Baroness Scott of Needham Market Portrait

Baroness Scott of Needham Market

Liberal Democrat - Life peer

Became Member: 11th May 2000


Restoration and Renewal Client Board
31st Jan 2024 - 30th May 2024
Liaison Committee (Lords)
3rd Nov 2021 - 31st Jan 2024
Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)
19th Jul 2017 - 19th Jan 2022
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 Committee
29th Jun 2017 - 13th Mar 2018
Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)
25th May 2016 - 27th Apr 2017
Select Committee on Charities
25th May 2016 - 26th Mar 2017
European Union Committee
16th May 2012 - 12th May 2016
EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee
12th Jun 2015 - 12th May 2016
Draft House of Lords Reform Bill (Joint Committee)
6th Jul 2011 - 26th Mar 2012
Leader's Group on Members Leaving the House (L)
1st Jul 2010 - 13th Jan 2011
Party Chair, Liberal Democrats
1st Jan 2009 - 31st Dec 2010
Communications and Digital Committee
23rd Apr 2007 - 8th Apr 2010
Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee
30th Nov 2004 - 30th Oct 2007
Liaison Committee (Lords)
20th Nov 2002 - 18th Nov 2006
Draft Corruption Bill (Joint Committee)
24th Mar 2003 - 31st Jul 2003


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Baroness Scott of Needham Market has voted in 1 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Baroness Scott of Needham Market Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

View all Baroness Scott of Needham Market's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Baroness Scott of Needham Market, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Baroness Scott of Needham Market has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Baroness Scott of Needham Market has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 8 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
11th Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to retain the public access offer within Environmental Land Management schemes so that more people can benefit from improved access to the countryside.

Presently Countryside Stewardship scheme supports land managers to offer educational access visits to school age children and care farming groups and also offers a supplement to support access to woodlands. In protected landscapes, the Farming in a Protected Landscape programme offers permissive access.

We are fully committed to the Environmental Land Management schemes. The government will optimise Environmental Land Management schemes over time, so they produce the right outcomes for all farmers - such as small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms - while delivering food security and nature recovery in a just and equitable way. This will also consider improved access to the countryside.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
11th Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they still intend to ensure that the King Charles III England Coast Path is fully walkable by the end of 2024 and, if not, whether they have a revised timetable for delivery.

Unfortunately, the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP) will not be fully walkable by the end of 2024. However, by the end of December 2024 up to 62% of the KCIIIECP will be completed, along with the wider coastal access rights between the path and mean low water (coastal margin), and provision to roll back the trail with an eroding coast and reduced occupiers’ liability towards the public that the KCIIIECP provides.

This will result in 95% of the English coast being walkable through a combination of completed KCIIIECP / coastal access rights (as above), public rights of way and de facto access.

Work continues on the KCIIIECP, with another 57 miles opening this week in Lincolnshire and more commencements planned this year. 1251 miles are now open and available for public use, with works taking place on another 1144 miles. Less than 300 miles are yet to be approved.

We are working at pace to ensure completion as soon as possible. We will develop a revised timetable with Natural England for 2025/2026 to determine when all 2700 miles of the KCIIIECP will be complete and open to public access.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
11th Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to retain goals to improve access to and engagement with nature as part of the rapid review of the current Environmental Improvement Plan, announced on 30 July; and whether they intend to engage with stakeholders representing public access and recreation.

The Government is committed to enhancing public access to nature, as evidenced by our manifesto commitment to create nine new national river walks and three new national forests. We are currently considering how best to continue to drive forward our goals in this area and we will be engaging with stakeholders as we do so.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
11th Sep 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for the delivery of nine new river walks, how these will be selected, and what is the timetable for delivery.

Defra is progressing plans to designate nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature. This is a priority for the department and we are currently considering several delivery options, as well as reviewing where existing river walks are in place. Further details will be provided in due course.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
26th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the supply of high-voltage engineers in the rail industry.

The Department works closely with the National Skills Academy for Rail to attract more talent into the rail industry. As part of this, the website “Routes into Rail” highlights career opportunities within the sector. The Department intends to develop a longer-term strategy for the rail workforce exploring productivity, efficiencies, skills, and diversity.

Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
29th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the percentage of the research budget allocated for myalgic encephalomyelitis and Long Covid, and whether they plan to increase this amount.

A consultation was run in 2023 on the interim delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). In the World ME Day Westminster Hall debate in May 2024, the current Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention pushed for the publication of a response to the consultation. It is now a priority for the Department, and it is our intention to publish a response in the coming months. The consultation responses, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the Final Delivery Plan, which we aim to publish in the winter of 2024/25.

No specific assessment has been made of the proportion of the research budget allocated for ME/CFS or long COVID. Over the last five years, the Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), has allocated £6.64 million of funding to support 10 research projects, including the £3.2 million DecodeME study, co-funded with the Medical Research Council. Over the same period, the NIHR and UK Research and Innovation have awarded over £50 million for long COVID research. The NIHR remains committed to funding high-quality research to better understand the causes and health impacts of ME/CFS and long COVID, and to identify and evaluate new treatments and interventions.

It is not usual practice for the NIHR to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME/CFS and long COVID. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
29th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 12 May 2022 (HCWS23), whether the cross-Government delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome will include provision for hospital treatment and full consideration of how to safely prevent malnutrition in very severe ME.

A consultation was run in 2023 on the interim delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). In the World ME Day Westminster Hall debate in May 2024, the current Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention pushed for the publication of a response to the consultation. It is now a priority for the Department, and it is our intention to publish a response in the coming months. The consultation responses, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the Final Delivery Plan, which we aim to publish in the winter of 2024/25.

No specific assessment has been made of the proportion of the research budget allocated for ME/CFS or long COVID. Over the last five years, the Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), has allocated £6.64 million of funding to support 10 research projects, including the £3.2 million DecodeME study, co-funded with the Medical Research Council. Over the same period, the NIHR and UK Research and Innovation have awarded over £50 million for long COVID research. The NIHR remains committed to funding high-quality research to better understand the causes and health impacts of ME/CFS and long COVID, and to identify and evaluate new treatments and interventions.

It is not usual practice for the NIHR to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME/CFS and long COVID. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

Baroness Merron
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
29th Jul 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 12 May 2022 (HCWS23), what plans are in plans to publish the cross-Government delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

A consultation was run in 2023 on the interim delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). In the World ME Day Westminster Hall debate in May 2024, the current Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention pushed for the publication of a response to the consultation. It is now a priority for the Department, and it is our intention to publish a response in the coming months. The consultation responses, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the Final Delivery Plan, which we aim to publish in the winter of 2024/25.

No specific assessment has been made of the proportion of the research budget allocated for ME/CFS or long COVID. Over the last five years, the Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), has allocated £6.64 million of funding to support 10 research projects, including the £3.2 million DecodeME study, co-funded with the Medical Research Council. Over the same period, the NIHR and UK Research and Innovation have awarded over £50 million for long COVID research. The NIHR remains committed to funding high-quality research to better understand the causes and health impacts of ME/CFS and long COVID, and to identify and evaluate new treatments and interventions.

It is not usual practice for the NIHR to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME/CFS and long COVID. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.

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