Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implementation of the baby loss certificate scheme, and whether they have plans to extend it further.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The baby loss certificate scheme was launched by the Department in February 2024, initially for losses that occurred after 1 September 2018. In October 2024, the scheme was extended to make the service available for all losses. The scheme has received very positive feedback from families, enabling those who have experienced pregnancy loss to receive a certificate recognising their loss, if they wish to do so. To date, over 100,000 certificates have been issued. The scheme currently only applies to losses that took place in England.
A formal assessment of the implementation of the baby loss certificate scheme has not been made. As part of plans for the future of the scheme, the Department and its Welsh and Northern Irish counterparts have discussed the possibility of the Baby Loss Certificate scheme becoming available in Wales and Northern Ireland. As healthcare in Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of their respective governments, Welsh and Northern Irish officials are leading on this piece of work.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have reviewed the updated National Police Chiefs Council guidance on pregnancy loss post 14 weeks and what assessment they have made of the implications of these changes on women experiencing miscarriages.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Guidance to support operational policing in discharging their duties on this issue is a matter for the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
We expect any guidance and police investigations which are conducted to recognise the specific sensitivities and emotional trauma of losing a child in any circumstances; as well as to show compassion and support for the woman and her family.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Wales in the last month on public safety of coal tips.
Answered by Baroness Curran
The Mining Remediation Authority is in regular contact with the Welsh Government to discuss the management of Welsh coal tips.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring coal tip safety and just how much this issue resonates with local communities, particularly in the South Wales valleys, that is why the Government announced funding of £25m in 25/26 to the Welsh Government in the Budget, for making coal tips safe.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had with the government of Wales ahead of the UK–EU summit and what topics were on the agenda in those meetings.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Welsh Government was engaged at both official and Ministerial level in the pre-Summit period. This included regular official-led meetings and bilateral meetings between the Minister for the Cabinet Office with the Welsh First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for the Economy. There was also an Inter-Ministerial Group on UK-EU relations in Edinburgh, chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, the week before the Summit on 12 May.
Pre-Summit engagement included a range of topics, including potential summit outcomes that would be a devolved responsibility.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much public money is being spent on steelmaking in Scunthorpe.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We will report regularly to Parliament on the use of the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act and I updated the House with latest information in a Written Ministerial Statement on 20 May 2025.
All funding required for the Scunthorpe site will be drawn from existing budgets, within the spending envelope set out by the government at Spring Statement 2025. As the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the UK's fiscal rules remain non-negotiable.
To date, we have provided approximately £100m for working capital. This covers items such as raw materials, salaries, and addressing unpaid bills, including for SMEs in the supply chain. This does not take into account future revenue. The Department for Business & Trade’s accounts for 2025/26 will reflect the financial support that the department has given to British Steel.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - 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 impact of wildfires on (1) the stability of different landscapes, and (2) slope stability.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made an assessment of the impact of wildfires on (1) the stability of different landscapes, and (2) slope stability.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede on 24 April (HL6663), what religious and non-religious groups they are aware of that wish to conduct legally recognised marriages in England and Wales and are unable to do so.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lady to the answer I gave on 24 April to question HL6663. The Law Commission concluded in its 2022 report on weddings law that there are a number of inconsistencies and complexities within the current legal framework for weddings. Examples given by the Law Commission include the fact that Jewish and Quaker weddings may take place in any location, whereas weddings conducted by other religious groups (save the Church of England), including Muslims, Hindus and Catholics, must take place in a registered building.
The Law Commission therefore recommended a scheme that could place all weddings on a level playing field.
Given the points raised by the Law Commission, it is right that we take the time to consider the issues. We will set out our position on weddings reform in the coming months.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had with devolved governments ahead of the Chancellor's meeting with Treasury counterparts in the United States.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor attended the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings between 22nd and 25th April 2025.
During this time, she met with the US Treasury Secretary, as part of a typical programme of engagement with her finance minister counterparts, and the US was among other bilateral meetings.
When meeting the US Treasury Secretary, the Chancellor discussed matters of reserved policy for which she is responsible.
The UK government, including the Chancellor, regularly engage with counterparts from other nations to progress matters of national interest.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial implications for the devolved authorities of the decision to abolish NHS England.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The budgets of devolved nations are primarily funded through block grants from the Government, with annual changes determined by the Barnett formula, which aims to allocate funding based on population and the extent of devolved services.
Any saving from the decision to bring NHS England and the Department together to form a joint centre will be reinvested in frontline services within the National Health Service. The formation of a new joint centre will not impact on the Barnett formula, and the finances of the devolved nations.