theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_33

Lord Freyberg:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what steps he will take to ensure that there is an adequate pipeline of traditional craft and conservation skills in the workforce for the restoration of the Palace of Westminster. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 states that the Corporate Officers must have regard to the need to ensure that opportunities to secure economic or other benefits of the works are available in all areas of the UK. Those responsible for running the R&R Programme are committed to delivering benefits for small and medium enterprises all over the country, for example by creating apprenticeships and skills and training opportunities.

Over 100 organisations and businesses, including many heritage organisations, have attended 13 R&R supplier engagement roundtables held across every UK nation and region of England. Engagement with these heritage organisations has helped to generate a relevant understanding of, and a diverse insight into, the current and future challenges associated with the conservation, rehabilitation and development of heritage buildings.

The R&R Delivery Authority has formed a London heritage skills network comprising heritage organisations, further education providers, and training bodies, which will feed into a new national heritage skills network as supported by Historic England. The network aims to establish a ‘pipeline of work’ model to help the supply chain and training providers understand the future requirements and demand for traditional skills across different organisations and projects, including R&R.

The R&R Programme has also developed and launched a procurement system, in collaboration with Parliament’s heritage team, that enables conservation specialists across the nation to bid for contracts to work on heritage collection objects in the Palace.

To mitigate against the existing skills challenges, the R&R Delivery Authority understands the importance of targeting the recruitment of apprentices and trainees into roles where there are known skills shortages. The R&R Delivery Authority is currently exploring implementing a shared apprenticeship scheme across heritage client organisations. This scheme is intended to provide small and medium enterprises who may otherwise lack a breadth of work or planned projects the opportunity to engage in the upskilling of an apprentice without the need to commit to the full duration of the programme.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_34

Lord Freyberg:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment he has made of the specialist heritage and construction skills that are required for the restoration of the Palace of Westminster. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Regardless of the delivery option selected, the R&R Programme will entail significant heritage restoration and, due to the age of the Palace and its Grade 1 listed status, will require a variety of specialist heritage and construction skills to be involved with the restoration.

Over 100 organisations and businesses, including many heritage organisations, have attended 13 R&R supplier engagement roundtables held across every UK nation and region of England. Engagement with these heritage organisations has helped to generate a relevant understanding of, and a diverse insight into, the current and future challenges associated with the conservation, rehabilitation and development of heritage buildings.

The R&R Delivery Authority is looking closely into the skills needs across the UK and the significant skills shortages in some areas of the construction and heritage industries, in order to target initiatives at key trades and occupations designated as likely “pinchpoints”. In particular, the R&R Delivery Authority is developing an assessment of the labour skill requirements for the R&R Programme to provide an estimate on the type and number of specialist and heritage and construction skills required for the restoration of the Palace. The exact requirements will partly depend on the decisions taken by the Houses on the preferred way forward for R&R. The labour forecast assessment will help form skills planning and the skills interventions required to support the works on the Palace.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_35

Lord Freyberg:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what lessons from international heritage restorations, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, have informed the planning, public engagement and delivery models for the restoration of the Palace of Westminster. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The R&R Programme has been engaging with and learning lessons from other major international heritage restoration projects.

Several other parliaments are undergoing or have recently completed renovation programmes of their buildings, for example the Canadian, Dutch, and Austrian parliaments. The R&R Programme maintains a dialogue with these other parliaments to learn lessons for our own restoration programme. One way it does this is through the International Network of Parliamentary Properties (INPP), an umbrella organisation of international parliaments which is dedicated to the conservation, restoration, rehabilitation and development of parliamentary estates. The INPP holds an annual conference and regular online seminars to share key lessons, which R&R officials routinely attend to learn best practice in how to plan, engage on, and deliver complex projects in a parliamentary context.

The R&R Programme has also learnt lessons from other non-parliamentary international heritage buildings, including a visit to the 400-year old stock exchange building in Copenhagen (after it was partially destroyed by a fire during refurbishment in 2024) to learn about matters such as fire risk during renovation and emergency preparedness. R&R officials also held a lessons-learned event about the Notre Dame restoration in May 2025 to understand better how the restoration works to the Cathedral were project managed, the use of technology in the project (such as the creation of a digital model) and the associated public engagement strategy.

Officials and Board members involved with R&R have also visited heritage restoration projects across the UK, such as Buckingham Palace and Manchester Town Hall, to learn lessons that are being practically applied during the planning stages of R&R, for instance in relation to surveys and engaging with the supply chain.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_36

Lord Blencathra:To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether there are plans to erect observation towers in front of Peers' Entrance to provide security officers a clear view of St Margaret’s Street over the security fence. \p Lord Gardiner of Kimble: There are no plans to erect observation towers in front of the Peers’ Entrance. The design of the Abingdon Street fence components was undertaken to carefully balance security requirements and heritage considerations, whilst maintaining necessary lines of sight for the security personnel working in this area, including at nearby entrances.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_37

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how artificial intelligence can be used as an early warning system to predict harmful weather patterns. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The Government is driving forward AI development and adoption through the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

AI-driven forecasting systems are being developed and assessed by the Met Office, including co-developing the FastNet AI weather model with the Alan Turing Institute.

The Met Office is assessing the potential of AI-based tools to support expert meteorologists in their assessment of severe weather events.

The Met Office is monitoring developments in this field world-wide.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_38

Baroness Harris of Richmond:To ask His Majesty's Government, following the security breach at RAF Brize Norton on 20 June, what plans they have to improve the security of all RAF airfields. \p Lord Coaker: We are now conducting a review of security across Defence that will assess and assure the state of protective security at all sites. As I am sure you can appreciate, we will not comment on the specifics before the review has concluded.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_39

Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government when East Midlands Railway's fleet of Class 810 Aurora trains which were meant to enter service in May will now be introduced into passenger service. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Class 810 ‘Aurora’ trains are currently undergoing testing by Hitachi, and we expect the first units to be delivered to East Midlands Railway in the Autumn, with a phased roll-out during 2026.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_40

Lord Spellar:To ask His Majesty's Government, following Baroness Casey of Blackstock's National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, published on 16 June, what steps they are taking to reform the arrangements for taxi licensing. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Department for Transport will legislate to address the important issues raised in the report, tackling the inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing. We will work as quickly as possible and consider all options – including out of area working, national standards and enforcement – seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety.

In the interim we will act urgently to make improvements, including consulting on making local transport authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, and determining how existing statutory guidance can be strengthened to further protect the public. We are also reviewing authorities’ compliance with existing guidance and will hold those who do not follow it to account.

Some important protections have already been put in place since earlier inquiries into Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. All licensing authorities in England now undertake extensive driver background checks, and since 2023 they are required to use a single database to prevent a driver refused a licence in one area on safety grounds going elsewhere. Careful consideration of the options is needed as we do not want any change to decrease the availability of highly vetted licensed drivers and vehicles and inadvertently increase the use of those offering illegal services that evade these licensing checks.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-07 conversation_41

Lord Spellar:To ask His Majesty's Government what was the gross income from the Dartford River Crossing in the last year for which figures are available, and how much was paid to the Department for Transport. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: For the financial year 2023/24, gross road user charge income at the Dartford Crossing was £130.1m. The Crossing’s full revenue is higher owing to additional income from enforcement, abnormal load fees, and other rental income (details are available in the annual accounts published online).

All road user charge income is paid to the Department for Transport gross. The total cost of operating and maintaining the Crossing in 2023/24 was £75.5m. After meeting these costs, the remaining revenue from Dart Charge was spent on transport-related schemes and projects.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_1

Baroness Thomas of Winchester:To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they will give to recent research which has shown that a blood test can detect ovarian cancer. \p Baroness Merron: The Department is committed to improving cancer care for patients across England, including those with ovarian cancer.

As the chances of survival are higher if a cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, early diagnosis is a key priority for the Government. Several tests are currently used to detect ovarian cancer including ultrasound scans, biopsies and blood tests.

The forthcoming National Cancer Plan, which will complement the 10-Year Health Plan, will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for all cancer patients including those with ovarian cancer. In addition to speeding up diagnosis and treatment it will aim to ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology and to clinical and will ultimately bring this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world. The Department ran a Call for Evidence to inform the development of the national cancer plan, including a question on priorities for cancer research. Over 11,000 responses were received, and these responses have been analysed to prioritise recommendations in the Plan.

The Government recognises that investment is needed across the research pathway, from cellular biology and drug discovery through to translation and application. At the start of that pathway, the Government funds the Medical Research Council through UK Research and Innovation, which in turn works closely with the National Institute for Health and Care Research to identify emerging, viable prospects for translational research.

Alongside, the Government is supporting the Private Members Bill on rare cancers tabled by the Hon. Member for Edinburgh South West (Scott Arthur MP). In developing the bill, a wide range of research and evidence has been considered. The bill will make it easier for clinical trials and research into rare cancers, such as ovarian cancer, to take place in England by ensuring the patient population can be easily contacted by researchers.

More generally, across the field of cancer research, the Department works with relevant bodies to consider the impact of emerging research and associated outcomes, where possible and appropriate. As the question does not name the specific research programme, it is not possible to provide any further detail about the Department’s or associated bodies’ consideration to the research to which the question refers.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_2

Baroness Redfern:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a national freight crime strategy, including proposals for criminal law measures, and on what timeframe. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: This Government understands the significant and damaging impact freight crime has on businesses and drivers and we are aware of worrying increases in its frequency.

Whilst there are no plans to introduce a national freight crime strategy, we will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and invested stakeholders to change the unacceptable perception that freight crime is low risk and high reward and find solutions which will tackle it.

There are strong links between freight crime and serious, organised crime, which is a major threat to the national security and prosperity of the UK and estimated to cost the economy at least £47 billion annually.

This Government is committed to tackling serious and organised crime in all its forms, and we are continuing to work closely with Opal, the police’s national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime, which has multiple thematic desks, including a vehicle crime intelligence desk which covers freight crime.

The DfT also hosts the Freight Council; this group regularly discusses crime against freight companies, and the Home Office works closely with DfT to engage with the sector on this issue through the Freight Council.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_3

Baroness Hoey:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to prevent illegal migrants who arrive in the Republic of Ireland from travelling into Northern Ireland and then to Great Britain. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative working relationship on a range of issues, including migration and border security. That collaboration includes a joint commitment to protect the Common Travel Area (CTA) from abuse while preserving the rights of British and Irish citizens.

The UK operates intelligence-led operational activity across the CTA and everyone entering the UK, regardless of where they enter from, is required to meet UK’s immigration requirements. Anyone identified attempting to circumvent UK border controls is liable to be detained and, if they are not lawfully present within the UK, removed.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_4

Lord Campbell-Savours:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Hanson of Flint on 15 September (HL9952, HL9953, HL9954, HL9955, HL9956), whether they will answer the questions put. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Home Office has a statutory obligation to support asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. Asylum Support provisions are reviewed regularly to ensure that we remain compliant in meeting our legal obligations. This can include consideration of how other countries provide support for people seeking asylum.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_5

Lord Blencathra:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the police forces about the potential dangers of food couriers riding electric bicycles on pavements. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Ministers and officials meet representatives of police forces regularly to discuss a wide range of topics.

The Highway Code details the legal responsibilities of cyclists. In addition to the main offences of dangerous and careless cycling there are a variety of specific offences including cycling on the pavement for which police officers and Police Community Support Officers can issue £50 fixed penalty notice.

In addition, the Government is giving the police greater powers through the Crime and Policing Bill to clamp down on vehicles, including electric bicycles, used anti-socially and illegally with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing them.

The Government has also recently consulted on proposals to allow the police to dispose of seized vehicles which have been used anti-socially and illegally more quickly. The consultation closed on 8 July and the Government response will be published in due course.

These combined measures will help tackle the scourge of vehicles ridden anti-socially and illegally and send a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_6

Lord Spellar:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 3 September (HL10232), how many asylum seekers are currently placed in (1) hotels, (2) houses of multiple occupation, and (3) other locations and facilities in England, broken down by local council. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in contingency and dispersed accommodation, including houses of multiple occupation, across England as at 30 June 2025.

The below figures are broken down by region. The data is available on GOV.UK under Immigration statistics and can be further broken down by local authority.

Region

Hotels

Dispersed Accommodation

Other

East Midlands

1,755

5,142

348

East of England

2,757

2,527

1,556

London

10,081

4,350

2,730

North East

309

6,891

96

North West

3,686

16,820

690

South East

3,402

3,122

449

South West

2,132

2,262

126

West Midlands

3,913

8,930

427

Yorkshire and Humber

2,129

6,956

601

This Government is delivering on its pledge to close asylum hotels; drastically reducing taxpayer costs and giving control back to local communities. This Government is committed to ending the use of hotels to house asylum seekers by the end of the Parliament.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_7

Lord Blencathra:To ask His Majesty's Government how many migrants arrived by small boats, and how many were deported to France, on 18 September. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: 0 people arrived by small boats on 18 September 2025. On the same day, one person was removed to France under the UK-France returns agreement.

This was the first person to be removed under the agreement. More on this can be read on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-small-boat-migrant-returned-under-new-uk-france-agreement).
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-03 conversation_8

Baroness Finn:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish an organisational chart of the current structure, including the decision-making hierarchy, of those working in the Prime Minister's Office and the division of their responsibilities. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Data on the number of officials in the Cabinet Office is published monthly at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-workforce-management-data-2023-to-2024 and Business Unit level data including for Business Units in Number 10 Downing Street is published quarterly at https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/ff76be1f-4f37-4bef-beb7-32b259413be1/organogram-cabinet-office

As was the case under the previous Administration, information about Special Adviser numbers is published in the Annual report on Special Advisers.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_1

Lord Freyberg:To ask His Majesty's Government what research they have commissioned or reviewed regarding the successful revitalisation strategies employed in Jingdezhen, China's pottery industry; and how these insights might be adapted to strengthen Stoke-on-Trent's ceramics sector while respecting its unique heritage and market position. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: The Department of Business and Trade works closely with the sector to understand its challenges and provide support to help its global competitiveness.

Through our continued engagement with Ceramics UK and its membership, we will inquire whether the sector has any thoughts on revitalisation strategies deployed in China.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_2

Lord Freyberg:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate export opportunities for Stoke-on-Trent's pottery manufacturers, particularly to high-value international markets; and whether they have considered implementing targeted export assistance programs specifically for the sector. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to supporting businesses, including Stroke-on-Trent’s pottery manufacturers, grow and export. Under the umbrella of the recently announced Business Growth Service, UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support via Great.gov.uk. This comprises an online support offer and a wider network of support including the Export Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers.

This support is available to all UK businesses including those that manufacture and wish to export pottery. DBT’s International Trade Advisers will also continue to work closely with Ceramics UK to ensure businesses in the sector access this support.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_3

Lord Frost:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost to British businesses selling to customers in the European Union and Northern Ireland of complying with the European Union General Product Safety Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/988). \p Baroness Gustafsson: The updated GPSR largely formalises the reality of how many businesses are already operating and the measures are therefore likely to have limited impact in practice. However, we understand that for some businesses, the regulation has required changes, and we take any concerns extremely seriously.

The department has issued guidance for businesses selling to Northern Ireland, which we will keep under review. DBT will continue to engage businesses directly to ensure they are familiar with the guidance and that the Government is supporting them to trade freely across the whole of the UK.

With respect to the EU market, British businesses may wish to contact the Government's Export Support service and the European Commission has also published guidance for businesses.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_4

Baroness Parminter:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Merron on 25 February (HL4946), Lord Markham on 20 July 2023 (HL9293), Lord Bethell on 3 November 2020 (HL9309) and Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 25 July 2019 (HL17359), why they are not able to provide the requested information on inpatient beds for eating disorder patients from NHS England when it has been provided in previous years. \p Baroness Merron: The following table shows the number of inpatient beds for eating disorder patients:

Specialised MH Inpatient Services

Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Eating Disorder

Adult Eating Disorder

Northwest

19

63

Northeast & Cumbria

9

66

Midlands

85

63

East of England

37

34

London

50

99

Southeast

28

31

Southwest

N/A

44

ENGLAND TOTAL

228

400

Source: NHS England

Notes: The data provided represents the total number of commissioned beds for CAMHS Eating Disorder and Adult Eating Disorder services. The figures are broken down by region and include any beds commissioned outside of England.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_5

Lord Lamont of Lerwick:To ask His Majesty's Government when they will reply to Lord Lamont of Lerwick's letter about the Urology Trade Association's concerns over changes to Part 1X of the Drug Tariff, sent to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women's Health and Mental Health, Baroness Merron, on 17 December 2024. \p Baroness Merron: We have no record of receiving the Noble Lord's correspondence. My Private Office has reached out to the Noble Lord for a copy and, when received, we will respond to that as soon as possible.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_6

Lord Kamall:To ask His Majesty's Government how many ‘yellow card’ reports of suicide after taking antidepressants were received by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in 2015 and each subsequent year; and how many have been assessed for causation each year over the same time period. \p Baroness Merron: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for ensuring medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion meet applicable standards of safety, quality and efficacy. The MHRA rigorously assesses available data, including from the Yellow Card scheme, and seeks advice from the Commission on Human Medicines, the MHRA’s independent advisory committee, where appropriate, to inform regulatory decisions including amending the product information.

The MHRA has received a total of 112 reports through the Yellow Card scheme for all antidepressant medications of reports of completed suicide which have been received between 1 January 2015 and 25 February 2025. The following table shows a yearly breakdown thereof:

Year received

Number of reports received

2015

11

2016

14

2017

17

2018

14

2019

7

2020

10

2021

7

2022

11

2023

6

2024

11

2025

4

Source: MHRA

Note: List of antidepressant medications included in the search were: escitalopram, citalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, venlafaxine, duloxetine, reboxetine, amitriptyline, clomipramine, dosulepin, dothiepin, doxepin, imipramine, lofepramine, nortryptiline, trimipramine, trazodone Isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine, moclobemide, phenelzine, agomelatine, vortioxetine, L-tryptophan, esketamine, mianserin, mirtazapine.

It is important to note that anyone can report to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme and the recording of these reports in the Yellow Card database does not necessarily mean that the adverse reactions have been caused by the suspect drug. Many factors must be considered in assessing causal relationships, including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication, and the underlying disease. We encourage reporters to report suspected adverse reaction reports, the reporter does not have to be sure of a causal association between the drug and the reactions; a suspicion will suffice.

The number of reports received cannot be used as a basis for determining the incidence of a reaction, as neither the total number of reactions occurring, nor the number of patients using the drug, is known. All fatal reports including those reporting completed suicide are assessed by the MHRA and cumulative information is reviewed at regular intervals. Warnings about the risk of suicidal behaviours are contained in the product information for all licensed antidepressants and these warnings are based on causality assessments of individual case reports and the totality of evidence from clinical trials and the scientific literature.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_7

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of asylum seeker hotels; and whether there is a need to review the funding behind the scheme. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: This government inherited an asylum system under exceptional strain, with tens of thousands of people stuck in limbo without any prospect of having their claims processed. At their peak use under the previous government, in the autumn of 2023, more than 400 asylum hotels were being leased by the Home Office, at a cost of almost £9 million a day.

We took immediate action to resolve that exceptional strain by restarting asylum processing, establishing the new Border Security Command to tackle the people-smuggling gangs, cracking down on illegal working across the country, and increasing the return and removal of people with no right to be here. Inevitably, due to the size of the backlog we inherited, the Home Office has been forced to continue with the use of hotels for the time being.

It remains our absolute commitment to end the use of hotels over time, as part of our reduction in overall asylum accommodation costs. In the interim, we are also continuing to increase our operational activity against smuggling gangs and illegal working, and we have increased returns to their highest level since 2018, with almost 17,00 people removed between 5 July and 31 January 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_8

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of investigatory powers to access encrypted data on an individual's freedom and privacy. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The UK has a longstanding position of protecting people’s privacy while ensuring action can be taken against child abusers and terrorists.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_9

Baroness Lister of Burtersett:To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to receive the report about the use of age assessments from the Independent Chief Inspector or Borders and Immigration. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The ICIBI inspection on the Home Office’s use of age assessments began on 10 September 2024 and is still ongoing.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

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Lord Black of Brentwood:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 26 February (HL4971), by what date current funding for Operation Grange provided by the Home Office will be exhausted; and whether they intend to publish details of any subsequent requests for funding if they are made. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Funding from the Police Special Grant is drawn from the wider Police Funding Settlement. As such, budgets and awards are agreed annually. At the start of this financial year, previous Ministers agreed to provide the Metropolitan Police with up to £191,800 in respect of Operation Grange for 2024-25. Funding for 2025-26 will be decided in due course.

Special Grant awards are published on the Home Office website after the end of the financial year to which they relate. Police funding: special grant applications - GOV.UK
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_11

Lord Roborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether fire and rescue services are adequately supplied with the specialised equipment needed to tackle the increasing incidence of wildfires. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Each fire and rescue authority (FRA) is required to plan for the foreseeable risks in their area (including wildfire), through their Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) while having regard to the views of other key local responders.

Standalone FRAs will see an increase in core spending power of up to £65.5 million in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25. Decisions on how their resources are best deployed to meet their core functions – which may include specialist equipment to tackle wildfires where this is a local risk - are a matter for each FRA.

In addition, the Home Office supports FRAs by providing over £17.9m in funding for specialist capabilities, such as High-Volume Pumps (HVPs), which have been used to help combat wildfires over recent summers.

In 2024/25 the Home Office is funding a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor to assess what additional wildfire national capabilities might be needed to increase resilience to the wildfire risk and to ensure coordination of approaches across the sector.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_12

The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to tackle drug-related crime in rural communities. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Government recognises the considerable impact of drug use and dealing on individuals, families and communities in rural and urban constituencies. Tackling this is a vital part of our missions to deliver safer streets and improve health outcomes, and that is why we are taking a collaborative, cross-government approach to drugs at a national level.

We expect the police to intervene to tackle illicit drug use, recognising the significant harms it causes. We are dedicated to reducing these drug-related harms through prevention and treatment, while acting quickly and decisively to stop the criminals peddling these harmful substances.

County Lines are the most violent model of drug supply and a harmful form of child criminal exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we will continue to target exploitative drug dealing gangs and break the organised crime groups behind the trade.

Since July 2024, policing activity delivered through the County Lines Programme has resulted in over 400 deal lines being closed, the arrest and charge of over 200 deal line holders, 500 arrests and 800 safeguarding referrals of children and vulnerable people.

As part of the Programme, the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) regularly coordinates weeks of intensive action against county lines gangs, which all police forces take part in. The most recent of these took place 25 November to 1 December 2024 and resulted in 261 lines closed, as well as 1,660 arrests, 1,434 individuals safeguarded and 557 weapons seized.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_13

Lord Swire:To ask His Majesty's Government how many people they employ to administer the UK Resettlement Scheme. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Resettlement schemes play a key role in the global response to humanitarian crises: saving lives and offering stability to refugees most in need of protection. We work closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the global refugee agency, to identify those living in formal refugee camps, informal settlements and host communities who would benefit most from resettlement to the UK. Our resettlement schemes are not selective on the basis of employability or integration potential. Apart from the criteria we set for each scheme, we do not seek to influence which cases are referred to us by UNHCR. Our approach is to resettle refugees in line with the global need identified by UNHCR, typically from countries hosting large populations of refugees such as those bordering countries with conflicts, where resettlement may be the only durable solution. This provides refugees with a safe and legal route to the UK.

Data on the number of people resettled through the UK Resettlement scheme is published in the quarterly immigration statistics release. This is viewable on gov.uk.

The table below shows the number of individuals resettled under UKRS. The data is relevant up to December 2024.

2021

2022

2023

2024

UK Resettlement Scheme

1,121

887

485

678

It is not possible to disclose staffing numbers relating to UKRS currently due to the operational nature of the scheme.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_14

The Lord Bishop of Southwark:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likely impact of the Associations Bill (Amendment—Donation from Foreign State Entity) 2024, currently before the Knesset, on the United Kingdom’s overseas development assistance to Israeli and Palestinian human rights organisations. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK is deeply concerned about the potential impact of this Bill on civil society and human rights organisations working in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We have raised our concerns with the Government of Israel. The UK supports civil society organisations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on a range of issues, including those who do invaluable work promoting and defending human rights.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_15

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 17 February (HL4711), what steps they are taking develop a policy on tackling the dehumanisation of Palestinians. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: We recognise that dehumanising language and hate speech can lay the ground for and seek to justify identity-based violence in conflict. The proliferation of harmful online narratives and its impact on conflict is an emerging challenge. Partnering with specialist organisations, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working to identify global best practices for mitigating harmful digital behaviours in conflict - including misinformation, disinformation and hate speech - and considering how action on such digital harms can be integrated into our wider approach to conflict and atrocity prevention.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_16

Baroness Humphreys:To ask His Majesty's Government how many charities they fund to run polio vaccination programmes. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK is a strong supporter of the global effort to eradicate polio and is proud to be a longstanding supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Since 1995 we have contributed £1.4 billion in funding. Our funding to GPEI has helped to reduce case numbers by over 99% and limit the number of countries where the wild polio virus remains endemic to just two - Pakistan and Afghanistan. To date, thanks to GPEI's efforts, more than 20 million people are walking who may otherwise have been paralysed due to polio. The UK also continues to support routine immunisation against polio through Gavi, the vaccines alliance. The UK is one of the largest donors to Gavi committing £1.65 billion over the 5-year 2021-2025 period.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_17

Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the arrest in Thailand of Montagnard Protestants while attending a funeral and of the dangers they will face if repatriated to Vietnam. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK Embassy in Bangkok is following the arrests of Montagnard Protestants in Thailand. This includes liaising with the relevant authorities to understand potential next steps, taking into account the 2024 report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation facing Montagnard Protestants in Vietnam. We continue to urge all governments to uphold their international human rights obligations, including the non-refoulement principle.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_18

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Thailand about the repatriation of Uyghur refugees to China. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: As the Foreign Secretary has made clear through a public statement, the UK disagrees in the strongest terms with Thailand's decision to deport 40 Uyghur Muslims to China. This is despite Thailand's international obligations in relation to non-refoulement and the well-documented ongoing human rights violations in Xinjiang. The Government has made representations to the Government of Thailand at the highest levels: the Foreign Secretary raised this issue with Thailand's Foreign Minister, and the Minister for the Indo-Pacific raised it with Thailand's Ambassador.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_19

Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government when they last raised Thailand’s decision not to sign the 1951 Convention on the treatment of refugees with the government of Thailand; and when they last discussed the obligations regarding freedom of religion or belief under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the governments of Thailand and Vietnam, and what response they received. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK regularly engages with the Thai government on refugee and asylum issues. The UK's position regarding the 1951 Convention is well-known in Thailand, including being raised as a question publicly during Thailand's most recent Universal Periodic Review in November 2021. The Minister for the Indo-Pacific raised Vietnam's obligations regarding freedom of religion or belief with Vietnams Deputy Foreign Minister during the UK-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue in October 2024.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_20

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay:To ask His Majesty's Government to set out which meetings (1) the Secretary of State, and (2) other ministers at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology have had with (a) artificial intelligence companies and advocacy groups, and (b) creative industry companies and advocacy groups, since July 2024. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The Government is committed to hearing a broad range of views to help inform its approach to copyright and AI.

Ministerial meetings are published according to normal transparency requirements on the gov.uk website.

The current best estimate of the number of meetings involving officials at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (including the Intellectual Property Office) since July 2024 is in the table below.

Month

Creative Industries

AI technology companies

Meetings with both sectors represented

July ‘24

3

1

August ‘24

2

2

September ‘24

6

2

October ‘24

12

3

3

November ‘24

8

6

1

December ‘24

4

5

2

January ‘25

9

12

5

February ‘25

8

8

6

This includes meetings where officials from both departments attended.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-03-13 conversation_21

Baroness Morgan of Cotes:To ask His Majesty's Government what conversations they have had with Ofcom regarding its ‘small but risky’ taskforce and in particular its understanding of (1) the number of full-time posts assigned to this taskforce, and (2) where this taskforce sits in Ofcom’s management structure. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: The Government has regular meetings with Ofcom on matters relating to the Online Safety Act (OSA), including about how it will enforce against non-compliant providers. The ‘Small but Risky’ taskforce is part of Ofcom’s supervision team. It sits in the Online Safety Group. The Government understands there are 189 full-time equivalent posts in the Online Safety Group. Ofcom established the Small but Risky task force in recognition of their unique risks posed by these services. It will identify, manage and enforce against such services where they fail to comply with their duties. Ofcom officially started enforcing the OSA regime this week.