Asked by: Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker why there is no limitation on the number of amendments that Members of the House of Lords may table to legislation.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The arrangements for tabling amendments to bills are agreed by the House. No limit applies, in part, because the number of amendments required to achieve a desired change to a bill can vary depending on the structure and complexity of the bill in question and the nature of the change being sought. Members are not able to table an amendment to a Bill which is identical in form or effect to an amendment already in the list. The Procedure and Privileges Committee keeps the House’s procedures under regular review, and I am always happy to discuss these procedures with Members.
Asked by: Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to protect the UK’s national security, in the context of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Nature Security Assessment on Global Biodiversity Loss, Ecosystem Collapse and National Security, published on 20 January 2026.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Nature security assessment forms part of routine cross-government resilience planning and complements the UK’s National Security Strategy, National Risk Register and Chronic Risk Analysis.
Climate change and nature loss act as risk multipliers, increasing pressures on food systems, water security and global stability. Assessing these risks helps ensure the UK is better prepared to anticipate, respond to, and mitigate future challenges.
The UK is already taking action to address the potential risks identified in the assessment. Internationally, the UK is investing in forest and ocean protection and is on track to invest £11.6bn of International Climate Finance between 2021 to 2026, including £3bn for vital habitats such as tropical rainforests and marine ecosystems, and to support indigenous communities.
The Government recognises that food security is national security. As set out in the UK Food Security Report 2024, our production and trade remain stable, but risks from nature loss, water insecurity and climate change post challenges to long-term resilience.
We are supporting domestic food production through investment in sustainable farming, innovation and technology, and by rewarding farmers for environmentally sustainable production. This includes a record £11.8 billion investment in sustainable farming over this Parliament.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 102814 on Public Spaces: Political Activities, if she will make it his policy to investigate the use of a Public Spaces Protection Order by Leicester City Council to ban party political street stalls in the city centre.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities, and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to anti-social behaviour. This includes Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which can be issued by councils to stop people committing anti-social behaviour in a public space.
The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately flexible in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances of each individual case.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Oxford Flood Alleviation scheme on the local area.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme will better protect all properties currently at risk of flooding from the River Thames in Oxford. It will also reduce flood risk to the railway, local roads, utilities and services such as broadband which will help to keep Oxford open for business and support the tourist economy. The economic appraisal presents a very high value for money investment, delivering more than £1.8 billion in economic flood risk benefits over 100 years.
The scheme has been designed to bring additional environmental benefits to the area beyond reduced flood risk. It has a nature-based design, creating a new stream and valuable wetland habitat, which will join up with existing wildlife sites.
The Environment Agency recognises that there will be short term impacts on the local communities during construction, but it is working closely with the relevant stakeholders and its contractor to minimise disruption.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the entirety of the report on Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Nature security assessment was published on GOV.UK on 20 January. It is a cross-government strategic analysis designed to help the Government plan for potential shocks that are credible enough to warrant preparation. This approach ensures the UK is better equipped to anticipate and manage risks should they arise.
Publishing the assessment also supports international cooperation on shared biodiversity challenges.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department's Eastern Neighbourhood Small Projects Programme, what is the nature and policy objectives of the project in Moldova labelled 'MOL: Stronger Services, Better chances.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Hon Member can find details of all programmes supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she will take steps to investigate the nature of flights into and out of UK airports allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Airports and airlines must operate in full compliance with all UK laws and regulatory standards to ensure safety, security, and accountability.
If those laws are broken it is our expectation that any and all information useful to inquiries by the relevant authorities is swiftly obtained and passed on.
The Home Office is the lead department for these matters. It would not be appropriate to comment on any ongoing investigations.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the number of flights into and out of Stansted Airport allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein; and if she will take steps to establish the nature of those flights, including the passengers on board.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Airports and airlines must operate in full compliance with all UK laws and regulatory standards to ensure safety, security, and accountability.
If those laws are broken it is our expectation that any and all information useful to inquiries by the relevant authorities is swiftly obtained and passed on.
The Home Office is the lead department for these matters. It would not be appropriate to comment on any ongoing investigations.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the public's understanding of increasing climate change and biodiversity loss; and what steps she is taking to help raise public awareness.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Government works with the cultural and heritage sector through the National Adaptation Programme to understand and address the impacts of climate change on the UK’s cultural heritage, including supporting heritage sites to assess physical risks such as flooding, coastal erosion and overheating
The Met Office supports public understanding of how climate change affects biodiversity by publishing accessible blogs and media content, and by working with partners such as The Wildlife Trusts and NatureScot to explain impacts on ecosystems in the UK and globally. [metoffice.gov.uk], [metoffice.gov.uk], [nature.scot]
Met Office science and communications also highlight practical risks to nature from a warming climate, including rising threats from pests and diseases and shifting species distributions. This work links climate science with biodiversity protection and supports wider public awareness, including through engagement with international processes such as IPBES. The Amazon: a hot spot for biodiversity and climate regulation - Met Office
Natural England works to build the evidence base on climate change in the context of biodiversity loss and provides advice to national and local government and professionals working in conservation and land management. The Climate Change Adaptation Manual - NE751 and Carbon Storage and Sequestration by Habitat 2021 - NERR094 illustrate this.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that survivors of sexual exploitation are supported during the grooming gangs inquiry process.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Victims and survivors are central to the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, and it is essential that their voices are heard in a safe and trauma‑informed way. The Independent Inquiry is responsible for leading its own engagement and support arrangements throughout the course of its work.
As set out in the draft Terms of Reference, the Inquiry will develop and publish a charter for victims and survivors, that outlines how victims and survivors can participate, and how their views, experiences and testimony will be used to inform and shape the nature of the Inquiry’s work.
This year the Home Office has doubled funding for adult victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, to a total investment of £2.59 million in the Support for Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (SVSCSA) Fund. This includes funding for support helplines, in-person and remote counselling, group support, and training for professionals working with victims.