What's on in the Lords 18-21 July
15 July 2022
Highlights of what happened this week:
Questions
Lords questions on withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, leave for staff with caring responsibilities, employment rights for workers, airline staffing over summer and access to GPs.
Bills
Members completed report stage of the Schools Bill, continued line by line examination of the Procurement Bill, and had their first opportunity to debate the key principles of the Energy Bill and the Seafarers’ Wages Bill.
Debates
The Lords debated steps to ensure no unaccompanied children are removed to Rwanda and the Communications and Digital Committee report on digital regulation.
Read on for more.
Catch up
Monday 18 July
Questions
Members pressed the government for 40 minutes on:
- forecasts of an economic downturn
- intentions to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights
- advising Her Majesty The Queen to add “The Faithful” to her title
- misconduct hearing of former Chief Constable of Cleveland Police.
Motion to regret
The House debated regulations to prevent employment businesses from supplying agency workers to replace individuals taking part in official strikes. This motion to regret was put forward by Lord Collins of Highbury (Labour).
Legislation
Members of the House of Lords continued to examine and make changes to the Schools Bill on day 2 of report stage.
In Grand Committee, members continued line by line examination of the Procurement Bill on day 5 of committee stage.
Tuesday 19 July
Questions
Members questioned the government for 40 minutes on:
- leave for government staff with caring responsibilities
- improving employment rights for workers
- airline staffing over summer
- penalties for environmental pollution by water companies.
Urgent question repeats
Members quizzed the government's answers to two urgent questions on:
Legislation
Members debated the main principles and purpose of the Energy Bill at second reading.
Regulations
The House considered Building Safety (Leaseholder Protections) regulations in the main chamber.
In Grand Committee, members debated regulations on:
- observing court and tribunal proceedings remotely
- money laundering and terrorist financing
- merchant shipping
- chemicals (health and safety).
Wednesday 20 July
Questions
Members quizzed the government for 40 minutes on the following topics:
- service charges paid by leaseholders
- Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme
- policy on a future request for a referendum on Scottish independence
- Gambling White Paper.
Legislation
The House had its first chance to flag up any areas of concern with the Seafarers’ Wages Bill at second reading.
Motion to regret
The Lords debated slavery and human trafficking in a 'motion to regret' put forward by Lord Coaker (Labour).
Members voted to put on record their concerns on regulations regarding identifying and supporting victims of human trafficking.
Regulations
The House considered regulations on the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions).
Thursday 21 July
Questions
Members of the Lords questioned the government for 40 minutes on:
- making the UK a global cryptoasset technology hub
- primary care across England including GP services
- Channel 4 annual report
- Sri Lanka.
Private notice question
In an urgent question from Baroness D’Souza (Crossbench), the House quizzed government plans to alter the role or composition of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
Statements
Two statements followed on:
Short Debates
For 1 hour, the House debated steps to ensure no unaccompanied children are removed to Rwanda because they have been mistakenly assessed to be adults.
Urgent question repeat
Members quizzed government on the Net Zero Strategy following a recent High Court ruling.
Debates
The Lords debated the following topics:
- Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports and food insecurity in developing countries, including the danger of famine in Africa
- economic and social risks created by the practices of private equity.
In Grand Committee, a debate on the ‘Digital Regulation: Joined up and Accountable’ report by the Communications and Digital Committee took place.
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Image: copyright House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris