Asked by: Lord Inglewood (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, as part of the upcoming BBC Charter review, whether they will take steps to ensure that the BBC treats all complaints regarding its productions equally.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The principle of BBC First - where the BBC has the opportunity to try and resolve complaints about its content before consideration by Ofcom - was formalised by the BBC’s current Charter. The Framework Agreement then sets out considerations the BBC should take into account as part of its complaints procedures, including that complaints must be considered and resolved effectively.
If a complainant is not satisfied by the BBC’s initial response to their complaint, they have the option to escalate it for consideration by the independent regulator, Ofcom. The Framework Agreement requires Ofcom’s timely and effective handling of complaints referred on to it.
The forthcoming Charter Review will look at how the BBC can remain independent and accountable to the public it serves and continue to provide trusted and truthful news to combat an era of growing disinformation.
Asked by: Lord Inglewood (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Ofcom to ensure that all complaints regarding BBC productions are treated equally.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The principle of BBC First - where the BBC has the opportunity to try and resolve complaints about its content before consideration by Ofcom - was formalised by the BBC’s current Charter. The Framework Agreement then sets out considerations the BBC should take into account as part of its complaints procedures, including that complaints must be considered and resolved effectively.
If a complainant is not satisfied by the BBC’s initial response to their complaint, they have the option to escalate it for consideration by the independent regulator, Ofcom. The Framework Agreement requires Ofcom’s timely and effective handling of complaints referred on to it.
The forthcoming Charter Review will look at how the BBC can remain independent and accountable to the public it serves and continue to provide trusted and truthful news to combat an era of growing disinformation.
Asked by: Lord Inglewood (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for providing regular bus connections for passengers to Oxenholme and Penrith during the forthcoming diversion of the West Coast Main Line.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Avanti West Coast (AWC) has announced rail replacement bus services will be in operation for passengers wishing to travel to and from Lancaster, Oxenholme and Penrith during the January engineering works. Further details on this will be available on the AWC website soon.
The Department regularly discusses with AWC the provision of services for passengers, including during engineering works. The Department has not undertaken an assessment of AWCs proposed bus connections.
Asked by: Lord Inglewood (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people were employed by Historic England in (1) 2015, (2) 2020 and (3) 2025.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The average full time equivalent staff number employed by Historic England in (1) 2015/16 was 878, (2) 2019/20 was 828 and (3) 2024/25 was 982.
Asked by: Lord Inglewood (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of incorporating lessons learned from the recent US bombing of Iran in the planned design of the repositories for the long-term storage of high-level nuclear waste.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The geological disposal facility will isolate and secure radioactive waste against credible threats, in accordance with regulatory requirements. The design of the facility will incorporate international learning, to contain the waste in engineered vaults at a depth of hundreds of metres, so that no harmful quantity of radioactivity reaches the surface environment. The independent Office for Nuclear Regulation is responsible for assessing the safety and approving security arrangements for the facility, and for securing compliance with those arrangements once a nuclear site licence has been granted.
Asked by: Lord Inglewood (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the percentages of total delays on the West Coast Main Line caused by (1) mechanical failure, (2) infrastructure failure, and (3) staff problems.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) publishes data on train delays, which can be publicly accessed through their data portal. The ORR also reports the causes of these delays by operator. Given that multiple operators provide services on the West Coast Main Line, it is not possible to isolate the causes of delays occurring specifically on this route.
However, data on the delay causes for Avanti West Coast, the primary operator of intercity services on the West Coast Main Line, for the last 12 months for which data is available is set out in the attached document.
(1) Mechanical failure - 18% of Avanti West Coast delay minutes were attributed to ‘Fleet’, either the TOC’s own or that of another operator.
(2) Infrastructure failure - 64% of Avanti West Coast delay minutes were attributed to ‘Network Rail’ including track, and network Management.
(3) Staff Problems - 8% of Avanti West Coast delay minutes were attributed to ‘Traincrew’ either the TOC’s own or that of another operator.
Asked by: Lord Inglewood (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the percentage annual increase in construction costs in central London in each of the last ten years.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
The Government does not collect data on annual increases in construction costs at local level. At national level, ONS data shows that the overall cost of construction, which takes into account materials, labour and overheads, has increased by 24% between December 2019 and December 2024. In addition, data published by DBT show that the cost of construction materials has increased by 37.1% between January 2020 and January 2025. Construction wage rates correspond to activity in the sector. ONS statistics show that the annual growth for regular pay in the construction sector was 6.6% in the year to December 2024.
Asked by: Lord Inglewood (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Khan of Burnley on 4 March (HL Deb cols 62GC–68GC), what is their estimate of the total cost of the construction of the Holocaust memorial; on exactly what basis was that estimate calculated; when was that estimate calculated; by how much they expect that estimate to have changed since it was calculated; and whether that estimate includes running costs.
Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley
Forecast costs of £138.8m for completion of the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre were published on 28 June 2023 in a Written Ministerial Statement UIN HLWS875. Within that total figure, as the Statement makes clear, £91.3m relates to construction costs.
The construction and exhibition cost estimates, including inflation rates in those sectors, are based on advice from cost consultants Aecom (construction) and Greenways (exhibition). The forecast also includes programme staff and contractors, design and operational set-up costs and the cost of the planning inquiry.
A revised estimate of construction costs will be prepared following the receipt of tenders for the Main Works contract.
Operating costs, which will be incurred after the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre is built, are currently estimated to be between £6.5m and £8.5m per year.
Asked by: Lord Inglewood (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the current framework for Ofcom in promoting economic growth under (1) the general duties of Ofcom under section 3 of the Communications Act 2003, (2) its interpretation through the Government's statements of strategic priorities, and (3) the growth duty extended to Ofcom.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
Ofcom’s central duty is to further the interests of citizens and consumers, where appropriate by promoting competition, and having regard, amongst other things, to encouraging investment and innovation. Resultantly, Ofcom’s regulatory regime supports the drivers of economic growth in the markets they regulate, and the impact of this on these sectors can be seen, for example, in how the telecoms market has grown 25% in the last ten years.
The current statement of Strategic Priorities for Telecommunications, Spectrum Management and Postal Services was designated in 2019. The digital landscape and market conditions have changed significantly since then, and we are currently updating the Statement to respond to these changes and set out the Government’s key priorities for these sectors that support Government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.
Asked by: Lord Inglewood (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure the British Council will not sell its art collection.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The British Council's Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the British Council's financial sustainability.
The Government highly values the British Council as a UK soft power asset and is committed to working with the British Council to ensure its financial sustainability. The FCDO is exploring all options with the British Council and the Treasury to ensure this.