Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which department is responsible for policy on tackling (1) anti-Palestinian racism, and (2) the dehumanisation of Palestinians.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government strongly opposes all forms of racism and is committed to promoting tolerant society for people of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities. We recognise that dehumanising language and hate speech can lay the ground for and justify identity-based violence in conflict. The Government will challenge those who undermine the prospects of a two-state solution or use hateful rhetoric. The UK strongly condemns inciteful remarks, such as those made by Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich, which seek to inflame tensions and harm the viability of a two-state solution. In October, the Government introduced sanctions targeting 3 settler outposts and 4 organisations that have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. The Government has been engaging with the British Palestinian community, including through a PM-led roundtable with members of the Palestinian community in the UK to mark the one-year anniversary of the conflict. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials work closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand the impact of international events domestically in the UK.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to provide funding to tackle anti-Palestinian racism in the United Kingdom.

Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN HL6958 on 9 May 2025.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the UK’s readiness for implementing under the Border Target Operating Model (1) the reclassification of fruit and vegetables from 1 July, and (2) the introduction of checks on EU goods arriving from the Republic of Ireland via the West Coast ports.

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

GB plant health services have increased the number of plant health inspection staff to service the demand for import checks in England and Wales of EU plants and plant products. Inspector levels are being monitored to ensure these meet demand and deliver checks in line with the set Service Level Agreement (SLA) and ensure minimal trade disruption. BCPs are designed to handle high volumes of imported SPS goods with inspectors working shifts to carry out reliable checks which minimise friction on traffic flow. Checks at BCPs are handled by trained staff ensuring inspections are undertaken safely and efficiently. The Government will provide an update in Summer 2025 on the implementation timelines for further controls on EU goods arriving in GB from Ireland and Northern Ireland.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish a timetable for scaling up physical checks to achieve the full physical checking regime under the Border Target Operating Model.

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

The Government will provide an update in Summer 2025 on the implementation timelines for further controls on EU goods arriving in GB from Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Importers should continue to follow the guidance available on GOV.UK for the latest information.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement the recommendations of the Independent Pornography Review to address the availability of violent online pornography.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government published the final report of the Independent Pornography Review on 27 February. The Review found violent pornography is common and easily available online. It is right that the government takes time to understand this complex, deeply important topic. A further update will be provided in due course.

The Online Safety Act requires services publishing or hosting user-generated pornographic content to prevent children from accessing it using highly effective age assurance. Extreme pornography is a priority offence under the Act, requiring services to proactively mitigate and remove this illegal content on their platforms.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria they use to assess the effectiveness of the delivery of the Border Target Operating Model.

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

The Border Target Operating Model was introduced in 2024 to safeguard biosecurity, minimise risks to public health, animal health, the environment and protect the United Kingdom’s reputation as a responsible international trading nation. It strikes an appropriate balance between supporting business, by avoiding unnecessary regulatory burdens in the process of moving goods into Great Britain, while focussing controls on consignments proven to cause the most significant biosecurity risk.

Defra continues to monitor the effectiveness and impact of the controls and engages regularly with border stakeholders to reflect.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to engage with the logistics sector to develop criteria to assess the effectiveness of the delivery of the Border Target Operating Model.

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

The model was developed following extensive engagement with businesses (including the logistics sector) across the UK, points of entry, enforcement agencies and with the Scottish and Welsh Devolved Governments.

Defra continues to have regular engagement with border stakeholders to discuss and review the BTOM.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase coverage rates for the childhood flu vaccination programme.

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

The Government is working to improve the uptake of our vaccination programmes, including children’s flu uptake.

The Department is working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England to take steps to promote uptake by providing diverse delivery methods to make getting vaccinated easier, increasing outreach efforts to under-served groups, and raising awareness of the dangers of vaccine preventable diseases, including flu. Paid for marketing campaigns to support the uptake of childhood flu and other vaccinations have been run over the past year, with evaluation showing positive results.

Along with this work, the Department is also looking at how it can go further, exploring new ways to boost uptake by supplementing the general practice offer already based in communities through health visitors.

The UKHSA has continued to undertake annual surveys of parents to develop an understanding of how knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes towards immunisation, vaccine safety, and disease severity influence vaccine uptake decision-making.

It is important that children are vaccinated for flu, as it is the best way to help protect them from flu, which can cause serious harm. The children’s flu vaccination also helps prevent flu transmission in the community.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the BBC Panorama programme The Truth about Baby Food Pouches which was aired on 28 April; and whether they will issue guidance to parents on baby food pouches and on healthy alternatives for babies.

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

While we have not undertaken an assessment of the findings of the BBC Panorama programme which aired on 28 April, a document that looked at the baby food market was published by Public Health England in 2019. This evidence review showed that some commercial baby foods, particularly finger foods, had added sugar, or contained ingredients that are high in sugar. It also found that approximately one-third of commercial baby foods and drinks are packaged in pouches, and that messaging on how to feed these products to a baby was inconsistent across the market.

A 2023 report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition highlighted that free sugar intakes are above recommendations, and that commercial baby food and drinks contributed to approximately 20% of free sugars intakes in children aged 12 to 18 months old. This does not align with recommendations that in diets of children aged one to five years old, foods, including snacks, that are high in free sugars should be limited, and that commercially manufactured foods and drinks are not needed to meet nutrient requirements.

It is vital that the highest standards for foods consumed by babies and infants are maintained. This is why there are regulations in place that set nutritional and compositional standards for commercial baby food. The regulations also set labelling standards to ensure consumers have clear and accurate information about the products they buy.

The Start for Life website provides trusted National Health Service guidance, videos, and simple weaning recipes to help parents introduce solid foods without the need for commercial baby foods, including pouches. The website also provides further advice and recipes for older babies and toddlers. A weekly email programme offers ongoing support to parents, and printed materials on introducing solid foods, produced by Start for Life, are shared by health visitors.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of shipments were checked under the Border Target Operating Model in (1) January, (2) February, (3) March, and (4) April, 2025.

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

Our checks are intelligence-led and based on biosecurity risk. To protect the integrity of this approach, we cannot share granular data on inspections.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in developing an app to update drivers on which of their consignments has been selected for a physical check under the Border Target Operating Model.

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

HM Revenue & Customs provides drivers with the Inspection Location Service, which allows drivers access to identify whether their consignments have been selected for an inspection. The portal is linked to the Goods Movement Vehicle Service (GMVS) whereby a driver can enter their Goods Movement Reference, and they will be shown the inspection status for their consignment. If the driver does not use GMVS, Imports of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) will provide an initial risk assessment telling the importer/agent if their consignment needs SPS checks when they submit their import notification. If the consignment does need checks, the importer/agent and haulier will also receive a text and email message two hours before the driver’s estimated time of arrival in GB. The message will conform what the driver needs to do. Additionally, the notifier can check their IPAFFS dashboard for updates on whether their consignment will be checked.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report of the Climate Change Committee Progress in adapting to climate change: 2025 report to Parliament, published on 30 April, with regard to wildfires and the impact on natural and wildlife habitats.

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

We welcome the Climate Change Committee’s constructive assessment, recognising the progress that has been made in planning for climate change across our transport system and the economy, as well as areas for improvement.

As part of our Plan for Change we are investing a record £2.65 billion to repair and build flood defences, protecting tens of thousands of homes and businesses and helping local communities become more resilient to the effects of climate change such as overheating and drought.

We are considering the Climate Change Committee’s Progress Report and will respond to its recommendations in October as required by the Climate Change Act.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to require safety assessments for AI models before they are released to market to ensure they cannot be used to generate child sexual abuse material.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government takes AI generated images of child sexual abuse extremely seriously.

Creating and possessing CSAM is already a criminal offence, but we are committed to ensuring there are no gaps in the law for criminals to exploit. The Government is therefore banning AI models optimised to produce CSAM and extending existing law for criminalising ‘paedophile manuals’ through the Crime and Policing Bill.

Earlier this year the Government announced that the AI Security Institute will partner with the Home Office to research the most serious emerging risks from AI to criminality, including how it can be used to enable crimes such as child sexual abuse.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposals in Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on delivering the target in the Environment Act 2021 to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030.

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

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill would introduce a new Nature Restoration Fund that would unlock and accelerate development while delivering overall benefits for nature through investment in strategic improvements for protected habitats and species.

The fund will support the preparation of Environmental Delivery Plans (EDP), which will only be put in place where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the delivery of the conservation measures the EDP sets out are likely to outweigh the negative effects of development. In doing so EDPs will support the government’s target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the commissioning of vaccination services is not adversely affected by the abolition of NHS England.

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

Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. As we work to bring the two organisations together, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.

Whilst this transformation takes place, we are putting plans in place to ensure that there is no risk to continuity of care and that service delivery is maintained. Outside of the planned organisational changes at national level, there are already established plans, as set out in the NHS Vaccination Strategy 2023, to delegate the commissioning of vaccination services from NHS England to the integrated care boards, starting from April 2026. This will strengthen the ownership of local systems of vaccination and enable innovation in delivery models, to maximise uptake and coverage across local populations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they made on the development of value-based procurement for purchasing medical devices and consumables; and what plans will be undertaken to promote this approach, particularly in continence care.

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

The Department is working with NHS England and the NHS Supply Chain to develop and promote Value Based Procurement (VBP) Standard Guidance for the National Health Service to consistently assess value when procuring medical technologies, including continence products. The Department has now developed draft VBP Standard Guidance and is testing its usability with procurement teams. The aim is to publish the guidance in early 2026.

The Department is engaging medical technology trade associations, including the Urology Trade Association, suppliers, as well as broader networks of patient forums, financial teams, clinicians, and NHS procurement professionals, to co-develop and promote this approach. Departmental officials hosted two market engagement sessions in May 2025. These were attended by over 450 suppliers, including suppliers of continence products.

In addition, because prescriptions in primary and community care are an important route of supply for incontinence consumables, the Department is building VBP principles into its plans to update Part IX Drug Tariff assessments of medical devices and consumables, where appropriate.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish the data set of the UK Health Security Agency underpinning the article “Effectiveness of autumn 2023 COVID-19 vaccination and residual protection of prior doses against hospitalisation in England, estimated using a test-negative case-control study” published in May 2024.

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

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) does not plan to publish the dataset for this article.

This work is carried out under Regulation 3 of The Health Service (Control of Patient Information; Secretary of State for Health, 2002) using patient identification information without individual patient consent. This is part of the UKHSA’s legal requirement for public health surveillance and vaccine monitoring. The full regulation is available on the GOV.UK website.

As such, authors cannot release the underlying dataset publicly for ethical and legal reasons. However, all the data used for this analysis is included as aggregated data in the manuscript tables and appendix. The full manuscript is available on the UKHSA Research Portal, on the UKHSA’s website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 14 May (HL7332), whether they plan to explore establishing contractual provisions for community pharmacies to support delivery of the childhood flu national immunisation programme.

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

NHS England has identified key opportunities to further improve uptake, which include strengthening the childhood vaccination offer by exploring the use of other providers to enhance convenience, including community pharmacies. This work is ongoing in collaboration with the Department, NHS England, and key stakeholders.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 14 May (HL7332), what steps they are taking to increase the role of health visitors in delivering vaccinations.

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

To increase the role of health visitors in delivering vaccinations, we are piloting the delivery of childhood vaccinations during health visits from 2025/26. This aims to improve access for families who may face challenges attending general practice appointments, helping to increase uptake and reduce barriers to vaccinations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reporting by the i Paper on 14 December 2024 that 53 per cent of NHS trusts providing continence care cap the number of continence products which they provide to patients on a daily basis, rather than on the basis of need; and what steps they intend to take in response.

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

Patients deserve the very best health and care, and by developing a 10-Year Health Plan, we will deliver the three shifts needed to get the health service and the nation’s health thriving once again. We are committed to ensuring that the National Health Service is managed in a way that prioritises patient care and which delivers the best possible outcomes.

NHS England published Excellence in Continence Care, a copy of which is attached, on 23 July 2018, bringing together evidence-based resources and research for guidance for commissioners, providers, and health and social care staff. This guidance covers both urinary and bowel, also known as faecal, incontinence. The guidance states that “…pathways of care should be commissioned that ensure early assessment, effective management of incontinence, along with other bladder and bowel problems such as constipation and urinary tract infections and their impact on social, physical and mental well-being”. NHS England will consider the next steps for Excellence in Continence Care.

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on the management of faecal incontinence in adults, which healthcare professionals and commissioners are expected to take fully into account when delivering services for people with bowel incontinence. The guidance aims to improve the physical and mental health and quality of life of people with faecal incontinence.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what practical steps are being taken to help raise awareness of (1) patient dignity, and (2) patient choice, in continence care.

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

Patients deserve the very best health and care, and by developing a 10-Year Health Plan, we will deliver the three shifts needed to get the health service and the nation’s health thriving once again. We are committed to ensuring that the National Health Service is managed in a way that prioritises patient care and which delivers the best possible outcomes.

NHS England published Excellence in Continence Care, a copy of which is attached, on 23 July 2018, bringing together evidence-based resources and research for guidance for commissioners, providers, and health and social care staff. This guidance covers both urinary and bowel, also known as faecal, incontinence. The guidance states that “…pathways of care should be commissioned that ensure early assessment, effective management of incontinence, along with other bladder and bowel problems such as constipation and urinary tract infections and their impact on social, physical and mental well-being”. NHS England will consider the next steps for Excellence in Continence Care.

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on the management of faecal incontinence in adults, which healthcare professionals and commissioners are expected to take fully into account when delivering services for people with bowel incontinence. The guidance aims to improve the physical and mental health and quality of life of people with faecal incontinence.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of prioritising patient dignity and choice in continence care as part of the 10 Year Health Plan.

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

Patients deserve the very best health and care, and by developing a 10-Year Health Plan, we will deliver the three shifts needed to get the health service and the nation’s health thriving once again. We are committed to ensuring that the National Health Service is managed in a way that prioritises patient care and which delivers the best possible outcomes.

NHS England published Excellence in Continence Care, a copy of which is attached, on 23 July 2018, bringing together evidence-based resources and research for guidance for commissioners, providers, and health and social care staff. This guidance covers both urinary and bowel, also known as faecal, incontinence. The guidance states that “…pathways of care should be commissioned that ensure early assessment, effective management of incontinence, along with other bladder and bowel problems such as constipation and urinary tract infections and their impact on social, physical and mental well-being”. NHS England will consider the next steps for Excellence in Continence Care.

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on the management of faecal incontinence in adults, which healthcare professionals and commissioners are expected to take fully into account when delivering services for people with bowel incontinence. The guidance aims to improve the physical and mental health and quality of life of people with faecal incontinence.

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Found: Addington; Lord Crisp; Baroness Goudie; Baroness Hodgson of Abinger; Baroness Pitkeathley; Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

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Found: BARONESS BROWNING BARONESS RITCHIE OF DOWNPATRICK BARONESS FINLAY OF LLANDAFF 185_ Clause 38, page

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Found: Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992). 49 Employment Rights Bill BARONESS BROWNING BARONESS RITCHIE OF DOWNPATRICK