My Lords, as a previous Pensions Minister, I am aware of how difficult it is to persuade young people in particular to make proper pensions provision. The danger of a scandal such as this, caused by Capita, is that confidence in the pensions system is undermined. Can my noble friend...

My Lords, as a previous Pensions Minister, I am aware of how difficult it is to persuade young people in particular to make proper pensions provision. The danger of a scandal such as this, caused by Capita, is that confidence in the pensions system is undermined. Can my noble friend...

My Lords, does my noble friend the Minister agree that, as well as looking at national infrastructure, it is important to get companies involved locally through organisations such as UTCs, as in Doncaster, where they have been very effective by not only having career guidance but putting on courses that are relevant to the local area? Combined with that, could more be done through local procurement, with local authorities, for example, requiring more apprentices to be employed?

My Lords, does my noble friend the Minister agree that, as well as looking at national infrastructure, it is important to get companies involved locally through organisations such as UTCs, as in Doncaster, where they have been very effective by not only having career guidance but putting on courses that are relevant to the local area? Combined with that, could more be done through local procurement, with local authorities, for example, requiring more apprentices to be employed?

My Lords, following on from the extraordinary explanation by the noble Lord, Lord Patel, of the background and the need for specialist centres, would a pilot project undertaken by NHS research help, in case there are any delays in assessing the information before us? This is something that the NHS should do more often—specific pilot projects to see how something works in practice.

My Lords, following on from the extraordinary explanation by the noble Lord, Lord Patel, of the background and the need for specialist centres, would a pilot project undertaken by NHS research help, in case there are any delays in assessing the information before us? This is something that the NHS should do more often—specific pilot projects to see how something works in practice.

My Lords, I was an OSCE observer last week at the elections in Armenia. Initial reports show that, although there was significant Russian interference, particularly on social media, its effect was mitigated because there was a very effective public education campaign. Will my noble friend the Minister therefore look at what this Government can do to educate the public about the dangers of foreign interference and the difference between information and misinformation from foreign sources?

My Lords, I was an OSCE observer last week at the elections in Armenia. Initial reports show that, although there was significant Russian interference, particularly on social media, its effect was mitigated because there was a very effective public education campaign. Will my noble friend the Minister therefore look at what this Government can do to educate the public about the dangers of foreign interference and the difference between information and misinformation from foreign sources?

My Lords, it can often be the case that the people who might benefit most from donations such as this are not always aware of the positioning of them. I wonder whether more could be done with local authorities to ensure that there is good signposting for people—perhaps, as the Minister said, through family hubs or schools—so that people know where to go in order to benefit from these donations.

My Lords, it can often be the case that the people who might benefit most from donations such as this are not always aware of the positioning of them. I wonder whether more could be done with local authorities to ensure that there is good signposting for people—perhaps, as the Minister said, through family hubs or schools—so that people know where to go in order to benefit from these donations.

My Lords, does my noble friend the Minister agree that one of the real problems in these areas is criminal gangs that operate by setting out false promises to very vulnerable people, especially in areas such as Bangladesh? Is there more we can do at the international level to tackle these criminal gangs through the use of intelligence and cross-border working?

My Lords, does my noble friend the Minister agree that one of the real problems in these areas is criminal gangs that operate by setting out false promises to very vulnerable people, especially in areas such as Bangladesh? Is there more we can do at the international level to tackle these criminal gangs through the use of intelligence and cross-border working?

My Lords, as a member of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I have recently been involved in election monitoring programmes, for example in Moldova, so I am very aware of the threat of cyber attacks that the noble Lord raised. When the Minister looks at the security of digital voting systems, can she draw on the experience of organisations such as the OSCE, so that—even though she says we may not be use them at the moment—we can make sure that our systems are watertight and safe from cyber attacks in the future?

My Lords, as a member of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I have recently been involved in election monitoring programmes, for example in Moldova, so I am very aware of the threat of cyber attacks that the noble Lord raised. When the Minister looks at the security of digital voting systems, can she draw on the experience of organisations such as the OSCE, so that—even though she says we may not be use them at the moment—we can make sure that our systems are watertight and safe from cyber attacks in the future?

My Lords, it is very welcome that the rates of illegal use have gone down and convictions have gone up. But, following on from the points made by the noble Lord, Lord Storey, does my noble friend the Minister agree that there can be a tension between young people seeking help or

wanting to report a crime and a fear of prosecution when doing so? Can he ensure that there are ways to overcome that tension—perhaps through confidential helplines or specially designated teachers, police officers or social workers—ensuring that people can come forward for help or to report issues without fearing that they might be prosecuted?

My Lords, it is very welcome that the rates of illegal use have gone down and convictions have gone up. But, following on from the points made by the noble Lord, Lord Storey, does my noble friend the Minister agree that there can be a tension between young people seeking help or

wanting to report a crime and a fear of prosecution when doing so? Can he ensure that there are ways to overcome that tension—perhaps through confidential helplines or specially designated teachers, police officers or social workers—ensuring that people can come forward for help or to report issues without fearing that they might be prosecuted?

My Lords, my noble friend the Minister speaks about the arrival of young children in primary school. Does she recognise the key role that school nurses and educational psychologists can play in delivering care to younger people and support and advice to families? Will she ensure that the Department of Health and regional and local health boards are involved in the strategy?

My Lords, my noble friend the Minister speaks about the arrival of young children in primary school. Does she recognise the key role that school nurses and educational psychologists can play in delivering care to younger people and support and advice to families? Will she ensure that the Department of Health and regional and local health boards are involved in the strategy?

My Lords, the approach that my noble friend the Minister has outlined regarding migraine care is very welcome. The 10-year plan also talks about cholesterol management due to its links to cardiovascular disease, but the plan can quite often be confusing for the patient in terms of the care that is provided. A simple example would be suggesting that cheese is bad for cholesterol but good for osteoporosis. HEART UK has therefore raised the fact that there should be a holistic approach to the patient. Can my noble friend make sure this happens in the 10-year plan and the delivery of it?

My Lords, the approach that my noble friend the Minister has outlined regarding migraine care is very welcome. The 10-year plan also talks about cholesterol management due to its links to cardiovascular disease, but the plan can quite often be confusing for the patient in terms of the care that is provided. A simple example would be suggesting that cheese is bad for cholesterol but good for osteoporosis. HEART UK has therefore raised the fact that there should be a holistic approach to the patient. Can my noble friend make sure this happens in the 10-year plan and the delivery of it?

My Lords, initiatives such as “health on the high street” in Doncaster, where the NHS uses buildings in the city centre to provide scans, blood tests and physiotherapy, are a very good way of drawing people into the city centre and regenerating the area. Will my noble friend the Minister talk with the NHS and other departments about how initiatives such as this can be spread to other areas and help with overall regeneration?

My Lords, initiatives such as “health on the high street” in Doncaster, where the NHS uses buildings in the city centre to provide scans, blood tests and physiotherapy, are a very good way of drawing people into the city centre and regenerating the area. Will my noble friend the Minister talk with the NHS and other departments about how initiatives such as this can be spread to other areas and help with overall regeneration?

My Lords—

My Lords—

Does my noble friend the Minister agree that one of the key achievements of the last Labour Government was free entry into museums, which had a huge effect on boosting tourism? Can she assure me that this Labour Government will continue to do all they can to boost tourism in that way and keep free entry to museums and other cultural visitor attractions in this country?

Does my noble friend the Minister agree that one of the key achievements of the last Labour Government was free entry into museums, which had a huge effect on boosting tourism? Can she assure me that this Labour Government will continue to do all they can to boost tourism in that way and keep free entry to museums and other cultural visitor attractions in this country?

My Lords, as the UK trade envoy for Bangladesh, I am very aware of the need for accurate information about and strong promotion of the opportunities for foreign investment in the UK. Our diplomatic missions across the world do brilliant work on this, which I have seen at first hand. Can my noble friend the Minister assure me that the Office for Investment will continue to support these diplomatic missions in the work that they do and make the Treasury aware that funding those diplomatic missions in this work is very good value for money?

My Lords, as the UK trade envoy for Bangladesh, I am very aware of the need for accurate information about and strong promotion of the opportunities for foreign investment in the UK. Our diplomatic missions across the world do brilliant work on this, which I have seen at first hand. Can my noble friend the Minister assure me that the Office for Investment will continue to support these diplomatic missions in the work that they do and make the Treasury aware that funding those diplomatic missions in this work is very good value for money?

My Lords, local councils are huge employers, so will my noble friend the Minister use the opportunity of these reorganisation discussions to emphasise the part that local authorities can play in training and apprenticeships, both in-house and through their procurement practices?

My Lords, local councils are huge employers, so will my noble friend the Minister use the opportunity of these reorganisation discussions to emphasise the part that local authorities can play in training and apprenticeships, both in-house and through their procurement practices?

My Lords, is the Minister aware that some real problems can be caused by Lime bikes and rental bikes? If a cyclist causes an accident or injury and the person using the bike is underage or the bike is stolen, there is no insurance cover and the companies refuse to take responsibility for the accident. Will the Minister look at what can be done to rectify this matter? It has caused some real problems, particularly here in the capital, and these companies need to take responsibility.

My Lords, is the Minister aware that some real problems can be caused by Lime bikes and rental bikes? If a cyclist causes an accident or injury and the person using the bike is underage or the bike is stolen, there is no insurance cover and the companies refuse to take responsibility for the accident. Will the Minister look at what can be done to rectify this matter? It has caused some real problems, particularly here in the capital, and these companies need to take responsibility.

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My Lords—

My Lords, I am glad to hear that my noble friend the Minister thinks that changes could be made to the system to make it fairer. However, does she agree that it is not sensible to think that there was a golden era when everybody went to university without worry? I went to university during a time when there were maintenance grants, but there was huge pressure in those times, particularly on people from lower incomes whose parents could not afford to put the top-ups in. We need to remember that when we consider the changes that need to be made. If she can make it fairer, that is good, but do not imagine that there was some previous time when everything was wonderful.

My Lords, I am glad to hear that my noble friend the Minister thinks that changes could be made to the system to make it fairer. However, does she agree that it is not sensible to think that there was a golden era when everybody went to university without worry? I went to university during a time when there were maintenance grants, but there was huge pressure in those times, particularly on people from lower incomes whose parents could not afford to put the top-ups in. We need to remember that when we consider the changes that need to be made. If she can make it fairer, that is good, but do not imagine that there was some previous time when everything was wonderful.

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, my noble friend the Minister has outlined very clearly what a great opportunity this target is, for not only local jobs but local training schemes and use of local materials in building the houses. She mentioned local authorities, but what discussions are being held with developers and housebuilders to ensure that they commit to using local labour, putting on proper training schemes and using local materials whenever they can?

My Lords, my noble friend the Minister has outlined very clearly what a great opportunity this target is, for not only local jobs but local training schemes and use of local materials in building the houses. She mentioned local authorities, but what discussions are being held with developers and housebuilders to ensure that they commit to using local labour, putting on proper training schemes and using local materials whenever they can?