What's on in the Lords 20-23 June
17 June 2022
Highlights of what happened from 20-23 June:
Questions
The House questioned the government on banning attractions involving unacceptable treatment of animals, increasing the Special Educational Needs budget in the current financial year, the government’s commitment to build 300,000 new homes a year and encouraging compliance with the Convention on Human Rights in the UK and across Europe.
Bills
Members continued line by line examination of the Schools Bill at committee stage, and begin committee stage of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill.
Debates
The Lords debated the Constitution Committee's ‘COVID-19 and the use and scrutiny of emergency powers' report, and the impact on democratic processes from any reduction in standards of behaviour and honesty in political life.
Read on for more.
Catch up
Monday 20 June
Questions
Members pressed the government for 40 minutes on:
- banning the sale of activities involving unacceptable treatment of animals
- the lack of media literacy provisions in the Online Safety Bill and the imposition of an updated statutory duty on Ofcom
- increasing the Special Educational Needs budget in the current financial year, and ensuring a protected budget in the education sector
- reforming the repossession provisions of leasehold housing.
Legislation
Members examined the main purpose of the Schools Bill at committee stage.
The House agreed a motion that the Social Security (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill can progress straight to third reading on Wednesday, skipping committee stage as no changes were put forward.
Regulations
In Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, members debated the following:
Statements
Members question the government following statements on:
Tuesday 21 June
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- requiring water companies to monito the volume of sewage released
- the commitment of building 300,000 new homes a year
- processing times for spousal visas for the spouses of British citizens
- introducing a British Baccalaureate.
Regulations
Members debated regulations on abortion in Northern Ireland.
Legislation
Members of the House of Lords scrutinised the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill on day 1 of 3 of committee stage.
Debates
In Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, the Lords debated the following reports:
- ‘Covid-19 and the use and scrutiny of emergency powers' by the Constitution Committee
- ‘The Equality Act 2010: impact on disabled people: follow up report’ by the Liaison Committee.
Wednesday 22 June
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care
- whether the Ocean Surveillance Ship and National Flagship will be built concurrently
- social care assessment survey
- improving conditions for private renters.
Legislation
Members began a final ‘tidy up’ of the Social Security (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill at third reading. The Lords also continued detailed examination of the Schools Bill at committee stage.
In Grand Committee, members examined the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill at committee stage.
Thursday 23 June
Questions
Members questioned the government for 40 minutes on:
- Diabetic Prevention Programme
- support services for families with disabled children
- Convention on Human Rights in the UK and across Europe
- funding Transport for London.
Private notice question
Members pressed the government in an urgent question from Baroness Merron (Labour), on the polio virus being found in London sewerage systems.
Debates
Members debated:
- the impact on democratic processes from any reduction in standards of behaviour and honesty in political life
- stresses upon the Union of the United Kingdom.
Statements
The House questioned two government statements on:
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Image: copyright House of Lords / photography by Annabel Moeller