COVID-19 vaccines and special educational needs in Lords questions for government
26 November 2020
At the start of business each day in the House of Lords, members question government activities and decisions in Lords Questions.
This week, from Monday 23 to Thursday 26 November, members press the government on making misogyny a hate crime, adult learning, COVID-19 vaccines and special educational needs.
Find out more: checking and challenging government
Catch up: Monday 23 November
Catch up: Tuesday 24 November
Catch up: Wednesday 25 November
Catch up: Thursday 26 November
Catch up: Monday 23 November
Baroness Donaghy (Labour) pressed the government on its plans to make misogyny a hate crime. Members discussed topics including concerns raised by charities about closed online groups inciting hatred against certain communities, a review by the Law Commission into hate crime and considering hate speech case by case.
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) questioned the government on opportunities for new entrants into farming. Members discussed subjects including protecting agricultural land and developing a skills and training career structure for UK land workers.
Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour) raised concern with the government about the future of high street travel agents. Members discussed assigning a Minister with the responsibility to oversee a support strategy for the travel sector and companies who have yet to refund their customers for cancelled holidays due to COVID-19.
Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour) challenged the government on protecting migrant women who have been subjected to domestic abuse and who have no recourse to public funds. Members discussed topics including victims of forced marriages and the timescale for applicants to receive support from the destitution domestic violence concession.
Lord Dholakia (Liberal Democrat) asked a 'Private Notice Question' (an urgent question) on the Windrush Compensation Scheme. Members discussed setting a date to resolve all outstanding compensation scheme claims, cultural change within the Home Office and when the report into racism within the Home Office will be published.
Catch up: Tuesday 24 November
Lord Shipley (Liberal Democrat) questioned the government on the benefits of adult learning delivered through the Union Learning Fund. Members discussed topics including low paid workers developing their career prospects through the Union Learning Fund and including the schemes as part of the governments levelling-up agenda.
Baroness Rawlings (Conservative) asked a question on the amount of money being spent on the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal project. Members discussed in detail different uses for the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal budget including potentially relocating the Parliamentary Archives and using the Victoria Tower Gardens during the restoration process.
Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Labour) asked the government about protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people from domestic abuse. Members discussed the varying quality of domestic abuse protection for the LGBT community across the UK and government plans to protect older LGBT people from domestic violence.
Lord Tyler (Liberal Democrat) questioned the government on whether Ministers are expected to abide by the standards of conduct in the discharge of their duties as set out in the Ministerial Code. Members discussed topics including the effects of the inquiry into bullying by the Home Secretary on Civil Service recruitment.
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench) asked the government a 'private notice question' on the war in the Ethiopian province of Tigray and government action to coordinate international action. Members discussed topics including mass migration from Ethiopia and the UK’s commitments to the genocide convention and the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund.
Catch up: Wednesday 25 November
Baroness Goudie (Labour) questioned the government on equitable access to vaccines and medical equipment to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Members discussed the UK’s participation in the COVAX scheme, the COVID-19 vaccine prioritisation and the extremely vulnerable, and the higher risks of mortality from COVID-19 caused by deprivation and ethnicity.
Baroness Humphreys (Liberal Democrat) pressed the government on its progress in establishing new lorry customs sites close to ports and near strategic road networks in Wales. Members discussed a temporary relocation of the Holyhead customs check border and the economic benefits of a customs check site on the island of Anglesey.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat) quizzed the government on its plans to review its policies towards nuclear weapons. Members discussed topics including the 2015 nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the moral implications of not outlawing nuclear weapons.
Baroness Campbell of Surbiton (Crossbench) asked the government a question on COVID-19 vaccine prioritisation for high risk under-65s ahead of lesser risk over-65s. Members discussed topics including how the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of international aid and the impact of cutting aid spending on UK support of projects such as the Humanitarian 2 Humanitarian network.
Catch up: Thursday 26 November
Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour) quizzed the government about the G7 Summit to be held in the UK in 2021. Members discussed topics including the UK’s plans for foreign aid budget cuts, adding plans to curb corporate and private tax evasion to the G7 agenda and the UK’s contribution to the Green Climate Fund.
Lord Blunkett (Labour) questioned the government on developing the SEND Futures initiative and internal review of special educational needs provision. Members discussed continuing to protect children who are currently provided for under current legislation once the SEND review is completed, provisions for young offenders with special educational needs and training teachers to better recognise special educational needs in children.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishop) questioned the government on the report by the Select Committee on the Rural Economy 'Time for a strategy for the rural economy' and a strategy for rural communities. Members discussed developing tailored infrastructure plans and policies to suit the individual needs of each community and how the move to electronic vehicles might affect low income farm workers.
Baroness Campbell of Surbiton (Crossbench) questioned the government on COVID-19 vaccine prioritisation for high risk under-65s ahead of lesser risk over-65s. Members discussed topics including plans for foreign aid spending set out in the government manifesto and the impact on the UK’s influence of other nations as a result of the proposed aid cuts.