Baroness Altmann

The Minister for Women and Equalities and the Minister of State for Women and Equalities both have responsibility for ensuring that older people are protected from unlawful ageism (age discrimination) by maintaining the existing strong protections in the Equality Act 2010. These protections make it unlawful for an employer, service provider or someone exercising public functions to treat a person less favourably because of age, unless this can be objectively justified.

Unlawful age discrimination is unacceptable, whether occurring in employment, the provision of services or any other context covered by the Equality Act 2010. Any differential treatment based on age must be objectively justifiable, otherwise it will rightly be unlawful.

In a workplace context the abolition of the default retirement age has helped older workers and where unlawful treatment is alleged, the employee may take their case to an employment tribunal. As a first step in any dispute, the parties may consult Acas which operates a Government-funded helpline for people with employment disputes and early conciliation by Acas is required before a claim reaches a tribunal hearing.

The Government keeps all aspects of the Equality Act 2010 under review, to ensure they remain fit for purpose.

Overall staff figures for the Office for Equality and Opportunity total 133.8 Full Time Equivalents, of which the Race Equality Unit total 6 FTE, the Disability Unit total 19.8 FTE and the Women and Equalities Unit total 36.5 FTE. This excludes any temporary time limited resource from wider Cabinet Office.

The current SAFE Framework outlines four principles to ensure brand safety in government advertising: Safety and Suitability, Ads Context, Freedom of Speech, and Ethics and Enforcement.

Within the 'Safety and Suitability' principle, the framework emphasises that government advertising must not appear alongside content that:

• Endorses or promotes illegal activity
• Encourages harmful behaviours and attitudes
• Contains hate speech, extremist, or anti-democratic messaging
• Could be perceived as offensive to protected groups in society

Protected groups are defined under the Equality Act 2010 as age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.

The Government Equalities Office is part of the Cabinet Office for management and staffing purposes. The EDI Expenditure Guidance published in May 2024 remains in place.

Data on the specific number of working hours used for network activity is not held centrally. The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.

The Government Equalities Office is part of the Cabinet Office for management and staffing purposes. The EDI Expenditure Guidance published in May 2024 remains in place.

Data on the specific number of working hours used for network activity is not held centrally. The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.

A National Audit Office (NAO) report published on 20^th March 1998 on the sale of AEA Technology sets out that then Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sold AEA Technology (formerly part of the UK Atomic Energy Authority) in 1996 for £224 million. In addition, DTI received a dividend of £3.75 million giving total gross proceeds of £227.75 million.

The information requested is set out in the table below:

The Government has consulted on proposed changes to how support provided through the Feed-in Tariffs and Renewable Obligation schemes is adjusted for inflation. The consultation was accompanied by an analytical annex which set out the potential impacts of the policy. Updated analysis will be published alongside the Government Response next year.

We know that digital exclusion is a complex issue and the evidence base is significant but fragmented. Ofcom data from 2025 reports that 95% of 16 – 74 year olds, 78% of those aged 65+ and 65% of those aged 75+ have a smartphone in their household and personal use one.

In February, we published our Digital Inclusion Action Plan – First Steps which sets out the immediate actions we are taking on digital inclusion. One of these actions was to develop robust headline indicators to monitor progress and inform future digital inclusion interventions. We will evaluate the outcomes of these actions in due course.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has 19 colleague-run networks, 11 of which are diversity-related. Time taken on network activities is agreed between individuals and line managers- no formal facility time is allocated. No network holds a delegated budget, and there are currently no plans to revise this approach.

UKRI has 12 network co-chairs across 8 formally supported staff networks. Co-chairs are allocated 1 day per month to carry out network related activities which includes work on organisation-led EDI priorities and reporting on network activities to governance. All 8 networks receive funding for their activities (in financial year 2023/24 this was less than £5,000). There are no plans to alter these funding arrangements.

Clubs will be required to report on what action they are taking with regard to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) as part of the corporate governance code included within the Football Governance Bill.

EDI is a key part of good corporate governance. Good EDI on boards and in clubs promotes better governance, decision-making and transparency, all of which links to improved financial sustainability.

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is responsible for collecting and publishing data on the UK’s higher education (HE) sector and specifies which data HE providers should collect from students. All HE providers with a statutory requirement to report data to HESA are asked to return data on students’ sex. HE providers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are asked to return data on students’ gender identity (whether their gender identity aligns with their sex registered at birth), and providers in Scotland may optionally return data on students’ transgender status.

Certain HE providers in England, which are registered with the Office for Students, are required to provide data on the number of applications, offers, acceptances and completion rates by gender, under an ongoing condition of registration in respect of transparency information.

HE providers are required under the Equality Act 2010 to eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment, but also to actively advance equality. This may include collecting relevant data to monitor and improve their policies and delivery of services.

All HE providers must adhere to data protection legislation when processing students’ personal data, ensuring that it is collected and processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently, and are required to publish privacy notices setting out what types of personal data they collect and how they will process it.

The delivery of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Staff Network activity is agreed between networks and departments as the employer. This includes permitted time allocation and any funding arrangements. The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.

Defra does not afford any protected time to network leads or co-chairs or anyone involved in network activity.

Time allocation

The Department for Transport Core (DfTc) and the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) do not allocate a specified amount of time for staff to spend on diversity-related network activities. Civil Service guidance for diversity-related networks requires that time being spent on EDI activities by volunteers, where it is not part of an individual’s core role, is appropriate, reasonable and proportionate.

Funding

At present none of the networks within Department for Transport Core (DfTc) and the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) are funded. We are currently reviewing our staff networks and any future funding will align with the guidance on EDI Expenditure published on 14th May 2024.

The Pensions Ombudsman investigated a complaint determined in January 2015 concerning the conduct of the trustee of the AEA Technology Pension Scheme (reference PO-4816 can be found on The Pension Ombudsman website).

In its role as the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) Ombudsman, The Pensions Ombudsman considered two references of reviewable matters concerning the PPF and AEA Technology. Both cases are in the public domain and can be found on The Pensions Ombudsman website. The first (reference PPFO-2915), in June 2014, and the second (reference CAS-53012-H6M5), in December 2021.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman investigated complaints about a factsheet produced by the Department for Work and Pensions in response to enquiries from members of the AEA Technology Pension Scheme.

Actuaries providing information in relation to pension transfers are bound to uphold standards and codes of conduct set out by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, the professional body for actuaries, and the Financial Reporting Council, the oversight body for the actuarial profession. Both organisations can investigate complaints against individual actuaries (but not organisations) and have established complaints and disciplinary processes.

Where a pension scheme trustee, sponsoring employer or member believes they have suffered a loss as a result of incomplete actuarial information, redress would normally be sought through the courts under professional negligence or breach of contract.

The actuarial profession is regulated by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) which is the relevant professional body. It is possible to raise a concern or complaint relating to an individual member of the IFoA directly to the IFoA.

The Actuaries’ Code is the ethical Code of Conduct to which all IFoA members must adhere. Failure by a member to comply with the ethical requirements set out in the Code may lead to disciplinary proceedings under the IFoA’s Disciplinary Scheme.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is the oversight body for the actuarial profession, and this provides a further route for complaints about professional standards and conduct.

Where a pension scheme trustee, sponsoring employer or member believes they have suffered a loss as a result of negligent actuarial advice, redress would normally be sought through the courts under professional negligence or breach of contract.

Minister for Pensions met with Viscount Thurso on 15 June to discuss AEA Technology as per the commitment made during the passage of the Pensions Schemes Act 2026.

We recognise the very real challenges that AEAT pension scheme members have faced given the insolvency of their employer and their entry into the Pension Protection Fund.

The Pension Schemes Act 2026 provides for annual increases on compensation payments from the Pension Protection Fund that relate to pensions built up before 6 April 1997, where schemes provided for this.

AEA Technology pension scheme members with pre-97 accrual will benefit from this change.

The Office for National Statistics (ONE) is the independent body responsible for economic classification decisions in the UK. Following international statistical guidance, the ONS has classified the PPF as a public pension fund, while the levies to fund the PPF are classified as taxes.

The way the PPF Board’s assets and liabilities are treated within the public finances does not affect the legal separation of the property of the Crown and Board as set out in the Pensions Act 2004.

The National Health Service website, along with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Royal Osteoporosis Society, has information and resources for patients to learn about osteoporosis, including advice on how to manage osteoporosis and advice on lifestyle changes that patients can make to improve their bone health and reduce their risk of fractures. The Royal College of General Practitioners’ e-learning module on the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis also provides suggested resources that clinicians can use with their patients.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood services in England. NHSBT Logistics plays a key role in planning for, collecting, and delivering lifesaving and life changing donated blood products to hospitals across England. However, NHS England owns and manages the contract with Octapharma to fractionate and produce medicines, including immunoglobulin and albumin. These medicines have been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to reflect the priorities of the National Health Service.

No blood is discarded by NHSBT due to MHRA authorisations. If there are any discarded fractions by Octapharma, NHSBT does not hold this information. All of the plasma that meets the requirements for use in medicines is forwarded to Octapharma for fractionation, and the specific manufacturing arrangements are subject to commercial confidentiality.

We remain committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) across every part of the country by 2030. That is what my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care promised before the election, and what he is delivering.

In the meantime, we are investing in 14 high-tech bone density DEXA scanners, which are expected to provide an extra 29,000 scans, to ensure that people with bone conditions get diagnosed earlier

FLS are a globally recognised care model and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%. They can play a vital role in improving quality of life and increasing the number of years that can be lived in good health.

The Government and NHS England support the clinical case for services which help to prevent fragility fractures and support the patients who sustain them. Officials continue to work closely with NHS England to explore a range of options to provide better quality and access to these important preventative services. Impacts will be assessed, as these options are considered, taking into consideration the evidence gathered from the 60 services already in operation in England.

The Government is committed to expanding access to Fracture Liaison Services. The Department is working closely with NHS England to develop rollout plans to ensure better quality and access to these important preventative services, to fill the current gaps in coverage.

More than 500,000 fragility fractures occur every year, and up to 40% of fracture patients will suffer another fracture.

This Government and NHS England support the clinical case for services which help to prevent fragility fractures and support the patients who sustain them. That is why this Government is committed to the expansion of Fracture Liaison Services and is working closely with NHS England to develop rollout plans to end the postcode lottery.

All education must promote peace, tolerance and non-violence. Any incitement to hatred or violence is unacceptable and has no place in the classroom. We have raised this with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and will continue to do so.

The PA is undertaking a multi-year curriculum reform in which textbooks are systematically being updated to align with UNESCO standards. Recent independent analysis has identified credible progress since 2018 in removing material of concern from PA textbooks. We welcome this initial progress, but we recognise that more needs to be done to bring every textbook page for every Grade in line with UNESCO standards.

We have made clear that the Palestinian Authority must fully implement the reforms they have committed to make, including in relation to the school curriculum, and will continue to support them to do so.

All education must promote peace, tolerance and non-violence. Any incitement to hatred or violence is unacceptable and has no place in the classroom. We have raised this with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and will continue to do so.

The PA is undertaking a multi-year curriculum reform in which textbooks are systematically being updated to align with UNESCO standards. Recent independent analysis has identified credible progress since 2018 in removing material of concern from PA textbooks. We welcome this initial progress, but we recognise that more needs to be done to bring every textbook page for every Grade in line with UNESCO standards.

We have made clear that the Palestinian Authority must fully implement the reforms they have committed to make, including in relation to the school curriculum, and will continue to support them to do so.

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer I provided on 27 November to Question HL11630.

The UK has allocated £74 million so far this financial year to support the humanitarian response in Gaza. This includes £3 million for the United Nations Population Fund, which supports their response and early recovery under four pillars: sexual and reproductive health; sexual violence; adolescents and youths; and interagency coordination. We are also working closely with partners to support implementation of the next phase of the US-led peace plan, including establishing transitional security arrangements. Within this work, we will continue to prioritise the needs of civilians, particularly women and children.

The FCDO's flag flying policy is that all our buildings should fly the Union flag, as appropriate, throughout the year on working days during office hours. In addition, the FCDO continues to fly the Ukrainian flag from the secondary flagpole at King Charles Street. Any other flags flown on the estate are considered on a case-by-case basis and must have a compelling reason for inclusion. The FCDO does not advertise in advance which additional flags it will be flying and when.