My Lords, the loss of AstraZeneca, were it to happen, would be a devastating blow to the London Stock Exchange. Is it not therefore very important, if we are to retain the listings, that the Government have a supportive policy for life sciences in particular? Is it not regrettable, first, that the life sciences review has not yet appeared and, secondly, that the Government refused to back the vaccine plant at Speke near Liverpool? The Government also increased the rebate payable by pharma companies from drug sales from 15% to 22%—a stealth increase if ever there was one. Is it not important that, if we want to retain the listings, which will mean retaining the research, development and employment, we have a proper strategy with these companies and do not just regard them as cash cows but valuable investments to be encouraged?

My Lords, the loss of AstraZeneca, were it to happen, would be a devastating blow to the London Stock Exchange. Is it not therefore very important, if we are to retain the listings, that the Government have a supportive policy for life sciences in particular? Is it not regrettable, first, that the life sciences review has not yet appeared and, secondly, that the Government refused to back the vaccine plant at Speke near Liverpool? The Government also increased the rebate payable by pharma companies from drug sales from 15% to 22%—a stealth increase if ever there was one. Is it not important that, if we want to retain the listings, which will mean retaining the research, development and employment, we have a proper strategy with these companies and do not just regard them as cash cows but valuable investments to be encouraged?

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether all the microphones in the Chamber work; and, if not, what plans there are to repair them.

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether all the microphones in the Chamber work; and, if not, what plans there are to repair them.

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment he has made of whether the microphones and audio system in the Moses Room are fit for purpose.

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment he has made of whether the microphones and audio system in the Moses Room are fit for purpose.

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker when the microphones and audio systems in the Committee Corridor were last inspected; and whether their quality was judged satisfactory.

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker when the microphones and audio systems in the Committee Corridor were last inspected; and whether their quality was judged satisfactory.

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what consideration he has given to commissioning a review by independent consultants to determine whether the microphones and audio systems in the House of Lords are of a satisfactory standard.

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what consideration he has given to commissioning a review by independent consultants to determine whether the microphones and audio systems in the House of Lords are of a satisfactory standard.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what further action they plan to take to protect and increase trade between the United Kingdom and the United States.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what further action they plan to take to protect and increase trade between the United Kingdom and the United States.

I thank the Minister for her reply, but after all the self-congratulation has faded away, is it not clear that this agreement is very far from being a comprehensive trade agreement of the type that ought to be possible in this post-Brexit world? Is it not the case that British firms are now worse off than they were before 2 April—so-called “liberation day”—because of the 10% tariff? Although it is welcome that the worst draconian tariffs have been reduced on motor cars, British firms are worse off than they were before. If the Government regard this as just a transition to a more effective, more comprehensive deal, is it not important that they give that priority and do away with thinking about dynamic alignment with the EU market?

I thank the Minister for her reply, but after all the self-congratulation has faded away, is it not clear that this agreement is very far from being a comprehensive trade agreement of the type that ought to be possible in this post-Brexit world? Is it not the case that British firms are now worse off than they were before 2 April—so-called “liberation day”—because of the 10% tariff? Although it is welcome that the worst draconian tariffs have been reduced on motor cars, British firms are worse off than they were before. If the Government regard this as just a transition to a more effective, more comprehensive deal, is it not important that they give that priority and do away with thinking about dynamic alignment with the EU market?

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will reply to Lord Lamont of Lerwick's letter about the Urology Trade Association's concerns over changes to Part 1X of the Drug Tariff, sent to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women's Health and Mental Health, Baroness Merron, on 17 December 2024.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will reply to Lord Lamont of Lerwick's letter about the Urology Trade Association's concerns over changes to Part 1X of the Drug Tariff, sent to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women's Health and Mental Health, Baroness Merron, on 17 December 2024.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what communications they have had with the governments of Canada, Mexico and other countries about the decision of the President of the United States to impose tariffs on certain of their exports.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what communications they have had with the governments of Canada, Mexico and other countries about the decision of the President of the United States to impose tariffs on certain of their exports.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply and welcome the fact that, in his talks with the President of the United States, the Prime Minister managed to obtain at least a grudging hint that the UK might be exempt from proposed tariffs. Will she not agree, if there is a fully fledged trade war that affects our trading partners, that it will have an impact on the world economy and on our economy and growth rate, and make it more difficult to do what we want to do on defence spending? Secondly, if, as our newly appointed ambassador to the United States has said, there is a prospect of a UK-US technology deal, is it not extremely important that we take advantage of the extra flexibility that we have outside the EU to have a regulatory regime that is not hostile to the industries of the future but actually sees them as an opportunity for innovation?

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply and welcome the fact that, in his talks with the President of the United States, the Prime Minister managed to obtain at least a grudging hint that the UK might be exempt from proposed tariffs. Will she not agree, if there is a fully fledged trade war that affects our trading partners, that it will have an impact on the world economy and on our economy and growth rate, and make it more difficult to do what we want to do on defence spending? Secondly, if, as our newly appointed ambassador to the United States has said, there is a prospect of a UK-US technology deal, is it not extremely important that we take advantage of the extra flexibility that we have outside the EU to have a regulatory regime that is not hostile to the industries of the future but actually sees them as an opportunity for innovation?

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Livermore on 3 February (HL Deb cols 488–90), what is the statistical basis for stating that Brexit had reduced the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom by four per cent.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Livermore on 3 February (HL Deb cols 488–90), what is the statistical basis for stating that Brexit had reduced the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom by four per cent.

The Minister knows well that it is not just service personnel but other people employed in the Civil Service who have their fees paid by the Government. Does what he has announced to do with the armed services apply equally to those other people, including, as I instanced the other day, people in the Diplomatic Service?

The Minister knows well that it is not just service personnel but other people employed in the Civil Service who have their fees paid by the Government. Does what he has announced to do with the armed services apply equally to those other people, including, as I instanced the other day, people in the Diplomatic Service?

My Lords, I thank the Minister for both his good wishes and his reply. Does he agree that protectionism and tariffs are very great threats to growth both here and internationally, as we learned in the 1930s? If President Trump proceeds

with his dangerous idea of imposing more tariffs, I urge the Government not to join the EU in any tit-for-tat retaliation but to maintain an open trading system. Above all, I urge them not to align with the EU on future industries such as AI when Europe so badly lags behind the United States in those areas, and will only incur the wrath of President Trump.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for both his good wishes and his reply. Does he agree that protectionism and tariffs are very great threats to growth both here and internationally, as we learned in the 1930s? If President Trump proceeds

with his dangerous idea of imposing more tariffs, I urge the Government not to join the EU in any tit-for-tat retaliation but to maintain an open trading system. Above all, I urge them not to align with the EU on future industries such as AI when Europe so badly lags behind the United States in those areas, and will only incur the wrath of President Trump.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what initiatives they plan to take internationally to support multilateral free trade and to draw attention to the risks posed to the world economy by tariffs and protectionism.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what initiatives they plan to take internationally to support multilateral free trade and to draw attention to the risks posed to the world economy by tariffs and protectionism.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the plan by the BRICS countries to establish a separate banking payments system, and of the implications for the international banking system and the ability of the United Kingdom and its allies to impose economic sanctions.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the plan by the BRICS countries to establish a separate banking payments system, and of the implications for the international banking system and the ability of the United Kingdom and its allies to impose economic sanctions.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. While the idea of a BRICS payment system, which was announced by Mr Putin at the BRICS conference in Kazan, may seem rather fanciful and a long way off, it nevertheless needs to be taken seriously. Does he not agree that, if it ever happened, it would be a major threat to the western-led financial system? Above all, it would make it impossible for the West to impose sanctions on countries such as Russia, China, Iran or other malign countries. Is the Minister aware that, after the BRICS conference, Chinese state media reported that the proposed new payment system would be based on technology taken from the Bank of International Settlements, with its bridge development? Is he also aware that America has apparently expressed some concern to the Bank of International Settlements about this transfer of technology to possible malign actors? Should we not be taking this very seriously?

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. While the idea of a BRICS payment system, which was announced by Mr Putin at the BRICS conference in Kazan, may seem rather fanciful and a long way off, it nevertheless needs to be taken seriously. Does he not agree that, if it ever happened, it would be a major threat to the western-led financial system? Above all, it would make it impossible for the West to impose sanctions on countries such as Russia, China, Iran or other malign countries. Is the Minister aware that, after the BRICS conference, Chinese state media reported that the proposed new payment system would be based on technology taken from the Bank of International Settlements, with its bridge development? Is he also aware that America has apparently expressed some concern to the Bank of International Settlements about this transfer of technology to possible malign actors? Should we not be taking this very seriously?

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Livermore on the 27 September (HL1042), whether they will now provide a substantive answer to Written Question HL1042.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Livermore on the 27 September (HL1042), whether they will now provide a substantive answer to Written Question HL1042.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether VAT will be levied on school fees paid by the Government for UK private education for the children of foreign office officials serving overseas.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether VAT will be levied on school fees paid by the Government for UK private education for the children of foreign office officials serving overseas.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total cost of school fees paid in the last year by the Government for UK private education for the children of military personnel serving overseas.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total cost of school fees paid in the last year by the Government for UK private education for the children of military personnel serving overseas.

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what are the responsibilities of the House of Lords Management Board; to whom it reports; and what relationship it has to the House of Lords Commission.

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what are the responsibilities of the House of Lords Management Board; to whom it reports; and what relationship it has to the House of Lords Commission.