Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 10 July 2025 (HL8885), what steps they have taken since July 2025 to demonstrate that they are "fully implementing" the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative strategy.

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

The Foreign Secretary has been clear that we must renew global focus and ambition around women, peace and security, and put the rights of women and girls, including freedom from violence, at the heart of UK foreign policy.

We continue to work through the UK-founded International Alliance for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, of which the UK is vice-chair this year, to rally further support for tackling the silence and stigma faced by survivors of sexual violence, including the women and girls in Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar and elsewhere who have faced the use of rape as a weapon of war.

The roles of UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls and the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict are unremunerated.

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Collins of Highbury on 2 February (HL Deb col 1299), what is the evidential basis that all public services they deliver are in full compliance with the law, as set out in the ruling of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

As clarified by Lord Collins during the debate on 2 February, the Government is absolutely committed to fully implementing the For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] Supreme Court ruling.

Where necessary, government departments are carefully reviewing the ruling’s potential implications in full to ensure that their policies and guidance are legally compliant. It is important that departments take the time to get this right and seek specialist legal advice where necessary.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission - as the independent regulator - has submitted a draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations to Ministers, and we are working as quickly as we can to review it with the care it deserves. This will provide further guidance to duty bearers on how they should comply with the Equality Act 2010 following the ruling.