Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that researchers in UK universities do not have their academic freedoms threatened by foreign states.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

From the 1 August 2025, provisions strengthening universities duties in relation to securing freedom of speech and promoting academic freedom came into force, along with a requirement for the Office for Students (OfS) to provide advice and guidance on those matters.

​The new OfS guidance, published in June 2025, makes it explicitly clear that universities must resist external state threats to academic freedom, and that suppression of research because of the disapproval of a foreign government is unacceptable under any circumstances.

​If the OfS identifies a breach of a specific or general ongoing condition of registration as part of its enquiries, then it will consider the use of formal sanctions, which may include monetary penalties, suspension from the register or deregistration.

​The department believes more should be done to support higher education providers to maximise international opportunities whilst mitigating risk, which is why we set out in June 2025 that we will work with the regulator to set clearer expectations around international risk management, raise awareness of risks and develop advice on good practice.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many Taser 10 devices will be deployed to police forces over the next 12 months.

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

Tasers provide specially trained officers with an important tactical option when facing situations with the potential for violence. The number of Tasers purchased by forces are operational decisions for Chief Officers to determine in line with their assessments of threats and risks.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to conduct a survey of medical professionals to assess willingness to partake in assisted suicide.

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

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill that is currently under consideration in Parliament is not a piece of Government legislation. As such, the Government does not currently have a plan to conduct a survey of medical professionals as per the question.

As currently drafted, clause 31 of the Bill “No obligation to provide assistance etc” subsection (1) describes that “No person is under any duty to participate in the provision of assistance in accordance with this Act.”

Should the Bill gain Royal Assent, detailed work on a delivery model would need to be undertaken. As part of this work, the Government would work closely with relevant stakeholders, including medical professionals.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will make an assessment of the ability of doctors to detect coercion accurately should the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill become law.

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

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill that is currently under consideration in Parliament is not a piece of Government legislation.

Should the Bill gains Royal Assent, detailed work on a delivery model would need to be undertaken. This work would include developing guidance for medical practitioners on all aspects of the Bill, including detecting coercion if necessary.

Further considerations for information regarding Provision and Training of a Voluntary Assisted Dying service can be found in section 10 of the Bill’s impact assessment. A copy of the impact assessment is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to complete the quango review.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Arms Length Body (ALB) Review, formally launched on 7th April 2025, is ongoing and its outcomes will be communicated in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to take steps to allow police forces to increase the use of stop and search without suspicion.

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

Stop and search is a vital tool which enables police to tackle crime and keep the public safe. The Government supports the lawful and appropriate use of these powers.

Where serious violence has occurred or is anticipated, senior officers may authorise the use of stop and search of any individual or vehicle for weapons, with or without reasonable suspicion. These authorisations are limited to a particular area for a specific period of time, usually no longer than 24 hours.

In the year to March 2025, there was a 5% increase in the use of these powers (under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994), compared to the previous year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 29 September (HL10483), what is the total cost to date of employing officials working on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

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

This information is not held centrally or in the format requested.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what engagement the Chancellor has had with representatives from the pub industry ahead of the upcoming Budget.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Government Ministers and Senior Officials regularly meet with businesses and business representation organisations from a range of sectors, including the pub sector. These meetings provide an opportunity for the Government to hear the views of the business community to aid in the formation of policy, including fiscal policy. These engagements are ongoing and will continue to be so.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the current level of total teacher vacancies.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Data on the number of teacher vacancies is published in the ‘School workforce in England’ statistical publication. Figures for November 2024, which are the latest available, have been available since 5 June 2025.

Teacher vacancies (full and part-time) decreased to 2,200 in November 2024, having more than doubled in the previous three years, from 1,100 in November 2020 to a peak of 2,800 in November 2023. The vacancy rate, which takes into account changes in the teaching population, also decreased to 5 per 1,000 teachers in service, from 6 per 1,000 teachers in 2023.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of plans for Mauritius to join China's belt and road initiative.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answers provided on 16 June to Question HL7997, and on 3 July to Question HL8281.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish details of the new furnishings and refurbishments in the No. 10 and No. 11 Downing Street flats, including a list of refurbishments made and products purchased, with costs for each item.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer of 27 October 2025, Official Report, PQ 85501:

PQ 85501 Charlie Dewhirst: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 139 of the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, published on 23 October 2025, if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure, including for individual fixtures and fittings, for the (a) refurbishment and (b) furnishing of the empty Downing Street flat; and if he will name which was empty flat.

Cabinet Office response on 4 November: As was the case under successive administrations, an itemised list is not routinely published.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many special advisers and officials in total from all government departments were in attendance at COP30.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer of 17 November 2025, Official Report, PQ 88937.

PQ 88937 Andrew Snowden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) civil servants and (b) support staff attended the COP30 summit; and for what reason.

Cabinet Office response on 17 Nov: Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Security considerations are also taken into account. Information about official overseas travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website. It has been the practice that official Prime Ministerial flights are carbon offset where that is possible. Civil Servants and Special Advisers routinely travel with the Prime Minister, including so as to provide support in the conduct of any official duties, which can arise at any time.