Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker whether the pedestrian walkway that will be reinstated as part of the final full scaffolding build will enable peers to (1) use the pavement on the eastern side of Millbank and Abingdon Street, and (2) access the pedestrian walkway continuously from Black Rod’s Garden to about 40 meters south of Peers' Entrance; if not, why not; and what is the planned timescale for the completion of the full scaffolding build.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Once the pedestrian routes closed during the current phase of works to Victoria Tower are reinstated, they will enable peers and others to make full use of the pavement on the eastern side of Millbank and Abingdon Street and also access the permanent visitor and passholder entrances at Black Rod’s Garden entrance, which will reopen. The full scaffolding build is currently due to complete in mid-2028. However, we plan to reinstate pedestrian access well ahead of that, and subject to the necessary enabling works and gantry installation being delivered on schedule, this is currently expected to be possible in the second quarter of 2027.

Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what action will be taken to clear blockages by tour groups and others from the pavement at the pedestrian lights and Peers' Entrance to enable members to enter.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

In the event that pedestrian numbers were to become a risk to Members’ safety and ability to access Parliament, contingency arrangements are in place to ensure that Members can continue to enter and exit the estate in order to carry out their duties. Doorkeepers and Security Officers will continue to monitor the situation throughout the duration of the works.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure that additional funding provided to the Environment Agency will support enforcement action on waste crime that is sufficient to act as a deterrent.

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

The Government has published its new Waste Crime Action Plan which is the toughest ever crackdown on illegal waste. In conjunction with this the Environment Agency (EA) has set out its ten-point plan to tackle waste crime. The additional funding being provided will support EA’s delivery of these measures, which together comprise a comprehensive Government response to the scourge of waste crime.

More information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-crime-action-plan/waste-crime-action-plan and https://engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/waste-crime-stand-with-us-to-end-waste-crime. Copies are attached to this answer.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to evaluate the impact of additional Environment Agency funding on its ability to undertake effective enforcement action against waste crime.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) reports its performance every quarter through its published Corporate Scorecard. We are working with the EA to develop improved measures for the scorecard, as well as considering an evaluation approach for the package of measures recently announced in the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan.

The EA is also looking at technology-based opportunities to measure levels of waste crime, such as the potential to use satellite technology and machine learning. This will improve the EA’s insights and business intelligence to inform its strategic approach and prioritisation.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to consult on a proposal to close all large shops on Remembrance Sunday.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Department for Business and Trade has no current plans to consult on a proposal to close all large shops on Remembrance Sunday.

The Government recognises the significance of Remembrance Sunday and supports national and local commemorations, including the National Service of Remembrance held at the Cenotaph.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of (1) sentencing guidelines, and (2) penalties, for offences related to waste crime and illegal waste disposal.

Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Sentencing guidelines are developed by the Sentencing Council, in fulfilment of its statutory duty to do so. The Council has issued guidelines on environmental offences for individuals and organisations which capture offences involving the unauthorised or harmful deposit, treatment or disposal of waste as well as illegal discharges to air, land and water. The guidelines are designed to increase consistency and transparency in sentencing for these offences.

In 2024, following consultation, the Council updated the guideline for individuals to provide for greater use of community orders (over fines) across the sentence tables included within the guideline, in recognition of the seriousness of this offending. Further information is available on the Council’s website: https://sentencingcouncil.org.uk/guidelines/crown-court/

The Government is clear, penalties for waste crime must match the harm it causes. The Ministry of Justice will work closely with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs following the recent publication of the Waste Crime Action Plan to explore what more can be done to further ensure that those who commit these types of offences are appropriately punished. This would aim to reinforce the effectiveness of current systems and strengthen our overall approach to tackling illegal behaviour.

Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what steps are being taken to enable peers expeditiously to get from Millbank House to Peers' Entrance when the pavement is congested, particularly at peak times for tourism.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

The existing security and access arrangements have been developed to allow Members to move around and between parts of the Estate safely. Black Rod’s Office will continue to monitor this situation, working with security officers and the Metropolitan Police to ensure that these arrangements are operating as intended. Black Rod would welcome any further details on this matter.

Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what is the security justification for the automated door being installed between the Prince's Chamber and Bishops’ Corridor; how many breaches of security in the past year have occurred because that door was not automated; and what steps are being taken to increase the speed of such automated doors on the Principal Floor.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

While no breaches of security attributable to the absence of automation or access control at this door have been recorded in the past year, the measures have been implemented as a proportionate and forward-looking security enhancement, designed to mitigate the risk of unauthorised access, and form part of a wider programme of work addressing identified vulnerabilities across the Palace. This door is on the line of route for tours, which increases the likelihood and risk that individuals on a tour could leave the line of route via this door and access restricted areas. The weight of these doors, combined with pass readers, makes manual operation onerous. Door automation was therefore required as an accessibility measure to enable the installation of access control.

The speed of automation complies with British Standards based on the size and weight of the doors; however, the smoothness of operation of the doors at Peers’ Lobby is not optimal. This is due to the requirement to avoid any surface mounted equipment in this high heritage area, and the complexities of an underfloor mechanism. Overhead door automation systems operate better and are used whenever possible.

Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what is the security justification for the doors between the Moses Room lobby and the corridor to the West Front to be locked with a pass reader; and why they remain locked during divisions.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

The access control system protects against unauthorised excursion from the line of route into areas of restricted access to non-pass holders. Arrangements are in place to ensure that Members’ ability to access the division lobbies is not impeded when the House of Lords is sitting.

Should Members encounter any access issues with doors in this area during a sitting of the House, they should notify the Doorkeepers or Security Officer nearby.

Black Rod would be happy to meet with any Members who would like to discuss queries or concerns about access around the Chamber and division routes.