Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are considering revising the implementation timetable of the Employment Rights Bill.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There will be several phases of delivery following Royal Assent of the Employment Rights Bill. For many measures, Government will consult on the detail of policy and implementation. As set out in the Implementation Roadmap, we will provide more detail on these policies and our timelines for implementation following consultation, with a clear commitment that we aim to work at pace to deliver these tangible benefits to millions of working people.
Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to ensure parity of treatment between metal recyclers and steel producers in relation to energy pricing and the proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has recently published a consultation on eligibility for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme which, from 2027, will lower electricity prices for businesses in manufacturing frontier industries and foundational industries in their supply chains. Support is also available through the British Industry Supercharger and the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme.
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will ensure that highly traded, carbon-intensive imported goods face a comparable carbon price to UK-produced equivalents. Imported scrap products, including those from aluminium, iron and steel, will remain outside CBAM scope due to their low carbon leakage risk.
Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to maintain the domestic metal-recycling base to secure the feedstock required for a decarbonised steel industry, and to reduce reliance on imported virgin materials.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government recognises the importance of a circular economy and the need for domestic supply of scrap to meet demand, whilst also ensuring the market remains fair and beneficial for all stakeholders. We are actively listening to the perspectives of all involved parties.
Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish quarterly labour market transition-flow data showing movements between inactivity, employment, and unemployment.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Quarterly labour market transition flow data is published by ONS in table X02: Labour Force Survey flows estimates - Office for National Statistics.
The Get Britain Working: Labour Market Insights October 2025 publication included the release of a series of data tables showing from January 2019 to May 2025 movements between different Universal Credit conditionality regimes each month and UC searching for work into work rates.
Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the statement by Baroness Sherlock in the Chamber on 13 November that they will "create a guaranteed job" for eligible young people on Universal Credit for more than 18 months, how they define "guaranteed job"; who will provide it; and whether this means that every eligible young person will be provided with such a job in all circumstances.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has announced that every eligible young person who has been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning will be offered guaranteed paid work. Participants of the scheme will receive support to take advantage of available opportunities, with the aim of helping them transition into regular employment.
The scheme forms part of the government’s aim to provide targeted support for young people at risk of long-term unemployment. Further details, including eligibility criteria and the structure of placements, will be confirmed at the Autumn Budget.
Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the correlation between employment levels and economic activity over the past year.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Employment measures the number of people in paid work or who had a job that they were temporarily away from. GDP is a measure of economic activity and measures the size and growth of the economy over a given period.
Real GDP (GDP adjusted for inflation) has grown by 1.3% across the past year (Q3 2024 - Q3 2025). In Q3 2025 the 16+ employment level rose from 33.8 million in Q3 2024 to 34.2 million in Q3 2025, based on data from the Labour Force Survey.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) continue to advise caution when interpreting changes in the Labour Force Survey over the past two years due to the effects of methodological changes.
Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the Annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals, Great Britain 2024, published on 23 October, which included 250 procedures reported as the forced swim test, what steps they are taking to end the use of this test.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As of March 2024, the Home Office no longer grants project licences for use of the FST as a model of depression. This position is in line with recommendations from a report on the Forced Swim Test by the independent Animals in Science Committee ASC),
The Home Office Regulator has reviewed all licences authorising the use of the Forced Swim Test (FST) under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The number of project licences that authorises the FST in Great Britain has decreased from nine to a current total of only three licences. All of these licences are due to expire by 2028.
Taking into account the ASC’s recommendations, the FST does potentially have some use in narrowly defined research contexts where there are no non-animal alternatives currently available: screening for antidepressant efficacy and studying the neurobiology of stress. The Home Office will only authorise testing in these specific circumstances and where there is robust, legitimate scientific justification.
Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to set a timeline for phasing out the use of the forced swim test in their strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of non-animal methods.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As of March 2024, the Home Office no longer grants project licences for use of the FST as a model of depression. This position is in line with recommendations from a report on the Forced Swim Test by the independent Animals in Science Committee ASC),
The Home Office Regulator has reviewed all licences authorising the use of the Forced Swim Test (FST) under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The number of project licences that authorises the FST in Great Britain has decreased from nine to a current total of only three licences. All of these licences are due to expire by 2028.
Taking into account the ASC’s recommendations, the FST does potentially have some use in narrowly defined research contexts where there are no non-animal alternatives currently available: screening for antidepressant efficacy and studying the neurobiology of stress. The Home Office will only authorise testing in these specific circumstances and where there is robust, legitimate scientific justification.
Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the exportation of scrap steel as part of their forthcoming Steel Strategy.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Steel Strategy will articulate what is needed to create a competitive business environment in the UK with the aim of attracting new private investment to secure and expand UK steelmaking capability and capacity which is aligned with our Net Zero goals.
The UK’s abundant scrap supply offers domestic steelmaking a strategic advantage, and will feature in the Strategy. Unfortunately, we cannot comment further ahead of publication later this year, but we can say that the Steel Strategy will set out a long-term vision for a bright and sustainable steel sector in the UK and the actions needed to get there.
Asked by: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish their funding plan for the implementation of the Fair Work Agency.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Department has received its funding allocation as part of the most recent Spending Review. Detailed funding arrangements for the implementation of the Fair Work Agency are currently being worked through.
This government is committed to ensuring that the Fair Work Agency is fully resourced and well equipped to do its job. Further information on funding plans will be published in due course