Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of their policies with regard to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on Armenian Christians in Jerusalem; and whether they plan to take steps to help preserve their presence in the Old City.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It has been the position of the UK Government since 1967 that the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza) are not lawfully part of the State of Israel. In line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, we regard East Jerusalem as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. His Majesty's Government continue to support the cultural presence and identity in East Jerusalem. Our officials at the British Consulate General in Jerusalem regularly meet with members of the Christian community and Churches in Jerusalem, including the Armenian Patriarchate, to understand the impact of issues affecting their community.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the situation and vulnerability of the Armenian community in Jerusalem; what plans they have to send a formal delegation to visit the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem; and whether they plan to meet the Armenia Community in Jerusalem, and members of the Save the Armenian Quarter movement.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It has been the position of the UK Government since 1967 that the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza) are not lawfully part of the State of Israel. In line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, we regard East Jerusalem as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. His Majesty's Government continue to support the cultural presence and identity in East Jerusalem. Our officials at the British Consulate General in Jerusalem regularly meet with members of the Christian community and Churches in Jerusalem, including the Armenian Patriarchate, to understand the impact of issues affecting their community.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many residential properties the Ministry of Defence currently owns within the Dreghorn estate in Edinburgh; and, of these, how many are currently sub-let to civilians rather than being occupied by service personnel or their families.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As at 24 April 2025, the Ministry of Defence owns a total of 200 Service Family Accommodation properties within the Dreghorn estate in Edinburgh, and, of these, 36 properties are sublet to civilians.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 13 March (HC Deb col 1307), whether all the education materials will be produced for the whole of the UK; and whether they have received commitments from the devolved administrations to distribute these materials to all state schools.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has announced an ambitious programme for the entire UK to commemorate the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day. Communities across the UK will come together to mark the commemorations - by participating in the official programme and by organising their own events and activities.
The Government has launched a brand new collection of educational resources titled VE Day: Our Shared Story, encouraging every young person across the UK to engage with veteran testimony and experience through the year of the 80th anniversary. Schools, teachers and community youth groups are invited to download the free schools planning pack to start planning activities for young people. The material will be translated into Welsh and we are working closely with the Devolved Governments to disseminate the educational materials across all parts of the UK.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the BBC about the decision to end access to BBC Sounds for overseas listeners.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) meets regularly with representatives of the BBC on a range of matters, including how it engages listeners both in the UK and internationally.
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent of the Government, and decisions on changes to its BBC Sounds service is a matter for the BBC.
The Government recognises the BBC’s value as a UK soft power asset, and promoting British stories to audiences across the world.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many XL Bully dogs without an exemption certificate have been seized since September 2024.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not hold information on the number of XL bullies that have been seized by police forces in England and Wales. This information will be held by individual police forces.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much was paid in compensation to the owners of XL Bully dogs who were euthanised before 15 March.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The total amount paid under the XL Bully dog compensation scheme was £78,900.
Defra received 406 valid claims for compensation for XL Bully dogs that were euthanised. Applications to this compensation scheme closed on the 15 March 2024. We do not hold data on the total number of XL bully dogs that may have been euthanised as a result of the ban.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many XL Bully dogs were euthanised as part of the ban on that breed.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The total amount paid under the XL Bully dog compensation scheme was £78,900.
Defra received 406 valid claims for compensation for XL Bully dogs that were euthanised. Applications to this compensation scheme closed on the 15 March 2024. We do not hold data on the total number of XL bully dogs that may have been euthanised as a result of the ban.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many XL bullies have been seized by police forces in England and Wales since January.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Since the formation of this policy under the last Government, Defra has not held information on the number of XL bullies that have been seized by police forces in England and Wales. This information will be held by individual police forces.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of estimate of the number of unregistered XL bullies in England and Wales.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Since the formation of this policy under the last Government, Defra has not held data on the number of unregistered XL bullies in England and Wales.