Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of biological males in women’s prisons or prison places designated for women; and what steps if any they are taking to (1) prevent biological males from being placed in prison places designated for women, and (2) ensure biological males currently placed in such place are removed and placed in prison places designated for men.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We welcome the EHRC’s draft Code of Practice which has now been laid in Parliament. There will now be a 40-day period for Parliament to scrutinise and ratify this. We must let that process happen.
We are carefully considering the new Code and any implications for the prison estate, including the allocation of transgender prisoners, in which context Local and Complex Case Boards currently play an important role.
The vast majority of transgender women are held in men's prisons. Of the small number that are in women's prisons, the majority are held on E Wing, a separate unit co-located within HMP Downview that is not part of the general female estate.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reform or abolish Local Transgender Case Boards and Complex Case Boards, in light of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s code of practice for services, public functions and associations..
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We welcome the EHRC’s draft Code of Practice which has now been laid in Parliament. There will now be a 40-day period for Parliament to scrutinise and ratify this. We must let that process happen.
We are carefully considering the new Code and any implications for the prison estate, including the allocation of transgender prisoners, in which context Local and Complex Case Boards currently play an important role.
The vast majority of transgender women are held in men's prisons. Of the small number that are in women's prisons, the majority are held on E Wing, a separate unit co-located within HMP Downview that is not part of the general female estate.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of a super El Niño event on UK food security and the rural economy.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK has a resilient food supply chain underpinned by diverse sources, robust domestic production and reliable import routes. However, this cannot be taken for granted.
The Defra-funded Food, Farming and Natural Environment climate service is delivered by the Met Office Hadley Centre and provides essential climate modelling services to Government. Defra published the Met Office produced High-Impact Low-Likelihood outcomes for UK food security paper last year here. This highlighted the potential impacts of strong El Niño years, on net global crop production and how they may amplify the impact of any other global food production shocks occurring elsewhere.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what work is being undertaken by the COBR Unit and the Resilience Directorate to coordinate departmental contingency planning for the potential impact of a super El Niño in 2026.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In the UK, previous El Niño events have increased the risk of mild, wet and windy weather in early winter, and drier, colder conditions in late winter. An El Niño is just one of a number of climate drivers that can influence weather patterns in the UK and any potential impacts will depend on how these drivers combine which will be assessed in more detail later in the year as forecasts evolve.
The Cabinet Office is the lead government department for severe weather including severe storms, extreme heat and cold and it is responsible for coordinating both the preparations and response to these weather events. The COBR Directorate regularly reviews and exercises response plans for all severe weather risks and implements lessons learned from previous seasons. If severe weather is forecast, the COBR Directorate will convene the cross-Government Severe Weather Resilience Network to assess sector preparedness and raise any concerns or current issues that may impact response plans.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what contingency planning they are undertaking to mitigate the impacts of shortages of essential supplies, including fertiliser, as a result of the simultaneous impacts of the conflict in the Gulf and a super El Niño event in 2026.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK has a resilient food supply chain. Defra is committed to monitoring risks posed by the Middle East conflict to our critical supply chains and is working closely with industry and farmers to understand potential pressures and options to mitigate any risks.
El Niño is just one of a number of climatic drivers that can influence global weather patterns. This Government continues to take action to strengthen the UK’s resilience against severe weather events. The national risk register details the wide-ranging impacts of severe weather to ensure that comprehensive contingency plans are in place.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enhance bilateral relations with Taiwan and to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO).
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 9 March in response to Question HL14926 (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-02-26/hl14926).
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker who approved the installation of the new statue in the Norman Porch; and what consideration was given to making it in keeping with the style of the busts on display in the same space.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The statue May Flights of Angels sing thee to thy Rest by Eleanor Crook was commissioned and approved by the Lord Speaker’s Advisory Panel on Works of Art, with consultation and additional approval sought from other stakeholders, including the Royal Household. The Panel considered the aesthetic and operational impact of the sculpture in its eventual position, including other artworks in the area, and viewed the site to ensure conformity with its surroundings. The artist conducted extensive research to match the style of the sculpture to elements of the building fabric.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment has been made of the compliance of the access arrangements at the new Peers’ Entrance doorway with the requirement to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
It has been confirmed by an independent assessment undertaken by an accessibility specialist that the Peers' Entrance provides an accessible step free access into the Palace of Westminster in accordance with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and relevant Building Regulations.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what consideration the Procedure and Privileges Committee has given, if any, to introducing advisory speaking times for speeches at (1) report stage, and (2) ping pong.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Procedure and Privileges Committee’s Third Report of session 2023-24 (HL Paper 73) recommended various changes intended to encourage brevity during the amending stages of bills, including at report stage and during Lords consideration of Commons amendments. It recommended that the advisory speaking time for backbench members during all amending stages should be reduced from 15 minutes to 10 minutes, except where a backbencher moves the lead amendment in a group (when they would have 15 minutes,). It also recommended guidance that members other than the minister pressing or withdrawing an amendment at the end of a debate should be brief. These recommendations were agreed by the House on 19 March 2024, and the guidance is set out in paragraph 4.41 of the Companion to the Standing Orders.
The report is available online here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5804/ldselect/ldproced/73/73.pdf and is attached to this answer.
The Procedure and Privileges Committee will continue to keep the House’s procedures under review.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what consideration the Procedure and Privileges Committee has given to (1) revising paragraph 6.30 of the Companion to the Standing Orders to amend rules in order to reduce the length of ministers’ replies to oral questions, and (2) the publication of a record of the length of members’ questions and answers.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Procedure and Privileges Committee has not considered this specific issue. The Committee keeps the procedures of the House under review, and I am always happy to discuss them with members.