Lord Jackson of Peterborough

There has been no engagement with governments of international jurisdictions on conversion practice policies since the election of the new government.

The Ministry of Defence answered the question for written answer (HL1878) on 5th December 2024. As is sometimes the case when a Minister asks for further contextual information, a response may be later than the target 10 days. As Leader of the House I continue to remind Ministers of the 10 working day target.

I refer the Noble Lord to my answer to his previous question (HL2460), given on 26 November.

All Government Ministers are fully aware of their responsibility to respond to questions for written answer within the 10 day target. When further information is required from other departments it may take longer to answer.

I have personally reminded Ministers of the 10 day target for their department. My office also routinely contacts departments who have breached the target, reminding them of their duty to ensure the target is met and to ascertain the reasons why deadlines have been missed.

As outlined in my previous answer of 29 October (HL 1459), officials have and will continue to engage with international and devolved governments as part of their work relating to conversion practices. Clearly, any country’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area depends on their legal framework and context.

We are currently working toward publication of the draft Bill later this session and will engage Parliamentarians across both Houses and key stakeholders on our proposals in further detail.

The Government engages with the European Commission and Member States on a range of issues relating to the rights of British nationals in the EU, including the issuing of documentation to UK citizens residing in the EU. We have consistently raised, both bilaterally with individual Member States and with the European Commission, the need to improve the speed at which documentation is issued in certain Member States. We also raise this issue through the structures created under the Withdrawal Agreement, such as the Specialised Committee on Citizens' Rights. We will raise this issue again at the upcoming Specialised Committee on Citizens' Rights on 14 November.

There are currently no infringement cases against the UK before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

In 2020, the European Commission launched infringement case INFR (2020)2202 against the UK. The case concerns the implementation of aspects of the Free Movement Directive into UK law while the UK was an EU Member State and during the transition period.

The proceedings are ongoing, and on 25 October, the UK Government responded to a Reasoned Opinion which had been issued by the European Commission on 25 July.

There are no immediate plans to report to Parliament on these proceedings but this will be kept under review.

The Government has no such list. The Government uses terms which are designed to be inclusive, easy to understand and accessible to everyone.

Allocation of working time spent on cross-government staff networks is an agreement between the staff network volunteers and their departments as employers.

The majority of staff time spent on the Civil Service LGBT+ Network is voluntary and unpaid.

The Government has decided to pause the commencement of section 6 of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (REUL Act) to allow time to consider this within the wider context of our work to grow the economy and reset relations with the EU and Devolved Governments. Pausing the commencement of Section 6 gives businesses greater stability, and the Government remains free to reform inherited EU law in the best interests of our businesses and economy. While we do not currently intend to commence section 6, it remains open to us to do so at a later date.

The Government aims to strengthen arrangements on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications with the European Union. The regulatory environment for skills and professionals was on the agenda at the UK EU Trade Specialised Committee on Services, Investment and Digital Trade on 24 October 2024. The UK’s approach to the recognition of professional qualifications was discussed under that agenda item. The Government is engaging with businesses to understand views on recognition of professional qualifications between the UK and EU and looks forward to discussions with the EU in due course.

This Government recognises the importance of skills as a crucial factor in maximising the potential of our semiconductor sector, driving growth, and creating high-quality jobs throughout the UK. My officials are collaborating with stakeholders across industry and academia to understand the challenges faced by the semiconductor sector in order to take the necessary steps needed to expand the talent pool for the long term. The newly announced Skills England will play a vital role in bringing together government, industry and training providers to address the skills needs of the coming decade.

The government’s number one mission is economic growth. At the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology we are accelerating innovation to unlock more growth across the UK, as well as supporting the government’s other missions such as the clean energy transition. The UK’s science and technology sectors, including semiconductors, are already driving that economic growth and unlocking the innovations that will help us reach net zero.

We are committed to securing areas of world leading advantage in the semiconductor technologies of the future by focusing on our strengths in research and development (R&D), design and IP, and compound semiconductors. This will facilitate technological innovation, boost growth and job creation, bolster our international position to improve supply chain resilience, and protect our national security.

We will work closely with industry and academia to ensure our work is delivering real-world benefits for UK citizens.

Given the global nature of semiconductor supply chains, international collaboration is crucial for both the UK’s resilience and economic growth. The government is working closely with international partners on supply chain resilience and developing its semiconductor skills base, including by implementing partnerships covering these issues with Japan, the Republic of Korea and India. It will support UK semiconductor organisations to participate in the EU Chips Joint Undertaking and drive international collaboration on semiconductors within the OECD’s ‘Informal Network on Semiconductors’ and the G7 ‘Point of Contact’ group, to further collective understanding of supply chains and coordinate resilience efforts.

The European Union (EU) has raised a dispute that the UK’s decision to prohibit fishing for sandeel within UK waters is not compliant with the Trade and Cooperation agreement (TCA). The dispute proceedings are confidential therefore there is little more I can say at this time.

This Government committed in its manifesto to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. To deliver on this commitment, the UK Government has formed a cross-government Taskforce on motor insurance, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s Treasury, which met for the first time on 16th October.

The Taskforce is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and by the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. The Taskforce is supported by a separate Stakeholder Panel of industry experts representing the insurance, motor, and consumer sector.

This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover. It will evaluate the impact of increased insurance costs on consumers and the insurance industry, including how this impacts different demographics, geographies, and communities.

Currently 7 National Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Networks are given pro rata time allocation to support respective network activity.

Time allocation

The National EDI Network Co-Chairs have a 25%-weekly time allocation and the Strand Lead/Board Member/Committee roles have a weekly 10%-time allocation. Each Network can recruit up to 10 Committee members (please note that not all Networks have up to 10 Committee members).

7 National EDI Networks with allocated time equates to:

1 x 25 % time allocation 37- hour week contract equates to 9.25 hours for each co-chair or 18.5 hours for both per week or 962 hours year for each of them

1x10% time allocation 37 – hour week contract equates to 3.7 per committee member, or for each committee member 10 x 10 % equates to 37 hours a week or 1,924 hours annually for all members of a Committee.

Across all 7 Networks:

• 70* people support network activity at 10% with 90% of their time focused on their contracted job role.
• 14 people spend 25% of their time on network activity, with 75% of their time focused on their contracted job role.

*note that not all Committee roles are filled.

Cross Civil Service Networks

Alongside DWP EDI Networks there a number of cross Civil Service Networks. DWP colleagues who take up the role of Co-Chair for a recognised cross government EDI Network can receive 5% time allocation to carry out their duties. Colleagues are welcome to be a member of any Staff Network but are only able to receive time allocation for one role on an EDI Network at any time.

The 2 chairs of the Civil Service LBGT+ Network both sit in DWP. They have 37-hour week contracts and 5% of this equates to 1.85 hours each a week – or 96.2 hours a year for each them.

The following table shows the number of abortion clinics which have never been inspected by the Care Quality Commission, as well as the number of clinics which have not been inspected since 30 September 2021:

Source: Care Quality Commission.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) was planning to publish information about their expectations of the frequency of future assessments in July 2024. Due to the timing of the review into the operational effectiveness of the CQC led by Dr Penny Dash, the CQC did not share this information as planned.

The interim findings of Dr Dash’s review, as well as the full and final report published on 15 October 2024, made clear recommendations on how the CQC needs to change its regulatory approach. The CQC has committed to making those changes.

The CQC will publish an update on how frequently it will be carrying out its future assessments in due course, in consultation with stakeholders and others, as outlined by Section 46 (7) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance was published on 14 May 2024, and required all Departments and arm's length bodies to set controls on all equality, diversity, and inclusion related expenditure. No further guidance was issued by the Department to National Health Service trusts.

NHS England has not published written guidance to NHS trusts and arm’s length bodies on reducing external spending on equality, diversity, and inclusion programmes.

The Department and NHS England do not have national policies relating to Stonewall membership for National Health Service trusts, and support NHS trusts in defining the appropriate policies to support equality, diversity, and inclusion, to align with the Government's Health Mission and priorities. As a consequence, there have been no assessments following the Cass Review.

The National Health Service provides a service that is available for all, and good equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles ensure that everyone can access healthcare.

NHS England does not routinely collect data on EDI spend across the NHS. NHS England does not have plans to initiate a review into EDI spending, and the Department does not plan to initiate a review into this spending.

Embedding inclusive leadership and promoting equal opportunities and fairness is part of the NHS Constitution, the Equality Act 2010 and is one of the recommendations of the Messenger Review. Implementing EDI principles is the personal responsibility of every member of staff in the NHS.

EDI roles are wide-ranging and help the NHS meet its legal duties set out for public bodies in the Equality Act 2010, through the public sector equality duty and the principles that guide the NHS Constitution.

The Government will continue to champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. Envoy roles will be decided upon in due course. We cannot comment on timelines for individual appointments. In the meantime, we continue to use the strength of our global diplomatic network, including dedicated staff within the FCDO, to promote and protect FoRB around the world.

The Government will champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. Envoy roles will be decided upon in due course. There is no set timetable for doing so. In the meantime, we continue to use the strength of our global diplomatic network, including dedicated staff within the FCDO, to promote and protect FoRB around the world.

FCDO officials responsible for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) policy, attended the entirety of the Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief, in Berlin 9-11 October. Following the conference, we will build on discussions focused on the implications of artificial intelligence for FoRB. The use of AI presents both opportunities and risks for the enjoyment of human rights. It is important that we champion the positive potential of AI, whilst taking action to mitigate risks. We will do this by working with international partners and through multilateral fora including the UN and regional organisations.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is required by primary legislation to publish an annual assessment of the accuracy of its forecasts. All previous Forecast Evaluation Reports are available on the OBR’s website.

In addition, last year, the OBR published a working paper assessing its forecasting record since it was established in 2010. It found that the OBR’s forecasting accuracy is comparable to that of external forecasters, and its GDP and borrowing forecasts have typically been more accurate than the previous forecasts made by the Treasury.

The Budget Responsibility Bill will support transparency and accountability, by ensuring that significant fiscal announcements are always subject to independent scrutiny.

Parliament will remain sovereign: the legislation which sets out the legal framework will be taken through the House of Commons for approval, as will the Charter for Budget Responsibility which will set out the technical details. The Bill makes no changes to existing parliamentary scrutiny of Government tax and spending decisions.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales. Information on non-crime hate incidents is not centrally collated. The Home Secretary has been clear about the consistent and common-sense approach that needs to be adopted when dealing with these matters, and we are working with the College of Policing on how best that can be done.

To drive up performance and standards and ensure communities can have confidence in their local police force, a new Police Performance Unit will be established in the Home Office. The Unit will harness national data to monitor performance and direct improvements, underpinned by a performance framework developed with the College of Policing, policing inspectorate (HMICFRS), National Police Chiefs’ Council and PCCs.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales. Information on non-crime hate incidents is not centrally collated. The Home Secretary has been clear about the consistent and common-sense approach that needs to be adopted when dealing with these matters, and we are working with the College of Policing on how best that can be done.

To drive up performance and standards and ensure communities can have confidence in their local police force, a new Police Performance Unit will be established in the Home Office. The Unit will harness national data to monitor performance and direct improvements, underpinned by a performance framework developed with the College of Policing, policing inspectorate (HMICFRS), National Police Chiefs’ Council and PCCs.

The statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs, developed by the previous government, sets out that an NCHI involves hostility or prejudice towards persons with a particular characteristic. A particular characteristic is defined as meaning race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity – this aligns with the five protected characteristics covered in hate crime legislation in England and Wales. Further detail can be found in paragraph 16 of the Code.

This Government has made clear that we will work with policing to ensure there is a consistent and common-sense approach applied to non-crime hate incidents.

The statutory Code of Practice on NCHIs, developed by the previous government, sets out that an NCHI involves hostility or prejudice towards persons with a particular characteristic. A particular characteristic is defined as meaning race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity – this aligns with the five protected characteristics covered in hate crime legislation in England and Wales. Further detail can be found in paragraph 16 of the Code.

This Government has made clear that we will work with policing to ensure there is a consistent and common-sense approach applied to non-crime hate incidents.

The Home Office does not currently hold data on the cost to individual police forces for collecting and collating data on non-crime hate incidents.

The data collected from the police balances policy needs and the burden on police forces.