Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of prison staff in England and Wales in each of the past three years were born outside the United Kingdom.

Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of staff in HM Prison Service speak English as a second language.

Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they have taken to preserve remaining historic gas lamps in London.

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

In October 2024, 40 free-standing gas lamps in Westminster were listed at Grade II to recognise their special interest and to ensure their future protection. Amendments were also made in February 2025 to a further 14 List entries for gas lamps already on the List to recognise the importance of the lamps and to aid their management by Westminster City Council.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement a scheme similar to the EU entry/exit system for EU nationals travelling to the UK.

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

The UK has introduced electronic travel authorisations (ETAs) to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream, and improve the customer experience. The introduction of the ETA scheme is in line with the approach many of the UK’s international partners have already taken to border security, including the European Union’s forthcoming ETIAS and EES. The UK’s scheme was extended to eligible European nationals on 5 March 2025, and will be a requirement for this cohort for travel from 2 April 2025. In line with international partners, we are building upon our existing ability to track arrivals in and out of the country.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to require travellers to the UK to hold passports that (1) have been issued within ten years of their departure date, and (2) are valid for more than three months after their departure date.

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

The current requirement for travellers, as set out in the Immigration Rules - Guidance - GOV.UK, is that a person must, on arrival in the United Kingdom or when seeking entry through the Channel Tunnel, produce on request by a Border Force Officer a valid national passport or, subject to eligibility, another document satisfactorily establishing their identity and nationality. The document must be valid for the duration of the proposed travel to the UK.

There are currently no plans to change these requirements.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement a scheme similar to the European travel information and authorisation system for travellers to the UK.

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

The UK has introduced electronic travel authorisations (ETAs) to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream, and improve the customer experience. The introduction of the ETA scheme is in line with the approach many of the UK’s international partners have already taken to border security, including the European Union’s forthcoming ETIAS and EES. The UK’s scheme was extended to eligible European nationals on 5 March 2025, and will be a requirement for this cohort for travel from 2 April 2025. In line with international partners, we are building upon our existing ability to track arrivals in and out of the country.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to release funds currently held by Roman Abramovich’s company Fordstam to Ukraine.

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

We are determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine as soon as possible. We are doing everything we can to bring that about quickly. This is a complex legal issue, but the UK is working with international partners, has engaged with Abramovich's team, and is exploring all options to ensure the proceeds reach vulnerable people in Ukraine.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to exercise their option to extend the current Great Western Railway franchise.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

There are no plans to extend the Great Western Railway franchise. Under the provisions of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, services operated under contract with the Department will transfer into public ownership as existing contracts expire, and will be kept there, rather than public ownership merely being a temporary ‘last resort’. This delivers the Government’s manifesto commitment to bring passenger services into public ownership as a first step towards wider rail reform.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the recent arrests of activists from the Youth Demand group in a Quaker Meeting House, what assessment they have made of the proportionality of (1) legislation governing protests in England; and (2) the enforcement of such legislation by the police.

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

The enforcement of protest legislation is an operational matter for the police. It is within their discretion to determine whether a particular action warrants police involvement, based on their operational expertise and the specific circumstances of each case.

Found: LORD SWIRE 101A_ Clause 4, page 2, line 16, leave out subsections (3) and (4) and insert— “(3) This