Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations contained in the Barnardo's and Co-op report A recipe for success: How do children and young people want to access food in their communities?, published in September, (1) to extend eligibility of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme to all households in receipt of Universal Credit, and (2) to improve uptake among teenagers.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

I refer my noble Friend to the answer of 21 October 2024 to Question HL1266.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence about access to innovative treatments for sickle cell disease.

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

Department officials regularly discuss a range of issues with colleagues in NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), including access to new and innovative treatments for a range of diseases and conditions.

The NICE makes evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NICE is currently evaluating exagamglogene autotemcel within its licensed indication for treating sickle cell, and has not yet published final guidance.

The NICE will aim to publish guidance on any new, licensed treatment for sickle cell disease as soon as possible after licensing.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to review the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model.

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

Defra continues to monitor and review the impacts of new controls introduced under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). We will work closely with industry, trade partners and enforcement agencies to minimise costs to trade and disruption, while continuing to protect our biosecurity.

The Government’s modelling of the inflationary impact of the BTOM uses a peer-reviewed econometric model, including the impacts of non-tariff measures related to checks such as the cost of Export Health Certificates and port fees, and upstream impacts such as administrative processing time, training, certificates of origin and security deposits or guarantees when moving agricultural goods under licence.

Analysis has indicated the BTOM policies would lead to an approximate increase in consumer food price inflation of less than 0.2 percentage points over a three-year period

An outbreak of a major disease could have a much more significant impact. The 2001 outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease cost £12.8 billion in 2022 prices, £4.8 billion of which was cost to Government and £8 billion cost to the private sector.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to introduce forest risk due diligence regulations under Schedule 17 to the Environment Act 2021.

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

We recognise the need to take action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation, and we will set out our approach to addressing this in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Merron on 9 October (HL Deb col 1995), whether the working group considering apheresis capacity intends to consult stakeholders, including (1) the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, and (2) the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre network, prior to publishing its report.

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

The apheresis working group was established to address issues around apheresis capacity and improve the resilience of stem cell supply for the United Kingdom. The working group is currently in the evidence gathering phase ahead of publishing its report in spring 2025.

The group is comprised of stakeholders from apheresis users, commissioning bodies, patient representatives, and subject matter experts. Each member has a responsibility for keeping wider stakeholders informed. The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult is already represented within the working group. The catapult is responsible for coordination of the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre network. Through submissions from, and engagement with, the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, a report is in preparation on apheresis capacity across users to be discussed at the next working group meeting.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of local food partnerships; and what steps they are taking to support their development.

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

Food Security is national security which is relevant to all five Government Missions and central to our primary Mission to grow the economy. Boosting Britain’s food security is one of the core priorities of this Government.

We need a resilient and healthy food system that works with nature and supports British Farmers. We will do this by listening to farmers and others with a stake in our food system, countryside, and nature.

The Government recognises the valuable role Local Food Partnerships can play in this regard and welcomes their knowledge and expertise as we develop our plans to support our farmers and food and drink businesses, boost food security, and deliver growth.

The Government will explore how to build on existing place-based initiatives and how to create the best environment for sustainable growth, working in partnership with local leaders.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to removing differences in Universal Credit allowance entitlements for recipients under the age of 25 in their Universal Credit review.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The lower rate of Universal Credit standard allowance for customers under 25 reflects the fact they are more likely to live in someone else’s household than customers 25 and over and are therefore likely to have lower living costs. They also typically earn less as they are earlier in their careers, with the lower rate maintaining the incentive to work.

The Government is committed to reviewing Universal Credit. Details of the review will be set out in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their report The impact of patient age on clinical decision-making in oncology, published on 23 February 2012, what recent assessment they have made of the extent to which age is a factor in oncology treatment decisions.

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

The Department has made no recent assessment of the extent to which age is a factor in oncology treatment decisions. Each National Health Service patient will be offered the treatment their clinicians consider to be the most effective.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide certainty to schools and local authorities about the future of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme after the scheme ends in March 2025.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The future of the Holiday Activities and Food programme beyond the 31 March 2025 is subject to the next government Spending Review taking place this autumn and the department will communicate the outcome of that process in due course.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's state of readiness for the implementation of (1) safety and security declarations for imports, (2) import checks on medium-risk fruits and vegetables, and (3) checks on EU goods arriving from the Republic of Ireland to west coast ports, in relation to the Border Target Operating Model.

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

1. The Government announced on 7 October that Safety and Security declarations will be required for EU imports from 31 January 2025. Readiness is assessed as being on track. A plan is in place that includes a comprehensive list of readiness activity, with engagement well underway with trade.
2. Border Control Posts (BCPs) are designed to handle high volumes of imported Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods and carry out reliable checks which minimise friction on traffic flow. Most BCPs can process six or more vehicles at the same time with ample space to remove or inspect products.
   1. Checks at BCPs are handled by trained staff working to standard operating procedures, ensuring inspections are undertaken safely and efficiently. Inspectors are rigorously trained and are equipped to ensure SPS goods are handled safely and with care.
   2. GB plant health services have significantly increased the number of plant health inspection staff to service the demand for import checks in England and Wales of EU plants and plant products. Inspector levels are being monitored to ensure these meet demand and deliver checks in line with set Service Level Agreements and ensure minimal trade disruption.
3. Responsibility for biosecurity and BCP infrastructure is a devolved matter. However, Defra is working closely with West Coast ports, the Welsh and Scottish Governments to ensure that BCPs across GB can implement the Border Target Operating Model. We will ensure that importers, ports and the authorities have time to prepare for these controls to be turned on.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with (1) NHS England, and (2) integrated care boards, regarding the provision of fracture liaison services.

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

Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model for secondary fracture prevention. They can reduce the risk of refracture by up to 40% for people at risk of osteoporosis.

FLSs are commissioned by integrated care boards which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need. Officials have been working closely with NHS England on how to ensure better quality and access to FLSs, including on how best to support systems.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of traffic management and driver welfare measures in the event of queues relating to the introduction of the European Union's Entry/Exit system.

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

Government continues to work closely with the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum to ensure that well-rehearsed traffic management plans for freight and passenger traffic are in place ahead of the introduction of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit system (EES).

Driver welfare is an important factor during any disruption. KMRF has responsibility for providing welfare to freight and non-freight traffic during a period of significant congestion or gridlock on the road network in Kent. KMRF holds an established Driver Welfare Plan, this is currently being reviewed ahead of EES implementation.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on developing a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the European Union.

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

Following their meeting in Brussels on 2 October, the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister have agreed to strengthen the relationship between the EU and UK, putting it on a more solid, stable footing. We have already said we will seek to negotiate a UK-EU veterinary/SPS agreement to help boost trade and deliver benefits to businesses and consumers in the UK and the EU. The UK and EU are like-minded partners with similarly high standards. We recognise that delivering new agreements will take time, but we are ambitious, have clear priorities and want to move forward at pace.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's state of readiness for the implementation of new customs and parcel arrangements under the Windsor Framework from 31 March 2025.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to implementing the new freight and parcel arrangements under the Windsor Framework in good faith and protecting the UK internal market. Businesses should be ready for the new arrangements by 31 March 2025.

An intensive programme of engagement with operators and representatives from the freight and parcels sectors is underway. We will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders including businesses who send parcels to Northern Ireland, business representative organisations, and the wider customs and logistics sector, in order to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements. Most recently HMRC published additional guidance on 24 October, which can be found on gov.uk.

Found: Letter from Lord Meston 19 Proposal 10: Letter from Lord Wallace of Saltaire 21 Proposal 11: Letter from Baroness

Found: After Clause 4 BARONESS RITCHIE OF DOWNPATRICK _ After Clause 4, insert the following new

Found: After Clause 4 BARONESS RITCHIE OF DOWNPATRICK _ After Clause 4, insert the following new

Found: After Clause 4 BARONESS RITCHIE OF DOWNPATRICK _ After Clause 4, insert the following new

Found: After Clause 4 BARONESS RITCHIE OF DOWNPATRICK ★_ After Clause 4, insert the following new