Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of recent evidence of occupational exposure to formaldehyde in NHS workplaces, whether they plan to take any action beyond existing Control of Substances Hazardous to Health requirements and stakeholder engagement, such as updated sector-specific guidance, infrastructure upgrades, and targeted enforcement.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no current plans to produce sector specific guidance on formaldehyde in NHS workplaces. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (2002) (COSHH) (as amended) is a robust and well-established regulatory framework in place to protect workers from the health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace, including formaldehyde. The accompanying Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance to these regulations gives practical advice on how to comply with the law.
Under COSHH, it is the responsibility of each NHS employer to assess the risk from their work activities involving formaldehyde and to ensure that the exposure of their employees to this hazardous substance is either prevented, or where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled. Where it is not reasonably practicable, it is for the NHS employer to put in place and maintain the protection measures that adequately control the risk from exposure in accordance with the requirements of COSHH. Where controls are in place employers have a duty to ensure they are maintained so that they remain effective and protect workers.
Where HSE receives intelligence suggesting employers are not controlling risks, HSE responds in a proportionate way, which may include inspections or enforcement action if employers are not complying with legal requirements.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate further evacuations under the Gaza medical evacuation scheme, either at public expense or through private funding; what assessment they have made of obstacles to such evacuations; and what steps they are taking to remove any obstacles.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We have supported 50 sick and injured children to leave Gaza and receive treatment in the UK, and have separately supported an initiative by Project Pure Hope to bring several children from Gaza to the UK for privately funded specialist care. The safety, privacy, and wellbeing of these patients and their families remains our absolute priority and we will not be providing further operational details.
We continue to seek the most effective ways to deploy the UK's resources to meet healthcare needs in Gaza and the region. Further announcements on the future of this scheme will be made in the usual way in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people have come to the UK under the Gaza medical evacuation scheme (1) in the past month and (2) overall, either at public expense or through private funding.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We have supported 50 sick and injured children to leave Gaza and receive treatment in the UK, and have separately supported an initiative by Project Pure Hope to bring several children from Gaza to the UK for privately funded specialist care. The safety, privacy, and wellbeing of these patients and their families remains our absolute priority and we will not be providing further operational details.
We continue to seek the most effective ways to deploy the UK's resources to meet healthcare needs in Gaza and the region. Further announcements on the future of this scheme will be made in the usual way in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the percentage of companies registered in the British Virgin Islands which are held via a trust or complex legal arrangement; and whether legitimate interest registers will allow for the identification of the ultimate beneficiaries of corporate structures in the British Virgin Islands.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Financial Services, including in relation to information on beneficial ownership, are a devolved matter for the Government of the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Whilst it is not unusual to hold companies through legal arrangements, including Trusts, this Government expects Overseas Territories, including the BVI, to implement accessible registers of beneficial ownership as a way of mitigating the risk that these structures are abused by those seeking to hide illicit gains. The Minister of State, Stephen Doughty wrote to Premier Wheatly on 26 January to reiterate that this Government expects that the BVI's proposals for legitimate interest access registers will uphold the highest possible standards of transparency and demonstrate a clear commitment to openness and robust oversight. This Government's ultimate expectation is that the OTs launch fully public registers of beneficial ownership.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2024, published in December 2025, what assessment they have made of the two incidents in which live animals were found to have been accidentally put into waste bags; whether they have considered the adequacy of 'letters of reprimand' being issued as a sanction in response; and what actions they will be taking to prevent such incidents from taking place in future.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
All licensed establishments must fully uphold the required standards for animal welfare as set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes. The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) conducts audits to assure establishments’ compliance and takes matters of non-compliance very seriously.
Regarding the incidents referenced, ASRU investigated the incidents and acted according to the published compliance framework (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing-and-research-compliance-with-aspa) which explains how ASRU identifies and investigates potential incidents of non-compliance and decides on appropriate and proportionate measures and remedies where non-compliance has been found to occur. Through delivery of the compliance policy the Regulator aims to reduce the risk of future non-compliance.
All cases of non-compliance are thoroughly investigated, and the outcomes are published in ASRU’s annual report.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) resident trusts (including trusts categorised as ‘Type A'), and (2) non-UK resident trusts (including trusts categorised as ‘Type B’ or ‘Type C’), have acquired a direct interest in land or property in Scotland since the Trust Registration Service was expanded in May 2021.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Although the Trust Registration Service does record information on trusts that have acquired a direct interest in land or property in the UK, in most cases the register only records limited information on where within the UK these lands or properties are located. As such, I cannot provide a complete answer to this question with respect to Scotland.
I can however answer this question with respect to the UK overall. From May 2021 (when the Trust Registration Service was expanded to accept registrations from non-taxable trusts) to 5 April 2025 (the end of the last tax year), c.77,000 trusts notified the Trust Registration Service that the trustees had acquired a direct interest in UK land or property on or after 6 October 2020. Of this figure, c.76,000 are UK resident trusts (including trusts categorised as ‘Type A') and c.1000 are non-UK resident trusts (including trusts categorised as ‘Type B’ or ‘Type C’).
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the cost was of developing in-house army training as an alternative to the contract that was secured by Raytheon; and what assessment they have made of the security and resilience considerations of outsourcing army training to a company with US ownership.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
No final decision has yet been made to award the Army Collective Training Service contract to become the Army’s Strategic Training Partner to Raytheon Systems UK. This decision will be made in due course following consideration of the programme’s Full Business Case. As The Full Business Case has not yet been finalised it would be inappropriate to release cost information at this stage.
The Army Collective Training Service contract is not an outsourcing of Army training. Many contractors already support Army training, including Raytheon Systems UK. If awarded, the Army Collective Training Service contract will consolidate many of these existing contracts. The Army, in partnership with the Strategic Training Partner, will transform the support and delivery of collective training while maintaining responsibility for delivery. All tenderers underwent security assessments during prequalification and as part of the tender evaluation, in line with Defence and Security Public Contract Regulations 2011.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to uphold their previous commitment to ban the import of hunting trophies; and whether they plan to introduce further legislation.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter.
The department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban.
Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2024, published in December 2025, what assessment they have made of the incident in which 26 mice were found to have drowned when their cage flooded overnight due to a leaking water valve; whether they have considered the adequacy of a 'letter of reprimand' being issued as a sanction in response; and what actions they will be taking to prevent animals who are being kept for the purpose of scientific experiments from drowning in future.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
All licensed establishments must fully uphold the required standards for animal welfare as set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes. The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) conducts audits to assure establishments’ compliance and takes matters of non-compliance very seriously.
Regarding the incidents referenced, ASRU investigated the incidents and acted according to the published compliance framework (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing-and-research-compliance-with-aspa) which explains how ASRU identifies and investigates potential incidents of non-compliance and decides on appropriate and proportionate measures and remedies where non-compliance has been found to occur. Through delivery of the compliance policy the Regulator aims to reduce the risk of future non-compliance.
All cases of non-compliance are thoroughly investigated, and the outcomes are published in ASRU’s annual report.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 8 December (HL11969), what plans they have to restrict the import of animal products produced using antibiotic growth promoters, regardless of country of origin.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In line with the UK’s own domestic position on the use of antibiotic growth promoters, and considering our international obligations as a trading partner, the Government is engaging with all trading partners. This is to secure assurances that they have measures in place ensuring that antimicrobials used for growth promotion or yield enhancement have not been used in food-producing animals or animal products exported to Great Britain for human consumption.