theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

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Lord McInnes of Kilwinning:To ask His Majesty's Government how many residential properties the Ministry of Defence currently owns within the Dreghorn estate in Edinburgh; and, of these, how many are currently sub-let to civilians rather than being occupied by service personnel or their families. \p Lord Coaker: As at 24 April 2025, the Ministry of Defence owns a total of 200 Service Family Accommodation properties within the Dreghorn estate in Edinburgh, and, of these, 36 properties are sublet to civilians.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

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Lord Lee of Trafford:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the availability of submarine personnel to crew the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent currently and in future years. \p Lord Coaker: The Royal Navy has successfully maintained Operation RELENTLESS – the Continuous At Sea Deterrent – without interruption for over 56 years. We do not disclose details of the operation, including the duration of time spent at sea, as such information could be used to undermine the security and capability of the mission and our personnel.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

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The Lord Bishop of St Albans:To ask His Majesty's Government how much money was made from fixed-odds betting terminals located on Ministry of Defence property in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, (3) 2023, and (4) 2024; and who was the beneficiary of any such money. \p Lord Coaker: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Baroness Whitaker:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to criminalise acts of ecocide. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The UK already has strong regulations in place to protect the environment and contravention of many of these is a criminal offence. These are enforced by regulators who can seek criminal convictions to punish significant and or persistent environmental offending.

Through the Environment Act 2021 the Government legislated to protect and enhance the natural environment, including setting legally binding targets and publishing the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). The Government has concluded a rapid review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23). We published a statement of the rapid review’s key findings on 30 January 2025 (copy attached), to be followed by publication of a revised EIP later this year. We will develop a new, statutory plan to protect and restore our natural environment with delivery information to help meet each of our ambitious Environment Act targets.

Interim Statement on the EIP Rapid Review (pdf, 143.8KB)
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Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 11 March (HL5254), how they will maximise or monitor the success of 'blue economy' policies without baseline data. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: Defra invests in data collection, analysis and research every year to improve our understanding of the marine environment, provide evidence for policy decision making and improve our understanding of policy and economic performance over time. For example, over the last three years the £38 million marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme collected evidence on the location, extent and condition of our marine and coastal natural capital assets in England. Alongside this, Defra evaluates the impact and value for money of programmes and policies in line with central Government guidance on conducting effective evaluations and evaluation results are published on the Government Evaluation Registry.
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Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton:To ask His Majesty's Government when the Thames Path at Vauxhall Cross will reopen. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Thames Path has been diverted at this location to facilitate construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel. During this time pedestrians are required to use the footpath along the main road rather than the riverside route between Vauxhall Bridge and Tintagel House. Two new areas of public access are being created at this site that connect the capital's residents and visitors with the river more closely than is currently possible.

Following the completion of the works in mid-2025 the Thames Path that runs through the middle of the site will be reinstated and the two new areas will be opened.
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Lord Clement-Jones:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of BT's Digital Voice rollout on households without reliable electricity supply or mobile coverage; and what measures they are requiring BT to implement to ensure that such households maintain a reliable telephone service. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: The Government is determined to ensure any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers.

Major communication providers, including BT, signed a voluntary charter in December 2023 to protect vulnerable customers. In November 2024, providers agreed additional safeguards in the Non-Voluntary Migrations Checklist. This includes requirements to provide increased resilience for vulnerable customers, including those who depend on a landline, to enable access to emergency organisations for at least one hour during a power cut. In addition, several networks are bringing in batteries that can provide longer backup during a power cut.

The Government wants all areas of the UK to benefit from good quality mobile coverage. We have delivered our commitment for 95% of the UK to have access to a 4G signal through the Shared Rural Network, but our ambition is to go further, with all populated areas having higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.
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Lord Taylor of Warwick:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that there is appropriate distribution of workers with skills in artificial intelligence across the UK. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: Lifelong learning and adaptability are key to ensuring everyone can prosper in an increasingly technology-driven world. The Government is committed to ensuring a balanced distribution of AI-skilled workers across the UK. The AI Opportunities Action Plan outlines steps to build a strong, diverse talent pipeline.

Working with DSIT and the Industrial Strategy Council, Skills England will bring together businesses, training partners, and unions with national and local government to assess the country’s skills need – including AI and digital skills – and map pathways to fill them.
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Lord Clement-Jones:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the adoption of provenance tools, such as those made available by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity, to combat online disinformation in the UK. \p Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: Government recognises the potential for online mis- and dis-information to undermine public trust in the information environment. Mis and disinformation should be tackled through a multi-faceted, whole of society approach. Solutions that enable users and institutions to critically evaluate information online, including discerning whether a piece of content is AI-generated, are a key part of this approach.

We recognise the interest in the use of provenance tools and metadata to identify AI-generated and modified content. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is working with other government departments and agencies to explore these technologies, alongside other technical measures.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

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Lord Leigh of Hurley:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Livermore on 11 February (HL4630), whether the Treasury Permanent Secretary has been informed of the identity of the ultimate donors who are financing the donations from Labour Together to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. \p Lord Livermore: There are established processes in place for the declaration and management of private and financial interests held by ministers (as set out in the Ministerial Code). These have been followed.
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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to expand HMP Highpoint. \p Lord Timpson: The Ministry of Justice is delivering an additional c.700 places at HMP Highpoint through the construction of three four-storey houseblocks and supporting ancillaries. Construction work started at HMP Highpoint in November 2024, with prisoners expected in the new accommodation by the end of 2027.

This expansion programme is being delivered as part of the 20,000 Prison Place Programmes. In the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, the Lord Chancellor committed to delivering the remaining 14,000 places of the programmes, with an aim to complete delivery by 2031.
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Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to locate a prison at Wethersfield in Essex. \p Lord Timpson: The Ministry of Justice continues to consider all options for delivering additional prison capacity.

Any decision to deliver a prison at Wethersfield will be dependent on planning conditions and a balance of operational and physical factors.
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Baroness Hoey:To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland In re Bridie Brown (CA) on 3 April, in which cases since the commencement of the Human Rights Act 1998 have the courts ordered the Northern Ireland Office to hold a public inquiry related to Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights; who is responsible under the Inquiries Act 2005 for deciding to set up statutory inquiries; under what powers the judiciary in Northern Ireland and England and Wales can make a declaratory or mandatory order that a public inquiry be set up; and what are the consequences of refusal to carry out such an order. \p Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: Aside from the case of Brown, the Courts have never ordered the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland nor any other Government Minister to establish a public inquiry.

Under section 1 of the Inquiries Act 2005 the power to set up a statutory public inquiry lies with a Minister. A Minister may cause an inquiry to be held under this Act in relation to a case where it appears to them that (a) particular events have caused, or are capable of causing, public concern, or (b) there is public concern that particular events may have occurred.

There are no statutory powers in the Inquiries Act 2005 for the judiciary in England and Wales or Northern Ireland to set up a public inquiry.
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Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to meet Energy UK to discuss the recommendations made in the report How to cut bills: a crisis we can't afford to ignore, published on 11 March. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Ministers in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have regular meetings with Energy UK on a range of important issues, including the cost of energy bills.

The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.
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Baroness Boycott:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 20 February (HL4788), whether they will publish the referenced independent studies exploring the sustainability of biomass electricity generation. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The referenced independent studies refer to work exploring the sustainability of biomass, including electricity generation. Several reports commissioned on behalf of the public sector are already in the public domain, including:

Publicly funded research will continue to be published in line with the Research Concordat.
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Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist:To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they have put in place to promote hydrogen energy in Wales. \p Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: In the Autumn Budget, the Government confirmed £2.3 billion in revenue support for 11 green hydrogen projects from the first Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1), including the HyBont project in Bridgend, and the West Wales Hydrogen Project in Milford Haven.

On 7 April 2025, the Government announced a shortlist of 27 projects, including three located in Wales, that have been invited to the next stage of the Second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) process.

Projects offered support under previous programmes such as the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund include the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub, where we are working closely with the Wales Office, Welsh Government and Ambition North Wales as the project develops.
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Lord Carlile of Berriew:To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the Care Quality Commission about improving the consistency of the quality of reports about healthcare providers. \p Baroness Merron: The Department has introduced additional oversight measures to ensure significant improvements are made to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) operational performance.

The CQC is aware of the issues health and social care providers have experienced and is progressing four immediate actions and five foundational improvements, which include clearing the backlog of registration applications and making improvements to its assessment approach to enable them to complete more, and publish higher quality, assessment reports.

Action carried out to address the registration backlog includes changing the way providers apply for registration, recruiting additional registration inspectors, and streamlining the internal registration processes. The CQC’s registration team has been clearing the backlog of registration applications that are over 10 weeks old, focusing on the oldest ones first.

Action carried out to make improvements to the CQC’s assessment approach include making some changes to the internal technology systems the CQC uses to carry out assessments.

These actions will ensure the CQC is more efficient, and will lead to a reduction in the time providers wait before they receive a first inspection and rating.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

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Baroness Warsi:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to commission research into the scale and effect of Islamophobic disinformation originating from foreign states on public attitudes in the United Kingdom. \p Baroness Taylor of Stevenage: At present, the government does not have plans to commission research specifically on the impact of Islamophobic disinformation on public attitudes. However, the government remains committed to addressing religiously motivated hate crime and promoting social cohesion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

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Lord Swire:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to change the existing legislation on the filling of jerry cans of diesel or petrol at filling stations. \p Baroness Sherlock: There are no plans to update the existing legislation (The Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014) as it already addresses what can be filled at petrol filling stations. HSE has published guidance on the types of container that can be filled in a petrol filling station on their website.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

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Baroness O'Loan:To ask His Majesty's Government what resources they dedicate to the protection of boys and men from violence. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: This Government recognises that men and boys experience abusive and violent crimes, such as stalking, domestic abuse, and sexual violence, and we are committed to ensuring that male victims and survivors get the support that they need. The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice fund organisations such as Respect, Galop, SignHealth, and Hourglass, which provide essential support to male victims. This includes the Men’s Advice Line, run by Respect, which offers vital support to male victims of domestic abuse.

Following the Chancellor’s announcement on 11 June, we are continuing to work through the details of government funding for tackling VAWG over the 2026–2029 Spending Review period.

We are working tirelessly across government to deliver the VAWG Strategy. It is vital that we get this right, and we are committed to publishing the Strategy as soon as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

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Baroness Maclean of Redditch:To ask His Majesty's Government what reviews they have carried out into asylum claims based on religious conversions, and whether they intend to publish any findings. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations, meaning religious conversions do not guarantee a grant of refugee status.

Home Office policy guidance provides a framework for considering asylum claims and assessing credibility. When assessing claims based on religious persecution, caseworkers are expected to ask appropriate and sensitive questions to explore a claimant’s personal experiences and journey to their new faith and gather evidence of current religious practice.

Our processes are underpinned by a robust quality assurance review process. Decision makers and quality assessors must adhere to the interview and decision marking standards, which are shared with caseworkers to improve understanding when receiving feedback.

We have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to help us to improve our policy guidance, training for asylum decision-makers, and to ensure we approach claims involving religious conversion in the appropriate way.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

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Baroness Maclean of Redditch:To ask His Majesty's Government how many asylum claims have been accepted based on religious conversion in each of the past five years in respect of conversions to (1) Christianity, (2) Islam, (3) Judaism, and (4) any other religion. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: The requested information on asylum claims being accepted based on religious conversion is not available from published statistics and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

The Home Office publishes data on initial decisions on asylum claims in table Asy_D02 of the 'Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release' on GOV.UK. The latest data relates to the year ending June 2025. Between July 2020 and June 2025, 165,551 people have been granted protection or other leave at initial decision. There is no breakdown by religion available.

All asylum claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the Immigration Rules. This means that religious conversions do not guarantee a grant of refugee status.
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Baroness McIntosh of Pickering:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of cases of child sexual abuse perpetrated by a family member, and what steps they are taking to ensure such cases are reported and justice is delivered. \p Lord Hanson of Flint: We know that most abuse is perpetrated by someone known to the victim. The Office for National Statistics published data from its Crime Survey for England and Wales in relation to child sexual abuse. The survey found that most abuse was perpetrated by someone known to the victim. Just over a third (35%) reported abuse by a family member taken as a: mother, father, step-parent, carer/guardian, or other family member.

Furthermore, 37% of those who had been a victim of contact sexual abuse said it had happened in their own home, and a further 40% in someone else’s home. This broadly aligns with data from IICSA’s Truth Project where 42% of victims and survivors who shared their experience said the abuse happened in the family home.

The Government is taking swift, decisive action to address all form of child sexual abuse and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. As part of this, we recognise the need to improve how safeguarding agencies protect and support children at risk of sexual abuse within the family home.

We have committed to implementing the seven recommendations from the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s review into child sexual abuse in the family environment. In doing so, we will:

Through the Crime and Policing Bill we are introducing a mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse. It will require anyone taking part in relevant activity with children in England (such as teachers, healthcare professionals and sports coaches) to report to the authorities if they are made aware that a child is being sexually abused.

The new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection launched in April 2025 will improve the police response to child protection and violence against women and girls.

We have committed further funding to the independent Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse to improve the ability of professionals in policing, health, local authorities, and multi-agency partnerships, to identify and respond effectively to all forms of child sexual abuse through the provision of evidence-based training and practice resources.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

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Baroness Pidgeon:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential merits of introducing a national prohibition on pavement parking, except in areas explicitly designated by local authorities. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Government fully understands the serious problems that vehicles parked on the pavement, and other obstacles on the pavement, can cause for pedestrians, especially for people with mobility or sight impairment. The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to the 2020 pavement parking consultation and is currently working through the policy options and the appropriate means of delivering them. We will announce the next steps and publish our formal response as soon as possible.

In the meantime, local authorities can make use of existing powers to manage pavement parking, and it is up to them to decide where to restrict pavement parking and what enforcement is appropriate. Recent reforms that the Department has implemented to the process by which Traffic Regulation Orders are made will make it easier for them to do so.
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Baroness Pidgeon:To ask His Majesty's Government what work they are carrying out with disabled people and street design experts to update and implement inclusive pavement design standards. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: Local authorities are responsible for managing their roads, including pavements, to meet Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) under the Equality Act 2010. It is for them to ensure they are designed and maintained in a way that takes account of the needs of everyone.

The Department has produced a range of good practice guidance to help them in this, including in Inclusive Mobility, and regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders including various disability groups.
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Baroness Pidgeon:To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the accessibility needs of blind and partially sighted people are embedded in the Integrated National Transport Strategy for England. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Integrated National Transport Strategy will be published later this year and puts people and the journeys they make at the heart of how we plan, build and operate transport, reflecting transport’s key role in unlocking access to opportunities. Accessibility will be a priority area of the Strategy and it will aim to support disabled people, including those who are blind and partially sighted, to travel more confidently and independently across the transport network with fewer barriers.
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Baroness Deech:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 12 September (HL9963), what action they will take to follow up on their report Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, published in March 2024, which noted insufficient research on the economic impact of low traffic neighbourhoods. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The Government is clear that traffic management measures such as low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are a matter for local authorities as they know their areas best. The Department has no plans to undertake further research on the impacts of LTNs.
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Lord Jopling:To ask His Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of building eight new bridges on the M6 in Cumbria; and what are the proposed start and finish dates for the work. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: National Highways is currently working through the Detailed Design Phase of the M6 Lune Gorge structures project including consideration of construction methodologies. As such, the cost estimation process is not complete. The timescales for the main construction works are from Spring 2027 to Summer 2031, and preparatory work has started.
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Lord Jopling:To ask His Majesty's Government whether the National Highways statement that the eight bridges that carry the M6 and A685 over the Lune Gorge in Cumbria are “rapidly reaching the end of their serviceable life” after more than 50 years of operation applies to (1) all bridges on UK motorways and trunk roads of a similar age, (2) only certain bridges, and if so which others, or (3) only the eight bridges in Cumbria, and if so, why have these bridges in particular reached the end of their serviceable life in this time period. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: The eight bridges that carry the M6 and A685 over the Lune Gorge in Cumbria are not representative of all motorway and trunk road bridges of a similar age. The issue with these structures relates specifically to half-joint details which are more vulnerable to deterioration.

National Highways is responsible for 378 half-joint structures, the majority of which are over 50 years old and require bespoke management strategies in line with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. However, not all the 378 half joint structures will have the same level of deterioration as Lune Gorge and need the same level of renewal.

Around half of all National Highways’ bridges (4574 bridges) are 50 years old or over, however the condition of bridge structures is influenced by many factors. Whilst the age of the structure can be a one of them, other factors such as structural form, quality of construction, different materials, environmental exposure and traffic loading are often of greater significance in the deterioration of a structure. It is more likely that older assets will require significant renewals interventions, but not all of these could be described as rapidly reaching the end of their serviceable life and in need of replacement.
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Lord Lucas:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted any evidence-based research into the benefits of providing stable, ultrafast internet connectivity to train passengers, and if not, why not; and whether they will use this research to inform railway development policy and funding decisions with the aim of enabling passengers to make productive use of their rail journeys, stimulating economic growth, reducing road congestion, and supporting the environment. \p Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill: As part of a project called the 'Yellow Trains Exercise', the Department has asked Network Rail to collect data related to mobile signal strengths (2G, 3G, 4G and 5G) along the rail network, using antennas mounted on the top of Network Rail’s yellow engineering trains (“the yellow trains”). We will use this data to understand where areas of intervention are needed based on the signal strength data collected and this will be used to inform policy making. We expect the exercise to be completed next year.

In addition to this, the Department was also successful in securing funding as part of the Spending Review to fit all mainline trains with Low Earth Orbit satellite technology to upgrade on-train Wi-fi.

This works by installing satellite panels on the roof of a train - either one or two depending on the length of the train and equipment on board the train coverts this satellite signal into a Wi-Fi connection for passengers.

Trials using LEO have proven this technology provides high speeds – up to 200 megabits per second, enabling passengers to receive a much better mobile connection through the on-train Wi-Fi than they receive today.

The Department has also been working with Network Rail to deliver improved connectivity on the rail network. Project Reach, which will renew fibre optic cables and address 4G / 5G mobile signals in key mainline tunnels and stations was signed 26 June 2025 between Network Rail, and telecoms companies, Neos Networks and Freshwave.
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Lord Empey:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the introduction of a cap of £25,000 on the amount of VAT that can be claimed back under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. \p Lord Livermore: The Government recognises the importance of supporting churches and other listed places of worship. That is why the decision was made to extend the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme until 31 March 2026, with a budget of £23m.

Against a tough fiscal picture, the difficult decision was taken by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to implement an annual limit of £25,000 per individual place of worship for the coming year. The changes to the scheme were necessary given the significant pressures on other parts of the heritage and cultural sectors.

Based on DCMS’s analysis of previous data, 94% of applications will be unaffected by the change, as most claims are under £5,000.
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Lord Swire:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the Barnett formula. \p Lord Livermore: The Barnett formula is a key part of the arrangements for pooling and sharing risks and resources across the UK. It is simple, efficient and provides a clear and certain outcome, which is why it has stood the test of time.

There are currently no plans to modify the operation of the Barnett formula.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_16

Lord Freyberg:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to consult with allergy charities, consumer groups, and the food industry on introducing mandatory front-of-pack labelling to alert consumers when a new allergen has been added to a product, and on setting a minimum period of time for which such notices should remain visible. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy.

For prepacked food, a range of mandatory information must be provided, and this includes a complete list of ingredients. If a prepacked food contains one of the 14 major allergens as an ingredient then this must be emphasised in the ingredients list so that it clearly stands out from the other ingredients.

Food businesses should provide a straightforward means for consumers to contact them (e.g., telephone, or email), on the product label or on their website, about any food allergen labelling changes. Consumers should receive meaningful and accurate responses, explaining the reason for any allergen labelling changes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_17

Lord Freyberg:To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is a legal requirement for food manufacturers to indicate clearly on the front of packaging, and for a specified period of time, when an allergen previously labelled as "may contain" is subsequently relabelled an ingredient; and what plans they have to introduce clearer legal requirements in this area. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy.

For prepacked food, a range of mandatory information must be provided, and this includes a complete list of ingredients. Additionally, if a prepacked food contains one of the 14 major allergens as an ingredient then this must be emphasised in the ingredients list so that it clearly stands out from the other ingredients.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_18

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle:To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to enact species-specific slaughter legislation to protect farmed fish. \p Baroness Hayman of Ullock: The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any protected animal, including fish, or to fail to provide for the welfare needs of a protected animal, for which that person is responsible. Legislation on the protection of animals at the time of killing also requires that farmed fish are spared avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_19

Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard:To ask His Majesty's Government how many Northern Ireland Troubles legacy inquests have taken place into (1) killings of security force members, (2) killings of known terrorists, and (3) killings of civilians; and what are the names of each of those inquests. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: Legacy Inquests are a matter of public record and are available on the Judiciary NI website.

The conduct of inquests in Northern Ireland is devolved and, as records of any pre-devolution inquests would have been transferred to the Northern Ireland Department of Justice (DOJ), requests for information on these matters should be directed to the DOJ.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_20

Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard:To ask His Majesty's Government what involvement or role is planned for the government of Ireland within any Troubles legacy institutions in Northern Ireland. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The Government considers the Irish Government to be an essential partner in addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past. On Friday 19 September 2025, the two governments published a high-level framework document outlining all key areas on which they have reached agreement, which includes meaningful and tangible commitments by the Irish Government and UK Government respectively.

The Framework is enclosed.

Legacy Framework Document (pdf, 301.0KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_21

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee:To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will legislate to reverse the effect of the judgment of the Supreme Court in R v Adams [2020] UKSC 19 to ensure that Gerry Adams is not entitled to receive public money due to his detention in the 1970s and to restore the doctrine created as a result of the judgment in Carltona v Commissioners of Works [1943] 2 All ER 560 under which a duly authorised official is able to take executive decisions on a Secretary of State's behalf. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: The main issue here is the application of the Carltona principle in the context of Interim Custody Orders. The previous Government’s attempt to address this following the 2020 Supreme Court judgment in Adams has been found by the Northern Ireland courts to be incompatible with our international obligations and we need to find a better way of reaffirming this principle.

The Government is carefully exploring how to address this complex issue alongside our clear commitment to implement legacy mechanisms that are fully compliant with human rights, and will do so in upcoming Primary Legislation.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_22

Lord Weir of Ballyholme:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 12 September (HL10086), why voters with photographic identification cannot receive an Electoral Identity Card. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: I refer the Noble Lord to the response given on 12 September 2025 to UIN HL10086.

The sole purpose of the Electoral Identity Card is for voting at a polling station. If an individual holds another accepted form of photographic voter identification, they may use it to vote and there is no need to apply for an Electoral Identity Card.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_23

Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard:To ask His Majesty's Government what further legacy inquests they plan to instigate as part of the Northern Ireland Troubles legacy. \p Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent: As I set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 19 September 2025, the UK and Irish governments have published a framework document outlining the main areas on which the two governments have reached agreement on Legacy. The Government will fulfil its commitment to restore those inquests that were halted by the Legacy Act. The remainder will be considered in a sifting process by the Solicitor General. Our approach reflects the importance of inquests to many families, but also the significant role that a fully reformed Commission with more powers will play in achieving outcomes for families, particularly in cases containing sensitive information.
lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_24

Lord Kempsell:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had with officials in China regarding potential escalation in Taiwan during the recent visit of the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to Beijing. \p Lord Leong: The UK has consistently been clear on the continued need for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. This government has raised this issue with China several times, including at the UK-China Strategic Dialogue earlier this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_25

Lord Mackinlay of Richborough:To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Merron on 1 May (HL Deb col 144GC), when the review of the clinical commissioning policy relating to multi-grip hand and upper limb prosthesis is expected to be published. \p Baroness Merron: NHS England has commissioned Solutions for Public Health (SPH) to complete a compliance audit report of the Multi-grip prosthetic hand (all ages) clinical commissioning policy, a copy of which is attached. The audit report from SPH will be available to commissioners by the end of October 2025.

NHS England will use the audit report to inform the evidence base for any proposed changes to the current commissioning policy.

Additional document (pdf, 266.8KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_26

Lord Scriven:To ask His Majesty's Government what basis they used to calculate that it is value for money to make a performance-related bonus of up to £114,000 available for the role of Director General for Commercial and Growth. \p Baroness Merron: The remuneration for senior Government Commercial Organisation (GCO) roles is set centrally to ensure a consistent, cross-government approach that allows us to attract and retain commercial leaders within the specialised skills needed to manage complex challenges and deliver value for money.

This ‘invest to save’ model includes a performance-related pay element which is not guaranteed; it is strictly contingent on meeting stretching objectives designed to deliver significant taxpayer savings. Such payment is approved by the GCO Remuneration Committee and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury as per central guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_27

Baroness Warsi:To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with technology companies regarding preventing foreign governments from using artificial intelligence to run online disinformation campaigns in the United Kingdom. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The government engages regularly with technology companies to make clear their responsibility to keep users safe.

The Online Safety Act requires all in-scope companies to tackle illegal content, including state-sponsored disinformation that meets the threshold of the Foreign Interference Offence. Where such content is generated using artificial intelligence, it would be captured as the Act applies regardless of how the content is produced.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_28

Baroness Manzoor:To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that artificial intelligence labs prevent chatbots from discussing suicide with teenagers. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: Every death by suicide is a tragedy and the government is deeply concerned about the role that online content can play.

Services in scope of the Online Safety Act have duties to protect all users from illegal suicide content and protect children from harmful content that encourages, promotes, or provides instructions for suicide. This includes regulated AI-generated content.

The government keeps all legislation under review and will not hesitate to strengthen the law, where required, to protect children.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: lordswrans/lordswrans2025-09-24 conversation_29

Baroness Warsi:To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of current safeguards at social media companies in detecting AI-generated disinformation targeting minority communities. \p Lord Vallance of Balham: The Online Safety Act gives services duties to protect all UK users from illegal content, including illegal AI-generated disinformation. These protections apply to all users, including minority communities who are often disproportionately targeted by harmful online content.

Ofcom’s illegal content codes of practice strengthen the safeguards by requiring services to reduce exposure to illegal content. With Ofcom, we are monitoring the implementation of the Act and platforms’ compliance.

This Government recognises the challenges of detecting AI-generated content and is partnering with industry and academia to support technical innovation.