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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the actions necessary to return the number of people sleeping rough to the level achieved during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

This government’s long-term vision is to end homelessness and rough sleeping and we are focused on delivering long-term solutions to prevent people from sleeping rough in the first place. Our National Plan to End Homelessness sets out the actions we will take to halve long-term rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament including investing £15 million in our Long-Term Rough Sleeping Innovation Programme to enable councils with the greatest pressures to deliver more personalised and comprehensive support for people with complex needs.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of rough sleepers in (1) London, and (2) each other region in England and Wales.

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

The government inherited a homelessness crisis - the number of people sleeping rough is far too high. The latest published management information estimated that 2,195 people slept rough across the month in London in September 2025 and 9,292 people slept rough across the month in England. Housing and homelessness is devolved, but the government publishes data on the number of people sleeping rough in England, including regional breakdowns, here.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost to the exchequer of the practice of phoenixism; and what actions they are taking to restrict directors and shadow directors of companies in administration or liquidation from acquiring the assets of such companies at a discount.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimates that, in 2022-23, phoenixism accounted for 22% of total tax losses. These losses arise from a combination of write-offs and remissions. Overall tax losses were £3.8 billion (based on Annual Reports and Accounts from July 2023, the latest available data).

HMRC, Companies House and the Insolvency Service have agreed a joint plan to address phoenixism which includes increasing the use of upfront payment demands (securities), with the aim of doubling the amount of tax protected to £250 million by 2026–27, making more directors personally liable for company taxes during 2025–26, and increasing the number of Insolvency Service enforcement outcomes in phoenixism cases.

In the Budget in November 2025, the government announced it was taking action to tackle those who abuse insolvency processes to evade tax and write off their debts. The government will fund the recruitment of 50 additional Insolvency Service staff within a new Abusive Phoenixism Taskforce to disqualify more rogue directors and will amend the Company Directors Disqualification Act to extend the circumstances in which directors who break the law can be disqualified.

Administrators and liquidators have a statutory duty to act in the interests of creditors, to whom they must report, and obtain the best value for any assets of the company. The Administration (Restrictions on Disposal etc to Connected Persons) Regulations 2021 impose additional requirements for providing information to creditors, including an independent evaluation, where company assets are sold to connected parties within 8 weeks of the start of an administration, including in so-called pre-pack sales.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what actions are they taking to support pubs, restaurants and cafes.

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

The Government recognises the vital contribution pubs, restaurants and cafés make to local communities and the wider economy. We are supporting the sector through a range of measures to ease cost pressures and promote long term resilience.

This includes permanently lowering business rates multipliers for eligible Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties and we have also introduced a £4.3 billion business rates support package to protect ratepayers from increases following the revaluation. In addition, raising the Employment Allowance to £10,500 means around 865,000 employers will pay no National Insurance Contributions this year.

Furthermore, The Chancellor announced a new National Licensing Policy Framework as part of her budget. This sets out a vision for a proportionate licensing system that supports good businesses while continuing to tackle bad operators.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the anticipated cost of weight loss drugs to the NHS this year.

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

The Government does not hold an estimate for the anticipated cost of weight loss drugs to the National Health Service for this year or the next five years. Whilst there is data on total medicines budgets forecast up to 2028, in line with the Spending Review period, these budgets are not forecast down to the individual medicine level.

The Government does hold data on NHS spend on medicines used to treat obesity, including the newest medicines, GLP-1s. GLP-1s can be used to treat obesity or type 2 diabetes and it is not possible to separate data by usage. The data we hold is commercially confidential.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the anticipated cost of weight loss drugs to the NHS in each of the next five years.

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

The Government does not hold an estimate for the anticipated cost of weight loss drugs to the National Health Service for this year or the next five years. Whilst there is data on total medicines budgets forecast up to 2028, in line with the Spending Review period, these budgets are not forecast down to the individual medicine level.

The Government does hold data on NHS spend on medicines used to treat obesity, including the newest medicines, GLP-1s. GLP-1s can be used to treat obesity or type 2 diabetes and it is not possible to separate data by usage. The data we hold is commercially confidential.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving to alternatives to weight loss drugs in appropriate cases, in particular (1) taxation of unhealthy food, and (2) promotion of exercise.

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

The Government is committed to tackling the root causes of obesity, shifting the focus from treatment to prevention. As part of our 10-Year Health Plan, we’re improving diets, increasing physical activity, and creating healthier environments so fewer people reach the point of needing treatment. This includes requiring all large food businesses to report against standardised metrics on healthier food sales, setting full transparency and accountability around the food that businesses are selling, and encouraging healthier products. We will also be updating the standards behind the advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink to bring these restrictions in line with the latest dietary advice and increase their health impact.

There currently isn’t a tax on less healthy food, although the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) has been in place since 2018 and applies to manufacturers and importers of pre-packed added sugar soft drinks that contain five grams of total sugar per 100 millilitres or more. However, in the 2025 Autumn Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced the extension of the SDIL to pre-packed milk-based and milk substitutes, including soya, oat, and almond milk, among others, and a lowering of the lowest sugar threshold at which the levy applies to 4.5 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres. These measures will come into effect on 1 January 2028. The Government keeps all taxes under regular review.

We also need to support those already living with obesity. The National Health Service and local government provide a range of services to support people living with overweight and obesity to reach a healthier weight. For eligible individuals, this includes the option of being prescribed weight loss medicines, but there are also other weight management services available, including behavioural support and surgery.

The Government recognises that, coupled with interventions such as promoting a healthy diet, physical activity can help with the maintenance of a healthier weight. The national movement campaign announced in the 10-Year Health Plan will get millions moving more and the development of a new school sport partnerships network will provide more opportunities for the least active children to reap the benefits of movement.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action, if any, they are taking to combat disinformation about the United Kingdom posted online from overseas.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

As set out by the Foreign Secretary in the Locarno Speech on 9 December 2025, we recognise the threat that malign information operations including disinformation pose to our national security and overseas interests. We are working to reduce threats to the UK and our interests by identifying and taking direct action against threat networks upstream including through sanctions. We have sanctioned 38 actors engaged in foreign information manipulation and interference since October 2024. Alongside this we are focused on strategic communication and promoting factual and truthful information, and supporting media freedom. Across these efforts, we are working closely with our allies, strengthening our partnerships to jointly tackle shared threats.