Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many international students are currently studying in English universities, and what is the total amount these pupils will pay in tuition fees this academic year.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The Higher Education Statistics Agency is responsible for collecting and publishing data about UK higher education (HE), including on international student numbers and tuition fee income.
In the 2022/23 academic year there were 630,005 international students studying at English universities and other HE providers, generating a total tuition fee income of £10.1 billion.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what data they have on the number of international students studying in English universities who attended English independent schools, and what assessment they have made of any potential loss of income for English universities as a result of levying VAT on independent school fees.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The department does hold some information on the type of school attended by students prior to entering higher education in the UK. However, this is only mandatory for UK domiciled students and is optional for providers to complete for international students. Therefore, the information held by the department is of unreliable quality and Higher Education Statistics Agency publish this information for UK domiciled students only.
HM Treasury will publish a Tax Information and Impact Note that considers the impact of these tax changes at Budget on 30 October.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an impact assessment on their proposal to put VAT on independent school fees; and if so, whether they will publish it.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent.
This will secure additional funding to help deliver the Government’s commitments relating to education and young people, including opening 3,000 new nurseries, rolling out breakfast clubs to all primary schools, and recruiting 6,500 new teachers.
Following scrutiny of the Government's costings by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget on 30 October in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to establish a fund for new and improved fracture liaison services.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to expanding fracture liaison services (FLS), supporting ending the postcode lottery. FLS are a globally recognised care model and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%. Officials are working closely with NHS England to consider how best to support systems to ensure better quality and access to these important preventative services.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede on 1 August (HL330), on what basis the Ministry of Justice made a payment to the Press Recognition Panel of £430,000 in April; and whether they intend to place in the House of Lords Library a copy of all correspondence between the Ministry of Justice and Press Regulation Panel relating to the payment.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Royal Charter on Self-Regulation of the press sets out that The Exchequer (acting through the Lord Chancellor) will fund the Press Recognition Panel (PRP) until it becomes effective. It also sets out that in the event that the PRP considers its income is likely to be insufficient it will have a right to request further reasonable sums so it is not frustrated by a lack of funding. Whilst the Lord Chancellor is the conduit for the PRP with HM Treasury, they have no policy responsibility under the Royal Charter that created the PRP. The PRP publish their accounts on an annual basis, confirming their annual income of £430,000.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to appoint a national specialty adviser to lead cross-departmental work to improve fracture liaison services.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to expanding Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), supporting ending the postcode lottery. FLS are a globally recognised care model and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%. Officials are working closely with NHS England to consider how best to support systems to ensure better quality and access to these important preventative services.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by The Earl of Minto on 21 March (HL Deb col 314), whether consideration will be given to making emergency financial redress payments to LGBT veterans who (1) have terminal illnesses, and (2) are over 65 and in serious and immediate financial hardship.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Given the complexities of creating the scheme, the Government cannot yet confirm the details, the expected number of claimants, nor the likely size of awards. Defence is considering the needs of the cohort throughout its development and is looking to include escalation routes for certain situations, including those who have terminal illnesses. The Government will continue to engage with LGBT veterans as plans for the financial award progress and is committed to providing information and updates as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many major police operations have included in their reports a statement that a deceased person would have been interviewed under caution had they been alive.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office does not hold the data requested.
However, in the Home Office crime outcome statistics, outcome 12 is used to record investigations closed where a named suspect has been identified but is either too ill (physically or mentally) to prosecute, or is confirmed to have died either before the crime was reported to police or before enough evidence to charge could be obtained. In the 12 months to March 2023, the number of police investigations closed under outcome 12 in England and Wales was 18,335.
The crime outcome statistics cover all notifiable offences and do not distinguish between major and minor investigations. The statistics can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-statistics.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 11 April (HL3683), whether they intend to set a deadline for the completion of work by Home Office officials regarding a potential review by an independent lawyer of seven allegations against Sir Edward Heath left unresolved by Operation Conifer; and if not, why.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
As Lord Lexden will appreciate, and as per my previous responses, my focus is on ensuring thorough consideration of the issues raised, which will be completed in due course.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 26 March (HL3210), when they anticipate that officials will complete their work and that a decision will be taken by ministers.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
As per my response on 26th March, I will return to the House in due course after receiving advice from officials on the considerations of whether the type of review of Operation Conifer the noble Lord and colleagues call for is necessary.