theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Baroness Alexander of Cleveden:To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in helping to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: As penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council, the UK continues to call out atrocities committed in Sudan and press for a peaceful end to the conflict. On 15 April, the Foreign Secretary gathered Foreign Ministers and high-level representatives from 21 countries and multilateral bodies at the London Sudan Conference. Discussions focussed on how to make progress on shared goals of ending the conflict, protecting civilians and scaling-up the delivery of humanitarian aid. Participants agreed on the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. As detailed in the co-chairs' statement, this is not the end but the start of a process; the UK remains committed to working with the international community to bring an end to the conflict in Sudan and secure a peaceful future for the Sudanese people.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government, following the answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 25 February (HL Deb col 1578), what actions have they taken to hold those responsible for crimes against humanity to account, in relation to the execution of Christians by Islamic State in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: We are alarmed and saddened by the attacks by IS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the reported attack on 25 February in Lubero in North Kivu. We continue to monitor the situation. We have raised the actions of the ADF in the UN repeatedly and have sanctioned ADF through the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act. The UK continues to remind all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law and make clear that all those who have committed human rights violations and abuses must be held accountable. We work with multilateral bodies, including the UN, to promote and protect human rights in DRC. Our Ambassador in Kinshasa and UK Ministers regularly raise these issues with the government of DRC.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Baroness Anelay of St Johns:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable children globally of the cuts to the official development assistance budget. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with the United Nations to strengthen protections for freedom of religion or belief, in response to restrictions placed on faith communities in authoritarian states. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK is committed to protecting freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, everywhere, including calling on States who place restrictions on the right to FoRB to lift those restrictions and protect FoRB. We do this bilaterally, and through our position at the UN. In October and November 2024, the UK issued several statements during the UN's Universal Periodic Review process, calling on Member States to implement their FoRB commitments. We also have regular discussions with the UN Special Rapporteur for FoRB, most recently during the March Interactive Dialogue at the Human Rights Council. We continue to champion FoRB and promote tolerance in all societies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton:To ask His Majesty's Government whether minutes of Advisory Military Sub-Committee meetings are kept. \p Lord Coaker: I can confirm that minutes of Advisory Military Sub-Committee meetings are kept.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Caine:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 12 April (HL6549), whether they intend to review how the reliability criteria, that is being able to carry out an activity safely, repeatedly and within a reasonable time period, are applied for Personal Independence Payment assessments in cases involving fluctuating conditions or neurological conditions, such as myasthenia gravis. \p Baroness Sherlock: We currently have no plans to review this specific criterion. However, in the Pathways to Work Green Paper ,we announced plans to launch a review of the PIP assessment, which the Minister for Social Security and Disability shall lead.

To make sure we get this right, we will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this and to start the process as part of preparing for a review. We will provide further details about the scope of the review as plans progress.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding of the report Computer Says No by the New Britain Project that Britons spend 1.52 billion hours a year dealing with personal administration; and what impact this issue has on overall productivity. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: The Government is aware of the claim made in Computer Says No by the New Britain Project that Britons lose 1.52 billion hours annually to personal administration. This figure is derived by extrapolating an average minutes per week per adult across the UK adult population.

The Government recognises the importance of reducing the 'time tax' on individuals. As outlined in A blueprint for modern digital government (CP 1252, January 2025), the Government is developing a new methodology to measure this burden and is committed to reducing it as part of its digital reform programme, to support productivity and improve service delivery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Stevenson of Balmacara:To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that Meta will introduce a "consent or pay" model for Facebook and Instagram, whether they will make arrangements to amend the Data (Use and Access) Bill to provide in legislation a person's right to choose to use online services without personalised advertising regardless of the availability of paid ad-free products. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: The ICO has recently published guidance on this matter, which states that pay and consent models can be implemented in accordance with the law, so long as websites ensure that consent is still freely given. The guidance sets out a framework of factors that are important to consider when assessing whether a “consent or pay” model meets this standard of consent. This reflects and builds on existing UK GDPR standards and ICO guidance.

The Government will continue to engage with businesses, the ICO and users on these models, and on the guidance, but we do not think there is currently a case for taking action to ban the practice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Baroness Alexander of Cleveden:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate US-based academics and researchers who may wish to consider relocating to the UK's higher education sector. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The government recognises and values the US as a key partner in R&D and look forward to continuing our collaboration on shared priorities to drive economic growth and technological advancement. Both the UK and US are committed to facilitating the exchange of talent and students to enhance R&D capabilities.

The government is committed to ensuring the UK is the top destination for globally mobile research talent based anywhere in the world. The UK boasts a world-leading science base, supported by top universities and research institutions, and has an ambitious funding offer through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Academies, which offer prestigious fellowships and professorships.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Freyberg:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop UK sovereign AI capacity; and on what timeframe. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The AI Opportunities Action Plan, launched in January, outlines 50 actions to drive AI development and deployment. The government has committed to taking forward all recommendations, including the establishment of a new, sovereign AI unit with a clear mandate to maximise the UK's stake in frontier AI.

Building sovereign capabilities will enable the UK to harness the economic potential of advanced AI whilst safeguarding our national security, in the context of rapid AI development. The government has already partnered with leading AI companies, such as Anthropic, to explore AI opportunities in the UK. More details of the sovereign AI programme will be announced in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Clement-Jones:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to consult with private sector digital identification providers about the future development of the UK digital identification ecosystem, including the Gov.uk digital wallet and the mobile driving licence. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (OfDIA) regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders including digital verification service providers, civil society, regulators, and other experts from academia and think tanks.

With regard to the GOV.UK Wallet and the mobile driving licence, OfDIA and the Government Digital Service have an event on 14 May 2025 to engage with digital verification providers on how the GOV.UK Wallet can work with and alongside private sector solutions to offer users the best experience and appropriate choice. This will be followed by technical engagement with providers in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Moylan:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Commissioners of Birmingham City Council about the value, and plans for display in Birmingham, of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery historic art collection, including the Pre-Raphaelite paintings. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: The Government has not yet held discussions with Commissioners appointed to Birmingham City Council about the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery’s historic art collection.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Baroness Pidgeon:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide a catering trolley on the London Waterloo to Exeter line after South Western Railway comes under public ownership in May. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: One of the tasks of the new management of South Western Railways (SWR) after train operations come into public ownership will be to pay close attention to the needs of the travelling public. As I know that a long held desire of travellers on this line is the reinstatement of refreshments, this will be examined afresh to see if a positive financial case can be made for it.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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The Earl of Effingham:To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings Ministers in the Department for Transport have had with Heathrow Airport Limited since its acquisition by a consortium led by Ardian in December 2024. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Secretary of State for Transport and ministers in the Department for Transport regularly meet with airports and other stakeholders across the sector and value this engagement.

For the period in question, the Secretary of State for Transport has met with Heathrow Airport Limited on 4 occasions and ministers in the Department for Transport have met with Heathrow Airport Limited on 1 occasion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 4 March (HL5190), whether any official or minister of the Department for Transport, acting as part of the Manchester Task Force, formally agreed to the decisions that caused the direct train service between Sheffield and Manchester Airport to be withdrawn from service. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Manchester Task Force was made up of Department for Transport (DfT) officials and representatives from Network Rail, train operators, Rail North Partnership (RNP), Transport for the North (TfN) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). The task force also had the benefit from expert industry analysis and insight.

After gathering evidence, developing options and consulting with stakeholders and passengers, it identified a range of short and long-term actions to improve the performance of the railway in Manchester and thereby across the North and to support future growth in passengers.

The Task Force formulated a series of recommendations with input from DfT officials and officers from TfN, TfGM and RNP on which Ministers and Northern leaders made a decision on a new timetable.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist:To ask His Majesty's Government whether any ministerial meetings have taken place on electrification of the North Wales Mainline. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: No specific ministerial meetings have taken place on electrification of the North Wales Mainline. Both the Secretary of State and the Rail Minister have met with the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Transport & North Wales in recent months to discuss our shared ambitions for the development of rail services in Wales that can unlock economic growth.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government how many Afghan women who have applied for asylum in the UK since the fall of Kabul in 2021 have been denied that status; and what provision they are making for such women and their families. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Home Office publishes data on asylum claims and initial decisions by nationality in tables Asy_D01 and Asy_D02 of the 'Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release' on GOV.UK. The latest data relates to 2024. Data for the year ending March 2025 will be published on 22 May 2025.

In 2021 Q3 to 2024 Q4, there have been 137 refusals at initial decision to adult Afghan women, of which 44 were to main applicants and 93 to dependants.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of video games in education; and whether they have plans to incorporate the use of video games as a learning tool into the curriculum. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: Schools and colleges are free to make their own choices about the most suitable use of technology in their settings, as long as they comply with their wider statutory obligations, such as ‘Keeping children safe in education’. The department has not conducted specific research into the use of video games in education.

In July 2024, the government launched an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The Review wants to ensure a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum that readies young people for life and work. The Terms of Reference of the Review have been published and are accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/curriculum-and-assessment-review#terms-of-reference.

The Review published its interim findings recently, and these can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/curriculum-and-assessment-review-interim-report.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Birt:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of Ofwat in ensuring that England and Wales have appropriate infrastructure for water and sewerage services. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Ofwat independently scrutinises water company plans as part of the price review process to ensure companies meet their statutory obligations and ensure value for money for consumers.

Ofwat published its final determinations for Price Review 2024 (PR24) on 19 December, which sets company expenditure and customer bills for 2025-2030. This will deliver substantial and enduring improvements for customers and the environment through a £104 billion upgrade for the water sector. This investment will contribute to delivery of key elements of the Government’s Plan for Change and Mission Objectives for this Parliament.

We have also overseen the launch of an Independent Commission into the water sector and its regulation, in what is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation. The Independent Commission will review infrastructure resilience including enforcement of existing infrastructure requirements, infrastructure resilience standards and the setting of base expenditure allowances within the price review process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Wills:To ask His Majesty's Government what data they used to estimate the potential commercial benefits of implementing the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Defra economists, with oversight by the Chief Economist, compiled the Department’s De Minimis Assessment of the impacts of The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025. The assessment was based on published independent market research and academic studies, and reports by economic institutions.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that water companies have sufficient supplies of water to meet customer needs. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: This Government has made it a priority to ensure safe and secure supplies of water for customers. Statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs) set out how water companies intend to deliver a secure supply of water for customers. Every 5 years water companies are required to publish new WRMPs, and the latest (2024) plans have been scrutinised by the Environment Agency and Ofwat to ensure companies can meet future challenges.

The 2024 WRMPs include:

The Government is supporting delivery of the WRMP commitments, for instance the planned implementation of a mandatory water efficiency label, which will require water efficiency labelling of plumbing products and water-using white goods, enabling consumer choice based on efficiency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Baroness Redfern:To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they will give to flooding, drought, healthy soil, and clean water in their 25-year farming roadmap. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The food and farming sector is operating in an increasingly complex environment. Climate change is causing weather variability leading to more floods, droughts and other extreme events. These challenges are contributing to declining biodiversity, soil degradation, water quality pressures and increasing risks to land productivity.

The Farming Roadmap will be a long-term strategy setting out this Government’s vision for a thriving sector that delivers for the economy, nature, food security and the environment. It will provide a vision for our farming sector and set the direction for how we get there, with a focus on delivering our food security and environmental objectives, whilst supporting farms to be resilient and profitable. The roadmap will be published later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Grantchester:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend that any future reinterpretation of the Sustainable Farming Incentive will apply universally across all farm types and acreages. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Now is the right time for a reset of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): supporting farmers, delivering for nature and targeting public funds fairly and effectively towards our priorities for food, farming and nature.

The Government will work with the farming sector to prioritise funding for future years so we can target those who will benefit most before reopening to new applicants.

We will provide further details about the reformed SFI in summer 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Verdirame:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Twycross on 13 February (HL Deb col 1358) about the UK–EU relationship, whether they expect to set out their objectives in negotiations with the EU in a Command Paper and, if so, by when. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The Government is focused on using our strengthened relations with the EU to deliver a new strategic partnership to grow the economy, boost living standards, protect our borders and keep the UK safe. These objectives reflect the manifesto commitments the Government was elected on.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Viscount Stansgate:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to remove the restriction that renders Roman Catholics ineligible for consideration as a Counsellor of State. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: There are no plans to make any changes to the eligibility criteria for Counsellors of State.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Empey:To ask His Majesty's Government how many tourists from China have visited the United Kingdom in each of the past five years. \p Baroness Twycross: From a peak of 883,000 visitors from China in 2019, the number of tourists from China visiting the United Kingdom over the past five years is as follows: 130,000 estimated visitors in 2020, 15,000 visitors in 2021, 47,000 in 2022, 368,000 in 2023 and the estimated forecast for 2024 is 573,000.

From a peak of 199,000 visitors from Russia in 2019, the number of tourists from Russia visiting the United Kingdom over the past five years is as follows: 61,000 estimated visitors in 2020, 23,000 visitors in 2021, 44,000 in 2022, 36,000 in 2023 and the estimated forecast for 2024 is 51,000.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government what volume of goods entered the United Kingdom through the Port of Holyhead in each of the last three years. \p Lord Livermore: The volume of trade entering into the United Kingdom through the Port of Holyhead in the last three years is as follows:

Table 1: The UK's goods imports into the Port of Holyhead, by trade value (£billions) and net mass (thousand tonnes)

Years

Import Value  (£billions)

Import Net Mass  (thousand tonnes)

2022

6.3

698

2023

7.8

827

2024

6.6

1,050

2025- January and February only

0.7

121

Source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics, uktradeinfo, compiled on 30th April 2025

Data is provisional for up to 18 months after it is published. Please see OTS methodology for details. The data can be revised and corrected during this time.

The table shown is compiled of both EU and Non-EU import trade. Due to specific customs procedures, this data may not include the following:

Goods moved through Holyhead that have been declared at another port/airport.

Goods which are transiting through Holyhead but will not stay in the UK.

Goods which are not declared on a customs declaration or excluded from trade statistics.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as an accredited official statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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The Earl of Effingham:To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings Ministers in the Treasury have had with Heathrow Airport Limited since its acquisition by a consortium led by Ardian in December 2024. \p Lord Livermore: Treasury Ministers regularly meet with airports and other stakeholders across the aviation sector and value this engagement. Ministers have met with Heathrow Airport Limited during this period. These meetings continue to inform the Government’s position on Heathrow expansion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Baroness Smith of Llanfaes:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had with devolved governments ahead of the Chancellor's meeting with Treasury counterparts in the United States. \p Lord Livermore: The Chancellor attended the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings between 22nd and 25th April 2025.

During this time, she met with the US Treasury Secretary, as part of a typical programme of engagement with her finance minister counterparts, and the US was among other bilateral meetings.

When meeting the US Treasury Secretary, the Chancellor discussed matters of reserved policy for which she is responsible.

The UK government, including the Chancellor, regularly engage with counterparts from other nations to progress matters of national interest.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Spellar:To ask His Majesty's Government what was the (1) value, and (2) tonnage of (a) scrap copper and, (b) scrap steel, that the UK exported in the last year for which figures are available. \p Lord Livermore: The value and tonnage of scrap steel and copper exported from the UK in 2024 is as follows:

Table 1: The UK's scrap steel* and copper exports in 2024, by export value (£millions) and net mass (thousand tonnes)

Export Value (£millions)

Exports Net Mass (million tonnes)

Scrap steel*

2,490.4

7.5

Scrap copper

1,334.5

0.3

Grand Total

3,824.9

7.8

Source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics, uktradeinfo, compiled on 30th April 2025

*Please note that some of the commodity codes reported in the Table 1 above include elements of scrap iron.

Data is provisional for up to 18 months after it is published. The data can be revised and corrected during this time.

Please see OTS methodology for details. The table shown is compiled of both EU and Non-EU export trade. This data is compiled from the following commodity codes:

72042110 Waste and scrap of stainless steel, containing by weight >= 8% nickel

72042190 Waste and scrap of stainless steel not containing >= 8% nickel

72042900 Waste and scrap of alloy steel

72043000 Waste and scrap of tinned iron or steel

72044110 Turnings, shavings, chips, milling waste, sawdust and filings, of iron or steel, whether or not in bundles

72044191 Trimmings and stampings, of iron or steel, in bundles

72044199 Trimmings and stampings, of iron or steel, not in bundles

72044910 Waste and scrap of iron or steel, fragmentised "shredded"

72044930 Waste and scrap of iron or steel, not fragmentised "shredded", in bundles

72044990 Waste and scrap of iron or steel, not fragmentised "shredded", not in bundles

72045000 Remelting scrap ingots of iron or steel

74040010 Waste and scrap, of refined copper

74040091 Waste and scrap, of copper-zinc base alloys "brass"

74040099 Waste and scrap, of copper alloys

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as an accredited official statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what actions they are taking to support negotiations on the United Nations framework convention on international tax co-operation. \p Lord Livermore: The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and has been actively engaging in negotiations at the UN over a future Framework Convention.

The UK believes that a UN Tax Framework Convention has the potential to further advance international tax cooperation, but to be successful, it needs to be clear in its aims, avoid duplicating initiatives, and seek to secure the broad support and participation of members.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

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Lord Rennard:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the pricing strategies of (1) under-shifting, and (2) over-shifting, by the tobacco industry on smoking prevalence. \p Lord Livermore: Like most businesses across the economy, tobacco producers and retailers are free to set prices for their products. Evidence suggests that close to 100% of tax increases, and in many cases more, is passed through to consumers through prices. How this is distributed across products is a matter for the individual firms.

The UK has some of the highest tobacco taxes in the world which have helped reduce smoking prevalence to 11.9%.

In order to protect the public health objectives of tobacco taxation the Minimum Excise Tax sets a minimum amount of duty collected on a pack of cigarettes. This discourages manufacturers from selling cheap cigarettes as it reduces the profitability of cigarettes sold at or below the trigger price of £13.59 for a pack of 20 cigarettes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-12 conversation_48

Lord Berkeley:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what was the cost of supply and repair of the front door system to Peers' Entrance, and what action he is taking to ensure that the system operates efficiently and reliably at all times. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The supply of the Peers Entrance works was competitively procured and benchmarked against other projects within Parliament to provide assurance around value for money.

For security reasons, the Houses do not publish capital expenditure on security mitigating projects as providing this level of detail could enable an individual to infer the extent and nature of the works, and thus the vulnerabilities which they were intended to mitigate.

There is no additional cost to the House in repairing defects with the door, as these defects are covered as part of our supply contracts for the main works. £1,500 in maintenance costs have been incurred for call outs where operator or user error have been the cause.

The House Administration is undertaking urgent work with operational staff and with our contractors to address and resolve the ongoing issues with the door.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_1

The Lord Bishop of Lincoln:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report published on 29 January by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, UK poverty 2025, which indicated that coastal areas in England have a disproportionate rate of child poverty. \p Baroness Sherlock: The Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy. This is underpinned by a full review of available evidence of which the Joseph Rowntree Foundation UK Poverty 2025 report is an important contribution.

The Taskforce recognises the distinct challenges of poverty faced by children living in coastal areas, and we are considering all children across the UK in the development of the strategy. To shape and inform these plans, the Taskforce is listening to experts and campaigners and engaging with families, charities, and leading organisations across the UK, including coastal communities.

The Strategy will look at levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience, and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government and work underway in Devolved Governments.

The Strategy will be UK-wide, drawing on devolved and reserved levers and working closely with Devolved Governments, recognising the progress that has been made on their poverty strategies and policies, and in England, with mayors and other local leaders.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_2

Lord Bradley:To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of carers in receipt of Carer's Allowance do not receive any additional income from paid employment. \p Baroness Sherlock: Data from the Family Resource Survey (FRS) 2023/2024, shows that around 61% of families in receipt of Carer’s Allowance in England and Wales did not also have someone in paid employment. This includes self-employment and part-time employment.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_3

Baroness Hoey:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential effect of recognising Somaliland’s statehood for promoting security in the Gulf of Aden so that international partners can enter bilateral security treaties with Somaliland. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK, alongside others in the international community, does not recognise Somaliland's unilateral declaration of independence. We believe that the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for authorities in Mogadishu and Hargeisa to decide through a consultative process and dialogue.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_4

Lord Dodds of Duncairn:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of their role in promoting long-term peace and stability in regions affected by religious persecution. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK is committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. Societies that respect and uphold human rights, including FoRB, are stronger, more stable and prosperous.

Faith leaders play a vital role in international mediation and reconciliation. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office works internationally with faith-based organisations to support the UK's conflict resolution efforts and build trust and understanding between communities. In Colombia and South Sudan, the UK worked with faith leaders to call on warring parties to negotiate and to support the design and implementation of peace agreements.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_5

Lord Dodds of Duncairn:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to integrate freedom of religion or belief into their broader foreign policy and international development strategies \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. In December 2024, I detailed five Human Rights priorities including defending the rights of people belonging to vulnerable and marginalised groups. By championing FoRB for all, we are fighting back against the threats so many people face for simply what they do, or do not, believe in.

Working with the Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith MP, we are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our multilateral and bilateral engagement. Where FoRB is under attack, other rights are often threatened too. Our policy is to defend the full range of rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in international human rights treaties to which we are a state party - including FoRB. We work to fully integrate human rights across our wider policy and development agendas to support meaningful change on the ground.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_6

Lord Patten:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to develop (1) cultural, and (2) trade, links with Tunisia. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK and Tunisia share ambitions to build the bilateral relationship across trade, culture and other areas. Bilateral trade is currently £753 million (Q4 2024) an increase of 8.7 per cent from Q4 2023. There are UK-Tunisia cooperation opportunities in sectors such as agri-food and technology, particularly fintech. The UK will welcome a Tunisian delegation and ten Tunisian tech startups to London Tech Week 2025, bringing together innovators and investors.

Through the British Council's work, the UK supports a growing number of Tunisian artists, arts organisations and civil service organisations to benefit from UK partnerships. Recent collaborations include festival partnerships, youth training and capacity building, and cultural heritage preservation.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_7

Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan about the deportation of Afghan women back to Afghanistan. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK has a longstanding and close relationship with Pakistan. We engage regularly with the Government of Pakistan to advance key priorities and interests, including on human rights and adherence to international law.  Whilst we respect Pakistan's sovereign right to control its borders, the UK, alongside the international and donor community, is urging Pakistan to do so in accordance with their international obligations. On 16 May, the UK's Special Representative for Afghanistan raised the need for safe and dignified returns of Afghans with Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_8

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what actions they have taken recently to uphold the Dayton Peace Accords in Bosnia and Herzegovina. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK is working with international partners and the High Representative to bolster domestic institutions and actors to respond to threats to the Dayton Peace Agreement and protect Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH's) territorial integrity, and to encourage constructive engagement from leaders in the wider region. The Foreign Secretary's visits to BiH on 6-7 May and Serbia on 2 April underlined those efforts, as did the UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans's address to the UN Security Council on 6 May. Minister Doughty engaged international partners at a meeting of the 'Quint' on 15 May and met BiH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković and the High Representative of BiH on 12 April.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_9

The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to appoint a special envoy for British nationals arbitrarily detained overseas. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is committed to strengthening support for British Nationals overseas, including through the appointment of an Envoy for complex detention cases. Further details will be announced in due course.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_10

Lord Patten:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Tunisia about the security situation in the southern Mediterranean littoral. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK and Tunisia enjoy a long, enduring and positive defence and security relationship. The UK continues to support the modernisation of the Tunisian military both bilaterally and multilaterally through the delivery of an ambitious NATO Defence Capacity Building package to Tunisia as a Mediterranean Dialogue country and key partner in NATO's southern neighbourhood. During the Defence Senior Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa's (DSAME) visit to Tunisia, discussions were held around strengthening cooperation moving forwards and other areas of common interest.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_11

The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will meet Amaher Nour, the wife of Ahmed al-Doush who has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in Saudi Arabia. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: For data protection reasons, we are unable to comment publicly on the details of Mr Al-Doush's case; however, the Minister for the Middle East is following the case closely, and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials have been in touch with authorities in Saudi Arabia to formally request details of the charges against Mr Al-Doush.

The UK Government is bound by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which prohibits interference in the judicial affairs of another state.

Consular officials aim to stay in regular contact (including through meetings when requested), and provide support within our remit, to the families of British nationals detained abroad.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_12

The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure the release of Ahmed al-Doush; and what steps they are taking to request further information from the government of Saudi Arabia regarding his conviction and sentence. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: For data protection reasons, we are unable to comment publicly on the details of Mr Al-Doush's case; however, the Minister for the Middle East is following the case closely, and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials have been in touch with authorities in Saudi Arabia to formally request details of the charges against Mr Al-Doush.

The UK Government is bound by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which prohibits interference in the judicial affairs of another state.

Consular officials aim to stay in regular contact (including through meetings when requested), and provide support within our remit, to the families of British nationals detained abroad.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-02 conversation_13

Lord Leigh of Hurley:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 7 May (HL Deb cols 1637–1638), whether they have had contact with any Palestinian representatives, other than from Hamas, in their efforts to promote peace in the Middle East. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: A long-lasting ceasefire is the only credible pathway towards a sustainable peace, a two-state solution and the reconstruction of Gaza. The Government regularly engages with counterparts in the Palestinian Authority, the Palestine Liberation Organization and Fatah in support of this. The Foreign Secretary has engaged with President Abbas and Prime Minister Mustafa, including during Prime Minister Mustafa's visit to the UK on 28 April 2025. Minister Falconer also met Prime Minister Mustafa in Madrid on 25 May. An effective Palestinian Authority is vital for lasting peace and progress towards a two-state solution, and the UK has offered its support to the Palestinian Authority as it delivers much-needed reforms.