Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consider current UN mechanisms for investigating allegations of misconduct, bias and antisemitism by Special Rapporteurs to be effective, with particular reference to the concerns regarding Francesca Albanese reported in The Jerusalem Post on 11 February.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

The UK's position remains as set out in the answer provided in the House of Commons on 4 March in response to Question HC114367, which for ease is reproduced below:

Along with several other countries, we have raised concerns about a series of comments made by the Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Ministers have raised these concerns directly with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UK has asked that the comments of the Special Rapporteur be urgently investigated against the Code of Conduct for her post, and for action to be taken to restore the confidence of the international community in the independence and objectivity of this important role.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the powers conferred on the Financial Conduct Authority in the Financial Services and Markets Bill in schedule 2, paragraph 18, inserted new section 131Z12, are consistent with their objective of strengthening the UK's position as a global financial centre; and what assessment they have made of the impact of those powers on long-term investment in payments infrastructure.

Answered by Lord Livermore

The Government is committed to maintaining the UK’s position as a leading global financial centre, supported by a competitive, innovative and well-regulated payments ecosystem that delivers good outcomes for consumers, businesses and the wider economy.

The Financial Services and Markets Bill simplifies how payment systems are regulated by abolishing the Payment Systems Regulator and transferring its functions to the Financial Conduct Authority. The Bill gives the FCA objectives and powers that are equivalent to those currently held by the PSR, ensuring there is continuity in regulation and that the FCA can carry out its new responsibilities effectively.

The price control provision is not an expansion of regulatory powers. It clarifies and replicates powers already exercisable by the PSR, so the FCA has the same tools where intervention is justified to protect service-users and support effective competition.

At the same time, the Government recognises that regulators must act proportionately and that their powers should be subject to appropriate safeguards. The Bill therefore strengthens the framework by requiring the FCA to consult before exercising this power, a safeguard that is not always required under the current regime. This will help ensure decisions are transparent, evidence-based and proportionate.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to introduce an explicit threshold requiring demonstrated market failure before the Financial Conduct Authority may exercise its powers under the Financial Services and Markets Bill, schedule 2, paragraph 18, inserted new section 131Z12.

Answered by Lord Livermore

The Government is committed to maintaining the UK’s position as a leading global financial centre, supported by a competitive, innovative and well-regulated payments ecosystem that delivers good outcomes for consumers, businesses and the wider economy.

The Financial Services and Markets Bill simplifies how payment systems are regulated by abolishing the Payment Systems Regulator and transferring its functions to the Financial Conduct Authority. The Bill gives the FCA objectives and powers that are equivalent to those currently held by the PSR, ensuring there is continuity in regulation and that the FCA can carry out its new responsibilities effectively.

The price control provision is not an expansion of regulatory powers. It clarifies and replicates powers already exercisable by the PSR, so the FCA has the same tools where intervention is justified to protect service-users and support effective competition.

At the same time, the Government recognises that regulators must act proportionately and that their powers should be subject to appropriate safeguards. The Bill therefore strengthens the framework by requiring the FCA to consult before exercising this power, a safeguard that is not always required under the current regime. This will help ensure decisions are transparent, evidence-based and proportionate.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what lessons they have learned from previous cycling and walking investment strategies; and whether these have been included in Active Travel – Active England: the third cycling and walking investment strategy, published on 12 June.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

We have learnt from the previous Cycling and Walking Investment Strategies of the importance of providing long term funding certainty for local authorities and third sector delivery partners to deliver our ambitious targets by 2035.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of setting a target for decreasing the number of fatalities and serious injuries per billion miles walked and cycled.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises the importance of improving safety for people walking and cycling. On 12 June the Government published the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS3) which outlines the Government's vision for walking, wheeling and cycling to be safe, easy and accessible choices for everyone. Over £4.5 billion is projected to be invested in active travel up to 2030 from a wide range of funding streams including £1.1 billion of funding for Active Travel England.

The Government has also set ambitious national road safety targets to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on Great Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035, and to reduce the number of children killed or seriously injured by 70% by 2035, both against a 2022 to 2024 baseline. These targets sit alongside the active travel safety performance indicator to monitor the rate of cyclists and pedestrians killed or seriously injured on England’s roads, measured as the number of fatalities and serious injuries per billion miles walked and cycled. The Department will actively monitor this indicator, which should help to assess whether active travel is becoming safer as more people walk and cycle.

Found: )3 12 29 Mark Rennison (to 31 July 2024) - 14 Lesley-Ann Nash4 29 29 Mark Henderson5 27 29 Lord Austin of Dudley