Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the state of social cohesion and societal and democratic resilience in the UK; and what indicators they are using to measure cohesion and resilience.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is leading cross-Government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address the deep-seated issues. This will include further consideration of how to effectively measure social cohesion.
The Defending Democracy Taskforce, chaired by the Security Minister, has a mandate to safeguard our democratic institutions and processes from the full range of threats, and the Joint Election Security and Preparedness Unit is an enduring function that coordinates election security efforts across Government.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the StandWithUs UK University Campus Polling published on 18 May 2024, what assessment they have made of the finding that 29 per cent of surveyed university students would describe the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023 as an "understandable act of resistance".
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The government is deeply concerned by the findings of the StandWithUs UK University Campus Polling.
Antisemitism is unacceptable, and universities must have robust policies and processes in place for preventing and tackling it. Whilst it is entirely right that universities protect freedom of speech and academic freedom on campus, this does not extend to hate, harassment or incitement. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education recently met with Vice Chancellors to discuss what more could be done to address the continued unacceptable level of antisemitism on our campuses.
From August 2025, the Office for Students’ new condition of registration for preventing, addressing and investigating incidents of harassment will take effect and universities will be held to account for their action. Furthermore, under the Prevent duty, the Office for Students monitors and evaluates whether universities and other higher education providers have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism.
The government is also investing £7 million to tackle antisemitism in education, including support for Jewish student welfare and remains committed to ensuring that all students can study in safety and dignity.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the StandWithUs UK University Campus Polling published on 18 May 2024, what assessment they have made of the finding that 38 per cent of university student surveyed think that people who publicly support Israel should expect to face abuse on campus.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The government is deeply concerned by the findings of the StandWithUs UK University Campus Polling.
Antisemitism is unacceptable, and universities must have robust policies and processes in place for preventing and tackling it. Whilst it is entirely right that universities protect freedom of speech and academic freedom on campus, this does not extend to hate, harassment or incitement. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education recently met with Vice Chancellors to discuss what more could be done to address the continued unacceptable level of antisemitism on our campuses.
From August 2025, the Office for Students’ new condition of registration for preventing, addressing and investigating incidents of harassment will take effect and universities will be held to account for their action. Furthermore, under the Prevent duty, the Office for Students monitors and evaluates whether universities and other higher education providers have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism.
The government is also investing £7 million to tackle antisemitism in education, including support for Jewish student welfare and remains committed to ensuring that all students can study in safety and dignity.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to counter Iranian state influence in the United Kingdom including in political, academic and community spheres.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
On the 4th March, the Security Minister announced to Parliament a concerted package of measures to counter the threat from the Iranian Intelligence Services. This includes our decision to specify Iran on the Enhanced Tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), which will require individuals and organisations directed by Iran to conduct activity in the UK to register with the Home Office. Failure to do so will be a criminal offence.
In concert with partners, the UK Government will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to protect the UK and its people against any threats from the Iranian state, including malign influence.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security implications of the annual al-Quds day marches which this year resulted in the arrest of 10 people on charges of racial hatred, public order offences and the assault of an emergency worker.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
During this year's Al Quds day march and counter-protest, the Metropolitan Police Service put public order conditions in place. While there were 10 arrests at last year's Al Quds day protest, in 2025 one arrest was reported on the day. The Government supports the police in using their powers to respond to unlawful behaviour, but the use of these powers is a matter for police who are operationally independent.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the causes of the reported 2,000 per cent increase in UK car exports to Azerbaijan since they imposed sanctions prohibiting such car sales on Russia; and what steps they will take if it is found that the 2,000 per cent increase is partly caused by attempts to evade sanctions imposed on Russia.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
The Department for Business and Trade has spoken with industry stakeholders, who have confirmed the sector's commitment to compliance with all trade and economic sanctions, including those on Russia. There are currently no sanctions on UK luxury car exports for use in Azerbaijan. HMRC investigates credible allegations of trade sanctions offences and has a range of options for tackling breaches, including referral for criminal prosecution.
We continue to work to prevent Russia's efforts to circumvent sanctions and recently announced the creation of the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation to improve the implementation and enforcement of trade sanctions, complementing HMRC's existing powers.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 17 November (HL3974), how many unborn children have been placed on the Child Protection Information sharing system using the pregnant woman’s National Health Service number.
Answered by Lord Kamall - Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)
The information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include pregnant women whose children are likely to need a care plan from birth in the Child Protection – Information Sharing Project.
Answered by Lord Kamall - Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)
Unborn children on a protection plan can be on the Children Protection – Information Sharing system with the pregnant woman’s National Health Service number.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement the recommendation of the Climate Change Committee in its 2021 Progress Report to Parliament, published on 24 June, to make Shoreline Management Plans statutory.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
We will formally respond to the Climate Change Committee’s detailed recommendations in October.
Adapting to the current and predicted changes to our climate is vital. The UK is already leading the fight against climate change by delivering on our world-leading target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The Environment Agency is working with coastal protection authorities on a £1 million refresh of Shoreline Management Plans. This will ensure that they are up to date, using the best evidence in their recommendations and focus attention on priority areas for investment and adaptation.
Last year, the Government published our long-term Policy Statement which sets out our ambition to create a nation more resilient to future flood and coastal erosion risk. The Policy Statement includes five policies and over 40 supporting actions which will accelerate progress to better protect and better prepare the country against flooding and coastal erosion in the face of more frequent extreme weather as a result of climate change.
This includes a commitment to review national policy for Shoreline Management Plans to ensure they are transparent, continuously review outcomes and enable local authorities to make robust decisions for their areas. As part of this we will engage with stakeholders, including the Environment Agency and Coastal Protection Areas to consider the Committee’s views that Shoreline Management Plans should be made Statutory.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of days of in-person education lost by school pupils in England and Wales as a result of isolating after coming into to contact with a fellow pupil who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The department’s goal is to support pupils to attend face to face education, and to reverse the long-term impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on their education.
The department collects information from schools through the daily education setting survey. Schools record and submit data on the following categories:
Full school attendance data is published weekly and includes information on the number of pupils absent due to potential contact with COVID-19 in schools. The latest week’s data can be accessed through the following link, along with each previous week: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak#dataDownloads-1.
Education is a devolved power and the Department does not collect data on Welsh schools. Please contact the Welsh Government (https://gov.wales).