What's on in the Lords 4-8 December
1 December 2023
Questions
This week members press the government on safe air travel for disabled passengers, further UK legislation to regulate AI, reducing violence against women and girls, home ownership among 25-34 year olds, and support for classical music.
Debates
Members will debate the importance of safeguarding children in schools and the UK's relationship with the countries of Latin America.
Bills
The main debate of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill is coming up on Tuesday, and line by line examination of the Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill begins on Thursday.
Committees
- The Built Environment Committee continues its inquiry into modern methods of construction and hears from experts in housing development.
- The Constitution Committee hears from Simon Hoare MP for a short inquiry into the impact of voter ID and lessons to be learned ahead of an election year.
- The Public Services Committee is focusing on young disabled people’s experiences during the transition from education to employment.
Read on for more.
Catch up
Monday
Questions
The House questioned the government on:
- safe air travel for disabled passengers
- further UK legislation to regulate AI
- deportation of asylum seekers deemed dangerous
- reducing violence against women and girls.
Motions to regret
Members debated three motions to regret on:
Regulations
The House also considered regulations on:
Tuesday
Questions
Members quizzed the government on:
- increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections in England
- hotel accommodation for asylum seekers
- regulation of AI used by the Department for Work and Pensions
- report by Cancer Research UK
Members asked four questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton on:
- humanitarian and economic support to Ukraine
- restoring democracy and releasing political prisoners in Belarus
- deportation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan
- UK-EU relationship
Legislation
The Lords debated the key principles of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill at second reading.
Wednesday
From 3pm
Questions
Members quizzed the government on:
- appointment of a Children’s Minister
- House of Lords Appointments Commission
- home ownership among 25-34 age group
- comments by the COP28 President.
Regulations
Following questions, members debated secondary legislation on minimum service levels during strike action.
Topics in the spotlight include:
- Reasonable steps unions should take to comply with the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.
- Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle tabled a motion to decline these regulations.
- Lord Collins of Highbury tabled a motion to regret these regulations.
- NHS ambulance services during strike action.
- Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle tabled a motion to decline these regulations.
- Baroness Merron tabled a motion to regret these regulations.
- Border security during strike action.
- Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle tabled a motion to decline these regulations.
- Lord Coaker tabled a motion to regret these regulations.
- Minimum services levels during passenger rail strikes.
- Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle tabled a motion to decline these regulations.
- Lord Liddle has tabled a motion to regret these regulations.
From 4.15pm
In Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, members considered regulations on:
Thursday
From 11am
Questions
The Lords questioned the government on:
- investment for education in the nuclear energy sector
- Universal Credit
- support for classical music
- Ministry of Defence’s Equipment Plan 2023 to 2033.
Debates
Members debated:
- the importance of safeguarding children in schools
- the UK's relationship with the countries of Latin America.
Legislation
The House began line by line examination of the Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill.
Friday
From 10am
Debate
Members debated:
- Love Matters, the report of the Archbishops' Commission on Families and Households, in a debate led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
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Watch
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Read
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Image credit: House of Lords / Roger Harris
