House of Lords Business

Baroness Altmann to ask His Majesty's Government how many pensioners in the UK have annual incomes below £15,000, and of those how many are in receipt of pension credit.  HL1011

Baroness Altmann to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in the Ministry of Defence are permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours; what is the percentage of overall working time they are permitted to spend on such network activity; how many hours are allocated in t… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Baroness Altmann to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in (1) the Department for Transport and (2) the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency are permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours; what is the percentage of overall working time they are permitted to spend on… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Baroness Altmann to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in (1) the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and (2) UK Research and Innovation are permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours; what is the percentage of overall working time they are permitted… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the urgent appeal submitted to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture on 12 September by the international legal team for British citizen Jimmy Lai; and what action they are taking to secure his release.  HL1015

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report, Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights, by the United Nations Secretary-General, published on 20 August, including the concerns it raises about reprisals against British citizen Jimmy Lai, his son, Sebastien La… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of the proposed amendment to Iraq’s Personal Status Law 188, which could lower the legal age for marriage to nine, and the extent to which it aligns with international treaties on the rights of children to which Iraq is a signatory.  HL1017

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle to ask His Majesty's Government, since 30 April 2024, (1) what is the volume of consignments containing plants and plant products from the EU at Border Control Posts; and (2) what is the number of physical inspections at Border Control Posts of plants and plant products that have been (a) required and (b) completed.  HL1018Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle to ask His Majesty's Government whether it plans to publish any data on the Common User Charge including values invoiced and collected; and any data on operating costs for the Sevington Border Control Post.  HL1019

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of changes introduced by the Border Target Operating Model which came into force on 30 April, on the United Kingdom's environmental horticulture sector.  HL1020

Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 29 July (HC Deb cols 1033–40), what assessment they have made of the impact on (1) small, and (2) innovative, businesses of the call for departmental savings; and in particular what assessment they have made of long-term economic harm, including the loss o… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 29 July (HC Deb cols 1033–40), how many small businesses working directly as Government contractors or suppliers have had work or expected work cancelled for departmental savings; how many Government contracts with small business have been cancelled or pos… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 29 July (HC Deb cols 1033–40), how many small businesses working directly for the Government have been told that their payment rates are being cut, and by what percentage range and average.  HL1023

Lord Empey to ask His Majesty's Government how many units of accommodation, including hotel rooms, (1) are currently being used to house persons who have submitted claims for asylum in the United Kingdom; and (2) they have reserved or acquired to accommodate those who may yet arrive and seek asylum in the United Kingdom.  HL1024

Lord Empey to ask His Majesty's Government what financial provision has been made in the current financial year to provide (1) accommodation, and (2) food and provisions, to those currently awaiting a response to applications for asylum in the United Kingdom.  HL1025

Lord Empey to ask His Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers are currently being accommodated in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales and (4) Northern Ireland.  HL1026

Lord Empey to ask His Majesty's Government what criteria they apply when assessing requests for public inquiries into the deaths of persons as a result of terrorist activity in the United Kingdom.  HL1027

Lord German to ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to extend the 28-day move-on period for asylum seekers who have been given the right to remain in the UK.  HL1028

Lord German to ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to increasing asylum support payments.  HL1029

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger to ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to address (1) unregulated e-bike hire, and (2) illegal e-scooters.  HL1030

Lord Jackson of Peterborough to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether equality, diversity and inclusion spending in the NHS provides value for money in relation to patients' health needs; and whether they plan to initiate a review into that spending.  HL1031

Lord Jackson of Peterborough to ask His Majesty's Government what is the policy of (1) the Department of Health and Social Care, and (2) NHS England, on payments for Stonewall membership for NHS trusts, including the Workplace Equality Index gold award; and what assessment they have made of whether those policies are compatible with Government policy following the Cass Review. �… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Lord Jackson of Peterborough to ask His Majesty's Government whether the (1) Cabinet Office Government People Group, and (2) Government Equalities Office, has a list of banned words and phrases.  HL1033

Lord Jackson of Peterborough to ask His Majesty's Government how many non-crime hate incidents have been recorded since the publication of statutory guidance by the Home Office in June 2023, broken down by relevant police force or police authority.  HL1034

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington to ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister, or the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, undertook an equality impact assessment, and considered the public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010, when deciding to remove the portrait of the first female Prime Minister from the Downing Street study.  HL1035Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office on 30 July (HC936), whether they now intend to publish the data gathered from the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Review.  HL1036

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 7 August (HL346), whether this clothing policy applies to all staff in the Department for Work and Pensions.  HL1037

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb to ask His Majesty's Government how they are monitoring the success and roll-out of biodiversity net gain policy; and what plans they have, if any, to review the current system of exemptions.  HL1038

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb to ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) monitor, and (2) address, non-compliance with biodiversity net gain regulations.  HL1039

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb to ask His Majesty's Government, what steps they are taking ahead of White Ribbon Day to invest in the prevention of gender-based violence, particularly in work engaging men and boys.  HL1040

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb to ask His Majesty's Government, what steps they are taking ahead of White Ribbon Day to prioritise the prevention of gender-based violence.  HL1041

Lord Lamont of Lerwick to ask His Majesty's Government whether VAT will be levied on school fees paid by the Government for UK private education for the children of foreign office officials serving overseas.  HL1042

Lord Lamont of Lerwick to ask His Majesty's Government what is the total cost of school fees paid in the last year by the Government for UK private education for the children of military personnel serving overseas.  HL1043

Lord Lamont of Lerwick to ask His Majesty's Government what is the total cost of school fees paid in the last year by the Government for UK private education for the children of foreign office officials serving overseas.  HL1044

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Care on 6 September (HC2283), why they have paused the work of the Child and Young Person Cancer Task force.  HL1045

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton to ask His Majesty's Government what activities they have carried out to support Child Cancer Awareness Month.  HL1046

Lord Lexden to ask His Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an impact assessment on their proposal to put VAT on independent school fees; and if so, whether they will publish it.  HL1047

The Marquess of Lothian to ask His Majesty's Government whether they (1) are reviewing, or (2) plan to review, current Armed Services recruitment policy to allow those who have previously worked for UK forces in Afghanistan in any capacity, but who are not British or Commonwealth citizens, to apply to join the British Army if they have relocated to the UK.  HL1048&… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

The Marquess of Lothian to ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made on diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict and the release of hostages since the Prime Minister spoke to Benjamin Netanyahu on 20 August.  HL1049

The Marquess of Lothian to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the declaration by the WHO Director General on 14 August of Mpox cases in Africa to be a public health emergency of international concern; and what support they are providing to African countries most affected by the current outbreak.  HL1050

The Marquess of Lothian to ask His Majesty's Government whether any cases of Clade I or Clade Ib Mpox have been detected in the UK since 14 August.  HL1051

The Marquess of Lothian to ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the soft power value to the UK of the news programming provided by the BBC World Service; and whether they intend to fund fully the BBC World Service language services.  HL1052

The Marquess of Lothian to ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking alongside international partners to address what on 9 September the World Health Organisation called the "extreme health and humanitarian crisis" in Sudan.  HL1053

Lord Lucas to ask His Majesty's Government whether the Department for Work and Pensions (1) currently has, or (2) has previously had, a National Diversity Ambassador on Trans Issues; and if so, (a) who they were, and (b) during what time period(s) they served.  HL1054

Lord Lucas to ask His Majesty's Government whether, when developing and implementing (1) health care, and (2) equalities policies, it is the position of (a) the Government, and (b) NHS England, that men can get pregnant.  HL1055

Lord Lucas to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 12 August (HL426), whether the Ministry of Justice has received such representations from the Public and Commercial Services Union; and what was their response.  HL1056

Lord Lucas to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 7 August (HL345), how many staffing hours are allocated to the Civil Service LGBT+ Network, and across how many staff members.  HL1057

Lord Lucas to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 12 August (HL517), what applications for an equality, diversity and inclusion spending control exemption have been (1) applied for, (2) accepted, and (3) rejected, since the general election.  HL1058

Lord Lucas to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), whether any of the civil servants claiming diversity network time are also claiming trade union facility time, and at what hourly amounts; and what is their policy on the double dipping of network time and facility time.  HL1059

Lord Mott to ask His Majesty's Government how much of the £50 million extension of the Farming Recovery Fund, announced on 24 May, has been distributed to date.  HL1060

Lord Mott to ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to distribute in full the £75 million of funding to support internal drainage boards announced in February, and if so, by what date.  HL1061

Lord Mott to ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to continue to publish an annual food security index.  HL1062

Lord Mott to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Welsh Government's Sustainable Farming Scheme; and what consideration they have given to the introduction of a similar scheme in England.  HL1063

Lord Mott to ask His Majesty's Government how many farm visits the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has undertaken in an official capacity since his appointment on 5 July.  HL1064

Lord Moylan to ask His Majesty's Government what is the policy of (1) the Treasury, and (2) the Government Equalities Office, on the consultations being conducted by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority on new diversity and inclusion reporting requirements for financial services firms; and what assessment they have made of whether those proposals… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Baroness Neville-Rolfe to ask His Majesty's Government why the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 has been delayed to 2025; and what changes have been made to the timetable for the National Procurement Policy Statement in the light of changes to government policy on procurement since the general election.  HL1066

Baroness Neville-Rolfe to ask His Majesty's Government what changes they intend to make to current Government policy on procurement, including in relation to (1) social value requirements, (2) conditions relating to trade unions, and (3) conditions relating to equality, diversity and inclusion requirements.  HL1067

Baroness Neville-Rolfe to ask His Majesty's Government whether the salaries of all special advisers have now been finalised; and when they intend to publish the list of special advisers, as required under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.  HL1068

Baroness Neville-Rolfe to ask His Majesty's Government what meetings Alan Milburn has had with the Department of Health and Social Care or NHS England since the general election (1) with, and (2) without, Ministers being present; and whether his commercial and financial interests were declared ahead of such meetings.  HL1069

Baroness Neville-Rolfe to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 9 September (HC Deb col 578), whether Alan Milburn declared his financial interests to the Permanent Secretary; what steps have been taken to mitigate conflicts of interest in the advice from Mr Milburn; whether they will place a copy of any such d… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Baroness Neville-Rolfe to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 9 September (HC Deb col 578), whether Alan Milburn joined any ministerial discussions, or viewed any ministerial papers, relating to private sector involvement in the NHS.  HL1071

Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the mental health benefits of music education for children; and what plans they have to promote music in the national curriculum for primary schools.  HL1072

Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether promoting music education in the national curriculum for primary schools would help diminish pressures on the NHS arising from children’s mental health.  HL1073

Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne to ask His Majesty's Government how they are promoting collaboration between the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care on the rising number of mental health cases among children in primary school; and what meetings Health and Education ministers have had on this topic.  HL1074

The Lord Bishop of Norwich to ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to meet international obligations for nature conservation, including the Ramsar Convention, the Bern Convention and the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.  HL1075

The Lord Bishop of Norwich to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefit of forest schools and similar nature-focused learning for child development.  HL1076

Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway to ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that all seasonal worker scheme operators have complied with the requirement that all workers must receive a minimum of 32 hours’ pay for each week of their stay in the UK; and what plans they have, if any, to investigate scheme operator practice to ensure compliance with this r… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway to ask His Majesty's Government, further to the revocation of Ethero’s licence as a scheme operator under the seasonal worker visa scheme, whether that company still holds a Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority licence; and if so, what plans they have to review that licence.  HL1078

Lord Patten to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the levels of reported crime on the Salisbury and Yeovil Railway.  HL1079

Lord Patten to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects of there being only one railway line between Salisbury and Yeovil on (1) the travelling public and (2) the carriage of goods.  HL1080

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick to ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to deter third-country service providers from engaging with UK sanctioned vessels in Russia's shadow fleet.  HL1081

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick to ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to mitigate the environmental risks posed by ageing and poorly maintained vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet, particularly those using high sulphur fuels in UK territorial waters and the Strait of Dover.  HL1082

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick to ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to (1) introduce, and (2) enforce, tougher environmental standards, such as mandatory insurance cover and compliance with International Maritime Organisation heavy fuel standards, for oil tankers entering UK territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone.  HL1083

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick to ask His Majesty's Government what steps the Treasury are taking to regulate higher transparency and due diligence standards in the UK’s maritime services sector to prevent Protection and Indemnity insurers from facilitating the operations of vessels within Russia's shadow fleet.  HL1084

Lord Rose of Monewden to ask His Majesty's Government when they expect real GDP per capita to return to its pre-pandemic peak; and what steps they are taking to support this growth.  HL1085

The Lord Bishop of St Albans to ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to support children growing up in households where an adult is experiencing problem gambling.  HL1086

The Lord Bishop of St Albans to ask His Majesty's Government whether it remains their policy to increase the minimum income for spouse/partner visas to £38,700 by 2025.  HL1087

Lord Sharpe of Epsom to ask His Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers have arrived illegally in the UK by small boats since 5 July; and what is the breakdown of those arrivals by (1) nationality, (2) gender, and (3) age.  HL1088

Lord Sikka to ask His Majesty's Government how many people have been prosecuted under section 36 of the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 in each of the years since its inception; and what outcomes were achieved.  HL1089

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings in the review by Lord Darzi of Denham Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England, published on 12 September, that (1) "cancer care lags behind other countries", and (2) "the UK has appreciably higher cancer mortality rates than other countries" &#… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect high street businesses, particularly independent traders.  HL1091

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to re-introduce the Football Governance Bill.  HL1092

Lord Touhig to ask His Majesty's Government which providers of language intervention programmes for schools they support with funding.  HL1093

Lord Touhig to ask His Majesty's Government how many children have completed language intervention programmes each year since such programmes were first funded by the Government in 2021.  HL1094

Lord Touhig to ask His Majesty's Government how many schools registered to deliver language intervention programmes in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, and (3) 2023, and how many completed the full work programme in each of those years.  HL1095

Baroness Wilcox of Newport to ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the effectiveness of Jobcentre Plus in helping people get back into work.  HL1096