Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Common Travel Area Forum most recently discussed passport-free direct air travel between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Common Travel Area (CTA) allows British and Irish citizens to travel freely between the UK and Ireland and reside in either jurisdiction. It also facilitates the enjoyment of associated rights and privileges including the right to work to study and to access social security benefits and health services.
The UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative working relationship on a range of issues, including migration and border security. That collaboration includes a joint commitment to protect the Common Travel Area (CTA) from abuse while preserving the rights of British and Irish citizens.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had discussions with the government of Nigeria concerning recent attacks on Christian communities in Benue State, and what steps they are taking (1) to support the protection of communities, and (2) to promote religious freedom in Nigeria.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Intercommunal violence has a devastating effect on communities. The root causes are complex and frequently relate to competition over resources, historical grievances, and criminality. We are supporting Nigeria to tackle these root causes through our Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme and continue to engage in local and national peace-building efforts. British High Commission officials met with government representatives, traditional rulers and stakeholders across civil society in Benue State in July 2025.
The UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) is building capacity in Nigeria's security forces to tackle violence against all civilian communities, including religious communities. The former Minister for Africa discussed intercommunal violence with Nigerian ministers and officials during his visit in May 2025. Our officials in Abuja continue to engage with the Nigerian government and religious leaders on freedom of religion and belief.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, they have had since January with trades unions representing railway workers about harmonising pay and conditions as between employees of formerly privately-owned train-operating companies.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State has not met with the rail trade unions to discuss changes to pay and conditions. These matters are for employers to discuss with their union representatives, regardless of whether publicly or privately owned.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the contractual arrangements between Network Rail, Southeastern and DfT Operator Limited which enable the formation of a single leadership team for Southeastern and the Kent Route of Network Rail; and if not, what are the reasons for that decision.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department is not a party to the contractual arrangements between Network Rail and Southeastern and cannot therefore comment on publication.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the announcement on 18 June of a single leadership team for Southeastern and Network Rail’s Kent Route, what power they rely on to enable the formation of this single leadership team, and what governance processes will be in place to manage any potential conflicts of interest under current legislation.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
A single leadership team is achieved through contractual arrangements between Network Rail, the train operating company and DfT Operator Limited. The legal arrangements are based on those used in previous alliancing arrangements between Network Rail and train operators. These organisations will still be held to account for their respective accountabilities (including Network Rail under its network licence). Governance mechanisms being put in place include clear job descriptions for the single leadership team detailing the extent of their decision-making abilities and an escalation process for any perceived conflicts.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Commissioners of Birmingham City Council about the value, and plans for display in Birmingham, of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery historic art collection, including the Pre-Raphaelite paintings.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has not yet held discussions with Commissioners appointed to Birmingham City Council about the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery’s historic art collection.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Timpson on 29 July 2024 (HL68), when they intend to launch the review of the sentencing framework mentioned in the Answer, and what attention they will give to aligning the licence conditions for those subject to (1) 'two-strike' life sentences, and (2) imprisonment for public protection sentences.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Government launched an Independent Review of Sentencing in October 2024, chaired by former Lord Chancellor David Gauke, to review the sentencing framework to ensure we are never again forced to rely on the emergency release of prisoners. The Review is considering options following three core principles: sentences must punish offenders and protect the public; sentences should encourage prisoners to turn their backs on a life of crime; and we must make greater use of punishment outside of prison. On 18 February 2025, the Review published Part 1 of its report, which sets out the history and trends in sentencing that contributed to the pressures on our prisons. The review has been asked to consider the framework around longer sentences, including life sentences.
However, the Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence is not within the scope of the review. I look forward to seeing the Review’s recommendations when it reports in the Spring.
The mandatory life sentence for a second serious offence, also known as the ‘two-strikes’ life sentence, was introduced in 1997, and meant that judges had to impose a life sentence on anyone convicted of a second specified offence, unless there were exceptional circumstances. As with other types of life sentence, offenders under the two-strikes life sentence are given a minimum term, and then, if they are released by the Parole Board, they will be subject to licence conditions for the rest of their life.
The IPP sentence was an indeterminate sentence in use from 2005 to 2012. It was intended as a means of managing high-risk prisoners who the court considered did not meet the criteria for a life sentence. An IPP sentence was imposed where these offenders were convicted of a serious specified violent or sexual offence, committed on or after the 4 April 2005, where, in the Court’s opinion, the offender posed a risk of harm to the public.
Unlike the IPP sentence, where the licence can be terminated either by the Parole Board at the end of the qualifying period, or after a further two years in the community on licence, the ‘two-strike’ sentence is a life sentence and has an indefinite licence period. There is no provision for a life sentence to be terminated and therefore, the IPP measures relating to licence termination are not applicable to ‘two-strike’ life sentence offenders.
As with all life sentenced prisoners, HM Prison and Probation Service supports those serving ‘two-strikes’ life sentences to reduce their risk to meet the Parole Board’s statutory release test when they become eligible for release. If released, they remain on life licence. The Government has no plans to change licence conditions for life sentences.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have received representations from ambassadors or High Commissioners resident in Palace Green and Kensington Palace Gardens about the temporary obstacles erected there by the Crown Estate to manage the behaviour of bicyclists.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has received no such representations.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many policy reviews and consultations the Department for Transport has launched since the General Election on 4 July 2024; what the subject of each review is; and what the anticipated timescales are for their completion.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department keeps all of its policies under review, to ensure they are aligned to the Government’s priorities and delivering the best possible outcomes for the public.
It is standard practice for any new administration to review the policies of its predecessors.
Where appropriate, we publish details of our reviews on gov.uk. This includes information on the independent reviews, public consultations and taskforces that have been launched, completed and published between 5 July 2024 and 5 January 2025.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 10 February (HL4433), what assessment they have made of the impact of their funding under the Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme; what initiatives under that programme are aimed specifically at promoting and protecting freedom of religion or belief; and when they expect credible independent data on incidents of religious violence in Bangladesh to emerge from the work of the United Nations resident coordinator’s office.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK-funded Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme works to protect and promote freedom of religion or belief. A local peace building organisation The Hunger Project has organised a range of initiatives to foster inter-ethnic and religious peace. This has included peace events, consultation meetings with local authorities and quarterly meetings with local conflict mediation. As a result, local peace forum groups have been created to take steps to protect Hindus and other minority communities during their religious festivals. The UN Human Rights Office have now published their report; this provides credible independent data on events last year.