Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 20 December 2024 (HL3343), in which said that they were "currently considering the best way to take forward the approach referred to in Annex B of the Safeguarding the Union command paper", what was the outcome of those considerations.

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

This Government continues to make progress on delivering the commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper. The best way to take forward the approach referred to in Annex B remains under consideration.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the AI Regulation Body.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We are considering range of options to ensure we have the right institutional architecture for AI governance. As such, we are unable to provide an estimate of cost until policy development has been finalised.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body.

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

The form, operations, and membership of the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body will be determined following engagement with the sector. These considerations will be part of a public consultation, which we aim to launch after the Employment Rights Bill receives Royal Assent later this year.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Ethics and Integrity Commission.

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

We are restoring confidence in government and the highest standards in public life and have already taken steps to improve probity and transparency, including through issuing a new Ministerial Code which highlights the importance of the principles of public life, by strengthening the terms of reference for the Independent Adviser, and by introducing a new monthly Register of Gifts and Hospitality.

An update on the Ethics and Integrity Commission will be provided in due course.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 27 May (HL7225), who authorises exemptions that allow newly created arm's-length bodies to be headquartered in London; what criteria apply to those exemptions; and which bodies have received exemptions in the past 12 months.

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

Places for Growth is supporting thriving civil service communities in locations across the UK. As part of that, no new ALBs will be created in London unless by exception. Cabinet Office Ministers are able to grant exemptions for new ALBs to be headquartered in London based on their workforce and operational requirements and these requests are dealt with on a case by case basis. In the last 12 months no exemptions have been issued to allow new ALBs to be based in London.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Building Standards Regulatory Body.

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

Currently building standards are regulated by the Building Safety Regulator. The annual net cost of Building Safety Regulator is expected to be £43m for 2025/26.

Government has accepted the recommendation made in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 2 report to create a ‘single construction regulator’ for the building system. Proposals for design of the future regulator will be published and consulted on later this year.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the National Centre of Policing.

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

Departments are responsible for assessing the potential costs of proposed new arms length bodies as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

The Government has conducted a full line-by-line Spending Review which covered the costs of proposed and existing ALBs to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.

On 6 April, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a full review of all ALBs, including new ALB proposals, to drive efficiency and reduce bureaucracy and duplication as part of Prime Minister’s Plan for Change. This review is ongoing. Any future decision to set up any new ALBs would need to follow the joint HMT and Cabinet Office approval process for new bodies.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the National Care Service.

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

Departments are responsible for assessing the potential costs of proposed new arms length bodies as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

The Government has conducted a full line-by-line Spending Review which covered the costs of proposed and existing ALBs to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.

On 6 April, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a full review of all ALBs, including new ALB proposals, to drive efficiency and reduce bureaucracy and duplication as part of Prime Minister’s Plan for Change. This review is ongoing. Any future decision to set up any new ALBs would need to follow the joint HMT and Cabinet Office approval process for new bodies.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Tax Advisory Body.

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

Departments are responsible for assessing the potential costs of proposed new arms length bodies as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

The Government has conducted a full line-by-line Spending Review which covered the costs of proposed and existing ALBs to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.

On 6 April, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a full review of all ALBs, including new ALB proposals, to drive efficiency and reduce bureaucracy and duplication as part of Prime Minister’s Plan for Change. This review is ongoing. Any future decision to set up any new ALBs would need to follow the joint HMT and Cabinet Office approval process for new bodies.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme.

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

Departments are responsible for assessing the potential costs of proposed new arms length bodies as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

The Government has conducted a full line-by-line Spending Review which covered the costs of proposed and existing ALBs to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.

On 6 April, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a full review of all ALBs, including new ALB proposals, to drive efficiency and reduce bureaucracy and duplication as part of Prime Minister’s Plan for Change. This review is ongoing. Any future decision to set up any new ALBs would need to follow the joint HMT and Cabinet Office approval process for new bodies.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Animal Welfare Advisory Body.

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

Departments are responsible for assessing the potential costs of proposed new arms length bodies as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

The Government has conducted a full line-by-line Spending Review which covered the costs of proposed and existing ALBs to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.

On 6 April, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a full review of all ALBs, including new ALB proposals, to drive efficiency and reduce bureaucracy and duplication as part of Prime Minister’s Plan for Change. This review is ongoing. Any future decision to set up any new ALBs would need to follow the joint HMT and Cabinet Office approval process for new bodies.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of Ploughshare.

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

Departments are responsible for assessing the potential costs of proposed new arms length bodies as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

The Government has conducted a full line-by-line Spending Review which covered the costs of proposed and existing ALBs to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.

On 6 April, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a full review of all ALBs, including new ALB proposals, to drive efficiency and reduce bureaucracy and duplication as part of Prime Minister’s Plan for Change. This review is ongoing. Any future decision to set up any new ALBs would need to follow the joint HMT and Cabinet Office approval process for new bodies.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Border Security Command.

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

Allocations of funding to individual areas within the Home Office are subject to the Spending Review process and out-turns on spending will be published as usual in the Home Office annual report and accounts.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Regulatory Innovation Office.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The annual costs of the Regulatory Innovation Office are met within DSIT’s budget allocations, as set out in the Spending Review.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Anti-Money Laundering Supervision Reform Body.

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

HM Treasury is responsible for assessing the potential cost of the Anti-Money Laundering Supervision Reform Body as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

The Government has conducted a full line-by-line Spending Review which covered the proposed costs of the Anti-Money Laundering Supervision Reform Body to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Technical Advisory Panel.

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

HM Treasury is responsible for assessing the potential cost of the Technical Advisory Panel as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

The Government has conducted a full line-by-line Spending Review which covered the proposed costs of the Technical Advisory Panel to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of "Project Seahorse".

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

The Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero is responsible for assessing the potential cost of ‘Project Seahorse’ as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 23 April (HL5835), whether at any stage during the life of the contract C2980 KPMG has received any contractual guarantees, exclusivity arrangements, or written assurances, including side letters or informal undertakings, relating to the continuation of work, future procurements or eligibility for subsequent frameworks.

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

During the life of contract C2980 with KPMG there are no contractual guarantees relating to spend or service volumes and no exclusivity arrangements. Furthermore, there have been no written assurances, side letters or informal undertakings relating to the continuation of work, future procurements or eligibility for subsequent frameworks.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 23 April (HL5835), whether they considered a bridging arrangement with an alternative supplier to KPMG before the extension of contract C2980; and if so, what assessment they made of value for money and risk when comparing the options of extending the contract and finding an alternative supplier.

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

Alternatives to a short-term contract extension were considered, and the decision to pursue a short-term extension without an increase to the contract value was taken based on this providing best value for money and other considerations (for example system changes and interoperability) and constraints associated with a short-term bridging opportunity.

At the Spending Review the Cabinet Office secured funding from the Transformation Fund to begin the long-term transformation of the civil service model for learning and development.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032), what estimate they have made of the annual cost of the Passenger Standards Authority.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The consultation on the Railways Bill closed on 15 April, and as part of this we sought views on the creation of a new passenger watchdog. We are currently considering the responses and the best way of establishing the Watchdog. This will include the consideration of costs.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 13 May (HL6920), what estimate the Infected Blood Compensation Authority has made of the projected fraud rate for the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme; and what assumptions underpin that estimate.

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

IBCA continues to work closely with the Public Sector Fraud Authority to undertake Fraud Risk Assessments and then to implement appropriate counter-fraud mitigations and controls. I refer noble Lords to my answer (HL5057) on 6 March.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 16 April (HL6583), how they propose to engage formally with Members of the House on further House of Lords reform; and whether they have decided on a timeline for implementing the other House of Lords reforms outlined in the Labour Party manifesto.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The Government is grateful for the continued interest that Noble Lords have taken in its manifesto commitments to reform the House of Lords.

The Government will set out more detail in due course about how it intends to continue the dialogue with the House on how best to implement these commitments.

Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Chamber, sitting at 11:00am Debate on the Address – Foreign Affairs and Defence – Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent