Lord Watson of Wyre Forest

Estimates vary but the total number of satellites in orbit is expected to reach up to 60,000 by 2030, and increase further by 2035. In 2010 the total number of satellites in orbit was 3,327, rising to 6,271 by 2020 and to over 13,600 today.

According to the UN Index of Objects Launched in Outer Space and following the Elevation-1 satellite launch earlier this year, there are now 763 UK owned satellites in orbit. We do not currently have an estimate of the number of UK-registered satellites expected to be in orbit by 2035.

728 UK-registered satellites have been launched overseas in the last 15 years. Between 2010 and 2019 there was an average of five and a half UK-registered satellites launched overseas each year, rising to 134.4 launches each year between 2020 and 2024.

The Government draws on the international studies that indicate the increasing number of communications satellites, particularly in Low Earth Orbits (LEO), have the potential to cause interference to some radio astronomy facilities. The UK regulator Ofcom has aligned its licences for LEO constellations with international regulations to protect radio astronomy sites in the UK.

Through the International Telecommunications Union, the UK is actively participating in studies on reducing interference to internationally important radio astronomy sites including the Square Kilometre Array. These will lead to the development of new regulations with the potential to be confirmed at the 2027 World Radio Conference.

I also refer to the answer I gave the Viscount Stansgate during a Lords Oral Question session on Wednesday 20th November 2024.

The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and its Arms Lengths Body’s (ALBs) including the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA) hold no contracts directly with Starlink, aside from the Very Hard to Reach Alpha trials which are due to close in the coming quarter. These are rolling monthly contracts with Starlink Internet Services, and the currently anticipated expenditure in March 2025 is £1,035.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) alongside the Ministry of Defence (MOD) have reported no contracts with Starlink. The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) does not hold information on which departments have used Starlink.

The Secretary of State has spoken with the BBC leadership on this matter and wider workplace culture issues, to seek assurances that there are robust processes in place to deal with complaints.

The Secretary of State set out her view at the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on the 10th December that we are seeing too many of these cultures of silence and issues being swept under the rug across the sector.

In relation to the complaints against Gregg Wallace it is essential that staff and the wider public have confidence that the BBC takes these issues seriously, and it’s right that a thorough investigation has been launched by Baniijay, the production company behind MasterChef.

The BBC is operationally and editorially independent of the Government. The BBC is currently undertaking a workplace culture review, which must deliver clear and timely recommendations.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) plays an important role in supporting local journalism. LDRS reporters have been able to uncover stories that publishers may have otherwise been unable to discover due to increasing constraints on their resources. This is an area of reporting that is often significantly under provided but is essential to journalism’s role of holding those in authority to account.

The Secretary of State has recently announced her plans to develop a Local Media Strategy, in recognition of the importance of this vital sector. We are working across Government and with the sector and other stakeholders as we develop this strategy, and recognise the continued importance of the LDRS.

Our department’s hybrid working policy expects the majority of our staff to spend at least 60% of their time in our offices or meeting key stakeholders.

To monitor the effectiveness of this policy, all Government departments publish HQ Office Occupancy data on a quarterly basis which shows the monthly average number of staff working in Civil Service Headquarters (HQ) buildings.

In September, which is the most recent monthly average published on gov.uk, our department had a 65% attendance at our London Headquarters.

The government is committed to a free and independent media. Having a free and fair press that is completely independent of the Government, is important to ensure the public have access to accurate and trustworthy information from a range of different sources. We are clear, however, that with this freedom comes responsibility, which the media must take seriously. An independent self-regulatory regime is important to ensure the press adheres to clear and high standards, and offers individuals a means of redress where these are not met. These regulators enforce codes of conduct which provide guidelines on a range of areas, including discrimination, accuracy, privacy, and harassment. If they find that a newspaper has broken the code of conduct, they can order corrections. IPSO can also order critical adjudications and Impress can levy fines.

Ofcom is the UK’s regulator for broadcasting and by law carries out its duties independently of the Government. Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code contains rules to ensure that broadcast news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator, to determine whether there has been a breach of their rules and whether to apply sanctions.

The Secretary of State met with the Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the National Citizen Service Trust to communicate the decision verbally prior to the announcement to the House.

The department has not issued specific guidance for schools on the use of social media channels, although the department’s ‘Political impartiality in schools’ guidance makes the point that school-branded social media channels should not be partisan and should present a balanced presentation of political issues. However, this guidance is clear that the principles or views in line with the tenets of a particular faith are not considered to be political, so are not covered by statutory requirements on political impartiality. The full guidance is attached and can also be read at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools.

Defra has not carried out a formal assessment of any increase in battery-related fires in waste and recycling infrastructure between 2021 and 2024, or the impact of such fires on the safety of works in waste and recycling facilities. Fires in waste are a significant concern, and we remain engaged with industry, including waste disposal operators, on the issue.

The Government has already taken action to ban disposable vapes - one of the main ways in which lithium-ion batteries end up in general waste. We are also considering options for reform of the batteries regulations in the UK and are in the process of engaging further with industry and other stakeholders on those options.

The Health and Safety Executive sits on the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH) which has commissioned several pieces of research, in particular on ‘Reducing fire risk at waste management sites’ WASTE-28.pdf (see attached). WISH and the Environmental Services Association are also funding a PhD project to investigate improved methods to detect ‘hot spots’ where there is a build-up of heat deep within the waste, before a fire breaks out.

Defra has not carried out a formal assessment of any increase in battery-related fires in waste and recycling infrastructure between 2021 and 2024, or the impact of such fires on the safety of works in waste and recycling facilities. Fires in waste are a significant concern, and we remain engaged with industry, including waste disposal operators, on the issue.

The Government has already taken action to ban disposable vapes - one of the main ways in which lithium-ion batteries end up in general waste. We are also considering options for reform of the batteries regulations in the UK and are in the process of engaging further with industry and other stakeholders on those options.

The Health and Safety Executive sits on the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH) which has commissioned several pieces of research, in particular on ‘Reducing fire risk at waste management sites’ WASTE-28.pdf (see attached). WISH and the Environmental Services Association are also funding a PhD project to investigate improved methods to detect ‘hot spots’ where there is a build-up of heat deep within the waste, before a fire breaks out.

In January this year, Material Focus published research reviewing the effectiveness of public collections of small mixed WEEE and portable batteries in the UK, including kerbside collections. Material Focus is funded by the compliance fee that operates under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013, which is paid by electrical producers if they don’t meet the annual recycling targets set by the Government. Figure 4 of Appendix A in the review (copy attached) includes a map of the 95 local authorities that provided small electrical kerbside collections in 2023. The findings indicated that although kerbside collections impacted the amount of recycling collected, the picture is complex and the 'best collection method' for each local authority may be influenced by various other important factors.

Defra recognises the importance of continued innovation in collection and treatment of waste electricals and electronics. As we develop the Circular Economy Growth Plan, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluate what interventions may be needed. The Circular Economy Growth Plan is due to be published in early 2026.

Defra has not carried out a formal assessment of the potential cost savings and fire reduction benefits of mandatory nationwide kerbside collection of waste batteries and small electrical items.

Defra has however worked closely with industry and Material Focus on Material Focus’ UK electricals and portable batteries collections review (see attached), which was published in January. Material Focus is funded by the compliance fee that operates under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 and is paid by electrical producers if they do not meet annual recycling targets set by the government. This review indicated that although kerbside collections impacted the amount of recycling collected, the picture is complex and various other important factors may influence the 'best collection method' for each local authority.

Fires in waste are a significant concern, and we are closely engaged with industry, including waste disposal operators, on the issue. The Government has already taken action to ban disposable vapes - one of the main ways in which lithium-ion batteries end up in general waste. We are currently considering options for reform of the batteries regulations in the UK and are in the process of engaging further with industry and other stakeholders on those options.

There are no plans to make any further provision of public lavatories as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme inherited from the previous Government. Public lavatories will be replaced where the programme modifies or removes public lavatories at stations to facilitate works.

A £42 million United Kingdom-wide trial, the TRANSFORM trial led by Prostate Cancer UK with £16 million funding from the Government, is under way and aimed at helping find best ways of detecting prostate cancer in men, even if they are not displaying any symptoms and could save thousands of lives.

This study will also aim to address some of the inequalities that exist in prostate cancer diagnosis by targeting black men in trial recruitment. This is vital as previous trials have not included enough black men to adequately demonstrate the harms and benefits of screening for this group specifically, despite their significantly higher risk.

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the findings in the National Prostate Cancer Audit's State of the Nation Report. However, the Government understands more needs to be done to improve outcomes for all people with prostate cancer, including for black men.

To address disparities and find ways to better detect prostate cancer, we have invested £16 million in the TRANSFORM trial, aimed at helping to find a way of catching prostate cancer in men, even if they are not displaying any symptoms. This research will ensure that one in ten participants are black men.

Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish a new National Cancer Plan, which will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for all tumour types, including prostate cancer. We are now in discussions about what form that plan should take, and what its relationship to the 10-Year Health Plan and the Government’s wider Health Mission should be. We will provide updates on this in due course.

The Government supports extensive relationships between UK academic institutions and partners in the Baltic states on regional security and geopolitical risk. Our Embassies in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania maintain broad networks across universities, think‑tanks and specialist centres, to support UK analysis, deepen understanding of regional developments, and create opportunities for UK academics to collaborate with Baltic partners. This includes collaboration with the Cambridge Centre for Geopolitics, the Baltic Defence College in Estonia and NATO Centres of Excellence in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. Posts also work with local research organisations on governance and resilience. The Government will continue to support and broaden these networks in line with shared UK-Baltic security interests.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 3 November in the House of Commons to Question 85121, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

We have extensive discussions with the US on a wide range of shared security objectives, including on counter narcotics but specific operational activities undertaken by the US military in the Caribbean and the Pacific are a matter for the US.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 3 November in the House of Commons to Question 85121, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

We have extensive discussions with the US on a wide range of shared security objectives, including on counter narcotics but specific operational activities undertaken by the US military in the Caribbean and the Pacific are a matter for the US.

In President Abbas' letter to President Macron, dated 9 June 2025, he set out his commitment to the principles of non-violence, the organisation of elections, the development of a school curriculum that is free from incitement, and the implementation of a new social security system, which will revoke so-called prisoner payments, and ensure that any future welfare payments are needs-based and delinked from violent actions. The Palestinian Authority must now ensure that an independent audit is conducted to verify that these reforms have been completed.

In President Abbas' letter to President Macron, dated 9 June 2025, he set out his commitment to the principles of non-violence, the organisation of elections, the development of a school curriculum that is free from incitement, and the implementation of a new social security system, which will revoke so-called prisoner payments, and ensure that any future welfare payments are needs-based and delinked from violent actions. The Palestinian Authority must now ensure that an independent audit is conducted to verify that these reforms have been completed.

NS&I provides information on its website and through its call centre to help Premium Bonds holders trace unclaimed prizes and their original investment. NS&I also publishes details on unclaimed prizes every month alongside Premium Bonds winners’ details and engages with the media to encourage customers to use its prize checker and tracing services.

Premium Bonds holders with original paper Bonds such as those purchased over the counter at the Post Office, can register them online or by calling NS&I’s helpline. Holders who do not have internet access or cannot print off a form can request a form by phone or in writing.

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Premium Bonds are never lost and NS&I pays out unclaimed prizes no matter how long ago the Bonds were purchased.

NS&I provides information on its website and through its call centre to help Premium Bonds holders trace unclaimed prizes and their original investment. NS&I also publishes details on unclaimed prizes every month alongside Premium Bonds winners’ details and engages with the media to encourage customers to use its prize checker and tracing services.

Premium Bonds holders with original paper Bonds such as those purchased over the counter at the Post Office, can register them online or by calling NS&I’s helpline. Holders who do not have internet access or cannot print off a form can request a form by phone or in writing.

Finally, Premium Bonds holders who have lost historic certificates, or who do not have their Bond or NS&I number, can use NS&I’s dedicated tracing service by post or online. Holders can also use MyLostAccount which can be used to trace old accounts with other providers, as well as NS&I

Premium Bonds are never lost and NS&I pays out unclaimed prizes no matter how long ago the Bonds were purchased.

NS&I provides information on its website and through its call centre to help Premium Bonds holders trace unclaimed prizes and their original investment. NS&I also publishes details on unclaimed prizes every month alongside Premium Bonds winners’ details and engages with the media to encourage customers to use its prize checker and tracing services.

Premium Bonds holders with original paper Bonds such as those purchased over the counter at the Post Office, can register them online or by calling NS&I’s helpline. Holders who do not have internet access or cannot print off a form can request a form by phone or in writing.

Finally, Premium Bonds holders who have lost historic certificates, or who do not have their Bond or NS&I number, can use NS&I’s dedicated tracing service by post or online. Holders can also use MyLostAccount which can be used to trace old accounts with other providers, as well as NS&I

Premium Bonds are never lost and NS&I pays out unclaimed prizes no matter how long ago the Bonds were purchased.

NS&I provides information on its website and through its call centre to help Premium Bonds holders trace unclaimed prizes and their original investment. NS&I also publishes details on unclaimed prizes every month alongside Premium Bonds winners’ details and engages with the media to encourage customers to use its prize checker and tracing services.

Premium Bonds holders with original paper Bonds such as those purchased over the counter at the Post Office, can register them online or by calling NS&I’s helpline. Holders who do not have internet access or cannot print off a form can request a form by phone or in writing.

Finally, Premium Bonds holders who have lost historic certificates, or who do not have their Bond or NS&I number, can use NS&I’s dedicated tracing service by post or online. Holders can also use MyLostAccount which can be used to trace old accounts with other providers, as well as NS&I

Premium Bonds are never lost and NS&I pays out unclaimed prizes no matter how long ago the Bonds were purchased.

This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country. As part of the Minister for Veterans and People’s role, he will regularly meet and engage with veterans including UK nuclear test veterans, to learn about their experiences and understand how the Government can provide the right support to them.

The Minister for Veterans and People has engagements planned in the coming weeks to discuss specific concerns raised by nuclear test veterans.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government collects data on incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services, with this data including the cause of the fire and the source of ignition. This data is published in a variety of publications, available here: Fire statistics - GOV.UK. This does not yet include data on the cost of battery-related fire incidents.

We will keep the contents of these publications under review, as part of the development of our recently rolled out Fire and Rescue Analysis Platform (FaRDaP).

Research into the economic and social cost of fire has previously been conducted, calculating the total annual economic and social cost of fires in England, which is available here: Economic and social cost of fire - GOV.UK. This analysis breaks down said costs by anticipation, consequence, and response, but does not specifically refer to the cost of battery-related fires.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that Local Authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, and reflect this in Local Plan policies. Each Local Plan is subject to a public examination in front of an independent inspector, who plays an important role in examining plans to ensure they are consistent with national policy, supported by evidence and take the views of local people into account. The overall housing targets set by central government do not specify the proportion or type of dwelling that should be provided.