Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which officials were involved in discussions regarding the decision to move asylum seekers who arrive in the Chagos Islands to St Helena; and whether the Governor of St Helena was involved in those discussions.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Immigration is a matter for the St Helena Government. The St Helena Government is responsible for local consultation.

Ministers from the FCDO and Home Office have worked closely with the Chief Minister and the St Helena Government, including the Governor. This agreement was welcomed by the St Helena Government in a public statement following the signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had, if any, with the St Helena Legislative Council regarding the decision to move asylum seekers who arrive in the Chagos Islands to St Helena.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Immigration is a matter for the St Helena Government. The St Helena Government is responsible for local consultation.

Ministers from the FCDO and Home Office have worked closely with the Chief Minister and the St Helena Government, including the Governor. This agreement was welcomed by the St Helena Government in a public statement following the signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of asylum seekers who will be moved from the Chagos Islands to St Helena, and over what period.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The new Memorandum of Understanding with St Helena only applies to any new migrants who arrive from the date of the arrangement until the UK's agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago comes into force or 18 months have passed. This will not affect any migrants currently on the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). This is a contingency arrangement and no new migrants have arrived on BIOT since 2022.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to place in the Library of the House all correspondence between the Governor of St Helena and officials and Ministers regarding the decision to move asylum seekers who arrive in the Chagos Islands to St Helena.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Copies of the Memorandum of Understanding and supporting correspondence from the Minister or the Overseas Territories have been deposited in the library of both Houses. The St Helena Government have also published both documents on their website at www.sainthelena.gov.sh.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend applications of asylum seekers moved from the Chagos Islands to St Helena to be processed while they are on St Helena, and over what timescale.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Immigration is a matter for the St Helena Government. The St Helena Government will be responsible for processing any asylum claims and for the timescale by which any claims are resolved. The UK Government will provide technical support to help develop capacity and capability in St Helena's immigration department.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they made an assessment of the impact on public services on St Helena of the decision to move asylum seekers who arrive in the Chagos Islands to St Helena; and if so, whether they intend to publish that assessment.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is working to support the Saint Helena Government to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for any migrants who may arrive. If the St Helena Government considers that a migrant presents a danger to the security of St Helena, they may refuse entry to that individual. A copy of the recent MoU between the UK and St Helena has been placed in the libraries of both houses.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what security and policing assessment has been conducted regarding the decision to move asylum seekers from the Chagos Islands to St Helena with respect to the latter.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is working to support the Saint Helena Government to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for any migrants who may arrive. If the St Helena Government considers that a migrant presents a danger to the security of St Helena, they may refuse entry to that individual. A copy of the recent MoU between the UK and St Helena has been placed in the libraries of both houses.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what accommodation will be provided to house asylum seekers relocated from the Chagos Islands to St Helena.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is working to support the Saint Helena Government to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for any migrants who may arrive. If the St Helena Government considers that a migrant presents a danger to the security of St Helena, they may refuse entry to that individual. A copy of the recent MoU between the UK and St Helena has been placed in the libraries of both houses.

Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what processes are in place to enable members of the House of Lords to raise a complaint against the House where it has failed to make reasonable adjustments for disabled members contrary to the Equality Act 2010.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

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.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what fees they are paying to Pinsent Masons for their work on the Holocaust Memorial Bill, and in particular how much they are being charged for the firm's work arguing against the right of petitioners to be heard.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

His Majesty’s Government is following established procedure for hybrid bills. The Commons select committee on the Holocaust Memorial Bill strongly recommended (in their report of 26 April 2024) that the Promoter should engage the process of challenging petitioners. Petitioners will have the opportunity to persuade the Lords select committee that they should be heard. Payments to Pinsent Masons for their work as Parliamentary Agent are published in the usual way on the Government website:

MHCLG: spending over £250, July 2024 - GOV.UK

DLUHC: spending over £250, June 2024 - GOV.UK

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the service of the Hunt Class Destroyer, HMS Blencathra, 1940–1957, whether they have any plans to name a future ship HMS Blencathra.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Ships names are proposed by the Royal Navy's Ships Names and Badges Committee, for selection by Royal Navy seniors, Ministers and His Majesty The King.

Names are proposed based on many factors, including the history of the Fleet and suitability to the role of the ship being named.

No ship currently in build will bear the name HMS Blencathra, however this does not preclude the name being chosen in future should it be suitable.

Found: Lord Blencathra.

Found: 12 pm Watch the meeting Members present: Baroness Morris of Yardley (The Chair); Lord Bach; Lord Blencathra

Found: HMB -017 Sir Peter Bottomley and Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone 18 July 2024 HMB -018 Lord Blencathra

Found: co-petitioners; Sir Peter Bottomley and the right honourable Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone; and Lord Blencathra

Found: down the list—the Eccles, who I think have given evidence to you already, Lady Nicholson and Lord Blencathra

Found: Lord Blencathra, I think it is your turn to say why we should hear you.

Found: 11 am Watch the meeting Members present: Baroness Morris of Yardley (The Chair); Lord Bach; Lord Blencathra

Found: Private Meeting 5 November 10.30am – 1.00pm Promoter’s Opening: Christopher Katkowski KC Lord Blencathra

Found: LORD ALTON OF LIVERPOOL BARONESS KENNEDY OF THE SHAWS LORD BLENCATHRA THE LORD BISHOP OF

Found: LORD ALTON OF LIVERPOOL BARONESS KENNEDY OF THE SHAWS LORD BLENCATHRA THE LORD BISHOP OF

Found: LORD ALTON OF LIVERPOOL BARONESS KENNEDY OF THE SHAWS LORD BLENCATHRA ★_ Clause 4, page 3,

Found: LORD ROBOROUGH LORD BLENCATHRA 15A★_ Clause 2, page 4, line 31, leave out “and publish” and

Found: LORD ROBOROUGH LORD BLENCATHRA 11_ Clause 1, page 4, line 25, at end insert— “(5) The first rules

Found: Water (Special Measures) Bill [HL] 2 LORD ROBOROUGH LORD BLENCATHRA ★_ Clause 1, page 4, line

Found: LORD ROBOROUGH LORD BLENCATHRA 70_ Clause 6, page 10, line 35, at end insert— “(8A) All fines

Found: LORD ROBOROUGH LORD BLENCATHRA 41_ Clause 2, page 6, line 6, at end insert— “(4) Within 10 days