Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan about the deportation of Afghan women back to Afghanistan.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK has a longstanding and close relationship with Pakistan. We engage regularly with the Government of Pakistan to advance key priorities and interests, including on human rights and adherence to international law. Whilst we respect Pakistan's sovereign right to control its borders, the UK, alongside the international and donor community, is urging Pakistan to do so in accordance with their international obligations. On 16 May, the UK's Special Representative for Afghanistan raised the need for safe and dignified returns of Afghans with Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total electricity generation capacity by hydroelectric power plants in (1) England, (2) Scotland, and (3) Wales.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
Electricity generation capacity for hydroelectric power plants is published in Energy Trends table 6.1, available on gov.uk.
At the end of 2024 the installed capacity for hydroelectric power plants was: (1) England 43 MW, (2) Scotland 1,668 MW and (3) Wales 168 MW.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of replacing the English language test for potential immigrants from the Patagonian Welsh community with a Welsh language test.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government immigration white paper via proposed immigration rules set out requirements in respect of applicants' English language ability.
We are continuing to give consideration to the issue of Welsh language.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to restore to their full value the pension entitlements of Allied Steel and Wire workers.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department recognises that the Allied Steel and Wire pension scheme was among the earliest of schemes to benefit from the Financial Assistance Scheme. The Minister for Pensions met with some Allied Steel and Wire workers and heard first-hand how members have been affected by aspects of the Financial Assistance Scheme, including the issue of the indexation of pre-1997 pension accruals.
The erosion of income due to the high inflation of recent years has led to this matter being considered by the Work and Pensions Select Committee (WPSC) in its recent inquiry into Defined Benefit pension schemes. On 30 April, the Government response to the recommendations in the WPSC’s report was published.
The government will consider and reflect on what we have heard on the issue of Pension Protection Fund and Financial Assistance Scheme rules on the indexation of pre-1997 pension accruals. Any change in this area has significant implications on public finances for both the taxpayer funded Financial Assistance Scheme and for the levy funded Pension Protection Fund. These are complex matters requiring a balanced approach for those receiving compensation, levy payers and taxpayers. This is an important issue and one where we will continue to work with the Pension Protection Fund.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to revise section 19 of the Transport Act 1985 to require those driving school minibuses to hold a professional driving qualification or equivalent.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Transport Act 1985 permit system was designed to recognise the value of not-for profit organisations that provide services for community, social and charitable benefit including schools and the wider education sector.
Whilst there are no immediate plans to alter the section 19 and section 22 permit system, ensuring the arrangements work well and are safe is something that is regularly under consideration.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Welsh Government concerning the transfer of responsibility for the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh Government.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government at official and ministerial level. I met with Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, on 27th February, where we discussed the Welsh Government’s request that the UK Government considers devolution of the management of The Crown Estate in Wales.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will prohibit the export of arms to Israel until the government of Israel allows deliveries of food and medicines to Gaza.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In September, we suspended all licences for exports of items for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) that might be used in military operations in Gaza, subject to the specific measures announced in Parliament with respect to the global F-35 programme.
Of the remaining licences for Israel, the vast majority are either for civilian purposes, including scientific equipment and body armour for journalists or NGOs, or for components for products for re-export to other countries.
We have taken the same approach to new licence applications since September, refusing any licences for items that could be used in military operations in Gaza.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the increase in volume of beef produced in the United States which will be sold in the UK as a result of the US–UK Economic Prosperity Deal.
Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The United States is the largest single country partner for both UK exports and imports into the UK.
On 8 May the UK government announced a landmark economic deal with the US. We agreed new reciprocal market access on beef – with UK farmers given a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports at a very low tariff rate. Imports of hormone treated beef will remain illegal. Our approach to this trade deal has ensured that agricultural imports coming into the UK meet the highest food standards.
This government will continue to act in Britain’s national interest – for workers, for business and for families.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of reactor-produced radioisotopes used for treatment of cancer in the UK are provided from (1) the European Union, (2) Australia, (3) Argentina, and (4) the rest of the world.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Medical radioisotopes can be produced in different ways and the cyclotrons used in the United Kingdom produce a small supply of medical radioisotopes, mainly for diagnostic use. This is because the cyclotrons used in the UK supply relatively low-level radioactive material which is best suited for imaging and diagnosis. For therapeutics, particle emitting radioisotopes tend to be used. For UK use, these are mainly manufactured in research reactors, and there are currently no reactors in the UK that manufacture these isotopes. Research reactors can also supply medical radioisotopes for imaging and diagnosis.
Medical radioisotopes are purchased from suppliers on trust and hospital levels, and the Department has not made a systematic review of the origin country for these products.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of medical radioisotopes used to treat cancer in the UK are produced by (1) a reactor-based method, and (2) close to hospital cyclotron manufacture.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Medical radioisotopes can be produced in different ways and the cyclotrons used in the United Kingdom produce a small supply of medical radioisotopes, mainly for diagnostic use. This is because the cyclotrons used in the UK supply relatively low-level radioactive material which is best suited for imaging and diagnosis. For therapeutics, particle emitting radioisotopes tend to be used. For UK use, these are mainly manufactured in research reactors, and there are currently no reactors in the UK that manufacture these isotopes. Research reactors can also supply medical radioisotopes for imaging and diagnosis.
Medical radioisotopes are purchased from suppliers on trust and hospital levels, and the Department has not made a systematic review of the origin country for these products.