theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-08 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-08 conversation_6

Lord Dodds of Duncairn:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of potential impacts of the decriminalisation of abortion on (1) clinical safeguards, (2) informed consent procedures, (3) access to alternative support services, and (4) the protection of vulnerable women. \p Baroness Merron: The House of Commons has voted to add a clause to the Crime and Policing Bill which disapplies the criminal offences related to abortion for a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy. These offences would still apply to medical professionals and third parties who do not abide by the rules set out in the Abortion Act 1967. The bill will now continue its progress through Parliament.

Informed consent is separate from the requirements set by the Abortion Act for two doctors to certify that a woman meets the grounds for abortion. Consent to treatment means a person must give permission before they receive any type of medical treatment, test, or examination. For consent to be valid, it must be voluntary and informed, and the person consenting must have the capacity to make the decision. These principles will continue to apply irrespective of whether abortion is decriminalised.

As part of standards set by the Care Quality Commission, abortion services must be able to prove that they have processes in place to ensure that all women and girls are seeking services voluntarily. It will also remain a requirement for an abortion service, as laid out in the Department’s Required Standard Operating Procedures, that staff should be able to identify those who require more support than can be provided in the routine abortion service setting, for example young women, those with a pre-existing mental health condition, those who are subject to sexual violence or poor social support, or where there is evidence of coercion.

Safeguarding is an essential aspect of abortion care, and abortion providers are required to have effective arrangements in place to safeguard children and vulnerable adults accessing their services. Providers must ensure that all staff are trained to recognise the signs of potential abuse and coercion and know how to respond. In addition, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has published national safeguarding guidance for under-18 year olds accessing early medical abortion services, which aims to ensure that robust safeguarding processes are embedded in all services. We expect all providers to have due regard to this guidance.

The Department is continuing to monitor abortion related amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill and will consider whether current arrangements are sufficient or if additional guidance is needed.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-08 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-08)

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Lord Roberts of Llandudno:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of churches in Gaza that have been attacked in (1) 2023, and (2) 2024. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: As the Foreign Secretary has made clear, the war in Gaza must end. We are concerned by incidents and strikes on holy sites across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including most recently the Holy Family Church in Gaza being struck on 17 July and reports of attacks by violent settlers on Christian communities in the West Bank. Last week His Majesty's Consul General to Jerusalem visited Taybeh in the West Bank with church leaders and international partners to express solidarity with the local community following attacks by settlers on their community. My officials continue to meet with Church leaders in Jerusalem and carefully monitor reports impacting religious sites and freedom of religion or belief in Gaza and the West Bank. The UK is strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief for all.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-08 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-08 conversation_8

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington:To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to paragraphs 54 and 55 of the EU–UK Security and Defence Partnership, published on 19 May, and the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, what assessment they have made of whether the UK definition of a woman aligns with that of the European Commission and its agencies. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The Supreme Court decision concerned the definition of a woman in the context of the UK Equality Act 2010.

In line with the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, the UK aims to ensure that the needs of women, girls, and marginalised people, including those who are LGBT+, are properly considered in conflict response. The EU-UK Security and Defence Partnership provides a framework for dialogue and cooperation with the EU, including on this issue.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-08 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-08 conversation_9

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton:To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to page 267 of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025, published on 22 July, whether they will provide a breakdown of the aggregate proposed £132,940,000 support to overseas territories in 2025–26 by individual overseas territory. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: As per programme management best practice, Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for individual Overseas Territories evolve during the financial year in line with their changing priorities.  Current proposed allocations (which may be subject to further change) total £132.7 million:

Montserrat: £64.3 million

St Helena and Tristan da Cunha: £56.3 million

The Pitcairn Islands: £5.6 million

Further ODA amounts will be allocated throughout the year via cross-Territory programmes, including the Blue Belt initiative.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-08 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-08 conversation_10

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton:To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to page 172 of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025, published on 22 July, for what purposes the £425,000 Gibraltar Guarantee contingent liability may be used. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK Government is committed to supporting Gibraltar, its people and its economy. In 2020, the UK Government provided the Government of Gibraltar with a Loan Guarantee of up to £500 million (of which the Government of Gibraltar has drawn down £425 million) with the purpose of supporting Gibraltar's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic which had severely affected the main pillars of Gibraltar's economy, including financial services, online gaming and tourism.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-08 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-08 conversation_11

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to change by legislation any age-based legal entitlements other than voting age. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: The Government committed in its manifesto to increasing the engagement of young people in our vibrant democracy, by giving 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections – and we are intent on delivering on that promise.

We want to build and encourage long-lasting engagement with our democracy. Early engagement by younger voters will build the foundations for their lifetime participation in our electoral processes. Lowering the voting age will enable 16- and 17-year-olds in England and Northern Ireland to join their peers in Scotland and Wales, who are already able to vote in local and devolved elections.

As outlined in the recently published ‘Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections’, once registered, 16- and 17-year-olds will have the same rights as any other voters.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_1

Baroness Alexander of Cleveden:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are planning to tackle trophy hunting trips to kill wild animals. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: While there are no plans to prohibit trophy hunting trips, this Government committed to a ban on the import of hunting trophies of animals of conservation concern in its manifesto and we will deliver on this.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_2

Baroness Redfern:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish the key performance indicators of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, and how these have been met. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Defra is monitoring the Sustainable Farming Incentive and tracking contributions to outcomes. We recently published statistics on the area within agri-environment schemes, which showed that 64% of England’s farmed area is in a scheme. 3.3 million hectares are in SFI 2023 and over 380,000 hectares are in the SFI expanded offer.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_3

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 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs employs on zero-hour contracts. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: This department does not offer any zero-hour contracts. The number of staff in the department on zero-hour contracts is 0.

Zero hours contracts are not the normal practice or a recommended approach within the Civil Service. Departments may use them in very limited circumstances to help meet exceptional or fluctuating demands on the business.

The flexibility offered by zero hours contracts can benefit both workers and employers, but without proper safeguards this flexibility can become one-sided, with workers bearing all the financial risk. The Government’s Employment Rights Bill will end exploitative zero hours contracts, ensuring that all jobs provide a baseline of security and predictability so workers can better plan their lives and finances.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_4

Lord Empey:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact on the UK of the imposition by the United States of tariffs on EU countries: and what effect they may have on trade in Northern Ireland. \p Baroness Gustafsson: The Department for Business and Trade continues to engage closely with the UK industries affected by the US’ imposition of tariffs on the EU. We will always act in the best interests of all UK businesses which of course includes those in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland is part of the customs territory of the United Kingdom and internal market. This is confirmed by Article 4 of the Windsor Framework. Accordingly, Northern Irish goods have the same access to the US market, and face the same tariffs, as goods from elsewhere in the UK.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Lord Kempsell:To ask His Majesty's Government, since 11 March, how many meetings ministers of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have had with Unite representatives and on what dates; and which ministers and Unite officials were present at those meetings. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: Details of external ministerial meetings, including their date, attendees, and purpose, are declared and published on gov.uk on a quarterly basis.

MHCLG ministerial gifts (pdf, 152.9KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Lord Teverson:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will include measures to promote nature recovery in the Future Homes Standard. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: We intend to publish the Future Homes Standard later this year. The focus of the Future Homes Standard will be to ensure new homes are highly energy efficient and that they are zero carbon ready, meaning they will become zero carbon as the electricity grid fully decarbonises, without the need for any retrofit work.

While nature recovery is beyond the scope of the Future Homes Standard, the National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures and incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats and hedgehogs.

Furthermore, the National Model Design Code and Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework set out how development can incorporate a range of nature friendly features including hedgehog highways, bee bricks, and bricks with a hole which can benefit sparrows, tree sparrows, swifts, starling, and bats.

These combined approaches will ensure that we are able to support the environment as well as helping us deliver the housing and infrastructure we need.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_7

Lord Jamieson:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential use of a legislative reform order to remove the requirement to publish the home addresses of councillors. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: I refer the noble Lord to the response given to Question on 21 January 2025 UIN 23872. We consider removal of the requirement for councillors’ home addresses to be published is best achieved by primary legislation and intend to legislate at the first available opportunity.

PQ 23872 (pdf, 81.1KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 10 April (HL6223), whether they will answer the question put, namely, whether they have commissioned advice from the Office for Environmental Protection about the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: I refer the noble Lady to the answer given to Question UIN HL6223 on 10 April 2025.

The department has not commissioned advice from the Office for Environmental Protection on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as they are an independent body and it is for them to decide whether to advise on proposed changes.

PQ HL6223 (pdf, 76.7KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Baroness Lister of Burtersett:To ask His Majesty's Government how many carers of claimants losing Personal Independence Payment entitlement under the proposals in the Green Paper Pathways to Work would (1) cease to be entitled to Carer’s Allowance, and (2) cease to be entitled to the carer element of Universal Credit; and, for each of the figures above, what proportion of the relevant current caseload this is. \p Baroness Sherlock: In the “Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reform – impacts” document, the Department estimated that, in 2029/30, 150,000 claimants receiving Carer’s benefits would be affected by the change.

Of these 150,000 we estimate that;

The current Green Paper consultation is considering whether transitional help should be provided to carers affected.

Notes:

a) Figures are based on modelling of the impact of requiring 4 points to be scored in at least one daily living activity.

b) Figures assume some behavioural impacts as a result of the PIP policy change.

c) Figures are based on carer’s benefits’ prevalence for the full PIP population, and are not specific to carers of people affected by the change in PIP criteria.

d) Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

e) Figures are subject to change as forecasts are updated in light of more recent information, and further analysis is undertaken.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Baroness Pidgeon:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to continue the door-to-door Luggage Buddy scheme currently operated by South Western Railway after the rail service comes under public ownership in May. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: South Western Railway (SWR) expects to continue to run the Luggage Buddy scheme that is currently operated, after the move to public ownership in May.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Lord Lingfield:To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect the national speed limit of 70 miles per hour to be applied on the section of the M25 between Godstone and Sevenoaks. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The M25 between Godstone and Sevenoaks is currently subject to a 50mph speed limit whilst new stopped vehicle detection (SVD) technology is tested. Normal operations (variable mandatory speed limits up to the national speed limit) will be reinstated once the tests are complete. National Highways expects this to be before the end of May 2025 but is working hard to improve on this.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Baroness Eaton:To ask His Majesty's Government how much Vehicle Excise Duty was collected in each local authority area, every year since 2020. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The information requested is not held as the amount of vehicle excise duty collected cannot be broken down by local authority area. The annual amount of vehicle excise duty revenue collected since the financial year 2019/20 is shown in the table below.

2019/20

£6.8 billion

2020/21

£6.9 billion

2021/22

£7.1 billion

2022/23

£7.3 billion

2023/24

£7.8 billion
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_13

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what regulations and other controls apply to skydiving flights in England particularly with regard to impacts on local residents from noise and other pollution, and environmental impacts. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: All pilots of civil-registered aircraft, including skydiving flights, must comply with the requirements of the Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA). These are wide-ranging requirements covering aspects such as the minimum altitude which must be observed by pilots and the rules governing flying during the day and night periods.

Local aerodromes may have planning agreements in place with their local authority, setting out restrictions as part of the planning process when developing the aerodrome. These may include such things as restrictions on numbers and times of operations, and restrictions on overflying certain areas.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_14

Lord Bradley:To ask His Majesty's Government (1) which prisons in England and Wales have commissioned speech and language therapy services, and (2) how many speech and language therapists are employed in each prison. \p Baroness Merron: The information requested is not held centrally by NHS England, regarding prisons in England. Prison healthcare in Wales is devolved to the Welsh administration.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Lord Carlile of Berriew:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of interim suspensions of doctors subject to fitness to practice investigations; and what plans they have to improve the interim suspension procedure for patients and doctors. \p Baroness Merron: The General Medical Council (GMC) is the independent regulator of all medical doctors, anaesthesia associates, and physician associates practising in the United Kingdom. It sets and enforces the standards all doctors, anaesthesia associates, and physician associates must adhere to. If an allegation is made about a professional on its registers, the GMC has a statutory duty to investigate and take action to safeguard the health and well-being of the public where necessary. In serious cases, an Interim Orders Tribunal can suspend, or impose conditions upon, a professional’s registration on an interim basis, pending completion of the GMC’s investigation and possible hearing of the case by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Services.

The GMC is independent of the Government, directly accountable to Parliament, and is responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties. The Government has no current plans to discuss the interim suspension procedure with the GMC.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Lord Sharkey:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the commissioning of specialised services is not adversely affected by the abolition of NHS England. \p Baroness Merron: As we take forward the work to integrate NHS England into the Department, we will continue to analyse and assess impacts of all kinds. This will include putting in place plans to ensure continuity of specialised services, with patient safety at the forefront of our work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Lord Carlile of Berriew:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to reform regulatory procedures for doctors and dentists by utilising or amending powers pursuant to section 60 of the Health Act 1999. \p Baroness Merron: The Government has been considering its priorities for professional regulation and will be setting these out shortly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Lord Laming:To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they are making in improving the efficiency of handling complaints about the use of interpreters in the courts system. \p Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: We have a complaints process that manages complaints about the interpreting service, complaints about specific interpreters, and complaints by interpreters. We are always looking to improve the efficiency of our processes. The Public Services Committee (PSC) of the House of Lords published a report into interpreting in the courts on 24 March 2025, and we are currently reviewing its recommendations about complaints. We will respond to the PSC’s report in due course.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Lord Blunkett:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 9 April (HL6031), whether the Cabinet Office has issued guidance in respect of departmental headcount reduction to ensure that outsourced services match the cost reduction and efficiency gains imposed on in-house services. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: There are numerous government arms-length bodies and agencies that spend public money, including to deliver services on behalf of government departments. These bodies have specified budgets and are accountable to the relevant government department. Financial planning for these bodies is therefore part of each department’s spending review process.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to deliver major infrastructure projects to boost growth in the economy. \p Lord Livermore: The Government announced its new fiscal rules at the Budget in October, including an investment rule. This rule keeps debt on a sustainable path while allowing the step change needed in investment, by targeting a measure of debt that captures not just the debt that government owes but also financial assets that are expected to generate future returns. This will deliver an additional £100 billion of growth-enhancing capital spending, which catalyses private sector investment in more housing, better transport links, and clean energy.

In January, the Chancellor also set out our support for private investment, including a third runway at Heathrow, a £10 billion in a data centre in Northumberland and a £1 billion advanced manufacturing investment in North Wales.

As part of the Government's growth agenda, we will publish a 10-year Infrastructure Strategy alongside the 2025 Spending Review, which seeks to reduce uncertainty by bringing together a long-term plan for the country’s social, economic, and housing infrastructure.

The newly created National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority will bring oversight of strategy and delivery under one roof, supporting the development and implementation of the 10-year infrastructure strategy in conjunction with industry.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently before Parliament, will streamline the planning system to deliver a faster and more certain consenting process for major infrastructure projects. This is part of the government's wider actions to deliver a pro-growth planning system, including revising the National Planning and Policy Framework and reviewing the role of statutory consultees.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-06 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reform 'save as you earn' and 'share incentive' plans. \p Lord Livermore: The Government fully understands the importance of enabling employees to share in the fruits of a company’s success, and for businesses to reward and retain employees effectively. The UK share schemes are popular, generous and world leading.

A call for evidence on Save As You Earn (SAYE) and the Share Incentive Plan (SIP) ran from June to August 2023. It sought views on whether the schemes are meeting their policy objectives and opportunities to improve and simplify them.

The Government is considering the responses to the call for evidence, and is grateful to those who took the time to respond.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

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Lord Harper:To ask His Majesty's Government whether the officials working on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill have been doing so only to the extent necessary to ensure that the Bill is technically and legally workable should it become law. \p Baroness Merron: The Government is neutral on the principle of assisted dying and whether the Bill becomes law. Officials are working to fulfil the Government’s duty to the statute book, providing technical drafting support and workability advice.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

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Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that integrated care boards systematically collect and monitor prevalence and service data for (1) allergies, and (2) other long-term health conditions, to support effective commissioning and delivery of neighbourhood care. \p Baroness Merron: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for undertaking health needs assessments, including any data collection, to understand the health and wellbeing needs of their local populations, including identifying inequalities and planning services accordingly. NHS England has issued guidance to ICBs on developing an intelligence function to ensure locally tailored, evidence-based decisions are made that address health inequalities and support personalised, population-focused care planning.

The 10 Year Health Plan shifts care from hospitals into communities, with neighbourhood health services led by multidisciplinary teams offering preventative and personalised support closer to where people live with increased access to services and information for people with allergies and long-term health conditions.

The plan also commits expanding the use of digital technology. By 2035, two thirds of outpatient care will take place digitally or in the community closer to home, with patients, including those with allergies and long-term conditions, able to access the best of their local hospital in a much more responsive way at home via their phones.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

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Baroness Manzoor:To ask His Majesty's Government how much they plan to spend on palliative care in the NHS this year and in each of the next five years. \p Baroness Merron: It is difficult to quantify the total provision of, or spend on, palliative and end of life care at either a national or local, integrated care board level, because it is delivered every day by a wide range of specialist and generalist health and care workers providing care for a wide range of needs that include, but are not always exclusive to, palliative care.

Palliative care is provided across multiple settings, including in primary care, community care, in hospitals, hospices, and care homes, and in people’s own homes. Therefore, not all palliative and end of life care will be recorded or coded as such.

We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.   We are also providing £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the children and young people’s hospice grant.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

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Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of fiscal pressures, including the rise in employer National Insurance contributions, on (1) workforce retention, and (2) service capability, in independent GP practices and other independent health providers. \p Baroness Merron: We have made the necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department is £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ National Insurance rise was implemented in April 2025.

The Government committed to recruiting over 1,000 recently qualified general practitioners (GPs) in primary care networks (PCNs) through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) over 2024/25, as part of an initiative to secure the future pipeline of GPs, with over 1,000 doctors otherwise likely to graduate into unemployment in 2024/25. Data on the number of recently qualified GPs for which PCNs are claiming reimbursement via the ARRS show that since 1 October 2024, over 2,000 GPs were recruited through the scheme. Newly qualified GPs employed under the ARRS will continue to receive support under the scheme in the coming year as part of the 2025/26 contract. A number of changes have been confirmed to increase the flexibility of the ARRS. This includes GPs and practice nurses included in the main ARRS funding pot, an uplift of the maximum reimbursable rate for GPs in the scheme, and no caps on the number of GPs that can be employed through the scheme.

We are boosting practice finances by investing an additional £1.1 billion in GPs to reinforce the front door of the National Health Service, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.4 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest cash increase in over a decade, and aims to support GPs to build capacity, reduce bureaucracy, and deliver more care in the community.

Primary care providers, including GPs, are valued independent contractors who provide nearly £20 billion worth of NHS services. Every year we consult with each sector both about what services they provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_5

Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to share examples of best practice in commissioning children's palliative care with integrated care boards across England. \p Baroness Merron: NHS England has published statutory guidance on palliative and end of life care and a service specification for children and young people. This sets out the expectations and responsibilities placed on integrated care boards (ICBs) in relation to the commissioning of children’s palliative care.

The NHS Futures platform offers ICB commissioners the opportunity to share examples of best practice amongst each other and with healthcare professionals and researchers. The NHS Futures platform also offers access to upcoming and past webinars and a clinical excellence workstream, among other resources, to support ICB commissioners and clinical staff to support outstanding clinical care based on the best available evidence.

The Department and NHS England are currently looking at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

We will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to ensure that services reduce variation in access and quality.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_6

Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the report by Together for Short Lives Overstretched and unfunded: the state of children's hospice funding in 2025, published on 27 June, what assessment they have made of the variation in funding for children's hospice care provided by (1) North East London Integrated Care Board, and North Central London Integrated Care Board; and what steps they are taking to reduce any disparity. \p Baroness Merron: Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing National Health Services. The amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between integrated care board (ICB) areas, including the North East London ICB and the North Central London ICB. This will vary depending on the demand in that ICB area but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative care and end of life care provision from both NHS and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area.

The Department and NHS England are currently looking at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

We will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to ensure that the future state of services reduces variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_7

Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government how many GP practices returned more than 1000 HSA4 forms which record an abortion by medicine administered at home in (1) 2023, and (2) 2024. \p Baroness Merron: The Department collects information on abortions via the HSA4 abortion notification form. The HSA4 form does not capture information on whether the form was returned by a general practice.

The HSA4 form does capture information on the hospital or clinic where the termination took place, and whether any medicine was administered at the patient’s usual place of residence. However, the publication of the Abortion Statistics for England and Wales from 2023 onwards has been delayed due to several operational issues. These include issues associated with moving to a new data processing system and an increase in the number of paper abortion notification forms to process. We will announce the dates of the publication of the data for 2023, and later 2024, in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_8

Baroness Coffey:To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals received medicines for abortion at home via post in (1) 2023, and (2) 2024. \p Baroness Merron: The Department collects information on abortions via the HSA4 abortion notification form. The HSA4 form does not capture information on whether abortion medicine was sent via the post, and so the Department does not hold this information.

The HSA4 form does capture whether the medicine was administered at the patient’s usual place of residence. This information is published in the Abortion Statistics for England and Wales for the years 2018 to 2022. However, publication of the abortion statistics for England and Wales from 2023 onwards has been delayed due to several operational issues. These include issues associated with moving to a new data processing system and an increase in the number of paper abortion notification forms to process. We will announce the dates of the publication of the data for 2023, and later 2024, in due course.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_9

Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance NHS England provides to people who are prescribed antidepressants on the risks of developing persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD); and what consideration NHS England has given to adding PGAD as a side effect on the patient information leaflets for any medications which can cause it. \p Baroness Merron: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department with responsibility for the regulation of medicinal products in the United Kingdom. The MHRA ensures that medicines are efficacious and acceptably safe, and that information to aid the safe use of a medicine, including possible side effects, is appropriately described in the authorised product information.

The MHRA’s approved patient information leaflets for the most commonly prescribed antidepressants contain warnings about sexual side effects whilst taking the drug, and for some antidepressants there is a warning about sexual side effects which may continue after stopping the medicine. These warnings are under review by an expert working group of the Commission on Human Medicines, and the findings of this review are due to report in the Autumn.

Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is not specifically listed as a possible side effect in the patient information leaflets for any antidepressants. PGAD remains poorly defined and requires research into several proposed causal factors.

A total of 13 reports that describe PGAD suspected to be associated with an antidepressant have been received through the Yellow Cared scheme. The reports were received between 2017 and 2025 for sertraline, with six reports, citalopram, with three reports, fluoxetine, with three reports, and reboxetine, with one report.

The MHRA continuously monitors the safety of these medicines. However, the data currently available is considered insufficient to list PGAD as a possible side effect of antidepressants. Any emerging data will be carefully considered and regulatory action taken as needed.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_10

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals have been (1) arrested, (2) charged, and (3) convicted, under (a) section 137 of the Highways Act 1980, (b) section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986, (c) section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, (d) section 29B of the Public Order Act 1986, and (e) section 9(1) of the Public Order Act 2023, in each year since 2019. \p Lord Hermer: Management information held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) shows the number of offences in which a prosecution commenced that were finalised between 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2025.

2019-2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

2022-2023

2023-2024

2024-2025

Highways Act 1980 { 137(1) }

270

445

412

728

806

435

Public Order Act 1986 { 29B(1) and 29L(3) }

6

11

15

19

31

30

Public Order Act 1986 { 4A(1) and (5) }

10,490

10,349

12,212

11,029

11,161

11,876

Public Order Act 1986 { 5(1) and (6) }

8,917

8,114

8,913

7,940

7,473

7,371

Public Order Act 2023 { 9(1) and (3) }

0

0

0

0

0

0

Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System

The figures relate to the number of offences and not the number of individual defendants. It can be the case that an individual defendant is charged with more than one offence against the same complainant. The CPS does not hold data showing the final outcome or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at finalisation.

Requests for data on arrests should be directed to the Home Office as the lead government department for the police.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_11

Baroness Barran:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 16 July (HL8638) and 26 August (HL9576), on which date before the speech by the Secretary of State for Education on 3 February it was decided that their commitment to recruit 6,500 new expert teachers would not include primary schools. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: As previously set out in responses to written parliamentary questions HL8638 and HL9576, the department is targeting the 6,500 teachers pledge towards mainstream secondary schools and colleges, and special schools.

Regular public statements have been made on this key pledge, including for instance in my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education’s first sector email communication. The pledge is focused on sectors where there is a need for more teachers. Demographic changes throughout this parliament means pupil numbers will increase in secondary schools, and particularly in further education, while there has been significant decrease in the number of pupils in primary schools. There are 60,000 fewer pupils in primary schools compared to last year, and around 172,000 fewer compared to the 2018/19 peak.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_12

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to encourage teachers to use generative artificial intelligence as a teaching and lesson planning resource. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: From our research and engagement with the sector, the department has learnt that generative artificial intelligence (AI) could be used for a range of purposes including lesson and curriculum planning and supporting personalised learning.

The department is supporting teachers and leaders to use generative AI safely and effectively to help improve outcomes and reduce workload, including publishing free online materials, developed with sector experts. Oak National Academy’s AI lesson assistant is already helping teachers save time on planning, with reported savings of around three hours per week. Initiatives such as the AI tools for education competition and the Education Content Store pilot are encouraging innovation and evidence-based development of AI tools for marking and feedback. As AI and educational technology develop, we will continue to explore how we can drive the safety and efficacy of technology used in education.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_13

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide teachers with training in media literacy and guidance on the use of generative artificial intelligence during their teacher training courses. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The department is supporting teachers and leaders to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) safely and effectively to help improve outcomes and reduce workload. We have published free online materials, developed with sector experts, to support staff to use AI safely and effectively in their settings.

In October 2024, Ofcom published its three-year Media Literacy Strategy, which commits to supporting teachers through continuing professional development (CPD), evaluation of training outcomes and stronger collaboration with regional partners to share learnings and effective practices.

In addition, the department funds the National Centre for Computing Education, which provides teachers with free CPD and resources to support the teaching of computing, including media literacy, and AI topics.

As AI and educational technology develop, we will continue to explore how we can drive the safety and efficacy of technology used in education.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-25 conversation_14

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the National Literacy Trust’s recent report, Young people and teachers’ use of generative AI to support literacy in 2025. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The government's Opportunity Mission aims to remove barriers and ensure every child achieves and thrives by providing the best start in life. We are building the evidence base on the impact of technology in education through the EdTech Evidence Board, the Testbed programme, and research into technology and cognitive development.

In its interim report, the Curriculum and Assessment Review noted the importance of the curriculum keeping pace with the rise of artificial intelligence and trends in digital information. The Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in the autumn, at which point the government will respond.