Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many abortion clinics run by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, MSI Reproductive Choices and the National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service have (1) never been inspected by the Care Quality Commission, or (2) not been inspected by it since 30 September 2021.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

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.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the Care Quality Commission about discharging its obligations under section 46 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to update the health and social care sectors on how frequently it will assess the providers it regulates.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

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.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State at the Department for Health and Social Care on 7 October (HC4240), what guidance (1) the Department for Health and Social Care, and (2) NHS England, have given to NHS trusts and its arms-length bodies on reducing external spending on equality, diversity, and inclusion programmes.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

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.

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Ireland regarding its decision not to go ahead with legislation to outlaw conversion therapy.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - 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.

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk to UK citizens of contravention of treaty rights under the European Convention on Human Rights in proposals for a Conversion Practices Bill; and whether they have sought their own legal advice in response to these specific concerns.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - 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.

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Scottish Government regarding their decision to abandon or delay legislation to outlaw conversion therapy.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - 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.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in their discussions with the motor insurance industry on (1) the above-inflation increase in car insurance premiums, and (2) the wider efficiency of the motor industry marketplace.

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

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 21 October (HL1232), why the number of foreign national offenders removed from the UK who have served a custodial sentence of at least 12 months is not separately available in Government statistics.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Since moving to a new caseworking system in October 2022, we are continually reviewing the quality and usefulness of HO management information data sourced from this new system, for use in Home Office internal policy-making and also for possible public release. Data relating to returns of foreign national offenders is of great public interest, and we are reviewing ways we can better meet the public need for information on this topic in future.

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