Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the devolved administrations will be represented on the Pensions Commission.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Pensions Commission has been revived to examine the pensions system as a whole and look at what is required to build a future-proof pensions system that is strong, fair and sustainable. The Turner Commission achieved success through its national approach, which this Commission aims to replicate by ensuring the regular and timely involvement of the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the variation in life expectancy among the different nations and regions of the United Kingdom.

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

Of the four nations in the United Kingdom, England consistently has the highest life expectancy at birth for males and females, and Scotland the lowest. Life expectancy at birth in 2021 to 2023 was estimated to be: in England, 79.1 years for males and 83 years for females; in Scotland, 76.8 years for males and 80.8 years for females; in Wales, 78.1 years for males and 82 years for females; and in Northern Ireland, 78.8 years for males and 82.5 years for females.

The 10 highest local area male life expectancies at birth were all located in the south of England, with the 10 lowest being in Scotland, in the north of England and in Wales. The 10 highest local area female life expectancies at birth were also all located in the south of England, with the 10 lowest being mostly in Scotland.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the rates of poverty among people who are assessed as having limited capability for work and work-related activity, and who are under 22 years old.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

No estimate has been made because the sample sizes in DWP’s Family Resources Survey and Households Below Average Income are too small to provide robust poverty estimates for this group of people.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial impact for disabled people under the age of 22 of the proposal to remove their eligibility for being assessed as having limited capability for work and work-related activity.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

As part of the Pathways to Work Green Paper consultation, the Government invited views on the proposal to raise the minimum age for accessing the Universal Credit (UC) health element to 22. The consultation closed on 30 June, and we are now considering responses.

No final policy decisions have been taken and full impacting will take place before any policy changes are made.

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Twycross on 2 August 2024 (HL188), what progress have they made in commencing section 106 of the Equality Act 2010.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government is committed to commencing Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010, requiring registered political parties to publish anonymised data relating to the diversity of their candidate selections. Our Call for Evidence included questions on implementing the Duty. Responses are being considered and we will set out next steps on this work in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made (1) to establish specialist courts for fast-tracking rape cases, and (2) to appoint legal advocates to provide free legal advice and support to rape survivors.

Answered by Baroness Levitt - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

This Government has funded a record number of court sitting days, so that prosecutions, including of rape and other sexual offences, can be heard more efficiently. We commissioned Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts to improve timeliness for victims, and we continue carefully to consider how we can deliver our manifesto commitment to fast-track rape cases.  Alongside this, judicial initiatives to expedite rape and other sexual offence cases are already taking place at a local level – for example, in Bristol and Guildford, and the judiciary already prioritise cases involving vulnerable victims and witnesses, which will include victims of rape.

The Government also continues work on our manifesto commitment to introduce free independent legal advice for adult rape victims.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 1 August 2024 (HL461), what progress they have made in the strategic review of probation governance, and what consideration they have given to the devolution of youth justice.

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

The UK Government and Welsh Government regularly discuss justice matters in Wales. Both governments have agreed to work together to explore options relating to the governance and funding of youth justice services and partnership arrangements on probation services. This work is currently underway.

Found: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru) tabled amendment 99 which would have inserted a new clause

Found: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru) tabled amendment 99 which would have inserted a new clause