Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to pursue a free trade agreement with the United States; and when they estimate they will achieve such an agreement.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The U.S. is our largest single country trade partner, with trade totalling over £300bn in 2023. Supporting UK-U.S. trade and investment is a vital part of our mission to deliver economic growth. There are huge opportunities to build on this relationship, and ensure that we are working together to address the challenges of the modern economy.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop the UK’s global leadership on hypersonic missiles and other hypersonic technologies; and what progress they have made in the development of a domestically manufactured hypersonic missile.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK is demonstrating its leadership in the global hypersonic arena by active participation in the AUKUS Pillar 2 Advanced Capability Partnership. Since inception in 2022, the UK has been championing accelerated capability development with AUKUS allies, whilst also developing the long-term future of the UK's hypersonic industrial base.

Additionally, MOD continues to work with existing allies and international partners to investigate a range of advanced future capabilities.

Building on previous research and development, the MOD has established a Programme Team - Team Hypersonics (UK) - to cohere Ministry of Defence, industry and academia around the development of a sovereign hypersonic capability.

Team Hypersonics (UK) has established the Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework (HTCDF). This bespoke £ one billion Commercial Agile Route to Market is the mechanism to facilitate a spiralled approach to technology development through to a sovereign capability. 90 suppliers including defence primes, small & medium enterprises (SME) and academic institutions are now signed up.

With these enablers in place, the testing of critical sovereign-designed and manufactured missile sub-system technologies continues, including a novel hypersonic propulsion system. Several invitations to tender have already been released to spirally develop a range of technologies. These and future ITTs will allow the development of technical demonstrators and onwards into a capability.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consider the government of China a strategic (1) threat, or (2) challenge, to the UK.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government will bring a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, driven by the national interest. We will co-operate where we can, including on global net zero, health and trade; compete where we have different interests; and challenge where we must, to protect our national security and values. We will improve the UK's capability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses through an audit of the UK's relationship with China as a bilateral and global actor.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Mauritius about the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory; and what is their policy on the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary met the Mauritian Prime Minister on 23 July and committed to continuing negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago. It is too early to speculate on timelines or conclusions, but it is the Government's priority to resolve this long standing and important issue, including ensuring the long-term secure and effective operation of the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support communities in England threatened by coastal erosion, and whether they will publish a national strategy for countering the impacts of coastal erosion.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Water Minister and I know the devastating impact flooding and coastal erosion can have on communities. That is why we are committed to supporting coastal communities and ensuring flood risk management is fit for the challenges we face now and in the future. We will work to improve resilience and preparation across central government and local authorities to better protect communities across the UK.

The Government’s investment plan includes defences for the coast where it is sustainable and affordable to defend the coastline. In areas where it is not, other approaches such as managed realignment or transition may be needed.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have a target for how many trees should be planted in England during the current Parliament; and, if so, what is the target.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We remain committed to the statutory target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover in England to 16.5% by 2050. We have announced a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan and will introduce a new, statutory plan to protect and restore our natural environment and to deliver our ambitious targets to save nature.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to reform council tax banding; and if so, whether they plan to carry out and publish an assessment of the impact of any such changes.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

There are currently no plans to reform council tax.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of UK capabilities in electronic warfare; and what steps they are taking to improve such capability.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK has a number of excellent electromagnetic warfare capabilities; given the highly competitive nature of electromagnetic warfare, the Ministry of Defence will consider how best to keep pace with this challenge as part of the Strategic Defence Review.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) armed forces, and (2) diplomatic families, currently receive support via the Continuity of Education Allowance; and what were the numbers supported each year since 2019.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence currently has 2,666* Armed Forces personnel receiving MOD’s Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) The number supported since 2019 is as follows:

*as at Academic Year 2023-24

(2) The FCDO currently have 328 diplomatic families claiming Continuity of Education Allowance. The number supported since 2019 is as follows:

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will resume publication of Civil Service office attendance data; and how that data is broken down by department for the period between May and July this year.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The publication of this data was suspended in line with pre-election guidance for the duration of the Pre-Election Period. We will provide an update on future publication plans in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to maintain the Civil Service work-from-home rules, introduced in November 2023, which require Civil Servants to work in the office or face-to-face 60 per cent of the time, and whether they will publish a copy of those rules.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Current Civil Service guidance requires Civil Servants to attend the office or work face-to-face with colleagues at least 60% of the time. There are no plans to change those requirements.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to repeal the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 and, if so, when.

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

The Home Secretary set out the government’s position in respect of the Illegal Migration Act in her statement to the house on 22^nd July 2024. Any legislative plans flowing from the statement will be set out in the normal way in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to extend the £2 bus fare cap beyond 31 December 2024.

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

Delivering reliable and affordable public transport services for passengers is one of the government’s top priorities and we know how important this is for passengers and for local growth. The Department for Transport is looking at the future of the £2 fare cap as a matter of urgency, and is considering the most appropriate and affordable approach for the future of the scheme.