Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of (1) China, and (2) the United States of America, regarding the introduction of trade tariffs.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have concluded a landmark economic deal with the United States, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.
In April, Minister Alexander travelled to Beijing where he met ministers from the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to discuss a range of bilateral and global trade issues, including the trade tariffs.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to protect peatlands.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the importance of England’s peatlands and committed in our manifesto to expanding nature-rich habitats including bogs. We have ambitions to restore hundreds of thousands of hectares of peatland across the country.
Defra is currently seeking views on proposed changes to The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021, which would provide protection to a broader area of upland peat. A public consultation was launched on 31 March and will close on 25 May, the results of which will be used to inform future policy in this area.
We are also looking at next steps regarding measures to ban horticultural peat and will continue to work alongside the horticultural sector to accelerate progress on the peat free transition.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the use of green hydrogen as an energy source.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HARs) remains our primary mechanism for allocating revenue support through the Hydrogen Production Business Model to low carbon, non-CCUS enabled hydrogen production facilities across the UK.
In the Autumn 2024 Budget, we confirmed support for 11 green hydrogen projects from the first Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1), and on 7 April 2025 we announced a shortlist of 27 projects that were invited to the next stage of the Second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) process.
This announcement reinforces the Government’s recognition of the key role low carbon hydrogen will play in delivering our Clean Energy Superpower and Growth Missions.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they have taken, if any, to ensure that possible war crimes committed against British citizens Andrew Bagshaw and Chris Parry in Ukraine on or about 7 January 2023 are properly investigated.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Office of the Prosecutor General in Ukraine has already recorded over 160,000 allegations of war crimes committed since Russia's barbaric invasion in February 2022. The majority of these will be investigated by Ukraine and where appropriate tried in Ukrainian courts. The UK has provided over £11.3 million in funding to support Ukraine's domestic accountability efforts to ensure allegations of war crimes can be fully and fairly investigated, by independent, effective, and robust legal mechanisms. Investigations into the deaths of Andrew Bagshaw and Chris Parry are a matter for the Ukrainian authorities, and we would respond to any requests for UK support through the usual judicial co-operation channels. It would not be appropriate to comment on any such requests or cooperation.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what practice they have adopted in relation to the investigation of alleged war crimes against British citizens.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This government has made a strong commitment to international justice, including through its continuing support for institutions such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and through programme work which supports countries to deal with alleged war crimes fully, fairly and in line with international standards. The UK is committed to securing accountability for those responsible for atrocity crimes, and any allegations must be thoroughly investigated.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks associated with their current practices in assessing incidents of religious and racial hatred; and what plans they have to change these practices.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Secretary has agreed that the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), supported by the College of Policing, will conduct a review on the use and effectiveness of non-crime hate incidents, including those incidents involving religious and racial hatred. The review will cover when the police should record information that has not yet reached the criminal threshold, but which is still deemed necessary to monitor community tensions and keep the public safe. It will also consider the fundamental right of freedom of expression and recent court rulings in this area. The Government welcomes this review and will work closely with the NPCC and the College as they develop their findings and any proposals.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing a tourism tax.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Tourism is a significant economic, cultural and social asset to the UK. The sector is a powerful engine for economic growth and job creation across all regions. Tourism contributes not only economically, but also in creating pride in local communities and contributing to the UK's soft power.
The Government regularly receives representations about visitor levies in England.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of patient demand for antibiotics from pharmacists; and what action, if any, they are taking to reduce this.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Under Pharmacy First, pharmacists can supply prescription-only medicines, including some antibiotics, under Patient Group Directions (PGDs). PGDs are strict protocols that allow certain healthcare professionals to supply prescription-only medicines in very specific circumstances and without a prescription from a general practitioner. The service design was informed by best practice with input from an expert panel of clinicians.
The impacts of the service are being assessed via multiple routes. As part of the Pharmacy Quality Scheme 2025/26, participating contractors will be expected to complete a clinical audit, focusing on the clinical advice and consultations provided to patients. NHS England has completed a review of the Pharmacy First service. The National Institute of Health and Care Research has commissioned research to assess the impact, safety, and effectiveness of Pharmacy First. NHS England will keep the clinical scope of the service under review.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect NHS services and patients from the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Pathogens develop resistance to antimicrobial treatments, such as antibiotics, through inappropriate use and unintentional exposure through the environment and our food. This is driving rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and is creating a generation of ‘superbugs’ that cannot be treated with existing medicines and treatments, leading to longer hospital stays and more complex treatment pathways.
The Government’s UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029, a copy of which is attached, is committed to reducing the rate of drug-resistant infections and AMR through a series of commitments that aim to reduce the need for, and unintentional exposure to, antimicrobials. This aims to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials. The national action plan also commits to meeting specific targets to reduce drug-resistant infections by 2029, including preventing their increase in humans and any increase in gram-negative bloodstream infections from the specified 2019/20 financial year baseline.
NHS England implements its responsibilities under the national action plan through a set of workstreams, each with responsibility for a set of these commitments. The central AMR programme team within NHS England works with partners within the UK Health Security Agency and the Department to co-ordinate and ensure delivery. Regional NHS England leads work with integrated care boards to advise on, and support actions locally, to reduce infection and the need for antimicrobials.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that water companies have sufficient supplies of water to meet customer needs.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government has made it a priority to ensure safe and secure supplies of water for customers. Statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs) set out how water companies intend to deliver a secure supply of water for customers. Every 5 years water companies are required to publish new WRMPs, and the latest (2024) plans have been scrutinised by the Environment Agency and Ofwat to ensure companies can meet future challenges.
The 2024 WRMPs include:
The Government is supporting delivery of the WRMP commitments, for instance the planned implementation of a mandatory water efficiency label, which will require water efficiency labelling of plumbing products and water-using white goods, enabling consumer choice based on efficiency.