Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threats facing religious personnel in Khartoum and surrounding regions, following the reported killing of a Catholic priest; and what representations they have made to call for an urgent ceasefire, the protection of clergy, and unhindered humanitarian access in that region.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK strongly condemns the reported killing of Catholic priest, Father Luka Jomo, in El Fasher, North Darfur, and also condemns the reported bombing of churches which killed and injured multiple people. We will continue to recognise the issue of Christian persecution globally, alongside the persecution of other individuals on the basis of their religion or belief. Our Special Envoy for freedom of religion or belief, David Smith, made a statement at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 4 March, highlighting our concerns regarding the coercion of non-Muslims in Sudan to change their beliefs through denial of work, food aid, and education. On 15 April, following the London Sudan Conference, the co-chairs' statement called on relevant parties to enact an immediate ceasefire, and allow and facilitate rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas of need through all necessary routes in adherence with their obligations under international humanitarian law. On 27 June, during an open briefing at the UN Security Council, the UK echoed the UN's calls for humanitarian pauses in Sudan, emphasising the need for aid to reach those most in need.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the hospitality sector’s contribution to social productivity and inclusive economic growth across the UK.

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

We recognise the vital role hospitality businesses play in driving economic growth and strengthening community cohesion across the country.

We plan to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000, We have reduced alcohol duty on qualifying draught beer products, saving the sector over £85 million annually. We’ve introduced a Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects aligned with Department for Business & Trade and Sector Council priorities, such as supporting initiatives like Pub is The Hub to encourage local investment. We have also launched a licensing taskforce to cut red tape and remove barriers to business growth.

DBT ministers are pleased to be working with the Hospitality Sector Council on strategic issues facing the sectors. The next Council meeting in July will be addressing the topic of the sector’s social and economic contribution.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the economic and social contribution of hospitality businesses in towns and city centres.

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

We recognise the vital role hospitality businesses play in driving economic growth and strengthening community cohesion across the country.

We plan to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000, We have reduced alcohol duty on qualifying draught beer products, saving the sector over £85 million annually. We’ve introduced a Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects aligned with Department for Business & Trade and Sector Council priorities, such as supporting initiatives like Pub is The Hub to encourage local investment. We have also launched a licensing taskforce to cut red tape and remove barriers to business growth.

DBT ministers are pleased to be working with the Hospitality Sector Council on strategic issues facing the sectors. The next Council meeting in July will be addressing the topic of the sector’s social and economic contribution.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on British Sikh communities of recent internal controversies within the Sikh community in India, including leadership appointments within the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC); and what steps they are taking to engage with British Sikhs and representative organisations to understand and respond to these concerns.

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

The Government is aware of recent developments concerning leadership appointments within the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the concerns these have raised among some British Sikhs. These are internal matters for the Sikh community, however, we recognise the importance of religious leadership and governance to British Sikhs' cultural and spiritual life. The UK remains committed to supporting the British Sikh community and promoting religious freedom and community cohesion.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent reports of continued severe restrictions and persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in China; and what representations they have made about that issue to the government of China.

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

The environment for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. Chinese regulations on religious activity severely restrict religious and cultural expression in China. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to FoRB. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Energy Secretary all raised human rights recently with their Chinese counterparts.

More broadly, this Government champions FoRB for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to FoRB through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.

The recent launch of our FoRB strategy on July 8 outlines our approach to promoting and protecting the right to FoRB globally, of which China is one of ten focus countries. We continue to do all we can to encourage FoRB across China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom report, Russia Country Update, published on 30 June; and what steps are they taking, bilaterally or through multilateral bodies, to press for accountability and improvements to religious freedom in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine.

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

The report highlights issues that have long concerned this and the previous UK Government. We are deeply disturbed by the impact of Russia's illegal war on Freedom of Religion or Belief in the illegally occupied territories of Ukraine and in Russia. We condemn Russia's attempt to destroy Ukraine's religious and belief communities. We are further concerned by prosecution of "non-traditional" religious communities within Russia. We provide funding to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine to document and report human rights abuses and violations in Ukraine. We continue to raise concerns in multilateral fora to hold the Russian state to account for its human rights violations.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many criminal prosecutions related to abortion have been brought in each of the last five years, and what assessment they have made of connection between the number of such prosecutions and the availability of telemedicine for early medical abortion.

Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the number of prosecutions across England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK.

The offences that constitute unlawful abortion include procuring an illegal abortion under sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as well as child destruction under section 1 of the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929. This data is held on a principal-offence basis and therefore reports information relating to the most serious offence that a defendant was dealt for. The Department of Health and Social Care is responsible for the policy relating to telemedicine for early medical abortion. The available data does not specify how many of these prosecutions are linked to the use of telemedicine for early medical abortion. The Government has not made an assessment on the connection between the number of such prosecutions and the availability of telemedicine for early medical abortion.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Horticulture Working Group has reported on the movement of seeds to consumers in Northern Ireland from Great Britain as set out in Safeguarding the Union (CP1021); if so, what assessment they have made of the report and its proposed solutions; and what action they have taken in response to each proposed solution.

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

The Horticulture Working Group identifies and seeks to resolve issues related to the movement of plants and seeds between Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. The Group has not provided the Government with a formal report; however, it has discussed the options and requirements for the movement of seeds to consumers in Northern Ireland. The options and requirements are published through guidance on GOV.UK.

The Group has also discussed the expected benefits of the UK-EU SPS Agreement. Once finalised, it will remove a broad and wide-ranging set of SPS and agri-food requirements for goods and plants moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking steps to support and promote the Northern Ireland creative sector and universities in Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom's soft power strategy.

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

The Soft Power Council is working with the UK Government to develop and deliver a new Soft Power Strategy that will harness the strength of our soft power sectors - from universities and the creative industries, to sport, heritage and tourism - from all nations of the UK, including Northern Ireland, to craft a unifying, positive narrative that will raise the profile of our soft power assets and enhance our influence in the world. Plans are being developed for a future meeting of the Soft Power Council to take place in Northern Ireland - a moment to consider in particular the soft power opportunities for Northern Ireland.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the 24-week abortion gestational limit to take account of recent scientific evidence on foetal pain and advances in neonatal care.

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

There are no plans for the Government to review the gestational limits of abortion. It is for Parliament to decide whether to make any changes to the law on abortion, including gestational time limits.

When the time limit was last reduced in 1990, there was a clear consensus from the medical profession that the age of viability had reduced from 28 weeks to 24 weeks gestation. There is currently no clear medical consensus that the age of viability has reduced below 24 weeks.

The Government does not formulate policy on fetal sentience and fetal pain. The review and determination of fetal sentience and its implications for abortion and clinical practice is reached through professional medical consensus and clinical guidance.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has carried out a comprehensive review into fetal awareness evidence. Published in December 2022, the review concluded that the evidence to date indicates that the possibility of pain perception before 28 weeks of gestation is unlikely.