Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what data they collect on wildfires.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office collects data on incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs), including outdoor fires. However, "wildfires" is not a category recognised in the current system.

We are reviewing the incident records system, and the data it collects, and considering which categories to record in the future. Adding new categories, including wildfires, will be considered as part of this work.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the UK Youth Poll 2025.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We are co-producing the National Youth Strategy in partnership with young people and cross-sector experts. As part of this, we have launched a national survey to ask young people about their needs and priorities. This will build on the findings from the UK Youth Poll 2025, providing further insights on young people's issues including democracy, financial security and employment.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of VAT paid by overseas-based online vendors that operate in the UK.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

UK VAT is charged on goods and services sold by overseas-based online vendors at the same rate as domestic sales. This ensures a level playing field, and that these vendors contribute fairly to public finances from their UK business activities.

The Government is aware of VAT non-compliance among some overseas-based online vendors. HMRC has an overall compliance strategy which focuses on addressing all forms of non-compliance. The most recent published VAT gap shows a continued downward trend, falling from 13.7% to 4.9% between tax years 2005/06 and 2022/23.

Since 2021, for some sales, VAT is collected and remitted by the marketplace that facilitates the sale. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates these changes, alongside the removal of low-value consignment relief, will generate an additional £1.8 billion per annum by 2026-27.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are aware of (1) religious, and (2) non-religious, groups who wish to conduct legally recognised marriages in England and Wales and are unable to do so.

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

The Government is aware that humanists have long been campaigning to conduct legally binding weddings, and we are grateful for the contributions that humanists make to our society.

The Law Commission’s 2022 report on weddings law made 57 recommendations for the wholesale reform of weddings law, including recommendations that would enable non-religious belief groups, such as humanists, to conduct legally binding weddings. The Law Commission also concluded that weddings law is not working for couples belonging to many different groups, and that it is unfair and inconsistent.

Marriage will always be one of our most important institutions and we have a duty to consider any changes to our marriage law carefully. As a new Government, it is right that we take the time to consider this issue, and we will set out our position on weddings reform in the coming months.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to legally recognise humanist marriages in England and Wales.

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

The Government is aware that humanists have long been campaigning to conduct legally binding weddings, and we are grateful for the contributions that humanists make to our society.

The Law Commission’s 2022 report on weddings law made 57 recommendations for the wholesale reform of weddings law, including recommendations that would enable non-religious belief groups, such as humanists, to conduct legally binding weddings. The Law Commission also concluded that weddings law is not working for couples belonging to many different groups, and that it is unfair and inconsistent.

Marriage will always be one of our most important institutions and we have a duty to consider any changes to our marriage law carefully. As a new Government, it is right that we take the time to consider this issue, and we will set out our position on weddings reform in the coming months.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of housing affordability for first-time buyers.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The ONS publishes monthly indicators on house prices in Great Britain, including the average price and average percentage change for first-time buyers (at Worksheet 4):
UK House Price Index: monthly price statistics - Office for National Statistics . In January 2025, (the most recent data from ONS) the average house price for a first-time buyer in Great Britain was £227,000, an annual percentage increase of 5.3%.

The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. As well as committing to building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament, we are introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme to support first-time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit, with lower mortgage costs.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish a timeline for subsequent House of Lords reform after the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill has concluded.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Alongside the passage of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, the government has been engaged in a dialogue with the House on how we can best implement the Government’s other manifesto commitments. I look forward to continuing that dialogue and considering how to approach it in a more structured way.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will review the right of Church of England bishops to sit in the House of Lords.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is supportive of the inclusion of individuals from all backgrounds in the House of Lords and believes the second chamber is enriched by members who bring diverse experience. This includes the Lords Spiritual.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial implications for the devolved authorities of the decision to abolish NHS England.

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

The budgets of devolved nations are primarily funded through block grants from the Government, with annual changes determined by the Barnett formula, which aims to allocate funding based on population and the extent of devolved services.

Any saving from the decision to bring NHS England and the Department together to form a joint centre will be reinvested in frontline services within the National Health Service. The formation of a new joint centre will not impact on the Barnett formula, and the finances of the devolved nations.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede on 8 April (HL6586), what religious and non-religious groups they are aware of that wish to conduct legally recognised marriages in England and Wales and are unable to do so.

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

As I mentioned in my previous answer on 08 April, the Law Commission’s 2022 report on weddings law made 57 recommendations for the wholesale reform of weddings law, including recommendations that would enable non-religious belief groups, such as humanists, to conduct legally binding weddings. The Government is aware that humanists wish to conduct legally binding weddings, which they have long been campaigning for, and we are grateful for the contributions that humanists make to our society.

The Law Commission also concluded that weddings law is not working for couples belonging to many different groups, and that it is unfair and inconsistent. It is the Law Commission’s view that their recommendations would create equitable rules for all groups, including religious groups; reduce the number of religious only (non-legally binding) weddings, which can leave vulnerable people without rights on separation; and provide greater choice for couples, lowering the cost of weddings and making them more accessible to all.

Marriage will always be one of our most important institutions and we have a duty to consider any changes to our marriage law carefully. As a new Government, it is right that we take the time to consider this issue, and we will set out our position on weddings reform in the coming months.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede on 24 April (HL6663), what religious and non-religious groups they are aware of that wish to conduct legally recognised marriages in England and Wales and are unable to do so.

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

I refer the Noble Lady to the answer I gave on 24 April to question HL6663. The Law Commission concluded in its 2022 report on weddings law that there are a number of inconsistencies and complexities within the current legal framework for weddings. Examples given by the Law Commission include the fact that Jewish and Quaker weddings may take place in any location, whereas weddings conducted by other religious groups (save the Church of England), including Muslims, Hindus and Catholics, must take place in a registered building.

The Law Commission therefore recommended a scheme that could place all weddings on a level playing field.

Given the points raised by the Law Commission, it is right that we take the time to consider the issues. We will set out our position on weddings reform in the coming months.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had with devolved governments ahead of the Chancellor's meeting with Treasury counterparts in the United States.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor attended the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings between 22^nd and 25^th April 2025.

During this time, she met with the US Treasury Secretary, as part of a typical programme of engagement with her finance minister counterparts, and the US was among other bilateral meetings.

When meeting the US Treasury Secretary, the Chancellor discussed matters of reserved policy for which she is responsible.

The UK government, including the Chancellor, regularly engage with counterparts from other nations to progress matters of national interest.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of wildfires on (1) the stability of different landscapes, and (2) slope stability.

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

Defra has not made an assessment of the impact of wildfires on (1) the stability of different landscapes, and (2) slope stability.

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Found: BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL BARONESS BENNETT OF MANOR CASTLE 99_ After Clause

Found: BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL BARONESS BENNETT OF MANOR CASTLE 99_ After Clause

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Found: Clause 11 BARONESS LISTER OF BURTERSETT BARONESS O'GRADY OF UPPER HOLLOWAY BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES

Found: BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL _ After Clause 22, insert the following new Clause

Found: harassment), with relevant exceptions at the worker’s request. 37 Employment Rights Bill BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES

Found: BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES _ After Clause 22, insert the following new Clause— “Duty to prevent violence

Found: harassment), with relevant exceptions at the worker’s request. 13 Employment Rights Bill BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES

Found: BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES _ After Clause 22, insert the following new Clause— “Duty to prevent violence

Found: BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES _ After Clause 22, insert the following new Clause— “Duty to prevent violence

Found: BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES _ After Clause 22, insert the following new Clause— “Duty to prevent violence

Found: BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES _ After Clause 22, insert the following new Clause— “Duty to prevent violence

Found: BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES _ After Clause 22, insert the following new Clause— “Duty to prevent violence

Found: BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES _ After Clause 22, insert the following new Clause— “Duty to prevent violence

Found: BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES ★_ After Clause 22, insert the following new Clause— “Duty to prevent violence