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 when, if at all, they plan to introduce extended producer responsibility for textiles.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We recognise the importance of continued innovation in the textiles sector and, as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy for England, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluate what interventions may be needed. Over the coming months, the Circular Economy Taskforce is identifying specific subject areas, such as extended producer responsibility, requiring deeper exploration to test with industry leaders, trade associations, and other key stakeholders in the sector. This will ensure that the Strategy reflects the needs and insights of all involved before publication in autumn this year.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the article in Nature titled "Why an overreliance on AI-driven modelling is bad for science"; and what steps they are taking, if any, to ensure that research funding and government assessment of research takes account of the risks identified by this article.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The government recognises that AI is having a transformative impact on science, and the UK is positioned to be a world leader in this emerging field.
This will also present novel risks. The UK Metascience Unit is investing £4m to explore AI’s impact on research and improve our understanding of these risks. Insights from this will be used to inform the government’s R&D policy.
We are dedicated to maintaining research integrity amid AI adoption. The UK Committee on Research Integrity (UKCORI) is examining the intersection of AI and research integrity, with recommendations expected this year. Investments in Responsible AI UK and skills training are driving more responsible AI use in science.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to ensuring that passengers using rail replacement bus services in place of trains receive appropriate discounts to fares to recompense them for the inconvenience and lost time.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Passengers using rail replacement bus services are eligible for delay repay compensation if their journey is delayed. There is no compensation for travelling on a rail replacement bus if the journey is not delayed.
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 assessments they have made of the potential risks for British researchers and citizens from the lèse-majesté law in Thailand in the light of the arrest of American academic Paul Chambers; and what plans they have to make adjustments to travel advice accordingly.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's travel advice for Thailand highlights the lèse-majesté law in Thailand and the potential penalty for breaking this law. We regularly review our travel advice for each country or territory to ensure it includes up-to-date information and advice on the most relevant issues for British people visiting or living there.
The UK Government regularly monitors the use of lèse-majesté and other defamation-related laws in Thailand and has raised concerns with the Thai authorities. We also regularly observe public court hearings to reinforce the importance of due process and visibly supporting and promoting the work of local human rights defenders.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what regulations and other controls apply to skydiving flights in England particularly with regard to impacts on local residents from noise and other pollution, and environmental impacts.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
All pilots of civil-registered aircraft, including skydiving flights, must comply with the requirements of the Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA). These are wide-ranging requirements covering aspects such as the minimum altitude which must be observed by pilots and the rules governing flying during the day and night periods.
Local aerodromes may have planning agreements in place with their local authority, setting out restrictions as part of the planning process when developing the aerodrome. These may include such things as restrictions on numbers and times of operations, and restrictions on overflying certain areas.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of NHS Trusts in England allowing physician associates to prepare recommended summary plan for emergency care and treatment (ReSPECT) forms and apply do not resuscitate orders; and whether they consider this practice to be legal and appropriate.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department and NHS England do not hold data on individual Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions at National Health Service trusts in England.
ReSPECT is a process which records personalised recommendations for a person’s clinical care and treatment for a future emergency in which they are not able to make decisions or to express wishes. These recommendations, including a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) decision, are developed through conversations between a person and the health care professionals involved with their care. Recommendations are recorded on a non-legally binding form.
The Resuscitation Council UK has produced guidance for organisations and healthcare professionals using the ReSPECT process. CPR decision policies are determined locally by organisations providing NHS care.
The Resuscitation Council UK, the British Medical Association, and the Royal College of Nursing have jointly produced guidance on decisions about CPR. It states that the overall clinical responsibility for decisions about CPR, including DNACPR decisions, rests with the most senior clinician responsible for the person’s care as defined explicitly by local policy.
The Government has commissioned Professor Gillian Leng CBE to lead an independent review of the physician and anaesthesia associate professions. It will consider the safety of the roles and their contribution to multidisciplinary healthcare teams. The conclusions of the review will inform the workforce plan to deliver the 10-Year Health Plan.
The review will consider the approach that was adopted in England to support the safe introduction, employment, and deployment of these new roles.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that reported lobbying by groups funded from overseas, such as the Alliance Defending Freedom, has had on human rights and democracy in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is fully committed to transparency to help ensure the public are made aware of which external organisations the government engages with.
As such, the government publishes details of all official meetings held by ministers and certain senior officials with external organisations, including groups funded from overseas.
In addition, the Parliamentary Codes of Conduct set rules on the registration of interests as well as gifts and benefits, including from sources outside the UK. There are also rules regulating All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) which specify that APPGs must be transparent about their nature, membership and funding including funding provided by overseas groups.
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 Lord Benyon on 17 May 2024 (HL4375), what progress they have made on the collection of soil monitoring data from the Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment programme; and whether 2027–28 remains the target for 100 percent completion.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra’s Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme remains on track (subject to spending reviews) to complete its 5-year baseline soil sample within Financial Year 2027/28.
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 Lord Douglas-Miller on 12 April 2024 (HL3653), what progress they have made on the regulation or other oversight of the sale of plant biostimulants, including consideration of their efficacy, safety and ecological impacts.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
There are no specific requirements for plant biostimulants in domestic fertiliser legislation. Fertilisers are a devolved matter, and we will continue to work with the devolved governments through the Fertilisers Common Framework on fertiliser regulation.
Defra has funded a review of the evidence for the safe and effective use of plant biostimulants and methods for verifying the efficacy of plant biostimulants. This review is due to conclude November 2026. However, due to the wide variety of compounds used in biostimulants and innovation in the sector, further research and support from industry may be needed.
As part of our mission-driven Government, we are now considering how we can achieve our ambitious, measurable and long-term goals for all our farming sectors, which includes fertilisers as a key input.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had on a (1) bilateral basis, or (2) EU-wide basis, about cabotage for UK musicians who are touring in the EU.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are working closely with the music industry, and engaging with the EU and EU Member States to tackle the challenges facing UK musicians and their support staff, including reduced access due to restrictions on the number and type of permitted transport movements when touring in the EU. Our aim is to identify practical solutions to ensure that UK artists can continue to perform across Europe with minimal barriers while respecting the regulatory frameworks on both sides.
On 7 April, Sir Chris Bryant attended the Informal Meeting for EU Culture Ministers in Warsaw as a guest of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This is the first time a UK minister has been invited to such a meeting since the UK’s exit from the EU. The Minister used the opportunity to forge closer, more cooperative ties with his EU counterparts, including on matters related to touring. The Minister and senior DCMS officials have previously engaged the EU on this matter bilaterally, including during an introductory call with EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Culture, Youth and Sport Glenn Micallef and in recent engagements with Polish, French, German, Italian, Danish and Swedish counterparts.
The UK Government remains in constructive dialogue with the EU on this and other EU reset priorities. Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds and Maroš Šefčovič have been tasked with moving discussions forward and leaders will take stock at the UK-EU Summit in May.