What's on in the Lords 27-30 November
24 November 2023 (updated on 24 November 2023)
Questions
This week members question the government on the graduate jobs market, support for peace and democracy in Sudan, reform within the Metropolitan Police, support for children affected by climate change, and English flood defence systems.
Debates
Members will debate the Autumn Statement, NHS performance and waiting times, early years education, and the removal of free prescriptions for benefit claimants who fail to look for work.
Bills
The main debate of the Automated Vehicles Bill is coming up on Tuesday.
Committees
- The International Agreements Committee continues its inquiry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership.
- The Communications and Digital Committee looks further into large language models.
- The International Relations and Defence Committee discusses the UK and the Western Balkans.
Read on for more.
Thursday
From 11am
Questions
The Lords will question the government on:
- hydrogen-powered aircraft transport in the UK
- child labour mining in the Republic of the Congo
- quality of English flood defences
- residential leasehold for flats.
Debates
Members will debate:
- the 75th anniversary of the NHS
- the removal of free prescriptions for benefit claimants
- early years education.
Catch up
Monday
Questions
Members pressed the government on:
- the jobs market for graduates
- peace and democracy in Sudan
- simplifying rail fares
- Metropolitan Police reform.
Regulations
The House of Lords debated regulations on:
- identity verification services
- health protections
- care provider selection
- the wine sector
- countryside right of way
- scientific age imaging
- immigration age assessments
- public service obligations in transport
- vehicle emissions trading schemes
- recognition of professional qualifications.
Motions to regret
Countryside and rights of way
The House debated two motions to regret countryside and rights of way regulations.
- Read the regret motion from Baroness Hayman of Ullock.
- Read the regret motion from Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts.
Scientific age imaging
Following the debate on scientific age imaging regulations, members discussed a motion to regret the regulations, put forward by Baroness Brinton. Members voted 165 in favour of the motion and 86 against.
Immigration age assessments
Members also considered regulations relating to the scientific methods that may be used for age assessments of those subject to immigration control, in a motion to regret put forward by Baroness Brinton. Members voted 164 in for and 75 against.
Tuesday
Questions
The House questioned the government on:
- commitments to the Windrush Generation
- children affected by conflict and climate change
- Birmingham City Council's Highways Infrastructure Private Finance Initiative
- COP28.
Legislation
Members debated the key principles of the Automated Vehicles Bill at second reading.
Regulations
In Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, members debated regulations on:
Wednesday
Questions
Members quizzed the government on:
- maximum limit for political parties to spend at general elections
- Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris in 2024
- the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps
- net migration figures.
Debate
The House debated the Autumn Statement.
Regulations
In Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, members debated the report from the COVID-19 Committee: Living in a COVID World: A Long-term Approach to Resilience and Wellbeing.
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
