Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to UK citizens travelling to Benue State in Nigeria.

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

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 3 November to Question 85661, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

Nigeria is witnessing rising conflict and insecurity, including violent extremism and intercommunal violence. Violence in Nigeria's North-East is driven by terrorist groups including Boko Haram, who target all those who do not subscribe to their extremist views. These attacks are distinct from the intercommunal violence across Nigeria's Middle Belt. The UK Government is committed to supporting Nigeria to address these challenges by working with Nigeria's security forces, and through peacebuilding efforts to tackle the root causes of violence. Through our UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we are supporting Nigeria to tackle insecurity and promote human rights. This includes facilitating civil-military cooperation within North-East communities and utilising UK experience to strengthen the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). Additionally, the UK's Strengthening Peace and Resilience programme ('SPRING') works to address the root causes of intercommunal violence across Nigeria's Middle Belt, through collaboration with local communities to support productive livelihoods for both farmers and pastoralists.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recent attacks by militant groups on Christians in Benue State in Nigeria.

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

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 3 November to Question 85661, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

Nigeria is witnessing rising conflict and insecurity, including violent extremism and intercommunal violence. Violence in Nigeria's North-East is driven by terrorist groups including Boko Haram, who target all those who do not subscribe to their extremist views. These attacks are distinct from the intercommunal violence across Nigeria's Middle Belt. The UK Government is committed to supporting Nigeria to address these challenges by working with Nigeria's security forces, and through peacebuilding efforts to tackle the root causes of violence. Through our UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we are supporting Nigeria to tackle insecurity and promote human rights. This includes facilitating civil-military cooperation within North-East communities and utilising UK experience to strengthen the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). Additionally, the UK's Strengthening Peace and Resilience programme ('SPRING') works to address the root causes of intercommunal violence across Nigeria's Middle Belt, through collaboration with local communities to support productive livelihoods for both farmers and pastoralists.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether bikes with different forms of power assistance used by food delivery drivers on roads and pathways are required to carry front and rear lights.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 specify that cycles, must be fitted with a red rear reflector and amber pedal reflectors. The Highway Code, which incorporates the requirements of these Regulations, clarifies in Rule 60 that cycles must have white front and red rear lights lit when being ridden at night. These requirements apply to all cycles, as well as e-cycles which comply with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983, and are thereby applicable to all cyclists, including delivery riders.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for creating a statutory requirement that all patients who consider assisted dying have timely access to palliative and hospice care through the NHS.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is, first and foremost, a matter for Parliament. This is a Private Member’s Bill, and we cannot pre‑suppose the outcome of the legislative process.

Irrespective of whether the law changes on assisted dying, we must continue to work towards creating a society where every person who needs it receives high-quality, compassionate palliative care and end of life care.

The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework for England. I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement HLWS1086, which I gave to the House on 24 November 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recent reports of kidnappings of Christians, including a Baptist minister and Catholic priests, in Cameroon and Nigeria.

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

The UK strongly condemns the kidnappings affecting Christian communities in both Cameroon and Nigeria, including schools and churches. Everyone should be safe to exercise their fundamental human rights to education and freedom of worship. The UK is continuing to work with both countries to tackle kidnapping and address the root causes of violence.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of the Valuation Office Agency's automated valuation model to carry out the work needed to the requisite level of accuracy in time for the introduction of the high value council tax surcharge.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Valuation Office Agency are developing their approach to the targeted revaluation and will set out more details in due course, following the outcome of the Government's consultation.

When valuing domestic properties, the VOA uses modern technology and industry standard techniques combined with freely available information including sales data, property attribute details and government records.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of flood defences in York.

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

Since 2016, the Environment Agency has invested £125 million of government funding on a major upgrade of the engineered defences through York, including walls and flood gates and improvements to the Foss Barrier and pumping station. The defences are designed to protect properties from a flood with a 1% probability of happening in any given year, allowing for the effects of climate change until 2039. Further climate change predictions indicate upper catchment flood alleviation measures will be required to offer York the same standard of protection past 2039.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government by what date they estimate the army will have "increased lethality ten-fold", as called for in the Strategic Defence Review.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given by the Minister for the Armed forces to Question 79389 on 17 October 2025 in the House of Commons, which remains extant in that the Army ​will deliver a tenfold increase in lethality by 2035.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the army's ability to carry out large-scale land exercises.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Army is confident in its ability to deliver large-scale land exercises and remains committed to the continuous improvement and development of its capabilities.

The scale and complexity of training exercises are being increased, including a transition from single battlegroup exercises to brigade level events. These exercises incorporate both live and virtual elements, ensuring integrated training that enhances operational readiness.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) availability, and (2) fighting capability, of the army's armoured vehicles.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Army continually assesses capabilities to ensure we can meet NATO and wider operational requirements. The Army's capability and modernisation are driven by the Strategic Defence Review's direction to move to warfighting readiness, developing an Army that is more lethal, agile, and a globally engaged integrated force. This includes the aim to deliver a modernised, lethal division by 2030, capable of operating in complex environments.

Found: I do not think Lord Patten would have had any expectation that we would be having these conversations