theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-01-23 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

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Lord Booth-Smith:To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to lay the finalised Charter for Budget Responsibility before Parliament, following the draft Charter of Autumn of 2024. \p Lord Livermore: The Government published an updated Charter for Budget Responsibility on 22 January 2025. The updated Charter sets out the government’s robust fiscal rules and a set of responsible reforms to the fiscal framework that improve certainty, transparency and accountability.

The government is required to pass the Charter through the House of Commons at least 28 days after the draft is laid before parliament. The final Charter was laid on the 22nd of January 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-23)

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Lord Banner:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to ban all airlines that fly to and from Russia from UK airspace to ensure that the UK does not indirectly support the Russian aviation sector; whether they will encourage the EU to adopt a similar ban; and if not, why not. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: There is currently a prohibition on any aircraft flying to and from Russian aerodromes from using UK airspace. This prohibition was implemented on 5 April 2022 under the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Russian Aircraft) Regulations 2022 (the ‘RoF’). Specifically, the RoF prohibits (at regulation 2(1)(c)) flights by any aircraft flying in accordance with a flight plan filed after 8.49 p.m. on 5th April 2022 which includes an aerodrome in Russia.

In addition, the RoF and the UK’s aviation sanctions established under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the ‘Russia sanctions regulations’) imposes further restrictions on flights in UK airspace by certain Russian aircraft. These include aircraft; owned, chartered or operated by a ‘person connected with Russia’ (as defined in regulation 57O(3) of the Russia sanctions regulations), or which are registered in Russia.

The UK remains committed to applying pressure on Russia through sectors such as aviation and we continue to encourage all our international partners to match our actions and ensure their sanctions’ effectiveness and impact.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-27 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government how many children received flu vaccinations in school nurseries in the 2024–25 pilot run; and what plans they have to scale this initiative. \p Baroness Merron: School based vaccination is provided by School Age Immunisation Services (SAISs). In January 2025, some SAIS providers trialled expanding their flu vaccination offer by running catch up clinics in nurseries located in primary schools. This was to encourage flu vaccine uptake for two to three year-olds who had not already been vaccinated via their general practices (GPs). As these were local pilots, delivered by some providers in Yorkshire and the East of England, NHS England does not hold this data nationally.

Ahead of the flu 2025/26 season, the SAIS Service Specification 2025/26 is currently being improved. This will enable SAIS providers to support flu vaccination for two to three year olds, in a variety of different settings, and any plans, supplementary to the core GP offer, will be based on if there is a need locally. Evaluations will be undertaken at a local level by NHS England’s regional commissioning teams as part of their contract and performance management.

This initiative aligns with broader efforts to strengthen the childhood vaccination offer and improve vaccine uptake, including exploring the role of community pharmacies, as outlined in the NHS Vaccination Strategy, and trialling the use of health visitors to administer childhood immunisations, thereby increasing access for underserved families across selected areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Mott:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 15 May (HL7354), what factors the UK Health Security Agency's forum has identified impacting the decline in uptake; and what immediate actions the forum has suggested to improve access to services and to address other potential barriers. \p Baroness Merron: In 2023, at the request of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), a forum for the four nations of the United Kingdom on inequalities and declining coverage across the routine immunisation programmes was set up. This time-limited group brought together relevant stakeholders from across the UK nations of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Ten deep dives took place in total, ending in June 2025.

These forums facilitated sharing experiences and learning within and across each nation. They explored possible contributing factors to declining coverage across the UK routine immunisation programmes. Areas for further activity included data collection systems, attitudinal work, delivery models, system leadership and coordination, commonalities and difference with other public health programmes.

Immediate actions have included expanding annual attitudinal surveys of parents of infants from England to UK wide, to further strengthen understanding of barriers and facilitators to vaccination uptake. Updating and strengthening training and quality standards for healthcare professionals providing clear expectations and guidance. Sharing expertise to improve data systems and data collection as well as strengthening collaboration with the Department of Education to improve uptake in educational settings.

A final report from the outputs of the UK Forum will be compiled and presented to a future JCVI meeting.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 4 June (HL8130), what is the reason for the delay in publishing the next annual LeDeR report seven months later relative to the previous annual report. \p Baroness Merron: We expect the report will be published shortly, and the delay has been due to practical data issues.

NHS England commissions Kings College London and its partners to analyse data from Learning from Lives and Deaths, reviews about people with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR). The LeDeR report is published by Kings College London, who are currently working on the next report, and will publish it soon. The last report was published in November 2023, a copy of which has been placed in the Library due to the size of the document.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government how many people who have no right to work are currently identified and referred within the National Referral Mechanism for modern slavery; and what is the average total annual cost of providing benefits for those who are in the National Referral Mechanism. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The requested data is not available form published statistics, and could only be collated for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

The Home Office funds the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), which is contracted to spend £379 million over 5 years to provide specialist and statutorily mandated support to adult victims of exploitation and trafficking, in England and Wales. The MSVCC provides safe accommodation where necessary, financial support, and access to a support worker.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Baroness Gohir:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Asian women are over-represented in female domestic homicides from 2022 to 2025 \p Lord Hanson of Flint: We are committed to developing the evidence base to improve our understanding of the triggers and causes of deaths related to domestic abuse, including for women from minority ethnic groups. This includes funding research by the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Domestic Homicide Project, which captures information on domestic abuse related deaths from all 43 polices forces across England and Wales and provides information on the ethnicity of both victims and perpetrators. The most recent report was published in March 2025: https://www.vkpp.org.uk/vkpp-work/domestic-homicide-project/.

Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) also allow for in-depth learning from these deaths. The Domestic Homicide Review Library holds all published DHRs to allow for more analysis of patterns and trends of domestic homicides and all deaths related to domestic abuse going forward.

Later this year, we will publish a new cross-government strategy on halving Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in a decade, which will set out the steps we are taking to prevent domestic abuse related deaths.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Hayward:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 28 May (HL7428), whether they have discussions with the National Police Chiefs' Council about (1) the number of police officers on restricted duties for non-criminal investigations, and (2) the duration that those officers are on restricted duties. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The Home Office is currently considering the requirements around police suspension data, supporting the Government's commitment to strengthen the requirements on forces to suspend police officers under investigation for domestic abuse or sexual offences.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Baroness Finn:To ask His Majesty's Government whether Department for Science, Innovation and Technology ministers worked on site at 22–26 Whitehall during the industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services Union from 3 to 13 February. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: We do not release location data of Ministers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Baroness Finn:To ask His Majesty's Government whether Department for Business and Trade ministers worked on site at Old Admiralty Buildings during the industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services Union from 3 to 13 February. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: We do not release location data of Ministers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Roberts of Llandudno:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to revive steel production in Port Talbot. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: Steel is a top priority for this Government and there are clear plans to continue steel production at Port Talbot. After just 10 weeks in office, we negotiated an improved deal with Tata, with £500m of Government funding for the transformation of Port Talbot to Electric Arc Furnace steelmaking. The project to build a new Electric Arc Furnace will ensure that steelmaking remains at the heart of Port Talbot’s future and plays a vital role in building a modern, low-carbon UK steel industry.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-06-27 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Baroness Helic:To ask His Majesty's Government whether training provided by the UK to the Israel Defence Forces includes instruction on the protection of civilians in armed conflict; and what assessment they have made of how that training aligns with the commitments by the UK under international humanitarian law. \p Lord Coaker: The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. UK training courses promote British values, including respect for and adherence to human rights.

Fewer than ten Israel Defence Forces (IDF) personnel have been trained on non-combat military academic courses in the UK each year since 2020. The exact number of IDF personnel and which courses they are on is being withheld in order to protect personal information.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a mandatory Collective and Individual Training Objective in Command and Staff training for UK Defence, this includes training courses delivered to international defence students. The UK training courses being provided to Israel Defence Forces personnel include both the theory and the practical application of IHL.

Likewise, the UK training courses being provided to Israel Defence Forces personnel include Protection of Civilians (POC), both at the tactical and operational level. At the tactical level, UK Defence courses include mandatory judgmental training to ensure that a distinction is made between combatants and civilians. At the operational level, POC is integrated into both theoretical and scenario-based training. This is to ensure both UK and Overseas trainees know their responsibility for the application of the Law of Armed Conflict in subsequent operational deployments.

The Ministry of Defence aims to incorporate content aligned with the principles of the Women, Peace and Security agenda into all its training, including UK training courses offered to international students.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the growth of artificial intelligence technologies on future water demand; and what steps they are taking to mitigate the risk of water shortages as a result. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Environment Agency published its second National Framework for Water Resources in June 2025 and continues to engage with the sector to improve understanding of future water needs. A questionnaire recently completed by the sector will aid modelling. Further data and more refined modelling will be needed to fully understand future needs.

Water companies also factor in future supplies required for non-household demand in their areas. Meeting increased demand will also require water using sectors, such as artificial intelligence technology, to forecast and plan their water consumption, look to water efficiency measures, and their own sources of water to support their operational resilience.

The Water Delivery Taskforce will hold water companies to account to deliver their PR24 plans; ensuring the additional water, wastewater and drainage capacity needed for longer-term growth is understood and suitable plans are in place for delivery both within and beyond the Price Review 2024 (PR24) programme.

Ofwat published their PR24 final determinations in December 2024, which sets company expenditure and customer bills for 2025-2030. This will deliver substantial and enduring improvements through a £104 billion upgrade for the water sector.

PR24 final determinations (pdf, 1145.3KB)

National Framework for Water Resources (pdf, 256.7KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government how many fishing vessels are fitted with remote electronic monitoring cameras; what proportion of all fishing vessels this represents; and what, if any, enforcement actions have been taken since their deployment. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The enforcement of fisheries management measures and scientific monitoring of fish stocks are devolved policies. In England, Defra is working on a rolling programme where remote electronic monitoring is phased in across different fisheries in stages.

There is currently one vessel volunteering for the early adopter stage of the large pelagic trawler fishery. Further vessels are taking part in technical trials and scientific research projects. Defra is working to recruit volunteers for further priority fisheries and will work with those volunteers to design and test systems ahead of moving to mandatory requirements.

No enforcement actions have been taken as a result of the deployment of remote electronic monitoring on these vessels. Any infringements seen via remote electronic monitoring will however be acted upon in a proportionate way.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the incidence of animal welfare breaches on farms, including animals being beaten or mutilated, sick animals being left untreated, and animals left in unsanitary conditions; and what steps they are taking to ensure breaches are detected and enforcement action taken. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) investigates all allegations of non-compliance thoroughly. Where breaches of the law are identified, appropriate enforcement action is taken. This may include follow-up, unannounced inspections to ensure that compliance has been achieved and maintained. Where necessary, APHA works closely with Local Authorities to coordinate enforcement measures

According to the latest Multi-Annual National Control Plan (MANCP) annual report for 2022, compliance rates across the farming sector remained high. To promote transparency and accountability, we are actively working with Local Authorities to improve the collection and publication of data relating to on-farm inspections and enforcement activities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Spending Review 2025 (CP1336), what assessment they have made of the impact of reducing the operational budget of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in real terms on its ability to fund the clean-up of waterways. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Navigation authorities, including the Canal and River Trust and the Environment Agency (EA), are responsible for keeping their waterways clean, clear of obstacles, rubbish, aquatic plant overgrowths, and any other impediments, including responding to pollution incidents, to ensure safety of navigation for users.

EA funding is closely monitored to ensure it can carry out its duties and functions effectively and deliver for the public and the environment. Its total budget for 2025 to 2026 is £2,274 million.

The Canal and River Trust has responsibility for 2,000 miles of canals and rivers in England and Wales. Its purposes are to maintain the waterway network and conserve its heritage and natural environment in perpetuity for public benefit and enjoyment. Its grant from Defra, agreed for the period 2012 to 2027, is approximately £740 million.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Truscott:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to launch a review into the planning decisions and financial mismanagement of the HS2 project. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: We recognise the scale of the challenges highlighted by James Stewart and we accept his findings on HS2 in full. This Government is committed to implementing these recommendations and applying the lessons learned to improve its approach to infrastructure delivery, including on HS2.  In addition, the Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Secretary to consider the implications for the Civil Service and wider public sector of the issues raised in the report, including whether further action of investigation is warranted.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Spellar:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost of HS2 to date, and how much it will cost to complete the project in current prices. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: Mark Wild, the new CEO of HS2 Ltd, is leading a comprehensive reset of the programme to deliver the remaining works at the lowest reasonable cost. As part of this work, he will advise the Department on a revised cost estimate for HS2.  As Mark Wild set out in his letter to the Secretary of State on 31 March 2025, HS2 Ltd’s unassured estimate of the maximum cost of HS2 excluding Euston in June 2024 was £61.8bn in Q3 2019 prices, however he identified the programme was facing significant additional pressures which he will assess as part of the reset.  Once a revised cost estimate is agreed, this will be expressed in an updated price base in line with the commitment made by the Department to the Public Accounts Committee in December 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Berkeley:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to increase investment in the Essex Thameside Rail Corridor and associated cross-London transit routes. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: While some key rail infrastructure schemes have already been announced by the Chancellor, my Department is working to confirm the wider portfolio of rail enhancements. More details about rail enhancements will be provided in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Berkeley:To ask His Majesty's Government whether Network Rail, Transport for London and Transport East are coordinating their work to support the growth of rail freight from London Gateway and the Port of Tilbury. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Thameside Taskforce brings together officials from rail, ports and Local Authorities to focus on rail freight growth on the Thameside corridor. The Anglia Strategic Freight Board is made up of route executives, freight operators, freight customers and ports. Together they are working to support and co-ordinate growth initiatives for rail freight traffic using London Gateway Port and the Port of Tilbury.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist:To ask His Majesty's Government how much they spent on Welsh railways between 2014 and 2019, including control periods 4 and 5. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The UK Government is responsible for rail infrastructure across England and Wales. Rail in Scotland is a devolved matter. From 2014/15 until 2019/20, a total of £2.716 billion was invested on rail infrastructure in Wales. This figure includes costs to maintain and operate the network (£1.889 billion) as well as costs to enhance the network (£0.827 billion).

The continuing subsidy for rail services operated by Transport for Wales (TfW) was made part of the UK Government Block Grant to Wales in c2007. It is not separately identifiable as the amount allocated to rail from the Block Grant was a devolved matter for Welsh Ministers. Separately, the Department made payments for services that TfW operated wholly within England of c£4 million per annum (i.e. c£20 million for 2014-2019).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 5 June (HL6901), what specific criteria were applied, and by whom, to ensure that the gift of a sports club to the Royal Navy from the King of Bahrain did not compromise British independence in the region. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: This Government takes the safeguarding of UK operational independence and sovereign interests extremely seriously. In the case of the sports facility generously gifted by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa to the Royal Navy, the Ministry of Defence fully considered the offer and found no cause of concern. The facility is located within the UK Naval Support Facility in Bahrain and remains under full UK operational control. It is intended solely for the welfare and morale of UK service personnel stationed in the region.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 5 June (HL6901), whether any minister was informed of the gift of a sports club to the Royal Navy from the King of Bahrain, and if so, which minister and on what date; and whether any minister approved this gift, and if so, which minister and on what date. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: We can confirm the Secretary of State for Defence was notified in 2021, of the generous offer for a sports facility to the Royal Navy by His Majesty the King of Bahrain and gave approval. The facility was completed earlier this year in 2025 and remains under full UK operational control and is used solely for the welfare of UK service personnel stationed in Bahrain.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Baroness Hoey:To ask His Majesty's Government, following the UK–Morocco Joint Communiqué of 1 June and the agreement to internal autonomy for the Western Sahara, whether they now recognise Moroccan sovereignty over the territory; and whether that is compatible with their vote for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1754 which endorsed the right of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: On 1 June, the Foreign Secretary endorsed Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the Western Sahara conflict. The UK's position on the legal status of Western Sahara has not changed. We are clear that any solution to the conflict must be mutually agreed by the parties. The UK continues to support the parties and the UN to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution, based on compromise, which conforms with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including the principle of respect for self-determination. The UK will encourage dialogue and compromise with the aim of achieving a peaceful and mutually agreed resolution that upholds the dignity and rights of the people of Western Sahara and contributes to long-term regional stability.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Jackson of Peterborough:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Pakistan about the deportation to Pakistan of dual national British-Pakistani individuals at the conclusion of their custodial sentences. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: His Majesty's Government is committed to ensuring that foreign nationals who commit serious crimes in the United Kingdom are removed wherever legally possible. However, British citizens, including those with dual nationality, cannot be deported under UK law. British citizenship may be revoked in specific circumstances, though the bar for doing so is extremely high and happens in only a handful of cases every year.

The Government continues to engage with the Government of Pakistan on matters of mutual legal cooperation, including the return of Pakistani nationals following custodial sentences. These discussions are conducted through appropriate diplomatic and legal channels, with full regard to the rights and status of individuals involved.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Roberts of Llandudno:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to apply sanctions in relation to withholding of aid from Gaza. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The UK keeps all options under review in response to the withholding of aid to Gaza. While we do not speculate on future sanctions, as doing so could reduce their effectiveness, we remain committed to upholding international humanitarian law. On 10 June, the Foreign Secretary announced sanctions against Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich for inciting violence towards Palestinians. On 20 May, we also sanctioned individuals, illegal settler outposts, and organisations supporting violence in the West Bank. These measures demonstrate our readiness to act. We continue to urge Israel to allow unhindered humanitarian access and comply with international humanitarian principles.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent reports of a large-scale killing targeting the Christian community in Benue State in Nigeria. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: The motivations of the perpetrators behind these violent and shocking attacks are not fully known. There is no current evidence to suggest that the victims in the recent attacks in Benue state were targeted because of their religion. Whilst religious identity can play a role, farmer-herder conflicts are common in Nigeria with disputes often based on the loss of economic opportunity, historical grievances connected to competition over land and natural resources and disruption to traditional livelihoods created by environmental degradation.
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Lord Roberts of Llandudno:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that more programmes delivered by the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative receive multi-year funding. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: Through our Plan for Change, this Government remains resolutely committed to preventing sexual violence in conflict. Over the last year, UK funding through the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) has helped over 55,000 survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) to access justice and rebuild their lives. The Spending Review confirmed the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget from 2026/27 onwards. We will work through how the ODA budget will be used, ahead of publishing indicative multi-year allocations in the autumn.
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Baroness Hoey:To ask His Majesty's Government when a minister last met with the President of Zimbabwe, and what was the outcome of that meeting. \p Lord Collins of Highbury: I met with President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare on June 11. During this meeting I reaffirmed the UK's commitment to building a respectful, modern partnership with Zimbabwe, with a strong focus on delivering mutually beneficial economic growth including on trade and investment, energy and climate. I also underlined that the UK remains committed to engaging in Zimbabwe's arrears clearance dialogue and encouraged progress on the three tracks, which include governance reforms.
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Lord Lilley:To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has analysed the accounts of special purpose vehicles for (1) offshore wind farms, and (2) solar energy farms, to calculate the cost of such ventures; and if so, whether they will publish the results. \p Lord Wilson of Sedgefield: The majority of offshore wind and solar projects are led by the private sector, with many structured through individual Special Purpose Vehicles whose financial accounts are either privately held or reported in a limited form. Analysis by the independent NESO shows that offshore wind and solar are core components of a clean power system which can protect billpayers from international gas price volatility for the long-term.
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Baroness Finn:To ask His Majesty's Government whether Department for Energy Security and Net Zero ministers worked on site at 3-8 Whitehall or 55 Whitehall during the industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services Union from 3 to 13 February. \p Lord Wilson of Sedgefield: We do not release location data of Ministers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-02)

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Lord Harper:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 July [HL8983] about the paybill of the Department for Health and Social Care, why they did not make the provision of high quality palliative care a major priority. \p Baroness Merron: As set out in the Government’s recently published 10-Year Health Plan, we are determined to shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting. Palliative care and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift and were highlighted in the Plan as being an integral part of neighbourhood teams.

Additionally, I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement (HLWS875) that was made to the House on 22 July 2025, which stated:

“It has been brought to my attention that a written answer given to Lord Scriven contained inaccurate information related to the work of the Department for Health and Social Care.

The reply to written Parliamentary Question HL8983, tabled by Lord Scriven on 30 June 2025, stated that “the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities.” The answer then went on to list a number of areas which have required additional staff resource within the Department. The Assisted Dying Bill has required additional resource but should not have been referred to as a Government priority given the Government’s neutrality on the issue.

For clarity, the answer should read:

“The Department’s total paybill and staffing costs have not risen by £20 million since July 2024; rather, they have risen, but by £2.5 million in that time.

Since the General Election, the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities. During this period, payroll costs have also increased because of annual pay increases.

Given the scale of the challenges facing the health and social care system, as part of the Spending Review, the Department is working on reducing its headcount down to pre-election levels during 2025/26. This is a key step towards a streamlined centre, to support continued prioritisation towards front-line services.”

I would like to apologise for any confusion.”
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-02 conversation_2

Baroness Gohir:To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total score awarded to the application of the British Muslim Trust to the Combatting Hatred Against Muslims Fund. \p Lord Khan of Burnley: The Combatting Hatred Against Muslims fund received 34 applications between 02 April and 18 May. Three applicants were shortlisted and interviewed, including the British Muslim Trust, and formal advice was presented to ministers for final decision following assessment and scoring. Applications were assessed against 16 criteria which can be found on the fund’s prospectus - Combatting Hate Against Muslims fund: prospectus - GOV.UK. The British Muslim Trust was named as the preferred bidder on 21st July 2025.

Combatting Hate against Muslims fund. (pdf, 280.3KB)
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-21 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Lord Agnew of Oulton:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 17 March (HL5387), what the estimated cost was of answering that Question in full; whether an assessment of that cost was conducted in accordance with the guidance in the Guide to Parliamentary Work; and whether they will now place a copy of that assessment in the Library of the House. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Assessing what constitutes a project's original baseline would require making a case by case assessment for each of the 227 major projects in order to determine which baseline should be used as a reference point. Making this case by case assessment would have exceeded the current disproportionate cost threshold as set out in the Guide to Parliamentary Work. We have no plans to place a copy of this assessment in the Library of the House.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-21 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-21 conversation_2

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on the 9 April (HL6179), how many non-civil servants are employed by the Cabinet Office on zero-hours contracts as at 1 April. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Non-Civil Servants are not employed by the Cabinet Office. Where non-Civil Servants are required, they are engaged via routes other than employment contracts such as contracts for Contingent Labour via a third-party agency. While the Cabinet Office also makes a number of public appointments and direct ministerial appointments, the individuals appointed to such roles are public office holders and not employees.

Cabinet Office has 423 Contingent Labour workers on zero hour contracts as at 28 April 2025 via the contract Cabinet Office has with Alexander Mann Solutions Ltd.

The Cabinet Office uses zero hours contracts to selectively manage temporary demand. To end exploitative zero hours contracts, under the government’s plans to Make Work Pay legislation will be brought in to give workers on zero hours contracts and workers with a ‘low’ number of guaranteed hours, who regularly work more than these hours, the ability to move to guaranteed hours contracts which reflect the hours they regularly work over a 12-week reference period.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-21 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Lord Leigh of Hurley:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the first 100 days of their administration has resulted in good governance; and whether they intend to undertake an evaluation of those 100 days. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Good governance has been and continues to be integral to our administration as we deliver our Plan for Change.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Lord Agnew of Oulton:To ask His Majesty's Government how many arm’s-length bodies are currently headquartered in (1) inner London, and (2) outer London; and what they are, disaggregated by sponsoring department and location. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Information at this level of detail is not held by the Cabinet Office. The ALB landscape analysis captures data on ALB locations by region, and can be found on gov.uk here. Sponsoring departments will be able to provide more precise location information for individual ALBs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Baroness Finn:To ask His Majesty's Government how many staff work in the No10 Implementation Unit; what is its current remit; and whether it has a role in “Plan for Change” and Mission Board monitoring. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: There is no No10 Implementation unit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-21 conversation_6

Lord Rogan:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to remove the export procedures to which five categories of goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain are subject under the Windsor Framework (UK Internal Market and Unfettered Access) Regulations 2024. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The Windsor Framework (UK Internal Market and Unfettered Access) Regulations 2024 further entrench the legislative protections for unfettered access, which remove the requirement for export procedures, except in extremely limited exceptions. Where these procedures apply, they are a result of specific processes, such as the movement of endangered species or international obligations binding on the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-21 conversation_7

Baroness Finn:To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the payments to the Boston Consulting Group of £548,339 (Ref: 1037198127) categorised under “CDDO Strategy, Analysis and System Reform” in Cabinet Office transparency data for February 2024, whether the then Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service had a role in approving the spending or underlying contractual arrangement. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service is not involved with the process for the approval of payments to suppliers. The purchase to pay process is managed between the Cabinet Office Finance team and the respective Contract Manager.

At the time of this work, the Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service was a member of the Cabinet Office Investment Committee which was responsible for the approval of whole life investment spend for projects and programmes over £1m. In addition to this, all professional services spend over £100k required the approval from the Investment Committee and the Minister for Cabinet Office.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-21 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Welsh Government about the potential impact of its proposed visitor levy on tourism in England. \p Baroness Twycross: Tourism policy in the UK is devolved, but DCMS maintains regular engagement with the devolved administrations, including the Welsh Government, on a range of tourism-related matters and we are aware of the Welsh Government’s proposals to introduce a visitor levy and continue to monitor its development closely.

DCMS remains committed to understanding the potential cross-border impacts on the visitor economy, including any implications for tourism in England.

Our focus remains on supporting a thriving and competitive tourism sector across all parts of the UK, ensuring that destinations can attract visitors, support local businesses, and deliver sustainable growth.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-21 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-21 conversation_9

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value of European co-productions to the UK film industry, and what steps they are will take to promote European co-productions in the future. \p Baroness Twycross: Co-productions are integral to the success of the UK film industry, not only providing varied sources of funding and broadening audience reach, but allowing filmmakers to collaborate creatively with diverse partners from across the globe.Our film sector has strong ties with partners across Europe and a rich history of co-production both under the Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-production and through unofficial collaborations.

To further stimulate international exposure of the UK film industry the government has committed an additional £7 million for the UK Global Screen Fund for 2025/26. In addition to offering support for business development and distribution of UK films internationally, this fund offers specific support to promote international co-productions.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-05-21 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-21)

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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Victoria Cross and George Cross medal collection previously displayed in the "Extraordinary Heroes" exhibit remains accessible to the public following its removal from display at the Imperial War Museum. \p Baroness Twycross: Victoria and George Crosses tell stories of bravery and courage which form an important part of our national history. Thousands of visitors have appreciated The Lord Ashcroft Gallery, which houses Lord Ashcroft’s personal collection of these medals along with others belonging to the Imperial War Museum and other private owners, has been well-loved since its creation in 2010. The Government is grateful to him for his generous loan.

The Government recognises the importance of these medals and their incredible significance to the recipients, their families and the wider public, and we share the ambition that these medals do continue to be available to the public. In particular, we hope that the medals can be exhibited alongside the stories behind them. The Minister of State at DCMS has engaged with both the Museum’s leadership and with Lord Ashcroft to continue to support efforts to try and find a new permanent home for his remarkable collection. The Imperial War Museum plans to redisplay their own collection of Victoria Cross and George Cross medals at their sites across the country, allowing new audiences to engage with these heroic stories.

While Government does not have any role in curatorial decisions at national museums, it is common practice for museums to update their galleries and displays periodically in order to make the most of the wide range of collection items they hold, and to explore new ways of communicating vital histories to the public.