What’s on in the Lords 15-19 May
12 May 2023
Questions
Topics this week include the UK’s priorities for the Ukraine Recovery Conference, meeting NHS targets for autism diagnosis, the whistleblowing framework and preparations for COP28.
Bills
Line by line check of the Online Safety Bill continues and further check and change of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill begins.
Read on for more.
Friday
From 10am
Members will debate the key purpose of the following private members’ bills at second reading:
- Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill
- Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill
- Child Support (Enforcement) Bill
- Water Safety (Curriculum) Bill.
Catch up
Monday
From 2.30pm
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- assisting a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine
- priorities for the Ukraine Recovery Conference
- supporting the automotive manufacturing sector in the UK
- traffic delay times in London.
Legislation
After questions, members debate changes to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill at report stage.
Statement
Members pressed the government following a statement on Ukraine.
Tuesday
From 2.30pm
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- meeting NHS targets for autism diagnosis
- the whistleblowing framework
- tackling under-payment errors in state pensions
- financial support for unpaid carers.
Legislation
Members continued detailed scrutiny of the Online Safety Bill at committee stage.
Motion to regret
The House debated a ‘motion to regret’ changes of policy to the general limit on magistrates’ court powers to impose imprisonment or detention in a young offender institution. Put forward by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, the motion regrets:
- the changes have potential ramifications for slowing down the justice system for victims, witnesses and defendants
- sitting magistrates have spent thousands of hours cumulatively on training to properly sentence
and calls on the government to announce the expected date for the review of the effect of reducing sentencing powers to six months.
Regulations
From 3.45pm
Away from the chamber in Grand Committee, members considered regulations on:
- the non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment Application Scheme
- Russia sanctions
- insider dealing
- public service vehicles
- asylum seeker accommodation.
Wednesday
From 3pm
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- preparations for COP28
- repealing the Vagrancy Act 1824
- pharmacy services
- abolishing residential leasehold.
Private Notice Question
Members quizzed the government following an urgent questioned granted by the Lord Speaker on Redcar Steelworks.
Statements and urgent questions
The Lords also pressed the government on Javad Marandi, the UK car industry, rail services and bus funding.
Legislation
Report stage of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill continued.
Debates
From 4.15pm
Members debated the following committee reports:
- The UK–EU relationship in financial services from the European Affairs Committee
- The Licensing Act 2003: post-legislative scrutiny Follow-up report from the Liaison Committee
Thursday
From 11am
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- War Widow(er)’s Pensions
- poor health contributing to a rise in economic inactivity
- compliance of the national air quality strategy
- conflict in Sudan.
Legislation
Members held the key debate of the Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill at second reading and continued line by line check of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill at committee stage.
Get involved
Watch
Questions, debates and scrutiny of legislation are 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.
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Image credit: House of Lords /Roger Harris
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