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 - Minister of State (Development)
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 - Minister of State (Development)
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.
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), when they expect the independent audit of the completion of the reforms in the Palestinian Authority's National Program for Development and Reform to be conducted.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
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.
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), on how many occasions and over what time period the Palestinian Authority has committed to reform prisoner payments; how those reforms were audited; and what assessment they have made of the impact of those reforms.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
In President Abbas' letter to President Macron, dated 9 June 2025, he set out his commitment to the principles of non-violence, the organisation of elections, the development of a school curriculum that is free from incitement, and the implementation of a new social security system, which will revoke so-called prisoner payments, and ensure that any future welfare payments are needs-based and delinked from violent actions. The Palestinian Authority must now ensure that an independent audit is conducted to verify that these reforms have been completed.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of reports that the Palestinian Authority is making monthly payments to the families of Hamas fighters killed during the 7 October 2023 attacks.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
A reformed Palestinian Authority is essential to long-term stability in the region and making progress towards a two-state solution. The UK welcomes the Palestinian Authority's commitment to deliver its ambitious and necessary 'National Program for Development and Reform' in full as a matter of priority in the short, medium and long term. We welcome the important commitments made by the Palestinian Authority to reform prisoner payments so that welfare payments are needs-based and delinked from violent actions. The Palestinian Authority must now ensure an independent audit verifies that the reforms have been completed. Alongside our partners, the UK will continue to support the Palestinian Authority as it delivers its important reform agenda.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people who were charged with offences related to Palestine Action before 5 July are (1) on remand, and (2) on bail; and how many of those people have been awaiting trial for (a) less than three months, (b) 3–6 months, (c) 7–12 months, (d) 13–24 months, (e) 25–36 months, and (f) more than three years.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This information is not centrally held. To obtain the requested data would involve a manual inspection of court records, involving disproportionate cost to the Department.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to appeal the decision by the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) to overturn the Home Office’s revocation of Dana Abuqamar’s visa.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
It is His Majesty’s Government’s long-standing position not to comment on individual cases.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Ofsted about schools allowing pupils to be absent to attend protest marches, what assessments Ofsted and schools should make of safeguarding issues arising from pupils being allowed to attend such events, and what advice the Department for Education is planning to issue to schools in this regard.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
The government is clear that missing school for events such as political protests is unacceptable and should not be condoned.
The department has been monitoring events closely and has written to all schools and local authorities supporting leaders and teachers in taking firm action. The department encourages schools and local authorities to set clear expectations to parents on attendance, confirming that absence for this kind of activity should be treated as unauthorised. The department has been clear that school leaders and local authorities should be enforcing attendance policies, and they should take immediate action where these policies have been breached. In the most egregious cases this can mean fines or prosecution. The department has shared this communication with Ofsted to ensure all inspectors are clear on the position.