Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many tuition fee loans, and for how much in total, were provided to franchised delivery providers of education who are (1) registered with the Office for Students, and (2) non-registered, in the past three years.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The attached table shows the number of students in receipt of a tuition fee loan and the total amount of tuition fee loans paid on behalf of students studying at franchised providers in England, split by whether the franchised provider is registered with the Office for Students. This covers tuition fees paid by Student Finance England for the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic years.

In franchising arrangements, tuition fees are paid directly to the lead provider, who often retains a portion before passing the remainder onto the franchised provider. The department does not collect data on the proportion of tuition fees retained by the lead provider. The tuition fee amounts presented in the table therefore overestimate the amount of tuition fee funding received by franchised providers.

Data captures loan payments made up to 31 August 2023 for the 2021/22 academic year and up to 31 August 2024 for the 2022/23 and 23/24 academic years. As the loan payment amounts for 2023/24 do not capture late payments, it is not appropriate to compare 2023/24 with previous years.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland In re Bridie Brown (CA) on 3 April, in which cases since the commencement of the Human Rights Act 1998 have the courts ordered the Northern Ireland Office to hold a public inquiry related to Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights; who is responsible under the Inquiries Act 2005 for deciding to set up statutory inquiries; under what powers the judiciary in Northern Ireland and England and Wales can make a declaratory or mandatory order that a public inquiry be set up; and what are the consequences of refusal to carry out such an order.

Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Aside from the case of Brown, the Courts have never ordered the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland nor any other Government Minister to establish a public inquiry.

Under section 1 of the Inquiries Act 2005 the power to set up a statutory public inquiry lies with a Minister. A Minister may cause an inquiry to be held under this Act in relation to a case where it appears to them that (a) particular events have caused, or are capable of causing, public concern, or (b) there is public concern that particular events may have occurred.

There are no statutory powers in the Inquiries Act 2005 for the judiciary in England and Wales or Northern Ireland to set up a public inquiry.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the 10 franchised delivery providers of education that are registered with the Office for Students with (1) the highest number of foreign national recipients of tuition fee loans, and (2) the highest proportion of enrolled students in receipt of such loans, in the most recent year available.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The attached table shows the 10 franchised providers registered with the Office for Students (OfS) with the greatest number of foreign national students in receipt of tuition fee loans and the highest proportion of all franchised students at OfS-registered providers in receipt of tuition fee loans for 2023/24. This covers franchised providers in England whose students were funded by tuition fee loans from Student Finance England.

Generally, to be eligible for student support, a student resident in England must have settled status or another recognised connection to the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) for three years. Persons with international protection are generally eligible for support immediately on their being granted such status by the Home Office. In the attached data, foreign nationality covers students who have declared a nationality other than British in their application for student support.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had discussions with (1) victims of IRA terrorism, and (2) their legal representatives, about compensation to them being provided from frozen Libyan assets held in the UK.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government has profound sympathy for UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism and indeed for all victims of the Troubles. It also takes issues relating to victims of terrorism very seriously. The UK's stance regarding victims of Qadhafi-sponsored Irish Republican Army (IRA) terrorism is that it is the Libyan State's responsibility to provide compensation. We will continue to urge Libyan authorities to address the Libyan State's historic responsibility for the Qadhafi regime's support of the IRA. The Minister for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan has recently written to some of the victims and their families, and intends to meet to hear their perspectives on the Government's policy on the issue of compensation being provided from frozen Libyan assets in the UK. The Government is committed to a constructive and collaborative engagement with those affected.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is a requirement for pet dogs travelling from England, Wales, or Scotland to Northern Ireland to have a pet passport and a worming certificate before travelling.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme makes it easier for pet owners travelling with their pets from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. To travel under the Scheme, residents in Great Britain can now apply for a free pet travel document instead of a pet passport or a single-use Animal Health Certificates. There are no vaccination or health treatment requirements, including worming treatments. Further information on the Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme can be found here: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: Travelling to Northern Ireland - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many homes in Northern Ireland do not have access to fast fibre broadband.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Fast fibre broadband covers several different speeds and platforms. According to Ofcom’s Spring Connected Nations update, as of January 2025, 99% of residential premises in Northern Ireland can access a superfast broadband connection (>=30 Mbps), and 95% can access a gigabit-capable connection (>1000 Mbps). More premises in Northern Ireland have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection than in any of the other UK nations.

In addition, as part of the UK Government’s Project Gigabit, the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy is seeking to connect up to a further 10,900 premises that are not expected to be reached by suppliers’ commercial rollout.

Found: We are grateful to Baroness Hoey and other peers for responding to our concerns, and their commitment