theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-11 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-11 conversation_11

Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury:To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to their consultation on copyright and artificial intelligence (CP1205), what evidence or research they have that the proposed copyright exemptions for AI training will lead to investment in the UK. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The Government published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024.

The consultation seeks views on a package of measures which seek to promote growth and investment in both the creative industries and AI sector. We aim to balance the interests of AI developers and rights holders and provide the legal certainty to boost growth and investment across both sectors.

The evidence we receive will inform our impact assessment of the measures, including in relation to investment.

The consultation closes on 25 February.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury:To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to their consultation on copyright and artificial intelligence (CP1205), what analysis they have conducted which shows that the current copyright framework has held back AI adoption. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The Government has engaged stakeholders at Ministerial and official level about these issues.

We have heard that the current copyright framework makes it difficult for creators to control whether their works can be used in AI training, and to seek payment. And that it also creates uncertainty and risk for firms seeking to develop or deploy AI in the UK.

A consultation on Copyright and AI was published in December 2024 seeking views on how to create clarity in this area, to promote growth and investment in both the creative industries and AI sector.

The consultation closes on 25 February.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury:To ask Her Majesty's Government, with reference to their consultation on copyright and artificial intelligence (CP1205), what evidence they used to assess the function of the licensing market as it pertains to copyright data and the training of AI models. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The Government published a consultation on Copyright and AI in December 2024.

This consultation seeks views on proposals which seek to better facilitate licensing agreements between rights holders and AI developers, and whether more should be done to support good licensing practice.

The Government recognises that this is a complex area and welcomes all views and evidence on the function of the licensing market, to help shape its thinking.

The consultation closes on 25 February.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) regulation of topical flea and tick treatments for pets; and (2) of a recent University of Sussex study on the impact of these chemicals on songbird reproduction. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: 1) Parasiticides play an important role in the protecting of animal health from fleas, ticks, and vector-borne diseases, and in protecting human health from zoonotic transfer of disease. Therefore, their regulation requires a careful balance between effective parasite control for animal health and welfare and human health whilst minimising potential risks to the environment.

To address environmental safety, every veterinary pharmaceutical undergoes an environmental exposure assessment, with products for companion animals usually ending in a Phase 1 assessment. If exposure is deemed high, a more detailed Phase II risk assessment is conducted, evaluating potential environmental impact based on expected exposure and toxicity. The findings from these assessments are considered as part of the final benefit/risk assessment during the approval process. There are also warnings that accompany products advising on use and to mitigate against dogs entering water courses directly after treatment. Environmental assessments are conducted in accordance with international guidelines and data standards.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is conducting a number of research activities to provide further evidence on environmental impacts and causes. Furthermore, the VMD supports a review of the international environmental risk assessment guidelines for companion animal parasiticides, which has been proposed and is currently under consideration by the body for International Cooperation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH).

2) The VMD is also aware of a University of Sussex study indicating the presence of insecticides, commonly used on companion animals and livestock, in the nests of songbirds. The study suggests a potential correlation between pesticide levels and reduced reproductive success. However, causality has not been confirmed, and further research is required to determine whether the observed effects are due to pesticide exposure or other factors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Freyberg:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to transition to a circular economy for construction; and what assessment they have made of (1) current construction and demolition waste levels; (2) targets and timelines for waste reduction; (3) methods to increase materials reuse and recycling; (4) economic opportunities in waste minimisation; and (5) any regulatory frameworks which may need to be implemented. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Secretary of State has asked Defra to convene a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts from industry, academia, civil society, and the civil service to develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England and a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the Government will make on a sector-by-sector basis.

Additionally, the Secretary of State has convened a Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy that will govern, join up and drive Circular Economy work across government departments to support the government’s Missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower.

We will consider the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluate what further interventions may be needed in the construction and waste sectors as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the potential role of beavers in restoring England’s chalk streams. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: This Government is committed to the restoration of our cherished chalk streams. With 85% of the world’s chalk streams found in the UK, these unique water bodies are not just vital ecosystems but a symbol of our national heritage.

Beavers are part of the natural chalk stream fauna, and we view that these ecosystem engineers can contribute to the Government’s aspiration to deliver a healthy, sustainable water environment for people, businesses, and nature at a catchment scale. Defra and the Environment Agency are working with Natural England, stakeholders, and Beaver Management Groups, and other partners to inform and support these aims.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Wills:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement the findings of the Independent review of forensic pathology by Glenn Taylor, published on 11 September 2024; and whether they will introduce a statutory code of conduct for forensic pathology to ensure the dignity of victims is preserved. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Family members rightly expect that the pathology taken in respect of their loved ones will be explained to them and their questions answered, and the report made clear that more needs to be done on engagement and support for families.

Following the publication of the report "The Patronising Disposition of Unaccountable Power: Independent Review of Forensic Pathology", my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department confirmed that the Government accepts the six recommended points of action as I reported in my statement of 11 September 2024.

Officials are now working at pace on an action plan to respond in detail to those recommended points of action including updating some existing detailed guidance for pathologists which is now out for stakeholder consultation. This work will be completed in in the summer of this year and will include advice on any statutory measures which Ministers will consider carefully. The Government will report back in due course with our response to the recommendations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Sikka:To ask His Majesty's Government how many unexplained wealth orders were issued in each year since 2018; what was the value of the wealth involved; what amount was recovered; and how many prosecutions and convictions took place. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) regime was introduced in the Criminal Finances Act 2017. The number of UWOs obtained, wealth involved (estimated value of assets secured and estimated value of assets recovered) and number of prosecutions and convictions is outlined below.

Year

Number of operations that obtained a UWO

Estimated Value of Assets secured

Estimated Value of Recovery Order obtained

Number of Prosecutions/ Convictions

2018

1

£30,000,000

£12,000,000

NIL

2019

3

£113,200,000

£10,000,000

2020

0

2021

0

2022

0

2023

1

£1,800,000

2024

1

£275,000

2025

1

£1,500,000

Total

7

£146,775,000

£22,000,000

It is important to note that a UWO is only an investigatory order into an asset. A number of the UWO investigations listed that have not resulted in civil recovery proceedings are ongoing investigations. Any property subject to a UWO can be frozen whilst under an investigation which disrupts criminal activity but the property itself cannot be recovered using a UWO, it must be recovered through subsequent civil recovery proceedings. Civil recovery proceedings apply to assets rather than individuals so require no prosecution or criminal conviction.

The Government publishes statistics annually on the number of UWOs applied for and obtained. The most recent report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unexplained-wealth-orders-2023-to-2024-annual-report/unexplained-wealth-orders-2023-to-2024-annual-report
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage AI experts to work in the UK, particularly in relation to reducing visa fees. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: In meeting the AI skills commitments under the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the Government has pledged to strengthen and increase opportunities for technical AI expertise in the UK by creating new AI fellowships, scholarships, and Higher Education courses. Fees for immigration and nationality applications are routinely kept under review, taking into account a range of factors and objectives, including the Government's commitments to reduce levels of net migration.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for freedom of religion and belief of banning silent prayer in abortion service protection zones designated under the Public Order Act 2023. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Section 9 makes it a criminal offence for a person who is within a safe access zone to do any act with the intent of, or reckless as to whether it has the effect of, influencing any person's decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services, obstructing or impeding any person accessing, providing, or facilitating the provision of abortion services, or causing harassment, alarm or distress to any person in connection with a decision to access, provide, or facilitate the provision of abortion services.

Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 does not make any reference to silent prayer.

The Equality Impact Assessment for the Public Order Act 2023 assesses the impact of the Act, including section 9, on people with religious beliefs. This document is published on the GOV.UK website here: Public Order Bill: equality impact assessment - GOV.UK.

Decisions around the enforcement of safe access zones are for the police, who are operationally independent from Government. The College of Policing are responsible for providing operational guidance to the police. They have released their own supplementary content on this topic, available here: Section 9 - Public Order Act 2023: Supplementary content.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Baroness McIntosh of Pickering:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to achieve their ambitions for clean energy while meeting the environmental targets set out on the Environment Act 2021. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Our Government’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission is to accelerate to net zero and deliver Clean Power by 2030 alongside our commitment to restoring nature. This includes through delivering the Environment Act targets in England and honouring our international commitments under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD). In making Britain a clean energy superpower, we will ensure that a reformed planning system works for nature through measures such as the new Nature Restoration Fund and the Marine Recovery Fund (MRF) for Offshore Wind.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of a Cap and Share system for supporting energy transition for the UK, particularly with regard to its fairness and social and climate impacts. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The UK Emissions Trading Scheme is a cap-and-trade scheme, setting a limit on emissions from power, industry and aviation. Participants must buy and surrender allowances annually to cover their emissions.

The scheme, launched in 2021, is a key part of the Government’s approach to meeting our climate targets. Revenues from the UK ETS are used to support Government priorities including decarbonisation. The UK ETS Authority, made up of the UK Government and Devolved Governments, continues to develop the scheme to ensure it is achieving its aims, supported by thorough public consultation and assessment of its climate, economic and social impacts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government what sites in Wales currently house or have in the past 20 years housed a nuclear reactor, including university and medical locations. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There have been two nuclear reactors located in Wales; both are now being decommissioned. The nuclear power plant on the Trawsfynydd site came offline in 1991 and the plant on the Wylfa site in Anglesey stopped generating electricity in 2015. The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) regulate nuclear sites in Great Britain and publish a map of licensed sites on their website at www.onr.org.uk/our-work/map-of-sites-and-facilities/. GE Healthcare operated a Nuclear Licensed site in Cardiff which was used for radiopharmaceutical manufacture and de-licensed in 2019. There was no reactor present on this site.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Blencathra:To ask His Majesty's Government whether their franchise agreement with Avanti West Coast Trains contains conditions on the maintenance and repair of potholes in the car park at Penrith North Lakes railway station. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The current agreement with Avanti West Coast does not contain obligations regarding the maintenance and repair of potholes.

Avanti West Coast is responsible for the day-to-day management of Penrith North Lakes Station, including the car park. Responsibility for any repairs, including repairs to potholes, lies with the station’s landlord, Network Rail. Avanti West Coast works with Network Rail to seek improvements on behalf of passengers where this is required.

The Department will ask AWC to pass on to NR the concerns about potholes in the car park.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Blencathra:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to cover the route to the new taxi rank point from Euston railway station. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: Network Rail manages Euston Station and work to improve the passenger experience at Euston is continuing.

As part of this, a range of ideas has been proposed, including potential enhancements to the route between the station and the taxi rank. Network Rail, under a ‘single guiding mind’ approach, is working with industry partners to assess the feasibility of these proposals and the overall benefits to passengers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Swire:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to rename London Waterloo Station. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: Network Rail own and manage Waterloo station. There are no plans to rename the station.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Agnew of Oulton:To ask His Majesty's Government how many legal aid providers held contracts but did not take on any cases in the most recent year for which figures are available. \p Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: In the financial year 2023/24, of the 1320 legal aid providers holding a contract to deliver civil legal aid services, 81 (6%) did not take on any cases within that period. Of those 81 providers, only 18 have a current contract to deliver civil legal aid services.

Of the 1066 legal aid providers holding a contract to deliver criminal legal aid services, 22 (2%) did not take on any cases in that period. Of those 22 providers, only 6 have a current contract to deliver criminal legal aid services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Blencathra:To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to amending existing definitions relating to sex and gender with a view to adopting definitions similar to those set out in US Executive Order 14166, entitled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government", issued on 20 January. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The contents and publication of executive orders is a domestic matter for the United States.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for online technical issues to affect customers as banks move to online platforms. \p Lord Livermore: Strengthening the financial sector’s operational resilience is a key priority for HM Treasury and the financial regulators.

The financial regulators issued a Policy Statement on Operational Resilience in March 2022, entering into effect this Spring. It clarifies and sets new expectations for finance firms to improve their operational resilience, including services such as online banking, and requires firms to identify important business services and set impact tolerances.

These rules ensure firms are better equipped to prevent, adapt, respond to, recover, and learn from operational disruption.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Baroness Finn:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on 5 December 2024 (HC16605), what ministerial declaration has been made to the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, or the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, in relation to the Chancellor of the Exchequer receiving funding from Labour Together donors; and whether the Chancellor knows who funds Labour Together. \p Lord Livermore: There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of private interests held by ministers, which has been followed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Dholakia:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of businesses that have been refused insurance because of incidents of retail crime. \p Lord Livermore: The Government has not made an assessment. Insurers make decisions about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the relevant risks. This is usually informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. Individual insurers may take a different view of the relevant factors in determining whether to offer insurance and at what price.

However, the Government recognises that shop theft continues to increase at an unacceptable level, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers to do this.

The Government will introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect hardworking and dedicated staff, and end the effective immunity that has been granted to shop theft of goods under £200. As set out in the Autumn Budget 2024, the Government also will provide over £7 million over the next three financial years to help police tackle retail crime and support local businesses.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Baroness Altmann:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the Financial Conduct Authority and other regulators have sufficient powers to intervene when retail investment platforms fail to inform their customers clearly, fully and in a timely manner (1) about the direct charges they pay for the investments they purchase on the platforms, (2) that they can exercise their rights to vote at the meetings of companies in which they hold shares, and (3) about the reasons for de-platforming listed, regulated investments that they may wish to purchase. \p Lord Livermore: The Government wants to see more consumers benefit from the long-term financial security and returns that investing can provide and recognises that platforms will be crucial to achieving this objective.

Retail investment platforms are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which has the necessary powers to intervene should they find retail investment platforms to be in breach of their regulatory obligations.

The Government legislated to enable the FCA to reform the UK’s retail disclosure regime to ensure consumers have access to the most useful information – including on risks, costs and performance – to support their investment decisions. The FCA consultation is currently open for views.

The issue of shareholder rights, including where shares are held by an intermediary, is being considered by the Digitisation Taskforce. The government is fully committed to ensuring the UK’s shareholding framework is fit for purpose and looks forward to receiving the taskforce’s final report.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Teverson:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will have on surcharges on goods and energy passing (1) between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and (2) between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. \p Lord Livermore: The Government plans to apply the UK CBAM across the whole UK, including in NI. The UK will continue to work with international partners, including the EU, to ensure our approach is implemented in a way that works for businesses. The EU CBAM could only apply in Northern Ireland with the agreement of the UK and in line with the democratic safeguards of the Windsor Framework.

For goods moving from Northern Ireland into the EU, guidance is a matter for the European Commission and EU Member States. The Commission website is the most up to date source of information and guidance.

The EU Commission have also published their own impact assessment of the EU CBAM which is available online.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of an international charge on fossil fuel extraction as a means of raising revenue under the New Collective Quantified Goal agreed at COP29. \p Lord Livermore: We are committed to helping deliver global climate finance, including the New Collective Quantified Goal agreed at COP29 of at least $300bn per year to developing countries by 2035, and responding to the wider call on all actors to increase climate finance to developing countries to £1.3trn per year.

As part of that effort, we are pressing for faster and more ambitious reforms to the global financial system to deliver much more and higher quality climate and development finance. Alongside this, we are supportive of exploring revenue raising mechanisms for climate action, but we will need to consider specific proposals on a case-by-case basis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security situation in Sudan, especially with regard to the risk of further atrocity crimes, including by reference to their Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability assessment. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against all travel to Sudan because of the ongoing military conflict. The UK condemns in the strongest terms increasing reports of atrocities being committed across Sudan, and we continue to do so at every available opportunity. The UK has played a leading role in human rights scrutiny on Sudan. In October 2024, we led efforts at the UN Human Rights Council to renew the UN mandate for the international, independent Fact-Finding Mission to ensure credible evidence of human rights abuses and violations are investigated impartially. I also held a meeting with the African Union Special Envoy for the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide and Mass Atrocities on 5 February where we discussed the African Union advocacy on protection of civilians and addressing atrocities in Sudan. A draft Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability (JACS) assessment of the situation in Sudan was finalised in March 2023 but the internal review process was halted by the outbreak of violence on 15 April 2023. We continue to track the conflict through a variety of shorter, more regular analyses and have enhanced our atrocity risk monitoring, including monitoring of conflict-related sexual violence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received from the Welsh Government concerning the maximisation of financial and economic benefit for Wales from the activities of the Crown Estate in Wales. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a range of issues, including our shared ambition for floating offshore wind development in the Celtic Sea, and the role of the Crown Estate therein.

The Crown Estate has played a significant role in attracting international investment into Wales to support the UK's net zero target and will continue to do so, particularly through leasing rounds for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The Crown Estate is key to the £1.4 billion investment and over 5,000 jobs that this government wants to enable from floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea.

The Crown Estate works closely with the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales in support of shared priorities, ensuring that these resources are sustainably managed for the long term.

The UK Government’s focus is on taking maximum advantage of this opportunity for Wales. I was therefore pleased that the Secretary of State for Wales worked with Lords Livermore and Hain to agree an amendment to The Crown Estate Bill in the House of Lords that will appoint a Commissioner with special responsibility for Wales. This will ensure the interests of Wales are fully reflected in The Crown Estate’s work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to strengthen the current structures of the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations. \p Lord Coaker: The 2019 Review of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs) recommended that the Council of RFCAs (CRFCA) and the 13 RFCAs should be merged into a single Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). The Ministry of Defence is currently developing the requisite NDPB operating structure which will preserve the voice and influence of the membership, both at the national and regional level, and will also ensure that structures are consistent throughout the organisation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Spellar:To ask His Majesty's Government what was the cost per unit of the new single living accommodation block at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; and where were the units manufactured. \p Lord Coaker: The new Single Living Accommodation (SLA) block at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) provides 53 en-suite single bedspaces for Senior Ranks, with utilities, drying rooms, a kitchen and furnished communal space.

While this information is not held in the format requested, the overall contract value for the new SLA block at RMAS was £10.91 million; project cost capture does not split the cost into a single bedspace. The SLA block was manufactured in the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-11)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for the Ministry of Defence (1) to adopt artificial intelligence and (2) to embrace new and emerging technologies. \p Lord Coaker: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the enormous potential that AI and other emerging technologies offer to transform all aspects of the Department and the Armed Forces. We maintain significant in-house Science and Technology (S&T) capabilities in Dstl to monitor technology trends, develop novel applications and mitigate strategic surprise.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-07)

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Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the financial cost to the UK of the damage and disruption caused by Storm Eowyn. \p Baroness Twycross: Since Storm Éowyn made landfall, His Majesty’s Government’s focus has rightly been on making sure that requests for support in response to its impacts across the UK, were managed quickly and effectively and delivered to whichever part of the UK they were required. It is too early to say what the financial costs of the impacts of the Storm have been.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-07)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage more cyber experts to work in government departments. \p Baroness Twycross: The Government has been delivering successful cyber programmes for many years.

We bring new talent into His Majesty’s government with our apprenticeship and graduate schemes and a new Government Cyber Skills Academy.

We attract cyber experts into Government with our new Cyber Resourcing Hub which is working to engage with talent pools and support recruiting line managers. The Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance also gives flexibility for departments to offer higher pay for hard-to-recruit-to roles.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-07 conversation_3

Lord Agnew of Oulton:To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of contracts awarded under the Government Major Projects Portfolio since 2020 have used single-source procurement. \p Baroness Twycross: This information is not centrally held and would come at disproportionate cost to the Government/Department in producing this information.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-07 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-07 conversation_4

The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the introduction of a pair of beavers to the River Glaven in Norfolk in 2022 on (1) water pollution, and (2) flood risk. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: In 2021 Natural England issued a licence to the Norfolk Rivers Trust for a fenced beaver enclosure in the upper Glaven catchment. The application was supported by the University of East Anglia, including pre-release ecological, hydrological & social science reports, and proposals to monitor impacts after release. Natural England staff have visited the site on a number of occasions, and observed a series of extensive dams retaining water and sediment in the wooded enclosure. Natural England is also aware of the project’s recent research publication, demonstrating that the beaver wetlands significantly reduced nitrate and phosphate levels in the chalk stream flowing out of the site.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-07 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-07 conversation_5

Lord Sikka:To ask His Majesty's Government what was the median state pension for (1) men, and (2) women, (a) before 2016, and (b) since 2016. \p Baroness Sherlock: Information on amounts of State Pension by gender are available at DWP Stat-Xplore. The table below provides information on the Median State Pension amount for (i) people who reached State Pension age before 6th April 2016 and will get the basic State Pension and may get earnings-related additional State Pension, and (ii) those who reached State Pension age on or after 6th April 2016, who get the new State Pension. The information in the table below is based on the latest available quarter ending May 2024.

Median Weekly Pre-2016 SP (bSP) May 2024 (£)

Median Weekly Post-2016 SP (nSP) May 2024 (£)

Male

219.93

220.96

Female

191.04

220.53

Total

204.06

220.74
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-07 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-07 conversation_6

Lord Wigley:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what is the latest estimate of the cost of repairing and safeguarding the Palace of Westminster; and by what date he anticipates a definite decision being taken on this matter. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The R&R Client Board published the strategic case for the R&R Programme in March 2024. This sets out that three options for how to deliver the R&R works to the Palace (including full decant, continued presence and ehanced maintenance and improvement) will be developed in detail. This detailed work, which will include estimated costs and timescales as well as risks and mitigations for all three options, is expected to be presented to the Houses by the end of 2025 to enable an evidence-based decision on how best to restore the Palace.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_1

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking through public health campaigns to warn people of the dangers of ketamine. \p Baroness Merron: The Department takes the threat of ketamine and other drugs seriously, and is working with partners across Government to respond to existing and new drug threats, and to reduce and prevent the health harms. We are committed to ensuring that anyone with a drug problem can access the help and support they need. We know that drug treatment is protective, and the number of places in treatment for people who use drugs, other than opiates, is being increased by 30,000.

The Government has a drug information and advice service called Talk to FRANK, which aims to reduce drug misuse and its harms by increasing awareness, particularly for young people and parents. FRANK offers easy to read information on the risks of using ketamine and mixing it with other substances, and basic harm reduction advice.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has developed a briefing on ketamine for local areas, many of which are already mobilising in response to local need. The OHID also commissions drug education materials to be used by schools in personal, social, health, and economic education.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_2

Lord Watson of Wyre Forest:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the higher rates of advanced prostate cancer diagnoses among black men. \p Baroness Merron: A £42 million United Kingdom-wide trial, the TRANSFORM trial led by Prostate Cancer UK with £16 million funding from the Government, is under way and aimed at helping find best ways of detecting prostate cancer in men, even if they are not displaying any symptoms and could save thousands of lives.

This study will also aim to address some of the inequalities that exist in prostate cancer diagnosis by targeting black men in trial recruitment. This is vital as previous trials have not included enough black men to adequately demonstrate the harms and benefits of screening for this group specifically, despite their significantly higher risk.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_3

Lord Harris of Haringey:To ask His Majesty's Government what work is being undertaken with the devolved administrations to maintain a central risk management process for antimicrobial resistance. \p Baroness Merron: The 2024 to 2029 antimicrobial resistance (AMR) national action plan (NAP) is a United Kingdom-wide plan, setting out the challenging commitments and targets for the next five years to confront AMR.

The NAP programme is made up of eight implementation programmes that are responsible for delivering their implementation plans, which collectively contribute to meeting the commitments within the NAP. Each implementation programme records and manages risks within their own governance structures. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have their own implementation programmes that they manage.

Risks that are deemed cross-cutting to the NAP are recorded within the programme’s UK-wide risk register, owned by the Department. These cross-cutting risks are monitored and discussed at the two programmes delivery boards, which are responsible for monitoring implementation of the NAP, to determine mitigating actions.

High-level, challenging programme risks can be escalated up to the UK AMR Strategy Board, members of which include senior officials from across the One Health sector and all four nations of the UK, who are responsible for providing strategic direction for mitigating large scale risks that jeopardise overall programme delivery.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_4

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that healthcare professionals have the skills and confidence to prescribe physical activity as a treatment and management tool for people living with long-term conditions. \p Baroness Merron: The Government and the National Health Service recognise the important role of physical activity in the prevention and management of long-term health conditions.

The NHS Better Health Campaign promotes ways for adults, families, and children to move more, and signposts people, including those living with long term conditions and who are ready to build movement back into routines, to digital support like the NHS Active 10 walking app. Local authorities and the NHS also promote and provide services for people living with long term conditions, such as exercise on referral and social prescribing, including access to physical activity interventions, fall prevention, and walking groups.

The Department, with Sport England, has delivered support and training to equip healthcare professionals to enable patients to move more, to improve their physical and mental health. Sport England continues to support work in this area through the Physical Activity Clinical Champions programme, which is currently being piloted in local areas.

NHS England is working closely with partners nationally and locally to explore how the NHS might galvanise support to make physical activity a core part of NHS care, in order to benefit patients, NHS staff, and the wider public.

By empowering clinicians and healthcare professionals with the skills and confidence to discuss and promote physical activity, through integrating it into key clinical pathways and by aligning it with Core20PLUS5 for adults, children, and young people, the NHS could help to transform patient outcomes and reduce health inequalities.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_5

Lord Bradley:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 13 January (HL3801), where the information sought in the question is held if not centrally. \p Baroness Merron: This information is held on a local level by the healthcare providers for each respective prison.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_6

Lord Willis of Knaresborough:To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to increase the adult social care workforce. \p Baroness Merron: The adult social care workforce is growing, with Skills for Care data reporting that in 2023/24 there were 1.705 million filled posts, an increase of 70,000 filled posts compared with 2022/23.

The independent commission, announced on 3 January, will look at how we recruit, retain, and recognise the adult social care workforce. We are already taking action through a number of reforms including introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement and expanding the Care Workforce Pathway (the new national career structure) to make the adult social care sector more attractive. We will support care workers to safely take on further duties to deliver delegated healthcare activities, with the right training and clinical governance in place.

In September 2024, we launched the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme, which allows employers to claim for funding for training courses and qualifications on behalf of eligible staff. We are also launching a national recruitment campaign in February 2025 to encourage suitable candidates to apply for immediate vacancies by highlighting the varied and rewarding work available.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_8

Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they intend to make to the government of the United States regarding its decision to declare that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have committed genocide in Sudan; and to sanction RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo for his role in systematic atrocities committed against the Sudanese people. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK continues to work closely with the US in support of efforts to bring peace to Sudan. The long-standing position of successive UK Governments is that it is for courts to decide whether genocide has occurred. While the UK takes a different approach to the US on determination, no-one should doubt that we also condemn what is happening in the strongest terms.  Irrespective of any such determination, it is clear that atrocities have been committed in this conflict.  Those responsible must be held to account. We are using the tools available to us to act, including in partnership with the US.  We keep sanctions under review but do not speculate on prospective sanctions designations as this would undermine their effectiveness.

Since the outbreak of conflict in 2023, the UK has frozen the assets of nine commercial entities linked to the parties involved in the conflict. On 8 November 2024, the United Nations Security Council also sanctioned two Rapid Support Forces commanders involved in perpetrating ethnically motivated atrocities in Sudan.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-17)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-17 conversation_9

Lord Swire:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of  Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman’s relations with the League Against Cruel Sports and their implications for his role as national police lead on hunting. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: National portfolio leads are a matter for the NPCC.