Asked by: Lord Farmer (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their announcement on 18 September that protection zones around abortion clinics will be in force from 31 October, when they intend to respond to the Abortion clinic safe access zones: non-statutory guidance consultation, which ran from 1 December 2023 to 22 January 2024.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
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.
Asked by: Lord Farmer (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure the release of the British hostage, Emily Damari, held in captivity in Gaza since the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel, and hostages directly related to British citizens such as Eli Sharabi, Avinatan Or and Oded Lifschitz.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We condemn Hamas' continued holding of hostages in Gaza, including Emily Damari and all those connected to British citizens. Hamas must release all the hostages now, and a ceasefire deal must be agreed urgently to end the suffering. Since our first day in government we have been working alongside our allies and partners in the region in support of ongoing negotiations. We appreciate the tireless efforts of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States, and continue to use all diplomatic avenues to further our aims. The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed to Israeli Foreign Minister Katz in Israel the UK's support in working together to deliver the return of all the hostages. The Foreign Secretary and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan have also met the families of hostages with links to the UK, whose loved ones have been murdered or taken by Hamas, to express our deepest sympathies and to highlight the diplomatic efforts underway.
Asked by: Lord Farmer (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the Genomics England and NHS England ‘Generation Study’, offering 100,000 newborns whole genome sequencing after birth to diagnose and support a number of genetic conditions, does not include 22q11.2 deletion syndrome which meets the four requisite principles for inclusion.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Generation Study screens for over 200 conditions which were selected on a set of four principles. The expression, or penetrance, of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is incomplete, meaning that some people with the syndrome may have no features of the condition. For this and many other conditions, including other microdeletion and microduplication syndromes, Genomics England has taken a conservative approach when applying the four principles, selecting only those conditions where penetrance is high and where treatment must be initiated very early in essentially all cases. Genomics England will review and add conditions during the course of the programme, and will publicise information about any review.
Asked by: Lord Farmer (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in the Home Office are permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours; what is the percentage of overall working time they are permitted to spend on such network activity; how many hours are allocated in total; what are the names of each of the networks being funded; and what plans they have to (a) increase, or (b) reduce, such funding.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As the noble Lord will be aware, successive governments have supported civil service staff to engage in network activity designed to foster a more inclusive workforce. The funding for that activity within the Home Office over the period 2019-24 was set out by the previous government in HC26338.
For network chairs and other representatives elected by their colleagues, the time they may spend on network activity is capped at 50 per cent of their working hours, and their role within the Department will always be given first priority over staff network activity. Time allocation is pro rata based on working pattern and contract, but the total amount of time allocated to network activity by relevant officials is currently equivalent to 19 FTE staff per year.
In August 23, the Home Office reported an allocated support time amounting to 19 FTE for the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure and Impact Review.
Asked by: Lord Farmer (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours; what is the percentage of overall working time they are permitted to spend on such network activity; how many hours are allocated in total; what are the names of each of the networks being funded; and what plans they have to (a) increase, or (b) reduce, such funding.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
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.
Asked by: Lord Farmer (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in (1) the Treasury, (2) HM Revenue and Customs, and (3) Valuation Office Agency, are permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours; what is the percentage of overall working time they are permitted to spend on such network activity; how many hours are allocated in total; what are the names of each of the networks being funded; and what plans they have to (a) increase, or (b) reduce, such funding.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMT has eight diversity networks:
HMRC has seven Diversity Networks:
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has seven Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) networks:
It is expected that staff manage any network activity they engage in without detriment to their role. These networks are not centrally funded.
Asked by: Lord Farmer (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 7 August (HL344), how many staff in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours; what is the percentage of overall working time they are permitted to spend on such network activity; how many hours are allocated in total; what are the names of each of the networks being funded; and what plans they have to (a) increase, or (b) reduce, such funding.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO has 17 Staff Networks which relate to protected characteristics defined in the 2010 Equality Act, related characteristics referenced in the Civil Service Diversity & Inclusion Strategy, and FCDO specific groups for topics experienced as a global organisation. Staff Networks provide valuable insight and help us to meet the Public Sector Equality Duties. Co-Chairs of FCDO Staff Networks are volunteers who are allowed to spend up to 10 per cent of their contracted time to serve in this capacity - we do not record the hours this translates to. A small discretionary budget is available for Staff Networks to support their work in line with the Civil Service guidance and value for money. There are no plans to change the number of FCDO Staff Networks or related funding.
The Staff Networks are as follows: Armed Forces, Uniformed Volunteers & Family Staff Network, Country Based Staff, Disability Inclusion and Awareness Network, FCDO Women, FCDO/Diplomatic Service Families Association Carers' Network, FLAG: FCDO LGBT+ Staff Association, Flexible Working Network, Home Civil Service International Staff Network, Mental Health, Wellbeing and Listening Network, Over Fifties Network, Parents' Support Network, Parents of children with disabilities Network, Race and Ethnicity Network, Religion and Belief Group, Social Mobility Network, Unaccompanied Staff Network and Young People and Early Professionals Network.
Asked by: Lord Farmer (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what data they have on the percentage of children in low-income households who do not live with both birth parents; and what percentage of children in middle to higher-income households do not live with both birth parents.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
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.
Asked by: Lord Farmer (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what data they have, by age of child, on the percentage of all children in the United Kingdom who do not live with both of their birth parents.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
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.
Asked by: Lord Farmer (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of how family stability in the UK compares with other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, in terms of children still living with both their biological parents at age 15.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
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.