Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce mandatory food waste reporting requirements for large businesses operating across food supply chains.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to reducing waste by transitioning towards a circular economy. This includes our ongoing work with WRAP to reduce their food waste and achieve associated efficiency savings. Through the No10-led Food Waste Endeavour, Defra is working with food businesses and technology providers to understand how UK companies are using AI technologies to drive reductions in food waste and deliver savings for businesses and to understand how government can best support these data driven solutions. This includes consideration of a mandatory data reporting requirement for larger businesses.
Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to renew or extend the £15 million surplus food redistribution fund supporting the diversion of surplus produce from farms to community food projects.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The farm surplus fund was a standalone one-year programme of funding that completed at the end of March 2026. Through the £13.5 million capital funding provided, the scheme supported recipients in building their capacity and capability for farm surplus redistribution sustainably, for example by funding essential equipment such as fridges and vans. The funding will continue to provide value for years to come through the continued use of the assets.
An independent evaluation is currently underway to assess the scheme’s impact and value for money. This will feed into any future decision making around such grant schemes.
Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the alignment between taxpayer-funded subsidies relating to food production, the prevention of food waste, and the redistribution of surplus food for community use.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Good Food Cycle, published in July 2025, sets out this Government's vision for a healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient UK food system. Ensuring sustainable and resilient supply, reducing waste and improving access for all to healthy affordable food, are all identified as priority outcomes to achieve this vision. Phasing out area-based farming subsidies means Defra is investing more into environmental schemes that help secure the foundations of long-term food security. In May, the Prime Minister committed to a national programme to redistribute surplus food to support those in need. Defra will ensure any actions from this programme align with the Good Food Cycle’s core outcomes.
Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the timetable for publication of the review of adult gender services, and whether they will publish that review.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We know adults questioning their gender face long waiting lists for a first appointment at NHS adult gender services.
Dr David Levy’s Review of NHS Adult Gender Dysphoria Clinics will identify areas for improvement in relation to service quality, good practice that could be shared with other clinics, and any support that should be made available to services to assist improvement.
NHS England aims to publish the Review of Adult Gender Services by the end of this year.
Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 14 August (HL9892), what assessment they have made of the application of the protected characteristic of gender reassignment under the Equality Act 2010 to the following identities: (1) non-binary, (2) maverique, (3) two-spirit, (4) demiboy, (5) demigirl, (6) neutrois, (7) aporagender, (8) polygender, (9) intergender, (10) trigender, (11) omnigender, (12) multigender, (13) pangender, (14) bigender, (15) agender, (16) androgyne, (17) demigender, (18) genderfluid, (19) genderqueer, (20) genderflux, and (21) greygender.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has made no such assessment.
Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the Pension Protection Fund's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy 2025–28, published on 12 June, uses the term "gender" rather than "sex", and what plans they have to revise the strategy in the light of the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Pension Protection Fund has chosen in its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy to further its core belief of supporting everyone, beyond the protected characteristics as defined by law. The Supreme Court decision has prompted a consultation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on its Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations. Once statutory guidance has been published, we will work with our key stakeholders to inform our ongoing approach.
Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to page 79 of the Chronic Risks Analysis, published by the Cabinet Office on 8 July, why the information about the Equality Act 2010 references gender rather than sex.
Answered by Lord Vallance of Balham - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Chronic Risk Analysis (CRA) is a collaboration between Cabinet Office and the Government Office for Science.
The text in the report sets out some of the protected characteristics covered by the Equalities Act and notes the potential impact on these through bias and discrimination. The drafting could be improved by explicitly listing all 9 characteristics. This will be amended in any future publications of the analysis.
Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 8 August (HL9893), what is the definition of a woman used by the European Commission and its institutions for the purposes of joint UK–EU programmes, and whether that definition includes the definition adopted by the European Institute for Gender Equality.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
This is a matter for the European Commission.
Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention on 21 January (HC23523), how many Home Office staff are employed to discharge the obligations under the Equality Act 2010, and what are the job titles of those staff.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
We refer Baronness Jenkin to the Written Answer provided on 19 February, PQ 30618.
This response clarified the number of FTE roles in the HR function within the central Equality, Diversity and Wellbeing Team which are specifically focused on discharging statutory duties under the Equality Act 2010. As stated in the Written Answer on 21 January 2025 to question 23523, roles may exist outside of the HR function which have some responsibilities relating to statutory obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
Due to the broad nature of responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and number of roles and functions in the Home Office, it is not possible to provide a specific number and related job titles which could be relevant in relation to the question asked. Additionally, some parts of the Equality Act 2010 could be relevant and/or apply to all roles in the Home Office such as the general public sector equality duties listed under Section 149 of the act.
Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 8 August (HL9893), whether the definition of a woman in the next UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security will be updated to reflect the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK's Women Peace and Security (WPS) National Action Plan (NAP) refines our approach to WPS, responding to the changing nature of conflict and provides the strategic direction for the UK's global diplomatic, development and defence efforts. The Supreme Court decision concerned the definition of a woman in the context of the UK Equality Act 2010.