Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings the departmental board of the Department of Health and Social Care has had since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has held two departmental board meetings since 4 July 2024. Further details on departmental board meetings are published in the Department's published annual report and accounts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings the departmental board of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has had since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

Details of the attendees, and number of meetings, for all top-level boards and committees at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are published on an annual basis in the FCDO annual report and accounts. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Management Board, chaired by the Permanent Under-Secretary, has met 6 times since 4 July 2024.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Georgia regarding free speech, the rule of law and its obligations as a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights in its policing of protest.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

We remain severely concerned by democratic backsliding in Georgia, including restrictions on free speech and policing of protests. The Minister of State for Europe and North America raised these issues directly with Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Botchorishvili on 16 October and with Georgian Dream 1st Deputy Foreign Minister Zurabashvili on 21 October, and the UK is also supporting efforts in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Council of Europe to press Georgia to adhere to democratic norms.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings the departmental board of the Cabinet Office has had since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Cabinet Office Board has met twice since 4 July 2024.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings the departmental board of the Department of Education has had since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The department has had eight meetings since 4 July 2024, which will rise to nine by the end of this calendar year (2025).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings the departmental board of the Home Office has had since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office Annual Report and Accounts 24/25 includes information on how many times the Departmental Board met during that financial year. Information on the number of meetings held in the 25/26 financial year will be published in next year’s Annual Report and Accounts. Home Office Board met twice in the time mentioned.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings the departmental board of the Ministry of Defence has had since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Since 4 July 2024, the Defence Board has met six times under the Chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon John Healey MP.

The Secretary of State has given the Defence Board a clear mandate to debate and monitor progress against the Department's highest priorities, which include People, implementation of the Strategic Defence Review, Defence Reform, and the Defence budget and Investment Plan.

The Defence Board is expected to meet at least four times annually in line with the corporate governance code of good practice.

Found: Tom Gordon; Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws; Afzal Khan; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon; Lord Murray of Blidworth

Found: Tom Gordon; Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws; Afzal Khan; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon; Lord Murray of Blidworth

Found: Kennedy of The Shaws (Labour; Life peer) Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon (Labour; Life peer) Lord Murray of Blidworth

Found: Lord Dholakia; Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws; Afzal Khan; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon; Lord Murray of Blidworth

Found: it will be obvious that 214 Hansard (HL Committee) Vol 826 col 999 (19.12.22), Lord Murray of Blidworth

Found: it will be obvious that 214 Hansard (HL Committee) Vol 826 col 999 (19.12.22), Lord Murray of Blidworth