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Written Question
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Migrant Workers
Friday 13th February 2026

Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many civil servants are employed through Skilled Worker visas in (1) the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (2) Natural England, and (3) Environment Agency.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra does not employ any civil servants through Skilled Worker visas as the department is not a sponsoring organisation.

As Natural England (NE) and the Environment Agency (EA) are non‑departmental public bodies (arm’s‑length bodies), they do not employ civil servants.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 12 Feb 2026
Lord Mandelson: Government Response to Humble Address Motion

"My Lords, as the Minister knows, Sir Lindsay Hoyle said that the ISC is completely separate and independent, so there should be no barrier to releasing the information. At the same time, the Minister for the Cabinet Office is supposed to have released a Written Statement today giving more details. …..."
Baroness Coffey - View Speech

View all Baroness Coffey (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Lord Mandelson: Government Response to Humble Address Motion
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 12 Feb 2026
Lord Mandelson: Government Response to Humble Address Motion

"My Lords, can the Minister confirm that the National Security Adviser, who is not a civil servant and was very deliberately chosen by the Prime Minister to be a special adviser, will have no involvement in the scrutiny of what information is going to be released, and that it will …..."
Baroness Coffey - View Speech

View all Baroness Coffey (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Lord Mandelson: Government Response to Humble Address Motion
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 12 Feb 2026
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill

"My Lords, I have tabled Amendment 2. The clerks suggested changing the wording to what is now there. It is a probing amendment, and like those of the noble Lord, Lord Patel, it could be applied to other clauses as well. It is about the principle. My strong view is …..."
Baroness Coffey - View Speech

View all Baroness Coffey (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill
Speech in Grand Committee - Wed 11 Feb 2026
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

"My Lords, I have tabled in this group Amendments 222D to 222F, 225A, 230A, 232A, 232B, 234ZA and 234B, and the Schedule 29 stand part notice. I do not want to say that I am against Schedule 29, but it is only by doing a stand part notice that I …..."
Baroness Coffey - View Speech

View all Baroness Coffey (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 10 Feb 2026
Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2026

"My Lords, I have a few questions for the Minister. My noble and learned friend Lord Keen has set out pretty eloquently the issue of the narrowness, and the House will be aware that one of the elements of Section 30 orders, and indeed of a variety of subordinate secondary …..."
Baroness Coffey - View Speech

View all Baroness Coffey (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2026
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 10 Feb 2026
Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2026

"Before the Minister sits down, I asked whether the Government suggested to Kim Leadbeater that she table Amendment 77 back in June, which started to extend parts of the Bill to Scotland. I can always ask the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, about his Amendment 888, but, if she …..."
Baroness Coffey - View Speech

View all Baroness Coffey (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2026
Division Vote (Lords)
10 Feb 2026 - Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Coffey (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 166 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 186 Noes - 251
Division Vote (Lords)
10 Feb 2026 - Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Coffey (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 165 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 188 Noes - 258
Written Question
Lord Mandelson
Monday 9th February 2026

Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister, as of 3 February, had asked the Forfeiture Committee whether the Rt Hon Lord Mandelson should be stripped of his membership of the Privy Council.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The Forfeiture Committee has no role in relation to Privy Council appointments. Appointments to, and removals from, the Privy Council are made by The King on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister announced on the 4th February that he had recommended to The King that Lord Mandelson be removed from the Privy Council.