Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to appoint a veterans' commissioner for England to work alongside (1) the Veterans' Commissioners for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and (2) the Armed Forces Commissioner who is expected to be appointed in 2026.

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

I refer the noble Lord to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Veterans and People in the House of Commons on 23 February 2025 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) in response to Question 35837.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what commemorative (1) days, (2) weeks, and (3) months, are recognised by (a) the Department of Health and Social Care, and (b) NHS England, as significant for diversity and inclusion, excluding religious holidays.

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

The Department does not hold an official list of approved commemorative days, weeks, or months. We follow direction from Cabinet Office on important national days to be marked across the Civil Service. All other commemorative days, weeks, or months are considered on a case- by-case basis in discussion with our staff networks and senior sponsors. Efforts are made to align any commemorative events to departmental priorities, and to include a health and social care angle to broaden the reach of the activity and deepen departmental understanding of how we are making a difference in our communities. Examples of commemorative events the Department has marked to date include Holocaust Memorial Day, Mental Health Awareness Week, Veterans Day, Pride Month, Black History Month, Cancer Awareness Days, Carers Day, and Social Mobility Day.

The Department will continue to be led by Cabinet Office steers and by the recommendations of our staff networks and leadership, and will try and leverage commemoration days to deepen our organisational knowledge of health and care issues and the communities we serve.

NHS England acknowledges a range of significant commemorative days and events that align with their organisational priorities and help them fulfil their Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. While they engage with a broad spectrum of important health awareness and equality-related events, there is no formalised schedule or overarching programme in place.

Some of the commemorative days and events NHS England has recognised to date include VE Day, Mental Health Awareness Week, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, International Women’s Day, Bowel Cancer Awareness Day, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day, Black History Month, International Nurses Day, and Holocaust Memorial Day.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps Arts Council England is taking to protect (1) free speech within the law, and (2) the expression of gender-critical beliefs, in relation to (a) views expressed by staff within the organisation and (b) the awarding of grants.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Arts Council England (ACE) supports freedom of speech within the limits of the law and recognises the expression of different beliefs - including gender-critical views - as protected under the Equality Act 2010. ACE staff receive training on these matters and are guided by their Dignity at Work policy.

All ACE staff are expected to uphold the Nolan principles, including objectivity, which requires public officials to make decisions fairly, impartially, and based on the best available evidence, free from discrimination or bias. ACE also supports the rights of artists and cultural organisations to express themselves freely, including through work that is challenging, provocative, or political. ACE has published guidance aimed at supporting cultural organisations in managing complex situations that might arise from presenting challenging work, which is available on their website.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with StandWithUs UK about taking action to combat antisemitism on university campuses.

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.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with StandWithUs UK about the report Voice of Students 2024/25, published on 7 May.

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.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the scale of antisemitic activity and incidents on university campuses.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

Since the terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023, there has been an unprecedented increase in antisemitic incidents on university campuses.

The Community Security Trust report ‘Campus Antisemitism in Britain 2022-2024', published on 9 December 2024, states that in the two academic years 2022/2024, 325 university-related antisemitic incidents were recorded: 53 incidents in 2022/23 and 272 incidents in 2023/24. This is a 117% increase from the 150 incidents recorded between academic years 2020/2022.

Within the period covered by the report, there was an increase of 413% from academic year 2022/23 to academic year 2023/24, which clearly demonstrates the impact of the 7 October attacks.

Officials and Ministers continue to liaise closely with Universities UK and with key Jewish Community stakeholders, including the Community Security Trust and the Union of Jewish Students, to remain appraised of issues and how they are being handled by universities.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education will soon host a roundtable with Vice Chancellors to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Found: Baroness Sal Brinton, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, Lord Shinkwin, and Lord Blunkett Oral Evidence