Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of security risks resulting from critical public services provided with telecommunications by organisations that are not in the scope of the Telecommunications Security Act 2021, and which are instead regulated by other countries.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications networks and services. This includes regular assessment of security and resilience risks relating to such networks and services.

The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 (TSA) amended the Communications Act 2003 to establish a robust security framework for UK public telecoms networks and services, placing new legal duties on public telecoms providers to identify and mitigate security risks.

Some essential services may use private telecoms networks outside the scope of the TSA. However, under the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018, operators of essential services are required to manage risks to those services resulting from their use of such networks. In addition, the National Security and Investment Act 2021 includes powers to scrutinise and, if necessary, intervene in foreign acquisitions or investments in the UK telecoms sector that may pose national security risks.

The UK government also works closely to promote the adoption of appropriate and proportionate telecoms security regulations by other countries.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how aware organisations purchasing telecommunications services are of provider obligations under the Telecommunications Security Act 2021.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 (TSA) established a robust security framework for UK public telecoms networks and services, placing new legal duties on public telecoms providers to identify and mitigate security risks. The framework is designed to ensure that security is embedded within the networks and services, so those using them can have confidence in their security.

DSIT works with Ofcom and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure providers are aware of their obligations. Ofcom produces annual security reports for the Secretary of State on providers’ compliance with their obligations in the Act, and their progress against the guidance measures set out in the accompanying Telecommunications Security Code of Practice. These measures have staggered implementation timeframes based on factors such as their complexity and cost.

The first report was published on GOV.UK in January 2025, and is available to organisations purchasing telecommunications services. The report helps the Government monitor compliance approaches across the sector, including progress against guidance measures in the Code of Practice as they fall due.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the guidance available for organisations purchasing telecommunications services about the due diligence they should undertake.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications networks and services, including supporting informed purchasing decisions by businesses and other organisations.

The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 (TSA) amended the Communications Act 2003 to establish a robust security framework for UK public telecoms networks and services. Ofcom provides guidance to businesses purchasing telecommunications services and enforces protections for business customers through the General Conditions of Entitlement, which all telecommunications operators must meet to provide services in the UK.

The Government will continue to keep the security of telecoms networks under review.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review legislation affecting common land.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

There are currently no plans to review legislation affecting common land.

However, the Government has announced that we will bring forward an Access to Nature Green Paper by the end of this Parliament. This will provide an opportunity to feed in views on common land and related access issues.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the amount of land registered as common land which was incorrectly registered.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has not made a formal assessment of the total amount of land incorrectly registered as common land. However, the Commons Act 2006 acknowledges that registration errors occurred under the Commons Registration Act 1965, including wrongly drawn boundaries, buildings mistakenly included, and land that did not meet the legal definition of common land. Schedule 2 of the Commons Act 2006 provides mechanisms to correct registration errors, but implementation is limited to specific areas with varying deadlines - applications closed in pioneer areas in December 2020, while deregistration applications in other English areas must be made by 15 March 2027.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the average monthly payout for delays by Avanti West Coast on the West Coast Main Line in 2025.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Government produces annual figures relating to the amount of delay repay compensation that is paid out by train operating companies including Avanti West Coast. The data for 2024-25 has been collected and will be published in due course. The data for 2025-26 will be collected at the end of the financial year and subsequently published.

In addition to data published by the Department, Avanti West Coast publish data by rail period via its website which may be found on Avanti’s website: https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/help-and-support/delay-repay.

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: Can I make a quick point there?

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: Yes.

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: That is fine. 55.

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: I am afraid I suspected that.

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: Could I please ask a question for clarification?

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Yes, Lord Inglewood. 87.

Found: Yes, Lord Inglewood. 87.

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: It is not taken from quite the same place, is it?

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: It is not taken from quite the same place, is it?

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: Sorry, I do not know the area very well.

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: Sorry, I do not know the area very well.

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: Chairman, can I just follow up quickly?

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: Chairman, can I just follow up quickly?

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: Chairman, can I just follow up quickly?

Found: LORD INGLEWOOD: Chairman, can I just follow up quickly?

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Hope of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: of Craighead (Chair) Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Lord Evans of Guisborough Lord Inglewood

Found: Lord Inglewood, you do have an interest to declare. 5. LORD INGLEWOOD: Yes, Chairman. Thank you.

Found: Lord Inglewood, you do have an interest to declare. LORD INGLEWOOD: Yes, Chairman. Thank you.

Found: Lord Inglewood, you do have an interest to declare. 5. LORD INGLEWOOD: Yes, Chairman. Thank you.

Found: Lord Inglewood, you do have an interest to declare. LORD INGLEWOOD: Yes, Chairman. Thank you.