Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the powers which they propose to confer on the Financial Conduct Authority through the insertion of new section 131Z12 to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 are not subject to a right to a full merits-based appeal, such as to the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Answered by Lord Livermore
The Financial Services and Markets Bill simplifies how payment systems are regulated by abolishing the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) and transferring its responsibilities to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In doing so, it gives the FCA objectives and powers generally equivalent to those currently held by the PSR, including the ability to make rules or give directions for the purpose of regulating payment system fees and charges. This ensures there is continuity in regulation and that the FCA can carry out its new responsibilities effectively.
The FCA’s power to regulate payment system fees and charges would be subject to challenge on judicial review principles. A challenge to equivalent powers held by the PSR is determined by judicial review principles, and the Bill maintains the same test when those functions transfer to the FCA. This is also consistent with the existing approach taken elsewhere in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
The Government recognises that regulators’ powers should be subject to appropriate safeguards. Powers to regulate payment system fees and charges must advance payment systems objectives. The Bill ensures before exercising those powers, the FCA must comply with procedural requirements, such as undertaking a consultation, which help to ensure decisions are transparent, evidence-based and proportionate.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the consultation on the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published 3 November, what assessment they have made of the percentage of people who achieve 150 minutes of activity a week which would demonstrate successful delivery of the strategy's objectives.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The consultation on the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy is seeking the views of stakeholders on a national vision, statutory objectives and underlying performance indicators. The shape of the final strategy, intended to be published next year including measures of success and targets, will be informed by the responses to the consultation.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the stability of funding for national active travel programmes.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
At the 2025 Spending Review, the Government announced £616 million of capital funding for active travel over the years 2026/27 to 2029/30. Long term funding settlements for local authorities will be agreed as part of wider Integrated Settlements for Mayoral Strategic Authorities and consolidated local transport settlements for other authorities.
The Government also announced £15.6 billion in total by 2031-32 for the Transport for City Regions (TCR) settlements, supporting them to invest in their local transport priorities, including promoting modal shift from cars to public transport, walking and cycling.
The Government plans to offer long term funding settlements over the 2025 Spending Review period for other national active travel programmes run by wider organisations, such as Bikeability and the National Cycle Network, following the conclusion of DfT business planning.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 31 October (HL11010 and HL11011), whether they will now answer the questions put.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 18 November to Question 88033, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
The Foreign Secretary met with the Palestinian Foreign Minister on 1 November. As part of their conversation they discussed educational reforms. The UK continues to monitor and advance the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation through an annual strategic dialogue. In the meantime, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, through the British Consulate in Jerusalem, engage regularly with the Palestinian Authority on many areas, including education reform.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 26 September (HL10094), how often they will monitor the Palestinian Authority's implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Cooperation between the UK and the Palestinian Government, published on 28 April, and what methods they will use to monitor that implementation.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Noble Lord to the statement made on the Middle East by the Prime Minister on 14 October, in which he addressed at length the issues arising from the UK's decision to recognise the State of Palestine. Any further updates will be announced in the normal way in due course.