theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_6

Baroness Pidgeon:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of smart motorways in terms of road safety; and whether further remedial works are planned on converted smart motorways. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: This Government takes road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads.

The latest published safety data (covering 2017 to 2021) shows that overall, in terms of serious or fatal casualties, smart motorways remain the safest roads on the Strategic Road Network. National Highways continues to take action to improve safety, including the roll out of more than 150 additional Emergency Areas on the network, which is due to complete by end of March.

We continue to work with the Office for Rail and Road (ORR) to assess the effectiveness of safety systems in place on smart motorways, with further reporting due in Spring.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_7

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government how much medical aid and assistance they have provided to Gaza and the West Bank since the start of the current conflict there, beyond what they have provided through UNRWA. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK has now announced £112 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories this financial year, including £41 million for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), providing vital services to civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Palestinian refugees across the region delivered through partner agencies. This includes healthcare delivery. As part of this total, since July 2024 we have announced £5.5 million for UK-Med to operate field hospitals in Gaza, £6 million for UNICEF to support vulnerable families in Gaza by restoring water supply and sanitation systems, in addition to £1 million to support the Egyptian Ministry of Health to care for medically evacuated Palestinians, and £6 million to both United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the World Food Programme to support lifesaving health, food, water, sanitation and protection services for Palestinians. Our funding to UK-Med has allowed them to treat over 300,000 people since the start of the conflict.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_8

Baroness Northover:To ask His Majesty's Government what are their priorities for combating global activism against sexual and reproductive health and rights. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK government is proud to defend and promote universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including safe abortion. In the face of increasing anti-SRHR activism we will harness UK political leadership and strategic funding to elevate the voices of those most marginalised in the global south, convene and coordinate likeminded and non-traditional partners and protect SRHR from rollback at both global and national levels.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_9

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential implications for Syrian Christians and other vulnerable minorities of removing Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham from the UK’s list of proscribed terrorist organisations. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is proscribed in the UK, having been added as an alias of Al-Qaeda in 2017. We will judge HTS by their actions and continue to monitor closely how they and other parties to this conflict treat all civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, in areas they control. The FCDO has consistently underlined the importance of protecting religious minorities publicly and in our engagement with the interim Syrian authorities, regional and international partners. We will continue to advocate for the right of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Syria and for an inclusive political transition.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_10

Lord Moylan:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in response to reports of a recent raid of the Zion Church in Beijing and the arrest of Elder Qin Guoliang by Chinese authorities on 20 October 2024; and what steps they are taking in response to the persecution of unregistered churches in China and the continued crackdown on religious freedoms. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The environment for freedom of religion or belief in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Christians. This government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary both raised human rights recently with their counterparts, President Xi and Foreign Minister Wang respectively. More broadly, this government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_11

Lord Patten:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the effects of long-term sickness among civil servants on the delivery of public services. \p Baroness Twycross: The Civil Service provides its employees with a comprehensive range of health and wellbeing tools and policies to ensure that employees remain in work or return to work as quickly as possible following absence due to ill health. In addition, since 2022, the Government People Group has worked with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the professional body for HR, and the Joint Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health and Social Care Work and Health Directorate, to benchmark the Civil Service approach to long term sickness for its employees, and ensure it is aligned to best practice.

Individual departments are responsible for managing their own workforces, including the impact of any sickness absences to ensure the effective delivery of the public services it is responsible for.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_12

Lord Blunkett:To ask His Majesty's Government how many of the recipients of honours in the New Year's Honours List 2025 have already received recognition in previous honours lists. \p Baroness Twycross: There are currently 63 living recipients of the Companion of Honour. Data is collected using the region that the recipient gave as their correspondence address when the honour was originally awarded, therefore current address data for recipients prior to the New Year Honours 2025 round is not held. In the New Years Honours 2025 list, there was 1 Companion of Honour awarded to a recipient in the London region.

Statistical information held in relation to the regional breakdown of recipients at all levels for the King’s New Year Honours List 2025 can be found below. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal point. Data for CBE and higher levels has been aggregated and is also included below. Data reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients.

Data is collected using city/town and county, then aggregated into regional figures at the time that the recipients were sounded for an award, not when they were originally nominated. There were 17 individuals who noted their location as South Yorkshire in the New Year Honours 2025 List, none of which were above OBE level. There were 11 individuals who noted their location as Sheffield, none of which were above OBE level.

Information on the number of nominations by mayoral authority in South Yorkshire is not captured, as we are unable to break down the data in that way. However, of those who listed their location as South Yorkshire, 1 individual received an award above MBE level.

56 recipients of honours in the New Year's Honours List 2025 received recognition in previous honours lists.

This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.

Transparency data for the list by county, the level of award received and the service for which each recipient has been recognised, as well as information on recipients recognised in previous honours lists, is publicly available on gov.uk.

Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK, including South Yorkshire, in future honours lists.

Attachment (docx, 9.7KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_13

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 17 December 2024 (HL3234), and further to reports in the Greek media and comments by the Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, whether they will now answer the question put. \p Baroness Twycross: There is nothing further to add to my answer of 17 December 2024, Official Report, PQ HL3234.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_14

Lord Hain:To ask His Majesty's Government how many national public inquiries there have been since 2004; and what was the average (1) cost, (2) length, and (3) fee paid to the lawyers involved. \p Baroness Twycross: Since 2004, His Majesty’s Government has established 21 non-statutory inquiries, 24 statutory inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005, and one inquiry under other legislation, on a broad range of subject matters. 30 of the total 46 inquiries have formally completed. Several of these statutory inquiries had previously been established as non-statutory inquiries or inquests.

The length of completed inquiries in this period ranges from 1 to 99 months, and published costs vary significantly from between £0.2m and £194m. The Cabinet Office does not centrally hold data on legal costs. Further information can be found on inquiry and departmental websites and in the National Archives.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_15

Lord Blunkett:To ask His Majesty's Government what are the current geographic locations, where known, for the residences of all living recipients of Companions of Honour. \p Baroness Twycross: There are currently 63 living recipients of the Companion of Honour. Data is collected using the region that the recipient gave as their correspondence address when the honour was originally awarded, therefore current address data for recipients prior to the New Year Honours 2025 round is not held. In the New Years Honours 2025 list, there was 1 Companion of Honour awarded to a recipient in the London region.

Statistical information held in relation to the regional breakdown of recipients at all levels for the King’s New Year Honours List 2025 can be found below. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal point. Data for CBE and higher levels has been aggregated and is also included below. Data reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients.

Data is collected using city/town and county, then aggregated into regional figures at the time that the recipients were sounded for an award, not when they were originally nominated. There were 17 individuals who noted their location as South Yorkshire in the New Year Honours 2025 List, none of which were above OBE level. There were 11 individuals who noted their location as Sheffield, none of which were above OBE level.

Information on the number of nominations by mayoral authority in South Yorkshire is not captured, as we are unable to break down the data in that way. However, of those who listed their location as South Yorkshire, 1 individual received an award above MBE level.

56 recipients of honours in the New Year's Honours List 2025 received recognition in previous honours lists.

This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.

Transparency data for the list by county, the level of award received and the service for which each recipient has been recognised, as well as information on recipients recognised in previous honours lists, is publicly available on gov.uk.

Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK, including South Yorkshire, in future honours lists.

Attachment (docx, 9.7KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_16

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 23 December 2024 (HL3397), what is the evidential basis for the answer given; and by whom, when, and at what cost to the public purse was the analysis which gave rise to it expedited and completed. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The disproportionate cost threshold is used by Government departments to determine whether the transparency benefits of answering a particular question can justify costs involved in retrieving the requested information. The current disproportionate cost threshold is £850, calculated at 140% of the Freedom of Information Act cost limit, currently £600, to the nearest £50.

Upon receipt of the previous Parliamentary Question (PQ) on this issue, the Home Office team primarily responsible for decisions of this nature (Status Review Unit) carefully considered the time and administrative resource it would take to retrieve the information requested. It was considered that a manual review of every decision to revoke (or cancel) a person's visa, between 7 October 2023 and the date of the PQ, would be required to retrieve the information. Taking account of the volume of decisions involved, it was concluded that this action would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_17

Baroness Coussins:To ask His Majesty's Government why a visa requirement for Columbian nationals travelling to the United Kingdom was reintroduced in November 2024. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: A visit visa requirement for Colombian nationals was reintroduced on 26 November 2024 due to the significant and sustained increase in individuals travelling to the UK for reasons other than those permitted under the Immigration Rules for Visitors following the lifting of the visa requirement in November 2022. In particular, there was a significant increase in Colombian nationals claiming asylum, with more asylum claims in every quarter of 2023 and 2024 than in the entire 10 years preceding the visa lift. Full reasons for the reintroduction of the visa requirement were provided in the Explanatory Memorandum to the changes in the Immigration Rules on 26 November 2024. This also set out details of the visa-free transition period for Colombian nationals holding travel bookings to the UK made prior to the reintroduction of the visa requirement.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_18

Lord Grocott:To ask His Majesty's Government which organisations are currently designated as terrorist organisations by (1) the UN Security Council, and (2) the United Kingdom. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: There are a number of organisations designated as terrorist organisations by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1267, ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions. A list of these is publicly available at the UK Sanctions List.

UN Sanctions List: scsanctions.un.org/pnz54en-all.html

UK Sanctions List: docs.fcdo.gov.uk/docs/UK-Sanctions-List.html

The list of proscribed organisations is publicly available on the GOV.uk website and was last updated in April 2024. 81 terrorist organisations are currently proscribed in the UK under the Terrorism Act 2000, with an additional 14 Northern Ireland related terrorist organisations proscribed under preceding legislation.

The information requested is available at this link: Proscribed terrorist groups or organisations - GOV.UK
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_19

Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government when the Defending Democracy Taskforce last met. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Defending Democracy Taskforce has met twice since the general election - on 25 July and 27 November 2024. It has reflected on last year's elections and is now taking forward a programme of work to ensure lessons are learned.

This includes work to tackle the unacceptable instances of harassment and intimidation of our elected representatives.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_20

Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government who attends the meetings of the Defending Democracy Taskforce. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Taskforce is made up of Government departments, ministers, operational leaders, and senior officials and brings together HMG's work on defending democracy to ensure we take a whole-of-Government response to the threats we face.

Ministerial members are:

· Minister of Security - The Home Office

· Parliamentary Secretary - The Cabinet Office

· Minister for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety - Department for Science Innovation & Technology

· Minister for Skills - Department for Education

· Minister for Media and Data - Department for Culture Media and Sport

· Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories - Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Minister for Homelessness and Democracy - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_21

Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government what is the budget for the Defending Democracy Taskforce. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Taskforce, chaired by the Security Minister, brings Government Ministers together with operational partners so that we take a whole-of-Government response to the threats we face.

The Taskforce, coordinated by a small dedicated Secretariat, draws on expertise and skills from across Government departments. The resources for the Taskforce's work, as well as related costs, are based in member departments. Each department is responsible for delivery of their respective policy issues.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_22

Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government what support UK political parties have received through the Defending Democracy Taskforce. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Since the Taskforce was established in November 2022 it has driven forward work to ensure the UK's democratic institutions and processes are safe and secure from threats to democracy. Supporting political parties is a key part of this.

This work includes:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_23

Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government how many times the Defending Democracy Taskforce has met since it was established in 2022. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Defending Democracy Taskforce has met 19 times since it was convened in November 2022 (inclusive).
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_24

Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government how the Defending Democracy Taskforce (1) has protected, and (2) continues to protect, UK political parties. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Defending Democracy Taskforce is an enduring Government function which seeks to reduce the risk to the UK's democratic processes, institutions and society. This includes supporting political parties and others participating in our political processes.

This work includes:

· Ahead of the last General Election, the Joint Election Preparedness Unit provided political parties with security advice and guidance, including on protective and information security which was made available on gov.uk. This guidance was jointly developed drawing on expertise from across the Government security community including the National Protective Security Authority and the National Cyber Security Centre.

· More broadly, the National Cyber Security Centre invests a significant amount of resources into defending the UK's democratic processes and improving the UK's cyber resilience, from attributing malicious cyber activity conducted by nation states through to providing bespoke advice and guidance to political parties and elected representatives.

· Protective Security advice and guidance have been provided to all MPs by the House, the police, and the Parliamentary Security Department.

The Taskforce will take every possible step to safeguard the people, processes, and institutions - including political parties - upon which our democracy relies.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_25

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist businesses in addressing any difficulties with the General Product Safety Regulations. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: The updated GPSR largely formalises the reality of how many businesses are already operating and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. However, we understand that for some businesses, the regulation will require changes, and we take any concerns extremely seriously.

We have issued guidance, will keep this under review and continue to engage businesses directly to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely within the UK and with the EU. We have regular discussions with businesses and consumer representatives from across the UK to hear their concerns.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_26

Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to give power to the Welsh Government to restructure the civil service in Wales to create an integrated public service. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The Government’s commitments on further devolution were outlined in our manifesto. We have no plans to devolve powers over the civil service to Wales.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_27

Lord Caine:To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is the policy of the Advocate General for Northern Ireland to recuse himself from discussions of any issue in Northern Ireland which may directly or indirectly involve any of his former clients. \p Lord Hermer: I am the Government’s chief legal adviser but, by long-standing convention, the fact that I, or a fellow Law Officer, may have advised or not advised, and the content of our advice, is not disclosed outside government, as is reflected in the Ministerial Code.

This is a long-standing policy observed by successive governments. It is also an important legal principle, as confirmed by the Bar Council, that “barristers do not choose their clients, nor do they associate themselves with their clients’ opinions or behaviour by virtue of representing them”.

Law Officers, by their experience and professional nature will sometimes have an extensive legal background and may have previously been involved in a wide number of past cases. That is why there is a robust system for considering and managing any conflicts that may arise, in line with the professional obligations of lawyers.

There is the established process on ministerial declarations, with previous employment and interests having been published for the public record. In general, there has always been an established rigorous system in place within the Attorney General’s Office to ensure that a Law Officer would not be consulted on any matter that could give rise to a potential conflict of interest. This system sits alongside the declaration of interest system overseen by the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.

If a Law Officer publicly confirmed specific matters where they were recused, this would likely disclose that the other Law Officer was therefore giving advice or infer that legal advice had been requested by the Government on a specific matter, which would risk a breach of the Law Officers’ Convention. In addition, a lawyer cannot breach a client’s confidentiality in relation to advisory work that had previously not been made public so this would limit the ability of a Law Officer to publish in full their previous caseload and conflicts schedule. In that regard, I have been through the same process as previous Law Officers, none of which have gone as far to proactively disclose their specific conflicts of interest for the reasons set out above.

As I set out to the Justice Select Committee (15 January 2025), I confirmed that as a private barrister prior to my appointment as Attorney General, I represented Gerry Adams on an issue unconnected to the Legacy Act.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_28

Lord Mawson:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what was the cost of the construction of the new door at Peers Entrance. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: For security reasons, the Houses do not publish capital expenditure on security mitigating projects as providing this level of detail could enable an individual to infer the extent and nature of the works, and thus the vulnerabilities which they were intended to mitigate.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_29

Lord Mawson:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what are the staffing costs of manning the new door at Peers Entrance each year. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Staffing costs for Peers' Entrance cannot be disaggregated separately. However, they will not increase as a result of the installation of the new door at Peers Entrance.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_30

Lord Mawson:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether the new door at Peers Entrance is fully accessible for those in wheelchairs and with disabilities. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The new entrance is fully accessible to wheelchair users and mobility impaired users. The installations meet requirements set out by the Building Regulations approved document M.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_31

Lord Mawson:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether the glass in the new door at Peers Entrance is bullet proof. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: For security reasons we do not publicly disclose details of Parliament’s security arrangements.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_32

Lord Mawson:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what use is made of Peers Entrance in plans for any urgent evacuation of the parliamentary estate, and whether it is intended to be used as an evacuation point for those with disabilities. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The emergency exit and evacuation procedures have not been altered by the recent works at Peers’ Entrance.

Peers’ Entrance is not a designated evacuation route or assembly area, including for those with disabilities.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_33

Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government how they are ensuring that digital inclusion is a core consideration, where relevant, when updating existing or delivering new policies across all government departments. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: Digital inclusion is a priority for this Government. It means ensuring that everyone has the access, skills, support and confidence to participate in our modern digital society, whatever their circumstances. Work is ongoing to develop our approach to tackling digital exclusion and coordinating across government departments continues to be a core part of this work. We hope to say more on this soon.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_34

Lord Colgrain:To ask His Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of the executive boards of the 13 Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations. \p Lord Coaker: The estimated annual projected costs to the Ministry of Defence of the 145 volunteers who are members of an executive board, i.e. the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCA) Executive Boards, the Council of Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (CRFCA) and the CRFCA Board, is a maximum of approximately £45,000.

This estimate is based on 100 per cent of the volunteers claiming 100 per cent of their travel and subsistence costs. In reality, the actual cost of expenditure claims associated with RFCA Executive Boards is likely to be far lower; a number of RFCAs report nil cost. The vast majority of active members make no claims, reflecting their sense of service and deep connection with the UK’s Reserve Forces and Cadets.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_35

Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to BBC Northern Ireland after it described the Special Air Service in an article published on 11 January as “one of the British Army's most infamous regiments”. \p Lord Coaker: While I am unable to comment on UK Special Forces specifically, I can say that our military is respected worldwide for the highest standards of conduct and excellence on operations.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_36

Lord West of Spithead:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether use of dry docks in Gibraltar shipyard could ease present and future docking bottlenecks. \p Lord Coaker: The docking capacity to undertake upkeep on Submarines and Warships is the subject of ongoing analysis as part of the Royal Navy's planning process, the Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) Programme is an integral part of this.

While the dry dock facilities in Gibraltar have recently been used for maintenance of Offshore Patrol Vessels, there is no current plan or policy for the use of Gibraltar in commercial arrangements in the future. The facilities will generally be utilised when there is a specific operational or commercial need.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_37

Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government how many anti-depressant prescriptions were prescribed to patients under the age of 19 by (1) psychiatrists, (2) general practitioners, and (3) other medical specialists, in each year since 2015. \p Baroness Merron: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) does not hold data on anti-depressant prescriptions authorised by psychiatrists specifically, but does hold data for the following three categories: hospital prescriber; general practitioner prescriber; and additional prescriber.

This answer is based on the information extracted from the NHSBSA’s ePACT2 database, using British National Formulary section 0403 for antidepressant drugs, prescribed in England.

The following table shows the total number of prescriptions for antidepressant items prescribed to patients aged 18 years old and under, by prescriber type, for the financial years 2015 to 2024, and the financial year to date for 2024/25, from April to October:

Financial year

General practitioner prescriber

Hospital prescriber

Additional prescriber including non-medical prescriber

Total items

2015/16

515,803

8,737

8,873

533,413

2016/17

551,901

6,143

11,056

569,100

2017/18

580,772

5,853

14,254

600,879

2018/19

611,785

7,150

17,681

636,616

2019/20

640,218

11,832

23,367

675,417

2020/21

648,252

11,334

30,274

689,860

2021/22

702,546

12,975

33,895

749,416

2022/23

720,132

16,917

36,994

774,043

2023/24

692,467

20,393

38,775

751,635

2024/25

384,561

14,755

24,381

423,697
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_38

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how video games can benefit dementia patients by (1) slowing the decline of brain neurons through keeping the brain active, and (2) monitoring progress in the games to identify cognitive decline. \p Baroness Merron: As of yet, there has been no assessment made on the impact that video gaming can have in slowing down the impact of dementia for those living with the disease.

Through partnerships with patients, researchers, funders, and charities, the Government continues to play a significant role in the global efforts against the disease. The United Kingdom has established a rich ecosystem for dementia research.

The Government’s Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme, formerly known as the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission, is investing in innovations in biomarkers, clinical trials, and implementation. Some of these innovations could support earlier diagnosis in the future, if validated for clinical use.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline on the assessment, Dementia: assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers, provides authoritative, evidence-based guidance for healthcare professionals on best practice in the management of dementia.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_39
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_39

Lord Harris of Haringey:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the article "Mitigating the risks of antimicrobial failure", by Dr Wendy Thompson, Callum Wood and Professor Mike Bromley, published by the National Preparedness Commission on 6 September 2024; and what consideration they have given to adding to the national risk register scenarios about specific, acute antimicrobial resistance concerns, including the emergence of resistant strains of the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici. \p Baroness Merron: The 2024 to 2029 United Kingdom antimicrobial resistance (AMR) national action plan sets out challenging commitments and targets to confront the risk of AMR across the breadth of human, animal, and environmental health. The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs works closely with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, which monitors fungicide resistance development in cereal pathogens, to inform disease management strategies.

Whilst the 2023 National Risk Register classifies AMR as a chronic risk, the Government recognises the potential for AMR to manifest acutely, for example, as an outbreak of a resistant bacterial or fungal infection. The Department of Health and Social Care commissioned the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to produce some realistic worst-case scenarios of the acute risks that AMR poses in the UK. The developed scenarios include bacterial and fungal pathogens and are based upon real-world experience. The UKHSA will now develop plans to use these scenarios to inform incident response and preparedness plans.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_41

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for appointing a specialist allergy nurse and dietitian in each Integrated Care System area. \p Baroness Merron: No assessment has been made of the potential merits of appointing a specialist allergy nurse and dietician in each integrated care system, in which integrated care boards make local decisions about how best to meet the needs of their populations, including for those with allergies.

Work is ongoing across Government, the National Health Service, voluntary organisations, and patient representative groups to consider how allergy care and support could be improved. The Expert Advisory Group for Allergy, which was established in 2023, met again in early December and continues to bring all key stakeholders together to inform policymaking and identify priorities in relation to the care of people with allergies.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention met the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation (NARF) and NHS England in December to discuss how allergy care and support could be improved, and to discuss the NARF’s calls for an allergy tsar who could act as a champion for people with allergies. The Department and NHS England are proactively considering the case for appointing a national lead for all allergy services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_42

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to align the use of chlorhexidine in healthcare and consumer products with the recommendation in the Joint Royal College of Surgeons of England and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Statement on use of Topical Chlorhexidine for Skin Preparation Prior to Surgery, calling for the use of licensed medicinal products over unregulated biocidal forms to prevent antimicrobial resistance and safeguard patient safety. \p Baroness Merron: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, as the regulator for medicines and medical devices in the United Kingdom, continues to recommend the use of licensed medicines to prepare the skin prior to surgery. Use of an appropriately authorised product for its specific intended use, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for use, is the only way to ensure the benefit-risk balance remains favourable.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_43

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with UEFA regarding the Football Governance Bill. \p Baroness Twycross: This Government, and the previous one, has engaged extensively with a wide range of stakeholders as the policy set out in the Football Governance Bill has developed over the last 3 years. This includes engagement with UEFA.

These discussions have been constructive, and we continue to speak to the relevant football authorities on a regular basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_44

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe:To ask the Leader of the House what was the average cost of responding to a Question for Written Answer tabled in the House of Lords in the most recent year for which figures are available. \p Baroness Smith of Basildon: The information requested is not held. The cost to the public purse of answering written parliamentary questions depends on numerous factors, including the size of parliamentary teams, volumes of parliamentary questions submitted, and the complexity of the question asked (and required policy work to answer it), amongst other factors.

The Cabinet Office’s Guide to Parliamentary Work (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work) sets out: “There is an advisory cost limit known as the disproportionate cost threshold which is the level above which departments can decide not to answer a written question. The current disproportionate cost threshold is £850.”
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_45

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure mortgage rates remain affordable for customers. \p Lord Livermore: The pricing of mortgages is a commercial decision for mortgage lenders in which the Government does not intervene.

At present, average mortgage rates are well below the recent peaks seen in Summer 2023 and Autumn 2022.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_46

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to introduce a zero rate of VAT for church repairs and renovation. \p Lord Livermore: The Government has no plans introduce a zero rate of VAT for church repairs and renovation.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax forecast to raise £171 billion in 2024/25. Taxation is a vital source of revenue that helps to fund vital public services.

Evidence suggests that businesses only partially pass on any savings from lower VAT rates. In some cases, reliefs do not represent good value for money, as there is no guarantee that savings will be passed on to consumers.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport administer the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. This provides grants towards VAT paid on repairs and maintenance to the nation's listed places of worship.

The Government keeps all tax policy under review, and any decisions on tax policy will be announced at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_47

Lord Rose of Monewden:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Bank of England Monthly Decision Maker Panel data for December 2024, which show that, of the businesses surveyed, 54 per cent expect to raise prices, 53 per cent expect lower employment, and 39 per cent expect to pay lower wages than they otherwise would have, following the increase in employer National Insurance contributions; and what action they plan to take as a result of that data. \p Lord Livermore: Business surveys provide an indication of the range of ways businesses might respond to the increase in employer NICs, which varies business to business. Overall, once the impact of all budget measures are taken into consideration, the OBR expect the employment level to increase from 33.1 million in 2024 to 34.3 million in 2029. Further details are set out in the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which was published in October 2024.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer; the economic impacts of the policy; and the impacts on individuals, businesses, civil society organisations and an overview of the equality impacts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_48

Lord Rogan:To ask His Majesty's Government why representatives of the UK media were refused permission to accompany the Chancellor of the Exchequer on her visit to China; and whether representatives of the government of China were consulted before this decision was made. \p Lord Livermore: The government is taking a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, rooted in UK. This means cooperating where we can, competing where we need to, and challenging where we must.

The Chancellor’s visit to China for the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue was consistent with this approach and was the UK’s first substantive engagement with China on nationally important economic and financial issues in five years. The Chancellor was accompanied by a small delegation as we looked to re-open dialogue and respectfully yet robustly strengthen our lines of communication.

The Chancellor took questions from journalists from UK and international media organisations while she was in Beijing and representatives of the government of China were aware of these plans before the fact.

The government published a press statement about the Chancellor’s visit on Saturday 11 January. [1.]

1 - UK Government, 11 January 2025. Chancellor marks £600m of secure growth for UK economy in Beijing. [Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-marks-600m-of-secure-growth-for-uk-economy-in-beijing]
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-21 conversation_49

Baroness Neville-Rolfe:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the rise in the yields on 30-year gilts to 5.38 per cent on future changes to taxation and public expenditure. \p Lord Livermore: The government does not comment on specific financial market movements. Gilt yields are determined by a wide range of international and domestic factors, and it is normal for the yields of gilts to fluctuate when there are wider movements in the global financial markets.

The Chancellor has commissioned the Office for Budget Responsibility for an updated economic and fiscal forecast for the 26th of March, which will incorporate the latest data.