theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-14)

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The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to tackle rural homelessness. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: Homelessness levels are far too high. The Government is taking the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness, including rural homelessness. As announced at the Budget, funding for homelessness services has increased by £233 million this year, taking total spend to nearly £1 billion.

The Government is also developing a new cross-Government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness, including rural homelessness.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-14)

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Lord Roberts of Llandudno:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to reform the funding rules for local elections. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: The funding of costs necessarily incurred for the delivery of local elections is a matter for local authorities.
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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what action they have taken, if any, to ensure that possible war crimes committed against British citizens Andrew Bagshaw and Chris Parry in Ukraine on or about 7 January 2023 are properly investigated. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The Office of the Prosecutor General in Ukraine has already recorded over 160,000 allegations of war crimes committed since Russia's barbaric invasion in February 2022. The majority of these will be investigated by Ukraine and where appropriate tried in Ukrainian courts. The UK has provided over £11.3 million in funding to support Ukraine's domestic accountability efforts to ensure allegations of war crimes can be fully and fairly investigated, by independent, effective, and robust legal mechanisms. Investigations into the deaths of Andrew Bagshaw and Chris Parry are a matter for the Ukrainian authorities, and we would respond to any requests for UK support through the usual judicial co-operation channels. It would not be appropriate to comment on any such requests or cooperation.
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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what practice they have adopted in relation to the investigation of alleged war crimes against British citizens. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: This government has made a strong commitment to international justice, including through its continuing support for institutions such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and through programme work which supports countries to deal with alleged war crimes fully, fairly and in line with international standards. The UK is committed to securing accountability for those responsible for atrocity crimes, and any allegations must be thoroughly investigated.
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Lord Bates:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to appoint a new UK migration and modern slavery envoy. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The Government is committed to playing its part in eradicating all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking. Envoy appointments are considered on a rolling basis, based on their contribution to delivering the government's international priorities. We continue to use the strength of our global diplomatic network, including dedicated staff within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to address modern slavery and promote business and human rights around the world. The title of the former Migration and Modern Slavery Envoy role was revised when a Modern Slavery Envoy was appointed in 2023.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-14)

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Lord Oates:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking towards the implementation of G7-Africa partnerships for agrivoltaics investments agreed at the G7 Development Ministers’ Meeting in October 2024, particularly with regard to (1) partnering with governments in Africa, (2) assisting with climate adaptation, and (3) promoting market solutions to address food, energy and water security needs in developing countries. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK has built long-term partnerships with African governments to promote market-based solutions to address food, energy and water security needs whilst adapting to climate change. In January, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office partnered with the Africa Union (AU) on the Kampala Summit, where African Member States endorsed the third ten-year Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Plan (CAADP). The Kampala Declaration outcomes are mutually aligned with G7-Africa commitments, and most importantly are African-led. Through the Africa Food Trade and Resilience programme and our participation in the Development Partners Coordination Group we will continue to provide expertise to support the new Kampala Declaration.
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Lord Bates:To ask His Majesty's Government what is the expected allocation from the aid budget directed at tackling modern slavery for the financial years (1) 2024–25, (2) 2025–26, and (3) 2026–27. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK is committed to playing its part in eradicating modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking. Official Development Assistance (ODA) for programmes directed at tackling modern slavery in line with Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 totalled £9,353,770 during 2024/25. Some ODA programmes on human rights, migration, gender and conflict will also have included components that indirectly tackle modern slavery.

Decisions on how the ODA budget will be used from 2025/26 onwards will be agreed as part of the ongoing Spending Review and resource allocation processes, based on various factors including impact assessments.
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government which department is responsible for policy on tackling (1) anti-Palestinian racism, and (2) the dehumanisation of Palestinians. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The Government strongly opposes all forms of racism and is committed to promoting tolerant society for people of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities. We recognise that dehumanising language and hate speech can lay the ground for and justify identity-based violence in conflict. The Government will challenge those who undermine the prospects of a two-state solution or use hateful rhetoric. The UK strongly condemns inciteful remarks, such as those made by Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich, which seek to inflame tensions and harm the viability of a two-state solution. In October, the Government introduced sanctions targeting 3 settler outposts and 4 organisations that have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. The Government has been engaging with the British Palestinian community, including through a PM-led roundtable with members of the Palestinian community in the UK to mark the one-year anniversary of the conflict. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials work closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand the impact of international events domestically in the UK.
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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks associated with their current practices in assessing incidents of religious and racial hatred; and what plans they have to change these practices. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Home Secretary has agreed that the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), supported by the College of Policing, will conduct a review on the use and effectiveness of non-crime hate incidents, including those incidents involving religious and racial hatred. The review will cover when the police should record information that has not yet reached the criminal threshold, but which is still deemed necessary to monitor community tensions and keep the public safe. It will also consider the fundamental right of freedom of expression and recent court rulings in this area. The Government welcomes this review and will work closely with the NPCC and the College as they develop their findings and any proposals.
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Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 28 April (HL Deb cols 978–981), whether they are planning to convene a meeting between foundations and philanthropists that offer funding to tackle violence against women and girls and civil society organisations that are seeking funding for that purpose. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: We of course welcome philanthropic funding to support organisations tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), however it is not the role of Government to facilitate this. We will however seek to work with organisations from right across society to deliver on our mission to halve VAWG within a decade including those who fund VAWG schemes.
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Baroness Stedman-Scott: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 on 16 April, how they will ensure that police policies are updated, particularly with regard to (1) reporting of male crime statistics, and (2) the right of women to be dealt with by female police officers, particularly in the event of a strip search. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: We are currently considering the implications of the Supreme Court ruling for the Home Office and policing.
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Lord Sikka:To ask His Majesty's Government what action they intend to take following the emergence of a video appearing to show throat-slit gestures made by an individual at the Pakistan High Commission in London. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Should a protest contravene the law and criminality take place on a protest, the police have the powers to respond. The use of these powers and the management of demonstrations are an operational matter for the police. We are aware of reports of a video being circulated on social media and understand that the Metropolitan Police is investigating. It would not be appropriate to offer further comment at this stage.
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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 on 16 April, whether prisoners of male biological sex will be removed from prison units allocated to prisoners of female biological sex. \p Lord Timpson: This Government inherited the policy regarding allocation of transgender prisoners from the previous Government and has not moved any transgender women into the women’s estate since taking office.

Following the Supreme Court ruling in the For Women Scotland case, the Lord Chancellor has commissioned a review of transgender prisoner allocation policy.
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Lord Brady of Altrincham:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to include licensing of pilots, engineers and maintenance organisations in the aviation sector in reciprocal arrangements between the United Kingdom and the European Union. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Government has been clear that it will work to reset the relationship with Europe, to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to trade. Establishing an effective aviation licensing and approvals regime that supports UK aviation remains a priority for us, and the UK is keen to establish closer cooperation on personnel licensing and maintenance organisation approvals where possible to ease the current burden on UK and EU personnel and industry.
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Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of a UK–EU agreement on the return of asylum seekers, and whether they have had discussions with the EU on that topic in the light of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: As set out in the Common Understanding from 19 May, our priority is to work with the EU to strengthen our cooperation to tackle people smuggling gangs, coordinate in our approach to upstream migration, explore innovative solutions, and enhance information sharing between our respective border agencies.

This Government is already getting on with the work of returning people who have no legal right to be here. Nearly 30,000 failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals and other immigration offenders were returned from the UK between 5 July 2024 and 18 May 2025. Of these total returns, 7,893 were enforced returns of people with no legal right to remain in the UK. This compares with 6,414 enforced returns over the same period 12 months prior, an increase of 23%.

A key part of reducing irregular arrivals is deterring those from making dangerous journeys in the first place.
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Baroness Hodgson of Abinger:To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986: Non-technical summaries for project licences granted January – March 2025 that require a retrospective assessment, published on 11 June, what assessment they have made of the suffering caused to macaque monkeys. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Each application to use animals in science is subject to a robust and rigorous harm benefit assessment by a trained Home Office Inspector whom is a member of either the veterinary or medical profession. This ensures that any harm that may be caused to the animals is justified by the likely expected benefits for humans, animals or the environment.

All applications must conform with all legal requirements set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This includes, applying the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement); the replacement of animals with alternatives, the reduction of the number of animals used to the minimum possible and the refinement of any techniques to reduce the harm suffered by the animals to the minimum. The Home Office conducts a robust and rigorous harm benefit assessment which requires a detailed justification of the harms and which demonstrates the 3Rs have been fully considered. All licence holders have a responsibility to fully implement the 3Rs throughout the lifetime of a licence and demonstrate this requirement at audit.

Licence holders are required to complete retrospective assessments for licences if the protocols in the studies are using non-human primates, cats, dogs and equidae and all those involving procedures classified as severe. Retrospective assessments must consider whether any lessons can be learnt from the programme of work which may contribute to the further implementation of the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement.

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), the Home Office and DEFRA are engaging with stakeholders to finalise a strategy to accelerate the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal testing which is scheduled for publication later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

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Baroness Hodgson of Abinger:To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986: Non-technical summaries for projects granted in 2025, January to March, what steps they are taking to end invasive brain research on non-human primates and other animals. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: All applications must conform with all legal requirements set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This includes, applying the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement); the replacement of animals with alternatives, the reduction of the number of animals used to the minimum possible and the refinement of any techniques to reduce the harm suffered by the animals to the minimum.

The Home Office conducts a robust and rigorous harm benefit assessment which requires a detailed justification of the harms, and which demonstrates the 3Rs have been fully considered. All licence holders have a responsibility to fully implement the 3Rs throughout the lifetime of a licence and demonstrate this requirement at audit.

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), the Home Office and DEFRA are engaging with stakeholders to finalise a strategy to accelerate the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal testing which is scheduled for publication later this year.
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Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken under part 6 of the UK–EU Summit – Common Understanding to strengthen cooperation with European partners in addressing irregular migration. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Common Understanding signed on 19 May was a significant further step in our efforts to increase international cooperation to tackle the global challenge of organised immigration crime; a comprehensive partnership that will address all elements of the global challenge of irregular migration.

The first meeting with the Commission on Irregular Migration took place on 16 July. We discussed delivery options for each commitment and officials will use this information to work up delivery plans over the summer, anticipating further work with the EU from the Autumn.

We now have a formal structure in place to work jointly on this with the EU; to realise our ambition to coordinate actions in source countries, enhance cooperation with EU agencies, support information sharing and returns, and develop innovative approaches to stop small boat crossings and other forms of people trafficking across Europe.
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Lord Rogan:To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of irregular migrants who have entered the United Kingdom through the land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in each of the past five years. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Journeys from Ireland to the UK are within the Common Travel Area (CTA). As part of the CTA arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls of individuals arriving in the UK by air or sea from within the CTA, and no immigration checks are undertaken at the land border with Ireland.

The UK does however operate intelligence-led operational activity on CTA routes - away from the land border. This is to detect those who intend to abuse CTA arrangements. Operational activity must be targeted and supported by specific intelligence of CTA abuse.

There is a high level of cooperation on migration and border security between all members of the CTA (UK, Ireland, and the Crown Dependencies) to identify and tackle migration trends as they emerge.

Everyone entering the UK, regardless of where they enter from, is required to meet UK's immigration requirements. Anyone identified attempting to circumvent UK border controls is liable to be detained and, if they are not lawfully present within the UK, removed.
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Lord Harper:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to keep Parliament informed about the progress of the UK–France returns agreement, including (1) the start date of the pilot scheme, and (2) the progress of the pilot scheme, in particular with regard to details of different approaches used and the number of migrants returned to France. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Individuals will be removed to France using our existing legislation. Our inadmissibility, certification and removal processes are well established in published guidance and enable us to declare asylum and humanitarian protection claims inadmissible, not substantively consider them in the UK and quickly remove relevant individuals to a safe third country.

An Immigration Rule change will be made to operationalise the new legal route into the UK. The full legal basis will be presented to Parliament in due course and the operational arrangements – which have been discussed with European partners – will also be set out to Parliament in due course.
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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the incidence of theft of plants and shrubs from gardens; and what action they intend to take in response. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: This Government recognises the distress and disruption that theft and vandalism can cause to local communities.

That’s why we’re putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood policing roles by the end of the Parliament, with the first 3,000 in place this year. This will ensure that everyone has named, contactable officers they can turn to on local issues.

The 2025-26 final Police Funding Settlement provides funding of up to £19.6 billion for the policing system in England and Wales. This is an overall increase of up to £1.2 billion when compared with the 2024-25 settlement and includes an additional £200 million to kickstart the first phase of recruitment for the additional neighbourhood policing roles.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

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Lord Turnberg:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect Falun Gong practitioners from persecution in the United Kingdom. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Government is committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief, this includes protecting the rights of Falun Gong Practitioners.

We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously. Any attempt by any foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK will not be tolerated.

Where individuals have concerns for their safety, they should report incidents or suspicious activity to the Police via 101, a local police station, or 999 in emergencies.
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Lord Turnberg:To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have made of easing spousal visa restrictions for senior scientists wishing to immigrate to the UK. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: On 10 June the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published their independent review of the financial requirements across the family routes. The report is now under review, and we will respond in due course.
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Baroness Berger:To ask His Majesty's Government when they last conducted major research into female genital mutilation prevalence across the United Kingdom and what plans they have, if any, to conduct a new study. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Government is tackling female genital mutilation (FGM) through its landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

To prevent and respond effectively to FGM it is essential that we understand the prevalence of these crimes.

In 2023, the Home Office commissioned the University of Birmingham to conduct a feasibility study to examine whether it is possible to produce robust prevalence estimates for FGM and forced marriage. The study has now concluded, and we are currently working on our next steps which we will set out in due course.

While not markers of prevalence, the Government monitors other indicators of FGM to inform our understanding. These indicators include police recorded crime, contacts to the joint Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Home Office Forced Marriage Unit, data from the National Health Service in England, and the courts.
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Lord Moynihan:To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to introduce legislation to tackle online ticket fraud in the secondary market, and whether they plan to combat ticket scams as part of a wider effort to tackle online fraud. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: We are committed to tackling all types of fraud, including online ticket fraud, and holding those who profit from it to account.

As of 17 March 2025, as part of its enforcement of the Online Safety Act, Ofcom’s illegal harm duties are now in force. Ofcom will now start assessing platforms’ compliance with their new obligations under the Act and will launch enforcement action where they uncover concerns. This includes making sure that in-scope companies take proactive measures to stop fraudulent content appearing on their platforms, and remove fraudulent material quickly when they become aware of it. This includes criminals offering fake or fraudulent tickets via these platforms and services.

Furthermore, the Government’s Stop! Think Fraud campaign is improving public messaging and making it easier for the public to recognise fraud and take steps to protect themselves, their family and friends.
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Lord Clement-Jones:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will be adopting modes of English assessment based on at-home English proficiency tests within the planned Home Office English Language Test tender, and what risk assessment they have carried out in this regard. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Home Office is currently conducting Market Engagement to gather market insights on remote testing technology and its viability for the Home Office English Language Testing service. Before any decision can be made to formally include at-home English proficiency testing as part of the contract, the Home Office would ensure appropriate risk assessments are conducted to ensure compliance with Home Office policy.
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Lord Clement-Jones:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to coordinate across the Home Office, Department for Education, and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, to ensure that English language tests used in immigration and education services are fit for purpose. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Home Office recognises the importance of ensuring English Language Tests used across immigration and education services are fit for purpose.

We will continue to engage Other Government Departments as well as gathering insight and feedback to help shape the Home Office English Language Testing tender. The Home Office are working with the Government Digital Service within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as part of our procurement approvals process and will continue to do so throughout this procurement.
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Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to paragraph 53 of the UK–EU Summit – Common Understanding, published on 19 May, what discussions they have had with the European Union about improving the reciprocal exchange of biometric and criminal records data, including fingerprints, DNA and vehicle registration data. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Government is continuing to work at pace alongside our European counterparts to implement the agreement reached at the UK-EU Summit, including enhancing data exchange with the EU to respond to shared threats and support police investigations.
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Lord Clement-Jones:To ask His Majesty's Government how they are ensuring algorithmic transparency and bias mitigation in the Home Office English Language Test tender. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Home Office has an established assurance pathway for use of solutions including any algorithmic components. This includes complying with the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standards Hub and the Advanced Algorithms (including Artificial Intelligence) Policy.

The Home Office is currently conducting Market Engagement which will inform the contractual requirements which are currently in development. The tender will be conducted in accordance with the Sourcing Playbook and the Magenta book. Full details will be set out in the Tender Instructions.
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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government how much of the Official Development Assistance budget in the next three years is intended to be spent on (1) development aid, and (2) other items, providing a full breakdown. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) published 2025/26 Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations in the Annual Report & Accounts on 22 July 2025. Over the coming months, we will work through detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments, ahead of publishing indicative multi-year allocations in the autumn.

We report all ODA spend in the Statistics on International Development publication. Provisional 2025 ODA spend will be published in spring 2026 and a full breakdown of 2025 ODA spend will be published in autumn 2026.
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Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what is the timetable and process for assessing whether payments made under the UK–Mauritius agreement on the Chagos Archipelago may be assigned as defence or security spending to reach the NATO target of 5 per cent of GDP; and whether NATO will play a role in assessing whether any such assignment qualifies under its guidelines. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The payments to Mauritius will be split between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence. The NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way.
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Lord Dodds of Duncairn:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking steps to support and promote the Northern Ireland creative sector and universities in Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom's soft power strategy. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The Soft Power Council is working with the UK Government to develop and deliver a new Soft Power Strategy that will harness the strength of our soft power sectors - from universities and the creative industries, to sport, heritage and tourism - from all nations of the UK, including Northern Ireland, to craft a unifying, positive narrative that will raise the profile of our soft power assets and enhance our influence in the world. Plans are being developed for a future meeting of the Soft Power Council to take place in Northern Ireland - a moment to consider in particular the soft power opportunities for Northern Ireland.
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Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown:To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that Fulani militants murdered Christians in Yelewata, what assessment they have made of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria about protections for Christians facing violence in that country. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK Government is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt and we express our sincere concern for all those impacted. The root causes of intercommunal violence are complex and often linked to land disputes, historical tensions, and criminal activity. While religion is not a causal factor in these conflicts, the impacts are felt acutely by religious communities, including hindering people's ability to practice their faith freely. The UK supports all affected communities, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and is working through programmes like SPRiNG (Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria) and the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) to promote peace, strengthen local institutions, and protect civilians. The UK remains committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), with Nigeria a priority country under the new FoRB strategy, and we will continue to raise this issue in our engagements with Nigeria.

During my visit to Nigeria from 28 to 30 May, I met ministers and officials to address insecurity and intercommunal violence, with a focus on tackling root causes. Most recently, I raised FoRB with my Nigerian counterpart during the third UK-Nigeria SDP Dialogue (15-16 July) in London.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_20

Baroness Hoey:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to refer the boycott of GB News by advertisers to the Competition and Markets Authority; and what assessment they have made of the implications of this on broadcasting freedoms. \p Baroness Twycross: The Government is committed to supporting a free, sustainable, and plural broadcasting landscape, and we want the public to be able to access information from a wide range of sources in order to form their own opinions. However, the placement of adverts is a commercial decision made by advertisers and individual businesses. The Government is not aware of any co-ordinated boycott of GB News by advertisers and has no plans to make a referral to the Competition and Markets Authority.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_21

Lord Stevenson of Balmacara:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to update consumer rights law to prohibit publishers from disabling video games they have sold without providing recourse for customers to retain or repair those games. \p Baroness Twycross: The Government is aware of concerns relating to the continued access to video games, including licensed, online-only video games, and we appreciate the frustrations of players of some games that have been discontinued. The Government has responded to a recent petition on this issue.

There are no plans to amend existing consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) and Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), giving clear advice to consumers. Video game sellers must not omit or hide material information, or provide it in an unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely manner.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_22

Baroness Prentis of Banbury:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are considering adding the church choral tradition to the list of inventories under the UN Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. \p Baroness Twycross: Communities of practice will be able to submit their living heritage to the inventories when we open for submissions later this year. We would welcome a submission on church choral tradition.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_23

Lord Moynihan:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to bring forward legislation to make it illegal to resell tickets for events above the original face value, as applies in Ireland under the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021. \p Baroness Twycross: This government is committed to putting fans back at the heart of live events. We have committed to introducing new protections for consumers on ticket resales, and launched a consultation on 10th January to seek views on potential options. The consultation closed on the 4th April, and the responses are being considered. The Government will respond later in the summer to set out next steps.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_24

Lord Sarfraz:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the regional economic impact of generative artificial intelligence, particularly outside London and the South East. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The Government recognises the transformative economic potential of generative AI in the UK. While London and the South-East currently generate around 86% of UK AI Revenue, other regions, such as Manchester, Cambridge, and Edinburgh, are emerging as key innovation hubs. This includes £750 million of investment recently announced for the building of a new AI supercomputer, hosted at the University of Edinburgh.

Additionally, as HMG’s AIRR+ compute network can be accessed remotely, researchers across the country are now able to make use of the UK’s world-class sovereign compute, in order to train new cutting-edge AI models.

The North and South-West have the highest levels of business AI adoption outside of the greater South-East, suggesting industry in UK is harnessing the benefits of AI technology into their business practices.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_25

Lord Turnberg:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the immigration of scientists from other countries, including the United States, to the UK. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The UK has a world-leading science base, supported by four universities in the global top 10 and outstanding research institutions, we are committed to attracting the best international talent.

We have recently announced a new £54 million Global Talent Fund to attract top individuals – lead researchers and their teams – to the UK this financial year. This is just one part of over £115 million in funding dedicated to attracting top talent to the UK.

The Government is also committed to a competitive visa system, including simplified access to the Global Talent visa and expanded fast-track routes. These measures aim to attract exceptional individuals to supercharge growth in the UK’s strategic industries.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_26

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown:To ask His Majesty's Government how many migrants are claiming Universal Credit in the UK at present, and how many did so for each of the past three years. \p Baroness Sherlock: The Department recently published Universal Credit Immigration status and nationality summary statistics on GOV.UK and this shows that 96.0% of UC claimants are either citizens or have been living and contributing to the UK for a very long time.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_27

Lord Kempsell:To ask His Majesty's Government what work they have undertaken following the findings in the report by the National Audit Office The Motability scheme (HC xx-xxxx-xxxx), published on 7 December 2018, in particular in relation to the findings on the remuneration of senior staff. \p Baroness Sherlock: DWP is responsible for the disability benefits which passport people to the Motability scheme. Motability Foundation is a registered charity, incorporated by Royal Charter, to help disabled people with their mobility and transport needs. They own and have oversight of the Motability Scheme which is delivered by an independent commercial company Motability Operations.

The National Audit Office made a number of recommendations in their 2018 report. Those relating to remuneration of senior staff were directed to Motability and Motability Operations. The Department has worked closely with Motability Foundation since then in relation to developing a long-term strategy to put its charitable funding to best use and governance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_28

Lord Kempsell:To ask His Majesty's Government whether Motability Scheme support is available to applicants with (1) a food intolerance, (2) alcohol misuse, and (3) obsessive compulsive disorder; and if so, what are the reasons for making that support available. \p Baroness Sherlock: DWP is responsible for the disability benefits which passport people to the Motability Scheme. To be eligible for the Scheme individuals must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit such as enhanced mobility Personal Independence Payment, higher rate mobility Disability Living Allowance, War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement and Armed Forces Independence Payment (including equivalent Scottish benefits).

Disability benefits are awarded based on how conditions affect a claimant, a determination of their functional needs and not the condition itself.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_29

Lord Offord of Garvel:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of threats to national security as a result of importing clean energy industry infrastructure such as wind turbines and solar panels, in particular from China; and what steps they are taking to minimise those risks. \p Lord Wilson of Sedgefield: The department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. Investment in the energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security scrutiny – we take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

DESNZ works closely with industry and other government departments to maintain a detailed picture of ownership and foreign involvement in energy infrastructure, including for investors from key manufacturing regions such as China, other Asian countries, and Europe.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_30

The Lord Bishop of Norwich:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of decoupling electricity and gas prices. \p Lord Wilson of Sedgefield: As unabated gas generation is displaced and transitions to a reserve role, wholesale electricity prices will increasingly decouple from the price of gas. Accelerating the deployment of renewable generation, as we are through our Clean Power 2030 Mission, will reduce the frequency with which gas sets the marginal price, helping to rapidly decouple electricity from gas prices without the need for more complex arrangements. This will in turn reduce consumer exposure to volatile international gas prices.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-29 conversation_31

The Lord Bishop of Norwich:To ask His Majesty's Government what support will be available to schools to decarbonise following the closure of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. \p Lord Wilson of Sedgefield: More than £1 billion in public sector decarbonisation funding is still being invested through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) and Integrated Settlements with Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities through to 2028. Additionally, the government and Great British Energy committed approximately £80 million to support around 200 schools in England to install rooftop solar panels and complementary technologies. Each school on average could save up to an estimated £25 000 per year.

11 schools have already installed solar panels which is estimated to save £175 000 on their total energy bills. Great British Energy also awarded £10 million in grant funding to mayoral strategic authorities to roll out clean energy projects at the centre of communities. A significant proportion of this will be used for solar panels for schools across England.