My Lords, we know, and it is very well researched, that people with learning disabilities face enormous barriers in access to primary health care and have lower life expectancy as a result. Can the Minister assure me that these neighbourhood health services will ensure that screening and support for people with learning disabilities will be embedded in this service?

My Lords, we know, and it is very well researched, that people with learning disabilities face enormous barriers in access to primary health care and have lower life expectancy as a result. Can the Minister assure me that these neighbourhood health services will ensure that screening and support for people with learning disabilities will be embedded in this service?

My Lords, I declare that I am the co-chair of the APPG on Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. I, too, thank my friend, the noble Baroness, Lady Sugg, for securing this important and timely debate. It has truly been a sobering debate with so much expertise around this...

My Lords, I declare that I am the co-chair of the APPG on Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. I, too, thank my friend, the noble Baroness, Lady Sugg, for securing this important and timely debate. It has truly been a sobering debate with so much expertise around this...

My Lords, as has just been outlined by the noble Baroness, drug-facilitated sexual assault appears to be a global phenomenon which is flourishing in the dark parts of the internet. One website with this content, with millions of visitors, had more than 20,000 videos, with hundreds of thousands of views, of this so-called “sleep content”—that is, women who are drugged and sexually assaulted. So I am pleased to hear the Minister’s response. So far, the national response to DFSA, including monitoring, reporting, investigating and prosecuting, has been described as inadequate. So will the Minister give an assurance that addressing these horrifying crimes must be a priority to protect women’s fundamental rights, including challenging online platforms and apps hosting DFSA content which actively exploit regulatory loopholes?

My Lords, as has just been outlined by the noble Baroness, drug-facilitated sexual assault appears to be a global phenomenon which is flourishing in the dark parts of the internet. One website with this content, with millions of visitors, had more than 20,000 videos, with hundreds of thousands of views, of this so-called “sleep content”—that is, women who are drugged and sexually assaulted. So I am pleased to hear the Minister’s response. So far, the national response to DFSA, including monitoring, reporting, investigating and prosecuting, has been described as inadequate. So will the Minister give an assurance that addressing these horrifying crimes must be a priority to protect women’s fundamental rights, including challenging online platforms and apps hosting DFSA content which actively exploit regulatory loopholes?

My Lords, Israel’s “doomsday” settlement project in E1, which would split the West Bank in two and destroy any possibility of a future Palestinian state, is about to pass the point of no return, with tenders for construction in E1 having been issued last month. The Israeli Government have repeatedly stated their intentions to destroy any possibility of a two-state solution. Given that the Government have said they condemn the project and are considering what actions to take, will they do the right thing now and commit to a package of sanctions, including fines for UK businesses that bid for tenders relating to illegal settlement construction?

My Lords, Israel’s “doomsday” settlement project in E1, which would split the West Bank in two and destroy any possibility of a future Palestinian state, is about to pass the point of no return, with tenders for construction in E1 having been issued last month. The Israeli Government have repeatedly stated their intentions to destroy any possibility of a two-state solution. Given that the Government have said they condemn the project and are considering what actions to take, will they do the right thing now and commit to a package of sanctions, including fines for UK businesses that bid for tenders relating to illegal settlement construction?

My Lords, I take the Minister back to the International Development Committee meeting that she attended yesterday, which has already been referred to. Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, testified that the UK had failed to act on intelligence and...

My Lords, I take the Minister back to the International Development Committee meeting that she attended yesterday, which has already been referred to. Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, testified that the UK had failed to act on intelligence and...

My Lords, the shocking attack on Muslims in Edinburgh is the latest among the many and increasing attacks we have seen. This is not happening in a vacuum, as noble Lords have set out; the increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric and Islamophobia are becoming more and more normalised. It was very disappointing that after the latest attack last week, there was no statement, no COBRA meeting and very little from the media, at a time when British Muslims are feeling increasingly fearful for and worried about their safety. Does the Minister accept that what we need now is strong leadership to tackle this, not platitudes or a tweet?

My Lords, the shocking attack on Muslims in Edinburgh is the latest among the many and increasing attacks we have seen. This is not happening in a vacuum, as noble Lords have set out; the increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric and Islamophobia are becoming more and more normalised. It was very disappointing that after the latest attack last week, there was no statement, no COBRA meeting and very little from the media, at a time when British Muslims are feeling increasingly fearful for and worried about their safety. Does the Minister accept that what we need now is strong leadership to tackle this, not platitudes or a tweet?

My Lords, women and children who are repatriated often rely mainly on charities. What support do British embassies give, and will they help with repatriation to lift the burden on charities?

My Lords, women and children who are repatriated often rely mainly on charities. What support do British embassies give, and will they help with repatriation to lift the burden on charities?

My Lords, can the Minister outline the Government’s position on what appears to be the occupation of southern Lebanon, which seems to be a systematic plan to impose long-term military control and a new geographic reality? Is this not a clear breach of international law, and how on earth will...

My Lords, can the Minister outline the Government’s position on what appears to be the occupation of southern Lebanon, which seems to be a systematic plan to impose long-term military control and a new geographic reality? Is this not a clear breach of international law, and how on earth will...

My Lords, I welcome the commitment in the King’s speech that the Government

“will champion the rights of women and girls to live in a world free from violence”.

I recently read a 2001 UNFPA report. The introduction said:

“The nature of armed conflicts changed dramatically during the latter half of the twentieth...

My Lords, I welcome the commitment in the King’s speech that the Government

“will champion the rights of women and girls to live in a world free from violence”.

I recently read a 2001 UNFPA report. The introduction said:

“The nature of armed conflicts changed dramatically during the latter half of the twentieth...

My Lords, will the Government play a central role as they did in 2014-15 in Sierra Leone, which helped to ensure that a disease already spreading internationally was checked in its tracks, saving many lives in west Africa and worldwide?

My Lords, will the Government play a central role as they did in 2014-15 in Sierra Leone, which helped to ensure that a disease already spreading internationally was checked in its tracks, saving many lives in west Africa and worldwide?

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, at the rally last Saturday led by the convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, some of the hate speech we heard was specifically about Muslims, such as “It’s time for Muslims to leave the country”. Sadly, they are completely focused on attacking the Muslim community. History teaches us where such language can lead. British Muslims helped to build this country and serve it by teaching in schools, while over 89,000 Muslim staff work in our NHS, so I say that this is our country. My question is: why is this disgraceful hate speech and Islamophobia tolerated when it comes to British Muslims, and even defended, when the equivalent aimed at any other group would rightly be met with condemnation, prosecution and political outrage?

My Lords, at the rally last Saturday led by the convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, some of the hate speech we heard was specifically about Muslims, such as “It’s time for Muslims to leave the country”. Sadly, they are completely focused on attacking the Muslim community. History teaches us where such language can lead. British Muslims helped to build this country and serve it by teaching in schools, while over 89,000 Muslim staff work in our NHS, so I say that this is our country. My question is: why is this disgraceful hate speech and Islamophobia tolerated when it comes to British Muslims, and even defended, when the equivalent aimed at any other group would rightly be met with condemnation, prosecution and political outrage?

My Lords, private burial grounds in England and Wales are largely unregulated, compared with the local authority-run cemeteries and burial grounds mentioned by the Minister. Hundreds of burial grounds are subject to changes in private ownership and, as they are not regulated, there is no requirement for the standards we would expect from local authorities. I declare an interest as my family are buried in such a burial ground in north London, with totally unregulated, unscrupulous owners. They do not have to have a register of those buried there and

unlawful exhumations are taking place. Will the Government try to bring private burial grounds in line with the regulations for local authority-run burial grounds to stop the scandals that are taking place?

My Lords, private burial grounds in England and Wales are largely unregulated, compared with the local authority-run cemeteries and burial grounds mentioned by the Minister. Hundreds of burial grounds are subject to changes in private ownership and, as they are not regulated, there is no requirement for the standards we would expect from local authorities. I declare an interest as my family are buried in such a burial ground in north London, with totally unregulated, unscrupulous owners. They do not have to have a register of those buried there and

unlawful exhumations are taking place. Will the Government try to bring private burial grounds in line with the regulations for local authority-run burial grounds to stop the scandals that are taking place?

My Lords, more than 170,000 children are currently living in temporary accommodation. Nearly half of them—47%—frequently have to move schools. They are living in conditions that are not conducive to their health and well-being. Having to keep moving, often far away from their support network, is another major factor. What specifically is being done to support this cohort of children and to prioritise their needs?

My Lords, more than 170,000 children are currently living in temporary accommodation. Nearly half of them—47%—frequently have to move schools. They are living in conditions that are not conducive to their health and well-being. Having to keep moving, often far away from their support network, is another major factor. What specifically is being done to support this cohort of children and to prioritise their needs?

My Lords, I welcome the Government’s action plan for social cohesion, and I pay tribute to the working group for all the work that has been put into this over the past few years.

I am proud that I grew up in a multicultural, multiracial society. I was born in this...

My Lords, I welcome the Government’s action plan for social cohesion, and I pay tribute to the working group for all the work that has been put into this over the past few years.

I am proud that I grew up in a multicultural, multiracial society. I was born in this...

I welcome the action plan and pay tribute to all the work that has gone into arriving at it. In 2019, the then Conservative Communities Secretary, James Brokenshire, said:

“The government is wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that Muslims are not targeted for hatred, persecution or discrimination”.

The Government’s press release at the time said that they agreed that

“there needs to be a formal definition of Islamophobia to help strengthen our efforts against anti-Muslim hatred”.

In recognising, as the Minister has set out, that this definition is not about preventing free speech but about protecting individuals, can I ask her to articulate how this plan and this definition would operate on exactly the same principle as the widely adopted working definition of antisemitism, and that those who claim this is an Islamophobia law or a blasphemy law—which is widely being put out there now, very destructively—are simply spreading disinformation and sowing division? Hate speech is not free speech.

I welcome the action plan and pay tribute to all the work that has gone into arriving at it. In 2019, the then Conservative Communities Secretary, James Brokenshire, said:

“The government is wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that Muslims are not targeted for hatred, persecution or discrimination”.

The Government’s press release at the time said that they agreed that

“there needs to be a formal definition of Islamophobia to help strengthen our efforts against anti-Muslim hatred”.

In recognising, as the Minister has set out, that this definition is not about preventing free speech but about protecting individuals, can I ask her to articulate how this plan and this definition would operate on exactly the same principle as the widely adopted working definition of antisemitism, and that those who claim this is an Islamophobia law or a blasphemy law—which is widely being put out there now, very destructively—are simply spreading disinformation and sowing division? Hate speech is not free speech.

My Lords, do this Government know exactly where these children are and where they are placed? Do we have the data available so that these children can be tracked down and protected in the way that they should be, and so that local authorities, where necessary, can step in to offer the support they need?

My Lords, do this Government know exactly where these children are and where they are placed? Do we have the data available so that these children can be tracked down and protected in the way that they should be, and so that local authorities, where necessary, can step in to offer the support they need?

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, the Minister said in a reply to an earlier question that, by giving support to these families, we are investing in the future. These children will grow up to be productive members of society, hopefully working and paying their taxes. Along with many in this House, I come from a family of immigrants and migrants and I am proud that many of my family members now have become businesspeople, teachers, and lawyers. Even Tracey Emin is a cousin. We have contributed to this country, paying back what the country gave to us. Does she agree with me that these comments that somehow we are wasting money by investing in children are an absolute disgrace?

My Lords, the Minister said in a reply to an earlier question that, by giving support to these families, we are investing in the future. These children will grow up to be productive members of society, hopefully working and paying their taxes. Along with many in this House, I come from a family of immigrants and migrants and I am proud that many of my family members now have become businesspeople, teachers, and lawyers. Even Tracey Emin is a cousin. We have contributed to this country, paying back what the country gave to us. Does she agree with me that these comments that somehow we are wasting money by investing in children are an absolute disgrace?

My Lords, the Independent Commission on UK Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice has recommended that the UK adopt a comprehensive repatriation policy for all British nationals detained in north-east Syria. None of the 50 to 60 British nationals—the majority of whom are children and their mothers—detained in the dangerous and deteriorating situation in north-east Syria have been charged with a crime, and they have been held there for roughly six years. If transferred to Iraq, which is now a real threat, they face an acute risk of torture, unfair trials and suffering for the children if they are separated from their mothers. Will the Government now fulfil their responsibility and do what the United States, France and Germany have already done: repatriate these British nationals?

My Lords, the Independent Commission on UK Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice has recommended that the UK adopt a comprehensive repatriation policy for all British nationals detained in north-east Syria. None of the 50 to 60 British nationals—the majority of whom are children and their mothers—detained in the dangerous and deteriorating situation in north-east Syria have been charged with a crime, and they have been held there for roughly six years. If transferred to Iraq, which is now a real threat, they face an acute risk of torture, unfair trials and suffering for the children if they are separated from their mothers. Will the Government now fulfil their responsibility and do what the United States, France and Germany have already done: repatriate these British nationals?