Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expedite planning permission for, and the construction of, (1) the Fens Reservoir, and (2) the Lincolnshire Reservoir.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is taking decisive steps to expedite the delivery of the Fens and Lincolnshire reservoirs as part of our long-term strategy to improve water resilience and support sustainable development in water-stressed regions. Both projects have recently been designated as Nationally Significant. This means that planning decisions will be made by the Secretary of State through the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, rather than by local planning authorities. The DCO process consolidates multiple consents into a single application, helping to reduce duplication and avoid unnecessary delays.
These designations are intended to provide greater certainty for developers, regulators, and local communities, and to ensure a more efficient route through the planning system.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have provided guidance for Ministers who wish to engage with the Muslim Council of Britain in their ministerial capacity.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Our policy on engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain has not changed.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with representatives of the higher education sector on the revocation of student visas for those foreign nationals convicted of serious criminal offences in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Any foreign national who commits serious crimes in the UK should expect to be removed from our country, regardless of the visa on which they travelled here.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance the Office for Equality and Opportunity, or its predecessors, has provided on the difference between (1) a political belief, and (2) a philosophical belief, for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010; and in what circumstances a political philosophy is considered to be a protected characteristic under that guidance.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
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.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to invoking the right of derogation under Article 15 of the European Convention of Human Rights for a limited period to deal with illegal and irregular immigration.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
At present, a State may only derogate from its obligations under the Convention using Article 15 in time of war or equivalent public emergency, threatening the life of the nation.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in Abbasi and another v Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2025] [UKSC 15] on 16 April, what discussions they have had with the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales and other senior jurists about the use of lifelong anonymity orders and gagging orders in the Family Court under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government extends its deepest sympathies to parents and families affected by these difficult circumstances.
At this stage, no formal discussions have taken place with the Lady Chief Justice or other senior jurists. While we will not comment on decisions made by the independent judiciary, we accept the need for greater transparency in family courts while also – where appropriate - protecting the identities of the children and families involved.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the integrity, freedom, and fairness of the recent Albanian general election held on 11 May.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK promotes free and fair elections and works closely with international community partners, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in support of democratic process and structures in Albania. The UK contributed observers to the ODIHR-led observation mission. We share the mission's preliminary conclusions that the election was "competitive and professionally conducted but took place in a highly polarized environment and contestants did not enjoy a level playing field".
It is important that deficiencies in electoral practices and reported election irregularities are addressed to support public confidence in the process. We continue to encourage the Albanian authorities and Central Election Commission to make best use of ODIHR expertise and implement outstanding recommendations.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have discussed with the government of Albania recent reports of alleged illegal and corrupt practices at the Albanian general election on 11 May.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK promotes free and fair elections and works closely with international community partners, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in support of democratic process and structures in Albania. The UK contributed observers to the ODIHR-led observation mission. We share the mission's preliminary conclusions that the election was "competitive and professionally conducted but took place in a highly polarized environment and contestants did not enjoy a level playing field".
It is important that deficiencies in electoral practices and reported election irregularities are addressed to support public confidence in the process. We continue to encourage the Albanian authorities and Central Election Commission to make best use of ODIHR expertise and implement outstanding recommendations.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government following the Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, when the Home Office expects to produce advice on the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and search policies adopted by police forces in England and Wales.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Along with all other public sector organisations, we are considering what the implications for the Home Office and policing will be of the Supreme Court ruling. It is important that our next steps are properly considered and aligned with legal advice and the Statutory Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations, which the Equality and Human Rights Commission is updating.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their policy on the (1) funding, and (2) engagement, with the band Kneecap, with reference to the guidance published on 14 March 2024 Government's principles of engagement.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.