theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_19

Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent manufacturing issues causing medicines shortages and to mitigate their impact. \p Baroness Merron: There are over 14,000 medicines and the majority are in good supply. While we can’t always prevent supply issues from occurring, we have a range of well-established processes and tools to manage them when they arise, to mitigate risks to patients. These include close and regular engagement with suppliers, use of alternative strengths or forms of a medicine to allow patients to remain on the same product, expediting regulatory procedures, sourcing unlicensed imports from abroad, adding products to the restricted exports and hoarding list, use of Serious Shortage Protocols, and issuing National Health Service communications to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients. Further information can be found in A guide to the systems and processes for managing medicines supply issues in England’.

The resilience of United Kingdom supply chains is a key priority, and we are continually learning and seeking to improve the way we work to both manage and help prevent supply issues and avoid shortages. The Department, working closely with NHS England, is taking forward a range of actions to improve our ability to mitigate and manage shortages and strengthen our resilience. These actions were set out in a policy paper published in August 2025, Managing a robust and resilient supply of medicines.

As part of that work, we continue to engage with industry, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and other colleagues across the supply chain as we progress work to co-design and deliver solutions. However, medicine shortages are a complex and global issue and everyone in the supply chain has a role to play in addressing them, and therefore continued action requires a collaborative approach.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_20

Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government how many fines they have issued in the past year for failure to report medicines shortages. \p Baroness Merron: Suppliers are legally responsible for reporting disruptions and discontinuations through the Health Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018 (the ‘Information Regulations’), this includes a provision that allows the Department to fine a company if they fail to report. To date the Department has not issued any fines.

Reporting of potential supply issues is critical, enabling the Department to complete a thorough risk assessment of the severity of the issue. Alongside legal requirements, the Department also has an online reporting tool, known as the Discontinuations and Shortages portal, launched in October 2020, which suppliers can use to notify the Department. When reporting issues are identified we work with companies to understand how we can help enable them to inform the Department of any future supply issues. While the majority of suppliers report disruption in a timely manner, not all do so, and this can impede our ability to mitigate patient risk. As part of our obligations under the ‘Information Regulations’, we regularly review and consider the need to amend provisions. We plan to consult on how to ensure we receive sufficient information to put in place effective mitigations for supply issues, and we will also be reviewing the penalties for not complying with legal reporting requirements to ensure that these support the timely reporting of supply issues.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_21

Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they are making in speeding up the approval and rollout of personalised cancer vaccines. \p Baroness Merron: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has completed a public consultation on its draft guideline on individualised mRNA cancer immunotherapies, a new type of personalised cancer treatment. These technologies use cutting-edge science such as artificial intelligence to design a medicine tailored to each patient’s unique tumour profile.

We received positive responses from across the life sciences community, the National Health Service, patient groups, academics, and international regulators. Feedback recognised the United Kingdom’s leadership in this area, while calling for greater clarity in some aspects of the guideline.

In response, we will refine the guideline to ensure regulatory expectations are clearly articulated, without hampering innovation. This will facilitate faster access to these promising new therapies, while upholding our standards of safety, quality, and efficacy. The final version of the guideline will be published in the coming months, with future updates anticipated as regulatory experience evolves in this rapidly developing field.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_22

Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government when post-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors sexual dysfunction (PSSD) was added as a yellow card reporting option; who requested it and why; and whether the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plans to update PSSD reports made before the addition of that option with the MedDRA code 10086208. \p Baroness Merron: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for ensuring medicines, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion meet applicable standards of safety, quality, and efficacy. The MHRA rigorously assesses available data, including from the Yellow Card scheme, and seeks advice from their independent advisory committee, the Commission on Human Medicines, where appropriate to inform regulatory decisions.

The MHRA uses the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) to code suspected adverse drug reactions reported by patients and healthcare professionals via the Yellow Card scheme. MedDRA is an international, clinically validated medical terminology used by regulatory authorities and the biopharmaceutical industry throughout the entire regulatory process, from pre-marketing to post-marketing safety monitoring. MedDRA is updated twice annually, and new terms can be proposed by any MedDRA users. The term Post Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) was added to MedDRA as a lower-level term in version 24.1 which was and implemented by the MHRA as a term available to users of the Yellow Card website in February 2022 as part of routine updates.

As part of current routine MHRA processes, Yellow Card reports are not recoded to reflect the changes in the reaction terms available but remain as reported with the terms selected by the original reporter.

As a lower-level term in MedDRA, PSSD is recorded if the reporter has specifically used this term at the time of the report, and since this term can include a wide range of symptoms it would not be appropriate to recode cases not reporting this specific term received prior to 2021. All Yellow Card reports received prior to the availability of PSSD as a MedDRA term will have the individual symptoms reported coded as MedDRA terms and available for signal detection and assessment processes.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_23

Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 19 September 2024 (HL968), why the Privacy Enhancing Technology data protection impact assessment has not been published, and when they plan to publish it. \p Baroness Merron: NHS England has recently completed a substantial update to the suite of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) relating to the Privacy Enhancing Technology (PET). These updates were necessary to ensure that the DPIAs reflect the latest technical developments and governance requirements.

These comprise: a Technical DPIA; a Local Operational DPIA; and a National Operational DPIA. NHS England is now undertaking the final stages of review and preparation to ensure that these documents meet all publication standards and accessibility requirements. It is anticipated that the updated PET DPIAs will be published in December 2025.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_24

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to issue guidance to the NHS on single sex changing rooms and hospital wards. \p Baroness Merron: NHS England is currently reviewing its Delivering same-sex accommodation guidance and will ensure that it reflects the Supreme Court’s For Women Scotland Ltd v. The Scottish Ministers ruling, and is aligned with the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s statutory Code of Practice (the Code) when that becomes available.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has submitted its draft updated Code to the Minister for Women and Equalities. The Government will consider the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Minister will lay it before Parliament. Parliament will then have a 40-day period to consider the Code.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_25

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish abortion statistics in England and Wales for (1) 2023, and (2) 2024; if so, when; and, if not, why not. \p Baroness Merron: The Department does intend to publish abortion statistics in England and Wales for 2023 and 2024. The publication dates for these statistics have not yet been announced.

Publication of the 2023 statistics is provisionally planned for winter 2025/26. We will announce the exact dates for publication of the 2023 and, later, 2024 data in due course.

The statistics have been delayed due to several operational issues. These include issues associated with moving to a new data processing system and an increase in the number of paper abortion notification forms to process.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_26

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish an updated version of the Department for Health and Social Care guidance on completing the EMA1 abortion form or similar certificate to reflect any potential uncertainty in the opinion of the medical practitioner as to the patients’ gestation period where an in-person consultation has not taken place. \p Baroness Merron: The Department keeps guidance on completing the EMA1 abortion form under review. There are currently no plans to update the guidance.

The medical practitioner terminating the pregnancy is required to form an opinion in good faith that the gestation of the pregnancy will be below 10 weeks at the time the first pill is taken. This opinion can be formed either during a teleconsultation, or an in-person appointment.

Pregnancy duration can be assessed from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). Advice from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is clear that most women can determine the duration of their pregnancy with reasonable accuracy by LMP alone.

However, if there is any uncertainty about the gestation of the pregnancy, the medical practitioner would ask the woman to attend an in-person appointment to enable them to form an opinion that the pregnancy will not have exceeded 10 weeks at the time the first abortion pill is taken. If she does not attend in-person when requested, the terminating practitioner would not be able to form an opinion in good faith that the pregnancy is below 10 weeks gestation, and therefore would not be able to prescribe abortion pills for home use.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_27

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government how not collecting data, through the Abortion Notification System and hospital episode statistics, on complications arising from at-home medical abortions after the patient’s discharge from the care of the abortion service accords with the commitment to collect empirical data to improve women’s health outcomes outlined in the Women’s Health Strategy for England. \p Baroness Merron: The Women’s Health Strategy sets out our ambitions to make better use of data already collected, and to address gaps in women’s health data to improve women’s health outcomes.

The Department routinely publishes data on abortion complications reported via the Abortion Notification System (ANS). The ANS collects information on complications that occur up until the time of discharge for all abortions, and where the medicine was administered for medical abortions.

The Department has published a one-time analysis exploring whether Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) can be used as a supplementary source for data on abortion complications. The HES data in the publication includes abortion complications arising from any abortion which resulted in an inpatient admission. The publication found that abortion complications are recorded differently in HES compared to the ANS and there are different strengths and limitations associated with using either data source. The Department has no plans to publish a separate annual report on abortion complications.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_28

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Merron on 12 November (HL Deb col 254), what was the specific evidence base for saying that "The data available does not point to concerns about the provision of telemedicine". \p Baroness Merron: Abortions are generally very safe, and most women will not experience any complications. The evidence-base for home use of early medical abortion pills has been assessed by leading statutory and professional organisations and it is recognised to be a safe procedure in evidence-based guidance, including the World Health Organisation’s abortion care guideline, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 2022 report on best practice in abortion care, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s clinical guidelines on abortion care.

The Abortion Notification System (ANS) collects information on complications that occur up until the time of discharge for all abortions, and where the medicine was administered for medical abortions. Since 2015, there has been a marginal downward trend in complication rates reported in the ANS. In 2022, complications were reported in only 0.12% of abortions.

The Department continues to work with NHS England, the Care Quality Commission, and abortion providers to ensure that women have safe and timely access to abortion services as decided by Parliament.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_29

Earl Howe:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to raise awareness among the medical profession and the public of polycystic ovary syndrome. \p Baroness Merron: The Government acknowledges that women suffering with gynaecological conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome, have been failed for far too long.

As set out in the 2022 Women’s Health Strategy, women's health is included in the Royal College of General Practitioners’ (RCGP) curriculum for trainee general practitioners (GPs), including gynaecology. This ensures that all future GPs receive education on women’s health.

The RCGP has also published a Women’s Health Library which brings together educational resources and guidelines on women’s health from the RCGP, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the College of Sexual and Reproductive Health. This resource is continually updated to ensure GPs and other primary healthcare professionals have the most up-to-date advice to provide the best care for their patients.

On the 15 July, the Department for Education published the revised Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (RSHE) statutory guidance.

This revised guidance emphasises the importance of ensuring that pupils have a comprehensive understanding of women’s health topics, including at primary school level, while also stipulating that secondary school RSHE lessons should cover menstrual and gynaecological health, covering aspects such as what is an average period and polycystic ovary syndrome, and including when to seek help from healthcare professionals.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_30

Lord Carlile of Berriew:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reduction in Competition Appeal Tribunal filings from 17 in 2023 to 3 in 2025 to date; and what assessment have they made of economic impact on jobs, investment, and growth in the UK’s legal services sector as a result of this reduction. \p Baroness Lloyd of Effra: Collective actions before the Competition Appeal Tribunal provide an important route to redress for consumers that have suffered as a result of anti-competitive behaviour and play a key role in the wider competition enforcement landscape. Truly competitive markets are to the benefit of consumers, businesses, and the wider UK economy.

The operation and impact of the opt-out collective actions regime is currently subject to review, with a call for evidence having closed on 14 October 2025. Responses are currently being considered, and a consultation will be brought forward in due course once options for improvement have been identified.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_31
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_31

Baroness Janke:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential role of Marwan Barghouti in any future reconciliation process or peace negotiations. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer given in the House of Commons on 21 October in response to Question 80474, which I have reproduced below for ease of reference:

The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities and continue to raise this with the Israeli government as a priority. The UK reaffirms our support for the ICRC as the only humanitarian actor with the experience, capability, independence and mandate to carry out their important responsibilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to detainees to deliver on their independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_32

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the flow and quantity of humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies, being sent into Gaza. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I provided on 24 October to Question HL10829.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_33

The Earl of Clancarty:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 11 November (HL Deb col 141), what plans they have for the form of modernisation at the British Council. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 24 June 2025 to Question HL8297.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_34

Lord Gold:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with allies, including the United States of America, to ensure that violence perpetrated by Hamas in Gaza does not spread; what steps they are taking with allies to prevent the spread of that violence; and what assessment they have made of how the assertion of control by Hamas aligns with the ceasefire agreement. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given on 21 October to question HL10148.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_35

Lord Black of Brentwood:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have reviewed the effectiveness of disqualification orders made under section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in cases involving sexual offences against animals. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Government is committed to protecting animal welfare and ensuring those who abuse animals are held to account. Disqualification orders under section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 were reviewed as part of the Post‑legislative assessment of the Act, which concluded it was operating as intended and strengthening enforcement powers. There are no plans to review their effectiveness specifically in cases involving sexual offences against animals
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_36

Lord Randall of Uxbridge:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the highly pathogen avian influenza risk that released gamebirds pose to (1) wild birds outside of special protection areas, (2) poultry, (3) mammal livestock, and (4) wild mammals, in England. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Defra, in conjunction with Welsh Government and Scottish Government, commissioned a risk assessment from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), to further understand the impact game bird releases have on transmission of avian influenza in wild birds, and between wild birds and kept birds in periods of higher than usual levels of avian influenza. This risk assessment is published on gov.uk as part of the ‘Animal diseases: international and UK monitoring’ collection.

Furthermore, a risk assessment of the likely transmission of Avian Influenza from Livestock to Humans was undertaken by Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group, and concluded that the probability of infection in the UK population is considered very low.

This assessment has informed disease controls. During outbreaks, there are controls on the release of game birds in areas of known high risk. The release of game birds is not permitted in any avian influenza disease control zone, nor are game bird releases permitted while an avian influenza prevention zone, including mandatory housing measures, is in force.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_37

Lord Randall of Uxbridge:To ask His Majesty's Government how much they have spent on (1) compensation, (2) disinfection of premises, and (3) other costs, associated with avian flu outbreaks at (a) poultry, and (b) game, farms in the 2024–25 season. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Please see costs for the Avian Flu outbreaks in the 2024–25 season (1 October 2024 – 30 September 2025).

Outbreak Year 2024 - 25

England

Scotland

Wales

Total

Compensation

£19,368,932.22

£290,770.66

£262,798.64

£19,922,501.52

Poultry Culling

£4,468,075

£88,230

£156,584

£4,712,889

Transport & Disposal

£1,185,486

£17,330

£20,744

£1,223,560

Valuation

£18,480

£50

£2,793

£21,323

Carcase Pick-up

£1,486,783

£24,120

£0

£1,510,903

Plant & Equipment Hire

£1,220,000

£1,220,000

APHA Additional Staffing Costs

£1,535,702

£1,535,702

Total

£29,160,312

£129,730

£180,121

£30,146,879

Note:

I. The costs to His Majesty's Government are for England total, as Devolved Governments recharged costs.

II. The figures do not include:

o the split between poultry and game because data is not disaggregated by these categories

o the split between disinfection and other costs because data is not disaggregated by these categories

III. It is possible that some of these costs will change as there may be late submissions of invoices and some data are subject to review and audit.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_38

The Earl of Caithness:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to increase ring-fenced funding for translational research on biologicals and biopesticides to generate robust evidence on their efficacy. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Defra is funding the Biopesticides Innovation Research Network (BIRCH) led by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH).

This network will act as a focal point between researchers, industry, regulators and policy and will work to develop advice to support the registration and risk assessment of biopesticides. The network will engage with EU organisations and at the international level to share knowledge and encourage alignment between relevant groups and projects.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_39
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_39

The Earl of Caithness:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to introduce a distinct regulatory pathway for the approval and use of biological control agents and biopesticides in crop protection to accelerate their uptake in place of harmful broad-spectrum chemical pesticides. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Improving access to low risk biopesticides for farmers, growers and other land managers is a priority for this Government – as set out in the UK Pesticides National Action Plan, published this year.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which regulates the approval, authorisation and use of biopesticides in the UK runs a biopesticide scheme to support companies seeking to market biopesticides in the UK. Support provided through the scheme includes dedicated HSE biopesticide champions, free pre-submission advice, and capped fees for biopesticide active substance approval.

In May this year the government set out its intention to establish a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) area with the EU, by way of an SPS Agreement. Pesticides regulations are in scope of the SPS agreement. As set out in the EU Vision for Agriculture and its recent SPS Omnibus Package Call for Evidence, the EU shares our aim to improve access to biopesticides. We welcome the EU’s review of regulatory barriers to innovation and, look forward to working collaboratively to deliver our shared aims.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_40

Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that achieving clean and quality air is embedded in all legislation. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Government is committed to further improving air quality to unlock benefits for public health, the environment and the economy.

The environmental principles policy statement sets out how ministers should interpret and proportionately apply the principles, so that they are used effectively to shape policy to protect the environment. Environment refers to the natural environment as set out in [section 44 of] the Environment Act 2021, which includes air.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_41

Baroness Buscombe:To ask His Majesty's Government how many illegal immigrants who left asylum hotels in the past 5 years have not since been accounted for. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Home Secretary has set out the most sweeping changes to our asylum system in a generation to restore order and control to our borders.

This includes speeding up removals of illegal migrants from the UK – with almost 50,000 people removed since July 2024.

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/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_42
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_42

Baroness Buscombe:To ask His Majesty's Government how many convicted foreign nationals awaiting deportation have been released from HMP Huntercombe in the last 2 years owing to the Home Office's failure to provide the necessary deportation documents on time. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Foreign national offenders (FNOs) are referred to the Home Office for deportation immediately following sentencing. The timeliness of criminal court proceedings and extensive periods on remand means many prisoners will reach their Early Removal Scheme (ERS) window immediately, or very soon after they are sentenced. It is therefore not always possible for the Home Office to carry out all the case working and administrative processes as soon as an FNO becomes eligible for removal under ERS, even when they wish to return voluntarily.

HMPPS (HM Prisons and Probation Service) are working closely with the Home Office to ensure the ERS process runs as efficiently as possible focusing on operational improvements and more robust data.

Latest published information shows that between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025 2,632 FNOs were removed directly from prison under ERS, which is a 10% increase compared to the 2,385 in the same period 12 months prior.

We make every effort to ensure that a FNO’s removal by deportation coincides with their release from prison upon completion of their custodial sentence. Legal or re-documentation barriers can frustrate immediate deportation. Despite the barriers we face, we remain resolute in our commitment to deport those who would abuse our hospitality and make our communities safer for everyone.

The information requested is not available from published statistics.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_43

Lord Craig of Radley:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 29 March 2023 (HL Deb col 243) that veterans of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps will be able to apply for settlement in the UK, what information was published by the Home Office about the application procedure to be followed for settlement. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: On 5 October 2023, the Home Office published detailed guidance on the application procedure for veterans of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps and their family members seeking settlement in the UK.

This route is set out in the Immigration Rules Appendix Gurkha and Hong Kong military unit veteran discharged before 1 July 1997 which contains guidance, including eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and fee information.

The guidance is available to view on GOV.UK.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_44

Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual cost of applying a Danish model of border control and asylum policy. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Plans to Restore Order and Control to the UK asylum and returns system draw inspiration from the Danish model but are not a simple copy. Assessment of the costs and benefits of the model will be made through Impact Assessments where legislation is required to enact the changes presented in the policy statement to the House on 17th November.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_45

Lord Cameron of Lochiel:To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to processing asylum claims on site at (1) Cameron barracks, and (2) Crowborough army training camp, when those sites are operational. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Discussions are underway regarding the use of Cameron Barracks and Crowborough for asylum accommodation. It is our longstanding policy not to comment on individual asylum accommodation sites, or on operational arrangements around those sites.

The Home Office already has digital interviewing capability that enables more claimants to be interviewed remotely. We will explore all options to provide better capacity.

The Home Office is working closely with local authorities, police, and community partners to ensure both sites operate safely and respectfully, and all alternative accommodation sites will provide basic, functional, and humane accommodation while asylum claims are processed.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_46

Baroness Northover:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure the future of ports and wharfs as key infrastructure in delivering the supply chain for the Industrial Strategy. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Industrial Strategy recognises the importance of ports to the UK economy by their inclusion as a foundational industry, essential to enabling growth in the strategy’s eight sectors through providing critical inputs and infrastructure.

The UK’s ports industry is largely privately owned and operated, with government’s role primarily to ensure that the policy and regulatory environment supports efficient operation and investment. The Government is streamlining planning and regulatory processes for ports, including by updating the National Policy Statement for Ports. The Government is also committed to investing in road and rail connections to ports to improve the efficient and cost-effective transportation of goods and passengers.

In addition, the Government is working closely with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator on fundamental reforms to the grid connections process that will release up to 500GW of capacity from the connections queue. This may enable ports to electrify more quickly where capacity is released in port locations.

Finally, the Government is deploying capital at scale through the National Wealth Fund, with ports being one of the five sectors to which it has committed at least £5.8 billion.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_47

Baroness Pidgeon:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend responsibility for maintaining and updating the statutory code of practice for rail retailing to sit with the Office of Rail and Road once Great British Railways is operational. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The future rail retail industry code of practice will set out clear requirements for how Great British Railways (GBR) interacts with all market participants. It will be owned and managed by the ORR, and GBR’s licence will require compliance with it. The Railways Bill enables the Secretary of State to introduce the licence condition that will underpin the code of practice and give it force.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_48

Baroness Pidgeon:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to permit cross-subsidisation between Great British Railways' publicly funded operations and retail activities; and, if not, what measures will be put in place to prevent it. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The government is committed to a fair and open rail retail market, in which Great British Railways (GBR) will sell tickets alongside, and compete with, independent retailers. Moreover, the retail industry management functions currently performed by the Rail Delivery Group will move to GBR.

To ensure fairness when GBR takes on these functions, the government has announced a range of safeguards, including an industry code of practice. The code of practice will incorporate clear requirements for how GBR interacts with all market participants and impose separation of decision-making where relevant. It will be owned and managed by the ORR, and GBR’s licence will require compliance with it.

In carrying out its functions and duties, GBR will also be subject to relevant competition and subsidy control law.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_49

Earl Attlee:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 16 September 2024 (HL568), whether any special order other than that referenced in Special Order P35/2024 dated 29 January 2024 was granted under section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for the movement of a tram from the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley to the Metro Maintenance Centre in Wednesbury on 15 February 2024. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: Yes. In addition to the above referenced Special Order P35/2024, a second application was also cleared on 29th January 2024 for tram movements between the same two sites, with a Special Order number of P37/2024.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_50

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will require the southern access to Heathrow to include significant improvements to the wider transport networks across south-west London, Surrey, and Hampshire, generating a significant shift away from road and private vehicle use, as set out in Southern Access to Heathrow: strategic objectives, published on 4 November 2019. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Government recognises the vital role that surface access will play as part of any future expansion of Heathrow Airport. As part of the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), launched on 22 October 2025, we will consider the transport infrastructure required to support a third runway, including rail connectivity and mode share targets. This will include considering the impacts for travellers from different regions, and the impact on the wider transport network in those regions.

The Government has been clear that expansion must be affordable and delivered in the best interest of passengers. Scheme costs should be minimised and financed through private funding, including any surface transport costs.

While it would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome of the ANPS review at this stage, it will be the responsibility of any expansion promoter to set out a surface access strategy demonstrating how they will meet the requirements set out in the ANPS.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_51

Baroness Pidgeon:To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure a smooth transition of licensing and market management functions from the Rail Delivery Group to Great British Railways. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: Under the government’s plans, the retail industry management functions currently performed by the Rail Delivery Group will move to Great British Railways. This includes the oversight and management of central systems that all retailers use, and the licensing of third parties to operate as rail ticket retailers.

We are working closely with industry partners to ensure transition plans are as smooth as possible.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_52
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_52

Earl Attlee:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 16 September 2024 (HL568), under which movement classification the movement notification to National Highways about the tram movement from the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley to the Metro Maintenance Centre in Wednesbury on 15 February 2024 was made. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The actual movement notification for the tram movements was submitted under ‘STGO AIL Cat 3’ on ref: RFS/3062 on the 25th January 2024.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_53

Earl Attlee:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 16 September 2024 (HL568), under which special order certificate the tram movement from the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre in Dudley to the Metro Maintenance Centre in Wednesbury on 15 February 2024 was made. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The trams were moving under Special Order permit (certificate) number P37/2024 signed on the 29th January 2024 cleared for in Special Order application ref: RFS/2988.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_54

Lord West of Spithead:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the value of introducing a maritime passport. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: My Department’s priority is to ensure that UK seafarers and operators have the latest and most secure documents to facilitate their operations and movement. The maritime passport is an interesting concept that we will consider further as we move forward with updating all our documentation requirements.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_55

Lord Bradshaw:To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of reports that the National Cyber Security Centre is evaluating whether the Chinese bus manufacturer Yutong can deactivate buses remotely, (1) what is the timetable for this evaluation, and (2) what assessment they have made of recent security concerns raised by the governments of Norway and Denmark in respect of Chinese-made electric buses. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Government takes national security extremely seriously and continuously monitors, understands and mitigates potential security threats from a wide range of technologies. My officials are looking into the Norwegian reports and will feed any new information into our continuing work.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_56

Lord Carlile of Berriew:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the scale of the economic impact of the third-party litigation funding sector, in particular in terms of jobs, growth and inward investment in the UK. \p Baroness Levitt: The Government recognises the critical role third-party litigation funding plays in access to justice and in the attractiveness of England and Wales as a jurisdiction to resolve disputes. Whilst we have not carried out a formal assessment of its precise economic contribution, we are seized of its importance to growth and the attractiveness of our legal services sector as well as the role it plays in extending access to justice. That is why we are committed to ensuring it works fairly for all. We are considering the Civil Justice Council’s recent report on litigation funding, and we will outline next steps in due course.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_57

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the policy paper published on 9 November by the Bar Council, Tackling violence against women and girls – why family courts are key. \p Baroness Levitt: The Government has read the Bar Council’s policy paper with interest and agrees that the family courts play a key role in our commitment to halve incidences of violence against women and girls over the next decade.

We agree with the Bar Council that proper data and analysis is an essential first step. The Government funded the recently published Family Court Review and Reporting Mechanism pilot, led by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and will publish a response to the report by the end of the year.

This Government also recognises that legal aid is a vital part of the justice system, supporting the ability of individuals to access publicly funded legal assistance to uphold their legal rights. Legal aid is available for certain private family matters such as child arrangements if an individual is a victim of domestic abuse or at risk of being abused, subject to providing the required evidence of domestic abuse and passing the means and merits tests. Last year we spent £854 million on the provision of family legal aid and we continue to keep the policy under review.

With our partners across the family justice system, we are committed to long-term reform of the family courts to better support and protect victims of domestic abuse and serious violence and their children. Central to this is our new Pathfinder model, which uses a more investigative and less adversarial approach for private law proceedings relating to children and is now operating in nine court areas, with expansion to a tenth in January 2026.

The Government will be publishing our new, cross-government Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy as soon as possible.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_59
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-25 conversation_59

Baroness Smith of Llanfaes:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of universal access to Welsh language TV for prisoners in Wales. \p Lord Timpson: His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) in Wales regularly assesses the availability of S4C, the Welsh language public service broadcasting channel, across the prison estate in Wales through engagement with each prison’s nominated Welsh language champion, and site visits undertaken by regional assurance teams.