What's on in the Lords 21-25 October
18 October 2024
Questions
This week members quiz the government on preventing former prisoners from reoffending, reducing absenteeism in schools, the impact of the benefit cap on child poverty, decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines in Scotland, and special educational needs.
Bills
Members check and change the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill and Crown Estate Bill, debate the key principles of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill and 'tidy up' the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill.
Debates
The impact of the government's climate policies, funding for hospices, contribution of special needs schools to the education sector, and the current situation in Ukraine are all on the agenda.
Committees
- The Science and Technology Committee speaks to Professor Dame Angela McLean, the government chief scientific adviser.
- The Financial Services Regulation Committee continues its work on the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority’s secondary competitiveness and growth objective.
- As part of its inquiry on interpreting and translation services in the courts, the Public Services Committee hears from experts at the Bar Council and the Law Society.
Read on for more.
Friday
From 10am
Debates
The current situation in Ukraine is on the agenda in Lords debates.
Catch up
Monday
From 2.30pm
Questions
Members pressed the government on:
- reoffending prisoners
- early years provision
- building of new social homes
- VAT on independent school fees.
Statement
Members quizzed the government following a statement on the government's childcare expansion.
Legislation
Members began line by line check of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill.
Orders and regulations
Members considered a 'motion to regret' the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2024, put forward by Baroness Brinton. Baroness Brinton's motion proposed that family members and carers affected by the scandal are not included in the regulations.
After debate, the motion was withdrawn.
Plus in Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, Russia and Iran sanctions were on the agenda.
Debates
From 3.45pm in Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, members debated the draft Pensions Regulator’s Defined Benefit Funding Code of Practice 2024.
Tuesday
From 2.30pm
Questions
The House of Lords questioned the government on:
- absenteeism in schools
- implementation of 'Awaab’s Law'
- impact of the benefit cap on child poverty
- waste incineration.
Statements and urgent questions
Members pressed the government during a Private Notice Question on police firearms officers, asked by former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Lord Hogan-Howe.
Plus, the House debated St Helena immigration and capacity of the criminal justice system.
Legislation
Members 'tidied up' the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill, continued check and change of the Crown Estate Bill, and discussed the key principles of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill.
Orders and regulations
From 3.45pm in Grand Committee, members considered regulations on:
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
- Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002
- Armed Forces Act 2006
- naloxone
- human fertilisation and embryology
- Government of Wales Act 2006.
Wednesday
From 3pm
Questions
Members pressed the government on:
- public sector productivity
- decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines in Scotland
- land purchased for HS2
- Ukraine.
Statement
Members quizzed the government on prison capacity.
Legislation
Members continued line by line check of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill.
Orders and regulations
Members considered a 'motion to annul' the Windsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme: Plant and Animal Health) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2024, put forward by Baroness Hoey.
Debates
From 4.15pm in Grand Committee, members discussed International Agreements Committee reports on amendments to the UK-US mutual defence agreement, and the treaty on AUKUS naval nuclear propulsion.
Thursday
From 11am
Questions
The House of Lords questioned the government on:
- special educational needs
- protecting the rights of EU citizens in the UK
- UK and Scottish government minister relations
- Houthi attacks on global shipping.
Debates
The government's climate agenda, hospice funding, and the contribution of special needs schools to the education sector were all on the agenda.
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Watch
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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
