Question

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce legislation to make it illegal for a convicted rapist to obtain a gender recognition certificate to be recognised as a woman.

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

There are significant safeguards built into the process for obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) under the Gender Recognition Act 2004; not everyone who applies is granted one. Additionally, there are safeguards in place to ensure that the relevant authorities can manage the risk posed by sex offenders. These include a requirement for registered sex offenders to notify the police of any changes to their personal information such as change of name. Alongside this, His Majesty’s Passport Office monitors high-risk offenders to ensure they cannot obtain a new passport without police consultation. Failure to comply with requirements in this area is a criminal offence.

The Crime and Policing Bill will introduce a range of legislative changes which will strengthen the management of registered sex offenders, including where they aim to change their name.

Where the police consider it necessary to protect the public or children or vulnerable adults from sexual harm, they will be able to serve a notice on offenders requiring them to seek the police’s authorisation before applying to change their name on a specified identity document (namely, a UK passport, driving licence or immigration document).

Police will also be able to require registered sex offenders to notify them of an intended change of name at least seven days in advance of using it, or if that is not reasonably practicable, as far in advance of their using it as it is reasonably practicable.

We continue to monitor these arrangements to ensure they safeguard the public.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 5 November (HL11264), what evidence they have that recording non-crime hate incidents has kept the public safe, and whether they will publish that evidence.

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

The Home Office does not hold data on crime reduction attributable to the recording of non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs). These are not criminal offences; they are recorded by police forces as intelligence to help monitor patterns of behaviour and community tensions that could escalate into serious harm. This practice, recommended by the Macpherson Inquiry following the murder of Stephen Lawrence, is intended to support safeguarding and public safety. Recording NCHIs enables police to capture information on incidents motivated by hate which, while not criminal, may present safeguarding risks or contribute to rising tensions within communities. The National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 5 November (HL11264), what estimate they have made of crime reduction as a result of the recording of non-crime hate incidents.

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

The Home Office does not hold data on crime reduction attributable to the recording of non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs). These are not criminal offences; they are recorded by police forces as intelligence to help monitor patterns of behaviour and community tensions that could escalate into serious harm. This practice, recommended by the Macpherson Inquiry following the murder of Stephen Lawrence, is intended to support safeguarding and public safety. Recording NCHIs enables police to capture information on incidents motivated by hate which, while not criminal, may present safeguarding risks or contribute to rising tensions within communities. The National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing are currently conducting a review of NCHIs. We look forward to receiving the review’s recommendations shortly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to encourage those survivors who have called for the resignation of Jess Phillips MP as Safeguarding Minister, and made statements that they will not take part in any grooming gangs inquiry while she remains in post, to give their testimony; and what action they will take to ensure that the inquiry has the confidence of all survivors of grooming gangs.

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

We are committed to ensuring that the voices of victims and survivors continue to be meaningfully heard to inform our work to establish the national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse.

We are continuing to engage with those victims and survivors that remain in the consultation group established by the National Working Group (NWG). This ensures that their voices are heard in a safe, supportive environment that is sensitive to the trauma they have endured.

We are sorry that some have felt discouraged and have chosen to leave that group, and we respect their decision to do so. There is a range of views within the victim and survivor community, and it is important that all voices are heard. As we have said to those who left the consultation group, the door remains open should they wish to engage with us further.

In addition, the national inquiry, once established, will develop its own plans for engaging victims and survivors who wish to do so. Baroness Casey is now supporting efforts to identify a Chair that can earn the trust of those who have been let down far too often, and we will confirm the appointment as soon as possible.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 21 July (HL9153), and to the Written Answer by the Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office) on 20 November (HC88718), whether the answer to HL9153 was correct at the time of writing.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Yes the answer was correct at the time of writing.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many male-born sex offenders have been granted gender recognition certificates in each of the last five years.

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

The information requested is not held centrally.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many young people are not in education, employment or training because they are waiting for mental health, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism services or diagnosis.

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

Data is not available on the number of young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) because they are waiting for mental health, attention deficit hyperactive disorder or autism services or diagnosis.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of ending certain zero-hours contracts on the employment rates of younger people, such as students.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

My department has published a robust set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

This analysis includes consideration of increases in labour costs for businesses and the subsequent effects, as well as assessments on how the proposed zero hour contract measures could affect different groups in the labour market. The impact on younger people and students will depend on the regulations following consultation, however it is important to note the measures will focus on exploitative zero hours contracts to ensure people are able to access guaranteed hours. For those who want to remain on a zero hours contract, for example many students, they will still be able to.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of awarding unlimited compensation for unfair dismissal on employment rates.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government will be publishing an Enactment Impact Assessment on the impacts of the Employment Rights Act. This assessment can be found here when published: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the London Plan 2021 on the number of houses built in London.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Section 346 of the Greater London Authority (GLA) Act 1999 places a duty on the Mayor to monitor the implementation of the Mayor’s London Plan. The second Annual Monitoring Report under the 2021 Plan, was published in September 2025 and showed that housing completions reduced in 2022-23. You can find the Annual Monitoring Report published by the Greater London Authority here: Monitoring the London Plan | London City Hall.

The Government recognises that London housing delivery is below the level of housing need in London and below the annual target set out in the London Plan 2021. To address this, the Secretary of State and the Mayor of London announced a new package of support for housebuilding in London in October 2025. I refer the Noble Baroness to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 23 October 2025 (HLWS989).

The Mayor is currently working on a new London Plan, with consultation on a draft expected in summer 2026. The Government will work with the Mayor to ensure that the next London Plan is ambitious and aligned with our priorities set out nationally through the National Planning Policy Framework.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the estimated total cost of scrapping compensation caps for unfair dismissal for businesses in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government will be publishing an Enactment Impact Assessment on the impacts of the Employment Rights Act. This assessment can be found here when published: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments