Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to public safety arising from the early release of prisoners, including registered sex offenders, under the current early release scheme.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. Without the changes this Government made, courts would have had to halt trials and the police cancel arrests, undermining public safety.

Whilst measures like the SDS40 change provided the intended medium-term relief to the system, this was only ever a temporary change as a bridge to a more sustainable solution. That is why the Sentencing Act has been passed, to deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis we inherited.

Following a review, the Prime Minister and Lord Chanceller have decided that rape and certain child sex offences will be excluded from the progression model and these sentences will retain their current release points. This is in addition to the 18,000 offenders who are already ineligible for earlier release under the model given they have either been found by a court to be the most dangerous or are serving a life sentence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the conversion of international finance grants to loans remains classed as official development assistance; and, if not, whether the official development budget will decrease.

Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Loans are classed as Official Development Assistance (ODA) where they meet the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) criteria for ODA eligibility, including being provided on concessional terms and having the promotion of economic development and welfare as their primary objective.

Under current OECD rules, only the grant-equivalent element of an eligible loan is recorded as ODA, rather than the full value of the loan.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will seek new legal advice on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory following the appointment of a new Attorney General on 20 July.

Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government's position in relation to the UK-Mauritius treaty has been informed by legal advice throughout. A summary of the Government's legal position was set out on 22 May when the treaty was signed, and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-secures-future-of-vital-diego-garcia-military-base-to-protect-national-security. In accordance with the long-standing convention, adhered to by successive governments, whether or not the Law Officers have been, or will be, consulted, and the substance of any such advice is not disclosed outside government.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether there has been Ministerial level contact between the UK Government and the Mauritian Government since 20 January; and if so, which Ministers and which interlocutors.

Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

There has been no Ministerial level contact between the UK Government and the Mauritian Government since 20 January.

All ministerial meetings with external organisations, and relevant Special Adviser meetings, are published in the usual way on gov.uk. Details of ministerial overseas visits are routinely published in each department's quarterly transparency releases

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to respond to the Hughes Report, published on 7 February 2024, on options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh.

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

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 8 July in response to Question 15843, which is reproduced below:

The Government extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by pelvic mesh, and recognises the profound, life‑changing impact these harms have had on individuals and their families. We know that for many, the consequences are ongoing and deeply felt. The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC), Professor Henrietta Hughes, including her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. The Government has been clear that there must be meaningful progress on this matter during this Parliament. We recognise how difficult this uncertainty is for those affected, and we will ensure that the public is kept informed on this important work.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Minister of State for Development and Africa will attend Cabinet.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

A full list of ministers, including their status at Cabinet, is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers, and is copied below:

• The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union
• The Rt Hon Louise Haigh MP, First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister for the Cabinet Office
• The Rt Hon John Healey MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer
• The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
• The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP, Secretary of State for the Home Department
• The Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Defence
• The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
• The Rt Hon Alex Norris MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
• The Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Secretary of State for Education
• The Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
• The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade; President of the Board of Trade
• The Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
• The Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport
• The Rt Hon Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
• The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
• The Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• The Rt Hon Sir Chris Bryant MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
• The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Scotland
• The Rt Hon Stephen Kinnock MP, Secretary of State for Wales
• The Rt Hon Anneliese Midgley MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
• The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Basildon, Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords
• The Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP, Lord President of the Council, Leader of the House of Commons
• The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Minister for Women and Equalities

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to consider non-merger options for the United Nations Population Fund and United Nations Women that protects their mandates and avoid weakening the United Nations' capacity to advance gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is closely engaged in discussions on the proposed merger of United Nations (UN) Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UK supports effective and evidence-based UN reform and remains open to merger and non-merger options, but considers that insufficient evidence has been provided to justify a merger at this time. Our priority is to ensure the most effective and efficient delivery of the important mandates of both organisations, leading to stronger outcomes for women and girls on the ground. We continue to stress that the existing mandates of UN Women and UNFPA are not up for negotiation. The UK believes that any proposal for significant structural reform should be underpinned by a robust evidence base, and we continue to ask the UN to provide the necessary analysis to inform Member State discussions. We also emphasise the importance of inclusive consultation throughout the process, including meaningful engagement with civil society.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to request full evidence and analysis from the United Nations to be made available before any decision is made on the merger between the United Nations Population Fund and United Nations Women, and whether they intend to support meaningful civil society engagement in this process.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is closely engaged in discussions on the proposed merger of United Nations (UN) Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UK supports effective and evidence-based UN reform and remains open to merger and non-merger options, but considers that insufficient evidence has been provided to justify a merger at this time. Our priority is to ensure the most effective and efficient delivery of the important mandates of both organisations, leading to stronger outcomes for women and girls on the ground. We continue to stress that the existing mandates of UN Women and UNFPA are not up for negotiation. The UK believes that any proposal for significant structural reform should be underpinned by a robust evidence base, and we continue to ask the UN to provide the necessary analysis to inform Member State discussions. We also emphasise the importance of inclusive consultation throughout the process, including meaningful engagement with civil society.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposed merger of the United Nations Population Fund and United Nations Women.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is closely engaged in discussions on the proposed merger of United Nations (UN) Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UK supports effective and evidence-based UN reform and remains open to merger and non-merger options, but considers that insufficient evidence has been provided to justify a merger at this time. Our priority is to ensure the most effective and efficient delivery of the important mandates of both organisations, leading to stronger outcomes for women and girls on the ground. We continue to stress that the existing mandates of UN Women and UNFPA are not up for negotiation. The UK believes that any proposal for significant structural reform should be underpinned by a robust evidence base, and we continue to ask the UN to provide the necessary analysis to inform Member State discussions. We also emphasise the importance of inclusive consultation throughout the process, including meaningful engagement with civil society.

Found: Neate; Lord Polak; Baroness Porter of Fulwood; Baroness Rafferty; Lord Russell of Liverpool; Baroness Sugg