Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to join UNICEF's Partnership for a Lead-Free Future.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are aware of the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future, launched to help end childhood lead poisoning by 2040. The UK keeps opportunities to engage with relevant international initiatives under review, including where they align with our development, health and environmental objectives. No formal assessment has yet been made of the merits of UK membership of the Partnership, and no decision has been taken on whether the UK will join.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have considered introducing monitored driving conditions for offenders who would otherwise face disqualification for repeat motoring offences.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government’s motoring offences consultation, launched in January 2026, sought views on current penalties including whether alcohol ignition locks (alcolock) should be used as part of a drink drive rehabilitation process. We are currently analysing the responses and will then announce next steps.
Sentencing is a matter for the independent courts who will look at each case individually, including whether to disqualify an offender.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the National Crime Agency’s International Corruption Unit investigated the allegations of corruption and the illicit gold trade in Zimbabwe involving British citizens as reported in the Al Jazeera documentary Gold Mafia; and whether any prosecutions have resulted from this.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
While we cannot comment on specific law enforcement investigations, the Government treats all allegations of international corruption, money laundering and illicit gold trading with the utmost seriousness.
The National Crime Agency's International Corruption Unit, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, investigates international bribery, corruption and related money‑laundering offences, including where there is a nexus involving UK nationals or financial systems. The Illicit Finance Summit, to be hosted by the UK in December, will strengthen international, public-private cooperation to tackle illicit gold.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the formal representation of the Oxford Sudanese Student Society to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, concerning the imposition of a visa brake on Sudanese nationals; and whether they intend to meet representatives of the Society to discuss the issue.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We recognise the concerns the Oxford Sudanese Student Society have regarding the visa brake and that this decision may be disappointing. However, the visa brake, which was data-driven, was ultimately required to ensure that the system remains fair, credible, and sustainable. Proportionality has been central to the development of this policy, with nationals of Sudan presenting not only high numbers of claims but also some of the highest proportions of asylum claims to visas issued on the Student route.
In the year ending September 2025, for Sudan nationals on the Student route, the proportion of asylum claims as a proportion of visas issued was 46%. This is consistent with a rise across the past five years. This is not sustainable, and has necessitated swift action to address this trend.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to consider child rights in (1) foreign policy, (2) international development policy, and (3) humanitarian policy.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
As a ratifier of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the rights and wellbeing of children. These principles are embedded across our foreign, development, and humanitarian policies. We work with international partners to deliver better outcomes for children, including through education, health, and nutrition programmes. The UK is an active member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, and we continue to support global initiatives that strengthen child protection systems and uphold children's rights in all contexts.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of reductions in Official Development Assistance funding for health programmes on children in low-income countries.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
A formal Equality impact assessment of Official Development Assistance programme allocations for 2025 to 2026 was published on 2 September 2025, and is available on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-official-development-assistance-programme-allocations-2025-to-2026-equality-impact-assessment/equality-impact-assessment-of-official-development-assistance-oda-programme-allocations-for-2025-to-2026).
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of reductions in Official Development Assistance funding for education programmes on children in low-income countries.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
A formal Equality impact assessment of Official Development Assistance programme allocations for 2025 to 2026 was published on 2 September 2025, and is available on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-official-development-assistance-programme-allocations-2025-to-2026-equality-impact-assessment/equality-impact-assessment-of-official-development-assistance-oda-programme-allocations-for-2025-to-2026).
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what funding they are providing to support initiatives such as the Solar Hospital Innovation for Energy Leasing Demonstrator project to provide power for healthcare in Africa.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham
The Solar Hospital Innovation project was funded by DSIT through UKRI’s Energy Catalyst programme, as part of the up to £1 billion Ayrton Fund for clean energy innovation. DSIT provided £298,497 in funding for this project, alongside £79,343 in matched funding from local sources. This contributes to the wider Ayrton Challenge on Inclusive Energy and Leave No-One Behind. The installed 228KW solar system provided 158MW of clean energy over six months, displacing around 100 tonnes of CO2. This will save the hospital $75,000 per year which has been reallocated to a cancer drugs fund.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the positive impacts on health and the energy transition of initiatives such as the Solar Hospital Innovation for Energy Leasing Demonstrator project.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham
The Solar Hospital Innovation project was funded by DSIT through UKRI’s Energy Catalyst programme, as part of the up to £1 billion Ayrton Fund for clean energy innovation. DSIT provided £298,497 in funding for this project, alongside £79,343 in matched funding from local sources. This contributes to the wider Ayrton Challenge on Inclusive Energy and Leave No-One Behind. The installed 228KW solar system provided 158MW of clean energy over six months, displacing around 100 tonnes of CO2. This will save the hospital $75,000 per year which has been reallocated to a cancer drugs fund.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for the Home Department, after being appointed on 5 September, has had introductory conversations with the interior ministers of (1) France, (2) Germany, (3) Italy, (4) Belgium and (5) the Netherlands, regarding international cooperation on tackling organised immigration crime.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
International co-operation is vital to address organised immigration crime. The Home Secretary continues to engage with counterparts across the EU and further afield on what further can be done to tackle this issue. Most recently the Home Secretary chaired the 11th Western Balkans Summit where the impact of illegal migration was discussed. This was attended by representatives of the European Union and its Member States including the Chancellor of Germany, alongside representatives from France and Italy.