2 APPG Officer Positions (as of 20 Oct 2025)
International Freedom of Religion or Belief, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)2 APPG Memberships
Commonwealth, Sepsis10 Former APPG Officer Positions
Aviation, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK (CANZUK), Central American, East of England, Kashmir, Medical Cannabis under Prescription, Metal Theft, Philippines, Responsible Tax, Smart CitiesDivision Voting information
Lord Jackson of Peterborough voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 41 Conservative Aye votes vs 100 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 155 Noes - 267
Debates during the 2024 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Department Debates
(88 debate contributions)
(25 debate contributions)
(14 debate contributions)
(12 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(20,511 words contributed)
(16,799 words contributed)
(15,807 words contributed)
(7,591 words contributed)
Lords initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Lord Jackson of Peterborough, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
1 Bill introduced by Lord Jackson of Peterborough
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to disapply the European Union Free Movement Directive 2004/38/EC; and for connected purposes
Wednesday 31st October 2012
Lord Jackson of Peterborough has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)20 Other Department Questions
Political opinion is not a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010. The Office for Equality and Opportunity, like its predecessors, does not provide guidance on matters not covered in equalities legislation. Guidance on religion and philosophical belief has been published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the subject also forms part of the Commission's statutory code of practice.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
None of these organisations are paid members or affiliates of Stonewall.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government expects regulators to ensure organisations comply with their legal requirements. Should regulators wish to go beyond the scope of the 2010 Act’s requirements, that is a matter for them, but they should not seek to label such additional requirements as arising under the 2010 Act.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to the Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP on 30 January 2025 by Minister Gould which states that:
‘Government departments are responsible for decisions about whether to buy services from third sector organisations to support equality, diversity and inclusion in their organisations. Currently no government department is a member of Stonewall’.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ministers’ meetings are a matter of public record, and are published periodically on gov.uk.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As previously indicated, the Government has and will continue to meet with stakeholders both in favour of, or concerned by, the prospect of this legislation. Such meetings will be disclosed in due course as part of relevant Departmental transparency releases on gov.uk and more generally when we are ready to share our approach to this legislation.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Officials have a good understanding of legislation on conversion practices across a number of overseas nations and territories, including in the Australian state of Victoria. A jurisdiction’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area will depend on their specific legal framework and context. This Government has been clear that the draft Bill we publish will respect the important role that religious leaders have in supporting those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Government has and will continue to meet with numerous stakeholders representing a wide range of views as we develop this work. This includes an array of organisations both in favour of, or concerned by, the prospect of this legislation.
The research undertaken by Coventry University was commissioned by a previous administration and published in October 2021. This Government’s work to develop draft legislation is informed by the available evidence base on conversion practices, which includes but is not limited to the Coventry University study.
Finally, I can also confirm that the Government is considering all possible impacts and relevant rights in relation to this work, in line with the requirement to consider the compatibility of legislation with Convention rights as an integral part of the policy-making process.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Officials have a good understanding of legislation on conversion practices across a number of overseas nations and territories, including in the Australian state of Victoria. A jurisdiction’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area will depend on their specific legal framework and context. This Government has been clear that the draft Bill we publish will respect the important role that religious leaders have in supporting those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Government has and will continue to meet with numerous stakeholders representing a wide range of views as we develop this work. This includes an array of organisations both in favour of, or concerned by, the prospect of this legislation.
The research undertaken by Coventry University was commissioned by a previous administration and published in October 2021. This Government’s work to develop draft legislation is informed by the available evidence base on conversion practices, which includes but is not limited to the Coventry University study.
Finally, I can also confirm that the Government is considering all possible impacts and relevant rights in relation to this work, in line with the requirement to consider the compatibility of legislation with Convention rights as an integral part of the policy-making process.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Officials have a good understanding of legislation on conversion practices across a number of overseas nations and territories, including in the Australian state of Victoria. A jurisdiction’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area will depend on their specific legal framework and context. This Government has been clear that the draft Bill we publish will respect the important role that religious leaders have in supporting those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Government has and will continue to meet with numerous stakeholders representing a wide range of views as we develop this work. This includes an array of organisations both in favour of, or concerned by, the prospect of this legislation.
The research undertaken by Coventry University was commissioned by a previous administration and published in October 2021. This Government’s work to develop draft legislation is informed by the available evidence base on conversion practices, which includes but is not limited to the Coventry University study.
Finally, I can also confirm that the Government is considering all possible impacts and relevant rights in relation to this work, in line with the requirement to consider the compatibility of legislation with Convention rights as an integral part of the policy-making process.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Officials have a good understanding of legislation on conversion practices across a number of overseas nations and territories, including in the Australian state of Victoria. A jurisdiction’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area will depend on their specific legal framework and context. This Government has been clear that the draft Bill we publish will respect the important role that religious leaders have in supporting those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Government has and will continue to meet with numerous stakeholders representing a wide range of views as we develop this work. This includes an array of organisations both in favour of, or concerned by, the prospect of this legislation.
The research undertaken by Coventry University was commissioned by a previous administration and published in October 2021. This Government’s work to develop draft legislation is informed by the available evidence base on conversion practices, which includes but is not limited to the Coventry University study.
Finally, I can also confirm that the Government is considering all possible impacts and relevant rights in relation to this work, in line with the requirement to consider the compatibility of legislation with Convention rights as an integral part of the policy-making process.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There has been no engagement with governments of international jurisdictions on conversion practice policies since the election of the new government.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
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.
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
I refer the Noble Lord to my answer to his previous question (HL2460), given on 26 November.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Officials have liaised with a range of international counterparts in relation to conversion practices policy. The Government will continue to engage with a range of other jurisdictions as well as domestic stakeholders, as policy in this area develops. We are committed to listening to all viewpoints and concerns with respect.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Conversion practices are abuse and must be stopped. This Government is committed to delivering on the manifesto commitment to bring forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices.
Officials routinely liaise with international counterparts regarding their work relating to conversion practices. A jurisdiction’s decision on whether and how to legislate in this area will depend on their specific legal framework and context.
We will continue to engage with counterparts as well as domestic stakeholders as policy in this area develops and are committed to listening to all viewpoints and concerns with respect.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Conversion practices are abuse and must be stopped. This Government is committed to delivering on the manifesto commitment to bring forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices.
The Government is aware of work ongoing in Scotland regarding their plans to ban conversion practices. We will continue to engage with counterparts across the devolved administrations as policy in this area develops.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This Government’s position is that conversion practices are abuse. Such practices have no place in society and must be stopped.
As with all legislation, the Government is considering all possible impacts and relevant rights, in line with the requirement to consider the compatibility of legislation with Convention rights as an integral part of the policy-making process.
To be clear, any ban must not cover legitimate psychological support, treatment, or non-directive counselling. It must also respect the important role that teachers, religious leaders, parents and carers can have in supporting those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Management information held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) shows the number of offences in which a prosecution commenced that were finalised between 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2025.
| 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
Highways Act 1980 { 137(1) } | 270 | 445 | 412 | 728 | 806 | 435 |
Public Order Act 1986 { 29B(1) and 29L(3) } | 6 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 31 | 30 |
Public Order Act 1986 { 4A(1) and (5) } | 10,490 | 10,349 | 12,212 | 11,029 | 11,161 | 11,876 |
Public Order Act 1986 { 5(1) and (6) } | 8,917 | 8,114 | 8,913 | 7,940 | 7,473 | 7,371 |
Public Order Act 2023 { 9(1) and (3) } | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System | ||||||
The figures relate to the number of offences and not the number of individual defendants. It can be the case that an individual defendant is charged with more than one offence against the same complainant. The CPS does not hold data showing the final outcome or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at finalisation.
Requests for data on arrests should be directed to the Home Office as the lead government department for the police.
Attorney General
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
Emma Rourke | Acting National Statistician
Lord Jackson of Peterborough
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
30 September 2025
Dear Lord Jackson,
As Acting National Statistician, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking whether income levels affect socio-economic classifications and, therefore, whether train drivers earning £80,000 per year should be classed as working class under State of the Nation 2024: Local to national, mapping opportunities for all, published by the Social Mobility Commission in September 2024; and what assessment the Office for National Statistics has made of the classification of train drivers under the national statistics socio-economic classifications (HL10733).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not incorporate income in the methodology or derivation of the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC).
The ONS classifies Train Drivers to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2020 code 8231, which corresponds to " Train and tram drivers”. Under the simplified NS-SEC framework, this occupation is classified as analytic class 5: Lower supervisory and technical occupations.
There are 8 analytic classes in the NS-SEC used by the ONS:
· Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupation
· Lower managerial, administrative and professional occupations
· Intermediate occupations
· Small employers and own account workers
· Lower supervisory and technical occupations
· Semi-routine occupations
· Routine occupations
· Never worked, unemployed, and not elsewhere classified
The Social Mobility Commission groups these into 5 categories: ‘higher professional and managerial’, ‘lower professional and managerial’, ‘intermediate’, ‘higher working class’, and ‘lower working class’.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Rourke
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The decision on whether to grant developed vetting will be taken either by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV), the department or police force that requires the individual to hold clearance, or by the sponsoring authority that carries out this task on behalf of departments. Vetting information required for the decision to be made is strictly controlled and access limited to those directly responsible for the decision reached. Upon successful application for clearance, the sponsor, who is often but not always exclusively within the individual’s employer, is notified.
In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Prime Minister’s Office did not seek or accept any advice from the former Ambassador in respect of the reshuffle on 5 September.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Due diligence was undertaken prior to the appointment of the former Ambassador to the United States, and was part of an established process to collate relevant information as part of the identification and selection of the appointee.
Following the announcement of the appointment, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office started the ambassadorial appointment process, including national security vetting, in the usual way.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Special Adviser travel expenses are not routinely published, as was the case under previous administrations.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
It is not routine to publish correspondence between the Prime Minister and any individual or organisation.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer on 9 June 2025 (PQ HC54763).
PQ 54763: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49766 on Cabinet Office; staff, what are the job responsibilities of the Deputy Director for Meaningful Work.
Answer: There is no Deputy Director for Meaningful Work. Meaningful work refers to work that an employee must be provided with and undertake during the redeployment process. The nature of the work should be appropriate for their grade, skills and competencies and may take place within or outside of their existing business area.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th June is attached.
Dear Lord Jackson,
As Acting National Statistician, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking what steps are being taken to expedite the timely publication of marriage and divorce statistics by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) (HL8355), and what assessment has been made of the potential impacts of the declining marriage rate and birth rate in the United Kingdom (HL8356).
The latest published statistics on marriages[1] and divorces[2] in England and Wales are for 2022. Divorces and Dissolutions in England and Wales, 2023[3] will be published on 2 July 2025. Marriages in England and Wales, 2023[4] is provisionally scheduled for publication in November 2025, alongside Civil partnerships in England and Wales, 2023[5].
The Marriages, Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Act 2019 (which came into force on 4 May 2021) has resulted in a new electronic registration system replacing the paper marriage register. This has improved the timeliness of the submission of religious marriage entries to the General Register Office (GRO) who in turn supply these to the ONS. Following this change to the way marriages are recorded, the ONS have been working to improve the timeliness of publication of marriage statistics and to consolidate the release of marriage and civil partnership statistics to improve accessibility for users and to bring the reference periods in line.
Marriage, civil partnership and divorce statistics incorporate rates as part of the publication; these rates use population estimates by marital status[6] as denominators so these estimates need to be available prior to calculation. The ONS aims to balance the need for timely legal partnership statistics with the timing of publication, and revisions to, population estimates by marital status in order to provide the most accurate rates possible. Estimates for 2023 and 2024 are provisionally scheduled to be published in November 2025.
The ONS does not assess the potential impacts of the declining marriage rate and birth rate in the United Kingdom.
However, in our National Population Projections[7] we analyse past trends in fertility rates to produce a projection of future fertility for the UK. These projections are widely used to support policy making. The numbers of people in each life stage are important when considering dependency ratios, which inform government financial planning. A common measure is the old-age-dependency ratio (OADR), which is the number of people of pensionable age for every 1,000 people of working age. It is projected that OADR for the UK will increase from 278 in mid-2022 to 289 in mid-2032, reaching 302 by mid-2047.
The ONS has published a UK population projection explorer tool[8] which allows users to vary the assumptions for future fertility, net migration and life expectancy to see the impact on the size and age structure of the UK population over the next 50 years.
The ONS publishes marriage and divorce statistics for England and Wales only. National Records for Scotland (NRS)[9] and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA[10]) are responsible for the publication of marriage and divorce statistics for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Rourke
[1] Marriages in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics
[2] Divorces in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics
[3] Divorces and Dissolutions in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[4] Marriages in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[5] Civil partnerships in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[7] National population projections - Office for National Statistics
[8] UK population projection explorer - Office for National Statistics
[9] National Records of Scotland (NRS)
[10] Home | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th June is attached.
Dear Lord Jackson,
As Acting National Statistician, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking what steps are being taken to expedite the timely publication of marriage and divorce statistics by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) (HL8355), and what assessment has been made of the potential impacts of the declining marriage rate and birth rate in the United Kingdom (HL8356).
The latest published statistics on marriages[1] and divorces[2] in England and Wales are for 2022. Divorces and Dissolutions in England and Wales, 2023[3] will be published on 2 July 2025. Marriages in England and Wales, 2023[4] is provisionally scheduled for publication in November 2025, alongside Civil partnerships in England and Wales, 2023[5].
The Marriages, Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Act 2019 (which came into force on 4 May 2021) has resulted in a new electronic registration system replacing the paper marriage register. This has improved the timeliness of the submission of religious marriage entries to the General Register Office (GRO) who in turn supply these to the ONS. Following this change to the way marriages are recorded, the ONS have been working to improve the timeliness of publication of marriage statistics and to consolidate the release of marriage and civil partnership statistics to improve accessibility for users and to bring the reference periods in line.
Marriage, civil partnership and divorce statistics incorporate rates as part of the publication; these rates use population estimates by marital status[6] as denominators so these estimates need to be available prior to calculation. The ONS aims to balance the need for timely legal partnership statistics with the timing of publication, and revisions to, population estimates by marital status in order to provide the most accurate rates possible. Estimates for 2023 and 2024 are provisionally scheduled to be published in November 2025.
The ONS does not assess the potential impacts of the declining marriage rate and birth rate in the United Kingdom.
However, in our National Population Projections[7] we analyse past trends in fertility rates to produce a projection of future fertility for the UK. These projections are widely used to support policy making. The numbers of people in each life stage are important when considering dependency ratios, which inform government financial planning. A common measure is the old-age-dependency ratio (OADR), which is the number of people of pensionable age for every 1,000 people of working age. It is projected that OADR for the UK will increase from 278 in mid-2022 to 289 in mid-2032, reaching 302 by mid-2047.
The ONS has published a UK population projection explorer tool[8] which allows users to vary the assumptions for future fertility, net migration and life expectancy to see the impact on the size and age structure of the UK population over the next 50 years.
The ONS publishes marriage and divorce statistics for England and Wales only. National Records for Scotland (NRS)[9] and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA[10]) are responsible for the publication of marriage and divorce statistics for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Rourke
[1] Marriages in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics
[2] Divorces in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics
[3] Divorces and Dissolutions in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[4] Marriages in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[5] Civil partnerships in England and Wales: 2023 - Office for National Statistics
[7] National population projections - Office for National Statistics
[8] UK population projection explorer - Office for National Statistics
[9] National Records of Scotland (NRS)
[10] Home | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Our policy on engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain has not changed.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are various configurations of ministerial meetings. Cabinet committees are publicly listed on GOV.UK
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Various forms of Ministerial meetings take place.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician
The Lord Jackson of Peterborough
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
8 April 2025
Dear Lord Jackson,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has been made of the finding in the independent report published on 19 March, Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender, by Professor Alice Sullivan, that there is a 'partisan climate on certain issues, including gender' within the Office for National Statistics (ONS) (HL6248).
The ONS has a long history of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders on all the census questions. We listen impartially and objectively to all voices to safeguard the production of official statistics that serve the public good in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics[1].
We welcome the Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender and are reviewing the findings in detail. We are committed to working with others to improve the comparability, consistency, and coherence of government statistics. This year, the Government Statistical Service (GSS) is holding a series of regional listening events to inform ongoing work on the topics of sex and gender identity.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[1]https://code.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Guidance applies to the Civil Service workforce. That includes arm’s-length bodies that fall within the Civil Service. Affiliations, services or subscriptions to external organisations fall within the scope of external EDI expenditure, as set out in paragraph 7 of the guidance.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Neither the Government Legal Department nor the Government Recruitment Service are paid members or affiliates of Stonewall. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is independent of Government and we do not therefore hold information on any of its memberships or affiliations.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The data from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Review will be published in due course.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The data from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Review will be published in due course.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has no such list. The Government uses terms which are designed to be inclusive, easy to understand and accessible to everyone.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
3 Department for Business and Trade Questions
(View all Lord Jackson of Peterborough's DBT questions)The Department of Business and Trade decided not to award a grant to Heavenly Records. My Department has not had any engagement with Kneecap and is currently reviewing how the scheme operates, with the intention of introducing appropriate eligibility criteria for any future grant rounds, to address the risk that an artist or the applicant awarded support may say or behave in a way that could bring the scheme into disrepute.
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.
4 Department for Science, Innovation & Technology Questions
(View all Lord Jackson of Peterborough's DSIT questions)This was an independent review by a leading academic. As such, the Government has not made an assessment of the approach to data collection.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to Question UIN HL5960 on 2 April 2025.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The People, Culture, and Environment (PCE) pilot aims to assess the feasibility of integrating PCE elements, to guide the development of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029. Government acknowledges the important role of a positive research culture in attracting and retaining diverse talent, which is essential for maintaining the UK's global competitiveness in research. Final decisions on REF 2029's structure, including any potential PCE weighting, will follow the pilot’s conclusion and further sector consultation. While the proposed weighting for PCE is 25%, EDI initiatives only form a small proportion of this.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
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.
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)