Lord Blencathra
Conservative - Life peer
Became Member: 28th February 2011
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
(since September 2024)1 APPG membership (as of 7 May 2025)
Parks and Green Spaces7 Former APPG memberships
Bees and Pollinators, Biodiversity in the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, Health and the Natural Environment, Taiwan, Wine and Spirit Group, Wine and Spirits, Woods and TreesDivision Voting information
Debates during the 2024 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
(17 debate interactions)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
(13 debate interactions)
Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
(8 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(47 debate contributions)
(31 debate contributions)
(29 debate contributions)
(4 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(28,053 words contributed)
(16,577 words contributed)
(8,052 words contributed)
(6,945 words contributed)
Lords initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Lord Blencathra, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
5 Bills introduced by Lord Blencathra
A Bill To amend the Equality Act 2010 to improve access to public buildings; and to introduce six and twelve inch rules for step-free access.
Friday 21st November 2014
A Bill to ensure that people in wheelchairs are able to access all public buildings via ramps or other measures; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to amend the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 to provide that the Prime Minister must recommend the person selected by a Joint Committee on Nominations to the Supreme Court; to make provision for a Joint Committee on Nominations to the Supreme Court and its functions; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to amend the Equality Act 2010 to improve step-free access to public buildings for wheelchair users
Thursday 11th June 2015
A Bill to amend the Equality Act 2010 to improve access to public buildings; and to introduce six and twelve inch rules for step free access.
Monday 20th May 2013
Lord Blencathra has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)8 Other Department Questions
The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity and confidence for women and single-sex service providers. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has announced that they will be updating their Code of Practice; we will engage them as necessary as they progress this work. All government departments should follow the ruling. We currently have no plans to lay a report of this kind.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
Departments are individually responsible for their policies. Departments, including the Cabinet Office, will review and update policy wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity for women and single-sex service providers.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has already committed to support service providers with updated guidance; we will engage them as necessary as they progress this work. All government departments should follow the ruling.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity for women and single-sex service providers.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has already committed to support service providers with updated guidance; we will engage them as necessary as they progress this work. All government departments should follow the ruling.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity for women and single-sex service providers.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has already committed to support service providers with updated guidance; we will engage them as necessary as they progress this work. All government departments should follow the ruling.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The contents and publication of executive orders is a domestic matter for the United States.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The House of Lords Administration understands and accepts its responsibilities to make reasonable adjustments to facilitate occupation of the Parliamentary Estate by disabled Members.
The Strategic Estates team work to fulfil the obligations contained within the Equality Act 2010 and have issued guidance to help in ensuring designs comply with those requirements. This guidance embraces the principles of the Equality Act 2010 by ensuring that the physical environment of the Parliamentary Estate does not discriminate against people with respect to the nine protected characteristics plus other characteristics that are identified to ensure inclusion for all.
In respect of raising a complaint if there are concerns about the approach to reasonable adjustments, these should be addressed to the Director of Estates and Facilities.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) are updating their Code of Practice and once it has been submitted, the Government will engage with the EHRC to ensure it provides the certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the Supreme Court ruling. How court proceedings will be dealt with under the Court’s ruling will be a matter for the judiciary.
Attorney General
We will review and update policy wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements.
We will consult with our Government Legal Department and Kings Counsel Lawyers who specialise in employment law.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Civil Service is committed to creating a safe and supportive work environment for all its employees and will not tolerate any form of harassment, unacceptable behaviour or abuse by any party, towards any employee.
Departments have their own policies and guidance on dealing with any such behaviour. We do not hold central data on the reasons for discipline action or dismissals following disciplinary action.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician
The Rt Hon. the Lord Blencathra
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
1 May 2025
Dear Lord Blencathra,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16 on 16 April, whether Census 2021 data will be reviewed and published based on male and female biological sex (HL6931).
Sex is a core demographic variable of fundamental importance for a range of census users providing vital information for national and local population statistics. In Census 2021 for England and Wales, as in all previous censuses, a binary sex question asked whether respondents were female or male. Supporting online guidance for this question from 9 March 2021 onwards stated, "If you are considering how to answer, use the sex recorded on your birth certificate or Gender Recognition Certificate.” This was changed on 9 March from guidance based on legal documents, following a court order[1].
The sex variable in Census 2021 data is based on the sex recorded by the person completing the sex question[2]. We cannot retrospectively change the basis on which those data were collected and defined, nor would it be possible to accurately derive a new ‘biological sex’ variable based on responses to one or more Census 2021 questions.
The Government Statistical Service (GSS) is currently prioritising work to develop new harmonised standards for data on sex and on gender identity. This will include providing guidance for official statistics producers on definitions, survey questions, suggested presentations, and information for data users. The new standards will be developed through rigorous research and testing with a range of users. It will also include learnings from the experience of other countries and their census data collections, as well as from the independent report published by the Department of Science Innovation and Technology, the Review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender[3]. This work will also take account of any relevant guidance issued by the UK Government following the Supreme Court ruling of 16 April.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/news/statementsandletters/updatedstatementoncensus2021sexquestionguidance
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We will review and update policy wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity and confidence for women and single-sex services providers. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has already committed to supporting service providers with updated guidance; we will work closely with the EHRC as they develop this. All government departments should follow the clarity the ruling provides.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its committees is not normally shared publicly.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Property and Built Environment has a large number of professional bodies and routes to qualification. The Government Property Profession Career Framework, which was introduced in 2020, sets the standard for accreditation across roles in the government property profession.
Departments are still able to set their own accreditation requirement where a role is particularly specialist or does not fit well in the Government Property Profession Career Framework. This means that if a department needs to recruit an Architectural Technologist, they would be able to do so.
In addition, in 2025/26 we will be reviewing the framework to ensure roles, skills and required accreditations reflect the current civil service workforce and future industry demands. We will engage with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists as part of this process.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
6 Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Questions
(View all Lord Blencathra's DCMS questions)The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have always been clear that when it comes to women's sport, biology matters. Our sports bodies need to come up with policies that protect fairness and safety, whilst ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate in some form.
It is for each sport's National Governing Body to set their own policies for who can participate in domestic competitions. Our Sports Councils produce guidance to provide domestic sports bodies with the framework and support to determine the right position for their sport. Our Sports Councils are considering the implications of the Supreme Court ruling for their guidance.
A public consultation on the EHRC’s Code of Practice is now underway. We would encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation. The Government will consider the EHRC's updated draft Code of Practice once it has been submitted and engage the EHRC to ensure it provides the certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government has set out its expectation that organisations follow the clarity the ruling provides. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has already committed to supporting organisations with its updated statutory code of practice. We will engage them as necessary as they progress this work.
For children in schools, the department are currently reviewing the draft statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance and the draft non-statutory guidance on gender questioning children, ensuring that children’s wellbeing is at the heart of both. Departmental officials are analysing consultation responses, talking to stakeholders and considering the evidence, including the Cass Review, before deciding next steps.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The government has set out its expectation that organisations follow the clarity the ruling provides. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has already committed to supporting organisations with its updated statutory code of practice. We will engage them as necessary as they progress this work.
For children in schools, the department are currently reviewing the draft statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance and the draft non-statutory guidance on gender questioning children, ensuring that children’s wellbeing is at the heart of both. Departmental officials are analysing consultation responses, talking to stakeholders and considering the evidence, including the Cass Review, before deciding next steps.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The department is currently reviewing the draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges on gender questioning children. The guidance will cover a range of topics relating to the requests that gender questioning children might make and the action schools and colleges should take.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has been clear that children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of this guidance and, as such, the government is looking carefully at the consultation responses, discussing with stakeholders and considering the relevant evidence, including the final report of the Cass Review, which was published post-consultation, before setting out next steps.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
Single-sex spaces based on biological sex are protected in law and will always be protected by this government.
Under the Premises Regulations (2012) and Independent School Standards (2014) which apply to all maintained schools, academies and free schools, responsible bodies (such as school governing bodies, academy trusts or local authorities) are required to ensure that suitable toilet and changing facilities are provided. Regulation 4 states “separate toilet facilities for boys and girls aged 8 years or over must be provided except where the toilet facility is provided in a room that can be secured from the inside and that is intended for use by one pupil at a time”.
The responsibility for complying with the standards and regulations lies with the appropriate responsible body for the school.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The department is currently reviewing the draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges on gender questioning children. The guidance will cover a range of topics relating to the requests that gender questioning children might make and the action schools and colleges should take.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has been clear that children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of this guidance and, as such, the government is looking carefully at the consultation responses, discussing with stakeholders and considering the relevant evidence, including the final report of the Cass Review, which was published post-consultation, before setting out next steps.
Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
8 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all Lord Blencathra's Defra questions)No formal assessment has been made of the impact of growth in the reuse and repair sector on opportunities for green skilled jobs.
Defra recognises that repair and reuse are fundamental tenets of any circular economy, and a successful circular transition will deliver increased supply chain resilience, economic productivity, and economic growth. Furthermore, capitalising on the opportunity to effect a circular transition will attract investment into new product manufacturing and processing infrastructure; create new highly skilled green jobs in circular product design and development; and help our economy retain more of the critical resources on which it depends. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy for England.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. To support the Government in achieving this goal, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has convened the Circular Economy Taskforce to help us develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England, which will be supported by a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the government and others will make on a sector-by-sector basis. Through this work we are considering the evidence for interventions right across the economy. We are exploring the circularity impacts of a wide range of levers, including encouraging reuse and repair, as we develop our strategy.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra recognises that repair and reuse are fundamental tenets of any circular economy, and a successful transition aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy for England.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There have been no formal assessments made on the costs and benefits for local authorities on reuse and repair practises.
Defra recognises that repair and reuse are fundamental tenets of any circular economy, and a successful transition aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy for England.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have not made an assessment into the impact of the Greater Manchester Renew Hub. However, at the heart of the Circular Economy Strategy is delivering circular economy principles through local action; this is something the Secretary of State for Environment – a former Council leader – is passionate about. We recognise the Greater Manchester Renew Hub as an excellent example of local action that we can learn from as we work on developing the Circular Economy Strategy for England.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The terms of reference for the Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy focus on:
- Steering the Circular Economy agenda across Government, noting that responsibility for this agenda sits across a wide range of departments.
- Ensuring that the Government is maximising the opportunities to be had from properly joining up and integrating circular economy activity.
Ensuring the Government’s circular economy agenda is always driving forward the Government’s five missions, with a particular focus on kickstarting economic growth and making Britain a clean energy superpower.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy has met twice so far:
- The first meeting of the CE-SMG was held on 15 October where the terms of reference for a Circular Economy taskforce and the CE-SMG itself were agreed.
- The second meeting on 10 February 2025 focused on the progress of the Circular Economy Taskforce to date and the Circular Economy programme across Government.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Network Rail manages Euston Station and work to improve the passenger experience at Euston is continuing.
As part of this, a range of ideas has been proposed, including potential enhancements to the route between the station and the taxi rank. Network Rail, under a ‘single guiding mind’ approach, is working with industry partners to assess the feasibility of these proposals and the overall benefits to passengers.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The current agreement with Avanti West Coast does not contain obligations regarding the maintenance and repair of potholes.
Avanti West Coast is responsible for the day-to-day management of Penrith North Lakes Station, including the car park. Responsibility for any repairs, including repairs to potholes, lies with the station’s landlord, Network Rail. Avanti West Coast works with Network Rail to seek improvements on behalf of passengers where this is required.
The Department will ask AWC to pass on to NR the concerns about potholes in the car park.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The designated Mobility Assistance Taxi Bays remain on the western Euston Gardens site to help reduce the distance to the Mobility Assistance Reception in the station. This is approximately 120m from the Assisted Travel Lounge, similar to the previous facility, which was located underground (and which required use of a lift).
The distance to/from the Assisted Travel Lounge from the new eastern rank pick-up/drop-off points is approximately 275m and 252m respectively (via Doric passageway), though this is not the designated Mobility Assistance Taxi Bay.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
A full Road Safety Audit, as required by Transport for London, has been carried out on both crossing points (adjacent to Eversholt Street and adjacent to Euston Road). Both crossings were enhanced as part of the taxi rank design to improve safety for pedestrians, including widening the islands and changing the signal timings.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The taxi rank was relocated in April 2024 to enable the construction of the HS2 station. A number of studies were carried out to find a suitable location, concluding with the choice of Euston Square Gardens East which was agreed with Camden Council, Network Rail (NR) and Transport for London (TfL).
TfL have received representations from taxi drivers relating to issues accessing the rank from the west due to a banned left turn in to Eversholt Street and Churchway. These left turns were banned to improve road safety and to help manage traffic flow along the Inner London Ring Road.
Access was worsened for a temporary period prior to Christmas 2024 whilst urgent road works took place on Upper Woburn Place.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The current taxi rank location is temporary to enable the construction of the HS2 station. Work is in progress to determine the new permanent location of the taxi rank.
In the interim, Transport for London are investigating potential improvements, such as changing turning priorities, having close regard to applicable road safety and highway management issues requirements.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department, like all other Government departments (OGDs) and public bodies, has a Public Sector Duty to ensure equality of opportunity, including when reporting on sex. This means the Department will continue to consider the impact of its policies and decisions on all people with protected characteristics. The Department will continue to include the biological sex of civil servants in reports about those employed by the Department and its agencies and public bodies.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Supreme Court ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers. We expect all providers to follow the clarity this ruling provides.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently reviewing sections of the draft Code of Practice which need updating. They will shortly undertake a public consultation to understand how the practical implications of this judgment may be best reflected in the updated guidance, which will be seeking views from affected stakeholders.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Supreme Court ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers. We expect all providers to follow the clarity this ruling provides.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently reviewing sections of the draft Code of Practice which need updating. They will shortly undertake a public consultation to understand how the practical implications of this judgment may be best reflected in the updated guidance, which will be seeking views from affected stakeholders.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Supreme Court ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers. We expect all providers to follow the clarity this ruling provides.
National Health Services are patient centred, and the NHS Constitution is clear that patients have the right to receive care and treatment that is appropriate to them, meets their needs, and reflects their preferences.
Patients are able to request that intimate care is provided by someone of the same sex. This is recognised through the accompanying Care Quality Commission statutory guidance to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. In line with this guidance, we expect that providers will make every reasonable effort to respect patient preferences.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We have always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex. Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by the Government.
The Supreme Court ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers. We expect all providers to follow the clarity this ruling provides.
The Government expects the National Health Service to deliver health services in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, having appropriate regard to protected characteristics as defined in the Act where relevant. NHS England is reviewing its ‘delivering same-sex accommodation’ guidance and will ensure it reflects the Supreme Court ruling.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)