What's on in the House of Lords: 19 - 23 April

Catch up

Monday 19 April 

Questions   

Topics covered:  

• Family policy  
• UK’s hydrogen production targets 
• Migrants from Commonwealth countries  
• Planning rules and UK’s net zero emissions targets 

Private Notice Question 

Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws raised concerns over reports that pro-democracy campaigners have been sentenced in Hong-Kong for participation in pro-democracy protests.

Urgent question repeat

The House of Lords heared updates from the government on higher education and financial compensation for university students for lost teaching and rent during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Legislation 

Members started ‘tidy up’ of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill at third reading. 

The House continued further examination (report stage) of the Financial Services Bill and began third reading of the text. 

Regulations and orders 

Away from the chamber in Grand Committee, members considered three items of secondary legislation relating to public health, civil proceedings fees and charges for single use carrier bags.  

Tuesday 20 April  

Questions   

Subjects covered:  

• Gambling policy 
• National Marriage Week 
• Supporting a gender-balanced Parliament  
• Reducing domestic air travel

Private Notice Question  

Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Labour) asks the government about its plans to reform the governance of English football to prevent the breakaway of six Premier League clubs into a European Super League.

Legislation   

The House of Lords considers House of Commons changes to the Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill and the Fire Safety Bill. Members also start final check and change (third reading) of the Non-Domestic Rating (Public Lavatories) Bill. 

Statements  

Statements allow members to debate current issues and question government actions.  

On Tuesday, members discuss a government update on COVID-19.

Debates 

In Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, the House debates government steps to protect jobs and livelihoods as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Wednesday 21 April  

The Clerk of the Parliaments announced that Lord McFall of Alcluith will be the next Lord Speaker.

Questions   

Topics covered:  

• Public emergency alert systems for mobile phones  
• UK foreign policy: Latin America 
• COVID-19 and obesity 
• COVID-19: care home visits

Statements

Statements allow members to debate current issues and question government actions.  

On Wednesday, Afghanistan and the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities were on the agenda.

Legislation   

The House considered House of Commons changes to the Domestic Abuse Bill. 

In Grand Committee, members debated the integration of policymaking in national and local government to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the UK. 

Thursday 22 April 

Questions   

Topics covered:   

• Overseas aid 
• E-scooter offences   
• Pupil Referral Units and COVID-19 
• Updating the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014

Private Notice Question  

Lord Walney questioned the government on the imprisonment of Alexei Navalny.

Legislation  

Third reading, final check and change, of the National Security and Investment Bill, Forensic Science Regulator Bill and the Highgate Cemetery Bill.  

Committee stage, line by line check, of Prisons (Substance Testing) Bill, Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Bill and Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill. 

Report stage, a chance to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes, of the Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill. 

Debates 

Members debated the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.  

In Grand Committee

Four short debates took place on:   

• The effectiveness of Body Mass Index as a medical guideline  
• The Commission on Alcohol Harm 2020 report 
• The risk of mass evictions resulting from COVID-19-related poverty  
• Declaring a biodiversity emergency  

Keep track of chamber and committee work  

Watch the work of the House of Lords on Parliament TV, or read Lord Hansard transcripts of what’s said.  

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