Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Passenger Standards Authority.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The consultation on the Railways Bill closed on 15 April, and as part of this we sought views on the creation of a new passenger watchdog. We are currently considering the responses and the best way of establishing the Watchdog. This will include the consideration of costs.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual costs of the office of the Armed Forces Commissioner.

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

The financial implications of establishing and maintaining the office of the Armed Forces Commissioner are estimated to be within the range of £4.5 - £5.5 million. This figure is only an initial estimate and represents a significant uplift on the annual budget of the Service Complaints Ombudsman, which was £1.9 million in 2024.  We are committed to delivering value for money while ensuring the Commissioner has the resources they need to make the real difference our Armed Forces deserve.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to help the fishing industry grow over the next 13 years.

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

This Government supports the fishing industry and recognises its key role in food supply. As part of this support, Defra has reopened the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme on 9 June 2025, allocating around £6 million to create a sustainable and resilient seafood sector. In addition to this, the £360 million Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund will support the next generation of fishers and breathe new life into our coastal communities.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual costs of the office of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council.

Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Industrial Strategy Advisory Council is supported by a team of DBT civil servants, housed in the existing DBT estate. The costs of its secretariat are expected to be comparable to the secretariats of similar advisory bodies. Precise budget estimates are subject to Spending Review and business planning processes.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual costs of the office of the School Support Negotiation Body.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

Once established, costs associated with the School Support Staff Negotiating Body will be limited to small administrative costs and fees, including a salary for an independent chair. All expenditure will be subject to normal government approvals processes.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of "Project Seahorse".

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero is responsible for assessing the potential cost of ‘Project Seahorse’ as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual costs of the office of the Fair Work Agency.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The government is committed to ensuring the FWA has the resources it needs to do its job. Further details around the implementation and funding will be provided in due course.

In the meantime, the published impact assessment on our plans to create the Fair Work Agency provides data on the budgets of the state enforcement bodies which will be brought together in the first phase of this important work.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual costs of the office of the National Data Library.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The National Data Library has a budget of £9.6m for FY25/26. Funding beyond this will be considered as part of the forthcoming Spending Review, with further details to follow in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Border Security Command.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Allocations of funding to individual areas within the Home Office are subject to the Spending Review process and out-turns on spending will be published as usual in the Home Office annual report and accounts.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Regulatory Innovation Office.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The annual costs of the Regulatory Innovation Office are met within DSIT’s budget allocations, as set out in the Spending Review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Anti-Money Laundering Supervision Reform Body.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

HM Treasury is responsible for assessing the potential cost of the Anti-Money Laundering Supervision Reform Body as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

The Government has conducted a full line-by-line Spending Review which covered the proposed costs of the Anti-Money Laundering Supervision Reform Body to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual costs of the office of the Independent Football Regulator.

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

The Football Governance Bill Impact Assessment, which was approved under the last government, estimates that the operating costs of the Independent Football Regulator will be between £8.0m per annum and £10.2m per annum, for the first 10 years. While these are reasonable estimations of the levy charge they should not be treated as conclusive final costs. Final costs will be dependent on the scope of the Bill passed by Parliament and the work necessary to ensure clubs are complying with the regulatory regime.

These estimates have been adjusted to account for the impact of inflation, and future costs have been converted to their present value, as per Green Book guidance issued by His Majesty’s Treasury for Impact Assessments.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Technical Advisory Panel.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

HM Treasury is responsible for assessing the potential cost of the Technical Advisory Panel as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

The Government has conducted a full line-by-line Spending Review which covered the proposed costs of the Technical Advisory Panel to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.