My Lords, I too welcome the fact that the Government are consulting on how to improve road safety, and I am sure that the noble Lord would agree that any response to that consultation needs to be evidence-based. In that light, how does he take account of the fact that it appears from Scotland, where the limit has been reduced, that there has been no discernible effect on accidents as a result of that measure?

My Lords, I too welcome the fact that the Government are consulting on how to improve road safety, and I am sure that the noble Lord would agree that any response to that consultation needs to be evidence-based. In that light, how does he take account of the fact that it appears from Scotland, where the limit has been reduced, that there has been no discernible effect on accidents as a result of that measure?

The noble Lord is right that we should respect the evidence. Scotland’s experience is relevant, but it is not the only evidence. The Government recognise that Scotland did not see a significant casualty reduction, but we also cite wider evidence that alcohol impairs driving ability below the current England and Wales limit. Evidence cited in the consultation found that drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 20 milligrams to 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres have at least a three-times greater risk of dying, and we will certainly take that into account when we decide what to do as a result of the consultation.

The noble Lord is right that we should respect the evidence. Scotland’s experience is relevant, but it is not the only evidence. The Government recognise that Scotland did not see a significant casualty reduction, but we also cite wider evidence that alcohol impairs driving ability below the current England and Wales limit. Evidence cited in the consultation found that drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 20 milligrams to 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres have at least a three-times greater risk of dying, and we will certainly take that into account when we decide what to do as a result of the consultation.

My Lords, alcolocks take an hour to fit, they cost £200 to fit, paid for by the user and, as the noble Lord said, they work while they are being used. Why are we not using them to save lives?

My Lords, alcolocks take an hour to fit, they cost £200 to fit, paid for by the user and, as the noble Lord said, they work while they are being used. Why are we not using them to save lives?

I said that we are consulting on the first comprehensive road safety strategy for many years. It is right to consult, because a number of things in the road safety strategy—not just this one—affect many people, we need to hear from everybody, and we have heard from many people what they think of the proposals in the road safety strategy. I would say to him that it is worth waiting for, because it is not right to legislate before you understand what all the evidence is.

I said that we are consulting on the first comprehensive road safety strategy for many years. It is right to consult, because a number of things in the road safety strategy—not just this one—affect many people, we need to hear from everybody, and we have heard from many people what they think of the proposals in the road safety strategy. I would say to him that it is worth waiting for, because it is not right to legislate before you understand what all the evidence is.

My Lords, perhaps I might ask the Minister, given that there have been questions both about reducing the threshold for drink driving but also about enforcement from the noble Baroness, Lady Hayter,

what is the Government’s assessment, because it was not clear from the road safety plan, of the biggest contributor to deaths and injuries on the roads? Is it people who do not obey the existing limit, or is it people who obey the existing limit but are none the less not safe to drive?

My Lords, perhaps I might ask the Minister, given that there have been questions both about reducing the threshold for drink driving but also about enforcement from the noble Baroness, Lady Hayter,

what is the Government’s assessment, because it was not clear from the road safety plan, of the biggest contributor to deaths and injuries on the roads? Is it people who do not obey the existing limit, or is it people who obey the existing limit but are none the less not safe to drive?

I have to say there is a whole range of factors that go into it. The reason for the road safety strategy is that the death and serious injury rate has plateaued, rather than going down. The strategy has made it clear that there are a number of reasons for that. If there were only one issue in the strategy, with one consultation, that would be different, but there is a wide range in there intended to make all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, safer. I think it is right, if the noble Lord reads the whole thing, to look at a number of solutions to this.

I have to say there is a whole range of factors that go into it. The reason for the road safety strategy is that the death and serious injury rate has plateaued, rather than going down. The strategy has made it clear that there are a number of reasons for that. If there were only one issue in the strategy, with one consultation, that would be different, but there is a wide range in there intended to make all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, safer. I think it is right, if the noble Lord reads the whole thing, to look at a number of solutions to this.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of running a pilot scheme to assess intervening intelligent speed assistance technologies for repeat speeding offenders.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of running a pilot scheme to assess intervening intelligent speed assistance technologies for repeat speeding offenders.

What work is the Department doing to learn from international best practice—for example, in Estonia—when it comes to using technology in the justice system to help deliver swifter justice for victims?

What work is the Department doing to learn from international best practice—for example, in Estonia—when it comes to using technology in the justice system to help deliver swifter justice for victims?

When I moved to this Department, I was pleased to see the work on digital and artificial intelligence. The Department is a Whitehall leader; for example, we are freeing up probation staff for the frontline, rather than them having to go through lots of bureaucracy. I am particularly excited by the work that is going on in our courts.

When I moved to this Department, I was pleased to see the work on digital and artificial intelligence. The Department is a Whitehall leader; for example, we are freeing up probation staff for the frontline, rather than them having to go through lots of bureaucracy. I am particularly excited by the work that is going on in our courts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK‑Germany Strategic Science and Technology Partnership on Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK‑Germany Strategic Science and Technology Partnership on Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with operating system providers, device manufacturers, app stores and retailers on the implementation of device-level protections for children; which categories of company would be covered by future legislation; and whether liability would apply to companies...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with operating system providers, device manufacturers, app stores and retailers on the implementation of device-level protections for children; which categories of company would be covered by future legislation; and whether liability would apply to companies...

2025 saw the highest ever number of new solar panel installations in the UK. Amid volatile electricity prices, can small-scale solar reduce electricity bills, and what challenges remain in its rollout?

2025 saw the highest ever number of new solar panel installations in the UK. Amid volatile electricity prices, can small-scale solar reduce electricity bills, and what challenges remain in its rollout?

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release entitled £35 million government funding boost to stop drones smuggling contraband into prisons, published on 11 June 2026, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing drone-jamming and signal disruption technologies in...

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release entitled £35 million government funding boost to stop drones smuggling contraband into prisons, published on 11 June 2026, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing drone-jamming and signal disruption technologies in...

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release entitled £35 million government funding boost to stop drones smuggling contraband into prisons, published on 11 June 2026, whether he plans to introduce drone-jamming and signal disruption technologies across the prison estate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release entitled £35 million government funding boost to stop drones smuggling contraband into prisons, published on 11 June 2026, whether he plans to introduce drone-jamming and signal disruption technologies across the prison estate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the potential merits of using specialist technologies for improving the life of ageing infrastructure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the potential merits of using specialist technologies for improving the life of ageing infrastructure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has been made of the potential impact on (a) UK business, (b) the UK tech industry and (c) wider impacts of decreases in AI funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has been made of the potential impact on (a) UK business, (b) the UK tech industry and (c) wider impacts of decreases in AI funding.

The Trump Administration’s decision to deny access to Anthropic’s most powerful AI models to all foreigners—including the British state—has emphasised concerns over technology sovereignty. Will the Minister ensure that as part of the UK-EU summit, our leading technology sector works closely with European Union allies to ensure that we have greater competition and resilience in our technology stack?

The Trump Administration’s decision to deny access to Anthropic’s most powerful AI models to all foreigners—including the British state—has emphasised concerns over technology sovereignty. Will the Minister ensure that as part of the UK-EU summit, our leading technology sector works closely with European Union allies to ensure that we have greater competition and resilience in our technology stack?

There are a number of areas where additional work with the European Union will be in our national interest. One of the great advantages of having annual UK-EU summits is that precisely those issues can be brought up.

There are a number of areas where additional work with the European Union will be in our national interest. One of the great advantages of having annual UK-EU summits is that precisely those issues can be brought up.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help improve public understanding of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and gene editing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help improve public understanding of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and gene editing.