theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Lord Sikka:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 31 March (HL Deb cols 16–18) committing to provide £2.5 billion to the steel industry, whether they will have an economic interest in the resulting assets and income streams. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: The Government has committed up to £2.5bn to support the UK steel industry, which will be available through the National Wealth Fund (NWF) and other routes.

The NWF will catalyse private capital in the UK’s world-leading clean energy and growth industries, including green steel. NWF investments are intended to deliver a positive financial return for the Exchequer, in line with its Financial Framework.

We are also considering other funding mechanisms to help achieve our vision for the sector. We will provide further details in the steel strategy when it is published in spring 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the increase in minimum wage on 1 April on the number of job vacancies. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: As set out in the Impact Assessment accompanying the 2025 National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage (NLW) rates, the economic literature to date shows that increases to the NLW have had a limited impact on labour demand.

There were around 816,000 vacancies in December 2024 to February 2025, broadly unchanged on the quarter, based on the latest official data.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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The Lord Bishop of Leicester:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to evaluate the impact of disability benefits reform on the employment rate of people with disabilities. \p Baroness Sherlock: The Office of Budget Responsibility has committed to produce an assessment of the labour market impacts of the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper at the time of the autumn budget.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.

A programme of analysis to support development and evaluation of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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The Lord Bishop of Leicester:To ask His Majesty's Government what analyses they carried out to suggest that disability benefit reforms will increase the employment rate of people with disabilities. \p Baroness Sherlock: The Pathways to Work Green Paper sets out our plans for reform to stop people from falling into inactivity, restore trust and fairness in the system and protect disabled people.

The disability employment rate is affected by external factors such as the composition of the underlying disabled population and overall labour market performance, as well as DWP activity. The Office of Budget Responsibility has committed to produce an assessment of the labour market impacts of the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper at the time of the autumn budget.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure families of students with special education needs are not charged additional fees as a result of changes to VAT on independent school fees. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: Pupils with special educational needs (SEN) and a requirement to attend a private school identified through an education, health and care (EHC) assessment are not impacted by the government’s VAT policy. Where a private school place is necessary to support a child with SEN, the local authority will fund it through an EHC plan. Local authorities can reclaim the cost of VAT added to fees for places that they fund through Section 33 of the VAT Act 1994.

Parents may make a choice that their child should attend a private school, but this is a choice like that made by any parent using the independent sector. Where parents have chosen to send their child to private school rather than a local authority deeming it necessary, VAT will apply to fees.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the publication of Coram Family and Childcare’s annual survey 2024, what steps they plan to take to ensure accessibility and affordability of rural childcare. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: It is our ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. That also means ensuring the sector is financially sustainable and confident as it continues to deliver entitlements and high-quality early years provision going forward.

In the 2025/26 financial year alone, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for early years entitlements, which is a more than 30% increase compared to the 2024/25 financial year, as the department rolls out the expansion of the entitlements, so eligible working parents of children aged from nine months can access 30 hours of funded childcare.

We also announced the largest ever uplift to the early years pupil premium, increasing the rate by over 45% compared to the 2024/25 financial year, equivalent to up to £570 per eligible child per year. On top of this, we are providing further supplementary funding of £75 million for the early years expansion grant, and £25 million through the forthcoming National Insurance Contributions grant for public sector employers in the early years. The Coram Family and Childcare survey highlights the real difference the expanded childcare entitlements are making, with more to come from September, as funding increases from 15 to 30 hours a week of funded childcare.

To support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the Disability Access Fund in 2024/25 has increased by £29, to £910 per year per eligible child and will increase again in 2025/26 to £938 per eligible child per year. Additionally, the department has introduced additional resources for early years educators to support children with SEND, including a free online training module, and SEND assessment guidance and resources.

Local authorities are required by legislation to provide sufficient childcare places for children in their local area who require childcare. This includes children with SEND and children in rural areas. Local authorities are also required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents. The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract. If a parent is unable to secure a place, they should reach out to their local authority for assistance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Baroness Prashar:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to update the Department for Education's guidance regarding the provision of advanced learner loan facility agreements to fully-accredited private sector ‘teaching English as a foreign language’ providers. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: A training provider may apply for an Advanced Learner Loans (ALLs) funding agreement, which may be granted if they meet the applicable criteria, including demonstrating historic delivery of adult skills fund or apprenticeships funding agreements. Further details are available in the published funding rules: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advanced-learner-loans-funding-rules-2024-to-2025/advanced-learner-loans-funding-rules-2024-to-2025.

Currently, two level 5 Certificates in Teaching English as a Foreign Language are eligible for ALLs. According to departmental records, private training providers have not delivered these qualifications.

Training providers with an ALLs funding agreement can deliver any qualification designated for ALLs funding. There are no plans to change the guidance on this.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Lord Blencathra:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) costs, and (2) benefits, to local authorities of reuse and repair practices. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: There have been no formal assessments made on the costs and benefits for local authorities on reuse and repair practises.

Defra recognises that repair and reuse are fundamental tenets of any circular economy, and a successful transition aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy for England.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Lord Blencathra:To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings of the Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy (CE-SMG) have taken place. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy has met twice so far:
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Lord Blencathra:To ask His Majesty's Government what are the terms of reference of the Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy (CE-SMG). \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The terms of reference for the Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy focus on:

Ensuring the Government’s circular economy agenda is always driving forward the Government’s five missions, with a particular focus on kickstarting economic growth and making Britain a clean energy superpower.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government how much the creation and opening of each community diagnostic centre cost, and how much it costs annually to operate each centre. \p Baroness Merron: The information requested is not held centrally in the format requested, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

NHS England publishes a monthly report on diagnostic activity for the 15 modalities that make up the Diagnostics Waiting Times and Activity collection. This includes details of activity undertaken in CDCs for those 15 modalities. This is published on the NHS.UK website, in an online only format. It is not, however, a complete record of all CDC activity.

NHS England also publishes a quarterly dataset of all CDC activity at a national level. This is also published on the NHS.UK website, in an online only format. The latest published CDC management information details that CDCs have delivered over 13.9 million additional tests since July 2021.

NHS England’s CDC programme has been supported by a capital budget of £1.48 billion across 2022/23 to 2024/25.

The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, committed to expanding existing CDCs, as well as building up to five new ones in 2025/26, to support the National Health Service to return to meeting the elective waiting time constitutional standard. The plan also commits to CDCs opening 12 hours per day, seven days a week, and delivering more same-day tests and consultations, with an expanded range of tests.

The 2025/26 capital guidance confirmed that £1.65 billion of capital funding will be allocated to support NHS performance across secondary and emergency care, across 2025/26 more broadly. This includes £450 million which has been provisionally allocated for diagnostics, which includes CDCs, partly to expand existing and build new CDCs. £20 million has also been allocated directly to relevant trusts via a separate processes for CDC pathway productivity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government how much the creation and opening of each community diagnostic centre cost, and how much it costs annually to operate each centre. \p Baroness Merron: The information requested is not held centrally in the format requested, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

NHS England publishes a monthly report on diagnostic activity for the 15 modalities that make up the Diagnostics Waiting Times and Activity collection. This includes details of activity undertaken in CDCs for those 15 modalities. This is published on the NHS.UK website, in an online only format. It is not, however, a complete record of all CDC activity.

NHS England also publishes a quarterly dataset of all CDC activity at a national level. This is also published on the NHS.UK website, in an online only format. The latest published CDC management information details that CDCs have delivered over 13.9 million additional tests since July 2021.

NHS England’s CDC programme has been supported by a capital budget of £1.48 billion across 2022/23 to 2024/25.

The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, committed to expanding existing CDCs, as well as building up to five new ones in 2025/26, to support the National Health Service to return to meeting the elective waiting time constitutional standard. The plan also commits to CDCs opening 12 hours per day, seven days a week, and delivering more same-day tests and consultations, with an expanded range of tests.

The 2025/25 capital guidance confirmed that £1.65 billion of capital funding will be allocated to support NHS performance across secondary and emergency care, across 2025/26 more broadly. This includes £450 million which has been provisionally allocated for diagnostics, which includes CDCs, partly to expand existing and build new CDCs. £20 million has also been allocated directly to relevant trusts via a separate processes for CDC pathway productivity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Lord Agnew of Oulton:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the guidance published on 21 October 2024, List of Cabinet Committees and their membership, what are the names of the secretariats who support those committees, and which committee each secretariat supports. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Cabinet committees are supported by the relevant Secretariat that sit across the Economic and Domestic Secretariat, the National Security Secretariat and the European and Global Issues Secretariat as most relevant according to the Terms of Reference of the committee.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Lord Blencathra:To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions have taken place at Cabinet level on the issue of large-scale housing development being accompanied by social and community infrastructure and access to green space. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its committees is not normally shared publicly.
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Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government how much land in Wales is owned by the Ministry of Defence, and what portion of that land is now available for sale for the purpose of building new houses. \p Lord Coaker: As of 1 April 2024, Ministry of Defence (MOD) land holdings Wales comprised of some 23,300 hectares (6.8% of the MOD total).

The majority (85.4%) of this land is freehold land owned by the Department, the remainder is land held on a short term and contractual basis or through grants for a specific purpose.

It is too early to say at this time what proportion of this land may be used for the building of new homes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Lord Jones:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to purchase more Atlas A400M aircraft. \p Lord Coaker: All capability requirements, including those for tactical airlift, are being considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) fixed odds betting terminals, and (2) electronic gaming machines, are on property owned by the Ministry of Defence. \p Lord Coaker: The Army and Royal Air Force have confirmed that all such machines have been removed from their property. The Royal Navy has confirmed that this work is in the final stages.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of gambling-related harm among (1) veterans and (2) people currently serving in the Armed Forces; and what assessment they have made, if any, of gambling participation rate in those groups. \p Lord Coaker: The Ministry of Defence takes problem-gambling seriously.

While data on gambling rates in the military is not routinely reported, where problem-gambling is identified, Defence healthcare providers ensure that the individual is referred to the appropriate level and type of intervention to meet their gambling issue.

This service sets out the levels of care to be provided by Primary Care and Mental Health clinicians from low-risk gambling up to gambling with negative consequences and a possible loss of control can be aligned to welfare support to those who are adversely affected by problem-gambling and supports referral to specialist support organisations such as the NHS Primary Care Gambling Services.

Defence also draws on support from GambleAware for campaigns to tackle the stigma associated with Gambling, collaborates with the Centre of Military Gambling Research at the University of Swansea, works with cross-Government colleagues including with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities on policy development, and regularly consults with the Armed Forces Gambling Support Network. Gambling websites are also blocked on Defence IT to reduce accessibility, and financial awareness training is available for all personnel.

Veterans are eligible for gambling addiction treatment through the National Health Service. The Office for Veterans' Affairs in the Ministry of Defence regularly works with the third sector and academia to ensure veteran-specific needs are understood.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Lord Clement-Jones:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take in response to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority and Office for National Statistics report Data-sharing: The beating heart of a successful public sector, published on 14 February; and how they intend to address the specific recommendations on defining "the public good" and legislating for access, given that these seem to diverge from the approach taken in the Data Usage and Access Bill. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: GDS is working to ensure public sector data is fit for purpose, trusted and available via interoperable architecture. Work is ongoing to ensure we can identify our most critical data assets and ensure they are managed and reused to maximise their value for public good within the scope of public sector activities, regardless of the individual departmental source. An initiative trialled across central government departments has already identified approximately 200 assets which will be made discoverable for reuse within the public sector with plans to make them more broadly available. What we learn from this will inform programmes such as the National Data Library.

All departments must follow UK data protection laws and requirements, including on impact assessments, legal agreements, and privacy notices. The Digital Economy Act 2017 supports secure, lawful data sharing with safeguards to protect personal data, while enabling better public services and policy-making. The register of information sharing agreements under this Act supports transparency.

Any proposals to develop changes to data sharing legislation for the public good will be subject to open policy making and full public consultation.
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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage firms to adopt artificial intelligence technologies to increase their efficiency and output. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The Government is taking targeted action to support firms across the UK to adopt artificial intelligence (AI), helping to drive productivity and economic growth.

We are delivering the 50 recommendations from the AI Opportunities Action Plan, to strengthen the UK AI ecosystem and boost adoption. This includes appointing AI Sector Champions, appointing respected figures from key industries to help raise awareness and support firms in their sector to adopt AI.

The Government has also announced the Technology Adoption Review at the Autumn Budget. This review will provide recommendations on how Government and industry can work together to fully realise AI’s potential in the private sector, accelerating AI adoption in the eight sectors most critical to UK growth, as well as facilitating widespread adoption across the rest of the economy, including addressing the specific barriers faced by SMEs.
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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask the Leader of the House what assessment they have made of government departments using artificial intelligence assistance in answering Questions for Written Answer, and whether this affects the integrity of the answers. \p Baroness Smith of Basildon: All written parliamentary questions are considered on a case by case basis. The Government does not have a specific policy on the use of AI for responding to written parliamentary questions, however staff do have access to AI software tools to support the drafting process. All responses are reviewed by policy officials to ensure accuracy and consistency with government policy, and parliamentary questions are signed off by Ministers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-15)

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Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe:To ask the Leader of the House whether artificial intelligence is used to reply to written parliamentary questions and, if so, what is the extent of this. \p Baroness Smith of Basildon: All written parliamentary questions are considered on a case by case basis. The Government does not have a specific policy on the use of AI for responding to written parliamentary questions, however staff do have access to AI software tools to support the drafting process. All responses are reviewed by policy officials to ensure accuracy and consistency with government policy, and parliamentary questions are signed off by Ministers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

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Lord Swire:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to require travellers to the UK to hold passports that (1) have been issued within ten years of their departure date, and (2) are valid for more than three months after their departure date. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The current requirement for travellers, as set out in the Immigration Rules - Guidance - GOV.UK, is that a person must, on arrival in the United Kingdom or when seeking entry through the Channel Tunnel, produce on request by a Border Force Officer a valid national passport or, subject to eligibility, another document satisfactorily establishing their identity and nationality. The document must be valid for the duration of the proposed travel to the UK.

There are currently no plans to change these requirements.
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Lord Swire:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement a scheme similar to the European travel information and authorisation system for travellers to the UK. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The UK has introduced electronic travel authorisations (ETAs) to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream, and improve the customer experience. The introduction of the ETA scheme is in line with the approach many of the UK’s international partners have already taken to border security, including the European Union’s forthcoming ETIAS and EES. The UK’s scheme was extended to eligible European nationals on 5 March 2025, and will be a requirement for this cohort for travel from 2 April 2025. In line with international partners, we are building upon our existing ability to track arrivals in and out of the country.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

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Baroness Hodgson of Abinger:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 17 March (HL5246), what steps they took when considering the International Finance Corporation's loan to Higest Mozambique (project number 41386) to ensure that (1) chickens are stocked at a density that minimises the risk of heat stress, (2) litter is provided and kept dry, (3) fresh air and natural light is able to enter the poultry houses, and (4) chickens that are caught prior to transport to the slaughterhouse are carried in a way that minimises leg injuries. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK Government is committed to promoting high standards of animal welfare internationally. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) have rigorous and internationally recognised standards, which align to those of other jurisdictions including the EU. The IFC assess all potential industrial livestock projects against these standards as part of its due diligence processes. This project (41386) met the IFC's thresholds for environmental and social standards and Higest is incorporating the Global Good Agricultural Practices principles to enhance its animal welfare practices. The UK has robust policies in place to oversee the work of IFC, including through our seat on the World Bank Board, and conducts regular and ongoing monitoring.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

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Baroness Hodgson of Abinger:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide assistance in Tigray and the surrounding areas to those displaced by conflict and persecution. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK is providing humanitarian assistance for displaced populations in Tigray, working with partners including United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the Ethiopian Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross. This financial year, UK assistance has provided life-saving nutrition services to over 60,000 children and 20,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women. In support of displaced women and girls, the UK provided financial and technical support for one hospital, one health centre and six One Stop Centres, providing safe spaces and comprehensive support to those who have survived gender-based violence.
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Baroness Hodgson of Abinger:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the United States of America to withdraw from the World Health Organization's HIV and AIDS treatment programmes and to freeze aid funding for centres for victims of torture which support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Tigray; and of the impact of this reduction of essential services to survivors of conflict in Tigray. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: We are assessing implications of the US funding pause across development sectors and geographic regions including Ethiopia. We are gathering information and working with donor partners to share analysis of the pause and understand its impact.
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Baroness Hodgson of Abinger:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will prioritise support for women and girls in Tigray when setting future levels of Official Development Assistance. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: Women and girls are a priority focus of UK aid across Ethiopia. Detailed decisions on how the future Official Development Assistance budget will be used, including for the Tigray region, will be determined as part of the ongoing Spending Review.
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Lord Roberts of Llandudno:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for re-classifying sexual violence in conflict offences under international law to be prosecuted under existing torture laws. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK Government is committed to strengthening justice for all survivors and victims of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and holding perpetrators to account. CRSV is prohibited under international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international criminal law. Some forms of CRSV, such as rape, can also be classified as torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Torture is defined and prohibited by multiple human rights treaties. We continue to work closely with partners to eradicate the use of torture and end all forms of CRSV.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

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Lord Black of Brentwood:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 11 March (HL5400), whether they will publish the membership of the Royal Visit Committee. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The Royal Visits Committee is chaired by the Permanent Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and consists of senior representatives from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Royal Households, No.10, Department for Business and Trade and the Cabinet Office.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

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Baroness Helic:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support the Office of the High Representative in their role to oversee the civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement; and what assessment they have made of the use of Bonn Powers to counter destabilising actions. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK supports the High Representative and use of his executive powers should circumstances require it to counter destabilising actions. The UK issued a strong statement last month in support of his role and the Dayton Peace Agreement. The Minister of State for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty MP, spoke with the High Representative on 27 March to reaffirm our position and backing for a strong High Representative response if circumstances necessitate. Dame Karen Pierce, UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, also spoke with the High Representative on 27 March while visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will develop a national definition of harmful gambling advertising. \p Baroness Twycross: We recognised that more can be done to raise standards in gambling advertising and we have set the gambling industry a clear task to raise standards in this area to ensure that the levels of gambling advertising does not exacerbate harm and this work will be monitored closely.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_11

Lord Jamieson:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 20 March (HL5602), what representations the government of China or its representatives have made to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport relating to the latest planning application for the Chinese Embassy, prior to and after the Secretary of State's call-in decision, and on what dates. \p Baroness Twycross: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not received any representations on this matter from the Government of China or its representatives. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the lead department on planning matters, and the final decision rests with its Secretary of State.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_12

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 19 March (HL5463), how many people the Department for Culture, Media and Sport employs on zero-hour contracts. \p Baroness Twycross: Zero. DCMS does not have this type of contract.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_13

Lord Dodds of Duncairn:To ask His Majesty's Government how much foreign direct investment into Northern Ireland from the United States of America there has been in each year since 2019. \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 Rt Hon. the Lord Dodds of Duncairn

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

21 March 2025

Dear Lord Dodds,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking how much foreign direct investment into Northern Ireland from the United States of America there has been in each year since 2019 (HL5989).

Foreign direct investment positions are the value of stocks of investment at a given point in time. Flows measure the movement of funds received by Northern Ireland from the United States of America during the year. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes experimental subnational UK estimates, which currently includes data up to 2021.1.

Further information on Northern Ireland positions, flows and earnings with the United States of America can be found on the ONS website1.

Table 1: Northern Ireland Inward Foreign Direct Investment positions and flows with the United States of America, 2019-20212,3 . £million

Type

2019

2020

2021

Positions

3930

6472

7180

Flows

-167

-300

75

Source: Office for National Statistics

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

1 https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/balanceofpayments/articles/foreigndirectinvestme ntexperimentaluksubnationalstatistics/2021

2 A negative sign before a value indicates net disinvestment in Northern Ireland.

3 These statistics exclude FDI related to banks, bank holding companies, property and public corporations.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_14

Baroness Fox of Buckley:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to develop a specialist NHS pathway for individuals who choose to detransition, and whether this pathway will be in place before the commencement of the NHS England puberty blocker trial. \p Baroness Merron: The Government and NHS England are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Cass Review in full. This includes the recommendation for a pathway to be established for individuals who wish to detransition. The formative stages of this work will involve a process of evidence gathering in the spring of 2025, focused on individuals and clinicians with experience of detransition, and professional bodies. NHS England will engage stakeholders on a proposed service specification for the new pathway, including through public consultation.

The PATHWAYS study, which was also recommended by the Cass Review, has several elements, including a longitudinal observational study of children and young people attending NHS Gender Services, charting their development over time, and longitudinal qualitative interviews to explore the needs and care experiences of children, young people, and their families, and how these change over the course of time and the treatment.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_15

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks of water fluoridation in causing cancer. \p Baroness Merron: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has a duty to monitor the effects of water fluoridation schemes on health, and to publish reports at intervals no greater than four years. Health monitoring reports published in 2014, 2018, and 2022, taken alongside the existing wider research, show that there is no convincing evidence for adverse outcomes, including for bladder cancer or osteosarcoma, due to fluoridation schemes. These findings are consistent that water fluoridation, at levels recommended in the United Kingdom, is a safe and effective public health measure to reduce dental cavities. The next health monitoring report will be published in 2026.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_16

Lord Pack:To ask His Majesty's Government how much they have spent on reimbursement to Returning Officers for (1) poll card printing, and (2) poll card distributions, in each of the past eight years. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: The cost of poll card printing and postage for Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and UK parliamentary elections from 2015 onwards are published in detail in the corresponding reports found here.

The costs for the 2021 and 2024 PCC and the 2024 UK Parliamentary general election will be available once all the relevant claims have been received, scrutinised and settled. This data will be published in due course.

Reports on the cost of UK national polls and PCC (pdf, 156.0KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_17

Lord Storey:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of requirements for local government officers to declare and publish any direct pecuniary interests they may have, particularly in relation to planning and awarding of contracts; and what guidance they have issued regarding good practice. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: Local authorities are independent bodies and each is responsible for setting its own policies on declaration of pecuniary interests by its officers. This includes complying with the relevant legislation and ensuring appropriate governance and due diligence procedures are in place. It is for the sector to consider what best practice guidance might be required and there is no role for central government in issuing it.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_18

Lord Shipley:To ask His Majesty's Government why they removed the requirement for the adult social care precept to be shown on council tax demand notices sent out by local authorities. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: Since 2016-17 councils with responsibility for adult social care services have been given additional flexibility to increase their council tax without a referendum, provided this revenue is spent exclusively on these services. This flexibility is known as the adult social care precept.

From 2025-26 the council tax charge of social care authorities must be displayed as a single line on council tax bills. The change provides a consistent approach between how levels are displayed for social care authorities and non-social care authorities. This will simplify bills and provide greater clarity on the total annual increases set by these councils.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_19

Baroness Eaton:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December 2024 (CP1218), what steps they are taking to ensure that the boundaries of fire and rescue authorities are coterminous with the boundaries of newly created strategic authorities. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, where mayoral geographies align with police force and fire and rescue geographies, Mayors will be, by default, responsible for exercising Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authority functions. This is the case in three of the six places being considered under the Devolution Priority Programme.

We will explore, in time for the English Devolution Bill, the possibility of a single Mayor taking on Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authority responsibilities across two or more Police Force and Fire and Rescue Authorities, where boundaries align.

Where Strategic Authorities do not currently align with these boundaries, or where alignment is not appropriate for new devolution areas, we will take steps to achieve alignment over the longer term. Future new Strategic Authorities will be considered with existing Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire and Rescue Authority boundaries in mind.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_20

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that local nature recovery strategies have sufficient weight in planning given their plans to tackle "blockers". \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) are intended to support local planning authorities in preparing local plans that conserve and enhance biodiversity and the natural environment. Local planning authorities have a legal duty to have regard to the relevant strategy for their area.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_21

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the use of reusable nappies, and to make suppliers of single-use nappies pay the full cost of their disposal. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: In 2023 Defra published a Life Cycle Assessment of disposable and reusable nappies which looked at disposable and reusable nappies across 18 equally-weighted environmental impact categories (Science Search (defra.gov.uk).

The assessment showed that while disposable nappies have a slightly higher global warming potential, reusable nappies have a higher environmental impact in other ways. As there is no clear consensus on whether reusable or disposable nappies are better for the environment the Department has no plans to take policy action on nappies at this time.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-03 conversation_22

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to restrict meat and plant imports from the United States of America to prevent the entry of chronic wasting disease. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The rules for the importation into Great Britain of meat and meat products are laid down in GB legislation. Consignments must be accompanied by animal and public health certification and enter GB through a Border Control Post where checks are carried out to ensure that import conditions have been met.

Fresh meat of cervids (deer meat) can only be imported from the USA if it complies with supplementary guarantees in the model health certificates that mitigate the risk of chronic wasting disease (CWD) incursion from fresh meat.

There are no restrictions in place on imports of plants from the USA in relation to CWD. A risk assessment carried out in 2023 indicates that the risk of transmission of CWD via plants is very low.