Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the Research Excellence Framework process for universities, and whether they plan to replace it with a less onerous and more cost-effective process.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The next research assessment exercise, REF2029, will be completed in 2029. It is led by Research England and the Devolved Funding Bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These funding bodies are engaging with the sector to lighten the bureaucratic burden wherever possible, for example by using existing data sets.

DSIT recognises the need to reduce bureaucracy across the research system as much as possible. The department is working with the sector and funders to achieve this.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of removing the cap on student recruitment in higher education on the sustainability of the sector, and whether they plan to review or restore the cap.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of higher education (HE) in England, publishes an annual report on the financial health of the HE sector.

The OfS’ most recent report, published in May 2024, does not cite the removal of the cap on student recruitment as a key risk to the financial sustainability of the sector. There are no plans to reintroduce student number controls. The report is attached and can also be read here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/ly1buqlj/financial-sustainability-report2024.pdf.

The UK’s universities are autonomous, vibrant and independent. The government values this, as does the HE sector. This means that, ultimately, it is for providers, as part of an autonomous and independent sector, to decide on effective business models.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide the finances for a Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to those of a Muslim faith who gave their lives in two World Wars, as announced in the March Budget.

Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Our country has a long history of commemorating and honouring the brave actions of service men and women during the two World Wars, and we will never forget the sacrifices they made for our future. The government will set out further details on our plans to commemorate and mark the service given by our Muslim communities in due course.

Found: meeting Members present: Lord De Mauley (The Chair); Lord Bruce of Bennachie; Baroness Coussins; Baroness

Found: Product Regulation and Metrology Bill [HL] 18 After Clause 3 BARONESS CRAWLEY LORD FOSTER OF

Found: BARONESS CRAWLEY THE EARL OF LINDSAY LORD FOSTER OF BATH _ Clause 1, page 2, line 3, leave

Found: BARONESS CRAWLEY THE EARL OF LINDSAY LORD FOSTER OF BATH _ Clause 1, page 2, line 3, leave

Found: BARONESS CRAWLEY THE EARL OF LINDSAY LORD FOSTER OF BATH _ Clause 1, page 2, line 3, leave

Found: BARONESS CRAWLEY THE EARL OF LINDSAY LORD FOSTER OF BATH _ Clause 1, page 2, line 3, leave

Found: BARONESS CRAWLEY THE EARL OF LINDSAY LORD FOSTER OF BATH _ Clause 1, page 2, line 3, leave

Found: Product Regulation and Metrology Bill [HL] 8 After Clause 3 BARONESS CRAWLEY ★_ After Clause

Found: Metrology and Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) Baroness Crawley raised two issues relating to metrology

The House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee will be launching an inquiry into the future of UK-US relations.