theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase mental health clinical staff within the NHS. \p Baroness Merron: The Government recognises that more staff are needed. That is why, as part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future, we will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers to cut waiting times and provide faster treatment. We recognise that bringing in the staff needed will take time and we are working with NHS England on options to deliver this expansion of the mental health workforce.

More broadly, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the NHS. This plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention. A central part of this will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.

In summer 2025, we will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again. We will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of extending fracture liaison services to all integrated care boards; and what lessons they have drawn from the impact of fracture liaison services in other jurisdictions, including the devolved authorities. \p Baroness Merron: Fracture liaison services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model for secondary fracture prevention and can reduce the risk of refracture by up to 40%.

FLS are commissioned by integrated care boards, which make decisions according to local need. Officials continue to work closely with NHS England to explore a range of options to provide better quality and access to these important preventative services. This includes how best to support systems, who are responsible for commissioning.

We are considering evidence and examples from a wide range of sources, including existing services and the devolved administrations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Lord Oates:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take, following the Nuffield Health and Manchester Metropolitan University report Unlocking the 'miracle cure', published in December 2024, to support healthcare professionals in prescribing physical activity as part of routine NHS care. \p Baroness Merron: The Government has not made a specific assessment of the report. However, the Government welcomes the announcement of the new venture between Manchester Metropolitan University and Nuffield Health and will be keen to learn from this work as it delivers physical activity support to people living with chronic conditions.

The National Health Service, together with local authorities, provides a range of services such as exercise on referral and social prescribing, including exercise classes, falls prevention through strength and balance classes for older adults, walking groups and promotion of digital support like the NHS Active 10 walking app.

Interventions like the one in Manchester demonstrate the valuable work across local areas to embed movement into people’s care. There are other established examples of local NHS and local government approaches across the country that integrate physical activity into clinical care including perioperative care and cancer and cardiac rehabilitation.

NHS England is working closely with partners nationally and locally to explore how the NHS might galvanise support to make physical activity a core part of NHS care, to benefit patients, NHS staff and the wider public. By empowering clinicians and healthcare professionals with the skills and confidence to discuss and promote physical activity, by integrating it into key clinical pathways and by aligning it with Core20PLUS5 for adults, children and young people, the NHS could help to transform patient outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

Whilst the Government and NHS recognise the value of integrating physical activity into clinical care, prevention will always be better, and cheaper, than cure. The Health Mission, on which the Department leads, is focused on shifting towards a more preventative approach to healthcare.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the letter of 22 October signed by the Covid Airborne Transmission Alliance addressed to the chief nursing officers of the four nations about expert evidence provided to the Covid-19 Inquiry, particularly about the airborne transmission of the virus and other respiratory viruses; and when they expect a response to the letter to be issued. \p Baroness Merron: The Chief Nursing Officer for England has stated that a range of evidence on the issue of routes of transmission of COVID-19 was presented to the COVID-19 Inquiry during their examination of the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems across the United Kingdom.

A response from the UK Chief Nursing Officers to the letter from the Covid Airborne Transmission Alliance will be sent shortly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

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Lord Kempsell:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will exempt students in receipt of Music and Dance Scheme grants from paying VAT on independent school fees. \p Lord Livermore: Since 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by private schools in the UK for a charge have been subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This also applies to fees paid by students in receipt of the Music and Dance Scheme grants.

This is to ensure fairness and consistency across all schools that provide education services and vocational training for a charge.

However, the Department for Education has decided to adjust its Music and Dance Scheme bursary contribution for families with a relevant income below £45,000 to account for the VAT that will be applied on fees, ensuring that the total parental fee contributions for families with below average relevant incomes remain unchanged for the rest of the 2024/25 academic year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Baroness Deech:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 31 October (HL10875 and HL10876), and with reference to the Montevideo Convention and international law regarding recognition of a state, who they recognise as the government of the state of Palestine; where that government is located; and what are the boundaries of that state. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The Palestinian Authority is the legitimate governing authority of the Palestinian state. The UK recognises Palestinian statehood over provisional borders, based on 1967 lines with equal land swaps, to be finalised as part of future negotiations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Lord Roberts of Belgravia:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the Palestinian Authority has made payments to families of terrorists killed on 7 October 2023, and if so, what are the implications for their policy towards Palestine. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 13 November to Question HL11574.
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Lord Watson of Wyre Forest:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 26 September (HL10094), what discussions they have had with the Palestinian Authority about reports that it is providing funds to families of those killed while carrying out the attacks on 7 October 2023. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: In President Abbas' letter to President Macron, dated 9 June 2025, he set out his commitment to the principles of non-violence, the organisation of elections, the development of a school curriculum that is free from incitement, and the implementation of a new social security system, which will revoke so-called prisoner payments, and ensure that any future welfare payments are needs-based and delinked from violent actions. The Palestinian Authority must now ensure that an independent audit is conducted to verify that these reforms have been completed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with their Indian counterparts concerning recent reports of increasing arrests of Muslims in BJP-controlled states; and what diplomatic steps they are taking to protect that community. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK Government is committed to freedom of religion and faith for all, and to the protection of religious minorities. We condemn all forms of intimidation or persecution against individuals based on their religion or belief. Our High Commission in New Delhi and Deputy High Commissions across India track developments in this space and engage with civil society organisations and religious representatives to promote tolerance and respect between communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to promote the benefits of physical activity, including walking. \p Baroness Merron: The Government and the National Health Service recognise that reducing physical inactivity in people of all ages is important in helping people live longer, healthier lives. This is why in the 10-Year Health Plan, we committed to developing a national movement campaign led by Brendan Foster, with the aim of getting millions more people walking, and where possible, running. Wider cross-Government action is underway, including investment in grassroots sport and the development of a new Physical Education and school sports partnership network, all with the aim of increasing physical activity in children and adults.

The Government is also committed to making walking and wheeling safe, convenient, and accessible for everyone. To support this the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy is currently in development, with a public consultation underway.

The NHS Better Health campaign and NHS Active 10 walking app help raise awareness and provide free and accessible ways to help people build movement back into their everyday life.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Lord Harper:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of removing eligibility for the COVID-19 booster vaccine on people with learning disabilities. \p Baroness Merron: The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.

The JCVI has advised that population immunity to COVID-19 has been increasing due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, though it can still be unpleasant, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since COVID-19 first emerged.

The focus of the JCVI advised programme has therefore moved towards targeted vaccination of the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease and mortality. These are the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed. The JCVI’s full advice for autumn 2025 is available on the GOV.UK website, in an online only format. The Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice for autumn 2025 and in line with the advice a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to the following groups in autumn 2025:

As with other United Kingdom vaccination programmes, the JCVI’s advice on eligibility carefully considered the evidence on the risk of illness, serious disease, or death as a consequence of infection, in specific groups, as well as a cost-effectiveness analysis. The JCVI has engaged a number of organisations representing adults with learning disabilities to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility criteria.

The most recent Learning from Lives and Deaths: People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People Annual Report, based on 2023 data and published in September 2025, highlights how COVID-19 has fallen significantly as a cause of death in people with learning disabilities since the pandemic in 2021. Although it is important to caveat that the data in this report may not be complete for 2023 due to data collection issues, the trend observed provides reassurance that the risk of severe COVID-19 is much lower now than previously, including for people with a learning disability and autistic people.

As for all vaccines, the JCVI keeps the evidence under regular review.
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of (1) children and (2) adults who are accessing mental health support via artificial intelligence platforms after being unable to access statutory mental health services. \p Baroness Merron: No such assessment has been made. We recognise that people are facing unacceptably long waiting times to access mental health support. This is why we are transforming the current mental health system so that people can access the right support at the right time in the right place.

Building on the 10-Year Health Plan, the NHS Medium Term Planning Framework, published on 24 October 2025, sets targets for integrated care boards in 2026/27 to improve the quality of and access to mental health services. This includes expanding NHS Talking Therapies and expanding the coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges. This builds on the significant progress we’ve made since July 2024 to hire almost 7,000 extra mental health workers. And by spring next year, over 900,000 children and young people will have access to a Mental Health Support team in schools and colleagues.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will place the correspondence they have had with the Welsh Government regarding the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the Library of the House. \p Baroness Merron: The Government does not intend to place the requested advice or correspondence related to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill into the Library of the House.

Government advice and correspondence related to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is in line with Government policy to ensure coherence of the statute book, and to help to ensure the bill is workable, whilst remaining neutral on the matter of assisted dying. In relation to legislative consent motions, requesting legislative consent motions from Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland is a matter for the sponsor. The Government continues to offer technical advice to ensure the devolution settlement is respected.

The Department recognises the importance of promoting openness and transparency in Government. However, it is also in the public interest that the Government can engage confidentially with the sponsors of the bill, so that the advice the Department provides in relation to the operability and soundness of the bill can be free and frank, both in relation to this bill and any future private member’s bill where the Government engages closely with the sponsor.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 30 October (HL10679), other than the bill team, how many officials are working in (1) the Department of Health and Social Care, (2) NHS England, on evaluating or devising implementation of the policy set out in the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. \p Baroness Merron: The Government is neutral on the principle of assisted dying and whether the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill becomes law.

Currently there is no implementation team. Bill officials are currently working to fulfil the Government’s duty to the statue book, providing technical drafting support and technical workability advice on clauses. Should the bill gain Royal Assent, some of this work could be deployed to inform an implementation programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 25 September (HL10725), how many civil servants were (1) working on compiling the abortion statistics for England and Wales from 2023 onwards, and (2) how many additional civil servants have been working on these statistics as a result of the delay in publication. \p Baroness Merron: A range of people working in different roles, civil service grades, and professions work on compiling the abortion statistics for England and Wales. This includes analysts, data entry specialists, policy professionals, and publications and communications specialists, whose contributions towards the abortion statistics publication make up varying degrees of their core role. For this reason, it is not possible to fully quantify the number of individuals compiling the abortion statistics. However, in the two main teams, the Department’s abortion statistics and abortion data entry teams, the combined number of staff, which represent the number of individuals rather than the number of full-time equivalent staff, below Senior Civil Servant grade was nine on 2 January 2023 and 10 on 17 October 2025.
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Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish abortion statistics for England and Wales for 2023 by the end of this year. \p Baroness Merron: The publication date for abortion statistics for England and Wales for 2023 has not been confirmed. This is because of delays, 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.

Publication of the 2023 data is provisionally planned for winter 2025/26. We will announce the date for publication in due course.
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Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 25 September (HL10725), whether abortion statistics for England and Wales for the years (1) 2023 and (2) 2024 will be published in 2025. \p Baroness Merron: The publication dates of the Abortion Statistics for England and Wales publication for the years 2023 and 2024 have not yet been announced. Publication of the 2023 data is provisionally planned for winter 2025/26. We will announce the date of the 2024 data publication 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.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with integrated care boards to ensure community-based glaucoma services are commissioned in all areas of England. \p Baroness Merron: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing the health needs of their local population, and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them. Arrangements to meet local needs will differ across ICB geographies and could include commissioning community-based glaucoma services.

The Getting It Right First Time programme is currently developing best practice guidance for glaucoma services to support the adoption of high standards across the pathway, from detection onwards.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Lord Farmer:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the health implications for young people of smoking high-strength cannabis, including psychotic episodes; and what steps they are taking to raise awareness of those implications. \p Baroness Merron: The Government recognises the clear medical and scientific evidence of the harms of cannabis and is committed to reducing the harm from all illicit drugs. Any illegal drug use, including cannabis, can be harmful, due to both the immediate side-effects and long-term physical and mental health problems. Cannabis use can contribute to and exacerbate existing mental health problems or can accelerate their development in people predisposed to mental health problems

Taking cannabis in any form has risks. For instance, vaping supposed tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may increase the risk of users unwittingly consuming more dangerous substances like synthetic cannabinoids. Where there are incidents of synthetic cannabinoids in THC vapes, the local authority public health team and the Police should take action with partners to warn and protect their communities. The Department is tracking reports nationally and its regional teams are providing localised warnings and support.

The Department has recently launched a media campaign to raise awareness of the risks posed by new drug trends and products, including the adulteration of THC vapes with other drugs like synthetic cannabinoids.

The Government will continue to work with our partners to discourage drug use and to alert people, particularly young people, to the potential dangers of cannabis. The Government has a drug information and advice service called Talk to FRANK, which aims to reduce drug misuse and its harms by increasing awareness, particularly for young people and parents. Talk to FRANK offers easy to read information on the risks of using cannabis and basic harm reduction advice. Information on cannabis is available at the Talk to FRANK website, in an online only format.
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Lord Harper:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the extent, and (2) the quality, of specialist palliative care commissioning of (a) in-patient beds, (b) community support teams, (c) hospital support teams, and (d) 24/7 advice. \p Baroness Merron: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative care and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.

As set out in that guidance, this could be through universal services, for example general practitioners and community nursing services, or via specialist services where appropriate. However, not all patients will require specialist palliative or end of life care.

This guidance also makes specific reference to commissioners defining how their services will meet population needs 24/7 and includes a priority action for ensuring that staff, patients, and carers can access the care and advice they need, whatever time of day.

NHS England has developed a palliative care and end of life care dashboard, which brings together all relevant local data in one place. The dashboard helps commissioners understand the palliative care and end of life care needs of their local population.

Additionally, NHS England has a legal duty to annually assess the performance of each ICB in respect of each financial year and to publish a summary of its findings. This assessment must assess how well the ICB has discharged its functions.
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Lord Bradley:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the availability of comprehensive palliative care across England. \p Baroness Merron: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.  The statutory guidance states that ICBs must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of palliative care and end of life care services to meet the needs of their local populations.

NHS England has also developed a palliative care and end of life care dashboard, which brings together all relevant local data in one place. The dashboard helps commissioners understand the palliative care and end of life care needs of their local population.

The Department and NHS England are currently working at pace to develop plans on how best to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan. We will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative and end of life care services to ensure that services reduce variation in access and quality.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are promoting a multidisciplinary approach to the management of peripheral arterial disease that involves vascular surgeons, cardiologists, radiologists and primary care providers; and how that approach will be supported across the NHS. \p Baroness Merron: NHS England commissions the National Vascular Registry which provides information on the quality and outcomes of care for adults who had major vascular procedures in National Health Service hospitals. The registry produces quarterly and annual reports. It aims to support vascular services to provide high quality care for these people, and shares examples of good practice as well as highlighting areas which merit further investigation in order to improve care.

NHS England commissions vascular arterial care from a number of specialist centres to ensure appropriate management of peripheral arterial disease. The service specifications recommend a "hub and spoke" model, where a central, high-volume arterial centre, or the "hub", provides round-the-clock, specialist arterial surgery and complex endovascular interventions. A multi-disciplinary team approach is used and is hosted by the hub.
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government how the upcoming cardiovascular disease modern service framework will ensure that patients with peripheral arterial disease have equitable access to appropriate assessment, treatment and follow-up services across the NHS. \p Baroness Merron: To accelerate progress towards the Government’s ambition to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25% within a decade, we will publish a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework (CVD MSF) in 2026. The CVD MSF will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care whilst fostering innovation across the cardiovascular disease pathway.

The Department and NHS England are engaging widely throughout the development of the CVD MSF to ensure that we consider a range of conditions that impact on cardiovascular disease premature mortality, including peripheral arterial disease, and that we prioritise ambitious, evidence-led, and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment, and care.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the NHS provides sufficient and timely palliative care services for terminally ill patients, including through increasing staff, beds and funding. \p Baroness Merron: Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative care and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.

NHS England has also developed a palliative and end of life care dashboard, which brings together all relevant local data in one place.

Whilst the majority of these services are provided by National Health Service staff, we are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.

We are also providing £26 million in revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26.  I can also now confirm the continuation of this vital funding for the three years of the next Spending Review period, adjusted for inflation, from 2026/27 to 2028/29 inclusive.  This amounts to approximately £80 million over the next three years.

In the long-term, the Government and the NHS will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to ensure that services reduce variation in access and quality.

We will publish a new workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and to ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it, including at the end of life.
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Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with integrated care boards about commissioning community audiology services in all areas in England. \p Baroness Merron: Community audiology services are commissioned by integrated care boards (ICBs). The priorities and operational planning guidance states that systems are expected to put in place self-referral routes to community audiology services.

To raise awareness of self-referral to audiology services, NHS England is adding information on the relevant condition specific pages on the NHS.UK website. ICBs are responsible for ensuring that patients have the information they need to make decisions about their care, including if they have the option to self-refer to locally commissioned services.
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Lord Bradley:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the establishment of more hospices in England. \p Baroness Merron: The Government has set out that integrated care boards (ICBs) are required to commission palliative care and end of life care services to meet the needs of their local populations, which can include hospice services available within the ICB catchment.

We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. We are also committing £80 million for children’s and young people’s hospices over the next three financial years.
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Baroness Redfern:To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to communities to access media literacy education and bridge the digital divide. \p Baroness Lloyd of Effra: Government has adopted a holistic approach to digital inclusion, integrating digital skills and media literacy. The Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines steps towards delivering digital inclusion and bridging the digital divide, including supporting community initiatives for boosting digital skills and media literacy. Through our TechFirst programme, we are committed to giving one million students in schools and colleges across the UK the chance to develop their digital skills.

Under their Online Safety Act media literacy duties, Ofcom is developing a ‘place-based’ model to embed media literacy into community digital strategies, working with the Good Things Foundation to support Digital Inclusion Hubs to offer media literacy support.

Prevent’s network of Civil Society Organisations also deliver projects across England & Wales related to media literacy and critical thinking skills.
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Lord Kempsell:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will make an assessment of the ability of police and courts to detect and prosecute offences relating to coercion as set out in the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: As is standard when introducing a new offence, the Ministry of Justice will engage with criminal justice agencies, including the police, CPS, and judiciary, before commencement. These bodies will develop guidance and training through their respective organisations, such as the College of Policing and the Judicial College, to ensure officers and practitioners have the necessary powers, knowledge, and skills to detect and prosecute offences under the Bill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_24

Lord Freyberg:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the acquisition of Barchester Healthcare by Welltower on market concentration in the care-home sector in London and the South East of England. \p Baroness Lloyd of Effra: Government has not made a specific assessment of the impact of Welltower’s acquisition of Barchester Healthcare on market concentration in London and the Southeast. Merger investigations on competition grounds are a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which operates independently of Government. The CMA determines which transactions to review based on statutory thresholds and whether there is a realistic prospect of a substantial lessening of competition.

The Government keeps the merger control regime under regular review to ensure it remains fit for purpose and works effectively within the current regulatory environment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_25

Lord Freyberg:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the thresholds or guidance under which mergers in the care home sector are referred to the Competition and Markets Authority. \p Baroness Lloyd of Effra: Merger referral thresholds and guidance sit within a well-established statutory framework, designed to ensure that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) can act where there is a realistic prospect of harm to competition. The merger control regime is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains effective and fit for purpose. To improve clarity, the Government will consult on potential amendments to the “material influence” and “share of supply” tests that underpin the CMA’s jurisdiction.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_26

Lord Freyberg:To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Competition and Markets Authority has undertaken reviews of the acquisitions of (1) Barchester Healthcare, and (2) HC-ONE assets, by Welltower; and whether they considered the proportion of residents in homes run by those companies that are self-funded as part of those reviews. \p Baroness Lloyd of Effra: Merger investigations by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are independent of Government. The CMA reviews mergers that meet certain criteria, for example the size of the company being acquired, and whether it believes the merger could result in a substantial lessening of competition.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_27

Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest estimate of the likely cost to the public purse of the settlement of the compensation claims against the Post Office for wrongful action against sub-postmasters. \p Baroness Lloyd of Effra: At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government set aside £1.8 billion of funding for redress payments from 2024-25 in addition to around £200 million that had already been distributed. This £1.8 billion is not a target or a limit. Details of the latest redress estimates have already been disclosed in the Departments Annual Accounts. The final amount will depend on how many victims come forward and their specific circumstances.

As of 31 October 2025, approximately £1.273 billion has been paid to over 9,500 claimants.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_28

Lord Foster of Bath:To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of sites of special scientific interest in each county in England are in a favourable condition. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: On 1 April 2023 Natural England changed from a unit (or area)-based assessment and reporting process to one based on the features within each site, called Whole Feature Assessment. A feature is a habitat, species, or geological characteristic for which the site is important.

The table below shows the percentage of Sites of Special Scientific Interest features in each county that are assessed as being in favourable condition as of 31st October 2025:

County

% of SSSI features in  favourable condition

Bedfordshire

40.0%

Berkshire

68.7%

Bristol

45.2%

Buckinghamshire

57.1%

Cambridgeshire

41.8%

Cheshire

27.3%

Cornwall

51.5%

Cumbria

36.9%

Derbyshire

28.0%

Devon

46.8%

Dorset

23.0%

Durham

40.8%

East Riding of Yorkshire

49.5%

East Sussex

34.5%

Essex

43.6%

Gloucestershire

49.9%

Greater London

62.1%

Greater Manchester

36.2%

Hampshire

35.2%

Herefordshire

35.4%

Hertfordshire

50.0%

Isle of Wight

46.0%

Kent

39.9%

Lancashire

43.4%

Leicestershire

40.4%

Lincolnshire

47.9%

Merseyside

23.6%

Norfolk

42.4%

North Yorkshire

46.5%

Northamptonshire

37.0%

Northumberland

39.3%

Nottinghamshire

17.4%

Oxfordshire

55.2%

Rutland

51.1%

Shropshire

46.7%

Somerset

38.0%

South Yorkshire

43.1%

Staffordshire

18.2%

Suffolk

37.0%

Surrey

50.8%

Tyne & Wear

46.5%

Warwickshire

68.7%

West Midlands

45.3%

West Sussex

26.5%

West Yorkshire

35.1%

Wiltshire

44.1%

Worcestershire

48.4%

.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_29

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking both domestically and internationally to protect and support sunfish populations. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: While not a permanent resident in UK waters, sunfish are known to visit our seas during the summer months to feed. Sunfish are not commercially caught in the UK, and the sale of products derived from them is prohibited under UK legislation. We are taking action to protect and improve the marine environment and are committed to the global target to protect at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_30

Lord Foster of Bath:To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of rivers in each county in England are in a good overall condition. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The most recent comprehensive assessment in 2019 shows that 16% of rivers in England are achieving good ecological status. This information is available on the Environment Agency’s Catchment Data Explorer, where it is presented for individual water bodies, river catchments and river basin districts. The next comprehensive assessment of the condition of the water environment is underway and will be published next year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_31

Lord Berkeley:To ask His Majesty's Government what are the permitted means and locations for the disposal of lithium-ion batteries after they have expired in motor vehicles. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles are classified as “waste industrial batteries” once they can no longer be used in a vehicle. Sometimes they are repurposed for something else, for example, energy storage. Otherwise, they must be sent to an appropriate battery recycling facility — they cannot be disposed of, for example, incinerated or landfilled.

The battery recycling centres in England must be approved and have the right environmental permits from the Environment Agency. You can find a list of these approved facilities online in the Environment Agency’s Public Register Public Registers Online.

Some batteries may be sent to another country for recycling. If so, they must go through an approved exporter. These exporters are also listed in the same Public Register.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_32

Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland's finding that 26 percent of the 1,720 native plants it studied are threatened with extinction; and what plans they have to protect such species. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: In England, we have four legally binding targets for biodiversity: to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030; to reverse declines by at least 10% by 2042, when compared with 2030; to reduce the risk of national species extinction by 2042; and to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat, also by 2042.

To meet these targets and deliver positive outcomes for species, including threatened plants, we are taking actions to: create and restore, wildlife-rich habitats; reduce pressures on biodiversity; and deliver targeted action for threatened species. For example, Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme provides funding for targeted action for threatened species, including a range of plant species such as the Fen orchid and the Lady Slipper orchid.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-11-13 conversation_33

Lord Empey:To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to reports that a former client of the Attorney General, Mahdi Al Harati, is bringing legal proceeding against them, what steps they have taken to avoid any conflicts of interest arising in this case. \p Lord Hermer: It is an important legal principle, as confirmed by the Bar Council, that “barristers do not choose their clients, nor do they associate themselves with their clients’ opinions or behaviour by virtue of representing them”.

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

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has an established and rigorous process for identifying and dealing with conflicts, and potential conflicts, that arise from the Law Officers’ past practice. That check will necessarily include consideration of matters in which a Law Officer was instructed before taking up their current role. That process sits against the backdrop of every lawyer’s professional obligation to be alert to, and actively manage, any situation that might give rise to a potential or actual conflict.

This rigorous process for identifying and managing conflicts sits alongside the system relating to ministerial interests, overseen by the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards. Both the Director General of the AGO and the Independent Adviser were provided with the Attorney General’s list of conflicts following his appointment.