Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of anti-Zionism with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism.
Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society, which is why we’re taking a strong lead in tackling it in all its forms. Sadly, we have seen how events in the Middle East are used as an excuse to stir up hatred and violence against Jewish communities.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism outlines that antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
The Definition contains several illustrative examples that demonstrate what may be considered antisemitism, depending on the overall context.
We became the first country to adopt the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism and continue to encourage other bodies to do so. Over three quarters of councils in England have now adopted the IHRA definition.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by StandWithUs UK Voice of Students 2024/25, published on 7 May, and what steps they plan to take with regard to university staff who have reportedly expressed (1) antisemitic views, and (2) support for proscribed terror groups.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The report contains testimonies that are deeply concerning. I have heard first-hand from students about their experiences of antisemitism at an event in this House held on 11 March.
Universities must take reasonably practicable steps to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law. Unlawful harassment or violence, hate speech against staff and students on campus or inciting others to violence or terrorism are not protected.
Encouraging terrorism and supporting proscribed terrorist organisations are criminal offences, and higher education providers must not provide a platform for these activities. The department expects university leaders to take robust action, particularly where there are concerns that a criminal act may have been committed, including reporting crimes to the police.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education will shortly host a round table to which she has invited several Vice Chancellors, many of whose students and universities are featured in StandWithUs UK’s testimonials. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.
We have confirmed £7 million in funding to address antisemitism in education.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to help ensure the safety of Jewish students at universities.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The report contains testimonies that are deeply concerning. I have heard first-hand from students about their experiences of antisemitism at an event in this House held on 11 March.
Universities must take reasonably practicable steps to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law. Unlawful harassment or violence, hate speech against staff and students on campus or inciting others to violence or terrorism are not protected.
Encouraging terrorism and supporting proscribed terrorist organisations are criminal offences, and higher education providers must not provide a platform for these activities. The department expects university leaders to take robust action, particularly where there are concerns that a criminal act may have been committed, including reporting crimes to the police.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education will shortly host a round table to which she has invited several Vice Chancellors, many of whose students and universities are featured in StandWithUs UK’s testimonials. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.
We have confirmed £7 million in funding to address antisemitism in education.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to reflect the proposals set out in the NHS vaccination strategy in the 10 Year Health Plan.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department and NHS England are working collaboratively on the development of the 10-Year Health Plan, including through independent investigation, a public engagement exercise, and wider policy development.
It is too early to say exactly what the 10-Year Health Plan will look like, but what is certain is that delivering on prevention will remain a priority as part of the plan’s three shifts to get the health service and the nation’s health thriving once again.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the causes of the fall in childhood vaccination coverage rates since 2013–14.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England indicates a decline in coverage for childhood vaccination programmes. The extent of these changes varies depending on the specific vaccination programme and the age group being considered.
Public concerns about the level of preschool vaccination uptake prompted the National Audit Office to investigate the reasons behind the decline. The report identified several structural issues, including fragmented program delivery, difficult access for parents, and inconsistencies in professional communication. The copy of the full report is attached.
The Government is committed to having high uptake in all our vaccination programmes, and has an established independent scientific advisory group, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which is responsible for advising United Kingdom health departments on immunisations for the prevention of infections and/or disease.
The UKHSA has also established a forum bringing together the four UK nations to review factors impacting the decline in uptake, and to identify actions and shared learning to improve access to services and to address other potential barriers.
The UKHSA conducts research to assess public confidence in national vaccination programmes. Annual surveys consistently show that confidence in vaccination remains high.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government by what date the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will reopen its capital grants scheme following its closure in November 2024.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra announced on 24 February that the Environmental Land Management standalone Capital Grants scheme will re-open in summer 2025. We will confirm the date that it will re-open in due course.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what grants have been made since 4 July 2024 to fund research into alternative proteins for human consumption.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the importance of innovative approaches and novel technologies to boosting productivity sustainably.
In August 2024, the Government’s UK Research and Innovation body (UKRI) invested £15 million in the new National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC). This National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre will drive research and innovation bolstering the alternative proteins sector in the UK, fostering innovation across a variety of protein sources, including plant-based proteins, cultivated meat and protein-rich algae.
Innovate UK and BBSRC have also invested £15.6 million to support innovation funding (32 projects) as part of the Novel Low Emission Food Production Systems competition to address sustainable agriculture. These industry-led, collaborative projects include development of alternative proteins such as plant-based and cultivated meat.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what impact they expect their proposed Land Use Framework to have on livestock production.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Land Use Consultation and its analytical annex clarify the land use change implied by the Environment Act Targets and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry sector contributions to Net Zero.
The Land Use Framework will not prescribe changes in agricultural management. There are opportunities for grazing on grassland to contribute to target delivery, such as peat restoration in the uplands and restoration of species-rich grassland in other parts of the country. The Framework will provide guiding principles and tools for land managers to make informed decisions about their land and businesses.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average NHS waiting time for cataract surgery; and how many patients are currently waiting.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are currently 80,935 patients waiting for cataract surgery. The average National Health Service waiting time for this procedure is 15.6 weeks.
The Government is committed to putting patients first. We will ensure 92% of patients return to waiting no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015.
We are proceeding with our commitment to cutting NHS waiting lists and ensuring people have the best possible experience during their care. We have delivered a reduction in the list of 160,000 pathways as well as provided over two million extra appointments, including for ophthalmology.
NHS England is also testing how improved IT connectivity between primary care optometry and secondary eye care services could improve the referral process and allow for the virtual triage of patients. This also includes looking at whether patients can be managed in the community, freeing up hospital eye clinic capacity for patients that need face to face specialist input.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many members of staff Ofcom employs in each directorate.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This information is set out in Ofcom's Annual Reports and Accounts 2023-24.
Ofcom employs 1,483 employees (full time equivalents). Non-Executive Members of the Ofcom Board, Content Board, Advisory Committees and employees seconded to Ofcom are excluded from employee numbers.
The breakdown for each Directorate is as follows:
Broadcasting and Media Group - 118
Networks and Communications Group - 146
Spectrum Group - 242
Online Safety Group - 189
Economics and Analytics Group - 117
Legal Group - 119
Strategy and Research Group - 157
Corporate Group - 363
Central – 31
The Corporate Group includes Finance, HR, the Contact Centre, ICT, Public Policy and Nations teams, Communications, Governance and Accountability, and Data and Information.