Asked by: Lord Shinkwin (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to democratic reform.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
A reformed Palestinian Authority is essential to long-term stability in the region and making progress towards a two-state solution. The UK welcomes the Palestinian Authority's commitment to deliver its ambitious and necessary 'National Program for Development and Reform' in full as a matter of priority in the short, medium and long term. We welcome President Abbas' commitment to hold Presidential and Legislative elections within a year to be conducted under international auspices, supervision and support. Alongside our partners, the UK will continue to support the Palestinian Authority as it delivers its important reform agenda, including on democratic reform.
Asked by: Lord Shinkwin (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to mark the 60th anniversary of the Race Relations Act 1965; and what steps they will take to reassure the British Jewish community that the police will take seriously racially-motivated crimes in all forms.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK has a long and proud history of tackling race discrimination, with the first Race Relations Act 1965 introduced 60 years ago. The King's Speech announced our intention to build on this legacy through the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, which we intend to publish in draft this session.
Making sure that British Jews are not only safe, but also feel safe, remains one of our top priorities. This year, the Government has allocated £18 million to the Community Security Trust through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant to provide protective security measures at synagogues, Jewish educational establishments and community sites.
The Government works closely with the Independent Adviser on Antisemitism along with Jewish community voices on the most effective methods to tackle antisemitism. We also recently established an Antisemitism Working Group to provide advice on antisemitism and how government should engage Jewish communities around international, national and local events affecting British Jews. We are committed to tackling antisemitism and support the police in taking robust action against all forms of hate crime, wherever these crimes occur and whoever is responsible.
Asked by: Lord Shinkwin (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will (1) publish an implementation plan, and (2) announce pump-priming to support the implementation plan, for the roll-out of the fracture liaison services outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan for England.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Fracture Liaison Services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need.
Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.
Asked by: Lord Shinkwin (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Health (Secondary Care) on 24 January (HC25099), what assessment they have made of the health risks resulting from the NHS using gender-neutral language that may obscure the impact of biological sex on the physical effects of drugs.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government expects the National Health Service to deliver health services in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, having appropriate regard to protected characteristics as defined in the Act where relevant.
Language is very important when communicating with patients and whilst no assessment has been made of the impact of specific language, the NHS always strives to ensure clear terms that everyone can understand should always be used. Sex and gender identity are not always the same thing, and it is important for patients that we record both accurately.
The Department is committed to delivering safe and holistic care for both adults and children when it comes to gender, and that also means accurately recording biological sex, not just for research and insight, but also for patient safety. Following the publication of the Sullivan Review, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting MP) instructed the health service to immediately suspend applications for NHS number changes for children under 18 years old, in order to safeguard them.
Asked by: Lord Shinkwin (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with StandWithUs UK about taking action to combat antisemitism on university campuses.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I was grateful to attend a roundtable organised by StandWithUs UK in this House on 11 March 2025. At that event, I heard directly from students about their horrifying experiences of antisemitic abuse, many of which are captured in the StandWIthUs UK Voice of Students report.
The antisemitic incidents detailed in the report are wholly unacceptable and the wellbeing and safety of Jewish students remains a government priority.
I recognise the efforts that university Vice Chancellors and their staff are making to foster cohesion on campuses across the country. However, the StandWithUs UK report highlights that there is still more to do. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education will soon host a roundtable, to which she has invited Vice Chancellors representing many of the institutions featured in the report. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Asked by: Lord Shinkwin (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with StandWithUs UK about the report Voice of Students 2024/25, published on 7 May.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I was grateful to attend a roundtable organised by StandWithUs UK in this House on 11 March 2025. At that event, I heard directly from students about their horrifying experiences of antisemitic abuse, many of which are captured in the StandWIthUs UK Voice of Students report.
The antisemitic incidents detailed in the report are wholly unacceptable and the wellbeing and safety of Jewish students remains a government priority.
I recognise the efforts that university Vice Chancellors and their staff are making to foster cohesion on campuses across the country. However, the StandWithUs UK report highlights that there is still more to do. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education will soon host a roundtable, to which she has invited Vice Chancellors representing many of the institutions featured in the report. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Asked by: Lord Shinkwin (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the scale of antisemitic activity and incidents on university campuses.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Since the terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023, there has been an unprecedented increase in antisemitic incidents on university campuses.
The Community Security Trust report ‘Campus Antisemitism in Britain 2022-2024', published on 9 December 2024, states that in the two academic years 2022/2024, 325 university-related antisemitic incidents were recorded: 53 incidents in 2022/23 and 272 incidents in 2023/24. This is a 117% increase from the 150 incidents recorded between academic years 2020/2022.
Within the period covered by the report, there was an increase of 413% from academic year 2022/23 to academic year 2023/24, which clearly demonstrates the impact of the 7 October attacks.
Officials and Ministers continue to liaise closely with Universities UK and with key Jewish Community stakeholders, including the Community Security Trust and the Union of Jewish Students, to remain appraised of issues and how they are being handled by universities.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education will soon host a roundtable with Vice Chancellors to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Asked by: Lord Shinkwin (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps Arts Council England is taking to protect (1) free speech within the law, and (2) the expression of gender-critical beliefs, in relation to (a) views expressed by staff within the organisation and (b) the awarding of grants.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Arts Council England (ACE) supports freedom of speech within the limits of the law and recognises the expression of different beliefs - including gender-critical views - as protected under the Equality Act 2010. ACE staff receive training on these matters and are guided by their Dignity at Work policy.
All ACE staff are expected to uphold the Nolan principles, including objectivity, which requires public officials to make decisions fairly, impartially, and based on the best available evidence, free from discrimination or bias. ACE also supports the rights of artists and cultural organisations to express themselves freely, including through work that is challenging, provocative, or political. ACE has published guidance aimed at supporting cultural organisations in managing complex situations that might arise from presenting challenging work, which is available on their website.
Asked by: Lord Shinkwin (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what commemorative (1) days, (2) weeks, and (3) months, are recognised by (a) the Department of Health and Social Care, and (b) NHS England, as significant for diversity and inclusion, excluding religious holidays.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold an official list of approved commemorative days, weeks, or months. We follow direction from Cabinet Office on important national days to be marked across the Civil Service. All other commemorative days, weeks, or months are considered on a case- by-case basis in discussion with our staff networks and senior sponsors. Efforts are made to align any commemorative events to departmental priorities, and to include a health and social care angle to broaden the reach of the activity and deepen departmental understanding of how we are making a difference in our communities. Examples of commemorative events the Department has marked to date include Holocaust Memorial Day, Mental Health Awareness Week, Veterans Day, Pride Month, Black History Month, Cancer Awareness Days, Carers Day, and Social Mobility Day.
The Department will continue to be led by Cabinet Office steers and by the recommendations of our staff networks and leadership, and will try and leverage commemoration days to deepen our organisational knowledge of health and care issues and the communities we serve.
NHS England acknowledges a range of significant commemorative days and events that align with their organisational priorities and help them fulfil their Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. While they engage with a broad spectrum of important health awareness and equality-related events, there is no formalised schedule or overarching programme in place.
Some of the commemorative days and events NHS England has recognised to date include VE Day, Mental Health Awareness Week, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, International Women’s Day, Bowel Cancer Awareness Day, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day, Black History Month, International Nurses Day, and Holocaust Memorial Day.
Asked by: Lord Shinkwin (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to appoint a veterans' commissioner for England to work alongside (1) the Veterans' Commissioners for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and (2) the Armed Forces Commissioner who is expected to be appointed in 2026.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the noble Lord to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Veterans and People in the House of Commons on 23 February 2025 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) in response to Question 35837.