Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding they have allocated to (1) the police service, and (2) the fire and rescue service in 2025–26 to cover the cost of the rise in employers' National Insurance contributions; what methodology they used to calculate the amount allocated to each service; and what methodology they used to calculate the funding allocated to (a) standalone fire and rescue authorities, and (b) fire and rescue services that are part of a county council.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As of 1 April 2025, Ministerial responsibility for Fire transferred from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Home Office retains Ministerial responsibility for policing.
Home Office has paid £230.3 million of funding for territorial police forces to cover the costs of the increases to National Insurance Contributions. Funding for National Insurance increases to the police is allocated according to total workforce headcount shares as at 31 March 2024.
In recognition of the decision to increase employer National Insurance Contributions, MHCLG has provided £515 million to local authorities in England. This includes standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities, as well as Fire and Rescue Authorities that are part of a county council. Allocations are based on local authorities’ net current expenditure.
Payments to local authorities are un-ringfenced to allow for discretion over the use of funds in their area. This funding can be used to mitigate the additional costs of employer National Insurance Contributions within direct, commissioned, and externally provided local services, for example.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to drive private sector investment into Ukraine’s economy.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK recognises that private sector investment is critical for Ukraine's economic recovery. To de-risk investment, the UK will continue to support war risk insurance through partnerships with the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The UK is leveraging its world-class insurance industry to explore ways to make insurance in Ukraine more accessible and affordable and is supporting the Government of Ukraine-led insurance task force working with industry to address barriers to trade and investment.
British Investment International has committed to invest £30 million to support trade flows of critical goods and is actively pursuing further investments in Ukraine, up to a total of £250 million. Through the UK-Ukraine TechBridge and InnovateUkraine challenge fund we are expanding opportunities for UK and Ukrainian partnerships across multiple sectors.
The Department for Business and Trade has delivered five defence trade missions to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion, supporting the development of long-term cooperation and investment, working closely with the Ministry of Defence's Taskforce HIRST. Trade Envoy Alex Sobel plays a crucial role engaging with UK and Ukrainian businesses to foster trade and industrial partnerships to support the recovery of Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of violent and intimidating disruptions of Jewish student events at universities, as featured in the report by StandWithUs UK, Voice of students 2024/25.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
I was grateful to attend a roundtable organised by StandWithUs UK in this House on 11 March 2025. At that event, I heard directly from students about their horrifying experiences of antisemitic abuse, many of which are captured in the StandWIthUs UK Voice of Students report.
The antisemitic incidents detailed in the report are wholly unacceptable and the wellbeing and safety of Jewish students remains a government priority.
I recognise the efforts that university Vice Chancellors and their staff are making to foster cohesion on campuses across the country. However, the StandWithUs UK report highlights that there is still more to do. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education will soon host a roundtable, to which she has invited Vice Chancellors representing many of the institutions featured in the report. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and economic recovery.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
To date, the UK has committed over £5 billion in non-military support to Ukraine, including £4.1 billion in fiscal support and over £977 million in bilateral assistance.
We are helping lay the foundations for long-term recovery through the Foundations for Infrastructure and Recovery (FIRE) programme, which supports Ukraine in delivering key infrastructure projects. The UK-led Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU) is restoring essential services in frontline regions. Our Triggering Investment Growth and Economic Resilience (TIGER) programme is unlocking hundreds of millions in private lending to bolster Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises.
We continue to engage with international partners to galvanise support in preparation for the 2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome in July and beyond.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure the full participation of local authorities in Bradford and Wales in their inquiry into grooming gangs.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government continues to focus on delivering real change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
I refer the Noble Lord to the statements made by the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls on 08 April and Lord Hanson of Flint on 22 April 2025, which provided an update on the Government's work to tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation, including progress on the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). IICSA, led by Professor Alexis Jay, was a full national inquiry taking 7 years, which engaged over 7,000 victims and survivors, and had 15 separate strands, including a specific two-year inquiry into child sexual exploitation by organised networks.
Victims, survivors and experts, including Alexis Jay, have been clear that they want to see action now. That means protecting more children, pursuing more criminals, and getting justice for more victims and survivors. That is why we are delivering on the package of measures announced by the Home Secretary in January, including expanding the victims’ right to review and asking all police forces to review historic grooming cases that were closed with ‘No Further Action’. We are also developing a new national best practice framework for victim-centred, locally-led inquiries, drawing on the experience of experts, including victims and survivors. Further details will be provided later this month.
Alongside that, we will set out how local authorities can access support for independent local inquiries or related work through a national fund. The Home Secretary has commissioned Baroness Louise Casey to conduct an audit to improve national understanding of the scale, nature, and profile of group-based child sexual abuse, including the characteristics of offenders. The audit is well underway and will report to the Home Secretary in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the influence of racial and religious aggravation in instances of child sexual abuse.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government continues to focus on delivering real change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
I refer the Noble Lord to the statements made by the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls on 08 April and Lord Hanson of Flint on 22 April 2025, which provided an update on the Government's work to tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation, including progress on the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). IICSA, led by Professor Alexis Jay, was a full national inquiry taking 7 years, which engaged over 7,000 victims and survivors, and had 15 separate strands, including a specific two-year inquiry into child sexual exploitation by organised networks.
Victims, survivors and experts, including Alexis Jay, have been clear that they want to see action now. That means protecting more children, pursuing more criminals, and getting justice for more victims and survivors. That is why we are delivering on the package of measures announced by the Home Secretary in January, including expanding the victims’ right to review and asking all police forces to review historic grooming cases that were closed with ‘No Further Action’. We are also developing a new national best practice framework for victim-centred, locally-led inquiries, drawing on the experience of experts, including victims and survivors. Further details will be provided later this month.
Alongside that, we will set out how local authorities can access support for independent local inquiries or related work through a national fund. The Home Secretary has commissioned Baroness Louise Casey to conduct an audit to improve national understanding of the scale, nature, and profile of group-based child sexual abuse, including the characteristics of offenders. The audit is well underway and will report to the Home Secretary in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect the National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse to publish its final written report.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government continues to focus on delivering real change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
I refer the Noble Lord to the statements made by the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls on 08 April and Lord Hanson of Flint on 22 April 2025, which provided an update on the Government's work to tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation, including progress on the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). IICSA, led by Professor Alexis Jay, was a full national inquiry taking 7 years, which engaged over 7,000 victims and survivors, and had 15 separate strands, including a specific two-year inquiry into child sexual exploitation by organised networks.
Victims, survivors and experts, including Alexis Jay, have been clear that they want to see action now. That means protecting more children, pursuing more criminals, and getting justice for more victims and survivors. That is why we are delivering on the package of measures announced by the Home Secretary in January, including expanding the victims’ right to review and asking all police forces to review historic grooming cases that were closed with ‘No Further Action’. We are also developing a new national best practice framework for victim-centred, locally-led inquiries, drawing on the experience of experts, including victims and survivors. Further details will be provided later this month.
Alongside that, we will set out how local authorities can access support for independent local inquiries or related work through a national fund. The Home Secretary has commissioned Baroness Louise Casey to conduct an audit to improve national understanding of the scale, nature, and profile of group-based child sexual abuse, including the characteristics of offenders. The audit is well underway and will report to the Home Secretary in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of a national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government continues to focus on delivering real change for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation.
I refer the Noble Lord to the statements made by the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls on 08 April and Lord Hanson of Flint on 22 April 2025, which provided an update on the Government's work to tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation, including progress on the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). IICSA, led by Professor Alexis Jay, was a full national inquiry taking 7 years, which engaged over 7,000 victims and survivors, and had 15 separate strands, including a specific two-year inquiry into child sexual exploitation by organised networks.
Victims, survivors and experts, including Alexis Jay, have been clear that they want to see action now. That means protecting more children, pursuing more criminals, and getting justice for more victims and survivors. That is why we are delivering on the package of measures announced by the Home Secretary in January, including expanding the victims’ right to review and asking all police forces to review historic grooming cases that were closed with ‘No Further Action’. We are also developing a new national best practice framework for victim-centred, locally-led inquiries, drawing on the experience of experts, including victims and survivors. Further details will be provided later this month.
Alongside that, we will set out how local authorities can access support for independent local inquiries or related work through a national fund. The Home Secretary has commissioned Baroness Louise Casey to conduct an audit to improve national understanding of the scale, nature, and profile of group-based child sexual abuse, including the characteristics of offenders. The audit is well underway and will report to the Home Secretary in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the planned changes to the apprenticeship levy will impact the number of available police apprenticeships.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The government’s new levy-funded growth and skills offer will introduce greater flexibility to employers and learners in England, creating routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries, aligned with the government’s industrial strategy.
Police forces in England can make use of a number of apprenticeships, including the level 4 police community support officer standard and the level 6 police constable standard.
Level 6 apprenticeships, such as the police constable standard, are a core part of our apprenticeships offer and continue to be funded by the government.
Asked by: Lord Davies of Gower (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to deliver additional police apprenticeships.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship is one of four entry routes available to candidates interested in becoming a warranted police officer. It is a popular Level 6 (degree) apprenticeship across England and Wales. The Government is committed to ensuring apprenticeships remain an attractive option to candidates interested in the police service and the Home Office regularly engages with the Department of Education who hold overall responsibility for apprenticeship policy.