theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_11

Lord Dholakia:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to require police to record the value of stolen goods in cases of “low-value shoplifting” within the meaning of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: Under the previous Government, shop theft soared to record highs and it continues to increase at an unacceptable level, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers. We will not stand for this.

The Government will introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.

Section 176 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2024 has created the perception that offenders and would-be offenders can get away with shop theft of goods of and under £200. We will repeal the relevant provision relating to "low value shoplifting", ensuring the police treat shop theft of any value in the same way, whilst sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal. We will continue to work closely with the police to combat retail crime, including through our Retail Crime Forum.

As set out in the Autumn Budget 2024, we will provide £100k of additional funding next financial year for the National Police Chiefs' Council to give further training to police and retailers on prevention tactics. We will also invest £2 million over the next three years in the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) which provides a resource for both police and businesses to learn, share and support each other to prevent and combat crime. This will build on funding provided this financial year to the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, for development of training materials for both police and retailers to help combat retail crime and promote partnership working.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_12

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to expand the recording of non-crime hate incidents. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Home Secretary has been clear that a consistent and common-sense approach must be taken with non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs). The Government has also been clear that its top priority for policing is delivering on the Safer Streets mission to rebuild neighbourhood policing and making progress on its ambition to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls.

The Home Office has agreed that the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), supported by the College of Policing, will conduct a review on the use and effectiveness of non-crime hate incidents.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_13

Lord Murray of Blidworth:To ask His Majesty's Government what is the planned timetable for commencing Part 4 of the National Security Act 2023 relating to the implementation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Government is working at pace to implement the scheme, which is expected to commence in Summer 2025.

The political influence tier of the scheme will enable transparency of foreign influence in UK politics while the enhanced tier will provide greater assurance around the activities of certain foreign powers or entities that may pose a risk to the UK's safety and other interests.

The proposed foreign entities to be included on the enhanced tier will be subject to formal debate and agreement by both Houses of Parliament in due course. Three months' notice will be provided to the public and business when a 'go-live' date has been confirmed.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_14

Lord Beamish:To ask His Majesty's Government on what occasions the Secretary of State for the Department of Business and Trade has met, spoken with or corresponded with representatives of Fujitsu, since July 2024. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: Details of the meetings held by Ministers of the Department for Business and Trade and its predecessor the Department for International trade are available on transparency pages of gov.uk and are released as part of the Government’s transparency agenda.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_15

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to strengthen trade relations with the United States following the inauguration of a new President. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: The UK-US partnership is a cornerstone of the transatlantic alliance and we look forward to working with President Trump in the coming years. Our trading relationship with the US is worth around £300 billion and we have over £1.2 trillion invested in each other’s economies. We will explore various avenues to strengthen UK-US trade and support economic growth, alongside the development of our Industrial and Trade Strategies.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_16

The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to establishing an advisory body to provide advice on food security, as recommended in the National Preparedness Commission executive summary report Just in Case: 7 steps to narrow the UK civil food resilience gap, published in January. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Defra recognises the importance of civil preparedness in resilience alongside industry’s role in responding to supply chain disruptions. Officials have been reviewing with interest the recommendations of ‘Just in case: 7 steps to narrow the UK civil food resilience gap’ since its publication on 6 February 2025.

Food is one of the 13 Critical National Infrastructure sectors in the UK and Defra takes its role as Lead Government Department for food supply very seriously. Defra works closely with the resilience and CNI community across government to ensure impacts to food supply are considered in risk assessments and contingency planning.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_17

The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to treat food security as a core component of national infrastructure planning, as recommended in the National Preparedness Commission executive summary report Just in Case: 7 steps to narrow the UK civil food resilience gap, published in January. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Defra recognises the importance of civil preparedness in resilience alongside industry’s role in responding to supply chain disruptions. Officials have been reviewing with interest the recommendations of ‘Just in case: 7 steps to narrow the UK civil food resilience gap’ since its publication on 6 February 2025.

Food is one of the 13 Critical National Infrastructure sectors in the UK and Defra takes its role as Lead Government Department for food supply very seriously. Defra works closely with the resilience and CNI community across government to ensure impacts to food supply are considered in risk assessments and contingency planning.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_18

The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing a "Food Security and Resilience Act", as recommended in the National Preparedness Commission executive summary report Just in case: 7 steps to narrow the UK civil food resilience gap, published in January. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Defra recognises the importance of civil preparedness in resilience alongside industry’s role in responding to supply chain disruptions. Officials have been reviewing with interest the recommendations of ‘Just in case: 7 steps to narrow the UK civil food resilience gap’ since its publication on 6 February 2025.

Food is one of the 13 Critical National Infrastructure sectors in the UK and Defra takes its role as Lead Government Department for food supply very seriously. Defra works closely with the resilience and CNI community across government to ensure impacts to food supply are considered in risk assessments and contingency planning.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_19

Baroness Finn:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their analysis Evaluating One Big Thing 2023, published on 30 January, what proportion of senior civil servants, broken down by pay band and department, (1) registered for One Big Thing 2023, and (2) completed the full seven hours of data training. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: All publicly available data related to completions of the training can be found in the Evaluation of One Big Thing 2023, published on 30 January 2025.

A breakdown of the proportion of senior civil servants (SCS) who registered for One Big Thing 2023 by department is not publicly available.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_20

Lord Agnew of Oulton:To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of Government Major Projects Portfolio projects have been re-baselined in the past year. \p Baroness Twycross: The Infrastructure and Projects Authority estimates that approximately 61% of Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) have been re-baselined between 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024. This rate of change is explained by 3 reasons:

Major projects report a cost baseline that factors in inflation expectations. Each year these expectations have to be revised as inflation forecasts are revised, which in turn leads to a cost baseline revision.

Major projects are the most challenging, ambitious and innovative projects the UK has ever seen, with the scale and scope matching some of the biggest in the world. This challenge is therefore associated with a significant level of uncertainty, which leads to frequent cost baseline revision.

A large number of projects are at the pre-delivery stage, where they are expected, and encouraged, to change their baseline when they are in order to ensure that their plans are correctly set out at the delivery stage.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_21

Lord Dodds of Duncairn:To ask His Majesty's Government in what circumstances the arrangements for the movement from Great Britain to Northern Ireland of medicinal products and medical devices set out in EU Regulation 2023/1182 can be revoked. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: 1 January marked the start of the new arrangements for medicines under the Windsor Framework, ensuring that all medicines can be supplied UK-wide in the same packaging under a single UK licence. The new arrangements have resolved the supply risks created by the Northern Ireland Protocol. The UK Government has worked intensively with industry to ensure a smooth transition.

The UK supplied a Written Guarantee to the EU in accordance with Regulation 2023/1182, following receipt of which, the measures came into force on 1 January 2025.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_22

Lord Beamish:To ask His Majesty's Government which government departments have relationship managers with Fujitsu. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: HMRC, the Home Office, the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence have allocated officials to manage the relationship with Fujitsu. In addition, as one of the Government's 39 cross-government strategic suppliers, Fujitsu is managed by the Cabinet Office, with the support of a Crown Representative.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_23

Baroness Boycott:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of the sustainability criteria for the biomass electricity generation industry with the UK's domestic and international commitments on reaching net zero and restoring biodiversity, and whether they plan to change the criteria for generators to increase the proportion of woody biomass that must meet the sustainability criteria from 70 to 100 per cent. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government only supports the use of sustainable biomass and generators only receive subsidies for biomass that meets our strict sustainability criteria.

This Government is committed to enhancing sustainability, and the low carbon dispatchable CfD, announced earlier this month, increases the proportion of woody biomass that must meet the sustainability criteria from 70 to 100 per cent.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_24

Lord Ravensdale:To ask His Majesty's Government what was the outcome of the prior information notice (PIN) exploring building a further large-scale nuclear power station, published in May 2024; whether they will list the potential vendors who expressed an interest; and what assessment they have made of the future policy for large-scale nuclear development in the UK. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Prior Information Notice was published to support policy exploration under the previous Government and has since closed with 10 responses. The names of the organisations which responded is commercially sensitive. No decision has yet been taken on whether to pursue a future large-scale project.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_25

Lord Birt:To ask His Majesty's Government what is the economic case for small modular nuclear reactors compared with alternative options for achieving net zero. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government is clear that nuclear power is and will continue to be an essential part of our journey to net zero by 2050, in combination with other low carbon and renewable technologies. Great British Nuclear is pushing forward with its SMR competition for UK deployment with final decisions to be taken this spring. The economic case for SMRs would be factored into any investment decision into the technology.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_26

Baroness Boycott:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 3 December 2024 (col 1089) and his Written Answer on 6 February (HL4363), whether they have commissioned any independent research into the long-term sustainability of biomass electricity generation. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government works closely with a range of stakeholders including academia and independent experts to assist policy development around sustainability of biomass, ensuring that evidence informs long-term decision making. This has included commissioning several independent studies exploring the sustainability of biomass.

It has also included working with Ofgem and independent experts, alongside research gathered from engagement with industry and academia, to support development of strengthened assurance around the compliance of generators with sustainability criteria.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_27

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb:To ask His Majesty's Government what will be the full estimated out-turn cost for each small modular reactor project planned by Great British Nuclear (1) at the end of the design period, an (2) at the point of generating electricity commercially. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: GBN (Great British Nuclear) is pushing forward its small modular reactor competition for UK deployment and is negotiating with four companies. Final decisions will be taken in the spring.

In line with usual government approvals, it will be important that any SMR projects represent value for money for the British taxpayer.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_28

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb:To ask His Majesty's Government whether the full estimated out-turn cost for each small modular reactor project planned by Great British Nuclear will include costs for a quantified risk register, and the value of any money set against a quantified risk register. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: GBN (Great British Nuclear) is pushing forward its small modular reactor competition for UK deployment, which is based on fairness and transparency to ensure value for the British taxpayer. Final decisions will be taken in the spring.

GBN follows usual government best practice for delivering major projects.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_29

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb:To ask His Majesty's Government what is the predicted date of (1) the end of the design period at the point of investment decision, and (2) the point of generating electricity commercially, for each small modular reactor projects planned by Great British Nuclear. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Great British Nuclear (GBN) is pushing forward its small modular reactor competition for UK deployment, which is based on fairness and transparency to ensure value for the British taxpayer. Final decisions will be taken in the spring.

GBN is seeking those technologies best able to facilitate commercially operational projects by the mid-2030s.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_30

Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of VAT on private school fees on international students studying at private schools in the UK. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The government estimates that in the long term steady state, 37,000 pupils will leave or never enter the UK private school sector as a result of the removal of the VAT exemption applied to school fees. This represents around 6% of the current private school population. More information is available in HM Treasury’s ‘Private school fees – VAT measure’ policy paper, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees/ac8c20ce-4824-462d-b206-26a567724643.

Of those leaving or never entering the private sector, the government estimates an increase of 35,000 pupils in the state sector in the steady state following the VAT policy taking effect, with the other 2,000 either being international pupils who do not move into the UK state system, or domestic pupils moving into homeschooling. This state sector increase represents less than 0.5% of total UK state school pupils, of which there are over 9 million. This movement is expected to take place over several years.

Children of compulsory school age, which is broadly those aged 5 to 16, living in England are required, by law, to receive a suitable full-time education. This includes foreign national children and, if they are resident in the UK, they will normally have the right to attend state-funded and independent schools in England.

Private school fees - VAT measure policy paper (pdf, 3571.2KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_31
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_31

Lord Watson of Invergowrie:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase funding for the Connect the Classroom programme. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: This government is committed to harnessing the potential of technology to drive high and rising standards in education and deliver our Plan for Change. That includes breaking down the barriers to opportunity for all to ensure no one is left behind.

We will set out our initiatives to tackle the digital divide in due course, and in line with the multi-year spending review, which will conclude in late spring 2025.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_32

Lord Houchen of High Leven:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted any economic impact assessments on the regional impacts of their proposed changes to business property relief for inheritance tax. \p Lord Livermore: The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) certified this costing at Autumn Budget 2024 and it does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact. In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.

Information from claims is not recorded to enable regional breakdowns of the number of estates expected to be affected. However, the Government has set out that around 1,500 estates across the UK only claiming business property relief are expected to be affected in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these expected to only hold shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief. These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those only relating to holding shares designated as “not listed”) will not pay any more inheritance tax in 2026-27.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_33

Lord Houchen of High Leven:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will reconsider their inheritance tax reforms in order to protect the future of family farms. \p Lord Livermore: The Government’s reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 achieve the right balance between supporting farms and fixing the public finances in a fair way. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992.

These reforms are being introduced in a broader context of significant existing support for the farming industry in the wider tax system, which the Government is maintaining. The existing rules already provide considerable support for the agricultural sector beyond the general support for businesses. This includes the exemption from business rates for agricultural land and buildings, the ongoing entitlement for vehicles and machinery used in agriculture to use rebated diesel and biofuels, and the exemption from the plastic packaging tax for the plastic film used by farmers to produce silage bales. Furthermore, farmers are able to claim to add together their profits from farming for two years or five years and be taxable on the average of those profits.

The Government’s commitment to farmers and the vital role they play in feeding our nation remains steadfast. The Government’s decisions at Autumn Budget 2024 provide £5 billion over two years for farming and land management in England which will restore stability and confidence in the sector, strengthening food security alongside nature’s recovery. This is the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history. Despite the difficult fiscal inheritance, funding has also been prioritised for the Farm Recovery Fund to support farmers with the impact of severe wet weather over the last year.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_34

Lord Houchen of High Leven:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to conduct a consultation on their proposed reforms to business property relief for inheritance tax to ensure that they are fully informed by the views and needs of all stakeholders. \p Lord Livermore: The Government’s reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 achieve the right balance between supporting businesses, including farms, and fixing the public finances in a fair way. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992.

A technical consultation will be published shortly. As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the focus of the consultation will be on the detailed application of the £1m allowance to lifetime transfers into trusts and charges on trust property. This will inform the legislation to be included in a future Finance Bill and the Government welcomes engagement on this technical issue. There are no plans to expand the scope of the consultation.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_35

Lord Houchen of High Leven:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of removing business property relief for inheritance tax on family businesses in the UK. \p Lord Livermore: The Government’s reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 achieve the right balance between supporting businesses, including farms, and fixing the public finances in a fair way. The Government is not removing either agricultural property relief or business property relief. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992.

The Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim business property relief, in 2026-27 paying more inheritance tax. This means almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, would not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

The Government has also set out that around 1,500 estates only claiming business property relief are expected to be affected in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these expected to only hold shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief. These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those only relating to holding shares designated as “not listed”) will not pay any more inheritance tax in 2026-27.

The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) certified this costing at Autumn Budget 2024. The OBR published information about the costing in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook on 30 October 2024. The OBR recently published more detail on the costings on 22 January 2025. This material is all available on the OBR’s website.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_36

Lord Colgrain:To ask His Majesty's Government what is their projection of the upfront costs and additional annual costs, by comparison with the most recent year for which costs data are available, of proceeding with the merger of the Council of Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association and the 13 Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations into a single executive, with a national office and a set of regional organisations. \p Lord Coaker: The Ministry of Defence does not have a projection and comparison of the kind described. The 2019 Review of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs) recommended that the Council of RFCAs (CRFCA) and the 13 RFCAs should be merged into a single Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). The NDPB implementation work was paused due to it failing to obtain a legislative slot in the last Parliament; this work has now re-commenced.

The Review acknowledged that it would be difficult to calculate exact costs until the NDPB organisational design is finalised, and it also noted that it expected that any upfront investment in establishing the NDPB would be recouped in the medium-term through improved commercialisation of the Reserves and Cadets estate. It is expected that annual savings and efficiencies will be made by having a central co-ordinated body, rather than the current model with 13 RFCAs each undertaking very similar work and on occasions duplicating activity.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_37

Lord West of Spithead:To ask His Majesty's Government what work is being undertaken, and by who, regarding the integration of AI in nuclear (1) command, (2) control, and (3) communications systems; and whether they have commissioned research to identify and manage high-risk AI applications. \p Lord Coaker: The UK’s nuclear weapons are operationally independent and only the Prime Minister can authorise their use. It is a long-standing policy that we do not discuss detailed nuclear command and control matters and so will not be able to provide any additional detail.

Research to identify, understand, and mitigate against risks of AI in sensitive applications is underway. We will ensure that, regardless of any use of AI in our strategic systems, human political control of our nuclear weapons is maintained at all times.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-02-20 conversation_38

Lord West of Spithead:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Coaker on 27 January (HL4169), whether the proposal to convert the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations into a non-departmental public body is supported by members of the Council of Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations; and what consultations with members have taken place. \p Lord Coaker: As stated in my Written Answer of 27 January (HL4169), the views of the membership of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs) were taken into account as part of the 2019 Review of the RFCAs which recommended that the Council of RFCAs (CRFCA) and the 13 RFCAs should be merged into a single Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), with a National Office and a set of regional organisations.

There will of course be divergent views in any organisation which is potentially subject to change. However, notwithstanding individual perspectives, it is critical that the delivery model is regularised as it currently does not comply with the principles set out in Managing Public Money: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-public-money

Under current legislation, the CRFCA was not intended to be a separate legal entity. Through section 116 (s116) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 (RFA96), it is a Joint Committee that is part of, and subordinate to, the Associations that have created it. This means that in its current form, RFA96 vests in the Association Voluntary Membership executive authority which, through s116, has been delegated to the CRFCA Board via Association Chairs and then sub-delegated to the CRFCA Chief Executive. As noted in the RFCA Framework Agreement 2016, this creates inevitable tension between an Association’s autonomy and its application of delegation, and any directive authority vested in CRFCA Chief Executive.

Managing public money (pdf, 1289.2KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_1

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that community-based legal advice on employment issues, including sexual harassment, is available to workers. \p Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: Legal aid is available for advice in relation to breaches of the Equality Act 2010 or previous discrimination legislation (including in employment cases), subject to means and merits tests. Legal aid is also available in employment cases where the applicant is a victim of trafficking or modern slavery. Where an issue falls outside the scope of legal aid, individuals can apply for Exceptional Case Funding.

In 2025/26, the Ministry of Justice will continue to provide nearly £6 million of funding to 60 frontline organisations to help improve access to legal support and advice, including for vulnerable individuals with employment issues.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_3

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure taxpayer value for money in respect of the work of the Independent Monitoring Authority. \p Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: As a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, the Department has a responsibility to ensure the Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) makes effective and efficient use of public funds, whilst also ensuring the IMA’s operational independence is protected, including its ability to make impartial assessments when exercising its functions, and that it is appropriately funded to do so. The IMA’s current level of funding is deemed to be appropriate, however will be reviewed, alongside all the Department’s public bodies, as part of the Department’s settlement at spending review 2025.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_4

Lord Wigley:To ask His Majesty's Government what further consideration they have given since July 2024 to the report of the Commission on Justice in Wales, published in 2019, and in particular those recommendations directed at His Majesty's Government. \p Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: Since July, the Government has focused on addressing the significant challenges facing the justice system.

The Commission on Justice in Wales, which was established by the Welsh Government, made many recommendations, principal among them the recommendation that justice should be devolved to Wales. Whilst that is not something we agree with, we are committed to working with the Welsh Government to ensure that we deliver justice in a way that best serves the people of Wales. We have, for example, been working with the Welsh Government on data collection and disaggregation, which was an area of interest for the Commission.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_5

Baroness Freeman of Steventon:To ask His Majesty's Government, following Historic England's report Skills Needs Analysis for the Repair, Maintenance and Retrofit of Traditional (Pre-1919) Buildings in England, 2024 published on 13 September 2024, what plans they have for funding specialist tutors to train and mentor construction trainees, including through microbusinesses, to help them gain experience in relevant, regionally specific building techniques. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The department supports vocational education and training programs that include repair, maintenance and retrofit skills. This includes funding for courses at further education (FE) colleges and specialist training providers.

A wide range of government-funded programmes are available for construction employers who are considering hiring employees, offering work experience or upskilling existing staff. These include apprenticeships, T Levels, Skills Bootcamps, and Higher Technical Qualifications.

Together with employers, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) has developed 90 Apprenticeship standards in the Construction and Built Environment Sector. These apprenticeships provide hands-on experience and formal qualifications in retrofit, such as Heritage Construction Specialist. The department will continue to work with employers to support the growth of apprenticeships in these sectors and IfATE have published occupational maps on their website which display the apprenticeship progression opportunities in each occupation, including in heritage conservation, and construction. The occupational maps can be accessed on IfATE‘s website at: https://occupational-maps.instituteforapprenticeships.org/. These also specify if the occupation is embedded within the green occupational landscape and deliver sustainable outcomes.

Whilst i​t is a matter for providers to determine course content and the specialist teaching staff they need to deliver in all their provision, the department is supporting FE colleges to recruit and retain more construction FE teachers through the Taking Teacher Further programme, and the targeted retention incentive offer. In addition, we are exploring what more can be done to support dual professionals to work in FE, an approach whereby colleges recruit industry workers as part-time teachers.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_6

Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to take the recommendations of the Cass Review into account when updating their guidance for schools and colleges on gender questioning children. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: The department is currently reviewing the draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges on gender questioning children, in addition to reviewing the statutory guidance on relationships, sex and health education.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has been clear that children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of this guidance and, as such, the government is looking carefully at the consultation responses, discussing with stakeholders and considering the relevant evidence, including the Cass Review, before setting out next steps.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_7

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps are they taking to ensure that any review of the National Curriculum learns from best international practice. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which will be driven by evidence, from the UK and abroad, and a commitment to high standards for all young people.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_8

Baroness Barran:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) pupils’ access to education following the concerns of the Special Education Needs and Disabilities Transport Operators Group that the increase in National Insurance contributions will affect their ability to take children to school every day. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: Home-to-school travel is an integral part of the school system. It provides a valuable service on which many families rely. The department is grateful to the many transport operators for the crucial role they play in ensuring that children receive the education that they need to help them thrive.

Departmental officials engage regularly with local authorities to understand the challenges they face and will continue to monitor this situation. We do not expect there to be a significant impact on home-to-school travel for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Local authorities are responsible for arranging home-to-school travel and deliver this through a range of in-house services and external providers.

The government recognises the need to protect the smallest employers. It has more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500 which means that more than half of businesses with National Insurance liabilities will either gain or see no change next year. Businesses will still be able to claim employer National Insurance contributions relief, where eligible.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_9

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to educate students at schools, colleges and universities about the dangers of taking the drug ketamine. \p Baroness Smith of Malvern: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The statutory curriculum for health education requires all pupils in state-maintained schools to be taught the facts about legal and illegal harmful substances and the associated risks to physical and mental wellbeing, including smoking, alcohol use and drug taking. This complements content about substances within the national curriculum for science. Schools can teach about the dangers of taking ketamine in these lessons.

In further education (FE) and higher education (HE) the government works through sector bodies and partner organisations.

The government supports activity by universities, sector bodies and other partners to discourage substance abuse by young people in further and higher education and to raise awareness of the harms of illicit drugs.

For HE, Universities UK set up a Drugs Taskforce that published its recommendations in late 2023. The recommendations are attached and available at the following link: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/sites/default/files/field/downloads/2024-06/Enabling-student-health-and-success.pdf. As autonomous institutions, HE providers are responsible for their own policies in relation to illegal drugs as the government has no remit to intervene.

In FE the Association of Colleges ‘Take back our Streets’ mission works to educate FE students by hosting charity talks on the dangers of drugs and addiction and works with organisations to build students’ trust and confidence in the police. The ‘Take back our Streets’ mission is available here: https://www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaigns-parliament/mission-accepted/mission-three-take-back-our-streets.

Universities_UK_Drugs_Taskforce_Recommendations  (pdf, 827.6KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_10

Lord Rogan:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had with the European Commission before rejecting a request from members of the Northern Ireland Assembly to apply the "Stormont Brake" procedure to the Chemical Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/2865). \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The Secretary of State acted fully in accordance with the applicable legal duties in relation to the notification provided to him under the terms of Schedule 6B to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. As such, this was a decision for the Secretary of State taken solely on the basis of the notification provided and he did not discuss it with the European Commission.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_11

Lord Caine:To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Advocate General for Northern Ireland was consulted prior to the decision in July to withdraw the appeal in respect of sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 following the ruling of the high court in Belfast February 2024. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The standard clearance processes were followed when the Government decided to withdraw the ECHR aspects of the appeal in Dillon & others following the ruling of the Northern Ireland High Court. This included sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_12

Baroness Hoey:To ask His Majesty's Government whether, when considering whether to give compensation to Gerry Adams, they have assessed whether Mr Adams was or remains a member of the Provisional IRA. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 have been found by the Northern Ireland courts to be incompatible with the UK’s human rights obligations. The Government is committed to bringing forward new legacy legislation and as part of this we are looking at all conceivable options for addressing the complex issue of Interim Custody Orders and related compensation claims, in a lawful way.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-30 conversation_13

Lord Dodds of Duncairn:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have refreshed any training materials or programmes on the Belfast Agreement and successor agreements for the Home Civil Service and the Diplomatic Service to reflect (1) commitments made in Safeguarding the Union (CP 1021) and (2) the fact that Strand One of the Belfast Agreement relates to Northern Ireland-only institutions. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: I can confirm that the Government has refreshed training programmes and materials for both the Home Civil Service and the Diplomatic Service on the Good Friday Agreement and successor agreements, as set out in the Safeguarding the Union command paper. The new training materials are currently being rolled out across the UK Government.