Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 20 January (HLWS369), what official role will the Welsh Government have within His Majesty's Government’s review of the higher education sector.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

While higher education is a devolved matter, the Welsh government is engaging with the UK government regarding plans for higher education (HE) reform in England. The department will publish the plans for HE reform in England in the summer.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 20 January (HLWS369), what input have the Welsh Government made so far to His Majesty's Government’s review of the higher education sector.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

While higher education is a devolved matter, the Welsh government is engaging with the UK government regarding plans for higher education (HE) reform in England. The department will publish the plans for HE reform in England in the summer.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 20 January (HLWS369), when their review of the higher education sector will be completed and published.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

While higher education is a devolved matter, the Welsh government is engaging with the UK government regarding plans for higher education (HE) reform in England. The department will publish the plans for HE reform in England in the summer.

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.

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: THE EARL OF DEVON LORD HANNAN OF KINGSCLERE BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES 97_ After Clause 2, insert

Found: BARONESS JENKIN OF KENNINGTON BARONESS JONES OF MOULSECOOMB BARONESS SMITH OF LLANFAES 61_ [Withdrawn