Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Environmental, Social and Governance frameworks prevent the displacement of emissions to unregulated regions.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is working to reduce the risk of emissions displacement through adopting and supporting the use of internationally recognised sustainability standards.
The Government is also taking action to address carbon leakage, including by introducing a carbon border adjustment mechanism from January 2027. This will ensure highly traded, carbon intensive products from jurisdictions outside the UK face a comparable carbon price to that paid by UK manufacturers, so that UK decarbonisation efforts lead to a true reduction in global emissions rather than simply displacing carbon emissions overseas.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of corporate Environmental, Social and Governance targets in reducing global emissions.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Evidence from DESNZ analysis and evaluations, including the evaluation of the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting framework, suggests that well-designed climate and ESG disclosures can strengthen corporate governance, improve monitoring and management of emissions, and support firms to identify and implement emissions reduction measures. The Government therefore supports approaches that promote credible, science-based targets and transition planning.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure alignment between the Department for Business and Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on critical minerals.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
His Majesty's Government recognises the strategic importance of strengthening the UK's critical minerals security. The Critical Minerals Strategy, published on 22 November 2025, sets out a cross-government approach involving the Department for Business and Trade, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Ministry of Defence and other partners. Ministers and officials already work closely together through established governance structures to ensure policy alignment and effective coordination. We continually review whether these arrangements remain proportionate and effective. At present, we believe the existing cross government ministerial oversight provides the appropriate mechanism for coordinating critical mineral security policy.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had any discussions with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Critical Minerals about international partnerships.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Department for Business and Trade engages regularly with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Critical Minerals as part of its wider parliamentary and stakeholder outreach. Officials have participated in APPG meetings, including those focused on international alignment and partnerships, where they have provided updates on UK engagement with key partners and multilateral forums. This forms part of the Government's broader programme of international cooperation set out in the UK Critical Minerals Strategy, which includes collaboration through strategic partnerships and global initiatives.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the Critical Minerals Strategy, published on 22 November 2025, what assessment they have made of the potential merits of appointing a single minister responsible for coordinating critical mineral security policy between departments.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Department for Business and Trade holds regular meetings to discuss critical minerals policy with other departments, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of critical mineral supply chains. Chris McDonald MP as Minister for Industry in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) holds responsibility for critical minerals and regularly engages other Ministers on critical minerals policy.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of critical minerals in supporting innovation and supply chain resilience as part of net zero targets.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
A secure supply of critical minerals is vital to the UK’s economic growth and security, industrial strategy and clean energy transition. The 2025 UK Critical Minerals Strategy supports innovation and R&D in the UK to secure our critical minerals supply, through domestic production and international collaboration that is responsible and sustainable.
Following Spending Review 2025, new funding of up to £50 million will be made available by DBT to support critical mineral projects, to expand research and innovation as well as supporting commercialisation. Further details will be announced later this year.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to establish a minister for critical mineral security.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Chris McDonald MP was appointed Minister for Industry in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) on 11 September 2025. As Minister for Industry, his responsibilities cover critical minerals, including their security of supply.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the link between overseas development aid spend in Nepal and the recruitment of Gurkhas in the country.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Diplomatic relations between the UK and Nepal stretch over 200 years and are grounded in mutual respect. The UK Government holds the Gurkhas in the highest regard and acknowledges the outstanding contribution they make to the United Kingdom. Separately, the UK's development partnership with Nepal focuses on long‑term economic welfare and development as part of our global Official Development Assistance strategy.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much money in each of the last seven years, broken down by year, has been given to the Gurkha Welfare Trust to deliver development projects in Nepal.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Since 2019, FCDO projects delivered through the Gurkha Welfare Trust have totalled £14,249,415.21, comprising £2,500,000.00 (2019), £3,287,835.23 (2020), £1,999,999.70 (2021), £1,981,792.73 (2022), £1,892,458.82 (2023), £1,408,265.60 (2024), £1,069,681.90 (2025) and £109,381.22 (2026). Over the past seven years, The Gurkha Welfare Trust has delivered two major UK‑funded programmes: the Rural Water & Sanitation Programme V (RWSP V, until 2021) and the Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and Emergency Preparedness Programme (RWEPP, up to March 2025) - providing safe, reliable water to over 53,000 people and upgrading facilities in 185 public institutions. These programmes have strengthened water security, sanitation and disaster resilience across Nepal.
Asked by: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what outcomes have been achieved by projects delivered by the Gurkha Welfare Trust on behalf of the Government in each of the last seven years.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Since 2019, FCDO projects delivered through the Gurkha Welfare Trust have totalled £14,249,415.21, comprising £2,500,000.00 (2019), £3,287,835.23 (2020), £1,999,999.70 (2021), £1,981,792.73 (2022), £1,892,458.82 (2023), £1,408,265.60 (2024), £1,069,681.90 (2025) and £109,381.22 (2026). Over the past seven years, The Gurkha Welfare Trust has delivered two major UK‑funded programmes: the Rural Water & Sanitation Programme V (RWSP V, until 2021) and the Resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and Emergency Preparedness Programme (RWEPP, up to March 2025) - providing safe, reliable water to over 53,000 people and upgrading facilities in 185 public institutions. These programmes have strengthened water security, sanitation and disaster resilience across Nepal.