Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many full-time equivalent officials have been working on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (1) in total, and (2) in each Department.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The number of officials providing technical drafting support and workability advice to the Sponsors of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has fluctuated since January 2025. As of 1 September 2025, there were 11.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) officials in the Department of Health and Social Care. Additionally, 3.1 FTE officials from the Ministry of Justice, 3.2 FTE officials from the Government Legal Department, and 1.8 FTE officials from Cabinet Office were supporting this team, also counted as of 1 September 2025. The total FTE for officials working on the Bill as of 1 September 2025 was 19.9.
Where needed contributions on specific, individual, technical issues have been sought from other teams, but the FTE cannot be accurately quantified for these issues.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the officials working on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill have been doing so only to the extent necessary to ensure that the Bill is technically and legally workable should it become law.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is neutral on the principle of assisted dying and whether the Bill becomes law. Officials are working to fulfil the Government’s duty to the statute book, providing technical drafting support and workability advice.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost of ensuring that high-quality palliative care is available to everyone in England Wales who requires that care.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The funding and provision of palliative and end of life care in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Government.
Palliative care and end of life care are broad, holistic approaches provided through a range of professionals and providers, generalist and specialist across the National Health Service, social care and voluntary sector organisations. Therefore, the cost of provision is challenging to measure in its totality.
One of the three ‘shifts’ that the 10 Year Health Plan will deliver is around the Government’s determination to shift healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting. Palliative care and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift and were highlighted in the Plan as being an integral part of neighbourhood teams.
The Department and NHS England are currently looking at how to improve the access, quality and sustainability of all-age palliative and end of life care in line with the 10 Year Health Plan.
The Government and the NHS will closely monitor the shift towards strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to help ensure that services remove variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that high quality palliative care is available to everyone in England and Wales who requires that care, and when they expect that care to be available.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The funding and provision of palliative and end of life care in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Government.
Palliative care and end of life care are broad, holistic approaches provided through a range of professionals and providers, generalist and specialist across the National Health Service, social care and voluntary sector organisations. Therefore, the cost of provision is challenging to measure in its totality.
One of the three ‘shifts’ that the 10 Year Health Plan will deliver is around the Government’s determination to shift healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting. Palliative care and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift and were highlighted in the Plan as being an integral part of neighbourhood teams.
The Department and NHS England are currently looking at how to improve the access, quality and sustainability of all-age palliative and end of life care in line with the 10 Year Health Plan.
The Government and the NHS will closely monitor the shift towards strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to help ensure that services remove variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 July [HL8983] about the paybill of the Department for Health and Social Care, why they did not make the provision of high quality palliative care a major priority.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As set out in the Government’s recently published 10-Year Health Plan, we are determined to shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting. Palliative care and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift and were highlighted in the Plan as being an integral part of neighbourhood teams.
Additionally, I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement (HLWS875) that was made to the House on 22 July 2025, which stated:
“It has been brought to my attention that a written answer given to Lord Scriven contained inaccurate information related to the work of the Department for Health and Social Care.
The reply to written Parliamentary Question HL8983, tabled by Lord Scriven on 30 June 2025, stated that “the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities.” The answer then went on to list a number of areas which have required additional staff resource within the Department. The Assisted Dying Bill has required additional resource but should not have been referred to as a Government priority given the Government’s neutrality on the issue.
For clarity, the answer should read:
“The Department’s total paybill and staffing costs have not risen by £20 million since July 2024; rather, they have risen, but by £2.5 million in that time.
Since the General Election, the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities. During this period, payroll costs have also increased because of annual pay increases.
Given the scale of the challenges facing the health and social care system, as part of the Spending Review, the Department is working on reducing its headcount down to pre-election levels during 2025/26. This is a key step towards a streamlined centre, to support continued prioritisation towards front-line services.”
I would like to apologise for any confusion.”
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to paragraph 5.86 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June, what are the £663 million of technical efficiencies by category for each of the financial years until 2029–30.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Alongside the Spending Review 2025 publication, Departmental Efficiency Delivery Plans were published on GOV.UK. The Department for Transport section at paragraphs 2.83 - 2.92 provides further information on these efficiencies and table 2.10 (copied below) shows the breakdown for how the department will deliver £663million of technical efficiencies by 2028/29.
Table 2.10: Net efficiency gains vs 2025-26 planned RDEL excluding depreciation | ||||
£ million |
| 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
Corporate initiatives | 52 | 144 | 199 | |
Regulated settlements | 256 | 331 | 424 | |
Reform of executive agencies | 6 | 16 | 39 | |
Total efficiencies net of investment | 313 | 491 | 663 | |
Total efficiencies net of investment (%) | 3.8% | 5.9% | 8.0% | |
Memo: total gross efficiencies | 320 | 500 | 676 | |
Memo: total gross efficiencies (% | 3.9% | 6.0% | 8.2% | |
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in relation to the policy paper "Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern & secure elections", published on 17 July, which are the "legitimate smaller parties” referred to in paragraph 63.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The prohibition on dual registration has historically affected organisations which operated under formal electoral agreements and stood joint candidates with other parties. Despite their longstanding and legitimate arrangements, these restrictions meant legitimate smaller parties were excluded from participating fully, effectively barring these parties from our democracy.
These reforms now plan to correct this issue in limited circumstances, which will allow legitimate campaigning, while still preventing parties from gaming the system.
These measures support the broader democratic objective of enabling a diverse range of campaigners to participate in political debate. It is vital that voters are able to hear a variety of voices and perspectives, and third-party campaigners play a critical role in fostering healthy democratic engagement.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in relation to paragraph 15 of the policy paper "Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern & secure elections", published on 17 July, why it has been decided that (1) the data for children aged between 16–18 will be available on the open register, and (2) children aged between 16–18 will be included in the requirements for house-to-house visits as part of the annual canvass by electoral registration officers; and what safeguarding issues were considered in that decision making process.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As outlined in the recently published ‘Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections’, the Government recognises the importance of taking a particularly careful approach to the handling of data of under 18s who are on the electoral register and our plans reflect this. We are working closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure appropriate safeguards are put in place to protect young peoples’ data. We will ensure UK GDPR conditions are complied with, including a Data Protection Impact Assessment and providing a policy document setting out compliance and retention policies and we will ensure that any privacy notices are suitable for this age group.
We will also remove the presumption that citizens will be added to the open register unless they opt out. Citizens will need to opt in if they wish to appear on the open register. In line with guidance from Information Commissioner’s Office, we consider that an opt in arrangement is a more effective form of consent than the existing opt out process. This will mean those aged between 16 and 17, alongside those aged 18 and over, will be able to make an informed decision and their data will only appear on the open register if they actively decide that they want to allow it.
This government is committed to ensuring that everyone who is entitled to register to vote is able to. The primary purposes of the annual canvass are to ensure our electoral registers are kept up to date and to ensure those entitled to register are identified and invited to do so. 16- and 17-year-olds are already canvassed in the same way as other electors due to their inclusion on the electoral register as attainers. In extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds, it is vital they are given the same opportunities to be accurately registered as any other elector.
Our approach balances the need for adequate safeguards within our electoral system, without disadvantaging young voters from being able to participate in it. This mirrors the approaches taken in Scotland and Wales, where the right to vote has already been extended to those aged 16 and 17.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the policy paper Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern & secure elections published on 17 July, whether they will put equal weight on the accuracy as well as the completeness of the electoral register as they develop their policy proposals.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Electoral registers are the foundation of our democratic processes, showing who is eligible to vote in which elections. The Government is committed to improving electoral registration. We are exploring a wide range of approaches to enable improvements in both completeness and accuracy of electoral registers, including making greater use of public sector data and digital services. Any changes will be based on robust evidence and user research.
The statutory responsibility for maintaining the completeness and accuracy of their local electoral registers lies with Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and the Government supports EROs in this.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 July (HL8983), which Minister took the decision to make the "Assisted Dying Bill" a major priority of the Government, when they took that decision and why.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement (HLWS875) which was made to the House on 22 July 2025, which stated:
“It has been brought to my attention that a written answer given to Lord Scriven contained inaccurate information related to the work of the Department for Health and Social Care.
The reply to written Parliamentary Question HL8983, tabled by Lord Scriven on 30 June 2025, stated that “the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities.” The answer then went on to list a number of areas which have required additional staff resource within the Department. The Assisted Dying Bill has required additional resource but should not have been referred to as a Government priority given the Government’s neutrality on the issue.
For clarity, the answer should read:
“The Department’s total paybill and staffing costs have not risen by £20 million since July 2024; rather, they have risen, but by £2.5 million in that time.
Since the General Election, the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities. During this period, payroll costs have also increased because of annual pay increases.
Given the scale of the challenges facing the health and social care system, as part of the Spending Review, the Department is working on reducing its headcount down to pre-election levels during 2025/26. This is a key step towards a streamlined centre, to support continued prioritisation towards front-line services.”
I would like to apologise for any confusion.”