Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of airstrikes against civilians by the military regime in Myanmar, in the light of the report by Fortify Rights, Crashing down on us, published on 4 September.

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

The UK acknowledges the report and shares its concerns regarding human rights violations in Myanmar. We condemn the Myanmar military's airstrikes on civilian infrastructure. The UK is clear that no country should provide arms, funds, or fuel to the Myanmar military. We have implemented 19 sanctions packages since 2021, including 10 targeting aviation fuel imports.

We are clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar. The UK has provided £900,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar since 2021 and established the Myanmar Witness program to collect evidence of human rights violations. As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we have convened four meetings this year to maintain international focus and press for accountability. We co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution in April and coordinated a joint statement in May calling for an end to violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage the United Nations Security Council (1) to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court, or (2) to establish an ad hoc international criminal tribunal to investigate genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in that country.

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

The UK acknowledges the report and shares its concerns regarding human rights violations in Myanmar. We condemn the Myanmar military's airstrikes on civilian infrastructure. The UK is clear that no country should provide arms, funds, or fuel to the Myanmar military. We have implemented 19 sanctions packages since 2021, including 10 targeting aviation fuel imports.

We are clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar. The UK has provided £900,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar since 2021 and established the Myanmar Witness program to collect evidence of human rights violations. As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we have convened four meetings this year to maintain international focus and press for accountability. We co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution in April and coordinated a joint statement in May calling for an end to violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure those committing atrocity crimes in Myanmar are held to account, through either the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice or alternative accountability mechanisms.

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

The UK acknowledges the report and shares its concerns regarding human rights violations in Myanmar. We condemn the Myanmar military's airstrikes on civilian infrastructure. The UK is clear that no country should provide arms, funds, or fuel to the Myanmar military. We have implemented 19 sanctions packages since 2021, including 10 targeting aviation fuel imports.

We are clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar. The UK has provided £900,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar since 2021 and established the Myanmar Witness program to collect evidence of human rights violations. As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we have convened four meetings this year to maintain international focus and press for accountability. We co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution in April and coordinated a joint statement in May calling for an end to violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to hold General Myo Htut Hlaing accountable for alleged violations of international law in Myanmar.

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

The UK acknowledges the report and shares its concerns regarding human rights violations in Myanmar. We condemn the Myanmar military's airstrikes on civilian infrastructure. The UK is clear that no country should provide arms, funds, or fuel to the Myanmar military. We have implemented 19 sanctions packages since 2021, including 10 targeting aviation fuel imports.

We are clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar. The UK has provided £900,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar since 2021 and established the Myanmar Witness program to collect evidence of human rights violations. As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we have convened four meetings this year to maintain international focus and press for accountability. We co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution in April and coordinated a joint statement in May calling for an end to violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to refer the situation in Myanmar to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

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

The UK acknowledges the report and shares its concerns regarding human rights violations in Myanmar. We condemn the Myanmar military's airstrikes on civilian infrastructure. The UK is clear that no country should provide arms, funds, or fuel to the Myanmar military. We have implemented 19 sanctions packages since 2021, including 10 targeting aviation fuel imports.

We are clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar. The UK has provided £900,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar since 2021 and established the Myanmar Witness program to collect evidence of human rights violations. As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we have convened four meetings this year to maintain international focus and press for accountability. We co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution in April and coordinated a joint statement in May calling for an end to violence.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 27 October (HL10860), what consideration they have given to granting for-profit housing providers the ability to issue respect orders and housing and youth injunctions through the Crime and Policing Bill.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are strengthening the powers available to relevant agencies under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to tackle ASB.

For-profit Social Housing Providers have grown in prominence since the 2014 Act first came into force. While it is important that all agencies have the powers they need to tackle ASB, it is also important that changes to the agencies that can use the powers in the 2014 ASB Crime and Policing Act are considered carefully, on a case-by-case basis. The addition of for-profit social housing providers as applicant agencies for Respect Orders, housing Injnuctions and Youth Inductions remains under consideration.

However, we are legislating in the Crime and Policing Bill to extend the power to issue Closure Notices to Registered Social Housing Providers, including For Profit Housing Providers. This will make it easier for Housing Providers to take swift action to prevent disruptive ASB.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether costs associated with London's role as a capital city will be reflected in the Fair Funding 2.0 formula.

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

I refer the noble Lord to the statement made by my hon friend the Minister for Local Government [Local government finance policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29 - GOV.UK] (attached) which was published on Thursday 20 November, which sets out our plans for the 2026-27 to 2028-29 multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement. These proposals represent a fairer system for all authorities which recognises the variation in demand and the cost of providing services in different places.

We have always said we are committed to supporting public services and driving growth across the country, including London, as part of our Plan for Change. This includes recognising the additional strain that commuters and tourists can place on service provision in some authorities – including those in London - and taking account of need in specific service areas like temporary accommodation.

We have also used the latest data from the 2025 Indices of Deprivation in both the Foundation Formula and the Children’s and Young People’s Services formula. These include incorporating data on Universal Credit claimants, enabling the measure to account for income after housing costs. Incorporating this data in our updated assessment of need is consistent with the Fair Funding Review 2.0’s principle of using the most recent and most robust evidence available.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to include housing costs in calculating deprivation need for local authorities as part of the Fair Funding 2.0 review.

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

I refer the noble Lord to the statement made by my hon friend the Minister for Local Government [Local government finance policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29 - GOV.UK] (attached) which was published on Thursday 20 November, which sets out our plans for the 2026-27 to 2028-29 multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement. These proposals represent a fairer system for all authorities which recognises the variation in demand and the cost of providing services in different places.

We have always said we are committed to supporting public services and driving growth across the country, including London, as part of our Plan for Change. This includes recognising the additional strain that commuters and tourists can place on service provision in some authorities – including those in London - and taking account of need in specific service areas like temporary accommodation.

We have also used the latest data from the 2025 Indices of Deprivation in both the Foundation Formula and the Children’s and Young People’s Services formula. These include incorporating data on Universal Credit claimants, enabling the measure to account for income after housing costs. Incorporating this data in our updated assessment of need is consistent with the Fair Funding Review 2.0’s principle of using the most recent and most robust evidence available.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to help local authorities in London with the increasing costs of temporary accommodation.

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

The Government has increased funding for homelessness services by £316 million this year to a total of more than £1 billion. That includes more than £420 million for London, an increase of £118 million on the previous year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address rising costs of placements for children in care, and to ensure the availability of high-quality, affordable placements nationwide.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Every child in care should have a safe, loving home which is also value for money for the taxpayer.

The department is empowering local authorities to secure the best placements for looked after children at a price that is fair to the taxpayer. We know local authorities cannot do this alone, so we are also taking action at a national level to reshape the market. Through our package of measures, including those set out in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we will rebalance the market, improve competition, regulation and commissioning of placements, shine a light on the level of profit being made, and bring greater visibility to the prices local authorities are paying.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they remain committed to delivering a modern 21st century estate at the Lancaster West Estate following the Grenfell Tower fire; and what plans they have to provide funding for its refurbishment.

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

The government is committed to supporting the community affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy for the long term, and to working with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) so the vision of 21st century estate for the residents of the Lancaster West estate can be realised.

I understand how important and pressing this is. My officials are engaging with RBKC, who lead on the refurbishment of the estate, to fully understand the Council’s plans and timelines for delivery and explore potential funding options to determine whether government can further support the Council in refurbishing the estate.

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 Fair Funding 2.0 review on the overall finances of (1) London and (2) the rest of the country.

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

On Thursday 20 November, we published (attached) the government response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which sets out the government’s plan to introduce a fairer and evidence-led funding system.

These updates will account for local circumstances, including different ability to raise income locally from council tax, and the variation in cost of delivering services, including between rural and urban areas. In doing so, we will target a greater proportion of grant funding towards the places that need it most, ensuring the best value for money for government and taxpayers.

The vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement. We will also support local authorities to manage their updated funding positions through a package of transitional arrangements, which we set out in detail in the response.

We will publish provisional local authority allocations at the upcoming provisional multi-year Settlement in December. Proposals and allocations will be subject to consultation and the usual Parliamentary process.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the cost for delivering local government services is higher in rural or urban areas.

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

On Thursday 20 November, we published (attached) the government response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which sets out the government’s plan to introduce a fairer and evidence-led funding system.

These updates will account for local circumstances, including different ability to raise income locally from council tax, and the variation in cost of delivering services, including between rural and urban areas. In doing so, we will target a greater proportion of grant funding towards the places that need it most, ensuring the best value for money for government and taxpayers.

The vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement. We will also support local authorities to manage their updated funding positions through a package of transitional arrangements, which we set out in detail in the response.

We will publish provisional local authority allocations at the upcoming provisional multi-year Settlement in December. Proposals and allocations will be subject to consultation and the usual Parliamentary process.

Found: Lord Bailey of Paddington: Professor, how do you embed that principle?

Found: 12.20 pm Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Gascoigne (The Chair); Baroness Andrews; Lord Bailey of Paddington

Found: 10.45 am Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Gascoigne (The Chair); Baroness Andrews; Lord Bailey of Paddington