What's on in the Lords: 22-26 February
19 February 2021
The House of Lords returns to business on Monday 22 February. During the week, members will raise concerns to government on food-related crime, access to online learning resources for students, environmental degradation, improving the fishing sector and more.
Legislative scrutiny continues as members begin the main debate on the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill, the Trade Bill returns to the House for consideration of House of Commons amendments, and line by line check and change begins on the Financial Services Bill and Non-Domestic Rating (Public Lavatories) Bill.
In the year so far, members have pressed government in more than 35 questions and examined 14 draft laws. Read more about the year so far.
Read on for more highlights of the week ahead or see a full list of the week's business.
Friday 26 February
House of Lords returns to business on Monday 1 March.
Catch up
Monday 22 February
Members pressed the government for timely answers to questions for written answer and its assessment on the level of food-related crime, in Lords questions from 1pm. They then quizzed government in a Private Notice Quesion (urgent question) on plans to donate surplus COVID-19 vaccine doses to low-income countries and following an update on housing.
Later, second reading began, a chance for members to debate the key principles and main purpose of the draft law. Members also began the line by line check of the Financial Services Bill. This took place away from the chamber in Grand Committee.
Tuesday 23 February
Business opened at 12 with Lords questions on student access to equipment for online learning and democracy in Belarus. Later, members considered House of Commons changes to the Trade Bill, discussed government updates on COVID-19 and the future of healthcare, and reviewed regulations on judicial pensions and electricity supplier payments.
Wednesday 24 February
In Lords questions at 12, members quizzed the government on its progress with the COVID-19 vaccination programme, and the relationship between pandemics and environmental degradation. Detailed consideration of the Non-Domestic Rating (Public Lavatories) Bill followed questions, and members also examined the Non-Domestic Rating (Designated Area) Regulations 2021.
- View the full calendar
- Watch on Parliament TV
- Read Lord Hansard transcripts from three hours after business
Thursday 25 February
Coastal communities, the fishing sector, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals were in the spotlight in Lords questions. Members then reviewed legislation on automatic enrolment and earnings triggers for workplace pensions, plus the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill was closely examined at committee stage and all remaining stages.
- View the full calendar
- Watch on Parliament TV
- Read Lord Hansard transcripts from three hours after business
Committees and additional business
House of Lords committees meet throughout the week. See a full list of the week's meetings.