Asked by: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to extend the temporary duty suspension for cold-rolled aluminium alloy coils beyond 2027.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Stakeholders were invited to apply for new business suspensions between 8 May and 3 July 2024. As part of this process a suspension was applied to CN76061211 – cold-rolled aluminium alloys coils.
The suspension will be in place until 30 June 2027, with a review on possible extension occurring before this date.
There will be further opportunities to apply for tariff suspensions in due course. Further information, including dates of the application window, guidance, and methods to apply, will be announced on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the National Wealth Fund, whether they plan to establish a fund to increase (1) domestic remelting infrastructure, and (2) collection logistics for scrap aluminium.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The National Wealth Fund (NWF) is the UK Government’s principal investor and policy bank. It invests according to its investment principles which are agreed with HMG but remains operationally independent. Financing would be available for companies operating in the domestic remelting field or collection logistics for scrap aluminimum providing they met the investment criteria.
Aluminium is recognised through the UK’s 2024 Critically Assessment as a critical material. The Government remains committed to supporting strategic industries such as aluminium, recognising their essential role in the UK’s net zero ambitions and economic future.
Asked by: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing (1) export duties, and (2) restrictions, on unprocessed aluminium scrap exports to non-European Union counties.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government recognises the importance of a circular economy and the need for domestic supply of scrap to meet demand, whilst also ensuring the market remains fair and beneficial for all stakeholders. We are actively listening to the perspectives of all involved parties.
Asked by: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the rules that apply to hospitals on Do Not Resuscitate decisions; whether in all relevant cases patients are explicitly asked to agree on their use; and whether they have any plans to tighten rules around such use.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) is a medical decision made by a qualified clinician.
A DNACPR decision is made on an individual, namely person by person, basis, and should, wherever possible, involve the person concerned or, where the person lacks capacity, their families, carers, guardians or other legally recognised advocates. Guidance from clinical bodies such as the British Medical Association, The Resuscitation Council UK and Royal College of Nursing reflects this.
In 2021, the Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group, responsible for the delivery and required changes to ensure adherence to guidance across the system about how DNACPRs are used. As part of this work, a set of Universal Principles for Advance Care Planning were jointly published in March 2022 by a coalition of partner organisations across health and social care. The principles can be applied in all settings to support people; their families and professionals share the same understanding and expectations for DNACPR decisions.
Patient-facing guidance setting out how DNACPR decisions should be made and how individuals or their families can get support if they have concerns about a DNACPR, including second opinions and review, is provided on NHS.UK in an online-only format.
Currently, no active work is being undertaken to revise DNACPR guidance.
Asked by: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Smarter Regulatory Framework, in particular the impact of the repeal of retained EU law under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, on promoting sustainable economic growth and the international competitiveness of the UK’s financial services sector.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As of the most recent update in July 2025, HM Treasury has repealed, amended, or replaced 51% of assimilated law it is responsible for, as set out in the Retained EU law and Assimilated Law Dashboard. The great majority of this is financial services legislation.
In the last 12 months, HM Treasury has made SIs to replace the EU’s Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPs) Regulation, and the EU’s Short Selling Regulation.
Sustainable economic growth is a priority of the government. That is why the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, published on 15 July 2025, sets out the government’s approach to delivering a regulatory environment for financial services that is proportionate, predictable, and internationally competitive.
The government has sought to deliver this approach in a way that minimises disruption and produces the most streamlined and accessible framework for firms and creates an agile, workable and coherent regime. For example, through the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Designated Activities) (Supervision and Enforcement) Regulations 2025, which make it easier for the FCA to consistently supervise activities and enforce rules that replace key parts of EU law.
The financial services regulators already have significant rule-making powers, and the government worked closely with them in determining its approach to replacing retained EU law, to ensure that regulators are ready to take on additional responsibilities. It is for regulators like the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Policy Committee, as well as the Financial Conduct Authority, to determine their approach to these new responsibilities They are funded via a levy on financial services firms, and it is their responsibility to set their own funding requirements each year, following consultation, to ensure that they are able to carry out their functions.
Asked by: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of transferring detailed responsibilities from retained EU law to the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Policy Committee; and how they intend to ensure coherence and consistency across the UK’s financial regulatory framework.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As of the most recent update in July 2025, HM Treasury has repealed, amended, or replaced 51% of assimilated law it is responsible for, as set out in the Retained EU law and Assimilated Law Dashboard. The great majority of this is financial services legislation.
In the last 12 months, HM Treasury has made SIs to replace the EU’s Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPs) Regulation, and the EU’s Short Selling Regulation.
Sustainable economic growth is a priority of the government. That is why the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, published on 15 July 2025, sets out the government’s approach to delivering a regulatory environment for financial services that is proportionate, predictable, and internationally competitive.
The government has sought to deliver this approach in a way that minimises disruption and produces the most streamlined and accessible framework for firms and creates an agile, workable and coherent regime. For example, through the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Designated Activities) (Supervision and Enforcement) Regulations 2025, which make it easier for the FCA to consistently supervise activities and enforce rules that replace key parts of EU law.
The financial services regulators already have significant rule-making powers, and the government worked closely with them in determining its approach to replacing retained EU law, to ensure that regulators are ready to take on additional responsibilities. It is for regulators like the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Policy Committee, as well as the Financial Conduct Authority, to determine their approach to these new responsibilities They are funded via a levy on financial services firms, and it is their responsibility to set their own funding requirements each year, following consultation, to ensure that they are able to carry out their functions.
Asked by: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the capacity and resources available to the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Policy Committee to carry out the additional responsibilities transferred to them under the Smarter Regulatory Framework.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As of the most recent update in July 2025, HM Treasury has repealed, amended, or replaced 51% of assimilated law it is responsible for, as set out in the Retained EU law and Assimilated Law Dashboard. The great majority of this is financial services legislation.
In the last 12 months, HM Treasury has made SIs to replace the EU’s Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPs) Regulation, and the EU’s Short Selling Regulation.
Sustainable economic growth is a priority of the government. That is why the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, published on 15 July 2025, sets out the government’s approach to delivering a regulatory environment for financial services that is proportionate, predictable, and internationally competitive.
The government has sought to deliver this approach in a way that minimises disruption and produces the most streamlined and accessible framework for firms and creates an agile, workable and coherent regime. For example, through the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Designated Activities) (Supervision and Enforcement) Regulations 2025, which make it easier for the FCA to consistently supervise activities and enforce rules that replace key parts of EU law.
The financial services regulators already have significant rule-making powers, and the government worked closely with them in determining its approach to replacing retained EU law, to ensure that regulators are ready to take on additional responsibilities. It is for regulators like the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Policy Committee, as well as the Financial Conduct Authority, to determine their approach to these new responsibilities They are funded via a levy on financial services firms, and it is their responsibility to set their own funding requirements each year, following consultation, to ensure that they are able to carry out their functions.
Asked by: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in bringing forward statutory instruments under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 to replace retained EU law as part of the Smarter Regulatory Framework; and what is the expected timetable for completion of this process.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As of the most recent update in July 2025, HM Treasury has repealed, amended, or replaced 51% of assimilated law it is responsible for, as set out in the Retained EU law and Assimilated Law Dashboard. The great majority of this is financial services legislation.
In the last 12 months, HM Treasury has made SIs to replace the EU’s Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products (PRIIPs) Regulation, and the EU’s Short Selling Regulation.
Sustainable economic growth is a priority of the government. That is why the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, published on 15 July 2025, sets out the government’s approach to delivering a regulatory environment for financial services that is proportionate, predictable, and internationally competitive.
The government has sought to deliver this approach in a way that minimises disruption and produces the most streamlined and accessible framework for firms and creates an agile, workable and coherent regime. For example, through the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Designated Activities) (Supervision and Enforcement) Regulations 2025, which make it easier for the FCA to consistently supervise activities and enforce rules that replace key parts of EU law.
The financial services regulators already have significant rule-making powers, and the government worked closely with them in determining its approach to replacing retained EU law, to ensure that regulators are ready to take on additional responsibilities. It is for regulators like the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Policy Committee, as well as the Financial Conduct Authority, to determine their approach to these new responsibilities They are funded via a levy on financial services firms, and it is their responsibility to set their own funding requirements each year, following consultation, to ensure that they are able to carry out their functions.
Asked by: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Ministers occupying official residences pay the second homes premium on council tax, where that residence is not their primary residence and where the local authority levies such a premium on dwellings; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the current guidance given to Ministers on paying council tax on official residences, other than the Ministerial Code.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ministers who are allocated an official residence are reminded of their responsibility for all personal tax liabilities, including council tax, in line with the principles of the Ministerial Code.
As has been the case for successive administrations, where a minister occupies an official residence as a second home, the responsibility for payment of council tax falls to the responsible Department.
Asked by: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of paragraph 2.75 of the OBR's Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report, published on 8 July, which states that the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution pensions increases fiscal risk as gilt holdings fall; and the finding that this will lead to an in increase in debt interest spending of £22 billion in today's terms.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
We have seen gradual changes to the structure of the pension market as a result of the shift from Defined Benefit to Defined Contribution schemes. Overall demand for gilts has, however, remained resilient throughout these periods of changing investor patterns and, as the OBR notes, these changes are widely known.
The government deliberately maintains a varied gilt issuance strategy to promote a well-diversified investor base, so that it is not overly reliant on demand from just one type of investor. Continuing to do so means that we expect that overall demand will remain robust in the future, even if there are changes in the demand patterns of particular investor groups.