Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Coaker on Wednesday 10 December (HL Deb col 236), whether they plan to review their decision not to join the UN panel on the physical and societal effects of a nuclear war; and if so when.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer given on 17 February 2025 to Question 28881, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The UK voted against the United Nations General Assembly Resolution "Nuclear War Effects and Scientific Research", which proposed establishing an independent scientific panel on the effects of nuclear war, because the devastation that would be caused by nuclear war has been long understood. The UK questioned the benefit of further research in that area, which could not change our collective understanding of the horror of a nuclear war.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 3 November (HL Deb col 1768), what issues the review of the existing protections of open spaces will examine; and whether there will be a public consultation before changes are proposed to those protections.

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

Open and green spaces are an essential part of local social infrastructure and must be protected for future generations. The review of existing protections will examine the fragmented and outdated nature of current legislative protections for public recreational green spaces, assess how these protections complement those in the planning system, and consider the lack of central records on protected land.

We intend to analyse the effectiveness and usability of existing protections, to simplify the system, ensure consistency for developers and local authorities and empower communities to protect valued spaces.

We intend to engage widely to ensure stakeholder views are considered before recommending any changes are made to these protections.

Further details about the review will be released in due course.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 3 November (HL Deb col 1768), what criteria they plan to use to decide which categories of open space should be included in the review of the existing protections of open spaces, and whether they will include covenanted land or land held in trust.

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

Open and green spaces are an essential part of local social infrastructure and must be protected for future generations. The review of existing protections will examine the fragmented and outdated nature of current legislative protections for public recreational green spaces, assess how these protections complement those in the planning system, and consider the lack of central records on protected land.

Further details on the review of protections for public recreational green spaces, and on the timetable of the review will be shared in due course.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 3 November (HL Deb col 1768), what is the timetable for the review of the existing protections of open spaces.

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

Open and green spaces are an essential part of local social infrastructure and must be protected for future generations. The review of existing protections will examine the fragmented and outdated nature of current legislative protections for public recreational green spaces, assess how these protections complement those in the planning system, and consider the lack of central records on protected land.

Further details on the review of protections for public recreational green spaces, and on the timetable of the review will be shared in due course.

Found: Hanworth No relevant interest declared Baroness Janke No relevant interest declared Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

Found: of Haslemere (Crossbench; Life peer) Lord Meston (Crossbench; Excepted Hereditary) Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

Found: Cameron of Dillington; Lord Faulkner of Worcester; Viscount Hanworth; Lord Mawson; Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer