To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential cost savings to caterers, schools, and the NHS of serving a higher proportion of pulses and other plant-based protein in schools and NHS institutions; and the potential of these cost savings to help public institutions afford more...

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential cost savings to caterers, schools, and the NHS of serving a higher proportion of pulses and other plant-based protein in schools and NHS institutions; and the potential of these cost savings to help public institutions afford more...

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet the efficiency savings outlined in the funding package for the Defence Investment Plan.

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet the efficiency savings outlined in the funding package for the Defence Investment Plan.

I. Accounting Officer assessment: Connect to Work Programme. 4p. II. Connect to Work - Programme: Business case 2 summary. 11p. III. Letter dated 30/07/2026 from Andrew Western MP to the Deposited Papers clerk regarding two documents for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.

I. Accounting Officer assessment: Connect to Work Programme. 4p. II. Connect to Work - Programme: Business case 2 summary. 11p. III. Letter dated 30/07/2026 from Andrew Western MP to the Deposited Papers clerk regarding two documents for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.

I. Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP): 2025 Programme business case (PBC) summary. 12p. II. Letter dated 30/07/2026 from Lord Hanson of Flint to the Deposited Papers clerk regarding the ESMCP Programme business case summary for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.

I. Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP): 2025 Programme business case (PBC) summary. 12p. II. Letter dated 30/07/2026 from Lord Hanson of Flint to the Deposited Papers clerk regarding the ESMCP Programme business case summary for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.

The UK and US Governments announced a pharmaceuticals trade deal in December 2025.

The UK and US Governments announced a pharmaceuticals trade deal in December 2025.

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made to date in unlocking £6 billion of structural simplification and internal process improvements to be delivered in this current parliament, as recommended by the Strategic Defence Review.

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made to date in unlocking £6 billion of structural simplification and internal process improvements to be delivered in this current parliament, as recommended by the Strategic Defence Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of unsupported flaring, in terms of cost per tonne of CO₂ equivalent abated, compared with other methane abatement measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of unsupported flaring, in terms of cost per tonne of CO₂ equivalent abated, compared with other methane abatement measures.

Lords statement on local government reorganisation.

Lords statement on local government reorganisation.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for the opportunity to ask questions on this Statement. On these Benches, several of us have run unitary councils. We recognise the potential for improved efficiencies and better delivery for residents. However, that must be done on the basis of genuine communities and geographies,...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for the opportunity to ask questions on this Statement. On these Benches, several of us have run unitary councils. We recognise the potential for improved efficiencies and better delivery for residents. However, that must be done on the basis of genuine communities and geographies,...

My Lords, there are some deeply worrying elements in the Statement. First, it was issued on the final day before the Commons Recess. A momentous decision of that purport should be the subject of detailed scrutiny but that has been deliberately avoided. Secondly, the announcement has been made by a...

My Lords, there are some deeply worrying elements in the Statement. First, it was issued on the final day before the Commons Recess. A momentous decision of that purport should be the subject of detailed scrutiny but that has been deliberately avoided. Secondly, the announcement has been made by a...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Jamieson, and the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, for their questions and comments on the local government reorganisation Statement.

I will begin with the timeline that has led us to the decisions announced on 16 July, because it is important that we...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Jamieson, and the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, for their questions and comments on the local government reorganisation Statement.

I will begin with the timeline that has led us to the decisions announced on 16 July, because it is important that we...

My Lords—

My Lords—

Oh!

Oh!

My Lords, I declare my interest as a vice-president of the LGA. It is very encouraging to see how keen the Liberal Democrats are to scrutinise the Government. Given the inconsistent approach to last week’s reorganisation announcements, can the Minister please confirm whether officials advised Ministers that an expansion of...

My Lords, I declare my interest as a vice-president of the LGA. It is very encouraging to see how keen the Liberal Democrats are to scrutinise the Government. Given the inconsistent approach to last week’s reorganisation announcements, can the Minister please confirm whether officials advised Ministers that an expansion of...

When we took these decisions, we were very aware that some of the councils involved were already receiving exceptional financial support. We continue to work with those councils through the EFS process in the usual way, but LGR will save money over time and make the sector more sustainable in...

When we took these decisions, we were very aware that some of the councils involved were already receiving exceptional financial support. We continue to work with those councils through the EFS process in the usual way, but LGR will save money over time and make the sector more sustainable in...

Can my noble friend provide some details and facts? She may not be able to answer now, but I would like her to do so in writing. The Statement claims that there will be very substantial savings from this operation—savings of £1 billion are mentioned at one point—but it is...

Can my noble friend provide some details and facts? She may not be able to answer now, but I would like her to do so in writing. The Statement claims that there will be very substantial savings from this operation—savings of £1 billion are mentioned at one point—but it is...

The estimate of the savings came from the work that the local authorities did themselves. I accept that there will be a great deal of work to be done through the process as we transition to these unitary authorities. But, quite frankly, I have worked in a two-tier authority in...

The estimate of the savings came from the work that the local authorities did themselves. I accept that there will be a great deal of work to be done through the process as we transition to these unitary authorities. But, quite frankly, I have worked in a two-tier authority in...

My Lords, the Prime Minister said yesterday:

“We will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land so that they can do more”.

Indeed, the Minister said the very same thing a moment ago. Yet this Statement centralises power into unitary councils; it does not devolve...

My Lords, the Prime Minister said yesterday:

“We will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land so that they can do more”.

Indeed, the Minister said the very same thing a moment ago. Yet this Statement centralises power into unitary councils; it does not devolve...

My Lords, the noble Lord was part of the discussions on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which set out clearly the role of town and parish councils as we develop neighbourhood governance processes. I went to the National Association of Local Councils—NALC—conference recently and spoke to them, and...

My Lords, the noble Lord was part of the discussions on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which set out clearly the role of town and parish councils as we develop neighbourhood governance processes. I went to the National Association of Local Councils—NALC—conference recently and spoke to them, and...

My Lords, it is obvious that you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs, but this seems to have left rather a lot of shell in there, if we listen to the complaints from around the country. Can the Minister confirm that, if the new Prime Minister’s focus for the...

My Lords, it is obvious that you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs, but this seems to have left rather a lot of shell in there, if we listen to the complaints from around the country. Can the Minister confirm that, if the new Prime Minister’s focus for the...