Lord Turnberg Portrait

Lord Turnberg

Labour - Life peer

Became Member: 4th May 2000


1 APPG membership (as of 24 Jan 2024)
Medical Research
3 Former APPG memberships
Israel, Life Sciences, Rare, Genetic and Undiagnosed Conditions
Long-Term Sustainability of the NHS Committee
25th May 2016 - 5th Apr 2017
Works of Art Committee (Lords)
12th Jun 2014 - 31st Aug 2016
Mental Capacity Act 2005 Committee
16th May 2013 - 25th Feb 2014
Draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill (Joint Committee)
9th May 2007 - 8th Aug 2007
Draft Mental Health Bill (Joint Committee)
22nd Jul 2004 - 11th Jul 2005
Science and Technology Committee (Lords)
28th Jun 2001 - 7th May 2005
Committee on the Assisted Dying for the terminally ill Bill
30th Nov 2004 - 7th Apr 2005
Science and Technology: Sub-Committee I
26th Jun 2001 - 1st Dec 2004


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Lord Turnberg has voted in 295 divisions, and 2 times against the majority of their Party.

9 Feb 2022 - Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Turnberg voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Labour Aye votes vs 67 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 120 Noes - 230
16 Mar 2022 - Health and Care Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Turnberg voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 24 Labour No votes vs 51 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 145 Noes - 179
View All Lord Turnberg Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lord Markham (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
(30 debate interactions)
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative)
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(17 debate interactions)
Lord Kamall (Conservative)
(12 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Legislation Debates
Health and Care Act 2022
(755 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Lord Turnberg's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Turnberg, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Lord Turnberg has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Lord Turnberg has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 31 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
19th May 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the research into COVID-19 by the MIGAL Research Institute in Israel and the potential effectiveness of their orally-administered vaccine Migvax.

The Vaccines Taskforce is working with experts, as appointed by Kate Bingham as Chair, to assess the range of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates being developed around the world. As part of this assessment, Government will evaluate the MIGAL Research Institute’s orally-administered, viral vector-based vaccine.

Companies and research institutes are welcome to submit proposals to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) research calls. Government support is available to prioritise, coordinate and deliver studies which qualify as urgent public health research.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
6th Dec 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of antisemitic incidents in universities, and what steps they are taking in response to such incidents.

The department is deeply concerned about the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents and this government takes antisemitism extremely seriously. The department continues to liaise closely with Community Security Trust who provide regular updates on the number of antisemitic incidents reported in higher education (HE) since 7 October.

The Secretary of State and the Minister for Skills wrote to all schools, colleges and universities on 11 October, urging them to respond swiftly to hate-related incidents and actively reassure Jewish students that they can study without fear of harassment or intimidation. The Minister for Skills wrote again to Vice Chancellors on 16th November, further emphasising the use of disciplinary measures and the importance of police engagement, as well as the suspension of student visas where the student is a foreign national. This was one of the key actions set out in the five-point plan for tackling antisemitism in HE, which was published on 5 November. Details of the plan can be accessed at: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/11/05/how-were-protecting-jewish-students-on-university-campuses/.

A key element of the plan is the development and implementation of a Quality Seal, which is a framework of measures that will allow universities to demonstrate support for Jewish students and staff. The Quality Seal will be based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and will allow universities to demonstrate tangible evidence of its adoption and integration into their policies and practice.

​The department continues to remind providers of their obligations under the prevent duty, where they should be working to prevent people from being drawn into or supporting terrorism. There is an online ‘Reporting Extremism’ form where members of the public can raise concerns to the department directly. Where concerns have arisen, departmental officials have reached out to relevant providers to ensure that appropriate action has been taken, including reporting issues to the police where appropriate.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
10th Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of school books published by the Palestinian Authority containing incitement to hatred and violence.

The UK government is deeply concerned about allegations of incitement in the Palestinian Authority’s school textbooks. The UK secured EU agreement to lead an independent review of the textbooks which is underway. We expect interim findings by June 2020 and full findings later in the year.

The International Development Secretary reiterated our concerns in a call to the Palestinian Authority’s Education Minister just last month.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
6th Dec 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to combat antisemitism (1) in medical schools, and (2) amongst medical professionals.

We are deeply concerned about the rise in antisemitic incidents since 7 October 2023. That is why on 22 November 2023, the Chancellor announced in his Autumn Statement an additional £7 million over three years to tackle antisemitism in education.

​The Secretary of State for Education and the Minister for Skills wrote to all schools, colleges, and universities on 11 October 2023, urging them to respond swiftly to hate-related incidents and actively reassure Jewish students that they can study without fear of harassment or intimidation. The Minister for Skills wrote again to Vice Chancellors on 16 November 2023, further emphasising the use of disciplinary measures and the importance of police engagement, as well as the suspension of student visas where the student is a foreign national. This was one of the key actions in the five-point plan for tackling antisemitism in higher education, How we’re protecting Jewish students on university campuses, which was published on GOV.UK on 5 November 2023 in an online-only format.

On 3 November 2023, the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care wrote to healthcare regulators, including the General Medical Council (GMC), which is the independent regulator of all medical professionals practising in the United Kingdom, to emphasise that there can be no place in our healthcare professions for those espousing racism or extremism. The letter asked the regulators what action they are taking, in the context of a rise in incidents of an antisemitic nature and of individuals expressing support for proscribed terrorist organisations.

All doctors must meet the expected standards set out in Good medical practice, the GMC’s framework of professional standards. These standards make clear that all doctors must treat patients and colleagues fairly and without discrimination. The GMC has a zero-tolerance approach to racism. Failure to uphold and adhere to the principles within these standards and related guidance may put a doctor’s registration with the GMC at risk. A copy of these standards is attached.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
24th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether initial reports on performance metrics in social care have been received from local authorities, as was set out as a condition of funding in the White Paper Next Steps to Put People at the Heart of Care, published on 4 April.

The Government has now received initial reports from all local authorities in England, as part of the £1.4 billion Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund (MSIF) grant conditions.

In accordance with the guidance published in March 2023, local authorities can use MSIF flexibly to drive tangible improvements across a range of target areas, to best address local sustainability and improvement needs. These target areas are reducing adult social care waiting times, increasing adult social care workforce capacity and retention, and increasing fee rates paid to adult social care providers. Local authorities must evidence improvement in at least one of the target areas, using Departmental performance metrics provided in the guidance. Improvements will be assessed in local authorities’ final reports, which will be submitted to the Department in May 2024.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
24th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made towards the introduction of a care workforce pathway.

Our call for evidence to inform the development of a new Care Workforce Pathway for adult social care closed on 31 May 2023. We are currently analysing the responses and intend to publish the first part of the Pathway, focused on staff in direct care roles, in autumn 2023. We will work with the sector to implement the Pathway over the following months.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
24th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce a national registration of care workers and their qualifications.

There are no current plans to introduce a national register of care workers. As part of our reforms for the adult social care workforce we plan to introduce a verified record of qualifications and training for the care workforce. This will establish a foundation for registration of care workers in future.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
24th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the outcome of the national recruitment campaign for care workers, ‘Made with Care’.

Due to the fragmented nature of the adult social care sector and no centralised operational recruitment data tracking, it is not possible to assess the number of new adult social care workers expected to be recruited as a result of campaign activity.

However, to mitigate this, proxy measures have been developed to assess campaign impact, which include visits to the campaign website and searches for a job in adult social care during the campaign period.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
18th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many applications for social care have been waiting more than six months for their assessment to be concluded in each of the past five years.

The Department does not hold the data requested.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
18th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria social service departments use to assess the (1) need, and (2) means, of applicants for social care.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing individuals’ care and support needs and, where eligible, for meeting those needs. Where individuals do not meet the eligibility threshold, they can get support from their local authorities in making their own arrangements for care services, as set out in the Care Act 2014.

Eligible needs are those which relate to, for example, maintaining personal hygiene and nutrition, and maintaining and developing relationships, and which significantly impact on the adult’s wellbeing. Full details of the eligibility requirements can be found in The Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations 2014.

We do not currently hold data on how many applications for social care have been assessed for need. Through a new data collection, Client Level Data, we are beginning to collect event-level information from local authorities on adult social care activity. This will include records of assessment of eligible needs and the funding status of local authority-commissioned services.

To assess means, local authorities must follow The Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014 and have regard to the Care and Support Statutory (CASS) guidance. The responsibility for interpreting and applying the Regulations and the CASS guidance rests with local authorities.

Whether or not a person qualifies for any financial support towards their care costs depends on their capital assets as follows: anyone who has above the upper capital limit of £23,250 is expected to meet the full cost of their care; anyone who has below the lower capital limit of £14,250 pays what they can afford from income only; and anyone between the above two limits pays what they can afford from income plus a contribution from their assets.

A means-tested contribution from assets is determined by tariff income, which assumes that a person can afford to pay £1 per week for every £250 of assets between the limits. In 2021/22 there were almost 1,978,550 requests for support from new clients received by local authorities. Data on the funding of means testing done in the past 10 years is not held centrally.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
18th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many applications for social care have been assessed for need and have been funded after having been means tested in each of the past 10 years.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing individuals’ care and support needs and, where eligible, for meeting those needs. Where individuals do not meet the eligibility threshold, they can get support from their local authorities in making their own arrangements for care services, as set out in the Care Act 2014.

Eligible needs are those which relate to, for example, maintaining personal hygiene and nutrition, and maintaining and developing relationships, and which significantly impact on the adult’s wellbeing. Full details of the eligibility requirements can be found in The Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations 2014.

We do not currently hold data on how many applications for social care have been assessed for need. Through a new data collection, Client Level Data, we are beginning to collect event-level information from local authorities on adult social care activity. This will include records of assessment of eligible needs and the funding status of local authority-commissioned services.

To assess means, local authorities must follow The Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014 and have regard to the Care and Support Statutory (CASS) guidance. The responsibility for interpreting and applying the Regulations and the CASS guidance rests with local authorities.

Whether or not a person qualifies for any financial support towards their care costs depends on their capital assets as follows: anyone who has above the upper capital limit of £23,250 is expected to meet the full cost of their care; anyone who has below the lower capital limit of £14,250 pays what they can afford from income only; and anyone between the above two limits pays what they can afford from income plus a contribution from their assets.

A means-tested contribution from assets is determined by tariff income, which assumes that a person can afford to pay £1 per week for every £250 of assets between the limits. In 2021/22 there were almost 1,978,550 requests for support from new clients received by local authorities. Data on the funding of means testing done in the past 10 years is not held centrally.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
13th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the extent of abuse of NHS staff.

We do not currently have a national mechanism to capture and report incidents of violence and aggression in the National Health Service. Data is held at a local level.

At a national level, data on self-reported violent incidents is gathered through the NHS Staff Survey. Results from the 2022 NHS Staff Survey indicated that 14.7% of NHS staff have self-reported that they have experienced at least one incident of physical violence from patients, service users, relatives or other members of the public in the last 12 months.

27.8% of NHS staff who completed the NHS Staff Survey experienced at least one incident of harassment, bullying or abuse in the last 12 months from patients or service users, their relatives or members of the public. This figure is similar to previous years’ NHS Staff Survey data.

NHS England has commissioned a number of data insight workstreams to better understand the current landscape of statistics, data reporting and associated challenges. This includes a national review of all available data and intelligence sources, an analysis of the costs of violence to the health care system in England and a review of the impact on the safety and wellbeing of NHS staff.

The Ministry of Justice collects data on prosecution, conviction and sentences for the offence of assault on an emergency worker, although it does not identify the type of emergency worker. This data is available in the Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly and the Outcomes of Offence Tool and Offence Group Classification: Criminal Justice System Statistics Quarterly: December 2022, a copy of which is attached.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
13th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government how many incidents of abuse of NHS staff have resulted in criminal prosecution in each of the last 10 years.

We do not currently have a national mechanism to capture and report incidents of violence and aggression in the National Health Service. Data is held at a local level.

At a national level, data on self-reported violent incidents is gathered through the NHS Staff Survey. Results from the 2022 NHS Staff Survey indicated that 14.7% of NHS staff have self-reported that they have experienced at least one incident of physical violence from patients, service users, relatives or other members of the public in the last 12 months.

27.8% of NHS staff who completed the NHS Staff Survey experienced at least one incident of harassment, bullying or abuse in the last 12 months from patients or service users, their relatives or members of the public. This figure is similar to previous years’ NHS Staff Survey data.

NHS England has commissioned a number of data insight workstreams to better understand the current landscape of statistics, data reporting and associated challenges. This includes a national review of all available data and intelligence sources, an analysis of the costs of violence to the health care system in England and a review of the impact on the safety and wellbeing of NHS staff.

The Ministry of Justice collects data on prosecution, conviction and sentences for the offence of assault on an emergency worker, although it does not identify the type of emergency worker. This data is available in the Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly and the Outcomes of Offence Tool and Offence Group Classification: Criminal Justice System Statistics Quarterly: December 2022, a copy of which is attached.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
13th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to combat the abuse of NHS staff.

Everyone working in the National Health Service had a fundamental right to be safe at work. NHS England’s NHS Violence Reduction Programme aims to prevent and reduce violence and aggression from patients, their families and the public, and mitigate the effects of violence and abuse on NHS staff.

A key part of this has been the creation of Violence Prevention and Reduction Standards, which help NHS organisations assess their arrangements for managing the risk of violence towards staff. Work is underway with integrated care systems to improve system working and skill mix training in tackling violence, embedding a longer term, preventative approach in line with the World Health Organization and Home Office guidance.

NHS England has invested £8.4 million into the ambulance service sector to explore the efficacy of body worn cameras in reducing violence and abuse. All ambulance trusts are now trialling the cameras and an independent evaluation is underway with a final report expected at the end of the 2024. In addition, NHS England have been working with the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, to produce a national communications campaign in response to the rising levels of aggression, verbal and physical assaults against NHS ambulance staff.

The Government legislated last year through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act to double the sentence for assaults on emergency workers to a maximum of two years.

Lord Markham
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
10th Mar 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the changing costs of medical litigation; and what steps they are taking to address such costs.

In 2017 the National Audit confirmed that developments in the legal market are amongst the biggest factors influencing costs, rather than any detectable decline in patient safety.

The Department is working with the Ministry of Justice, other Government departments and NHS Resolution, to address this issue. The Government will publish a consultation on the next steps in 2021.

20th Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend COVID-19 antigen testing to the entire population.

Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can get a free test and must get tested as soon as their symptoms develop. The swab test takes less than a minute, is pain free and results from test sites are received within a day of the test being administered.

The Government has put in place the largest network of diagnostic testing facilities created in British history. The programme achieved the capacity to deliver 100,000 tests a day by 30 April, 200,000 tests a day by 30 May and is now capable of delivering more than 300,000 tests a day. We are committed to increasing this capacity to 500,000 by the end of October.

20th Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports of limited home testing for COVID-19, what plans they have to simplify the requirements involved in taking a test.

Everyone with symptoms of COVID-19 is eligible for a test, but we know that certain groups or individuals may find access more difficult or be less likely to want to access a test or feel unable to self-isolate. This could be for a combination of reasons, from capability through to personal circumstance.

We are working on a number of policies to address these barriers, such as:

- the NHS 119 call centre uses the Language Line interpreter service and staff are trained to manage language barriers, including through use of this service;

- we have opened new ‘walk in’ local testing centres to make it easier for people without cars to get a test; and

- we are also conducting a targeted evaluation of asymptomatic workers in several high contact professions. In a number of these occupations such as taxi drivers, cleaners and retail assistants, there is high representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. This evaluation is intended to help us learn more about who may be at higher risk from COVID-19 and how to help keep people in professions that come into greater contact with others safe.

We have also created a home testing programme that provides access to testing to anyone, anywhere in the United Kingdom. We are continuously improving the service so that testing is accessible to all. This includes working with a diverse range of organisations to help us making home as easy to access and as user friendly as possible. For example, we are currently working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People to make home testing services more accessible for the visually impaired.

8th Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the proposed White Paper on social care will include greater support for the care home work force than has previously been available.

The Government has put in place increased support for the social care workforce, including funding to support those needing to isolate, wellbeing assistance and initiatives to attract more people to social care roles. We will continue to review this support as we develop long-term plans for supporting our vital social care workforce.

The Government’s priority for adult social care is for everyone who relies on care to get the care they need throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are committed to bringing forward a plan for social care to ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect and to find long term solutions for one of the biggest challenges we face as a society. There are complex questions to address and it is important that we give these issues our full consideration in the light of current circumstances.

8th Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the proposed White Paper on social care will address the case for social care to be closely integrated with the NHS, as has been achieved in some areas like Salford.

Promoting integrated care is a priority for the Government and the recent NHS Long Term Plan highlighted integration of services as a key aim - making sure that everyone can receive high quality care that is coordinated around their individual needs.

Putting social care on a sustainable footing, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, is one of the biggest challenges that our society faces. There are complex questions to address, to which we want to give our full considerations in light of the current circumstances.

12th Oct 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase collaboration with Israel with regard to (1) medical devices, (2) remote care, and (3) cutting-edge medical technology, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The British Embassy in Israel has brought together numerous UK/Israel expertise exchanges covering vaccine development, testing and surveillance. Both sides continue to look to one another as new science developments are made. We have distributed widely to UK colleagues a brochure outlining many Israeli technologies and R&D projects related to COVID-19, of which several have already been followed up by both NHS England and NHSx.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage the United Nations to renew the sanctions on Iran when they are due for review in October.

The UK remains committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), a reciprocal deal that lifts sanctions in exchange for tough nuclear limits. Iran has broken the nuclear limits in the JCPoA and we are working to bring Iran back into compliance through the deal's Dispute Resolution Mechanism.

UNSCR 2231, which underpins the JCPoA, includes a number of clauses designed to allow sanctions to expire on fixed dates: the UN travel ban and the UN conventional arms embargo are due to expire in October 2020. E3 Foreign Ministers made clear on 19 June that the planned expiry of the UN conventional arms embargo would have major implications for regional security and stability. We share concerns about Iranian proliferation, and have repeatedly set out concerns about Iranian destabilising behaviour. We are working closely with remaining JCPoA parties to address these issues, as well as with other members of the UN Security Council.

There are also other sanctions regimes which restrict Iranian ability to proliferate weapons in the region that will remain in place after the arms embargo expire. These include UNSCRs 1540, 1701 and 2216, which prohibit the proliferation of weapons to Lebanese Hizballah and the Houthis. The EU arms embargo and UN ballistic missile restrictions on Iran will also remain in place until 2023. There is an independent EU Iran human rights sanctions regime, which places trade restrictions on specified goods and technology which may be used to repress the civilian population of Iran and on specified goods and technology which may be used for interception and monitoring services in Iran. These EU trade restrictions do not have an expiry date.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
5th May 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, or plan to have, with the government of Turkey about providing personal protective equipment to refugee camps on the Turkish-Syrian border.

We are speaking regularly to Turkey about our shared concerns relating to the significant risks posed by COVID-19 in Syria, including in camps for internally displaced persons. We are supporting our UN and NGO partners to lead the response in camps and across Syria. This support includes personal protective equipment for health workers, as well as provision of IPC (infection prevention and control) supplies, cleaning supplies and hand sanitiser. This is part of the UK's global efforts to combat the outbreak of COVID-19 and help the most vulnerable. This includes a global contribution of £65 million to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

5th May 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on 22 April, condemning the execution of two prisoners under the age of 18 by the Iranian authorities.

We are deeply concerned by the reports of the executions of these two juvenile offenders. In her statement, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, stated these executions are prohibited under international human rights law and has violated the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Iran had signed up to. It remains a long-standing policy of the United Kingdom to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. The UK regularly raises human rights with the Iranian authorities at all levels and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
11th Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Iran about the reported detention without trial of (1) Nabi Tardust, (2) Ramtin Movaseghi, (3) Ashkan Valizadeh, and (4) Milad Ghorban Nezhad.

We are aware of reports that a number of university students were arrested by Iranian security forces and detained without trial during the protests in January over the Iranian military's shooting down of a Ukrainian plane. We unreservedly support the right to peaceful protest and call on Iran to uphold its commitments under international law to protect freedom of assembly and speech, and treat all detainees in line with international standards. The UK regularly raises human rights with the Iranian authorities at all levels and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues and to guarantee procedural fairness in legal cases, including most recently at the UN Human Rights Council in March this year.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
24th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the launch of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce.

The Older People’s Housing Taskforce launched on 16th May. The independent Taskforce, led by Professor Julienne Meyer, is looking at how the country can provide greater choice of housing for older people, and will report to Government within around 12 months. The panel of 19 Taskforce members was announced at the inaugural meeting, with a spread of expertise across the retirement housing sector including providers, academia, social care, local authority leaders and property investment.

Since the launch, the Taskforce has been meeting on a regular basis to progress its work. On 24th July, the Taskforce launched a Call for Evidence, which is open until 18th September for representations from the sector.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
5th Sep 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they plan to offer Ukrainian refugees housed with British families when the initial six month period of the Homes for Ukraine scheme ends.

As we move towards the next phase of the programme, we have set out options and support available to sponsors and guests that are coming to the end of their initial six-month sponsorship. Updated guidance is published on gov.uk for sponsors, guests, and local councils. This includes information on rematching, and helping guests to live independently by providing guidance on the UK housing market, support in developing necessary language skills and finding jobs.

The guidance for the Homes for Ukraine guests, hosts and councils setting out all the support options available to them can be accessed (attached) here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils#four-to-6-months-after-guests-have-moved-to-your-area

22nd Feb 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Fair Funding Review on the budgets of local authorities with high levels of deprivation; and what estimate they have made of the expected average change to the annual budgets of local authorities with high levels of deprivation following the implementation of the Fair Funding Review.

The Government announced in April that it would not proceed with the implementation of the Review of Relative Needs and Resources, and wider local government finance reform, in 2021-22. This decision was taken in the interest of creating stability for local authorities and has allowed both government and councils to focus on meeting the immediate public health challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pressures of the pandemic recede, we will work with local government to understand the lasting impact it has had on both service demands and revenue raising. We will then revisit priorities for reform of the local government finance system, taking account of wider work on the future of business rates and Adult Social Care. No decisions have been taken from which to make assessments of how individual local authorities will be affected, and any final decisions will be taken in the context of this year’s Spending Review.

22nd Feb 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Durham County Council may lose up to £14 million in its annual budget following the implementation of the Fair Funding Review.

The Government announced in April that it would not proceed with the implementation of the Review of Relative Needs and Resources, and wider local government finance reform, in 2021-22. This decision was taken in the interest of creating stability for local authorities and has allowed both government and councils to focus on meeting the immediate public health challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pressures of the pandemic recede, we will work with local government to understand the lasting impact it has had on both service demands and revenue raising. We will then revisit priorities for reform of the local government finance system, taking account of wider work on the future of business rates and Adult Social Care. No decisions have been taken from which to make assessments of how individual local authorities will be affected, and any final decisions will be taken in the context of this year’s Spending Review.

12th Oct 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Covid Recovery Commission Paper One: Levelling up communities, published on 11 October; and what metrics they have developed to judge the success of their ‘levelling-up’ agenda.

The Government is focusing on levelling up economic opportunity across the whole of the United Kingdom and considers a wide range of evidence in developing levelling up policy. The Spending Review will agree priority outcomes and metrics with departments which will be published. Strong local leadership is a key pillar of our levelling up agenda, and the English Devolution and Local Recovery White Paper will set out our plans for further devolution in England in due course.