theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-19 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-19 conversation_24

Lord Jones of Penybont:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to put revenue support mechanisms in place to support the development of advanced modular reactors. \p Lord Wilson of Sedgefield: The Government is providing a pathway for privately-led advanced nuclear projects. Great British Energy - Nuclear has been tasked with assessing proposals within a new framework, to be published shortly, with the National Wealth Fund exploring potential investment opportunities and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero exploring revenue support for viable projects.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-07 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-07)

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Baroness Wilcox of Newport:To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the publication of the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy on 23 June, whether they plan to prioritise green industries and advanced manufacturing in Wales. \p Baroness Gustafsson: Through the Industrial Strategy, we are prioritising growth-driving sectors, including clean energy industries and advanced manufacturing in Wales. This means supporting and building on Wales' globally competitive strengths in these industries, from green hydrogen at the Celtic Freeport to Airbus wing manufacturing in Broughton. Our Industrial Strategy Sector Plans set out our 10-year strategy for these sectors to increase business investment and productivity. This includes targeted support for investment and innovation in growth-driving sectors and clusters, including those in Wales.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-07 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-07)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to include provisions relating to human rights and the rule of law in any future free trade agreement with the Gulf states. \p Baroness Gustafsson: The UK is a leading advocate for human rights, and we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. We have a range of policy tools and levers available to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations and abuses. In the UK-GCC FTA, provisions we are seeking include those that reaffirm core ILO labour protections, and further our efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment. We raise any concerns with the GCC through Ministerial and diplomatic channels. Our strong relationships with the Gulf do not stop us from speaking frankly about human rights or other issues.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-07 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-07)

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Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to protect schools from party political interference after the minimum voting age has been lowered to 16. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under Sections 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues.

In 2022, the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality. This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools.

The guidance is clear that all schools should take full responsibility for ensuring lessons and materials are age appropriate, suitable, and politically impartial.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-07 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-07)

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Baroness Browning:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to improve education and training opportunities for disabled people with complex needs under the age of 22. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. This includes:

As announced in the spending review, we are investing over £1 billion annually in skills by 2028/29. This will support and grow the wide range of options available for everyone to succeed.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-07 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-07)

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Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that artisanal miners are buried in mines in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo following severe flooding; and what action they are taking to mobilise international non-governmental organisations and other governments to provide equipment, medical aid and trained rescue teams. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK is saddened by reports of artisanal miners trapped underground in the Lomera gold mining site. We extend our condolences to those affected and continue to monitor the situation. The UK is working to address the underlying causes of flooding and climate vulnerability in the DRC, through programmes that aim to protect standing forests and develop nature-based solutions. The UK supports the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, which promotes transparency and good governance in the mining sector. We are also a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, which guide extractive companies in maintaining safety.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-07)

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Baroness Jenkin of Kennington:To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance (1) departments; and (2) the Equality and Human Rights Commission; have issued to (a) public sector, organisations and (b) private-sector, organisations running internships schemes which are not open to certain groups based on their protected characteristics. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) prevents employers from treating people more favourably because of a particular protected characteristic. The positive action provisions in the Act along with certain disability provisions allow some limited exceptions to this general principle of discrimination law, and employers need to understand how these exceptions work in order to use them effectively and avoid straying into unlawful positive discrimination.

In April 2023, the previous government published guidance to help employers understand the difference between positive action and positive discrimination. The guidance is available on gov.uk at www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-08-07 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-08-07)

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Lord Pearson of Rannoch:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Khan of Burnley on 7 May (HL6893), what is the religious composition of the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group; and when they anticipate that it will report. \p Lord Khan of Burnley: The Working Group includes members from a cross-section of society, who have been selected for their technical expertise, experience and ability to deliver the objectives set out in the Terms of Reference.

Alongside drawing on their own expertise, the Working Group have engaged widely to ensure their proposed definition accounts for the variety of backgrounds and experiences across the United Kingdom.

As noted in the Terms of Reference, the advice provided to the Government by the Group will be private. Once the Government has had time to review the advice, it will consider its next steps.

Terms of Reference (pdf, 121.2KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-10 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-10)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of learning disabilities mortality review notifications are reviewed and completed within the six-month timeframe set by NHS England. \p Baroness Merron: We recognise the Learning from lives and deaths – People with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR) programme as a crucial source of evidence that helps to identify the key improvements needed to tackle health disparities and prevent avoidable deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people.

NHS England collects data about the completion of LeDeR reviews. The latest data at the end of July 2025 shows that 35% of eligible reviews have been completed within six months of notification.

There are numerous reasons why reviews may take longer than six months to complete. Sometimes, families do not feel it is possible for them to contribute to a review within that time frame; LeDeR reviews always take place after all other statutory processes have happened, for example coronial processes and safeguarding investigations. This means that a review may be delayed for some time. As of August 2025, 94% of all LeDeR reviews have been completed since the start of the programme in 2017.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-10 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-10)

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Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the decriminalisation of abortion upon the rights and responsibilities of medical professionals, including those with conscientious objections to participation in abortion procedures. \p Baroness Merron: The House of Commons has voted to add a clause to the Crime and Policing Bill which disapplies the criminal offences related to abortion from women in relation to their own pregnancy. These offences would still apply to medical professionals and third parties who do not abide by the rules set out in the Abortion Act 1967.

Under section 4(1) of the Abortion Act 1967, medical professionals have the right to refuse to participate in terminations of pregnancy, other than where the termination is necessary to save the life of, or prevent grave injury to, the pregnant woman. This right is limited to refusal to participate in the procedure or procedures themselves and not to pre- or post-treatment care, advice, or management.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-10 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-10)

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Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential risks to vulnerable women, including those who may be subject to coercion or abuse, if abortion were to be decriminalised; and what safeguarding measures they plan to put in place to protect them. \p Baroness Merron: No assessment has been made. It is for Parliament to decide the circumstances under which abortions should take place. As with other matters of conscience, abortion is an issue on which the Government adopts a neutral stance and allows members of Parliament to vote according to their moral, ethical, or religious beliefs.

The House of Commons has voted to add a clause to the Crime and Policing Bill which disapplies the criminal offences related to abortion from women in relation to their own pregnancy. These offences would still apply to medical professionals and third parties who do not abide by the rules set out in the Abortion Act 1967.

The safeguarding of children, young people, and adults who are at risk is a fundamental obligation for everyone who works in the National Health Service and its partner agencies. Following the decriminalisation of abortion for pregnant women acting in relation to their own pregnancy, the Department will consider whether sufficient safeguards are already in place or whether additional guidance is needed.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-10-10 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-10)

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Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of abortion decriminalisation on public confidence in the protection of unborn children and wider societal attitudes towards the value of life. \p Baroness Merron: No assessment has been made. It is for Parliament to decide the circumstances under which abortions should take place. As with other matters of conscience, abortion is an issue on which the Government adopts a neutral stance and allows members of Parliament to vote according to their moral, ethical, or religious beliefs.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-04 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-04 conversation_1

Baroness Eaton:To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will require planning officers who determine planning applications through their national scheme of delegation to declare any interests; and whether the bill will require local authorities to create a register of interests for planning officers along the lines of those for local councillors. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: Our live tables on planning statistics show that in 2024 for district planning decisions 96% of applications were delegated to officers, and for county planning decisions 81% of applications were delegated to officers.

Proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in relation to planning committees and a national scheme of delegation do not include changes to requirements to declare interests for either officers or councillors.

Clause 46 of the Bill gives the Secretary of State the power to, through regulations, require planning decisions to be made by committees or officers. We will consult on the details of this in due course.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-04 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Lord Jamieson:To ask His Majesty's Government what individual programmes or initiatives have been launched since 5 July 2024 that require local authorities to bid to the government to receive funding. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: The Government has committed to providing multi-year funding settlements and moving away from wasteful competitive bidding in order to give councils the stability and certainty they need to plan for the long-term. No department currently holds information on all individual programmes or initiatives that require local authorities to bid to the government for funding.

MHCLG is leading a programme of funding simplification to move Whitehall away from a system reliant on hundreds of separate funding pots and tight spending controls, to one based on partnership and respect. We estimate there are currently circa 300 grants provided to the sector each year with around a third allocated via a bidding process. We are working with all government departments to confirm (1) data on existing grants, including those allocated by bidding process, and (2) arrangements for the 2026/27 Local Government Finance Settlement, where the Government has committed to further consolidation.

In line with the usual approach, we will set out more detail at the local government finance settlement, towards the end of the calendar year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Lord Agnew of Oulton:To ask His Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the percentage of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities whose free school transport was provided via single-occupancy vehicles in 2023–24. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: Local authorities are responsible for arranging free home to school travel for eligible children. The department collects data on the total amount each local authority spends, broken down by phase of education and by two broad categories of eligibility – travel agreed for reasons of the child’s special educational needs or disability (SEND) and for reasons other than SEND. This is attached and available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/la-and-school-expenditure#subjectTabs-createTable.

To date, the department has not collected data on the number of pupils receiving free home to school travel or on the travel arrangements local authorities make. We therefore do not hold the specific information requested.

In February 2025, the department launched a voluntary data collection, seeking more detailed information from local authorities.

Home_To_School_Transport_2324_spend_by_LA (xlsx, 33.6KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-04 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, Who is Losing Learning? Finding Solutions to the School Engagement Crisis, published on 18 March; and what steps they are taking to address the loss of engagement in education. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The department welcomes the recommendations from the Institute for Public Policy Research’s report and will take the findings into consideration. This government’s ambition is that all children and young people receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life, and we are taking action to realise this across the system.

The government is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools. The department will drive a consistent and inclusive approach to supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities through early identification, effective support, high quality teaching and effective allocation of resources. By prioritising early intervention and inclusive provision in mainstream settings, our ambition is to improve outcomes for this cohort across key measures including attainment, absence and sustained employment.

The department has expanded its attendance mentor programme to cover a total of 17 areas, with a £15 million investment, directly supporting pupils and their families with the barriers to attendance. Attendance is also one of the first national priorities of our regional improvement for standards and excellence teams.

Free breakfast clubs will also be offered in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils, supporting children’s attendance and attainment and enabling them to thrive academically and socially.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-04 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-04 conversation_5

The Earl of Clancarty:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support universities and other higher education institutions offering foundation courses in creative subjects, including fine art. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The government is committed to supporting creative subjects such as fine art in higher education.

In the 2024/25 academic year, more than two thirds of the £1,402 million Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) recurrent funding to higher education providers is allocated to support the provision of high-cost subjects within price group A to C1.2, including various creative arts courses. This funding is in recognition of the higher costs of teaching those subjects.

For this academic year (2024/25), funding from the SPG for world-leading small and specialist providers was maintained at £58 million. Of the 20 providers recognised in this way, 12 are creative and performing arts providers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Baroness Sugg:To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that bilateral and multilateral health aid remain condition-free, particularly in regard to sexual and reproductive health and rights programmes; and what plans they have to collaborate with other donor nations to maintain consistent funding flows to key agencies, such as the United National Population Fund and the World Health Organization. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK is committed to promoting and defending universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) including safe abortion. The UK firmly believes that supporting comprehensive SRHR through proven evidence based public health interventions saves lives and supports prosperity. We will continue to work with our partners, including UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and World Health Organisation (WHO), governments and civil society partners to deliver this and to ensure UK Aid programmes remain free of conditions that would restrict the freedom, rights and choices of women and girls.

The UK will continue to engage with other donor nations to progress and promote SRHR and work to diversify funding for key agencies.

In April, we will be holding a UK- UNFPA Strategic Dialogue as part of which we will discuss how we can best support their efforts towards long-term sustainable financing. This is also something we prioritise through our ODA investments, for example, through UK support to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership, we promote the mobilisation of countries' own domestic resources for reproductive health. The UK was also a key supporter of WHO's recent Investment Round pledging up to £310 million in flexible core voluntary contributions to support the WHO's work for the next 4 years (2024-2028). Flexible funding enables WHO to respond effectively to emerging health threats and priorities, by allocating resources where they are needed most and we encourage other donors to also provide predictable, flexible multi-year support.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-04 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Lord Kempsell:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security situation in the Taiwan Strait. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by people on both sides of the Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We are concerned by any activity that risks destabilising the status quo and have stated this alongside our G7 partners, including in the most recent G7 Foreign Ministers' statement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Lord Mohammed of Tinsley:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the reduction of Official Development Assistance on women and girls' education (1) globally, and (2) in Afghanistan. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK is committed to empowering women and girls around the world through our international work. Education, especially for girls and women, has wide-ranging benefits. It can unlock the potential of women and girls to tackle inter-generational poverty and create economic growth. In Afghanistan, we have repeatedly condemned the Taliban's edicts that restrict the rights of women and girls, including on girls' education. Detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review process. We intend to publish final 2025/26 ODA programme allocations in the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts this summer. The FCDO is focused on ensuring that every pound is spent in the most impactful way. Equality Impact Assessments - which consider impacts on women and girls - are an essential part of how we make decisions, including on ODA allocations. The UK remains committed to playing a significant role in international development.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Lord Mohammed of Tinsley:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the reduction of Official Development Assistance on (1) levels of infant mortality, and (2) the effectiveness of programmes seeking to reduce female genital mutilation, in the Global South. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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The Lord Archbishop of York:To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Azerbaijan advocating for the continued operation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the country. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK is concerned at reports about the potential closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Azerbaijan. The ICRC must remain unimpeded in its work to provide humanitarian assistance, protect lives, and uphold rights worldwide, including in Azerbaijan. The Minister of State, Stephen Doughty MP raised this issue in a meeting with Azerbaijan's Principal Presidential Advisor, Hikmet Hajiyev, on 10 March.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Baroness Bakewell:To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving to the funding of the British Council, and to the scope and geographic coverage of its future activities. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: These issues are being considered in the round as part of the Spending Review process, which will allocate departmental budgets between FY 2026-27 and 2028-29.

In an increasingly digital age, the British Council's impact should be judged by the outcomes it delivers through its programmes and operations, rather than its physical presence.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-04-04 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Lord Jamieson:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 20 March (HL5602), what representations the government of China or its representatives have made to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office relating to the latest planning application for the Chinese Embassy, prior to and after the Secretary of State's call-in decision, and on what dates. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to her quasi-judicial role. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials speak regularly with the Chinese Government about a range of issues.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Baroness Whitaker:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 6 February (HL4583), what specific measures they are taking to address the root causes of marginalisation of minority faith communities in Nigeria, and what targeted support they are providing to protect individuals' freedom of religion or belief in the light of local blasphemy laws. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK supports programmes working to address the root causes of intercommunal violence in Nigeria through locally led peace-building efforts. Through our Strengthening Peace and Resilience programme ('SPRING') the UK is providing £38 million to reduce rural violence in northwest and north-central Nigeria, including by supporting collaboration and productive livelihoods for both farmers and pastoralists, and strengthening conflict early warning, management and response. The UK Government also funds the provision of legal and judicial expertise to make legislative changes to protect Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), including addressing blasphemy laws. The right of individuals to express their beliefs or non-belief is essential to a free and open society. Our dialogue on human rights, including FoRB, will remain an important part of the UK's partnership with Nigeria.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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The Lord Bishop of Gloucester:To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the resumed fighting in Gaza, what plans they have to ensure access to humanitarian aid and a return to a ceasefire. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: As the Foreign Secretary said to the House on 20 March, we strongly oppose Israel's resumption of hostilities and urgently want to see a return to a ceasefire. We have been clear that Hamas must release all the hostages, negotiations must resume and in all scenarios Israel must allow the entry of humanitarian aid. We are appalled by recent attacks on aid workers and their premises - they must be protected and never targeted. The Government of Israel must urgently ensure that effective deconfliction mechanisms are in place to enable them to conduct their lifesaving work safely.  We've repeatedly called on Israel at the UN and elsewhere to immediately allow urgently-needed aid back into Gaza. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer on 20 March and to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 21 March and pressed them to reopen humanitarian access, restore a ceasefire and work for a negotiated path forward, and has discussed the situation with UN leadership.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Baroness Sugg:To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are taking in their international development strategies to counter misinformation campaigns that target comprehensive sexuality and family planning education. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: The UK is proud to support universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. This includes support to address the additional barriers faced by adolescents and young people to ensure they can access the information, services and advice they need. The UK works in partnership with governments, civil society and community groups to do so. For example, in December 2024 the Prime Minister announced the Grassroots and Counter Rollback programme which aims to strengthen civil society organisations and movements to counter misinformation and expand access to SRHR.

The UK continues to provide strong political leadership in multilateral fora. We work to protect and progress language relating to adolescents' SRHR, including comprehensive sexuality education and family planning education. Meaningful engagement of young people is also a priority, and this year we will again include a young person as part of the UK delegation to the United Nations Commission on Population and Development.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Baroness Fox of Buckley:To ask His Majesty's Government whether the final findings of the longitudinal outcomes of gender identity in children study will be published before the commencement of the NHS England puberty blocker trial. \p Baroness Merron: The Outcomes and Predictors of Outcome for Children and Young People Referred to UK Gender Identity Development Services: A longitudinal Investigation (LOGIC) and the Puberty Suppression and Transitional Healthcare with Adaptive Youth Services (PATHWAYS) study are independent investigations and will run to their own timescales. The PATHWAYS study, which was recommended by the Cass Review, has several elements, including a longitudinal observational study of children and young people attending NHS Gender Services, charting their development over time, and longitudinal qualitative interviews to explore the needs and care experiences of children, young people, and their families, and how these change over the course of time and the treatment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Baroness Gohir:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 2 December 2024 (HL2825), which organisation was awarded the contract to operate the Equality Advisory and Support Service in the most recent competitive tendering process; how much funding they have allocated to this organisation each year since 2022; and what the timeline is for the review and reopening of the next competitive tendering process. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The Equality Advisory & Support Service (EASS) is a government-commissioned helpline that provides free advice and support to individuals in England, Scotland, and Wales on issues relating to equality and human rights. The last competitive tendering process was run in 2022, the resulting contract is still in place.

G4S was awarded the EASS contract in the last competitive tender process. The spend amount of the contract to date is £1,054,680 excl. VAT in the 2022/23 contract year, £1,104,180 excl. VAT in the 2023/24 contract year and £769,868 excl. VAT in the 2024/25 contract year. The reopening of the competitive tendering process will be ahead of the next contract juncture in June 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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Baroness Gohir:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 2 December 2024 (HL2826), whether they collect data on the number of Muslims who contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service; and if not, what plans they have to do so. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The Equality Advisory & Support Service (EASS) is a government-commissioned helpline that provides free advice and support to individuals in England, Scotland, and Wales on issues relating to equality and human rights.

The EASS collects statistics on the protected characteristics related to the issue raised with the service, this includes if the issue relates to religion or belief. The statistics for the percentage of the cases related to religion and belief that were received from those who identified as Muslim is not collected. Individual characteristics are recorded if disclosed during the conversation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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

Baroness Gohir:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 2 December 2024 (HL2826), what steps they will take to increase the number of cases related to religion and belief handled by the Equality Advisory and Support Service. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The Equality Advisory & Support Service (EASS) is a government-commissioned helpline that provides free advice and support to individuals in England, Scotland, and Wales on issues relating to equality and human rights.

The service provides advice in relation to all the protected characteristics covered in the Equality Act 2010. EASS has a dedicated Stakeholder Engagement Manager who undertakes engagement with organisations that represent the interests of those with protected characteristics that have contacted the service and with organisations that wish to establish links with the service in the future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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

Baroness Nye:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to develop a strategic vision for the future of sport in the UK. \p Baroness Twycross: The Government is clear that sport has a fundamental role to play in delivering its Plan for Change whether through getting the nation more active, driving growth through our world leading sport sector or tackling issues such as youth violence by offering positive routes of engagement.

We are committed to working in partnership with the sport sector to maximise the role it has to play across our society.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the new guidance published by the Sentencing Council on public confidence in the criminal justice system. \p Lord Timpson: This Government’s position is clear – we are seeking to remove the unequal treatment before the law in these guidelines.

We asked the Council to reconsider their guidelines in the first instance – and they have now agreed to put these guidelines on pause. We are grateful for their constructive engagement on this issue.

On 01 April, we introduced legislation to address the specific issue with these guidelines and we will work with the House to fast-track it.

We will also consider a broader review of the Sentencing Council’s role and powers over the coming months. It is right that we take time to consider more fundamental reforms such as this.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

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

Lord Lee of Trafford:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase domestic ownership of UK equities. \p Lord Livermore: The Government wants to see more consumers participate in capital markets and benefit from the long-term financial security that investing can provide.

The Financial Services Growth & Competitiveness Strategy Call for Evidence, which closed on 12 December, asked how increasing retail participation in capital markets could support long-term sustainable growth within the sector and the wider economy. The call for evidence welcomed further evidence on how to improve consumer engagement with investing, and the Government is considering the feedback provided.

More broadly, the Government is committed to boosting our capital markets to deliver growth across the UK and is pursuing ambitious reforms to make our markets even more competitive. For example, reforms to the Prospectus rules will give investors, including retail investors, access to better quality information and so participate more easily in the capital raising process. The Government is also working with the FCA to review the boundary between financial advice and guidance, to ensure consumers get the support they need to make decisions about their finances.

The Pensions Investment Review has put forward ambitious proposals to reform the UK pension system, which includes encouraging further pension investment into UK assets to boost growth across the country, and will publish its final report in the Spring.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-14 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-14 conversation_1

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of existing AI regulatory frameworks; whether they are sufficient to govern advanced AI systems; and if not, what new institutional arrangements are being considered to address regulatory gaps. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: Artificial intelligence is the defining opportunity of our generation, and the Government is taking action to harness its economic benefits for UK citizens. As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we believe most AI systems should be regulated at the point of use, with our expert regulators best placed to do so. Departments are working proactively with regulators to provide clear strategic direction and support them on their AI capability needs. Through well-designed and implemented regulation, we can fuel fast, wide and safe development and adoption of AI.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-14 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-14 conversation_2

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's artificial intelligence skills gap; and whether they plan to incentivise skilled workers to migrate to the UK to work in the sector. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: Reducing the AI skills gap is critical for increasing the UK’s productivity and delivering long-term growth. DSIT regularly reviews the status of the UK’s AI labour market and has commissioned a survey of the labour market, which will be published later this year. We are also working with DfE and Skills England to assess the AI skills gap and map pathways to fill it and recently announced a joint commitment with industry to upskill 7.5 million workers with vital AI skills.

As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan and reaffirmed at the Spending Review, we have also confirmed that we will be expanding AI education in universities, launching Pioneer Fellowships for cross-disciplinary upskilling, and introducing the Sparck AI Scholarships to attract and nurture top talent in UK institutions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-14 conversation_3

Lord Lilley:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield on 27 June (HL 8452), whether the analysis by the National Energy System Operator drew directly on (1) information published in audited accounts of special purpose vehicles (SPVs), (2) Gordon Hughes' analysis of 247 SPVs for wind projects published in Wind Power Economics: Rhetoric and Reality, Volume 1 – Wind Power Costs in the United Kingdom published in 2020, or (3) Gordon Hughes' analysis of 301 SPVs for solar projects published in The economics of utility-scale solar generation published in 2022; and if not, what was the source for their estimates of the capital and operating costs of wind and solar projects \p Lord Wilson of Sedgefield: The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is an operationally independent public body, and the Department does not hold information on the methodology used in their analysis. I have instructed officials to contact NESO to request a response to the noble Lord, and a copy of their reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-14 conversation_4

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's energy capacity to ensure that energy prices remain stable despite the increasing use of artificial intelligence. \p Lord Wilson of Sedgefield: The Government is committed to including data centres as part of its strategic energy plans and has established the AI Energy Council. The Council will continue to identify any barriers to the growth of AI and data centres in the UK, and ensure the growth supports our clean power mission, which includes a commitment to protect consumers.

In general, the way to keep energy prices stable with increasing demand for electricity is to make the electricity wholesale price reflect the much cheaper wholesale price of clean energy. Over this Parliament the Government will be working relentlessly to achieve that.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-14 conversation_5

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government what tangible steps they will take to fulfil their manifesto pledges on tackling unsustainable debt for developing nations and unlocking climate finance, following reductions made to Official Development Assistance. \p Baroness Chapman of Darlington: We are working with all our partners to tackle unsustainable debt and ensure all countries can invest and grow. The Economic Secretary (EST) is co-chairing the 'London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt', launched in June to work with private creditors on sovereign debt issues, and at the Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, the UK co-led the launch of the Debt Pause Clause Alliance. We continue to drive progress in the G20 on strengthening and accelerating debt restructurings via the G20 Common Framework.

The UK is committed to playing our part alongside other developed countries and providers to deliver our international climate finance commitments, including through our shareholdings at the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), the largest providers of public climate finance. We are also pushing for new sources of funding such as agreement on the International Maritime Organisation's Net Zero Framework alongside efforts to mobilise more private capital.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-14)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-07-14 conversation_6

Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Syria to ensure that survivors of Syria’s detention systems have their rights to justice, reparations and access to rehabilitation upheld. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK has long condemned the gross human rights violations committed by the Assad regime, including those in Syria's detention systems. We support the Syrian Government in establishing Syrian-led processes, such as the National Commissions on Transitional Justice and Missing Persons. We have urged the Syrian Government to engage collaboratively with civil societies and the UN to ensure these are inclusive, comprehensive and transparent. During the Foreign Secretary's meeting with President al Sharaa in Damascus on 5 July, he raised the importance of accountability and transitional justice for a sustainable political transition, and offered UK support.