Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the increase in applications for data centres in the UK; and whether there is adequate provision for connection to the national grid.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The government recognises that the demand for data centres is growing, reflecting their critical importance to the economy, public services and national security. This is placing increasing demands on the national grid, and we are taking steps to ensure that development is supported by sufficient energy infrastructure. We have established the AI Energy Council where we work with industry to enable data centre growth and manage challenges to the energy system. We are working with Ofgem, NESO and DESNZ to manage speculative applications for data centre connections, and ensure that network infrastructure can be built in the right places to support demand.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that French police assist migrants seeking to cross the Channel to the UK in small boats.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK works closely with the French Government and French law enforcement partners to prevent dangerous small boat crossings and tackle the criminal gangs that facilitate them.
Since the election, joint work with France has prevented more than 48,000 attempted crossings and resulted in the seizure of over 1,100 boats and engines. Operational decisions in French territorial waters remain a matter for the French authorities but reports of them assisting migrant journeys is a mischaracterisation of their activity.
Through the Home Secretary's latest deal we have strengthened this cooperation through increased French law enforcement deployments, specialist policing units, enhanced surveillance and intelligence sharing. France has also reviewed its maritime approach and authorised new interventions at sea to intercept taxi boats and prevent dangerous crossings.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what financial assistance is being provided to crown dependencies in the Caribbean region.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There are no crown dependencies in the Caribbean region.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with international partners about the current operation and relevance of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government discusses the international protection system regularly with international partners. As indicated previously, in the answer of 7 July 2026 to Question HL1510, the former Foreign Secretary met the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on 16 June 2026, where they discussed the importance of maintaining an effective international protection system, while also addressing abuse of asylum systems and maintaining public confidence. The Government continues to engage the UN Refugee Agency, refugee-hosting countries and like-minded partners on the continued relevance of the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the Republic of Ireland regarding the challenges posed by illegal immigration into both jurisdictions; and what plans they have to publish any agreed practical measures.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls on journeys from Ireland to the UK, with no immigration checks being undertaken on the Northern Ireland-Ireland land border. The UK does however operate intelligence-led operational activity on CTA routes – away from the land border. This is to detect those who intend to abuse CTA arrangements. Anyone identified attempting to circumvent UK border controls is liable to be detained and, if they are not lawfully present within the UK, removed.
In support of this the UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative working relationship on a range of issues, including migration and border security. A key focus of that collaboration is our shared commitment to protect the CTA from abuse while preserving the rights of British and Irish citizens. Discussions are ongoing, including through the Common Travel Area Forum (CTAF), an official-level forum co-chaired by the UK Home Office and Ireland's Department of Justice.
The Government does not routinely publish details of these discussions or any measures under consideration. However, where appropriate, information on joint activity or agreed measures may be announced publicly.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what checks are being conducted at the borders between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland to prevent the entry into the UK of unauthorised migrants.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls on journeys from Ireland to the UK, with no immigration checks being undertaken on the Northern Ireland-Ireland land border. The UK does however operate intelligence-led operational activity on CTA routes – away from the land border. This is to detect those who intend to abuse CTA arrangements. Anyone identified attempting to circumvent UK border controls is liable to be detained and, if they are not lawfully present within the UK, removed.
In support of this the UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative working relationship on a range of issues, including migration and border security. A key focus of that collaboration is our shared commitment to protect the CTA from abuse while preserving the rights of British and Irish citizens. Discussions are ongoing, including through the Common Travel Area Forum (CTAF), an official-level forum co-chaired by the UK Home Office and Ireland's Department of Justice.
The Government does not routinely publish details of these discussions or any measures under consideration. However, where appropriate, information on joint activity or agreed measures may be announced publicly.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the Army is reducing training activities to save money.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence keeps all spending, including Army training, under review to ensure the highest priorities are pursued in the face of an ever-changing threat.
Defence continues to prioritise training that delivers the greatest operational effect, while protecting essential readiness, operational commitments, safety-critical activity and our NATO commitments.
The Army continues to meet its operational requirements while adapting training to reflect lessons identified from Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Through the Defence Investment Plan, Defence is investing £2 billion over 15 years to transform British Army training.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether discussions are ongoing with the government of Mauritius over the future of the Chagos Islands.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government continues to engage with Mauritius on issues related to the UK-Mauritius Chagos Treaty.  We do not intend to provide a running commentary on these conversations.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of foreign nationals or asylum seekers travelling from the Republic of Ireland to the UK.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls of individuals arriving in the UK by air or sea from within the CTA, and no immigration checks are undertaken at the Ireland-Northern Ireland land border.
There is a high level of cooperation on migration and border security between the UK and Ireland to identify and tackle migration trends as they emerge. As per the commitment made at the 2026 UK-Ireland Summit, between the previous Prime Minister and the Taoiseach, the UK and Ireland continue to work together, which includes expanding immigration data sharing.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of foreign nationals or asylum seekers travelling to the Republic of Ireland from the UK.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements, the UK does not operate routine immigration controls of individuals arriving in the UK by air or sea from within the CTA, and no immigration checks are undertaken at the Ireland-Northern Ireland land border.
There is a high level of cooperation on migration and border security between the UK and Ireland to identify and tackle migration trends as they emerge. As per the commitment made at the 2026 UK-Ireland Summit, between the previous Prime Minister and the Taoiseach, the UK and Ireland continue to work together, which includes expanding immigration data sharing.