Asked by: Baroness Tyler of Enfield (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Chancellor’s letter of 14 November 2024 on the remit and recommendations for the Financial Policy Committee, what assessment they have made of the extent to which the Financial Conduct Authority has implemented its requirement to ‘have regard’ to reinforcing financial inclusion.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Ensuring everyone has access to the financial services and products they need is a key priority for the Government. This is why we recently published the Financial Inclusion Strategy setting out a range of measures to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK.
The Chancellor recognised the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) role in reinforcing financial inclusion in the most recent remit letter, which asks them to have regard to the Government’s priorities in relation to this. The FCA is required to respond annually to the remit letter and in its most recent response, published in July 2025, Nikhil Rathi (FCA CEO) emphasised the FCA’s support for the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy which was developed with input from a committee of consumer and industry representatives, including the FCA given their key role in the sector.
The FCA has a range of powers which it is using to promote financial inclusion and resilience and will play a key role in the delivery of several interventions within the strategy. We continue to engage closely with the FCA on this and the successful implementation of the strategy more broadly.
Asked by: Baroness Tyler of Enfield (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to develop metrics to evaluate the (1) implementation, and (2) impact, of the Financial Inclusion Strategy.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
In early November, the Government published its Financial Inclusion Strategy, setting out an ambitious programme of measures to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. This includes interventions by both Government and industry to address barriers individuals and households face in accessing financial products, such as supporting people to open a bank account, build a savings habit, and access affordable credit
As part of developing the strategy, the Government has engaged with Financial Inclusion Committee members and other organisations on how best to measure its implementation and impact. The strategy is expected to have a positive impact on a range of outputs including, for example the proportion of UK adults who are unbanked
The strategy’s implementation will be reviewed in two years’ time, providing an update on delivery of the interventions and on relevant outcomes‑based metrics, which will reflect the progress made across the sector
The Government recognises that improving financial inclusion requires a joined‑up approach and will continue to work closely with industry, the Financial Conduct Authority and wider stakeholders as we implement the strategy.
Asked by: Baroness Tyler of Enfield (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential of early support hubs to improve young people’s access to mental health support; and what steps they are taking to ensure that mental health support is embedded as part of the core offer of Young Futures Hubs.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Since 2024/25, 24 early support hubs received top-up funding of £8 million to expand their early intervention and prevention support for children and young people's mental health and to take part in an ongoing evaluation of these services.
The evaluation of the early support hubs project will make a significant contribution to the design and implementation of young futures hubs, ensuring that services continue to evolve to meet the needs of young people.
The Government’s first 50 young futures hubs will bring together services at a local level to support children and young people, helping to ensure that young people can access early advice and wellbeing intervention. We will work to ensure there is no wrong door for young people who need support with their mental health.
Asked by: Baroness Tyler of Enfield (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks made by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 24 April (HL Deb col 756–7), what progress has the Forestry Commission made in its investigation into the illegal felling of the Whitewebbs Oak that took place on 3 April.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
It is acknowledged that the works to this ancient tree caused public concern. The Forestry Commission has carried out a site inspection and detailed review to determine whether there have been any breaches of the Forestry Act 1967 in relation to the tree works on the Oak.
The Forestry Commission review has concluded that in this case, there have been no breaches of the Forestry Act 1967 or the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999.
The decision of the Forestry Commission does not reflect the decisions or actions of other public bodies or individuals who may be conducting investigations or initiating proceedings in relation to any other alleged offences or civil matters other than those set out within the Forestry Act 1967 and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999.
Asked by: Baroness Tyler of Enfield (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to take forward the plans for community hubs supporting young people’s mental health mentioned in the Labour Party Manifesto 2024; if so, which Department is responsible for their delivery; whether these hubs will be open-access; and how many they intend to fund through the programme.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to rolling out a network of Young Futures Hubs. These will bring together services to help improve children and young people’s access to support to reduce crime and improve mental health and careers opportunities.
This is a cross-government endeavour and expertise has been brought together from across departments to deliver on this manifesto commitment. The government will be engaging with national and local partners, local communities and children and young people to explore options for the design and delivery of the hubs.
Asked by: Baroness Tyler of Enfield (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Department has lead responsibility for children and young people’s mental health.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has lead responsibility for children and young people’s mental health, working closely with the Department for Education.
Asked by: Baroness Tyler of Enfield (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide funding to the independent What Works Centre for Wellbeing, and what assessment they have made of the support that the Centre is able to provide in fulfilling the aims of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill.
Answered by Lord Evans of Rainow
The What Works Centre for Wellbeing currently receives funding from Cabinet Office, DCMS, and the Department for Transport. This includes work supported by the Evaluation Accelerator Fund, details of which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-accelerator-fund.
The department will continue working with a variety of partners to deliver levelling up.
Asked by: Baroness Tyler of Enfield (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many households had deductions from legacy benefits to repay debt due to previous overpayment for the most recent month available; and what was the average amount that was deducted for those households.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott - Opposition Whip (Lords)
During May 2022, 170,000 individual claimants had deductions taken from their legacy benefits in order to repay overpaid benefits. The average deduction taken in that month was £61.
DWP has a duty to protect public funds and an obligation to ensure that overpaid benefit payments are recovered in accordance with the appropriate social security legislation. However, we seek to discharge that duty without causing undue financial hardship.
We therefore have an established route by which anyone experiencing difficulties with repayments is encouraged to contact DWP Debt Management in order to negotiate a possible reduction in their rate of repayment, or a temporary suspension of repayment, depending on financial circumstances.
In exceptional circumstances there is also discretion to waive recovery of an overpayment, but only were there are compelling grounds to show that recovery of the overpayment is detrimental to the health and/or welfare of the debtor or their family.
Asked by: Baroness Tyler of Enfield (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Universal Credit claimants in each parliamentary constituency had sums deducted from their claim to repay debt due to previous overpayment, including advances, in the most recent month for which data is available; and what were the (1) average, and (2) total, sums deducted in each constituency.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott - Opposition Whip (Lords)
The Government recognises the importance of supporting the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt. We seek to balance recovery of debt against not causing hardship for claimants and their families. Processes are in place to ensure deductions are manageable, and customers can contact DWP Debt Management if they are experiencing financial hardship, to discuss a reduction in their rate of repayment or a temporary suspension, depending on their financial circumstances.
Since April 2021, we have reduced the normal maximum rate of deductions in Universal Credit from 40% to 30 % to 25% of a claimant’s Standard Allowance. These positive measures were put in place to support claimants to manage financial difficulties.
Advances are a claimant’s benefit entitlement paid early, allowing claimants to access 100% of their estimated Universal Credit payment upfront. They ensure nobody has to wait for a payment in Universal Credit and those who need it are able to receive financial support as soon as possible. Claimants can receive up to 100% of their estimated Universal Credit award if required, resulting in 25 payments over a 24-month period. This is not a debt.
The information requested is provided in the attached spreadsheet.
Asked by: Baroness Tyler of Enfield (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many households had deductions to their Universal Credit award to repay debt due to previous overpayment, including advances, for the most recent month available; and what was the average amount that was deducted.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott - Opposition Whip (Lords)
The Government recognises the importance of supporting the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt. We seek to balance recovery of debt against not causing hardship for claimants and their families. Processes are in place to ensure deductions are manageable, and customers can contact DWP Debt Management if they are experiencing financial hardship, to discuss a reduction in their rate of repayment or a temporary suspension, depending on their financial circumstances.
Since April 2021, we have reduced the normal maximum rate of deductions in Universal Credit from 40% to 30 % to 25% of a claimant’s Standard Allowance. These positive measures were put in place to support claimants to manage financial difficulties.
Advances are a claimant’s benefit entitlement paid early, allowing claimants to access 100% of their estimated Universal Credit payment upfront. They ensure nobody has to wait for a payment in Universal Credit and those who need it are able to receive financial support as soon as possible. Claimants can receive up to 100% of their estimated Universal Credit award if required, resulting in 25 payments over a 24-month period. This is not a debt.
The information requested is provided in the attached spreadsheet.