector provides vital support to the UK's defence capabilities, including specialist cast and forged steel components for a range of UK defence programmes such as submarines, surface vessels and artillery barrels. Steel used in our major Defence programmes is generally sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers. This Government is committed to creating the right conditions in the UK for a competitive and sustainable steel industry.

The National Security Strategy, Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy set out how a strong industrial base is critical for maintaining our national security infrastructure.

The Ministry of Defence is also involved in the development of a Government steel strategy that will set a long-term vision for a revitalised and sustainable industry and outline the actions needed to get there. The strategy will articulate what is needed to secure UK steel supply chains and create a competitive business environment in the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_43

Lord Dodds of Duncairn:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with NATO allies following the announcement that the United States intends to phase out security assistance programmes for European countries bordering Russia. \p Lord Coaker: The UK Government is aware of the Trump Administration’s intention to cut funding for the Baltic Security Initiative. Recent airspace violations in Estonia, Poland and Romania by Russia demonstrate that we must do all that we can to support our allies. That’s why NATO Allies agreed to increase their spending at this year’s Summit in The Hague. The UK’s commitment to NATO remains unshakeable.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_44

Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 4 November 2024 (HL2037), what further progress they have made towards implementing the UK's Forest Risk Commodity regime. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: We are working across Government to agree the most effective way to reduce the impact of the UK’s consumption of forest risk commodities on deforestation.

The Government will set out its approach to addressing UK consumption of forest risk commodities in due course.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_45

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington:To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to page 79 of the Chronic Risks Analysis, published by the Cabinet Office on 8 July, why the information about the Equality Act 2010 references gender rather than sex. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The Chronic Risk Analysis (CRA) is a collaboration between Cabinet Office and the Government Office for Science.

The text in the report sets out some of the protected characteristics covered by the Equalities Act and notes the potential impact on these through bias and discrimination. The drafting could be improved by explicitly listing all 9 characteristics. This will be amended in any future publications of the analysis.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-13 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-13 conversation_1

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 4 August (HL9337), on what date they registered the former Deputy Prime Minister's Admiralty House residence as a second home with Westminster City Council; and whether the Cabinet Office (1) paid a second homes council tax premium, or (2) claimed a job-related second homes council tax discount in respect of that residence. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government Property Agency is responsible for liaising with Westminster City Council on the administration of council tax for Admiralty House.

The council tax rate for Admiralty House is determined by Westminster Council; council tax for Admiralty House is properly discharged.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-13 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-13 conversation_2

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have agreed with the former Deputy Prime Minister when she will vacate her residence in Admiralty House. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: The former Deputy Prime Minister has vacated the property. The Government agreed the terms of vacation of Admiralty House with the former Deputy Prime Minister in the usual way.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-13 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-13 conversation_3

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government which countries are currently banned from sending military personnel to the Royal College of Defence Studies. \p Lord Coaker: Any decision to provide professional military education or training to a partner nation is made on a case-by-case basis and is underpinned by a robust assessment as to the benefits, risks, and compliance with international human rights law. In the interests of national security and upholding trust and confidentiality in our international partnerships, it is not appropriate for the Government to comment on the provision of training to individual countries.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_1

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering:To ask His Majesty's Government what border control posts are available across the UK for the movement of animals for breeding purposes and horse racing. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Border Control Post (BCP) facilities and suitability for receiving any given commodity are

dependent on designation and facilities. The following ports are currently listed as LA-E designated (suitable for equine movements):

To check the details of available BCPs for any commodity, details can be found at GOV.UK (see attachments).

Attachment 1 (pdf, 423.8KB)

Attachment 2  (pdf, 669.4KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_2

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board on whether the Afghanistan team should participate in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. \p Baroness Twycross: The UK Government condemns the appalling erosion of women and girls’ rights in Afghanistan. Sport operates independently of government, and Afghanistan’s participation in the ICC Champion’s Trophy is a matter for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and International Cricket Council (ICC).

My officials are in ongoing contact with the ECB on the wider issue of support for the Afghanistan women’s cricket team. We welcome the recent announcement of the Global Refugee Cricket Fund to help support Afghanistan women’s cricket. We strongly urge the ICC to ensure a safe return to competition for the Afghanistan women’s team in some capacity as soon as possible.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_3

Lord Moylan:To ask His Majesty's Government how many trustees of charities have been disqualified by the Charity Commission on account of social media posts in each of the last five years. \p Baroness Twycross: In the last five years, the Charity Commission has disqualified six individuals in cases that relate to the usage of social media. An individual’s use of social media was the sole basis for disqualification in three cases, while in the other three it was one of several grounds.

The Commission’s decisions to disqualify are subject to robust oversight and can be appealed through review by an independent member of Commission staff, and subsequently to the First Tier Tribunal.

The Charity Commission is independent from the Government in its regulatory decision making.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_4

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to work with faith groups to support people being released from prison. \p Lord Timpson: We work with faith groups to support prison leavers in several ways. Prison chaplaincy teams have links with community organisations, both faith-based and secular, and can often provide mentoring and support, either through an established community chaplaincy service or through individual arrangements.

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) provides funding for the Welcome Directory, which connects prisons, and those who help prison leavers to resettle, with faith and belief communities who are prepared to welcome and support those leaving prison.

HMPPS has also established the Chaplaincy Faith and Belief Forum, which enables faith and belief representatives to discuss policy, operational issues and matters of general concern relating to pastoral care, faith and belief practice for those in prison and those under supervision in the community.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_5

Lord Pearson of Rannoch:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the psychological impact upon prisoners who spend long periods of time in solitary confinement. \p Lord Timpson: Prisoners in England and Wales are not kept in solitary confinement. A prisoner may be removed from association where this appears desirable for the maintenance of good order or discipline, or is in the prisoner’s own interest. Prisoners in the adult prison estate may be separated in this way under the Governor’s authority for a maximum of 42 days. Segregation beyond this period must be authorised by a Prison Group Director, as an authority independent of the prison. The use of segregation is governed by Prison Service Order 1700.

The mental and physical health of prisoners removed from association is repeatedly assessed. Any prisoner segregated for over 30 days must have an individual mental health care plan in place. Segregated prisoners are managed by a multi-disciplinary team, which includes healthcare, mental health teams and psychology, overseen by a segregation review board. This board continually reviews both the physical and mental health of prisoners.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-03 conversation_6

Lord Pearson of Rannoch:To ask His Majesty's Government how many civil prisoners are held in His Majesty's Prison Woodhill, and of those how many are kept in its close supervision centre. \p Lord Timpson: In line with statistical guidance and GDPR, we cannot release the requested data regarding the number of civil prisoners that are held in His Majesty’s Prison Woodhill, as this could lead to the identification of individuals, given the small sample sizes involved. There are no civil prisoners kept in its close supervision centre.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-07 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-07 conversation_1

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) international companies, and (2) jobs, have been created by Northern Ireland having dual access to the UK and EU markets. \p Baroness Gustafsson: The Windsor Framework positions Northern Ireland as a unique gateway for the sale of goods to two of the world’s largest markets, as well as access to global markets through the UK's new trade agreements.

Whilst the Government has not made an assessment of the impact of dual market access on the number of jobs or international companies created, between 2019 and 2023, Northern Ireland’s sales of goods to Great Britain increased by £4.7bn or 69%, and sales to the EU increased by £2.9bn or 54%.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-07 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-07 conversation_2

Baroness Freeman of Steventon:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to prevent companies from wrongly listing a foreign company as a person of significant control in the Companies House register, and (2) to ensure that those identified as having done so either correct their entry or are prosecuted for not doing so. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: In limited cases, a foreign company can be a relevant legal entity (RLE) and can be legitimately recorded as a UK company's person with significant control ("PSC"). The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 will introduce new requirements which will allow Companies House to collect and display more information about RLEs. If the RLE is a listed company, the UK company must say which market the RLE is listed on. This will give assurance that the RLE meets the conditions as claimed. Where the Registrar identifies or receives complaints about gaps or inaccuracies in a company’s PSC register, she will take the action required to achieve compliance.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-07 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-07 conversation_3

Baroness Rock:To ask His Majesty's Government, following their blog post "Update on the farming budget", published on 12 March, what plans they have to meet the National Farmers' Union, the Country Land and Business Association and the Tenant Farmers Association to discuss the reopening of the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Secretary of State attended the National Farmers Union (NFU) conference in February. Minister Zeichner has had 1:1 bilateral meetings on the Sustainable Farming Incentive specifically with the NFU, National Beef Association, British Poultry Council, Soil Association, Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, National Pig Association, National Sheep Association, British Egg Industry Council, National Federation of Young Farmers, British Free Range Egg Producers Association, LAA, Tenant Farmers Association and Country, Land and Business Association.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-07 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-07 conversation_4

Lord Mohammed of Tinsley:To ask His Majesty's Government how many Crown court trials have (1) collapsed, or (2) returned not guilty verdicts, because of a lack of evidence; how many of these instances may be attributed to the delays in Crown court hearings; and how many of these instances related to trials concerning violence against women and girls. \p Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: The Ministry of Justice publishes data on Crown Court trial sentencing outcomes in England and Wales in the Crown Court data tool published here: Crown Court data tool.

This includes details of those acquitted and where the case was discontinued. Crown Court trials may be discontinued for a wide variety of reasons. Data on where Crown Court trials collapsed or returned not guilty verdicts specifically “because of a lack of evidence” and/or “attributed to the delays in Crown court hearings” are not identifiable in the published data. This information may be held in court records but to examine all individual court records would be a disproportionate use of costs.

This Government inherited a record and rising crown court backlog, which has meant that victims have been left waiting years for justice. This is unacceptable and we are working hard to drive down the backlog and cut delays. We have already funded a record number of sitting days in the crown court and have increased magistrates courts sentencing powers. We have asked Sir Brian Leveson to lead an Independent Review of the Criminal Courts which will guide the Government on the long term structural reforms required to bear down on the backlog and restore a sustainable criminal justice system in which there are fewer ineffective trials.