Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to extend the 14-day limit on human embryo research.

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

The Department has no current plans to extend the 14-day limit on human embryo research.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the regulation of stem cell-based embryo models by (1) secondary legislation, (2) a code of practice, or (3) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

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

No formal assessment has been made of the regulation of stem cell-based embryo models.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) published Modernising Fertility Law in November 2023, which made a number of recommendations for legislative change, including around its regulatory powers. Ministers have met with the HFEA Chair and discussed the emerging regulatory challenges.

The Government is considering the HFEA’s priorities for changing the law and will decide how to take this forward at the earliest opportunity.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to a requirement that a county council should (1) heed the majority of responses to a consultation regarding the introduction of low traffic neighbourhoods and congestion charges and (2) publish how they considered consultation feedback.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Government is clear that traffic management measures such as low traffic neighbourhoods are a matter for local authorities as they know their areas best. Traffic management schemes should always be developed through engagement with local communities. This is a long-standing policy and there are no plans to change it.

It is also for local authorities to assess the impact on businesses and others of their traffic management schemes. The Department commissioned research into the impacts of low-traffic neighbourhoods which was published in March 2024 and is available on the Department’s website.

As a matter of good practice authorities should always obtain a wide range of views on traffic management schemes, including from those directly impacted by them and those with particular requirements, and should provide information on how consultation responses have been acted on. However, the Department has no plans to make this a legal requirement.

Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) must be made following the procedures set out in the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996. These already include a requirement for ongoing consultation for 6 months once in place, with statutory consultees including bus operators, emergency services and freight industry representatives. An ETRO may be in place for a maximum of 18 months after which the authority must either revoke it or make it permanent. The Government considers that these requirements provide sufficient time to allow objections to be made.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps can be taken to facilitate legal challenges to traffic management decisions by a local authority including legal aid availability, extended time limits for review of experimental traffic orders and plain language guidance for affected residents.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Government is clear that traffic management measures such as low traffic neighbourhoods are a matter for local authorities as they know their areas best. Traffic management schemes should always be developed through engagement with local communities. This is a long-standing policy and there are no plans to change it.

It is also for local authorities to assess the impact on businesses and others of their traffic management schemes. The Department commissioned research into the impacts of low-traffic neighbourhoods which was published in March 2024 and is available on the Department’s website.

As a matter of good practice authorities should always obtain a wide range of views on traffic management schemes, including from those directly impacted by them and those with particular requirements, and should provide information on how consultation responses have been acted on. However, the Department has no plans to make this a legal requirement.

Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) must be made following the procedures set out in the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996. These already include a requirement for ongoing consultation for 6 months once in place, with statutory consultees including bus operators, emergency services and freight industry representatives. An ETRO may be in place for a maximum of 18 months after which the authority must either revoke it or make it permanent. The Government considers that these requirements provide sufficient time to allow objections to be made.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on local businesses caused by low traffic neighbourhoods across councils in England.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Government is clear that traffic management measures such as low traffic neighbourhoods are a matter for local authorities as they know their areas best. Traffic management schemes should always be developed through engagement with local communities. This is a long-standing policy and there are no plans to change it.

It is also for local authorities to assess the impact on businesses and others of their traffic management schemes. The Department commissioned research into the impacts of low-traffic neighbourhoods which was published in March 2024 and is available on the Department’s website.

As a matter of good practice authorities should always obtain a wide range of views on traffic management schemes, including from those directly impacted by them and those with particular requirements, and should provide information on how consultation responses have been acted on. However, the Department has no plans to make this a legal requirement.

Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) must be made following the procedures set out in the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996. These already include a requirement for ongoing consultation for 6 months once in place, with statutory consultees including bus operators, emergency services and freight industry representatives. An ETRO may be in place for a maximum of 18 months after which the authority must either revoke it or make it permanent. The Government considers that these requirements provide sufficient time to allow objections to be made.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to choosing a model for reform of the law of financial provision on divorce as set out in the Law Commission report Financial remedies on divorce and dissolution, published 17 December 2024 (HC 460).

Answered by Baroness Levitt - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Law Commission’s 2024 scoping report on financial remedies on divorce considered whether the current law provides a cohesive framework in which divorcing couples can expect fair and sufficiently certain outcomes. The report also highlighted a number of possible models for reform, noting the potential benefits and challenges of each. The Government is carefully considering the report’s findings, including the possible models identified, and will provide a response in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 12 September (HL9963), what action they will take to follow up on their report Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, published in March 2024, which noted insufficient research on the economic impact of low traffic neighbourhoods.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Government is clear that traffic management measures such as low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are a matter for local authorities as they know their areas best. The Department has no plans to undertake further research on the impacts of LTNs.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support and methods of assistance they are offering to victims of the earthquake in Afghanistan in the light of a prohibition on contact between male rescuers and female victims.

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

We have released £4 million in emergency funding to deliver critical healthcare and emergency supplies to those affected by the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan. These funds are channelled through the UN, Red Cross and non-governmental organisations with a track record of delivery in the affected area. Our funding includes support for mobile health teams, essential hygiene items for women, maternal care and psychological support to address the most acute needs of women and girls. Reports from partners indicate aid is reaching those most at need and we continue to monitor to ensure support is accessible for all vulnerable women and girls and that women can play a full role in the response. The needs and priorities of women and girls are at the core of the UK's humanitarian response and we are committed to ensuring that at least 50 per cent of people reached by UK aid in Afghanistan are women and girls.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for the UK's defence and intelligence capabilities of their not inviting Israeli officials to the 2025 Defence and Security Equipment International event.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence carefully assessed the implications of not inviting Israeli officials to the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) UK 2025 conference. We do not comment publicly on operational matters. The Government of Israel's decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong, and, as a result, no Israeli government delegation was invited to attend DSEI UK 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made a recent assessment of reports that the Palestinian Authority is making monthly payments to Hamas fighters imprisoned in Israel.

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

I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave on 26 September to Question HL10094.

Found: from Lord Foulkes of Cumnock 34 Proposal 11: Letter from Lord Frost 36 Proposal 12: Letter from Baroness Deech