Four short debates in the Lords

Lords Thursday debates 

One Thursday each month, the House of Lords holds four short debates (one hour each) in Grand Committee. On Thursday 31 October from 1pm, members debated the following subjects:  

Deterrence as a defence policy

Members considered whether deterrence remains a core element of the UK's defence policy, in a debate put forward by Lord Trefgarne (Conservative). 

• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
• Read the House of Lords Library briefing on this debate. 

Alternatives to Ozempic for weight loss

Members considered the benefits of diets with adequate fat content for reducing appetite as an alternative to the use of drugs such as Ozempic, in a debate put forward by Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative). 

• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
• Read the House of Lords Library briefing on this debate. 

Government's roadmap on defence spending

Members debated the progress made in laying out the roadmap to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence, in a debate put forward by Viscount Trenchard (Conservative).

• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
• Read the House of Lords Library briefing on this debate. 

Impact of tax policy on employment

Members discussed the impact of tax policy on employment, in a debate put forward by Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative). 

• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
• Read the House of Lords Library briefing on this debate. 

Get involved 

Catch up

Watch the debates on Parliament TV.

Short debates  

Questions for Short Debate are an opportunity for members to draw the government’s attention to concerns and hold it to account. They last for about 60 minutes. A minister or spokesperson responds on behalf of the government. 

Image: House of Lords / Annabel Moeller