Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria will be used when appointing members to the dementia council referred to in the job description of the National Dementia Tsar; and when the first meeting of that council is expected to take place.

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

Further details of the Dementia Council will be set out in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what additional support is being given to the Home Office by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in processing asylum claims by Chagossians fleeing Mauritius as a result of the current civil unrest.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As of 19 October, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not received any requests for consular assistance and is not aware of any British nationals directly impacted by the recent unrest in Mauritius. British nationals who need consular assistance can contact the FCDO at any time.

The British High Commission Port Louis has been engaging with local authorities and monitoring the situation closely, including for any potential impact on British nationals and local communities. We have updated our travel advice and advised British nationals, which includes any British Chagossians, to avoid large gatherings, observe curfews, and follow local-authority instructions. More widely, we remain in close and regular contact with a range of Chagossian groups in Mauritius.

Chagossians are eligible to apply for UK citizenship under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. There should be no need for Chagossians residing in Mauritius to claim asylum. Information on how to apply for UK citizenship is available on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which Chagossian contact groups they are consulting for support and liaison as a result of the civil unrest in Mauritius.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As of 19 October, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not received any requests for consular assistance and is not aware of any British nationals directly impacted by the recent unrest in Mauritius. British nationals who need consular assistance can contact the FCDO at any time.

The British High Commission Port Louis has been engaging with local authorities and monitoring the situation closely, including for any potential impact on British nationals and local communities. We have updated our travel advice and advised British nationals, which includes any British Chagossians, to avoid large gatherings, observe curfews, and follow local-authority instructions. More widely, we remain in close and regular contact with a range of Chagossian groups in Mauritius.

Chagossians are eligible to apply for UK citizenship under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. There should be no need for Chagossians residing in Mauritius to claim asylum. Information on how to apply for UK citizenship is available on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether any British citizens have been directly impacted by the current civil unrest in Mauritius.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As of 19 October, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not received any requests for consular assistance and is not aware of any British nationals directly impacted by the recent unrest in Mauritius. British nationals who need consular assistance can contact the FCDO at any time.

The British High Commission Port Louis has been engaging with local authorities and monitoring the situation closely, including for any potential impact on British nationals and local communities. We have updated our travel advice and advised British nationals, which includes any British Chagossians, to avoid large gatherings, observe curfews, and follow local-authority instructions. More widely, we remain in close and regular contact with a range of Chagossian groups in Mauritius.

Chagossians are eligible to apply for UK citizenship under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. There should be no need for Chagossians residing in Mauritius to claim asylum. Information on how to apply for UK citizenship is available on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they are protecting Chagossians in light of the civil unrest in Mauritius.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As of 19 October, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not received any requests for consular assistance and is not aware of any British nationals directly impacted by the recent unrest in Mauritius. British nationals who need consular assistance can contact the FCDO at any time.

The British High Commission Port Louis has been engaging with local authorities and monitoring the situation closely, including for any potential impact on British nationals and local communities. We have updated our travel advice and advised British nationals, which includes any British Chagossians, to avoid large gatherings, observe curfews, and follow local-authority instructions. More widely, we remain in close and regular contact with a range of Chagossian groups in Mauritius.

Chagossians are eligible to apply for UK citizenship under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. There should be no need for Chagossians residing in Mauritius to claim asylum. Information on how to apply for UK citizenship is available on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that local authorities procure UK-manufactured buses.

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

While the Government cannot mandate the purchase of UK-built buses, at the final UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel in March 2026, Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) agreed to commit that a 10% minimum of social value criteria would apply in all future bus procurement exercises.

This means that when procuring buses, MCAs will consider the positive impact a manufacturer has on our society, the environment, and on the local community as part of their decision-making process.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made, alongside the government of the Republic of Ireland, in implementing their commitments under the Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles since it was agreed in September 2025.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

This Government, and our Irish counterparts, remain committed to the Joint Framework.

Through the progression of the Troubles Bill, the UK Government continues to make progress on our pledges within the Joint Framework. The Bill has now started passage in the House of Lords.

On 9 June, the Irish Government published their General Scheme of the Legacy of the Troubles Bill 2026. This scheme sets out how the Irish Government will legislate to implement its commitments in the Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles agreed with the UK Government last September. Alongside this, the new Legacy unit is now established within An Garda Síochána. This is an important step in obtaining answers for the many families who will benefit from this cross-border cooperation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 2026 Annual Report that 64 Jehovah's Witnesses remain detained in Eritrea; and what representation they have made to the government of Eritrea on the release of Jehovah's Witnesses detained for their religious activity or conscientious objection to military service.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK regularly raises concerns about arbitrary arrests and detentions based on religion or belief. We have raised this case directly with the government of Eritrea and at the UN Human Rights Council. The UK also supports the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea, voting in favour of his mandate renewal in July 2026.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are considering a phased reopening of the UK Biobank research analysis platform to prioritise researchers with fixed funding and submission deadlines.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is working closely with UK Biobank to ensure that the Research Analysis Platform can securely reopen. Work required to secure the platform has been completed and health data providers will review an independent security assessment before agreeing to make their data available again. UK Biobank is planning a phased reopening of the Platform. Access will only be granted to researchers and institutes that are fully compliant in their obligations for mandatory training, annual reports, and data deletion for projects that have ended.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government when UK Biobank and health data providers will reopen access, at least on a phased and limited basis, to the UK Biobank research analysis platform.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is working closely with UK Biobank to ensure that the Research Analysis Platform can securely reopen. Work required to secure the platform has been completed and health data providers will review an independent security assessment before agreeing to make their data available again. UK Biobank is planning a phased reopening of the Platform. Access will only be granted to researchers and institutes that are fully compliant in their obligations for mandatory training, annual reports, and data deletion for projects that have ended.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards completing the security review of the UK Biobank research analysis platform.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is working closely with UK Biobank to ensure that the Research Analysis Platform can securely reopen. Work required to secure the platform has been completed and health data providers will review an independent security assessment before agreeing to make their data available again. UK Biobank is planning a phased reopening of the Platform. Access will only be granted to researchers and institutes that are fully compliant in their obligations for mandatory training, annual reports, and data deletion for projects that have ended.

Found: BARONESS RITCHIE OF DOWNPATRICK LORD WEIR OF BALLYHOLME 279H_ After Clause 84, insert the following

Found: Health Bill 4 BARONESS RITCHIE OF DOWNPATRICK LORD WEIR OF BALLYHOLME _ After Clause 84, insert the