theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Baroness Hodgson of Abinger:To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total projected cost of housing migrants and refugees in hotels and other accommodation for each year from 2025 to 2028. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: It remains our absolute commitment to end the use of hotels over time, as part of our reduction in overall asylum accommodation costs. The Home Office will continue to publish accurate end-of-year information on actual asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Baroness Altmann:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to counter Iranian state activities in the UK, particularly with regard to the Al Quds Day marches on 23 March. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: This Government will always take threats to the UK incredibly seriously. On 4 March, the Government announced a concerted package of measures to counter the threat from the Iranian Intelligence Services. This includes our decision to specify Iran on the Enhanced Tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), which will require individuals and organisations directed by Iran to conduct activity in the UK to register with the Home Office. Failure to do so will be a criminal offence.

Peaceful protest is a vital part of our democratic society. However, the right to peacefully protest does not extend to behaviour that is violent or causes harassment, alarm or distress to others. Should a protest contravene the law, the police have the powers to respond.

The Metropolitan Police Service had a significant policing plan in place – including conditions under sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act – during the Al Quds Day march on 23 March. The use of these powers and the management of demonstrations are an operational matter for the police, and Government Ministers are unable to intervene in individual cases or in operational decisions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Viscount Waverley:To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they gave to UK involvement in the proposed transcontinental railway connecting the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, requiring 4.6 million tons of steel, and of the impact of the project on the British steel, engineering, manufacturing and logistics sectors. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: The project referenced is at an early stage, however the Department for Business and Trade is actively involved in a range of railway projects in Africa. Through its network of staff, DBT supports UK companies access opportunities in the rail, engineering and manufacturing sectors, creating UK jobs and growth.

Recent examples include:

- A Letter of Intent signed last year between the Southern African Railway Association (SARA) and the UK Railway Association, committing to explore priority rail corridors in Southern Africa, which also includes the Tanzanian, Angolan and DR Congo railway companies

- There have also been notable commercial successes in recent years, including Alstom winning a £2.3billion contract for the 61-mile monorail network in Cairo in 2019. In total, 272 Cairo Monorail cars were assembled and tested at the company's site in Derby, supporting hundreds of jobs across the UK.
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Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the implementation of the Employment Rights Bill on the success of British farming. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: On Monday 21 October, the Government published 24 Impact Assessments, providing a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis includes an assessment of impacts on sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing and construction. Our Impact Assessments provide initial analysis of the impacts that could follow, and we will continue to refine that as policy development progresses. Final impacts will depend on further policy decisions that are for secondary legislation. We have committed to full consultation on the implementation of this legislation, and expect this to begin this year, ensuring reforms work for employers and workers alike.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Baroness Wolf of Dulwich:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact on apprenticeship numbers of the measures included in the Employment Rights Bill, including the proposed extension of protections against unfair dismissal to day one of employment. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: In October, Government published 24 Impact Assessments representing a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis shows that the Bill is expected to benefit younger workers, typically disproportionately represented in low paid, low quality, insecure jobs.

The Employment Rights Bill will make basic protection against unfair dismissal a day one right for all employees. The new statutory probation period will provide lighter-touch standards for employers to dismiss an employee who is not suitable. These standards will also apply to apprenticeships and training contracts, requiring adequate evidence to justify dismissal on conduct or capability.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Lord Kempsell:To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in developing their industrial strategy; and whether they remain on track to publish the full strategy in 2025. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: Last October, the Government launched a consultation on how we can make the UK the most attractive country for business investment and drive long-term growth across the UK through targeted measures to support eight growth-driving sectors.

The consultation received more than 27,000 answers, from over 3,000 organisations and individuals. Detailed analysis and engagement are being conducted to distil themes, develop policy interventions, and identify opportunities to take a partnership approach to tackling barriers. Advice is also being provided by the new Industrial Strategy Advisory Council.

The full Industrial Strategy alongside Sector Plans for the growth-driving sectors, will be published alongside the multi-year Spending Review, as planned.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Baroness Hodgson of Abinger:To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of proposed cuts to overseas aid spending, whether they plan to reduce the headcount of staff; and how they will ensure the necessary technical staff are retained to deliver on the UK’s commitments. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: As part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review, all departments are expected to meet savings and efficiencies of more than 5% of their Financial Year 2025-26 budgets by the end of the period (Financial Year 2028-29). Detail of these proposals will be confirmed once the Spending Review concludes. The proposed cuts to overseas aid spending will also be confirmed through the Spending Review. The UK government is committed to ensuring it has the development capability and technical expertise needed to deliver its ambition on international development.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has already taken action. Since the merger, the department has strengthened the technical expertise required to boost capabilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that skilled video game developers and producers remain in the United Kingdom. \p Baroness Twycross: The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s video games sector, which brings economic, cultural and social benefits across the UK.

The Video Games Expenditure Credit continues to make the UK one of the leading destinations in the world for making video games, offering companies credit equal to 34% of their qualifying expenditure.

The Government has also announced £5.5 million funding for the UK Games Fund (UKGF) for 2025/26, which will provide grants to early-stage studios across the UK to develop prototypes and new intellectual property, and run development programmes for new graduates.

Additionally, video games companies can benefit from the UK Global Screen Fund for international business development, and access support from the Create Growth Programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay:To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) public, and (2) community, libraries have been visited by the Minister of State for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism during his time as Minister for Libraries between July 2024 and April 2025. \p Baroness Twycross: The Minister contributed to the 25th anniversary of the Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge, as well as The British Library’s National StartUp Day.

After a change in the ministerial portfolios within DCMS, from 1 April 2025, I have now taken up the role as Minister with responsibilities for libraries.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the soft skills children and adults can develop through playing video games, and whether these can improve employment prospects. \p Baroness Twycross: The government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s video games sector, and this includes considering the impact of the sector’s activities and the economic, cultural and social benefits it brings across the UK.

Research conducted by the National Literacy Trust shows that gaming can support the development of skills like creativity, communication and literacy. These skills are particularly important for employability and serve not only creative industries, but prepare people for jobs across the whole economy - in 2020, there were 1,297,000 people in creative occupations outside of the creative industries.

To support the sector to thrive and continue developing soft skills in individuals, the government has announced £5.5 million funding for the UK Games Fund (UKGF) for 2025/26. This will provide grants to early-stage studios across the UK to develop prototypes and new intellectual property, and run development programmes for new graduates. Additionally, video games companies benefit from the Video Games Expenditure Credit, UK Global Screen Fund, and access support from the Create Growth Programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Baroness Deech:To ask His Majesty's Government on what authority The Royal Parks closed Victoria Tower Gardens on 23 April for the 80th Anniversary National Holocaust Commemoration. \p Baroness Twycross: Access and usage of Victoria Tower Gardens is managed by the Royal Parks under its Contract for Services with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. We do not have any plans to restrict future closures of Victoria Tower Gardens.

Holocaust commemoration events have historically been held at the existing Holocaust Memorial in Hyde Park. Further to the previous agreement to use Victoria Tower Gardens for the Yom HaShoah commemorations in 2024, the Royal Parks sought the department’s views on the continued use of the Gardens on behalf of the event organisers. DCMS agreed to the continued use of Victoria Tower Gardens for commemoration of the 80th Anniversary National Holocaust Commemoration, Yom HaShoah, on 23rd April 2025.
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Lord Clement-Jones:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to tackle fraudulent advertising that falls outside the scope of the Online Safety Act 2023 provisions to combat paid-for fraudulent advertising on major platforms. \p Baroness Twycross: In 2022, DCMS consulted on the effectiveness of the self-regulatory framework for paid-for online advertising, with responses providing insight on a range of online advertising harms, including fraud. Alongside the consultation, research commissioned from independent digital media consultancy, Spark Ninety, analysed online advertising harms, the online advertising market and regulatory landscape. This included an overview of the open display advertising market and its associated supply chain and harms, including fraudulent advertising.

In addition to the fraudulent advertising duty in the Online Safety Act, the Online Advertising Taskforce, which brings together government and industry, was set up to help address these issues. The Taskforce aims to ensure the UK online advertising industry can grow sustainably while providing the necessary protections for consumers. It is working towards improving transparency, accountability and trust in the online advertising supply chain, continuing to build the evidence base and delivering a programme of work to help address fraudulent and other illegal advertising. It is also working to increase protections against children being served advertising for products and services that may not lawfully be sold to them.

In our manifesto the Government also committed to introducing an expanded Fraud Strategy, covering the continued and modern-day threats our society faces. Development of the strategy has begun and we are considering all harms, including fraudulent online advertising.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Lord Birt:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to require foreign currency cash exchange services for consumers to display (1) the live interbank exchange rate, and (2) the commission charged. \p Lord Livermore: The Payment Services Regulations 2017 make requirements on UK payment service providers regarding disclosure of fees and charges to the payer where currency conversion is provided as part of a payment transaction. Provisions under the Cross Border Payments Regulation, also contribute to price transparency, with further requirements regarding how foreign exchange costs are communicated before a payment is made.

The Government recognises the importance of transparency of fees and charges in ensuring effective competition between payment service providers. These regulations, amongst other things, are intended to enable consumers to make informed decisions when making use of payment services including where currency conversion is offered as part of a payment transaction.
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Lord Spellar:To ask His Majesty's Government how many nuclear certified welders there are currently in the United Kingdom. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero does not produce their own figures on the number of welders in the United Kingdom.
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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government what regulations govern practitioners who are not registered healthcare professionals performing non-therapeutic male circumcision. \p Baroness Merron: There is no legal requirement for an individual undertaking male circumcision to be medically trained or to have proven expertise, but any registered healthcare professional carrying out non-therapeutic male circumcision (NTMC) cannot optout of core duties and responsibilities. Non-medically trained individuals carrying out NTMC are outside the scope of the Care Quality Commission’s regulation.

The British Medical Association has published a toolkit providing practical guidance for individuals, including on parental consent and the best interests of the patient, which includes consideration of social and cultural circumstances, and should be followed by anyone carrying out this procedure. The General Medical Council also recognises that male circumcision can be carried out for religious and cultural reasons and provides guidance for doctors on personal beliefs and medical practice.
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Lord Kempsell:To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the transfer of functions carried out by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to the UK Health Security Agency's new site in Harlow in Essex, including an explanation of the delay to this project, when it is expected to be completed, and whether anyone has been found responsible for this delay and held to account. \p Baroness Merron: The Science Hub Programme aims to upgrade and modernise the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) high-containment facilities, to ensure that we can continue to protect the nation's health in the long-term. This programme will not impact the location of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, which will remain at the Porton Down site.

The Government has noted the delay to the project and is urgently assessing the available options. These include moving the majority of the UKHSA’s Porton Down facilities to Harlow, and refurbishing existing facilities at Porton Down and Colindale. The decision-making process will be concluded in the ongoing Spending Review. We have also reformed the governance of the programme to establish clear lines of accountability.
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Lord Sharkey:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will appoint a National Clinical Director for Rare Diseases following the integration of NHS England into the Department of Health and Social Care. \p Baroness Merron: Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases. NHS England and the Department are strongly supportive of clinical leadership and recognise the critical need to incorporate clinical expertise into our work. The national clinical directors are a key part of this approach and play an important role in policy development and implementation.

We are currently in the initial phases of scoping and designing a new integrated Department that aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our healthcare system. As part of this process, we are carefully considering the future role of national clinical directors. While no specific decisions have been made yet, we are open to considering the benefit of appointing a National Clinical Director for Rare Diseases following the integration of NHS England into the Department, subject to funding arrangements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Baroness Hollins:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are considering taking to improve healthcare provision and accessibility for individuals with Down Syndrome. \p Baroness Merron: The Government is committed to improving outcomes for people with Down syndrome.

Through implementation of the Down Syndrome Act 2022, we will improve the lives of people with Down syndrome by improving their access to services, including health and care services. NHS England has published statutory guidance requiring every integrated care board (ICB) to identify a member of its board to lead on supporting the ICB to perform its functions effectively in the interest of people with Down syndrome.

Under the Down Syndrome Act, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is required to give guidance to the relevant authorities in health, social care, education, and housing services on what they should be doing to meet the needs of people with Down syndrome.

The guidance will raise awareness of the specific needs of people with Down syndrome and bring together in one place everything that the relevant authorities should already be doing to support people with Down syndrome. A working draft of the Down syndrome statutory guidance was shared with sector partners in December 2024. Officials have been working through the feedback received and have engaged all relevant Government departments to produce a second draft of the guidance. The Minister of State for Care wrote to sector partners with an update in March 2025. We intend to publish the draft guidance for consultation by the summer, including easy read versions.

Beyond the Down syndrome guidance, under the Equality Act 2010 health and social care organisations must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged. Since 2016, all National Health Service organisations and publicly funded social care providers are expected to meet the Accessible Information Standard, which details the recommended approach to supporting the information and communication support needs of patients and carers with a disability.
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Baroness Hollins:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to develop an easy-read version of the Down Syndrome Act 2022. \p Baroness Merron: The Down Syndrome Act 2022 was published with explanatory notes to assist the reader in understanding the act. Under the Down Syndrome Act, My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is required to give guidance to the relevant authorities in health, social care, education, and housing services on what they should be doing to meet the needs of people with Down syndrome.

A call for evidence on the guidance under the Down Syndrome Act was launched on 19 July 2022 and ran for 16 weeks. An easy read version of the call for evidence was published which included an overview of the Down Syndrome Act, and which is available on the GOV.UK website. The Department has engaged with stakeholders on the call for evidence, including sharing an easy read version of a draft summary of the results.

We intend to issue the draft guidance for public consultation by the summer, including easy read versions.
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The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve treatment of people with bipolar disorder. \p Baroness Merron: It is unacceptable that too many people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long, including for people with bipolar disorder. We are determined to change that.

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future, we will provide access to a specialist mental health professional in every school in England, create a network of open access community Young Futures hubs, recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers to cut wait times and provide faster treatment, and modernise the Mental Health Act.

We are also committed to new models of care for mental health, including reforming care for people experiencing a mental health crisis. We are testing neighbourhood mental health centres for people aged 18 years old and over with serious mental illness. These six pilot schemes are based in Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Sheffield, York, Birmingham, and Whitehaven.

These pilots will offer 24/7 open access care closer to home, with an integrated service that includes healthcare providers, local authorities, and the voluntary sector. They build on international evidence that shows that similar models have led to a reduction in hospitalisation and waiting times, and support our efforts to move more care into the community.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Lord Randall of Uxbridge:To ask His Majesty's Government when the last funding reviews of (1) the Medical Research Council, and (2) the National Institute for Health and Care Research, took place, and when the next funding reviews will be undertaken. \p Baroness Merron: The 2024 Autumn Budget set 2025/26 departmental budgets, including funding for health and social care research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC). The current Spending Review, which will conclude in June, will consider levels of Government funding for health and social care research through the NIHR, the MRC, and elsewhere for subsequent years.
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Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the broader use of NHS transformation initiatives, such as patient-initiated follow-up and shared decision-making. \p Baroness Merron: The Government's Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025 and shared with all National Health Service trusts, exemplifies our dedication to NHS transformation. It sets out a wide-ranging package of reforms, such as increasing patient initiated follow up (PIFU) to 5% of outpatient appointments by March 2029. We are supporting NHS trusts to deliver transformation initiatives like PIFU through innovation, sharing best practice to increase productivity and efficiency, and ensuring the best value is delivered. NHS England has detailed national guidance for trusts with various resources to help implement transformation initiatives.

Shared decision making between patients and clinicians ensures patients are empowered to make informed choices about their care. Investment and development of digital platforms is key to that, including our commitments to go further on the NHS App, the Federated Data Platform and the electronic referral service. These efforts will facilitate shared decision making through improved information for patients on waiting times and better two-way communication between patients and healthcare teams. In addition, our introduction of a new £20 payment per Advice and Guidance (A&G) request for general practitioners, to support stepping up A&G, demonstrates how we are supporting initiatives which transform how primary and secondary care work together to provide seamless patient care.
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Lord Randall of Uxbridge:To ask His Majesty's Government whether the forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include diffuse astrocytoma brain tumours and all grades of brain tumour subtypes. \p Baroness Merron: The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for all cancer patients, including those with brain tumours.

Although low-grade brain tumours are generally non-cancerous, they can have similar, serious symptoms and require surgery or radiotherapy to treat. The Government has invested in new lifesaving and life-improving research, supporting those diagnosed and living with brain tumours.

The plan will include further details on how we will speed up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, ultimately bringing this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the coverage rates and impact on hospitalisations of the maternal vaccination programme for respiratory syncytial virus; and what steps are being taken to improve them. \p Baroness Merron: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors trends in vaccine coverage. Trends in maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine uptake are published on the GOV.UK website.

The UKHSA also undertakes monitoring and evaluation of immunisation programmes, including the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing hospital admissions. Monitoring and evaluation work has begun for the new RSV programmes which launched in September 2024. The maternal programme will be assessed once sufficient data is available.

NHS England has been working with systems, stakeholders, and partners to increase awareness and uptake of the RSV vaccine amongst pregnant women, since the launch of the vaccine on 1 September 2024. NHS England continues to share resources and information with maternity leads, and maternity services commissioned to deliver the RSV programme are encouraged to have vaccination discussions with pregnant women early in pregnancy, so there are multiple contacts along the pregnancy pathway with health care professionals for vaccination promotion and discussion.
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Baroness Finlay of Llandaff:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps, if any, they are taking to improve outcomes from screening and treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in newborns; and what plans, if any, they have to support comparative effectiveness research into the routine clinical pathways for DDH overseen by the UK National Screening Committee. \p Baroness Merron: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) welcomes proposals to improve the Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) programme, which offers screening for the development dysplasia of the hip. Proposals to modify the programme can be submitted to the UK NSC via its annual call for topics. To date the UK NSC has not received a request to review the current programme. The UK NSC is also aware that the National Institute for Health and Care Research has funded a research fellowship to explore screening for hip dysplasia, and looks forward to reading its published report in due course.
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Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the major conditions strategy. \p Baroness Merron: Work on the Major Conditions Strategy was paused in July 2024. As we develop our plans to rebuild the National Health Service, we will consider how we incorporate the findings from the Major Conditions Strategy into our plans.

The 10-Year Health Plan will focus on the three shifts needed to deliver a modern NHS: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. We want to see more tests and scans in the community, in high street settings, reducing the need for people to take multiple trips to hospitals to get diagnosed.

The 10-Year Health Plan will describe a shared vision for the health and care system in 2035, drawing directly from the extensive engagement underway with the public, patients, and staff. The plan will include how care models and pathways will need to change or evolve to better meet patient needs, and the cultural and behavioural changes we want to see.

The Department, following the merger with NHS England, will continue the work undertaken by NHS England to improve the services for major conditions in line with the vision of the 10 Year Plan.
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Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the NHS 10 Year Health Plan will improve the integration of NHS services for patients with multiple long-term conditions. \p Baroness Merron: We have committed to develop a 10-Year Health Plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future. While it’s too soon to say exactly what will be in the plan, it will set the vision for what good joined-up care looks like for people with long-term complex health needs.

We are assessing the costs and benefits of the 10-Year Health Plan by utilising analysis and evidence from across NHS England and the Department, as well as external sources. This includes an assessment of the impacts on different groups that may be affected.

The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts, from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their long-term conditions, closer to home. Earlier diagnosis of conditions will help prevent deterioration and improve survival rates. All of these are relevant to managing and improving long-term conditions in all parts of the county.
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK’s vaccination programme for infant respiratory syncytial virus relative to other comparable countries with differing approaches such as the Republic of Ireland, Spain and France. \p Baroness Merron: The United Kingdom’s maternal immunisation programme to protect infants started in September 2024 and is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI last met in February 2025 and noted promising data shared confidentially from a UK study, BronchStop, on maternal vaccine effectiveness against infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalisation.

Spain and France introduced programmes to protect infants using the long-acting monoclonal antibody nirsevimab for the 2023/24 RSV season, and this was also introduced in the Republic of Ireland in 2024/25. The JCVI has noted the impact of the programmes in France and Spain in showing a substantive reduction in RSV associated hospitalisations during the 2023/24 RSV season.

The JCVI continues monitor real world evidence as it becomes available and will keep the UK programme under review.
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that patients at higher-risk of severe infection from infant respiratory syncytial virus, such as those with a pre-existing condition or born pre-term, are protected before winter. \p Baroness Merron: In line with independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programmes were introduced in England in September 2024 to protect infants, via maternal vaccination, and older adults at the greatest risk of harm from RSV infection. The JCVI did not provide advice on other groups, as the analysis that informed their advice looked at burden by age.

The National Health Service offers high-risk eligible infants a monoclonal antibody called palivizumab over the RSV season. Palivizumab is typically reserved for premature infants with specific major underlying medical conditions. In February 2023, the JCVI advised that existing infant risk groups eligible for RSV monoclonal antibody immunisation should preferentially be protected with nirsevimab over palivizumab. In October 2024, the committee supported work being taken forward for such a programme for all very/extremely premature infants, ideally from 2025/26. However, to date it has not been possible for the NHS to obtain a supply of nirsevimab for the programme. We are continuing to explore all options to ensure there is effective protection against severe RSV illness for this high-risk group.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-30 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-30 conversation_34

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all infants born pre-term or those with pre-existing conditions that put them at higher risk are offered protection via immunisation from respiratory syncytial virus. \p Baroness Merron: The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme to protect newborn infants, via maternal vaccination, was introduced in England in September 2024, in line with independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The National Health Service has also offered high-risk eligible infants a monoclonal antibody called palivizumab over the RSV season since 2010, and continues to do so. Palivizumab is typically reserved for premature infants with specific major underlying medical conditions.

In February 2023, the JCVI advised that existing infant risk groups eligible for RSV monoclonal antibody immunisation should preferentially be protected with nirsevimab over palivizumab. In October 2024, the committee supported work being taken forward for a monoclonal antibody programme to protect all very/extremely premature infants, ideally from 2025/26.

To date it has not been possible for the NHS to obtain a supply of nirsevimab for the monoclonal antibody programme. We are exploring all options to ensure there is effective protection against severe RSV illness for these high-risk groups.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-30 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-30 conversation_35

Lord Freyberg:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) benefits and (2) risks of using wearable technology and AI-driven monitoring systems to track vital signs in patients who are prescribed semaglutide; and whether those systems could be used to automatically alert healthcare providers or patients in the event of adverse reactions. \p Baroness Merron: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published early value assessment guidance on digital technologies for delivering multidisciplinary weight management services. This includes recommendations on which technologies can be used in the National Health Service to prescribe and monitor obesity medicines and deliver multidisciplinary weight-management services in adults.

The Department has not commissioned, and has no current plans to commission, research or an assessment into the use of artificial intelligence or wearable technology for people using obesity medicines. However, we recognise the potential of artificial intelligence, wearable technologies, and monitoring systems to support people’s health and care, including through the monitoring of vital signs.

Whilst we have not made a specific assessment of their use in patients prescribed semaglutide, we are actively exploring where these technologies can be safely, effectively, and appropriately used in the health and care system. Ensuring the safe integration of wearable technologies and artificial intelligence into clinical pathways requires careful consideration and collaboration with clinicians, patients, and technology developers.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-30 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-30 conversation_36

Lord Randall of Uxbridge:To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding they have spent and how much funding they have allocated for research into the treatment of (1) astrocytoma brain tumours and (2) low grade gliomas in each of the past 10 years. \p Baroness Merron: Over the last ten years, the Department has invested £407,665 across three projects into research for astrocytoma brain tumours, and £632,742 across four projects into research for low grade gliomas through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

More broadly, in the five years between 2018/19 and 2022/23, the NIHR has directly invested £11.3 million in brain cancer research projects and programmes across 15 awards, with wider investments in NIHR research infrastructure, including facilities, services, and the research workforce, at a value of an estimated £31.5 million 2022/23, and has enabled 227 brain cancer research studies to take place over the same period. In total NIHR investments have enabled 8,500 people to participate in potentially life-changing research in the National Health Service over this time.

Over five years between 2020 and 2024, the Medical Research Council (MRC) also committed £12.6 million to brain tumour research, including £7.4 million for glioma research. This includes two PhD studentships related to low grade glioma. The MRC did not commit any specific funding for astrocytoma research in this period.

In September 2024, the NIHR announced new research funding opportunities for brain cancer research, spanning both adult and paediatric populations. Further details can be found on the NIHR’s website, in an online only format.

The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including astrocytoma brain tumours and low-grade gliomas. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-30 conversation_37

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve (1) the outcomes and (2) the experiences, of patients living with long-term conditions. \p Baroness Merron: The Government’s ambition is to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting.

Most services for long-term conditions are commissioned locally by integrated care boards, which are best placed to plan the provision of local services subject to local prioritisation and funding. Once diagnosed, and with a management strategy in place, people with long term conditions can usually be cared for through routine access to local primary, secondary, and community care services.

For the longer term, the Government is developing a 10-Year Health Plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed, to move healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention. This will include care and support for people with long term conditions.

We also continue to invest in health research for the management of long term conditions through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Medical Research Council, and UK Research and Innovation.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-30 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-30 conversation_38

Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of relative gross median earnings from full-time employment among (1) men aged 16 to 24 and (2) women aged 16 to 24. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.

The Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

16 April 2025

Dear Lady Monckton,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has been made of relative gross median earnings from full-time employment among (1) men aged 16 to 24 and (2) women aged 16 to 24 (HL6658).

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)[1], carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. ASHE is based on a 1% sample of employee jobs taken from HM Revenue and Customs' Pay As You Earn (PAYE) records.

The median gross weekly earnings in April 20241, which is the latest available data from ASHE, for men aged 16-24 in full-time employment2 was £535, and for women aged 16-24 in full-time employment2 it was £512.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

1Estimates for 2024 are provisional.

2Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-30 conversation_39

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relative impact of providing (1) a PIN telephone system, and (2) in-cell telephones, on the number of calls prisoners and young offenders make to (a) family members, (b) support workers, and (c) others in the community. \p Lord Timpson: In-cell telephony has now superseded the former PIN system in all prisons in the closed estate. The introduction of in-cell telephony across the prison estate has significantly improved the ability of prisoners and young people to access support, and to establish and maintain relationships.

We know phone calls help prisoners maintain family ties and relationships which are vital to their rehabilitation and, therefore, cutting crime.

The table below provides an annual breakdown of call volumes and time spent on calls, since 2013, in prisons managed by HM Prison & Probation Service. The figure for 2024 (*) covers the six months up to 30 June.

Year

Calls

Minutes

2024*

37,876,209

263,998,312

2023

76,813,827

528,401,873

2022

78,485,958

563,391,699

2021

81,386,508

576,909,923

2020

69,111,893

465,858,221

2019

36,183,024

187,005,935

2018

31,454,100

155,589,732

2017

26,503,625

123,021,020

2016

25,004,192

109,798,759

2015

26,500,702

112,093,506

2014

28,164,497

117,452,587

2013

29,776,703

126,517,473

It would not be possible to provide the requested disaggregation of calls by type of recipient without incurring disproportionate cost.