Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the Attorney General fast-tracked the prosecution of Lucy Connolly in August 2024; and what reference he made to the Code for Crown Prosecutors to support that decision.
Answered by Lord Hermer - Attorney General
There were a number of similar prosecutions at the time which were responded to in the same manner and timeline. Between 9 and 14 August, the AG responded to 14 other applications for consent in similar matters. 11 of those had a decision within 24 hours, a similar timescale to that in which consent to prosecute was granted in respect of Lucy Connolly.
Certain offences require Law Officer consent to prosecute, and inciting racial hatred is one such offence. The Attorney General provided consent to the DPP to prosecute for this case under the Public Order Act 1986.
When providing consent, the Law Officers must be satisfied that the evidential test and the public interest test of the Code for Crown Prosecutors are met. This case and all similar cases were considered by reference to the test in the usual way.
When applying for consent, the CPS will independently provide an indication of proposed timescales for consent to be in place, and wherever possible the AGO will work to those.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with London North Eastern Railway about the December 2025 timetable changes and its impact on the experience of passengers travelling to and from Peterborough and Kings Cross in the peak morning travel period.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department is aware of local concerns regarding Peterborough-London services in the morning peak, following the December 2025 timetable change. Following continued collaboration between the Department for Transport and LNER, and informed by passenger feedback, I am pleased to confirm that an additional LNER fast train to London Kings Cross will stop at Peterborough at 0743.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many British citizens or former British citizens who are (1) male, (2) female, and (3) minors under 18 years old, have been repatriated from (a) Al-Roj, and (2) Al-Hawl, detention camps in Syria to the UK in the past 12 months; and what were the grounds for those repatriations.
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 6 February 2025 in response to Question 27530, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
"Our priority remains to ensure the safety and security of the UK. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect the UK from those who pose a threat to our security.
"All requests for consular assistance from Syria are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant circumstances including, but not limited to, national security."
As a long-standing rule, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not comment on individual cases, or on the number or type of cases.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 16 December 2025 (HL12682), whether restrictions have been placed on the Prime Minister's chief of staff speaking to the media.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Noble Lord to my answer of 16 December 2025, Official Report, PQ HL12682.
PQ HL12682 Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to paragraph 3 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, published in September 2024, whether the Prime Minister's chief of staff has been authorised by the Prime Minister to represent the views of the Prime Minister to the media. HL12682
Cabinet Office response: All special advisers are bound by the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers sets out special advisers obligations with regards to the media.