Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance and expectations relating to political activity apply to (1) teaching unions, and (2) staff, in educational settings to ensure that they do not enable harassment or discrimination against Jews and Zionists.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

There is no place for antisemitism in our society.

On 18 January, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced a review into antisemitism in schools and colleges. It will examine whether institutions have the right systems to identify and address antisemitism and prejudice effectively. The review will be launched as soon as possible.

The department has already committed £7 million to support programmes that build confidence and resilience in tackling antisemitism across schools, colleges and universities.

Teachers should not promote partisan political views and should present issues in a factual, balanced way so that pupils can learn how to think critically and independently. We have published guidance for schools on political impartiality, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools.

Universities must have strong systems to prevent and address harassment. Under Condition E6, providers must implement clear policies for preventing, investigating and responding to harassment of all kinds. If the Office for Students finds a breach of E6, it can use a range of sanctions, including financial penalties and de-registration.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what actions they are taking to tackle the causes of antisemitism and anti-Zionist intimidation and harassment in schools and universities; and what the timetable is for those actions.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

There is no place for antisemitism in our society.

On 18 January, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced a review into antisemitism in schools and colleges. It will examine whether institutions have the right systems to identify and address antisemitism and prejudice effectively. The review will be launched as soon as possible.

The department has already committed £7 million to support programmes that build confidence and resilience in tackling antisemitism across schools, colleges and universities.

Teachers should not promote partisan political views and should present issues in a factual, balanced way so that pupils can learn how to think critically and independently. We have published guidance for schools on political impartiality, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools.

Universities must have strong systems to prevent and address harassment. Under Condition E6, providers must implement clear policies for preventing, investigating and responding to harassment of all kinds. If the Office for Students finds a breach of E6, it can use a range of sanctions, including financial penalties and de-registration.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what enforcement-related action they will take in relation to educational institutions that fail to protect Jewish and Israeli pupils, staff and students.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

There is no place for antisemitism in our society.

On 18 January, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced a review into antisemitism in schools and colleges. It will examine whether institutions have the right systems to identify and address antisemitism and prejudice effectively. The review will be launched as soon as possible.

The department has already committed £7 million to support programmes that build confidence and resilience in tackling antisemitism across schools, colleges and universities.

Teachers should not promote partisan political views and should present issues in a factual, balanced way so that pupils can learn how to think critically and independently. We have published guidance for schools on political impartiality, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools.

Universities must have strong systems to prevent and address harassment. Under Condition E6, providers must implement clear policies for preventing, investigating and responding to harassment of all kinds. If the Office for Students finds a breach of E6, it can use a range of sanctions, including financial penalties and de-registration.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term physical, mental and legal consequences of the Puberty Suppression and Transitional Healthcare with Adaptive Youth Services study of children with gender dysphoria.

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

The Government is following expert, independent advice from the Cass Review to implement a programme of research to support high quality National Health Service care for children and young people with gender incongruence. Responding to the specific recommendations of the review, the programme includes the PATHWAYS trial, a carefully designed clinical trial to assess the relative benefits and harms of puberty-suppressing hormones as a treatment option for children and young people with gender incongruence when provided alongside an updated model of NHS care incorporating holistic assessment and a tailored package of psychosocial support.

The trial is now in the set-up phase following comprehensive independent scientific, ethical, and regulatory review and approvals. It was designed by an independent research team, in conjunction with patient and public involvement as well as independent ethics, clinical, and legal experts. The team responsible for the protocol design have given considerable thought to the most appropriate eligibility criteria for entry into the trial, and to the physical and mental outcome measures to be monitored, to properly assess and protect young people's wellbeing.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to progress the Chagossian people's right to self-determination.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the responses I gave on this issue in the Committee debate on the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill on Tuesday 25 November 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether UK humanitarian aid for Gaza is diverted to Hamas or Hamas-linked individuals operating in Gaza.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

We have robust processes in place to prevent the diversion of UK aid. All aid partners are subject to thorough due diligence checks, and programmes are continually monitored to make sure money is spent as intended.

Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, and funding or supporting it is a crime. We have been clear that Hamas must play no role in the future of Gaza, and no UK funding goes to Hamas or its affiliates.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of (1) Holocaust Memorial Day, (2) the Imperial War Museum London's Holocaust Galleries, and (3) the National Holocaust Centre, in reducing antisemitism; and whether they will commission research to assess the potential impact of the planned Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens on reducing antisemitism.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government highly values the work of many UK institutions raising awareness and understanding of the Holocaust. The proposed national Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, prominently located in Westminster, will enable millions more to learn the facts of the Holocaust and its roots in antisemitism. Such knowledge cannot alone eliminate antisemitism but is a necessary foundation.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what account they took of the Nolan principles in the decision to provide for the postponement of some local elections in 2026, in particular the principles of (1) accountability, and (2) selflessness.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

On 23 February, the Secretary of State provided an update to the House on local elections: written statement HLWS1367 (attached).

Found: It may have been Baroness Deech who talked about the benefit of therapy coming from those meetings.