Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of illegal migrants they will return under the returns agreement with France by the end of 2025.

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

Returns to France under the UK-France returns agreement commenced on 18 September 2025.

This is a pilot that we want to expand and therefore the numbers will vary. We will not go into the operational details as this would provide criminal smuggling gangs with information that they may use to continue to their vile trade.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect flights returning illegal migrants to France to commence under their returns agreement.

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

Returns to France under the UK-France returns agreement commenced on 18 September 2025.

This is a pilot that we want to expand and therefore the numbers will vary. We will not go into the operational details as this would provide criminal smuggling gangs with information that they may use to continue to their vile trade.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government why military personnel from (1) China, and (2) Qatar, are not banned from attending the Royal College of Defence Studies.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The provision of professional military education or training to a foreign military is dependent on a number of factors, including the nature of our partnerships and course availability, and is kept under regular review. Any decision is made on a case-by-case basis and is underpinned by a robust assessment as to the benefits, risks, and compliance with international human rights law.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether children and guardians who are brought to the UK from Gaza for specialist medical treatment will be on temporary visas for the duration of their medical treatment.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As part of the Gaza medical operation, two groups of children and their immediate families have arrived in the United Kingdom. We are unable to confirm at this point how long the process will run for, nor the numbers of children who will be evacuated.

Patients and their immediate family members will have leave to stay in the UK for up to two years, irrespective of how long their treatment lasts, with access to the National Health Service, housing, and other services. Should these individuals wish to remain in the UK after they have arrived beyond the initial 24 months, they can apply for further permission to stay under existing routes within the Immigration Rules.

The Government is working closely with the local authorities in the areas where evacuees are likely to be hosted to make sure that those coming to the UK receive the help they need during their stay in the UK. We expect children will be treated in a small group of NHS trusts across the four nations of the UK.

These patients and their families have suffered an unimaginable ordeal and their privacy is paramount. For this reason, the Government will not be providing further details about their treatment or whereabouts to protect patient confidentiality and their personal safety.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of children from Gaza who will be brought to each devolved nation in the UK for specialist medical treatment.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As part of the Gaza medical operation, two groups of children and their immediate families have arrived in the United Kingdom. We are unable to confirm at this point how long the process will run for, nor the numbers of children who will be evacuated.

Patients and their immediate family members will have leave to stay in the UK for up to two years, irrespective of how long their treatment lasts, with access to the National Health Service, housing, and other services. Should these individuals wish to remain in the UK after they have arrived beyond the initial 24 months, they can apply for further permission to stay under existing routes within the Immigration Rules.

The Government is working closely with the local authorities in the areas where evacuees are likely to be hosted to make sure that those coming to the UK receive the help they need during their stay in the UK. We expect children will be treated in a small group of NHS trusts across the four nations of the UK.

These patients and their families have suffered an unimaginable ordeal and their privacy is paramount. For this reason, the Government will not be providing further details about their treatment or whereabouts to protect patient confidentiality and their personal safety.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of children from Gaza who will be brought to the UK for specialist medical treatment.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As part of the Gaza medical operation, two groups of children and their immediate families have arrived in the United Kingdom. We are unable to confirm at this point how long the process will run for, nor the numbers of children who will be evacuated.

Patients and their immediate family members will have leave to stay in the UK for up to two years, irrespective of how long their treatment lasts, with access to the National Health Service, housing, and other services. Should these individuals wish to remain in the UK after they have arrived beyond the initial 24 months, they can apply for further permission to stay under existing routes within the Immigration Rules.

The Government is working closely with the local authorities in the areas where evacuees are likely to be hosted to make sure that those coming to the UK receive the help they need during their stay in the UK. We expect children will be treated in a small group of NHS trusts across the four nations of the UK.

These patients and their families have suffered an unimaginable ordeal and their privacy is paramount. For this reason, the Government will not be providing further details about their treatment or whereabouts to protect patient confidentiality and their personal safety.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 11 September (HL10233), whether they aim to have legislation as a result of a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU fully implemented and taking effect in 2027.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As stated in the response to HL10233, the Government’s aim is to conclude negotiations and have legislative arrangements in place no later than 2027. We will update Parliament when an implementation plan has been agreed with the EU.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government which countries are currently banned from sending military personnel to the Royal College of Defence Studies.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Any decision to provide professional military education or training to a partner nation is made on a case-by-case basis and is underpinned by a robust assessment as to the benefits, risks, and compliance with international human rights law. In the interests of national security and upholding trust and confidentiality in our international partnerships, it is not appropriate for the Government to comment on the provision of training to individual countries.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reform the system and provision of education, health and care plans for pupils.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

​​Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

​This government inherited a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system that has been failing to meet the needs of children and families for far too long. As part of the government’s Plan for Change, we are determined to make changes which will restore the trust of parents and ensure that children and young people with SEND, including those with education, health and care (EHC) plans, can achieve and thrive in their education.

​The department is thinking about how we protect effective support for children, but make accessing support less bureaucratic and adversarial, and how we intervene earlier. There will always be a legal right to additional support for children and young people with SEND. Any changes we make in future will improve support for children and parents, stop parents from having to fight for support, and protect provision which is currently in place.