What's on in the Lords 14-18 March
11 March 2022
Highlights of what’s on in the House of Lords from the 14-18 March:
Questions
In questions, members press the government on supporting leaseholders with building and fire safety issues, housing for older people, the impact of inflation on benefits and more.
Bills
The House of Lords begins final check of the Nationality and Borders Bill on Monday. On Wednesday, members discuss alcohol labelling and more during further examination of the Health and Care Bill.
Debates
The House of Lords International Women’s Day debate on the UK’s role in furthering and protecting the equality of women is coming up on Thursday.
Read on for more.
Friday 18 March
From 10am
Legislation
Members will tidy up the following private members’ bills at third reading:
The House will then debate the key principles and purpose of the following bills at second reading:
- Cultural Objects (Protection from Seizure) Bill
- Down Syndrome Bill
- Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill
- Animals (Penalty Notices) Bill.
Catch up
Monday 14 March
Questions
Members questioned the government for 40 minutes on:
- online radio services and smart speakers
- support for leaseholders with building and fire safety issues
- COVID-19 restrictions
- charging points for electric vehicles.
Private Notice Question
Members questioned the government on the mass execution in Saudi Arabia.
Legislation
Members considered the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Bill at second reading before conducting all of its remaining stages.
Final checks (third reading) of the Nationality and Borders Bill took place.
The House of Lords considered House of Commons changes to the National Insurance Contributions Bill.
Members began detailed examination (committee stage) of the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill before conducting all of its remaining stages.
Motion to decline to approve
The Lords debated a ‘motion to decline to approve’ draft regulations which would ease the regulatory process for the environmental release of certain genetically modified plants, for the purposes of their research and development.
Regulations
In Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, members considered the following regulations:
- human medicines (Coronavirus and Influenza)
- early access to Medicines Scheme
- revoking Coronavirus self-isolation.
Tuesday 15 March
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- housing for older people
- the reduction in payments from the Department for Transport to train operating companies
- reforming the law governing financial provision on divorce
- facilitating trains to the UK for refugees from Ukraine.
Legislation
Members ‘tidied up’ the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill at third reading.
Detailed checks of the Elections Bill continued at committee stage.
Urgent question repeat
The House quizzed the government on Shale Gas Production.
Statement
After the urgent question repeat, memebers questioned the government following a statement on the National Ship Building Strategy.
Wednesday 16 March
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- appointing a Minister for the Oceans
- the impact of inflation on the benefits received by families with children
- the impact of the suspension of the triple lock on pensions
- safegaurding stalking victims.
Legislation
Members continued further examination (report stage) of the Health and Care Bill.
Regulations
In Grand committee, the House considered secondary legislation on:
- the repeal of EU restrictions in devolution acts
- energy performance of buildings
- combined authorities borrowing money for transport functions.
Statement
Members questioned the government on the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.
Thursday 17 March
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- reducing the number of barristers leaving criminal practice
- making COVID-19 vaccinations available to athletes competing in the UK
- replacing the Young Audience Content Fund
- discussions with the US and China on Ukraine.
Legislation
The House continued detailed examination of the Elections Bill at committee stage.
Motion to regret
Members debated a ‘motion to regret’ on revoking coronavirus self-isolation regulations, on the grounds that the regulations are:
- contradictory to guidance provided by the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England on what action to take when you test positive for coronavirus
- an example of public health messaging that has caused confusion amongst the public
- financially exclusionary to those on low incomes who cannot afford either the costs of tests or to isolate without financial support.
Debate
In Grand committee, members debated International Women's Day and the UK’s role in furthering and protecting the equality of women in the UK and internationally.
- Find out more about International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month at the House of Lords.
Get involved
Watch
Questions, debates and scrutiny of legislation is streamed live online for free. Watch chamber and Lords committee meetings on Parliament TV.
Read
All business in the House of Lords chamber and in Grand Committee is transcribed and available to read from around three hours after it happens. Read it free online in Lords Hansard.
Follow on Twitter
Visit @UKHouseofLords on Twitter for highlights of each day’s work in the House.
Follow the hashtag #HouseofLords for what’s happening, or #LordsQs for details of questions put to the government at the start of business Monday to Thursday.
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Image: copyright House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris
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