Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Syria concerning the direct targeting of the Druze community, including targeted killings, enforced disappearances and sexual violence; and what steps they are taking to engage with Syria and its approach to protecting religious freedom.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We were deeply concerned by the escalation of violence between Druze and Bedouin militias in southern Syria in July, and welcomed the ceasefire brokered by the US. The former Foreign Secretary spoke with Foreign Minister al Shaibani on 18 July to raise our concerns about events in Suwayda and to press the Syrian Government to conduct a full investigation into the crimes committed. We welcome the announcement on 31 July of the formation of a committee to hold a full investigation into the violence. When the former Foreign Secretary Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, met the Foreign Minister and Justice Minister in Damascus on 27 August, he underlined the importance of accountability, including holding to account the government's own forces. We continue to advocate for an inclusive political transition and the protection of rights of all Syrians, regardless of religious or ethnic background.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on UK public policy and the protection of vulnerable people of the lawsuit by Matt and Maria Raine against OpenAI over the death of their teenage son.
Answered by Lord Leong - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is deeply concerned about every death by suicide, including those that occur following content viewed online. The government keeps all legislation under review and will act where needed to protect and support vulnerable people in society.
Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must protect all users from in-scope illegal content and children from in-scope harmful content, such as suicide content, including where it is AI generated.
The government is committed to keeping children safe online and will not hesitate to strengthen the law where required to further protect them.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the criteria used to determine whether an extradition request from Hong Kong is politically motivated, particularly where charges are presented as criminal offences; and what safeguards are in place to prevent the authorities in Hong Kong from misusing criminal law as a means of targeting political opponents and seeking their extradition.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
This Government remains resolutely committed to ensuring that no individual is extradited from the United Kingdom for politically motivated purposes, including in cases where charges are presented as criminal offences. The Extradition Act provides statutory safeguards and judicial oversight. It is for an independent UK court to determine whether any request for extradition is made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing an individual on account of their political opinions, or whether if extradited they might be prejudiced at their trial or punished, detained or restricted in their personal liberty by reason of their political opinions and, if it is, there is a statutory bar to the extradition.
The extradition process under the Extradition Act 2003 affords judicial oversight and includes the protections in the European Convention on Human Rights. In all UK extradition proceedings, the court considers whether the requested person's extradition would be compatible with their human rights. These are defined as Convention rights within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998. The court must order the requested person's discharge from their extradition proceedings if extradition would not be compatible with their Convention rights.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that political activists, journalists and human rights defenders, including Jimmy Lai, are protected from politically motivated prosecution or extradition from Hong Kong.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
This Government will never allow a situation where Hong Kongers or any other nationality is extradited for politically motivated purposes. UK courts have extensive powers under the Extradition Act 2003 to assess whether any individual extradition would be compatible with the requested person's human rights or if it is politically motivated. If a UK judge ever determines any extradition request is politically motivated, they have the power to bar extradition.
The 1997 UK-Hong Kong Extradition Treaty remains suspended and the government is updating Hong Kong's designation under the Extradition Act 2003 to reflect the absence of international extradition arrangements with the UK. This formalises the severing of ties between the British and Hong Kong extradition systems for the purposes of the Extradition Act.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many children have been detained in adult mental health wards (1) in total, and (2) for over 48 hours, in the past year; and what estimate they have made of the cost of removing all children from those facilities.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has confirmed that across the services, there have been a total of 12 children, all aged between 16 and 18 years old, who have been detained in adult mental health wards in the 2024/25 financial year. All 12 patients were detained for over 48 hours.
Neither the Department nor NHS England have made an estimate of the cost of removing all children and young people from these facilities.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of statements made during the trial of Jimmy Lai that appear to characterise his engagement with foreign governments as a criminal act.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
This Government has been clear that Jimmy Lai's prosecution is politically motivated and that he should be released immediately. Mr Lai's prosecution is evidence that the National Security Law is being used to silence China's critics. Diplomats have attended Jimmy Lai's trial throughout, and his case remains a major priority.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that artisanal miners are buried in mines in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo following severe flooding; and what action they are taking to mobilise international non-governmental organisations and other governments to provide equipment, medical aid and trained rescue teams.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK is saddened by reports of artisanal miners trapped underground in the Lomera gold mining site. We extend our condolences to those affected and continue to monitor the situation. The UK is working to address the underlying causes of flooding and climate vulnerability in the DRC, through programmes that aim to protect standing forests and develop nature-based solutions. The UK supports the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, which promotes transparency and good governance in the mining sector. We are also a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, which guide extractive companies in maintaining safety.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Twycross on 22 July (HL Deb col 136–40), what consideration they are giving to the legal opinion by Tom Cross KC on 16 July that the Secretary of State is required to undertake a fuller investigation of the proposed acquisition of the Telegraph Media Group by Redbird Capital, having particular regard to evidence of the latter's links to China; and whether they will issue a response to that opinion.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Secretary of State takes her quasi-judicial responsibilities under the Enterprise Act 2002 very seriously. She will take all relevant information available into consideration when determining whether any of the public interest tests or conditions for foreign state influence are met in any proposed purchase of the Telegraph Media Group. DCMS will keep Parliament updated on decisions relating to the transaction.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to issue, under Schedule 6B of the Enterprise Act 2002, a foreign state intervention notice in relation to the sale of the Telegraph Media Group to RedBird Capital Partners.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Secretary of State takes her quasi-judicial responsibilities under the Enterprise Act 2002 very seriously. She will take all relevant information available into consideration when determining whether any of the public interest tests or conditions for foreign state influence are met in any proposed purchase of the Telegraph Media Group. DCMS will keep Parliament updated on decisions relating to the transaction.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reported honour killing in Balochistan; and how UK aid to Pakistan seeks to strengthen protections for those at risk of extra-judicial murders or subjected to violence due to their minority status, ethnic origins or religion or belief.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK Government condemns honour-based violence, including the reported case in Balochistan. Through UK Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), we are supporting progress on human rights in Pakistan through dialogue, technical assistance, and targeted programming. The UK-funded Aawaz II programme convenes influential community leaders and minority representatives to change social behaviours and promote interfaith harmony. At the community level, Aawaz II has reached over 24 million people with information and awareness about rights and government services.