Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether building societies exercise their powers to terminate membership of their members fairly and proportionately.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is keen to ensure that regulation is proportionate and gives building societies the flexibility to choose what works best for them within the mutual model. It would be inappropriate for the Government to comment on specific governance decisions taken by a building society within the legal framework.

A building society's membership policy is set out in the society's rulebook. If an individual feels procedure has not been followed, they can raise a formal complaint with the building society directly.

Where termination of membership also results in loss of access to a payment service, further protections may also apply. In June 2025, the Government legislated to require payment service providers to give customers at least 90 days’ notice before closing their account or terminating a payment service and provide a sufficiently detailed and specific explanation so the customer can understand why it is being terminated. These rules come into force for relevant new contracts from April 2026 and will ensure more transparent and predictable access to payment services, giving customers the time and information they need to challenge decisions or find alternative arrangements.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ratify the Beijing Treaty for Audiovisual Performances, following their consultations in 2021 and 2023.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government keeps legal frameworks under review, including those relating to copyright and related rights, and data protection. The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 contains a number of updates to the data protection framework. The Government's Report and Impact Assessment on AI and copyright, as required under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, was published on 18 March and can be found at GOV.UK.

Alongside this the Government is considering options for ratifying the Beijing Treaty and will announce its intended approach in due course. We will take the time to get this right and we will do so in a way that is in line with British interests and values.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that osteoporosis in women is not underdiagnosed or treated as a normal consequence of ageing within NHS services.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise that women are at greater risk of osteoporosis due to the decrease in oestrogen production at the menopause, which accelerates bone loss.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research has published a clinical knowledge summary on osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures, which is designed to support healthcare professionals in the early diagnosis of osteoporosis.

The Royal College of General Practitioners has an e-learning module for general practitioners on the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, which was developed in collaboration with the Royal Osteoporosis Society. The e-learning module supports the early diagnosis of osteoporosis by highlighting which groups are at higher risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures. The module also discusses the monitoring of patients at risk of fragility fractures.

Since 2022, two new drugs have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women, namely abaloparatide and romosozumab. These medications help to strengthen the bones and prevent bone loss, reducing the risk of fractures.

The renewed women’s health strategy commits to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) nationwide by 2030, recognising FLS as a proven, evidence-based approach to preventing secondary fractures, particularly for women aged 50 years old and over who have experienced a fragility fracture.

The strategy expects FLSs to be integrated with wider local services, including community diagnostic centres, neighbourhood health centres, women’s health hubs, rehabilitation services, and falls and frailty services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of delays in implementing fracture liaison services in England on gender inequality in access to preventative healthcare.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

More than one in three women, compared to one in five men, will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis in their lifetime.

Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030. Integrated care boards remain well-placed to make decisions according to local need. The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets an expectation that integrated care boards prioritise community-based models when commissioning new fracture prevention services. Where available, evidence on the potential impacts on gender inequality will be taken into consideration in future policy development.

More broadly, the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets out a bold, long‑term plan to transform how the health and care system listens to, supports, and delivers for women and girls. It puts women’s voices and choices at the centre of care, drives faster improvements in services and outcomes that matter most to women, and tackles long‑standing health inequalities across the life course. The strategy aligns with the 10-Year Health Plan to shift care into the community, harness digital innovation, and strengthen prevention so women can live healthier, more fulfilled lives.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Business and Trade or other ministers in the Department for Business and Trade have engaged with Apple, Google, Amazon or Microsoft about the impact of Strategic Market Status designation, or subsequent enforcement by the Competition and Markets Authority, on their investment plans in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government engages with a wide range of businesses on matters affecting the UK business and investment environment, including the digital markets regime. Such discussions are important for the exchange of views and the development of policy. As the UK’s independent competition authority, the CMA is responsible for all digital markets decisions, including on designations and interventions.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of delays in the universal rollout of fracture liaison services in England on the health of post-menopausal women; and what steps they are taking to address this.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

More than one in three women will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis in their lifetime, with the risk of osteoporosis increasing after the menopause due to the decrease in oestrogen production.

Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030. Integrated care boards remain well-placed to make decisions according to local need. The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets an expectation that integrated care boards prioritise community-based models when commissioning new fracture prevention services. Where available, evidence on the potential impacts on post-menopausal women will be taken into consideration in future policy development.

More broadly, the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets out a bold, long‑term plan to transform how the health and care system listens to, supports, and delivers for women and girls. It puts women’s voices and choices at the centre of care, drives faster improvements in services and outcomes that matter most to women, and tackles long‑standing health inequalities across the life course. The strategy aligns with the 10-Year Health Plan to shift care into the community, harness digital innovation, and strengthen prevention so women can live healthier, more fulfilled lives.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, or departmental officials, have had discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority about the impact of Strategic Market Status designation of Apple, Google, Amazon or Microsoft on those companies' investment plans in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government engages with the Competition and Markets Authority frequently on a wide range of issues, including the digital markets regime. As the UK’s independent competition authority, the CMA is responsible for all digital markets decisions, including on designations and interventions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact on the welfare of cats arising from the absence of regulations on cat breeding.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Anyone in the business of selling cats and kittens as pets should already have a pet selling licence and must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities who have powers to issue, refuse, vary or revoke licences.

Defra officials regularly meet animal welfare stakeholders to discuss the welfare of cats and to further our understanding of the cat breeding sector as set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.

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