Lord Farmer

Sir Robert Devereux’s independent review of the ONS will take into account a wide range of factors relating to performance and culture in the organisation.

All staff in the Department can take part in diversity-related network activities during core working hours with agreement from their line manager. Network Chairs and Champions are given a weekly pro-rata time allocation of 10% to support respective network activity.

There are currently 37 Chairs and Champions across 11 diversity networks which are: Carers Network, CAN (disability) Network, Mental Health & Wellbeing Network, EU & International Network, LGBT+ Network, Parental Support Network, Faith and Minority Ethnic Network, SEDI (social mobility) Network, Volunteering Network, Women Empowered Network, Schools Outreach Network. There are currently no plans to review time allocation for networks.

The Department values its diversity networks and is committed to promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in partnership with them.

The department does not publish data on how funding impacts reducing parental conflict or support for separating parents.

Through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme and the Family Hubs Transformation Fund, over 400 family hubs are now open across 88 local authorities. These hubs aim to connect separating parents with local services to prioritise children’s outcomes when agreeing arrangements and to avoid unnecessary court proceedings.

The government recognises the importance of resolving issues quickly and, where appropriate, outside court. The family mediation voucher scheme continues to provide £500 towards mediation costs, with over £16 million in vouchers issued to help 38,700 parents.

Local authorities with developed family hub models may offer hub-based mediation or shared parenting programmes to support separating families. While not mandatory, this is strongly encouraged for areas seeking to enhance their offer.

The department does not publish data on how funding impacts reducing parental conflict or support for separating parents.

Through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme and the Family Hubs Transformation Fund, over 400 family hubs are now open across 88 local authorities. These hubs aim to connect separating parents with local services to prioritise children’s outcomes when agreeing arrangements and to avoid unnecessary court proceedings.

The government recognises the importance of resolving issues quickly and, where appropriate, outside court. The family mediation voucher scheme continues to provide £500 towards mediation costs, with over £16 million in vouchers issued to help 38,700 parents.

Local authorities with developed family hub models may offer hub-based mediation or shared parenting programmes to support separating families. While not mandatory, this is strongly encouraged for areas seeking to enhance their offer.

Family hubs, where appropriate, should connect families going through parental separation to services and support locally to ensure outcomes for their children are front and centre when agreeing child arrangements. This is to help avoid the cost and potential trauma associated with going through the court process.

In areas with a developed family hub model, local authorities may provide hub-based mediation or other services in support of separating parents, such as shared parenting programmes. This is not a requirement of the programme but is strongly encouraged for areas seeking to enhance their offer.

The specific data requested on how family stability in the UK compares with other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is not available across the OECD. However, the OECD publication ‘Society at a Glance’ (2019) shows that the UK has a lower percentage of children (0-17) living with two parents (76.6% vs OECD average of 81.7%) and a higher rate living with a single parent (23.2% vs the OECD average of 17.2%). More information is in the attached document, ‘Society at a Glance (2019)’ and can also be found here: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/most-children-live-in-households-with-two-parents_29e31016-en.

The specific data requested on the percentage of all children in the United Kingdom who do not live with both of their birth parents is not available. However, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) publishes statistics on the number of children in separated families in England, Scotland and Wales. The latest data shows that 3.8 million children were living in separated families. More information can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/separated-families-statistics-april-2014-to-march-2023/separated-families-statistics-april-2014-to-march-2023.

The DWP’s latest low-income statistics show that 30% of children in the UK in 2022/23 lived in a low-income household after housing costs (defined as living in a household below 60% of median income, adjusted for household composition). This was 4.3 million children altogether. However, the DWP does not have data available on whether or not these children are living with both birth parents. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023/households-below-average-income-an-analysis-of-the-uk-income-distribution-fye-1995-to-fye-2023#children-in-low-income-households.

The Children’s Commissioner’s Office conducted research in part one of their independent Family Review (2022), which used the Office for National Statistics (ONS) annual population survey (2020) to estimate family structure by socio-economic status of the mother. Figure 3 (p.20) shows that a significantly higher proportion of mothers from a lower socio-economic background are a lone parent (29% for routine and 30% for semi-routine occupations), compared to mothers from a higher socio-economic background (14% for lower-managerial and professional and 10% for higher managerial and professional). More information is in the attached document ‘Family and its protective effect’ and can also be found here: https://assets.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wpuploads/2022/12/cc-family-and-its-protective-effect-part-1-of-the-independent-family-review-.pdf.

The DWP publishes statistics on the percentage of children in couple-parent families with at least one parent reporting relationship distress. The latest data for 2019/20 shows that 12% of children in couple-parent families were living with at least one parent reporting relationship distress, although they do not have data available specifically on whether these children are living with both birth parents. Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/parental-conflict-indicator-2011-to-2020/parental-conflict-indicator-2011-to-2020#relationship-distress-in-couple-parent-families.

The specific data requested on how family stability in the UK compares with other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is not available across the OECD. However, the OECD publication ‘Society at a Glance’ (2019) shows that the UK has a lower percentage of children (0-17) living with two parents (76.6% vs OECD average of 81.7%) and a higher rate living with a single parent (23.2% vs the OECD average of 17.2%). More information is in the attached document, ‘Society at a Glance (2019)’ and can also be found here: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/most-children-live-in-households-with-two-parents_29e31016-en.

The specific data requested on the percentage of all children in the United Kingdom who do not live with both of their birth parents is not available. However, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) publishes statistics on the number of children in separated families in England, Scotland and Wales. The latest data shows that 3.8 million children were living in separated families. More information can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/separated-families-statistics-april-2014-to-march-2023/separated-families-statistics-april-2014-to-march-2023.

The DWP’s latest low-income statistics show that 30% of children in the UK in 2022/23 lived in a low-income household after housing costs (defined as living in a household below 60% of median income, adjusted for household composition). This was 4.3 million children altogether. However, the DWP does not have data available on whether or not these children are living with both birth parents. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023/households-below-average-income-an-analysis-of-the-uk-income-distribution-fye-1995-to-fye-2023#children-in-low-income-households.

The Children’s Commissioner’s Office conducted research in part one of their independent Family Review (2022), which used the Office for National Statistics (ONS) annual population survey (2020) to estimate family structure by socio-economic status of the mother. Figure 3 (p.20) shows that a significantly higher proportion of mothers from a lower socio-economic background are a lone parent (29% for routine and 30% for semi-routine occupations), compared to mothers from a higher socio-economic background (14% for lower-managerial and professional and 10% for higher managerial and professional). More information is in the attached document ‘Family and its protective effect’ and can also be found here: https://assets.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wpuploads/2022/12/cc-family-and-its-protective-effect-part-1-of-the-independent-family-review-.pdf.

The DWP publishes statistics on the percentage of children in couple-parent families with at least one parent reporting relationship distress. The latest data for 2019/20 shows that 12% of children in couple-parent families were living with at least one parent reporting relationship distress, although they do not have data available specifically on whether these children are living with both birth parents. Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/parental-conflict-indicator-2011-to-2020/parental-conflict-indicator-2011-to-2020#relationship-distress-in-couple-parent-families.

The Reducing Parental Conflict programme continues to deliver effective relationship support for parents, working with Local Authorities (LAs), family support services and a wide network of partners including voluntary and community organisations. Following the Spending Review, the Department will be making internal funding allocations ahead of the new financial year, and decisions will be communicated at the earliest opportunity.

The Programme remains a DWP initiative, though this does not mean it is kept separate from family help programmes. The 75 LAs funded under the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme are expected, as a minimum, to ensure that staff in family hubs are aware of the evidence on the impact of parental conflict, can identify it, can distinguish it from domestic abuse and provide universal level support and initial early support. This support should be available to parents who are together, separating or separated.

From April, all Local Authorities will receive funding to establish Best Start Family Hubs. Best Start Family Hubs will draw on what we know works from the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, and Sure Start to provide essential support for parents and families. Best Start Family Hubs have a vital role in connecting families to a broad range of services to ensure holistic and integrated support. The Department for Work and Pensions will work closely with the Department for Education as they review the approach to programme expectations in preparation for the roll out of Best Start Family Hubs.

The Reducing Parental Conflict programme continues to deliver effective relationship support for parents, working with Local Authorities (LAs), family support services and a wide network of partners including voluntary and community organisations. Following the Spending Review, the Department will be making internal funding allocations ahead of the new financial year, and decisions will be communicated at the earliest opportunity.

The Programme remains a DWP initiative, though this does not mean it is kept separate from family help programmes. The 75 LAs funded under the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme are expected, as a minimum, to ensure that staff in family hubs are aware of the evidence on the impact of parental conflict, can identify it, can distinguish it from domestic abuse and provide universal level support and initial early support. This support should be available to parents who are together, separating or separated.

From April, all Local Authorities will receive funding to establish Best Start Family Hubs. Best Start Family Hubs will draw on what we know works from the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, and Sure Start to provide essential support for parents and families. Best Start Family Hubs have a vital role in connecting families to a broad range of services to ensure holistic and integrated support. The Department for Work and Pensions will work closely with the Department for Education as they review the approach to programme expectations in preparation for the roll out of Best Start Family Hubs.

The Reducing Parental Conflict programme continues to deliver effective relationship support for parents, working with Local Authorities (LAs), family support services and a wide network of partners including voluntary and community organisations. Following the Spending Review, the Department will be making internal funding allocations ahead of the new financial year, and decisions will be communicated at the earliest opportunity.

The Programme remains a DWP initiative, though this does not mean it is kept separate from family help programmes. The 75 LAs funded under the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme are expected, as a minimum, to ensure that staff in family hubs are aware of the evidence on the impact of parental conflict, can identify it, can distinguish it from domestic abuse and provide universal level support and initial early support. This support should be available to parents who are together, separating or separated.

From April, all Local Authorities will receive funding to establish Best Start Family Hubs. Best Start Family Hubs will draw on what we know works from the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, and Sure Start to provide essential support for parents and families. Best Start Family Hubs have a vital role in connecting families to a broad range of services to ensure holistic and integrated support. The Department for Work and Pensions will work closely with the Department for Education as they review the approach to programme expectations in preparation for the roll out of Best Start Family Hubs.

The Reducing Parental Conflict programme continues to deliver effective relationship support for parents, working with Local Authorities (LAs), family support services and a wide network of partners including voluntary and community organisations. Following the Spending Review, the Department will be making internal funding allocations ahead of the new financial year, and decisions will be communicated at the earliest opportunity.

The Programme remains a DWP initiative, though this does not mean it is kept separate from family help programmes. The 75 LAs funded under the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme are expected, as a minimum, to ensure that staff in family hubs are aware of the evidence on the impact of parental conflict, can identify it, can distinguish it from domestic abuse and provide universal level support and initial early support. This support should be available to parents who are together, separating or separated.

From April, all Local Authorities will receive funding to establish Best Start Family Hubs. Best Start Family Hubs will draw on what we know works from the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, and Sure Start to provide essential support for parents and families. Best Start Family Hubs have a vital role in connecting families to a broad range of services to ensure holistic and integrated support. The Department for Work and Pensions will work closely with the Department for Education as they review the approach to programme expectations in preparation for the roll out of Best Start Family Hubs.

A father’s, and second parent’s, National Health Service number, emails, and telephone numbers will become available via a look up rather than via an actual field population, if parents have shared their data on the General Registry Office. Information added to the baby’s Personal Demographics Service Record in England will be through an automated process, completed after the birth registration.

The Department and NHS England are currently working at pace to develop plans on how best to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care, including that provided by adult hospices, in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

We are supporting hospices in England with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.

Irrespective of whether the law changes on assisted dying, we must continue to work towards creating a society where every person who needs it receives high-quality, compassionate palliative and end of life care.

The Government recognises the clear medical and scientific evidence of the harms of cannabis and is committed to reducing the harm from all illicit drugs. Any illegal drug use, including cannabis, can be harmful, due to both the immediate side-effects and long-term physical and mental health problems. Cannabis use can contribute to and exacerbate existing mental health problems or can accelerate their development in people predisposed to mental health problems

Taking cannabis in any form has risks. For instance, vaping supposed tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may increase the risk of users unwittingly consuming more dangerous substances like synthetic cannabinoids. Where there are incidents of synthetic cannabinoids in THC vapes, the local authority public health team and the Police should take action with partners to warn and protect their communities. The Department is tracking reports nationally and its regional teams are providing localised warnings and support.

The Department has recently launched a media campaign to raise awareness of the risks posed by new drug trends and products, including the adulteration of THC vapes with other drugs like synthetic cannabinoids.

The Government will continue to work with our partners to discourage drug use and to alert people, particularly young people, to the potential dangers of cannabis. The Government has a drug information and advice service called Talk to FRANK, which aims to reduce drug misuse and its harms by increasing awareness, particularly for young people and parents. Talk to FRANK offers easy to read information on the risks of using cannabis and basic harm reduction advice. Information on cannabis is available at the Talk to FRANK website, in an online only format.

The national Patient Demographic Service (PDS) holds records of demographic information for each person with a National Health Service number. When a baby’s PDS record is created at birth, the mother’s details are included.

NHS England is currently working to integrate additional data from the General Register Office, which will also add fathers and second parents to a child’s record, after the child has been registered. A health professional will then be able to look up the NHS number of any parent on a child’s record, to access more details about the parent. This work is expected to start delivering in December 2025.

The aim is to improve the existing infrastructure to facilitate better coordination between existing records. This will support health professionals to offer more informed, joined-up care.

NHS England is working on making it easier for parents to digitally manage their children's health. Improvements which will roll out through 2026 include proxy access to book appointments, order prescriptions, and access medical records.

Once a child is registered with the General Registry Office of Births and Deaths (GRO), the National Health Service receives information showing the parents listed on the birth certificate. Due to a period where not all GRO relationships were added to the NHS record, the NHS is currently working to ensure this happens in the future. This work should be complete by the end of 2025.

Following this, NHS England will be integrating the data into a new service, to make it easier for fathers to access their child's health record and tasks. This will be delivered through 2026.

Ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, including violent extremism and intercommunal violence, continue to have a devastating effect across communities of different faiths and ethnicities, including Christians. The UK remains committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), with Nigeria a focus country under the new FoRB strategy.

Through our UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we are supporting Nigeria to respond to these challenges while upholding human rights, including through training and capacity building for the Nigerian armed forces. At the Third UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership dialogue in July 2025, the UK and Nigeria agreed a support programme to enhance the capacity of Nigeria's National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and other agencies, which will enhance Nigeria's ability to investigate violence and disrupt the financing of terrorist groups. The UK has also renewed its commitment to support Nigeria's Armed Forces in the development of the Defence Special Operations Force, which will help Nigeria to develop a professional, well-coordinated special operations capability to respond to security threats while protecting civilians and promoting stability.

Ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, including violent extremism and intercommunal violence, continue to have a devastating effect across communities of different faiths and ethnicities, including Christians. The UK remains committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), with Nigeria a focus country under the new FoRB strategy.

Through our UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we are supporting Nigeria to respond to these challenges while upholding human rights, including through training and capacity building for the Nigerian armed forces. At the Third UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership dialogue in July 2025, the UK and Nigeria agreed a support programme to enhance the capacity of Nigeria's National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and other agencies, which will enhance Nigeria's ability to investigate violence and disrupt the financing of terrorist groups. The UK has also renewed its commitment to support Nigeria's Armed Forces in the development of the Defence Special Operations Force, which will help Nigeria to develop a professional, well-coordinated special operations capability to respond to security threats while protecting civilians and promoting stability.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 23 September to Question HL10250.

Through the SPRiNG programme, we have convened workshops to explore the root causes of conflict, including religious dimensions, and to introduce tools that enable political and traditional leaders to apply a Freedom of Religion or Belief and conflict sensitivity lens in their decision making.

The programme has achieved encouraging results in its first full year of implementation. For example, in Nasawara State, the programme supported mediation efforts through the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) which resulted in a negotiated agreement between the Bassa and Egbura People, enabling the return and resettlement of 5000 internally displaced persons. As of September 2025, SPRiNG interventions have directly benefited over 18,875 people.

Through the SPRiNG programme, we have convened workshops to explore the root causes of conflict, including religious dimensions, and to introduce tools that enable political and traditional leaders to apply a Freedom of Religion or Belief and conflict sensitivity lens in their decision making.

The programme has achieved encouraging results in its first full year of implementation. For example, in Nasawara State, the programme supported mediation efforts through the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) which resulted in a negotiated agreement between the Bassa and Egbura People, enabling the return and resettlement of 5000 internally displaced persons. As of September 2025, SPRiNG interventions have directly benefited over 18,875 people.

The personal tax system applies on an individual basis and has done since the introduction of the independent basis of taxation in 1990. The government remains committed to the principle of independent taxation.

However, there is more the government can do to improve how it uses the data it collects to better target financial support to those who need it, including to households.

At the Budget in October 2024, the government confirmed it will explore how better data use and sharing across government departments can improve the targeting of economic support to households, especially in times of crisis. HM Revenue and Customs is working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to take this forward.

HMT has eight diversity networks:

1. Carers Network
2. Disability Action Group, incorporating the Neurodiversity Network
3. Ethnic Diversity Network
4. Faith and Belief Network incorporating Christian Fellowship, Treasury Jewish Network and Treasury Muslim Network
5. LGBT* Network
6. Social Mobility Network
7. Treasury All Ages Network
8. Women in the Treasury

HMRC has seven Diversity Networks:

1. Carers​
2. Disability​
3. PRISM​
4. Race​
5. Religion or Belief​
6. Sex and Gender​
7. Social Mobility

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has seven Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) networks:

1. Carers
2. Disability
3. Gender
4. Faith & Belief
5. LGBTQ+ allies
6. Race
7. Social Mobility

It is expected that staff manage any network activity they engage in without detriment to their role. These networks are not centrally funded.

The Government keeps its public order legislation under constant review and where gaps are identified we will seek to address them.

Through section 76 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (PCSC Act 2022), the previous Government amended section 142A of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 to expand the “controlled area” of the Palace of Westminster to include the vehicular access points to the Parliamentary Estate. The amendment also added obstructing the passage of a vehicle into or out of the Parliamentary Estate to the list of prohibited activities.

The aim of the amendments was to prevent the impediment of Parliamentarians’ vehicular access to the Parliamentary Estate via vehicular entrances. The scope of the amendment was determined in consultation with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and other key partners. The PCSC Act 2022 will be subject to post-legislative scrutiny between April 2025 and April 2027. We will carefully consider the findings of that review and should gaps in the legislation be identified, we will seek to address them.

Through section 76 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (PCSC Act 2022), the previous Government amended section 142A of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 to expand the “controlled area” of the Palace of Westminster to include the vehicular access points to the Parliamentary Estate. The amendment also added obstructing the passage of a vehicle into or out of the Parliamentary Estate to the list of prohibited activities.

The aim of the amendments was to prevent the impediment of Parliamentarians’ vehicular access to the Parliamentary Estate via vehicular entrances. The scope of the amendment was determined in consultation with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and other key partners. The PCSC Act 2022 will be subject to post-legislative scrutiny between April 2025 and April 2027. We will carefully consider the findings of that review and should gaps in the legislation be identified, we will seek to address them.

Through section 76 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (PCSC Act 2022), the previous Government amended section 142A of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 to expand the “controlled area” of the Palace of Westminster to include the vehicular access points to the Parliamentary Estate. The amendment also added obstructing the passage of a vehicle into or out of the Parliamentary Estate to the list of prohibited activities.

The aim of the amendments was to prevent the impediment of Parliamentarians’ vehicular access to the Parliamentary Estate via vehicular entrances. The scope of the amendment was determined in consultation with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and other key partners. The PCSC Act 2022 will be subject to post-legislative scrutiny between April 2025 and April 2027. We will carefully consider the findings of that review and should gaps in the legislation be identified, we will seek to address them.

This Government’s priority has been to commence Safe Access Zones as quickly as possible. The College of Policing and the Crown Prosecution Service will produce guidance for the police and prosecutors. We have engaged with our partners extensively on this issue and we do not believe it is necessary to issue government guidance as well, so this Government will not be following up the previous Government’s consultation on non-statutory guidance for Safe Access Zones.