Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, published on 5 March (HC1691), what estimate they have made of the number of individuals who will be affected by the changes to the EU Settlement Scheme to extend the period to 60 months in which an individual can use an expired biometric residence card as proof of their identity and nationality; and on what evidential basis that decision was taken.

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

The change in HC1691 extends the current provision which allows a non-EEA national to use an expired biometric residence card (BRC) as proof of their identity and nationality, where the BRC is up to 18 months expired. The change therefore allows a wider cohort of BRC holders to remain on a fully digital application journey, without having to attend a UK visa application centre. It also assists wider UK Visas and Immigration customers by lowering demand on UK Visas and Citizenship Application Services.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total cost of the inquiry undertaken by the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens' Rights Agreements into delays issuing decisions on applications to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Answered by Baroness Levitt - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements does not record the cost of individual inquiries.

Costs to the Independent Monitoring Authority largely comprise staffing. The inquiry was primarily delivered by a small core team - three members of staff at any one time - who were also involved in other operational work.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 5 March (HL15249), whether they will now answer the question put: namely, when they will next convene a summit with mobile phone operators, mobile phone manufacturers, and law enforcement professionals.

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

The Metropolitan Police recently hosted an international conference on phone theft, attended by partners from across law enforcement and industry. The Government is working with the Metropolitan Police to consider the outcomes from this event in determining what further action is necessary.

We look forward to public commitments from industry in the coming weeks, in advance of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s deadline for meaningful commitments of 1 June. If these are not forthcoming, the Government will look to consider any necessary action.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 5 March (HL15250), whether they will now answer the question put: namely, what the timeline is for developing technical solutions with technology companies and partners.

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

The Metropolitan Police recently hosted an international conference on phone theft, attended by partners from across law enforcement and industry. The Government is working with the Metropolitan Police to consider the outcomes from this event in determining what further action is necessary.

We look forward to public commitments from industry in the coming weeks, in advance of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s deadline for meaningful commitments of 1 June. If these are not forthcoming, the Government will look to consider any necessary action.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in implementing the recommendations of the Stewart Review on major transport projects governance and assurance, published on 18 June 2025.

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

The government accepted all 89 of James Stewart’s recommendations in June last year and is working on their full implementation. 31 recommendations have now been fully implemented. The Department, HS2 Ltd and other government partners are on track to fully implement the remaining recommendations, which are being addressed as part of the reset of the HS2 programme. This will be concluded by April 2027. Delivering the principles of the review will be an enduring endeavour for the lifetime of the HS2 programme and beyond to ensure that the learning is constantly applied to all relevant projects.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in disposing of land and property purchased in connection with the HS2 Phase 2b eastern leg.

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

The department has appointed a delivery agent who is developing a disposal programme for the former Phase 2b eastern leg of HS2. The programme will be delivered over several years, to avoid disrupting local property markets, take into account the impact on local communities, and ensure value for money can be achieved for taxpayers. We expect open market sales to begin in 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Hanson of Flint on 24 March (HL15656), whether they will now answer the question put: namely, what estimate they have made of the number of individuals who will be affected by the changes to the EU Settlement Scheme to extend the period to 60 months in which an individual can use an expired biometric residence card as proof of their identity and nationality.

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

To support the de-commissioning of biometric residence cards (BRCs), cards issued since 2 August 2021 had an expiry date of 31 December 2024, irrespective of the length of immigration leave granted to the card holder. Cards were issued under the EU Settlement Scheme to non-EEA nationals granted pre-settled or settled status who did not already hold a BRC issued under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 (the free movement regime). From 30 June 2021 to 31 December 2025, there were 110,228 grants of pre-settled status to non-EEA nationals. Whether these pre-settled status holders subsequently apply for settled status with their BRC is dependent on customer behaviour and their individual circumstances, but the change in HC1691 allows those who wish to do so to remain on a fully digital journey. Without this change, as we pass 18 months since the expiry date of most BRCs for this cohort, a significant portion would be required to attend a UK visa application centre to re-enrol their biometrics, creating an unsustainable demand on UK Visas and Citizenship Application Services.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Hermer on 23 February (HL14709), why they do not hold any data which shows the number of defendants prosecuted, referred, acquitted, or convicted of offences created by sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and section 1 of the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929.

Answered by Lord Hermer - Attorney General

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) collects data to assist in the effective management of its prosecution functions. This data is derived from structured data fields completed by front line staff on individual case records held in the Case Management Information System (CMS) and reported in the Management Information System (MIS).

Within CMS management information (MI) is recorded at the level of defendants in a set of proceedings rather than against the individual offence or offences a defendant may be charged. This includes defendants charged with offences of s58 and s59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and s1 of the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929. To identify the prosecution outcomes of offences would require a manual review of case records which would be at disproportionate cost.

The CPS is replacing its current Case Management System. This replacement provides opportunities to design improved management information capabilities to meet future reporting requirements.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish impact assessments for the HS2 construction works between Curdworth in Warwickshire and Handsacre in Staffordshire due to commence in March 2027.

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

Going back to March 2023, the previous Government asked HS2 Ltd to pause some of the works on the section north of Birmingham. In 2025, this Government agreed to pause the works on the section between Curdworth and Handsacre for a further four years until 2029/2030. The four-year deferral of works will allow construction resources to be focused on the cost‑efficient delivery of HS2’s opening stage between Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street. During this period, essential activity such as the realignment of the A38 and completion of the A5 overbridge will continue. I appreciate that this may be disappointing for local communities, and I want to reiterate my commitment to delivering HS2 to Handsacre.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve parliamentary oversight and scrutiny of HS2.

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

The Government is committed to ensuring transparency and effective oversight of HS2. The latest update on the project is set out in the Interim Parliamentary Report published via Written Ministerial Statement on 23 March, with a further report due shortly. The Government also maintains regular engagement on the programme through Select Committees.

Found: Barrow; Baroness Brown of Silvertown; Lord Elliott of Mickle Fell; Lord Grantchester; Lord Jackson of Peterborough