Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the results of the lamb welfare consultation on proposed changes to castration and tail docking methods, which closed on 9 March.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is currently analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State on 9 June 2026 (UIN 7005), why they concluded that banning castration and tail docking of lambs was not the correct approach; and whether they will make their statement publicly available.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government recognises that there are situations where completely removing the need for these procedures is not feasible and would not reflect the evidence base or sectoral needs and could result in unintended negative consequences for animal welfare. There remain cases, such as where there is a high risk of flystrike, where these procedures may still be justified. This is set out in the consultation documentation.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the impact of the red warning of extreme heat from 24 to 26 June on (1) factory farmed chickens and pigs, and (2) livestock transported by road; and what plans they have to reduce animal suffering and death in future heatwaves.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government has a protocol in place to monitor the welfare of animals during amber and red weather warning periods and works closely with partners to ensure that the appropriate steps are being taken by keepers to mitigate risks to animal welfare during extreme weather.

During the red warning period (24th-26th June), approximately 17,000 broilers, 600 hens, 70 turkeys, three pigs and one sheep were reported as dead on arrival at slaughterhouses due to suspected heat stress. Approximately 300 pigs were reported on arrival at slaughterhouses as exhibiting clinical signs consistent with heat stress.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) issues guidance to industry on key actions that can be taken when transporting animals in hot weather to help mitigate its impact. Transporters are required to have contingency plans in place to ensure their animals' welfare in extreme weather. APHA may act where standards have not been met, including suspending transporter authorisations. APHA will also work with local authorities responsible for enforcement action.

This Government has sought advice from the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) on the impacts of climate change on farmed animal welfare and potential mitigations. Part 1 of the project is underway and focuses on poultry species, and Part 2 will cover pigs and ruminants.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need to ensure that the Government Commercial Agency's spending takes account of the source of its purchases; and what assessment they have made of the tax receipt, UK employment and resilience benefits of UK and European purchases.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

The Government Commercial Agency (GCA) is a trading fund and an executive agency of the Cabinet Office (CO) and helps public bodies deliver long-term value for the nation.

To support national resilience, the CO published Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 025 in June 2026. This requires central government to actively secure supply chains and protect national security across critical sectors, including steel and artificial intelligence.

This aligns with HM Treasury’s Green Book methodology. Following its February 2026 update, the Green Book provides a streamlined, user-friendly framework for calculating value for money. This updated guidance ensures that wider economic, environmental, and social impacts, such as place-based growth, regional equity, and long-term community value, are fully and effectively accounted for in public investment decisions.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what information they have about the reasons and justification for transferring of the sexual assault case against US pilot Captain Jacob Wulfson from the UK civil justice system to the UK military one; in how many other cases has such a transfer been made in the past five years; and whether they have any plans to stop such transfers.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Following the deeply distressing case involving US Captain Wulfson, government officials are working closely with Cambridgeshire police to establish the full facts of how jurisdiction was enacted. This case is extremely concerning, and our thoughts are with the victim.

The Visiting Forces Act (1952) sets out the legal basis for how jurisdiction for criminal offences should be decided between the UK civil authorities and a Visiting Force’s service court martial. This is implemented in practice by the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the UK courts as part of the criminal justice system.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the legislative proposals in California (Assembly Bill 1864) and New York (Assembly Bill 3283) to mandate synthetic nucleic acid synthesis screening; and what plans they have to make the UK's current voluntary screening guidance mandatory.

Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham

The Government continues to evaluate the UK’s approach to synthetic nucleic acid screening on an ongoing basis. This is informed by consideration of international developments, including Assembly Bill 1864 in California and Assembly Bill 3283 in New York, as well as other international partners approaches to screening. In October 2024, the UK was the second country in the world to publish Guidance to promote the screening of synthetic nucleic acid customers and sequences. The Guidance delivers on the UK’s commitment to ensure responsible innovation in engineering biology by championing legitimate use and mitigating the risk of misuse of synthetic nucleic acids.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need for funding and support for countries in Africa to treat patients with HIV and cryptococcal meningitis and to make treatments for these diseases available in mainstream healthcare services following cuts to USAID

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

The Government supports countries across Africa through its investments in multilateral health partners, helping to strengthen health systems and deliver HIV prevention, testing and treatment services, including for opportunistic infections such as cryptococcal meningitis. Through the Global Fund, the Government has supported the introduction and expansion of cryptococcal meningitis treatment in countries where it was previously unavailable or severely constrained.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what funding and support they (1) provide, and (2) plan to provide, to countries in Africa to treat patients with HIV and cryptococcal meningitis and to make treatments for these diseases available in mainstream healthcare services following cuts to USAID.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

The Government supports countries across Africa through its investments in multilateral health partners, helping to strengthen health systems and deliver HIV prevention, testing and treatment services, including for opportunistic infections such as cryptococcal meningitis. Through the Global Fund, the Government has supported the introduction and expansion of cryptococcal meningitis treatment in countries where it was previously unavailable or severely constrained.