Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve musculoskeletal health, and how they will include chiropractors in this.

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

Improving health outcomes for the over 20 million people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in the United Kingdom forms a key part of the Government's missions to build a National Health Service fit for the future, and to kickstart economic growth.

We are making a start by delivering a joint Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS England Getting It Right First Time MSK Community Delivery Programme, working with integrated care board leaders to reduce NHS community waiting times, improve data, metrics, and referral pathways.

Part of the recently published Elective Reform Plan also sets out funding to boost bone density scanning capacity. This will provide an estimated 29,000 extra scans per year, supporting improvements in early diagnosis and bone health.

Healthcare professionals play a vital prevention and early intervention role in supporting people to self-manage their MSK condition, and the Government recognises the role complementary and alternative medicine treatments such as chiropractic can play in supporting people. NHS England does not currently support or commission chiropractic care in the NHS.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to protect the unfettered flow of supplies to Northern Ireland in chemical industries.

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

Northern Ireland has unfettered access to the whole UK internal market, this ensures a smooth flow of goods, including in relation to chemical industries. The UK Government is steadfastly committed to continue protecting Northern Ireland’s unfettered access which has been guaranteed in perpetuity

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 5 February (HL 4343), what steps they are taking to support interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance in Gaza's future governance structure.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK is pressing for a Palestinian-led process for recovery and reconstruction in Gaza and a strong role for civil society. This is crucial to lay the groundwork for inclusive governance, accountability, and transparency so that the needs, desires, rights and freedoms and voices of all Gazans are protected. The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religious belief for all abroad. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 5 Feburary (HL4343), whether in assisting the political reconstruction of Gaza they will seek to ensure the protection of all religious communities, equal rights and the safeguarding of freedom of religion and belief for all groups.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK is pressing for a Palestinian-led process for recovery and reconstruction in Gaza and a strong role for civil society. This is crucial to lay the groundwork for inclusive governance, accountability, and transparency so that the needs, desires, rights and freedoms and voices of all Gazans are protected. The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religious belief for all abroad. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to enable Ukrainian individuals currently living legally in the UK under temporary visas to convert these visas into a permanent right to stay, either as a bespoke scheme or through any other provision.

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

We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine. It is important our approach respects these wishes.

This is why the temporary Ukraine Schemes do not lead to settlement in the UK. Similarly, time spent in the UK with permission granted under the Ukraine Schemes cannot be relied upon towards the continuous qualifying period for the purposes of a Long Residence application.

There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what military aid and equipment they expect to have supplied to Ukraine by the end of the 2024–25 financial year; and what military aid and equipment they have committed to supply in 2025–26.

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

Since the start of the conflict, we have provided Ukraine with over ten million rounds of various types of ammunition, delivered 500,000 artillery shells, hundreds of armoured vehicles, over 10,000 drones, a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks, Storm Shadow cruise missiles and over 15,000 anti-tank weapons.

We continue the high pace of delivery, and by the end of the financial year 2024-25 we will have delivered a further 10,000 drones under the drone capability coalition and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Continuous deliveries of military aid and equipment to Ukraine are planned for Financial Year 2025-26, including 15 Gravehawk air defence systems, a significant quantity of the recently announced 650 Lightweight Multi-Role Missiles (LMM), and the majority of the recently announced £150 million support package. We are in close dialogue with the Ukrainian Government to ensure the military aid and equipment meets their needs.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what resources they have provided to Ukraine through military equipment and aid since the start of the Russian invasion.

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

Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UK's total military, economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine amounts to £12.8 billion.

The UK will spend £4.5 billion on military support for Ukraine this year - more than ever before.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to increase military aid to Ukraine.

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

The Government is steadfast in our commitment to continue to supply military assistance and the UK will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Ukrainian friends for as long as it takes. Last year, the Prime Minister recommitted to £3 billion a year of military support for Ukraine until 2030-31 and for as long as needed.

The UK is stepping up and speeding up its military assistance, spending £4.5 billion on military support for Ukraine this year - more than ever before. We have also earmarked our additional $3 billion contribution under the ERA loan for military spending.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the tonnage of seed potatoes which (1) Northern Ireland sent to Scotland, and (2) Scotland sent to Northern Ireland, in the past five years, broken down by seed classification

Answered by Baroness Hayman

The following table shows the tonnage of seed potatoes moved in the past five years broken down by seed classification (data from 2020 for Northern Ireland to Scotland is unavailable due to COVID related disruption):