theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-11 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-11 conversation_25

Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government what is the latest figure for the total number of people employed in the Civil Service, and how many of those people are employed in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, (4) Northern Ireland, and (5) overseas. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Headline information on the number of civil servants are published quarterly by the Office for National Statistics as part of the accredited official statistics release ‘Public Sector Employment Statistics’. Latest data as at June 2025 shows that there are 550,730 civil servants on a headcount basis and 516,950 on a FTE basis.

More detailed information on employment numbers by region including overseas are published annually by the Cabinet Office as part of the accredited official statistics release ‘Civil Service Statistics’. Latest information as at 31 March 2025 can be found at table 1 below:

Table 1: Regional distribution of Civil Service employment, as at 31 March 2025

Country

Headcount

FTE

England

440,845

413,970

Northern Ireland

4,880

4,640

Scotland

56,675

53,275

Wales

41,155

38,220

Overseas

3,760

3,740

Unknown

2,345

2,300

Total

549,660

516,150

Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES), Cabinet Office
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-11)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure hospices are adequately funded. \p Baroness Merron: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.  The statutory guidance states that ICBs must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of care services to meet the needs of their local populations.

NHS England has also developed a palliative care and end of life care dashboard. The dashboard helps commissioners to understand the palliative care and end of life care needs of their local population, enabling ICBs to put plans in place to address and track the improvement of health inequalities, and ensure that funding is distributed fairly, based on prevalence.

The Department and NHS England are currently working at pace to develop plans on how best to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

Additionally, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Department has invested £3 million in a Policy Research Unit in Palliative and End of Life Care. This unit is building the evidence base on palliative care and end of life care, with a specific focus on inequalities.

We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.

We are also committing £80 million for children’s and young people’s hospices over the next three financial years, giving them stability to plan ahead and focus on what matters most, caring for their patients.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-11)

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Baroness Maclean of Redditch:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to amend the assessment of religious conversion as a basis for an asylum claim since March 2024. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: We engage with stakeholders, including faith leaders, to ensure asylum claims based on religious persecution, including those based on religious conversion, are well considered, that those in genuine need are supported, and that there are no loopholes to claiming asylum in this country. Our guidance for considering claims based on religious conversion is publicly available on GOV.UK and we do not consider it is appropriate to place detailed discussions with stakeholders in the Library of the House.

Detailed Home Office policy instructions are regularly reviewed and provide a framework for considering asylum claims. All caseworkers receive extensive training to consider claims objectively and impartially and receive mentoring support before interviewing claimants and making such decisions. Our processes are underpinned by a robust framework of safeguards and quality checks, ensuring that claims are properly considered, decisions are sound, fake claims are rooted out, and protection is granted to those who genuinely need it.

Every asylum claim admitted to the UK asylum system, including those based on religion or belief, and including those from claimants who were accommodated on the Bibby Stockholm, is determined on its individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. People may become refugees ‘sur place’ due to activities they engage in or beliefs they have come to hold since leaving their country. As with all asylum claims, claims involving sur place activity are carefully considered on a case-by-case basis. In some circumstances it is appropriate to revoke protection status where evidence emerges that status was obtained by deception; where protection is no longer needed; or where someone commits a serious crime, represents a threat to our national security or demonstrates extremist behaviour.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-11)

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Lord Cameron of Lochiel:To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the Statement of Funding Policy: Funding the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive, published in June 2025, why they amended their funding policy for agriculture and fisheries funding. \p Lord Livermore: As set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, from 2025-26 the devolved governments will no longer receive a ringfenced addition to the block grant for agriculture and fisheries. Funding for agriculture and fisheries from 2024-25 has been baselined and un-ringfenced in each devolved governments block grant. This is an above population share for the devolved governments.

It is for devolved governments to allocate this funding as they see fit and they are accountable to their devolved legislatures for those decisions. This is a key principle of devolution and this decision respects that.

The Barnett formula will apply to any future changes in UK Government funding from 2025-26 for agriculture and fisheries in the usual way. This is the normal operation of the funding arrangements for the devolved governments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-11 conversation_29

Lord Empey:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to prepare businesses in the United Kingdom for the introduction of the new EU Customs Code on 1 January 2026. \p Lord Livermore: On 17 May 2023, the European Commission proposed a revision of the Union Customs Code. The published proposal foresees implementation of some elements from 2028 and is still subject to EU internal procedures; therefore, we cannot comment on the final proposal. However, we are following these suggested reforms closely, and continue to engage with the EU and business, particularly on potential impacts for UK businesses.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-11 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-11 conversation_30

Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government how many cases the (1) Family Court, and (2) Family Division of the High Court, heard in (a) 2023, and (b) 2024. \p Baroness Levitt: The Ministry of Justice does not hold the data for hours sat as family sittings for both the County Court and the High Court are recorded in days. This data can be found in the Royal Courts of Justice Annual Tables, table 9.2 as below:

Year

Days Sat in the High court - Family division(1)

Days sat in the Family court(2)

2023

2,518

132,855

2024

2,895

124,280

Notes:

These figures represent only the days sat in court or in chambers in the jurisdictions shown. Judges sit in other areas (for example, High Court hearings in regional County Courts are not currently included) and also undertake a range of other functions outside the courtroom that are not shown here.

Includes Private and other family figures including family: divorce sitting days.

HMCTS does not hold data on how many cases were heard in the Family Court and Family Division of the High Court. However, data on the total number of cases disposed of, which includes both hearings and out of court disposals are in table 1 of the Family Court Statistics as shown below:

Cases reaching a final disposal

Year

Total cases disposed

2023

235,184

2024

245,691

Source: HMCTS FamilyMan and Core Case Data
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-11 conversation_31

Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure employers are encouraged to support people with disabilities into employment. \p Baroness Sherlock: We are funding local authorities to open our supported employment programme, Connect to Work, throughout England and Wales. Crucially, as part of this programme, specialist employment advisers work with both participants and employers, ensuring that participants are supported and workplaces are inclusive.

It is also recognised that employers play an important role in addressing health and disability. To build on this, the Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Health and Social Care Joint Work & Health Directorate (JWHD) is facilitating “Keep Britain Working”, an independent review of the role of UK employers in reducing health-related inactivity and to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces. The Independent lead reviewer, Sir Charlie Mayfield’s report has now been released - Keep Britain Working: Final report - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-11)

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Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 16 October (HL Deb col 355) that “a statutory probation period will be introduced with light-touch standards for fair dismissal based on performance and stability”, what is the length of that statutory probation period and what are the grounds for dismissal during that period. \p Baroness Lloyd of Effra: Next Steps to Make Work Pay, published in 2024, set out the Government’s preference for the statutory probation period to be nine months long.

Under the Employment Rights Bill, the normal grounds for fair dismissal (under the Employment Rights Act 1996) will apply in this period, and light-touch standards will apply to dismissals for reasons of  the employee’s conduct, capability, illegality, or some other substantial reason relating to the employee. The Government believes this will allow businesses to remain confident in hiring.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_1

Baroness Lister of Burtersett:To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication on 7 April of Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, whether there will be exemptions from the proposed conversations for disabled people who cannot work, and if so what those exemptions will be. \p Baroness Sherlock: The support conversation will enable individuals to set out their aspirations, needs and goals, understand what early support might be available to them and be signposted towards it. Given the importance of the support conversation in ensuring individuals understand the help available to them, we are considering making participation a requirement. However, we are consulting on how we should design and deliver it, and, if mandated, who should be exempted, so that it is welcomed by individuals and is effective.

We are seeking views through the Green Paper on what those exemptions should be.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_2

The Lord Bishop of Leicester:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of reforms to incapacity and disability benefits on the employment rate of people with disabilities; and what plans they have to evaluate and monitor the impact of these reforms once they have been introduced. \p Baroness Sherlock: The Pathways to Work Green Paper sets out our plans for reform to stop people from falling into inactivity, restore trust and fairness in the system and protect disabled people.

The plans include increased funding for employment support for disabled people, rising to an additional £1 billion per year by the end of the Parliament.

The Office of Budget Responsibility has committed to produce an assessment of the labour market impacts of the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper at the time of the autumn budget.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper and to monitor and evaluate their impact will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_3

Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government how many complaints the Independent Case Examiner has received in the last three years (1) in total and (2) regarding child maintenance; and of those, how many were found in favour of the complainant. \p Baroness Sherlock: ICE does not accept every case that it receives, for example, ICE cannot accept a case until it has exhausted DWP’s complaints process (premature referrals), nor can it accept those outside its jurisdiction.

ICE only considers complaints about maladministration or service failures and cannot deal with complaints about matters of law, that are, or have been, subject to legal proceedings, about how any of the businesses fulfil their responsibilities as an employer or any that involve the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman or the Northern Ireland Ombudsman.

Once a case has been accepted, if appropriate, ICE will attempt to broker a resolution with the customer before gathering all of the evidence relating to the case. Where resolution cannot be reached, evidence is collated, and an investigation is conducted. On the basis of findings made, the case may be upheld/partially upheld in favour of the customer or not upheld. The number of cases received, accepted, and upheld/partially upheld, is in the table below.

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

Total* Received

4911

5824

7149

CMS Received

1309

1519

1827

Total* Accepted

1711

1861

2214

CMS Accepted

785

731

981

Total* upheld/partially upheld

584

765

893

CMS upheld/partially upheld

311

474

459

*ICE reviews complaints made by customers of the Department for Work and Pensions (which includes the Child Maintenance Service), Northern Ireland Department for Communities – benefits, pensions and child maintenance only, contracted DWP services and Pension Protection Fund.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_4

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the access tenant and family farmers have had to advice on applying for the Sustainable Farming Incentive and the Environmental Land Management farm schemes given the short time for which such schemes have been open. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: We share guidance about Environmental Land Management (ELM) and other scheme offers on our farming blog and on the relevant scheme pages at gov.uk. Details of the expanded SFI 2024 offer were first shared at https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2024/05/22/this-years-sustainable-farming-incentive-offer/) on 22 May 2024. Defra and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) regularly attend industry events to share scheme offers and advice with farmers. The RPA helpline supports farmers, including tenant and family farmers, with general questions about SFI and other ELM schemes on their helpline

Furthermore, for the beginning of the agricultural transition, the Farming Resilience Fund (FRF) provided free business support to farmers and land managers in England. FRF was available from October 2022 to March 2025.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Viscount Astor:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs on 1 April (HC Deb col 282), what plans they have to include the British Hound Sports Association in their forthcoming consultation on trail hunting. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Government made a manifesto commitment to ban Trail Hunting as part of a set of measures to improve animal welfare. Work to determine the best approach is ongoing. Public stakeholders such as the British Hounds Sports Association will have the opportunity to contribute through any future consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_6

Lord Jamieson:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 20 March (HL5602), what representations the government of China or its representatives have made to the Home Office relating to the latest planning application for the Chinese Embassy, prior to and after the Secretary of State's call-in decision, and on what dates. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Having conducted reasonable due diligence, we are not aware of any such representations. In any event, final decision sits with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government in her independent, quasi-judicial role.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_7

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that reported lobbying by groups funded from overseas, such as the Alliance Defending Freedom, has had on human rights and democracy in the United Kingdom. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The government is fully committed to transparency to help ensure the public are made aware of which external organisations the government engages with.

As such, the government publishes details of all official meetings held by ministers and certain senior officials with external organisations, including groups funded from overseas.

In addition, the Parliamentary Codes of Conduct set rules on the registration of interests as well as gifts and benefits, including from sources outside the UK. There are also rules regulating All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) which specify that APPGs must be transparent about their nature, membership and funding including funding provided by overseas groups.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the letter from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland dated 20 January on the Chemical Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation, when they intend to begin a consultation on whether to apply a consistent regime across the UK. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Further to the answer provided in HL4285, on 20 January 2025 the Government set out its commitment to take any future steps necessary to avoid new barriers that would affect supplies of such products into Northern Ireland, and to consult on whether to apply a consistent regime across the UK. Work on this consultation is ongoing and it will happen as soon as possible.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_9

Baroness Hoey:To ask His Majesty's Government how many tuition fee loans, and for how much in total, were provided to franchised delivery providers of education who are (1) registered with the Office for Students, and (2) non-registered, in the past three years. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The attached table shows the number of students in receipt of a tuition fee loan and the total amount of tuition fee loans paid on behalf of students studying at franchised providers in England, split by whether the franchised provider is registered with the Office for Students. This covers tuition fees paid by Student Finance England for the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic years.

In franchising arrangements, tuition fees are paid directly to the lead provider, who often retains a portion before passing the remainder onto the franchised provider. The department does not collect data on the proportion of tuition fees retained by the lead provider. The tuition fee amounts presented in the table therefore overestimate the amount of tuition fee funding received by franchised providers.

Data captures loan payments made up to 31 August 2023 for the 2021/22 academic year and up to 31 August 2024 for the 2022/23 and 23/24 academic years. As the loan payment amounts for 2023/24 do not capture late payments, it is not appropriate to compare 2023/24 with previous years.

Tuition Fees by Provider OfS registration status (xlsx, 30.5KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_10

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce material into the National Curriculum regarding the role of the United Kingdom in the creation of Council of Europe. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The national curriculum for citizenship (key stages 3 and 4) provides a framework that would enable schools to discuss this matter. For example, pupils should be taught about local, regional and international governance and the United Kingdom’s relations with the rest of Europe, the Commonwealth, the United Nations and the wider world.

There is also considerable flexibility within the current history curriculum which would allow for teaching about this matter, for example in the statutory theme ‘challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day’.

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The review seeks to deliver a curriculum that ensures children and young people leave compulsory education ready for life and ready for work, building the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to thrive.

The Review Group has now published its interim report, which sets out its initial findings and confirms the key areas for further work. The report highlights the successes of the current system, making clear that the most trusted and valued aspects of our system will remain, whilst setting a positive vision for the future. The report is attached and can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/curriculum-and-assessment-review-interim-report.

The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in the autumn with the government’s response.

HL6141 attachment (pdf, 1266.9KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_11

Lord Blunkett:To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review: interim report, published on 18 March, what plans they have to revisit guidance to allow awarding bodies time to submit new versions of post-16 diploma-size qualifications that overlap with Cycle 1 T Level subjects for approval alongside T Levels routes. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The government considered which qualifications are needed alongside T Levels and A levels in its rapid review of qualifications reform at the end of last year and retained funding for 157 qualifications that were previously due to have funding removed following that review. The government will retain funding for these qualifications until we consider that they are no longer needed. The government also made clear that we will not allow for other types of large qualifications in T Level areas. This is because T Levels are high quality qualifications and should be the qualification of choice for those who wish to study a large qualification in T Level areas.

Alongside A levels and T Levels, learners can study alternative level 3 qualifications. These currently include applied general qualifications and technical and vocational qualifications, which are being reformed into Alternative Academic Qualifications and Reformed Technical Qualifications. 74 of these newly reformed level 3 qualifications were approved in May 2024 and will be available to teach from this August, with more to follow in 2026.

The department has also removed the additional requirements to the rules of combination until 2027. This change allows providers greater flexibility to create study programmes that best suit individual learner needs.

Removing the additional requirements on the rules of combination will ensure that we are not pre-empting recommendations from the Curriculum and Assessment Review on curriculum pathways and longer-term qualifications reform.

The department will consider the Review’s recommendations, including on qualification types and sizes, when they are published later this year, and we will update guidance to awarding organisations following our consideration of the Review’s final report.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_12

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government how many independent schools have closed, or announced that they will close, since July 2024. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The register of independent schools, publicly available as part of the Get Information about Schools website, shows that 20 private schools, closed between 29 July 2024 and 11 April 2025. Schools are not required to notify the department of planned closures.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_13

Baroness Bull:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 26 February (HL4587), which sector experts and stakeholders (1) the Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group, and (2) the Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion, have invited for collaboration; and whether those invited included experts on dyscalculia and stakeholders engaged with dyscalculia. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: In the terms of reference for both the Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group (NDTFG) and the Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion (EAG), the department has been clear that in developing their advice, both groups are expected to draw on a wide range of inputs.

The groups have engaged stakeholders such as children and young people, parents and carers, teachers, unions and employer organisations, local authorities and wider special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) sector experts, as well as working alongside the department’s SEND strategic advisor, Dame Christine Lenehan. The EAG has also recently launched a sector-led call for evidence, working with ImpactED Group, to identify examples of good, inclusive practice in mainstream schools across the country. The NDTFG has engaged with stakeholders working on dyscalculia and will continue to work with them as they develop their recommendations and advice to Ministers.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_14

Lord Hampton:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, as part of their commitment to be a "child-centred Government", to encourage schools to support students to send submissions to the United Nations Human Rights Council's open-ended intergovernmental working group on the development of the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the rights to early childhood education, free pre-primary education and free secondary education. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The UK government is committed to safeguarding and advancing children’s rights. We firmly uphold the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which we ratified in 1991. It is important for all children, regardless of race, religion or abilities, to have equal civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. We are dedicated to providing the best possible opportunities for all children.

Teaching about the UNCRC can be taught through the national curriculum for citizenship, which is compulsory at key stages 3 and 4. Citizenship enables pupils to understand their statutory rights, civic duties and responsibilities, as well as developing their understanding of human rights, local, regional and international governance and the UK’s relations with the rest of Europe, the Commonwealth, the United Nations and the wider world. Schools are free to tailor their curriculum to the needs of their pupils and this could include supporting students to send submissions to the UN Human Rights Council working group.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-28 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Baroness Fox of Buckley:To ask His Majesty's Government when the results of the data linkage study recommended by the Cass Review will be published, and whether the results will be published before the commencement of the NHS England puberty blocker trial. \p Baroness Merron: The Government and NHS England are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Cass Review in full. NHS England’s ambitious two-year implementation plan sets out how it will continue to transform services, while ensuring safe and holistic care.

NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research have jointly established a programme of research that is underpinning the design and delivery of new services for children and young people with gender incongruence. The programme reflects the recommendations of the Cass Review and the need for more high-quality evidence to inform the advice and care provided to an increasing number of children with gender incongruence, and their families, when making important treatment decisions. The current research programme includes the following studies: the data linkage study, which will enable us to learn from the experience and outcomes of a particular group of up to 9,000 adults who, as children, were cared for under a previous and now decommissioned model of National Health Service care; and the PATHWAYS study, which has several elements, including a longitudinal observational study of children and young people attending NHS Gender Services, charting their development over time, and longitudinal qualitative interviews to explore the needs and care experiences of children, young people, and their families, and how these change over the course of time and the treatment

These studies are independent investigations and will run to their own timescales.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_1

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay:To ask His Majesty's Government whether Baroness Shafik will recuse herself from matters relating to the funding of (1) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (2) the Victoria and Albert Museum, and (3) other national museums, in her role as Chief Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Baroness Shafik has been appointed to be the Chief Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister as a Direct Ministerial Appointment. This role is therefore subject to the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, which sets out requirements on political activity.

The management of relevant outside interests for this role has been agreed in line with relevant guidance and processes.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_3

Lord Caine:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the then Deputy Prime Minister on 12 January 2006 (WA HC782–3), whether the current Deputy Prime Minister’s official residence in Admiralty House is registered with Westminster City Council as (1) primary, or (2) second home, according to records held by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The former Deputy Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Admiralty House was registered as her secondary residence with Westminster City Council.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

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Lord Swire:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to hold regular meetings of the Cabinet in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Cabinet routinely takes place in No10 Downing Street as has been the case under successive governments. There are currently no plans for Cabinet to take place across the UK, but that is kept under review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_5

Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish details of any changes in department responsibility which have been implemented in conjunction with recent changes in Ministerial portfolios. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The List of Ministerial Responsibilities will be updated in due course.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_6

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government how many migrants with suspected links to organised crime groups, including the Turkish Militias, have (1) arrived in the UK, (2) been removed, (3) been taken to secure detention centres, and (4) have been released on bail to non-secure accommodation such as hotels and hostels, in the past 12 months. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_7

Lord Godson:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat posed by the Yemen Cyber Army, and what steps they are taking to counter such cyber threats. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK is facing an increasingly complex and persistent cyber threat landscape, driven by a diverse range of actors, including hostile nation states, non-state entities, and organised criminal groups.

To counter these threats, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) continuously monitors cyber activity targeting the UK, helping to safeguard national interests and ensure the country remains secure online.

The NCSC provides expert guidance, practical tools, and responsive services to victims of cyber incidents. It empowers organisations and individuals to strengthen their cyber defences and build long-term resilience against evolving threats.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_8

Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Syria concerning the direct targeting of the Druze community, including targeted killings, enforced disappearances and sexual violence; and what steps they are taking to engage with Syria and its approach to protecting religious freedom. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: We were deeply concerned by the escalation of violence between Druze and Bedouin militias in southern Syria in July, and welcomed the ceasefire brokered by the US. The former Foreign Secretary spoke with Foreign Minister al Shaibani on 18 July to raise our concerns about events in Suwayda and to press the Syrian Government to conduct a full investigation into the crimes committed. We welcome the announcement on 31 July of the formation of a committee to hold a full investigation into the violence. When the former Foreign Secretary Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, met the Foreign Minister and Justice Minister in Damascus on 27 August, he underlined the importance of accountability, including holding to account the government's own forces. We continue to advocate for an inclusive political transition and the protection of rights of all Syrians, regardless of religious or ethnic background.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_9

Baroness Helic:To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard the United National Security Council Resolution 2736 on 13 June 2024 calling for an end to the siege of El Fasher, and the statement by the Foreign Secretary on 13 August condemning the atrocities by the Rapid Support Forces, what steps they are taking (1) to ensure the safe delivery of food and medical supplies to civilians, (2) to press for accountability for sexual and gender-based violence identified by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, and (3) to strengthen the Sudan sanctions regime, including measures to curb the supply of arms, drones and mercenaries. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The crimes committed in Sudan demand accountability. This is why, as a member of the Human Rights Council Core Group for Sudan, the UK led the establishment of the UN Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) in October 2023. We are currently working with partners to secure an extension to its mandate in October. The FFM is essential if the facts concerning alleged violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law are to be thoroughly investigated. This year, the UK is also supporting the deployment of a specialist sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) investigator to the FMM. This contribution ensures expert input on SGBV to strengthen accountability for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Sudan. Beyond the UN, the UK strongly supports the International Criminal Court's ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, including SGBV and CRSV.

As UN Security Council (UNSC) penholder on Sudan we have negotiated products calling for all member states to abide by their obligations under the Darfur arms embargo, first imposed in July 2004. This month, we worked closely with the US and UNSC members to renew the UNSC arms embargo regime. The UK proposed language to strengthen the regime, expressing concern about conflict related sexual violence (CRSV). This was incorporated into the text, and the resolution was subsequently adopted by consensus. As a permanent member of the UNSC, the UK also supported the imposition of UN sanctions on two Rapid Support Forces (RSF) generals for their crimes against civilians in Darfur in November 2024. In addition, there is a longstanding UK arms embargo in place for the whole of Sudan. Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, the UK has also frozen the assets of nine commercial entities linked to the warring parties. Although we do not speculate on future sanctions designations as it would undermine their effectiveness, our sanctions policy is continually under review.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_10

Lord Oates:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review their relationship with the government of Zimbabwe in the light of the bomb attack on the home of the opposition politician Job Sikhala. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK is concerned about the alleged use of explosives to target the home of Zimbabwean opposition politician Job Sikhala on 30 August and is closely monitoring the ongoing police investigation. UK officials have spoken to Mr Sikhala following the incident. The UK is committed to maintaining a constructive dialogue with Zimbabwe; UK ministers and officials regularly engage with the Zimbabwean authorities on a wide range of issues, including the security situation.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_11

Baroness Helic:To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the Foreign Secretary’s letter to the International Development Committee regarding arms exports to Israel dated 1 September, what steps they are taking in accordance with the United Kingdom’s obligations under Article I of the Genocide Convention to prevent genocide where there is a serious risk. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: I refer the noble Baroness to the responses I gave on this matter in the house on 18th September.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_12

Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government what has been the cost in the year to date of their contribution by way of donation of food, or money to purchase food, to alleviate starvation in Gaza. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: On 21 July, the UK announced £60 million in humanitarian aid this financial year, with a further £15 million of humanitarian support announced on 1 September, to support the provision of healthcare, food and water. All allocations of our Humanitarian Programme are available publicly on Development Tracker. We call for Israel to immediately allow the unrestricted flow of aid into Gaza, enabling food, medical supplies and fuel to reach those in desperate need.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_13

Baroness Deech:To ask His Majesty's Government what support and methods of assistance they are offering to victims of the earthquake in Afghanistan in the light of a prohibition on contact between male rescuers and female victims. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: We have released £4 million in emergency funding to deliver critical healthcare and emergency supplies to those affected by the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan. These funds are channelled through the UN, Red Cross and non-governmental organisations with a track record of delivery in the affected area. Our funding includes support for mobile health teams, essential hygiene items for women, maternal care and psychological support to address the most acute needs of women and girls. Reports from partners indicate aid is reaching those most at need and we continue to monitor to ensure support is accessible for all vulnerable women and girls and that women can play a full role in the response. The needs and priorities of women and girls are at the core of the UK's humanitarian response and we are committed to ensuring that at least 50 per cent of people reached by UK aid in Afghanistan are women and girls.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_14

Lord Dodds of Duncairn:To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Iran about the increasing targeting of religious minorities, including reports of unlawful deaths, arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances; and what steps they are taking to ensure protection for religious minorities across Iran. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK strongly condemns the repression of religious minorities in Iran. On 18 March, the UK highlighted the continued systematic targeting and repression of religious minorities at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). We were integral to the delivery of a UNHRC resolution on human rights in Iran on 3 April, which renewed and expanded the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission on Iran to investigate a wider breadth of violations, and to establish the facts, circumstances and structural causes of such violations, including discrimination on grounds of religion or belief. On 23 April, the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, hosted an event in Parliament on Freedom of Religion or Belief violations in Iran in partnership with Open Doors and Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Our Ambassador in Iran and the Foreign Secretary continue to raise human rights directly with the Iranian government.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_15

Baroness Whitaker:To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Qatar about the sentencing of the chair of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is, Remy Rowhani; and what steps they are taking to ensure the promotion of religious freedom in that country. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK encourages all states to uphold their international human rights obligations. As part of Qatar's Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in November 2024, the UK called on Qatar to adopt legislation to ensure non-discrimination on the grounds of disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, or belief.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-26)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-26 conversation_16

Lord Roberts of Llandudno:To ask His Majesty's Government how many chemical weapon attacks took place in Syria under Bashar al-Assad's rule. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: Independent international investigations mandated by the UN Security Council and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have confirmed that the Assad regime used chemical weapons at least nine times against its own people after Syria joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013, including chlorine and sarin nerve agent.