Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that community-based legal advice on employment issues, including sexual harassment, is available to workers.

Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Legal aid is available for advice in relation to breaches of the Equality Act 2010 or previous discrimination legislation (including in employment cases), subject to means and merits tests. Legal aid is also available in employment cases where the applicant is a victim of trafficking or modern slavery. Where an issue falls outside the scope of legal aid, individuals can apply for Exceptional Case Funding.

In 2025/26, the Ministry of Justice will continue to provide nearly £6 million of funding to 60 frontline organisations to help improve access to legal support and advice, including for vulnerable individuals with employment issues.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relative effectiveness of reducing body weight through (1) weight loss medication alone, (2) non-medicated lifestyle change support, such as nutritional and fitness guidance as is currently offered through NHS tier 2 weight management services, and (3) weight loss medication combined with lifestyle change support.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Health Service and local government provide a range of services to help people living with obesity to lose weight, ranging from behavioural weight management programmes to specialist services which could offer more intensive support, pharmaceutical treatments, or bariatric surgery. Exactly what treatment is most appropriate for an individual is down to clinicians to advise, in discussion with patients, considering relevant clinical guidance.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produces guidance for health and care practitioners and provides rigorous, independent assessments of complex evidence for new health technologies. The NICE has recently published an updated clinical guideline on overweight and obesity management. It brings together and updates all of the NICE’s recommendations on overweight and obesity. The guideline includes recommendations on behavioural interventions, physical activity and diet, and digital technologies, as well as medicines and surgery.

The guidance states that all medicines for weight loss should be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, and that patients who are prescribed such medicines should receive information, support, and counselling on additional diet, physical activity, and behavioural strategies. Patients receiving weight loss medication on the NHS should not receive it alone, without additional support from appropriate healthcare professionals.

The guidance is clear that dietary, exercise, and behavioural approaches for weight management should be tried before medicines are considered. Whilst research has found that people receiving medicines for weight loss alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity on average lose a greater amount of weight than people receiving behaviour change support alone, medicines are not a first-line treatment, and dietary advice and behavioural support should be provided first.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to reports that over a quarter of UK adults are obese with this forecasted to rise to 40 per cent by 2030, whether they have any plans for a national obesity policy plan; and whether medical treatment, including digital weight management services, will be part of this.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Supporting people to stay healthier for longer is at the heart of the Government’s Health Mission.

The Government recognises that prevention will always be better than a cure. We are committed to tackling the obstacles driving obesity. We have already laid secondary legislation to restrict advertisements of less healthy food and drinks to children on television and online, we have announced changes to the planning framework for fast food near schools, and we are taking steps to ensure the Soft Drinks Industry Levy remains effective and fit-for-purpose.

However, over 28% of adults in England are living with obesity, putting them at risk of a range of health conditions. Local government and the National Health Service already provide a range of services to help people living with obesity to lose weight. These range from 12-week behavioural programmes, including the NHS digital weight management programme, to specialist services for those living with severe obesity and the associated co-morbidities, which can include obesity medicines and surgery. Obesity medicines can be effective for some patients living with obesity when prescribed alongside diet, physical activity, and behavioural support, and the NHS is continuing to look at the best way to manage access to treatments recommended for managing obesity by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Exactly what treatment is most appropriate for an individual is down to health care professionals to advise, in discussion with patients, and considering relevant clinical guidance.

Further action on obesity under the Government’s Health Mission will be set out in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 13 January (HC3975) what assessment they have made of the level of compliance with the recommendation in the Joint Royal College of Surgeons of England and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 'Statement on use of topical chlorhexidine for skin preparation prior to surgery'; including any preference for licensed medicinal products over unregulated biocidal forms to prevent antimicrobial resistance and ensure patient safety.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as the regulator for medicines and medical devices in the United Kingdom, continues to recommend the use of licensed medicines. Use of an appropriately authorised product, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for use, ensures the benefit-risk balance remains favourable within its specified indication for use. Assessments and compliance on the use of chlorhexidine is not reported to the MHRA. Adverse reactions to chlorhexidine can be reported to the MHRA through the Yellow Card reporting system by patients and healthcare professionals.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to follow the recommendations of the position statement from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare on national commissioning of oral emergency contraception from community pharmacies; and, if not, what plans they have to improve access to emergency contraception.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are committed to ensuring that the public receives equitable access to the best possible contraceptive services. Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system and many already provide emergency hormonal contraception as part of locally commissioned services.

Pharmacy First has built on existing services to increase the clinical scope of the National Health Service treatment and advice patients can receive, including the supply of oral contraception via the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service. The scope of treatment offered through Pharmacy First will continue to be kept under review to align with best practice.

The Government recently resumed its consultation with Community Pharmacy England regarding funding arrangements for 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 20 January (HL3720), how many Burmese people have been granted asylum in each of the past ten years.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes details of the numbers of people granted asylum in the Immigration Statistics quarterly release on gov.uk. This includes grants of protection and of other leave last 10 years for Myanmar (Burma) nationals.

Found: BARONESS BENNETT OF MANOR CASTLE 19★_ Clause 4, page 3, line 5, at end insert— “(6) Financial assistance

Found: BARONESS BENNETT OF MANOR CASTLE 68_ After Clause 3, insert the following new Clause— “Review of effect

Found: BARONESS BENNETT OF MANOR CASTLE 68_ After Clause 3, insert the following new Clause— “Review of effect