Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether it plans to provide direction to the National Energy System Operator to account for marine energy in its Strategic Spatial Energy Plan.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The first iteration of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will not include spatial optimisation for wave and tidal energy projects as they are emerging technologies and volumes in development are currently very low. As policy and technology advance, the Government and NESO will keep this position under review and may consider the inclusion of wave and tidal energy in future iterations of the SSEP.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential generating capacity of UK tidal stream and wave energy resources; and what steps they are taking to realise this potential.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the potential of marine energy to support the UK’s transition to net zero. Independent studies, including those by the Carbon Trust and the Royal Society, have assessed the scale and value of the UK’s tidal stream and wave energy resources.
We continue to drive UK marine energy development through policy levers such as the Contracts for Difference scheme and innovation funding delivered via UK Research & Innovation. Through these measures, the UK is on track to deploy over 120 MW of tidal stream capacity by 2029, secured through the last three CfD allocation rounds.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan will account for tidal stream and wave energy technologies.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The first iteration of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will not include spatial optimisation for wave and tidal energy projects as they are emerging technologies and volumes in development are currently very low. As policy and technology advance, the Government and NESO will keep this position under review and may consider the inclusion of wave and tidal energy in future iterations of the SSEP.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 2 December (HL12136), whether they plan to conduct a formal review of the law relating to (1) collective worship, and (2) religious education, in schools in England in response to the Supreme Court's ruling in JR87 [2025] UKSC 40; and if so, what the scope and timetable of that review will be.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are continuing to review the Supreme Court judgement to establish whether there are any implications for religious education or collective worship in England and will say more in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Slovenia about the human rights implications of the Šutar law for the Roma minority in that country, in particular with regard to warrantless home entry, expanded surveillance powers and military support for domestic policing.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
UK officials discussed the recently passed Šutar Law, including human rights implications, with Slovenian government officials at the UK-Slovenia biannual Strategic Dialogue meeting on 25 November.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, following their response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report, to ensure that young people who are not in education, employment, or training, including those who have not reached the required standard in literacy and numeracy, are covered by the post-sixteen provisions.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Progress in English and maths at level 2 is vital for 16–19-year-olds to access opportunities in education, work, and life.
The Post-16 Skills and Education Strategy White Paper sets out reforms to qualifications at levels 3 and 2. At level 3, a new vocational pathway, V Levels, will sit alongside A levels and T Levels. At level 2, two pathways will be introduced: Further Study (progression to level 3) and Occupational (skilled employment). Students can combine these with English and maths qualifications.
Local authorities must support young people to participate in education or training, as per the Education and Skills Act 2008. Through the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the department has committed to help schools, further education providers and local authorities track and share data to prevent young people from becoming not in education, employment or training.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to implement the recommendation of the Curriculum and Assessment Review that rights and responsibilities, and the concepts of fairness and equity, should form part of the curriculum for law and rights.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
On 5 November, the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review published its final report, which includes recommendations for a refreshed curriculum and assessment system in England.
As part of the response to the Review’s report the government has made a commitment to make citizenship compulsory in key stages 1 and 2,so that primary aged children are introduced to key content on media literacy, law and rights, democracy and government education. Covering these issues in citizenship will ensure we continue to focus on schools’ role in developing fundamental British values, including mutual tolerance and respect. These principles will be extended to the secondary core content to reflect the age range of pupils and will focus on more complex content.
The department will engage with sector experts and young people in working out how best to reflect this in the updated curriculum. There will be public consultation on the updated curriculum Programmes of Study, to seek views on the content before they are finalised.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of people aged 18 and over who have speech, language and communication needs.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England does not hold a dataset that would support an estimate of the number of people aged 18 years old and over who have speech, language, and communication needs to this degree.
The Government recognises the important role that speech and language therapy services play in supporting people to overcome health and social barriers and enhancing overall quality of life.
All NHS services, including speech and language therapy, should operate in accordance with the best available evidence-based practices. Where sufficient evidence exists, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) publishes formal guidance. Frontline services, including those delivering speech and language therapy, are expected to adhere to NICE guidance wherever it is available and applicable.
The Department continues to work with NHS England and other partners to improve understanding of speech, language and communication needs for people of all ages.
It is the ambition of this Government that, through its commitment to deliver a single patient record, people who have speech, language and communication needs will receive more co-ordinated, personalised and predictive care across the system.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what account they will take of (1) Places we’re proud of published by the National Policy Advisory Board on Gypsy and Traveller Housing, and (2) the Gypsy and Traveller Site Design Guide, published by Leeds City Council in September 2020, in their plans for new towns as announced on 13 October.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 28 September, the government published the independent New Towns Taskforce report as well as its initial response. The government welcomes all 12 of the potential new towns locations recommended by the Taskforce.
Ministers and officials will now begin work with local partners to develop detailed proposals and enhance our understanding of how different locations might meet the government’s expectations of what a future New Towns Programme can deliver, with all promising sites and reasonable alternatives assessed and considered through the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. This will support final decisions on precisely which locations we take forward as well as the final approach to placemaking and delivery.
We also made clear that we support the placemaking approach recommended by the Taskforce and are encouraged by the aims of its recommended placemaking principles.
The government will publish draft proposals and a final SEA for public consultation early next year, before confirming the locations that will be progressed as new towns later in the Spring alongside a full response to the New Towns Taskforce’s report, including further detail on delivery and funding models.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Cuba regarding the recent increase in reports of repression against (1) activists and (2) human rights defenders; and what steps they are taking to support the promotion of freedom of religion and belief in the country.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Our relationship with Cuba allows for frank dialogue, including on matters on which we do not agree. Our Ambassador in Havana has raised recent human rights cases with the Ministry of External Relations, and we work with likeminded partners to make clear our shared position. We will continue to raise concerns where we have them through diplomatic channels, in both London and Havana. In July we launched the UK's international strategy on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), which set out our firm commitment to defending FoRB for all, including through our multilateral and bilateral engagement.