theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-24)

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Lord Callanan:To ask His Majesty's Government whether ministers have sought legal advice following the escalation of violence between Israel and Iran. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers receive legal advice as appropriate. It is long-standing practice that Governments of all colours do not disclose the fact that legal advice has or has not been given, nor the content of any such advice. This practice provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in the light of thorough and candid legal advice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-24)

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Baroness Grey-Thompson:To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to tackle the impact of low levels of literacy on the economy through interventions in early years education. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The department recognises a strong foundation in early language, reading and writing is crucial for children to achieve and thrive.

We are:
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact of the abolition of NHS England on people with rare conditions. \p Baroness Merron: Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases.

Ministers and senior Departmental officials are working with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. Whilst this transformation takes place, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts and work collaboratively to ensure continuity of care and that there are no risks to patient safety.
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact of the reintegration of NHS England on the delivery of the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service. \p Baroness Merron: Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases. Digital data and technology are an underpinning theme of the framework. We acknowledge the important role of the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service, part of the National Disease Registration Service, play in underpinning the delivery of England’s rare diseases action plans. Ministers and senior Departmental officials are working with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. The important role of the National Disease Registration Service will be considered as part of future plans. Whilst this transformation takes place, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts and work collaboratively to ensure continuity of care and that there are no risks to patient safety.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-24)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government, following the merger of NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care, what steps they will take to ensure that health tech companies who have received first phase funding from the Small Business Research Initiative can receive second phase funding this financial year. \p Baroness Merron: The Department and NHS England are committed to health and care research, as it is vital to fulfilling the objectives of the Growth and Health Missions. The Department and NHS England will continue to support research and development throughout the transition process and beyond.  NHS England’s Innovation, Research and Life Sciences Strategy team has confirmed funding in 2025/26 for innovations already supported through Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare competitions in their current phases. NHS England has invested £13.6 million through the SBRI Healthcare programme to support the development of over 50 innovations this year. NHS England is unable to fund future phases within this financial year.
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government on what date they will respond to the Hughes Report into the medical and health challenges presented by sodium valproate for individuals, published on 7 February 2024; and what plans they have to implement a national financial redress scheme. \p Baroness Merron: The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.
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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of implementing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in each of its first three years of operation should it become law. \p Baroness Merron: I refer the noble Lord to the impact assessment.
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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that water companies are proactively protecting water supplies. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Government is committed to a twin track approach to improving water resilience. This involves action to improve water efficiency and reduce water company leaks, alongside investing in new supply infrastructure, including new reservoirs and water transfers.

We have secured £104 billion in private sector investment over the next five years, to boost out water supply and manage demand. This will help drive forward the major water infrastructure projects to protect water supplies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-24)

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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the cost to local authorities of cleaning up discarded cigarette filters since their estimate in 2021. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: This Government has not made a further assessment of the cost to local authorities of cleaning up discarded cigarette filters since the estimate from the 2021 report by WRAP. This estimated annual costs of £46 million to local authorities from cigarette butts (primarily discarded filters) and found that cigarette butts likely accounted for 7% of total litter costs to local authorities.
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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 12 April (HL6470), what progress they have made on the review of the Feral Wild Boar Action Plan, and when they expect that review to be completed and published. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Primary responsibility for wild boar management lies with local communities and individual landowners. Following a review of available guidance and in consultation with stakeholder organisations through the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)-led feral wild boar working group Defra will not be updating the feral wild Boar in England action plan which was published in 2008 in response to the first expansion of feral wild boar in the Forest of Dean. However, as part of ongoing work on improvements to contingency plans relating to wildlife disease management, guidance on Defra’s approach to feral wild boar in England and management of feral wild boar in relation to exotic disease risks are being reviewed and will be published on gov.uk in due course. This will be in addition to the advice and further information on licensing and legislation relating to wildlife management including wild boar which is already available on GOV.UK

Defra works closely with stakeholder organisations to ensure communities, local authorities and landowners have access to guidance and information where needed to control populations and mitigate the impact of feral wild boar in their areas working alongside government action to monitor the disease risks posed by feral wild boar.
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Baroness Redfern:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to require cigarette manufacturers to switch to producing biodegradable butts. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Whilst the plastic component of filters is of concern, the chemicals, toxins and heavy metals contained within a littered cigarette butt also pose a danger to the environment. For this reason, Defra does not support a move to plastic-free or biodegradable filters which would likely contain the same pollutants and have not been shown to break down quicker if littered in the environment.

Tobacco litter remains a concern for Defra, with cigarette filters consistently scoring as the most littered item in surveys. Local authorities already have powers to punish those who litter them including through prosecution. They can also create smoke free areas through the use of Public Space Protection Orders.

Defra believes the best way to tackle littering of filters is through reductions in smoking rates. We therefore continue to support all initiatives designed to encourage people to quit smoking or prevent them from starting smoking. Indeed, through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the Government is committed to creating a smoke-free generation, gradually ending the sale of tobacco products across the country and breaking the cycle of addiction and disadvantage.

We will continue to monitor the available evidence on the prevalence of littered cigarette filters before considering further action.
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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how artificial intelligence could be used to protect against droughts and floods, particularly in relation to managing water storage systems. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: It is vital that water companies also embrace new technologies to manage their water systems, such as the use of artificial intelligence to help detect leaks.

The Environment Agency and its partners are assessing how new technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can improve how they assess, manage and communicate flood risk, including:
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Baroness McIntosh of Pickering:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to engage with water companies to ensure that farmers have access to water for their crops and livestock. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Environment Agency (EA) is engaging with water companies to ensure that water is abstracted in the best way for all users and the environment and that water companies are following their drought plans.

Water companies’ drought plans set out the actions they will take to monitor and manage the impact of drought on their customers (including farmers) and the environment. It is their responsibility to act in line with these plans.

Regional Water Resources Groups are made up of the EA, water companies, the National Farmers Union and Abstractor Groups. The regional groups are considering how they can work together to ensure there is sufficient water in the system to provide availability for all users. This may include, for example, water companies abstracting lower volumes at specific points, so water moves downstream and allows farmers to abstract water.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-24)

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Lord Empey:To ask His Majesty's Government, following the UK–EU reset agreement, when they expect an agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary matters to be agreed. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on May 19, 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area.

Our aim is to start the detailed negotiations as soon as possible, as we want to see businesses benefit from removing barriers to trade.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-24)

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Baroness Hodgson of Abinger:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 10 July (HL9168), whether they plan to meet the Low-Welfare Act Coalition as part of stakeholder engagement, and if so when. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Government has previously met with the Low-Welfare Act Coalition in October 2024 and has corresponded with the group since. Further engagement is planned shortly.
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Baroness McIntosh of Pickering:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement the recommendations contained in the Dimbleby Report on the National Food Strategy. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Towards a Good Food Cycle, the UK Government food strategy for England, published on 15 July, sets out the Government's plans to transform the food system. A UK government food strategy for England - GOV.UK

The food strategy will work to make good, healthy food more accessible and affordable, as part of the Government's Plan for Change. Our strategy builds on existing evidence and analysis, such as The National Food Strategy. We have an opportunity to convert the “junk food cycle”, identified by Henry Dimbleby, into a “good food cycle” that delivers growth, while improving health, climate and environment and food security outcomes from the food system.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-24)

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Lord Empey:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the growth in demand for water and sewerage services as a result of the population increase of the United Kingdom in the past five financial years. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Government recognises the importance of having a robust drainage and wastewater system both now and for future demand. It is the responsibility of water and sewerage undertakers to plan to meet the needs of customers, including accounting for population growth. As part of the Environment Act 2021, a new duty has been created for water companies in England to produce Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). DWMPs set out how a water company intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances. These plans will help sewerage companies to fully assess the capacity of the drainage and wastewater network and develop collaborative solutions to current problems and future issues. The plans will bring together various stakeholders including local authorities and industry regulators. Taking a strategic approach to drainage and wastewater management, will help to identify and mitigate issues related to insufficient network capacity or damaged infrastructure.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-24)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of self-rating partnerships between British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and streaming services, and whether they plan to take steps to encourage wider adoption of BBFC age ratings on streaming services. \p Baroness Twycross: The Government has not made an assessment of self-rating partnerships between the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and video-on-demand (VoD) services. Ofcom, as the independent regulator, now has a new duty introduced through the Media Act 2024 to assess audience protection measures used by VoD services, such as age ratings, to ensure they are adequate to protect audiences from harm. The Government will in due course be designating mainstream VoD services, bringing them under enhanced regulation by Ofcom. Ofcom will then consult on a new standards Code for these services, similar to the Broadcasting Code. This could include the use of age ratings, if Ofcom considers it appropriate.
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Baroness Smith of Llanfaes:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have reviewed the updated National Police Chiefs Council guidance on pregnancy loss post 14 weeks and what assessment they have made of the implications of these changes on women experiencing miscarriages. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Guidance to support operational policing in discharging their duties on this issue is a matter for the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

We expect any guidance and police investigations which are conducted to recognise the specific sensitivities and emotional trauma of losing a child in any circumstances; as well as to show compassion and support for the woman and her family.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government, as a part of the changes announced in the white paper Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May, whether they will review the salary threshold to qualify for a regulated qualifications framework level 6 for graduate route jobs, and whether that threshold will have flexibility to take account of regional variations in graduate starter salaries. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Following the proposes set out in the Immigration White paper, the Home Office will ask the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to undertake a thorough review of salary requirements (including discounts) to ensure that employers are no longer incentivised to recruit from abroad rather than train at home.

The Government will set out further details in the near future.

Further details can be found in the technical annex of the White Paper published here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper
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Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with representatives of the higher education sector on the revocation of student visas for those foreign nationals convicted of serious criminal offences in the United Kingdom. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Any foreign national who commits serious crimes in the UK should expect to be removed from our country, regardless of the visa on which they travelled here.
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Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb:To ask His Majesty's Government whether HMP Eastwood Park plan to close, or have closed, their programme for women prisoners aged 50 and over. \p Lord Timpson: The number of older prisoners has risen significantly over the past 20 years, and we recognise that this can pose particular challenges for some prisons.

The Model of Operational Delivery for older prisoners published by His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, sets out how prisons should support all older prisoners, including older women and older prisoners on short sentences.

We have accepted in principle the vast majority of the Independent Sentencing Review’s recommendations and we will work with partners and the sector as we develop our approach.

The contract for HMP/YOI Eastwood Park’s current programme for prisoners aged 50 and over, is due to end. To replace it, HMP Eastwood Park plans to put out a tender for similar services, but covering the entire population, rather than only those over 50.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Lord Nash:To ask His Majesty's Government how many UK Research and Innovation grant fraud cases have been referred to the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, or other authorities in each of the past five years. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: UKRI employs a team of trained counter fraud investigators working alongside an external service provider. Where appropriate, UKRI will hand over internal investigations to relevant authorities where criminal justice powers are required.

The table below sets out the total number of cases referred to the police and other authorities for financial years 2020/21 to 2024/25.

Financial Year

Total Cases Referred

Referred to Police

Referred to Insolvency Service

Referred to National Crime Agency

2020-21

3

3

2021-22

4

2

2

2022-23

4

2

1

1

2023-24

5

4

1

2024-25

3

3
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Lord Nash:To ask His Majesty's Government what was the estimated financial loss due to fraud and error across UK Research and Innovation’s grant portfolio in each year since 2018; and what percentage of that was successfully recovered. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: UKRI records confirmed cases of fraud and error; however, it has not historically produced estimates of fraud and error losses. The National Audit Office published good practice guidance in February 2025 on estimating and reporting fraud and error, and UKRI is drawing on this guidance to produce an estimate for 2024/25 that will be published in UKRI’s Annual Report and Accounts.

I refer the noble Lord to my answer to question HL7598 for data on UKRI fraud recovery.
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Lord Nash:To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total value of suspected grant fraud investigated by UK Research and Innovation in each of the past five financial years; and how much was (1) confirmed as fraud, (2) prevented, and (3) recovered, in each year. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: UKRI makes consolidated data returns to the Public Sector Fraud Authority covering identified, recovered and prevented fraud. The data requested is in the table below.

For individual cases, investigation, recovery, and prevention activities can extend over multiple financial years. Therefore, care should be taken when comparing data points across the table below. The data provided for the last financial year (2024/25) is provisional, and final figures will be published in UKRI’s 2024/25 Annual Report and Accounts.

Value of suspected grant fraud investigated

Confirmed

Recovered

Prevented

2020/21

£12,761,945.94

£1,410,994.14

£149,716.01

£4,893,567.13

2021/22

£7,285,776.67

£3,559,382.41

£1,044,626.51

£1,152,805.96

2022/23

£40,418,305.58

£2,043,255.85

£1,933,718.99

£780,427.38

2023/24

£1,930,369.00

£5,454,586.74

£1,395,426.05

£13,536,403.29

2024/25

£6,748,311.14

£3,345,159.81

£4,193,153.36

£22,243.50
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Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard:To ask His Majesty's Government why their Equality (Race and Disability) Bill: mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting consultation (CP 1288) did not contain a question on the costs to employers of the new measures. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The public consultation seeks views on the proposed approach to implementing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting (delivering on the government’s manifesto commitment) in order to inform the drafting of the legislation.

We are separately engaging with a wide range of organisations, including employers, and gathering evidence in a more systematic manner on the likely costs and benefits of the proposed reporting requirements. This work will inform the impact assessment that will be published alongside the draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.
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Baroness Verma:To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Minister for Women and Equalities plans to take part in activities to mark Age Without Limits Day; and what role the Office for Equality and Opportunity will play in highlighting ageism as a cross-cutting issue. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: We acknowledge the commitment of the organisers of the Age Without Limits Day and will follow it with interest. Ageism has no place in our society where we want to see and build inclusion, not exclusion.

The Equality Act 2010 has strong protections that enable people to challenge age discrimination across a range of fields, including recruitment processes. These protections make it unlawful for an employer, service provider or someone exercising public functions to treat a person less favourably because of age, unless this can be objectively justified.

Any older person who may have been personally discriminated against because of age may also contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), the government helpline established to provide free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns. The EASS can be contacted via their website - http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/, by telephone on xx-xxxx-xxxx or text phone on xx-xxxx-xxxx. The EASS has the ability to intervene on an individual’s behalf with a service provider to help resolve an issue. The EASS can also advise people who wish to take their complaint further on their options.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Lord Blencathra:To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, whether they plan to issue guidance to departments to undo processes or methodology introduced as part of membership to the Stonewall Diversity Champions Scheme. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The Government has set out our expectation that organisations follow the clarity the ruling provides.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has already committed to supporting organisations with its updated statutory Code of Practice for service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it to us.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance the Office for Equality and Opportunity, or its predecessors, has provided on the difference between (1) a political belief, and (2) a philosophical belief, for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010; and in what circumstances a political philosophy is considered to be a protected characteristic under that guidance. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: Political opinion is not a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010. The Office for Equality and Opportunity, like its predecessors, does not provide guidance on matters not covered in equalities legislation. Guidance on religion and philosophical belief has been published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the subject also forms part of the Commission's statutory code of practice.
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Lord Reay:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Collins of Highbury on 4 November 2024 (HL1875) and on 12 February 2025 (HL4654), whether (1) the Cabinet Office, (2) the Government People Group, (3) Cabinet Office-supported diversity networks, or (4) the Office for Equality and Opportunity, recognise species dysphoria. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The Cabinet Office diversity and inclusion policies focus on legally protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, such as age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation as part of the Public Sector Equality Duty. Species dysphoria is not covered by the Equality Act.

The Government People Group does not have any relevant model policies on species dysphoria.

There is no Cabinet Office diversity network or Cabinet Office supported network that formally recognises species dysphoria.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity is responsible for external government policy on equality and does not have a policy approach that recognises species dysphoria.
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Baroness Hoey:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 24 April (HL Deb col 773), what assessment they have made of the application in Northern Ireland of the Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: Equal opportunities and anti-discrimination law remain devolved matters in Northern Ireland, and the extent of the Equality Act 2010 as set out in law remains unchanged following this judgment.

We expect those affected by the judgment to comply with this ruling and the Equality Act 2010, together with any other relevant legislation and guidance. As they always have, courts across the UK should continue to give full and proper regard to the jurisprudence from higher courts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Baroness Verma:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prevalence of age discrimination in recruitment and employment, and what steps they are taking to combat that discrimination. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: It is not possible to accurately estimate the prevalence of age discrimination in recruitment and employment because not all such discrimination is reported or challenged and in some cases such differential treatment can be objectively justified.

The Equality Act 2010 (The Act) provides strong protection against discrimination related to age in both an employment and service provision context, as age is one of the nine protected characteristics listed in The Act. In addition, employers are not permitted to use a default retirement age for their employees.

These protections enable people to challenge age discrimination across a range of fields, including recruitment processes and when in work. Where age discrimination in recruitment and employment cannot be objectively justified and is unlawful, individuals can seek redress at an employment tribunal.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Baroness Verma:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support and promote Age Without Limits Day across government departments, and whether they plan to develop a strategy to address ageism in society. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: We acknowledge the commitment of the organisers of the Age Without Limits Day and will follow it with interest. Ageism has no place in our society where we want to see and build inclusion, not exclusion.

The Equality Act 2010 has strong protections that enable people to challenge age discrimination across a range of fields, including recruitment processes. These protections make it unlawful for an employer, service provider or someone exercising public functions to treat a person less favourably because of age, unless this can be objectively justified.

Any older person who may have been personally discriminated against because of age may also contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), the government helpline established to provide free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns. The EASS can be contacted via their website - http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/, by telephone on xx-xxxx-xxxx or text phone on xx-xxxx-xxxx. The EASS has the ability to intervene on an individual’s behalf with a service provider to help resolve an issue. The EASS can also advise people who wish to take their complaint further on their options.
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Baroness Smith of Llanfaes:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 16 April (HL6583), how they propose to engage formally with Members of the House on further House of Lords reform; and whether they have decided on a timeline for implementing the other House of Lords reforms outlined in the Labour Party manifesto. \p Baroness Smith of Basildon: The Government is grateful for the continued interest that Noble Lords have taken in its manifesto commitments to reform the House of Lords.

The Government will set out more detail in due course about how it intends to continue the dialogue with the House on how best to implement these commitments.
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Lord Shinkwin:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Health (Secondary Care) on 24 January (HC25099), what assessment they have made of the health risks resulting from the NHS using gender-neutral language that may obscure the impact of biological sex on the physical effects of drugs. \p Baroness Merron: The Government expects the National Health Service to deliver health services in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, having appropriate regard to protected characteristics as defined in the Act where relevant.

Language is very important when communicating with patients and whilst no assessment has been made of the impact of specific language, the NHS always strives to ensure clear terms that everyone can understand should always be used. Sex and gender identity are not always the same thing, and it is important for patients that we record both accurately.

The Department is committed to delivering safe and holistic care for both adults and children when it comes to gender, and that also means accurately recording biological sex, not just for research and insight, but also for patient safety. Following the publication of the Sullivan Review, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting MP) instructed the health service to immediately suspend applications for NHS number changes for children under 18 years old, in order to safeguard them.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Baroness Altmann:To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the proportion of donated blood which is discarded due to the lack of MHRA authorisation for the use of medically relevant components, other than immunoglobulin and albumin, from blood donated in the UK. \p Baroness Merron: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood services in England. NHSBT Logistics plays a key role in planning for, collecting, and delivering lifesaving and life changing donated blood products to hospitals across England. However, NHS England owns and manages the contract with Octapharma to fractionate and produce medicines, including immunoglobulin and albumin. These medicines have been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to reflect the priorities of the National Health Service.

No blood is discarded by NHSBT due to MHRA authorisations. If there are any discarded fractions by Octapharma, NHSBT does not hold this information. All of the plasma that meets the requirements for use in medicines is forwarded to Octapharma for fractionation, and the specific manufacturing arrangements are subject to commercial confidentiality.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the National Service Specification for Cleft Lip and/or Palate Services is being delivered in full by NHS England. \p Baroness Merron: Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre.

We are assessing the full range of current functions across both organisations and options for future allocation. At this stage, it is too early to say what the precise changes in personnel and organisational design will be and how this will impact on the delivery of services for cleft lip and/or palate.

The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and raising the healthiest generation of children ever, and this includes children, young people, and adults with a cleft lip and/or palate.

There are nine specialist services across England that provide lifelong care for individuals with cleft lip and/or palate and non-cleft velopharyngeal dysfunction, offering diagnosis, treatment, and multidisciplinary support from before birth into adulthood.

NHS England’s Service Specification for Cleft Lip and Palate Services, a copy of which is attached, includes optimal timelines for carrying out cleft lip and palate surgeries. National data indicates that there is national variation linked to surgery timings. Consequently, NHS England’s Specialised Surgery in Children Clinical Reference Group has been developing a collaborative programme of work with individual services, integrated care boards, and the Cleft Development Group. The Cleft Development Group is made up of active clinical staff from cleft services, Public Health Consultants, and patient representatives.

The programme of work has only just commenced and will report back progress to NHS England’s Delegated Commissioning Group in December 2025.

Additional Document (pdf, 1335.4KB)
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the data sets and methods that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) used to calculate the vaccine effectiveness estimates that informed the cost-effectiveness estimates on which the JCVI’s advice for a COVID-19 vaccination programme in autumn/winter 2025 was based. \p Baroness Merron: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s (JCVI) advice on COVID-19 vaccination in 2025 and spring 2026 was published on 13 November 2024.

The advice was based on a cost-effectiveness study of COVID-19 vaccination by the University of Warwick, published in the journal Vaccine in February 2025 by Keeling et al. The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) vaccine effectiveness estimates were used by the University of Warwick in their cost-effectiveness analysis.

The data set and methodology used by UKHSA to calculate these estimates were published in the Journal of Infection in July 2024 by Kirsebom et al.

The JCVI continues to keep all United Kingdom vaccination programmes under review as new evidence emerges.
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Baroness Buscombe:To ask His Majesty's Government what is the percentage of free prescriptions in England that remain uncollected by patients and are subsequently destroyed by the NHS; and what is the average cost of uncollected and destroyed prescriptions to the Exchequer. \p Baroness Merron: The Department does not hold information on the number of prescriptions that are uncollected. The majority of uncollected prescriptions can be disassembled, and the medicines returned to the pharmacy’s stock, ready to be used to fill other prescriptions.
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Lord Markham:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to measure the effectiveness of and potential to rapidly adopt cancer therapies that require non-genomic biomarker testing. \p Baroness Merron: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has a key role in assessing the safety and efficacy of any medicine, and newly licensed medicines are appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The NICE routinely appraises medicines with accompanying biomarkers/companion diagnostics and considers the relevant costs and implications in order to provide robust guidance and support rapid access to clinically and cost-effective medicines. Additionally, the MHRA and the NICE are already actively engaged in supporting industry through scientific advice ahead of, and as part of, the regulatory approval process for cancer therapies that require non-genomic biomarker testing. The MHRA is also working on guidance and further support for industry to better understand how biomarkers and similar products are considered in the regulatory process. This includes, but is not limited to, non-genomic testing.

The MHRA encourages potential applicants to engage early to establish the suitability of biomarkers in the Scientific Advice process, as these decisions are frequently specific to the indication and intended use. The MHRA also supports the development and availability of innovative medicines through a range of regulatory initiatives designed to enable earlier patient access while maintaining uncompromising standards of safety. Central to this is the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP), which offers a joined-up approach between the MHRA, the NICE, and National Health Service bodies, including within the devolved administrations. The ILAP provides early regulatory input through an Innovation Passport and a tailored roadmap to authorisation, helping promising new medicines reach patients more quickly.
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Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to mandate that a Single Patient Record, for which a request for information was published by NHS England on 29 April, will be required for every NHS patient. \p Baroness Merron: The single patient record will give staff in any provider access to the information they need to provide care, and would end the need for patients to have to repeat their medical history when interacting with the National Health Service.

We are currently in the early stages of considering the scope, and this includes what information patients will be able to see about when and where their record is accessed. Our engagement with the public identified the importance of there being an audit trail of access.

We will mandate its use by the NHS and social care, so that everyone has the opportunity to have a single patient record.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Baroness Pidgeon:To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the report by the Campaign for Better Transport titled Runways to railways: unlocking the potential of the Channel Tunnel, what steps they will take to ensure that international rail connectivity is addressed within the current domestic rail reform agenda, to fully realise the economic and environmental benefits identified in the report. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Government fully supports a thriving and competitive international rail passenger services market, given the benefits it can bring including potentially greater choice, new service offers and lower fares for passengers.

The Government welcomes the Campaign for Better Transport’s report, and recognises the significant growth potential of international rail connectivity. DfT officials are engaging proactively with international partners and industry counterparts, including prospective operators, to discuss the potential for new routes and services and help facilitate these where possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

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Baroness Pidgeon:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with European counterparts to address infrastructure bottlenecks and ensure new HS2 and domestic rail capacity can be used to improve international rail services and connectivity. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Government fully supports the growth of international rail passenger services given the environmental, social and economic benefits they provide.

My officials continue to engage on a regular basis with infrastructure managers and European partners to discuss the potential for new routes and potential market entrants, particularly given the unique requirements of operating through the Channel Tunnel.