Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to shut down the manufacture in the UK of ghost number plates and other products designed to prevent motor vehicles being recorded by automatic number plate recognition cameras.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the impact of number plate crime and is committed to addressing this issue. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) works closely with police forces and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.
In its Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, the Government set out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department for Transport is reviewing motoring offences and has sought views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect, altered or false number plate. The consultation closed on 11 May and responses are being considered, including whether legislative changes are needed to strengthen the current regulatory and enforcement powers.
The DVLA is also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier process, which would enable tighter checks on manufacturers and the number plates they supply.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the law in respect of ghost number plates.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the impact of number plate crime and is committed to addressing this issue. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) works closely with police forces and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.
In its Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, the Government set out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department for Transport is reviewing motoring offences and has sought views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect, altered or false number plate. The consultation closed on 11 May and responses are being considered, including whether legislative changes are needed to strengthen the current regulatory and enforcement powers.
The DVLA is also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier process, which would enable tighter checks on manufacturers and the number plates they supply.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the benefit to the UK economy of co-hosting the 2028 UEFA European Football Championship.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Following an independent assessment, co-hosting UEFA EURO 2028 is predicted to deliver £3.2 billion of socio-economic benefits across the UK - creating jobs, driving regional growth, and bringing a surge of international visitors whose spending will boost local economies.
As part of its wider investment into the tournament, and to maximise the benefits of hosting, the UK Government is contributing £23 million towards a cross-partnership social impact fund of around £45 million. This investment will fund programmes that will have ‘togetherness’ at its heart, directly supporting the Government’s mission of patriotic renewal by creating a more socially cohesive country with an inclusive national story.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of unclaimed workplace or private pensions in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The department has not produced an assessment of the number of unclaimed workplace or private pensions in the UK. The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) has done some work to assess lost pots, which is slightly different in scope to an unclaimed pension. The PPI define a lost pot as when the pension provider who administers it is unable to contact the saver who owns it. In 2024, they estimated £31.1bn lost across 3.3m pension pots, with the average value of a lost pot being around £9,500 (see: https://www.pensionspolicyinstitute.org.uk/media/vh4aaq2j/20241024-ppi-bn138-lost-pensions-2024-final.pdf).
Work is underway on pensions dashboards, a digital service that will allow individuals to find and view information about their pensions, including State Pension, in one place online. This will help reconnect them with lost or forgotten pensions. Users can expect to see who holds their pensions, the current value of their pensions, and an estimated retirement income.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of unclaimed State Pensions in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
State Pension is not paid automatically when an individual reaches State Pension age, and individuals must make a claim. People are invited to do so. Where a claim is not made, entitlement to State Pension is automatically deferred.
The Department does not know that a person has deferred until they submit a claim for their State Pension.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with the African Union before their 39th Summit in February.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Ministers and officials are in regular discussion with the African Union (AU), and with individual member states about a range of shared priorities, including the AU Summit.
Baroness Chapman, the Minister for Development and Africa, attended this year's Summit, and addressed African Heads of State and Government at an event about Africa's Health Security. She is one of only two European Ministers attending the summit and is the first UK Minister to be invited in a decade, a signal of the strength of our relationship.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what their latest assessment is of the political situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The Government remains deeply concerned about the evolving situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. We speak to all parties on a regular basis, and we continue to support efforts to implement the African Union-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including through funding for monitoring and compliance mechanisms, and the safe, voluntary and dignified returns of Internally Displaced Peoples.
However, implementation of that agreement remains slow, and preparations for the national elections scheduled for 1 June have been hampered by disagreements over security assessments and the registration status of the Tigray People's Liberation Front. In the last week of January, clashes between Tigrayan Forces and the Ethiopian National Defence Forces occurred in the disputed areas of Western and Southern Tigray. While these appear to have subsided, they contribute to a highly fragile and unpredictable security environment.
The Foreign Secretary raised these issues with the Government of Ethiopia during her recent visit to Addis Ababa.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many countries have visa-free travel to the UK; and whether visa-free travel to those countries is reciprocated for British passports holders.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK visa system, including the Visa National List, is kept under regular review to ensure to works in the UK national interest. Decisions on which countries are ’non-visa national’ and are not required to apply for a visit visa and can instead apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), are taken on the basis of a range of factors. These vary globally, but often include security, compliance, returns arrangements and prosperity.
The countries and territories whose nationals are eligible to apply for an ETA prior to travelling to the UK are listed at Appendix ETA National List in the Immigration Rules. Currently, there are 85 locations where nationals can travel to the UK with an ETA rather than a visitor visa. Irish nationals do not require a visitor visa or an ETA to enter the UK. Visitors can usually stay in the UK for up to six months.
Any decision on whether a foreign country requires British passport holders to apply for a visa prior to travel is a sovereign matter for the country concerned. The UK no longer enters into reciprocal agreements with international partners concerning the requirement to obtain a visitor visa or ETA before travel.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to increase the number of countries that offer visa-free travel for British passport holders.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK visa system, including the Visa National List, is kept under regular review to ensure to works in the UK national interest. Decisions on which countries are ’non-visa national’ and are not required to apply for a visit visa and can instead apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), are taken on the basis of a range of factors. These vary globally, but often include security, compliance, returns arrangements and prosperity.
The countries and territories whose nationals are eligible to apply for an ETA prior to travelling to the UK are listed at Appendix ETA National List in the Immigration Rules. Currently, there are 85 locations where nationals can travel to the UK with an ETA rather than a visitor visa. Irish nationals do not require a visitor visa or an ETA to enter the UK. Visitors can usually stay in the UK for up to six months.
Any decision on whether a foreign country requires British passport holders to apply for a visa prior to travel is a sovereign matter for the country concerned. The UK no longer enters into reciprocal agreements with international partners concerning the requirement to obtain a visitor visa or ETA before travel.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what their latest assessment is of the political situation in Cote d'Ivoire.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK welcomes the largely peaceful conduct of Côte d'Ivoire's recent presidential and legislative elections, and the appointment of a new government. We will continue to strengthen our trade and investment partnership, supporting jobs and growth in both our countries, and work with Côte d'Ivoire in addressing regional insecurity.