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My Lords, it has been reported that the Metropolitan Police was informed by American authorities only after they had removed the diplomat from British soil. Can the Minister tell the House exactly when the Government were made aware of the allegations, when they were informed of the diplomat’s removal and whether that sequence of events breached any protocol governing co-operation between British and American authorities on serious criminal allegations?
My Lords, it has been reported that the Metropolitan Police was informed by American authorities only after they had removed the diplomat from British soil. Can the Minister tell the House exactly when the Government were made aware of the allegations, when they were informed of the diplomat’s removal and whether that sequence of events breached any protocol governing co-operation between British and American authorities on serious criminal allegations?
As I have said to the House already, the Metropolitan Police was informed by the US authorities on 25 August of a US investigation relating to indecent images of children. As a result of the investigation, a member of US embassy personnel who was at that point based in London was recalled to the United States, where the investigation is focused. Senior officials, and indeed Ministers—in this case, a Minister in the Foreign Office—have discussed the case with senior diplomats in the US embassy to ensure that maximum co-operation occurs with UK law enforcement. Again, the Metropolitan Police is in contact with US law enforcement partners as investigations continue. The important point I would make to the noble Lord is that the US investigation relating to indecent images of children is ongoing in the United States, and that is the key point to this item before the House today.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on employment opportunities for young people in Scotland.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on employment opportunities for young people in Scotland.
My Lords, the Government have published a comprehensive assessment of the Employment Rights Act in consultation with experts. The assessment shows that the Act could benefit 18 million workers across the UK and could increase employment. Our analysis further shows that young workers stand to be amongst the biggest beneficiaries of these reforms. Scotland is also expected to benefit more significantly, with around 55% of workers projected to gain from the Act.
I begin by warmly welcoming the Minister to his first Question at the Dispatch Box. In the latest labour market trends published by the Scottish Government, the unemployment rate of those aged 16 and over in Scotland was estimated at 5.1%, up 1.4% over the year, and above the UK rate of
4.9%. We know that the Employment Rights Act will take effect over the coming months. The views of these Benches on the deficiencies in that legislation are well-known. What contingency measures are Ministers putting in place, should the Employment Rights Act lead to even higher levels of unemployment among young people in Scotland?
I begin by warmly welcoming the Minister to his first Question at the Dispatch Box. In the latest labour market trends published by the Scottish Government, the unemployment rate of those aged 16 and over in Scotland was estimated at 5.1%, up 1.4% over the year, and above the UK rate of
4.9%. We know that the Employment Rights Act will take effect over the coming months. The views of these Benches on the deficiencies in that legislation are well-known. What contingency measures are Ministers putting in place, should the Employment Rights Act lead to even higher levels of unemployment among young people in Scotland?
I thank the noble Lord for the question. He and I debated these issues in a very different Parliament not so long ago, and I am sure that neither of us imagined we would be debating in this Chamber today. As he knows, a lot of these responsibilities are devolved, so we have to make an assessment of the impact of the Employment Rights Act; but let us not forget that the Scottish Government are responsible for schools, high schools, colleges, universities, apprenticeships, the apprenticeship levy rates and so much more. Therefore, although we are confident that the Employment Rights Act will not have a detrimental impact on young workers, we need fundamental reform in Scotland in those other areas.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 27 July (HL2056), whether the Ministry of Defence plans to publish a timetable for the reopening of Cameron Barracks for use by all previous user groups; and whether they plan to ensure Highland Council...
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 27 July (HL2056), whether the Ministry of Defence plans to publish a timetable for the reopening of Cameron Barracks for use by all previous user groups; and whether they plan to ensure Highland Council...
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 27 July (HL2056), whether they plan to publish a timetable for the reopening of Cameron Barracks for use by all previous user groups; and whether they plan to ensure Highland Council and other affected...
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 27 July (HL2056), whether they plan to publish a timetable for the reopening of Cameron Barracks for use by all previous user groups; and whether they plan to ensure Highland Council and other affected...
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to fund the refurbishment of Cameron Barracks in Inverness, in the light of their decision not to use Cameron Barracks as temporary accommodation for illegal migrants.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to fund the refurbishment of Cameron Barracks in Inverness, in the light of their decision not to use Cameron Barracks as temporary accommodation for illegal migrants.
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total weight of Class A, B and C drugs that were seized from British airports in each year since 2024, broken down by drug type and airport.
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total weight of Class A, B and C drugs that were seized from British airports in each year since 2024, broken down by drug type and airport.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have held any meetings with the Scottish Government regarding its proposed Human Rights Bill.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have held any meetings with the Scottish Government regarding its proposed Human Rights Bill.
To ask His Majesty's Government how much the Home Office spent on consultancy fees in relation to their Resources for asylum seekers in the UK leaflets and posters.
To ask His Majesty's Government how much the Home Office spent on consultancy fees in relation to their Resources for asylum seekers in the UK leaflets and posters.
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the Home Office's decision to revoke the Bloomsbury Institute's licence to sponsor international students, how many other (1) higher, and (2) further, education institutions are under investigation for failing to meet any or all of the assessments that they are required...
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the Home Office's decision to revoke the Bloomsbury Institute's licence to sponsor international students, how many other (1) higher, and (2) further, education institutions are under investigation for failing to meet any or all of the assessments that they are required...
To ask His Majesty's Government how many applications were received for funding from the Crisis and Resilience Fund to assist with rising heating oil costs since its launch on 1 April 2026, broken down by local authority area; and how many (1) have been approved or rejected, and (2) remain...
To ask His Majesty's Government how many applications were received for funding from the Crisis and Resilience Fund to assist with rising heating oil costs since its launch on 1 April 2026, broken down by local authority area; and how many (1) have been approved or rejected, and (2) remain...
Support for households affected by rising heating oil prices is administered by local authorities through the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). Local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility, processing applications and holding data relating to applications and awards.
To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings they have had with the Scottish Government to discuss the issue of properties in Scotland that still have a radio teleswitch service meter, following the radio teleswitch service switch off on 30 June.
To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings they have had with the Scottish Government to discuss the issue of properties in Scotland that still have a radio teleswitch service meter, following the radio teleswitch service switch off on 30 June.
DESNZ, Ofgem, Scottish Government officials and industry representatives met regularly throughout the RTS phase out, to obtain assurances from energy suppliers ahead of each stage of activity, and monitor suppliers' performance in responding rapidly where issues have arisen.
As the majority of remaining recorded RTS consumers have not responded to multiple contacts from suppliers, despite their signal being switched off between one and twelve months ago, industry believes most are no longer reliant on RTS for heating and hot water.
The Department would encourage any consumers who have not had a replacement to contact their energy supplier to arrange one.
To ask His Majesty's Government what contingency plans are in place for households in remote and island communities that face delays to getting a radio teleswitch service meter replaced with a smart meter, following the radio teleswitch service switch off on 30 June.
To ask His Majesty's Government what contingency plans are in place for households in remote and island communities that face delays to getting a radio teleswitch service meter replaced with a smart meter, following the radio teleswitch service switch off on 30 June.
The Department is aware that some consumers living in remote or rural areas of Scotland have faced historical challenges obtaining RTS meter replacement appointments, due to a lack of installer resource, appropriate technology solutions or logistical challenges.
However, the RTS Taskforce, which the Department sits on, has in the last year led a concerted effort to overcome these historical challenges, resulting in significant progress on RTS replacements in these regions.
The Department would encourage any consumers who have not yet had a replacement to contact their energy supplier to arrange one as soon as possible.
To ask His Majesty's Government what the total value of fines that levied on applied to energy companies for failing to install smart meters in properties within an appropriate timeframe is, broken down by (1) year, and (2) energy company, since 2023-24.
To ask His Majesty's Government what the total value of fines that levied on applied to energy companies for failing to install smart meters in properties within an appropriate timeframe is, broken down by (1) year, and (2) energy company, since 2023-24.
Under new Guaranteed Standards of Performance (GSOP) regulations customers are entitled to £40 compensation if their energy supplier fails to offer a smart meter installation appointment within 6 weeks of the customer requesting one. These regulations came into force on 23rd February 2026 and therefore no performance data is yet available. Ofgem is responsible for compliance and ongoing monitoring of these new Guaranteed standards.
From 2022 until the end of 2025, energy suppliers were required to meet minimum annual installation targets. In 2023, six large suppliers agreed to pay £10.8m into the Voluntary Redress Fund for not meeting 2022 targets.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many student visa applications were (1) accepted, and (2) rejected, in each year since 2023–24.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many student visa applications were (1) accepted, and (2) rejected, in each year since 2023–24.
The Home Office publishes the data you have requested in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on sponsored study outcomes are published in table Vis_D02 of the entry clearance visa applications and outcomes detailed datasets’. The latest data goes up to the year ending March 2026. Please find below a table on sponsored study visas issued and refused for each year between the year ending March 2024, to the year ending March 2026.
Sponsored study (‘Student’ and ‘Child Student’) entry clearance visas issued and refused between the YE March 2024 to the YE March 2026
Year Ending | Issued | Refused |
YE March 2024 | 557,221 | 24,749 |
YE March 2025 | 421,621 | 14,155 |
YE March 2026 | 409,954 | 20,399 |
Notes: The figures include both main applicants and dependant family members.
To ask His Majesty's Government what test will be applied in determining whether the effect of a person’s deportation on their partner or child would be "unduly harsh" under section 117C of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, as amended by clause 20 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
To ask His Majesty's Government what test will be applied in determining whether the effect of a person’s deportation on their partner or child would be "unduly harsh" under section 117C of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, as amended by clause 20 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
In respect of offenders sentenced to less than four years, the current Article 8 regime allows a deportation decision to be made with consideration to only the impact on the criminal or their family. Clause 20 changes this so that account must be taken of the wider public interest in deportation. The actual test in relation to unduly harsh will reflect current case law requiring the need to demonstrate a significant interference with family life.
However, the new s117C framework will thereafter allow a person’s criminal and immigration history to be considered before a person’s deportation can be deemed disproportionate.
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Scottish Government about its use of its block grant on international development spending.
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Scottish Government about its use of its block grant on international development spending.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has regular discussions with the Scottish Government on devolved issues, including their development programming. The FCDO offers support to the Scottish Government's development activity overseas, where such activities assist Ministers of the Crown under the terms of the Scotland Act.
To ask His Majesty's Government what test will be applied in determining whether a person has been “socially and culturally integrated in the United Kingdom” for the purposes of clause 20 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
To ask His Majesty's Government what test will be applied in determining whether a person has been “socially and culturally integrated in the United Kingdom” for the purposes of clause 20 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
The published guidance states that positive and negative factors will need to be balanced against each other to form an overall assessment of whether a foreign national is socially and culturally integrated in the UK.
These factors include the ability to speak English, financial independence, immigration status, and criminal offending. Mere presence in the UK is not an indication of integration. However, under the new section 117C framework, the courts must consider not only the interference with a person’s rights under Article 8 that exist by virtue of meeting the private life criteria (including that the person is socially and culturally integrated in the UK), but also whether that can be justified by the public interest in favour of the person’s deportation.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish a timetable for the reopening of Cameron Barracks for use by all previous user groups; and whether they plan to ensure Highland Council and other affected user groups receive formal notification as soon as the handover from the Home Office...
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish a timetable for the reopening of Cameron Barracks for use by all previous user groups; and whether they plan to ensure Highland Council and other affected user groups receive formal notification as soon as the handover from the Home Office...
The Home Office is returning Cameron Barracks to the Ministry of Defence and the transfer will be completed on or before the agreed hand back date of October 2026.
As responsibility for the site will then rest with the Ministry of Defence, decisions on its future use, including any timetable for reopening and any notifications to Highland Council or other interested parties, will be matters for the Ministry of Defence.
To ask His Majesty's Government what would be considered a “serious breach of a condition attached to their leave to enter or remain” in clause 19(4) of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
To ask His Majesty's Government what would be considered a “serious breach of a condition attached to their leave to enter or remain” in clause 19(4) of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
The Immigration and Asylum Bill, introduced on 30 June, will make fundamental changes to the immigration system to restore control at our borders and restore public confidence.
The reforms seek to ensure a fair and consistent system by reinforcing that compliance with the Immigration Rules is central to decision-making. Differences in treatment will reflect individuals’ immigration histories and circumstances and are assessed within a lawful Article 8 framework.
Further details on what would be considered a “serious breach of a condition attached to their leave to enter or remain” will be clarified in due course.