Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that research, education and treatment funded through the gambling levy are independent of influence by bodies in the gambling industry.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government recognises that trust in and independence of the levy system are crucial. We have appointed expert public bodies to lead on research, prevention and treatment of gambling related harm. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and NHS England, together with appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales, are responsible for day-to-day levy spending. These bodies have set up their own governance arrangements and conflict of interest policies to ensure these decisions are independent of industry and led by the evidence of what works.

Furthermore, the Gambling Levy Programme Board oversees the statutory levy system to ensure that funding is being spent appropriately and efficiently. The Terms of Reference for the Board can be found on GOV.UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to provide an update on progress made in implementing the recommendations of the report from the Statutory Inquiries Committee Public inquiries: Enhancing public trust (HL Paper 9).

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

We are grateful for the work of the House of Lords statutory inquiries committee and its report published in September 2024, to which the government responded in February 2025.

As set out in that response the Cabinet Office will publish The Inquiry Practitioners' Handbook in due course. The Government has also launched a publicly accessible tracker reporting progress on inquiry recommendations and amended the Ministerial Code to ensure Cabinet Office policy expertise informs decisions on establishing a public inquiry and agreeing terms of reference.

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill is also progressing in parliament, making non-statutory inquiries much more powerful options.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the establishment of a National School for Government; and when they plan to launch it.

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

The creation of the National School for Government and Public Services was announced by Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones on 20 January 2026. The purpose of the school is to support ambitions for a world-class, professional Civil Service. It is scheduled to be launched later this year.