Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will lay a statutory instrument containing activity regulations to fully implement the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We continue to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to take forward changes to low-welfare activities abroad.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how the rights and needs of older people will be specifically reflected in the work of the High-Level Panel on Social Protection in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The High-Level Panel on Social Protection in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings (FCAS) is exploring why social protection remains neglected in the places that need it most. To support this, the Panel launched a public enquiry to gather evidence, structured around seven questions, chosen for their political and operational relevance. One question focuses on equitable access, with expected input on marginalised groups such as older people, women and girls, and displaced populations. The Panel Secretariat has engaged widely with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), UN agencies, academia, and civil society about the public enquiry - including a major age-focused NGO - and remains committed to ensuring an inclusive approach throughout its work.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address ageism in society; and what steps they are taking to raise awareness of age-related discrimination.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The UK has a strong history of protecting against direct and indirect discrimination. The Equality Act 2010 (The Act) has protections that enable people to challenge age discrimination across a range of fields, including the provision of services, employment and recruitment processes. Where age discrimination cannot be objectively justified and is unlawful, individuals can seek redress in the courts or, where relevant, at an employment tribunal.
Ageism has no place in our society where we want to see and build inclusion, not exclusion. We continue to monitor and support legislation to tackle ageism or age discrimination. We are also committed to the “age friendly” exception in The Act that permits age-based concessions from retailers, hair salons and museums.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Minister for Equalities plans to take part in activities to mark Age Without Limits Day on 11 June; and what role they will play in highlighting ageism as a cross-cutting issue.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
I refer the Noble Lady to my answer on 9 June 2025 (PQ HL7798).
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the government of Libya's transition to democracy, including by assisting with the encouragement of national elections and providing advice on curbing the power of armed groups.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The status quo in Libya is unsustainable and deeply damaging for ordinary Libyans. It leaves Libya extremely vulnerable to third state actors set on pursuing control over Libya's security, politics and economy. The UK continues to support the UN's efforts to broker a Libyan-owned and led political settlement. We engage regularly with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and Libyan interlocutors in support of this effort, including discussing the role and influence of armed groups and security actors.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are ensuring that Daesh members who return to the UK are investigated and prosecuted for involvement in international crimes, including sexual violence and genocide.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
It is a longstanding principle that the Government does not comment on existing or potential criminal investigations, but we will continue to do anything necessary to protect our national security.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prevalence of age discrimination in recruitment and employment; and what measures are being taken in response.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The UK has a strong history of protecting against direct and indirect discrimination. The Equality Act 2010 (The Act) has protections that enable people to challenge age discrimination across a range of fields, including the provision of services, employment and recruitment processes. Where age discrimination cannot be objectively justified and is unlawful, individuals can seek redress in the courts or, where relevant, at an employment tribunal.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Yazidi community are able to return to Sinjar; how many aid projects they fund for that purpose; and how that aid is distributed, via the government of Iraq or the United Nations.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK's embassy and consulate-general in Iraq regularly speak to the Iraqi government about this issue. Most recently on 24 April, the Deputy Head of Mission met the Iraqi Prime Minister's adviser on Yazidi affairs to discuss the importance of the Sinjar agreement and reconstruction for the safe return of Yazidis to Sinjar.
The UK's 'Building Peace and Stability in Iraq' (BPSI) programme, extended to Sinjar in 2025/2026, supports the return and reintegration of internally displaced people into communities. BPSI funding is allocated to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Development Programme and the International Rescue Committee, not to the Government of Iraq. The UK also funds the UN Durable Solutions Adviser, who coordinates UN efforts on tackling displacement.
Until April 2025, UK funding through the IOM went towards strengthening Iraq's General Directorate of Survivors' Affairs, ensuring they effectively deliver reparations and rehabilitation to Yazidi (and other minorities) survivors of Daesh violence as per the Yazidi Survivors' Law.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are providing assistance to establish an ad hoc tribunal for Daesh; and what steps they are taking to ensure that evidence collected by the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL can be used by prosecutors globally.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has not provided assistance to establish an ad hoc tribunal for Daesh. We would look at any proposal with interest but it would be vital to have wide international support, including from Iraq.
Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council established the National Centre for International Judicial Co-operation (NCIJC) in October 2024. The centre is Iraq's legally-designated authority for international judicial cooperation and evidence-sharing on counter terrorism, and it holds the majority of evidence collected by the UN Investigative Team. All requests for evidence for foreign prosecutions go to the NCIJC, which will then arrange for evidence to be obtained and provided.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help find the missing Yazidi women and girls taken by Daesh in 2014.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Although the UK has not provided direct funding to help locate the missing Yazidi people, we have supported Iraq to develop capacity for Daesh accountability.
The UK strongly condemns atrocities committed against the Yazidis in Iraq by Daesh. We remain committed to the safety and security of the Yazidi community in north-east Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, including those who have been displaced, are currently located in internally displaced peoples camps like al-Hol, and who face challenges returning to Yazidi communities.