What's on in the Lords 7-10 October
4 October 2024
Questions
This week members return to the chamber to press the government on the national £2 cap on bus fares, diplomatic tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia, UK's future combat air capability, and implications of imposing VAT on school fees.
Bills
The Lords debates the key principles and main purpose of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, plus, the Water (Special Measures) Bill. Members also 'tidy up' the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill.
Debates
The Strategic Defence Review, state of social care in England, UK-EU relations, and support for farmers for their role in flood prevention are all on the agenda in Lords debates.
Committees
- The Science and Technology Committee hears from experts at the University of Oxford and Oxford BioMedica as they explore lessons from the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
- As part its inquiry on the UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement, the International Agreements Committee speaks to experts from the Ministry of Defence.
- The Financial Services Regulation Committee continues its inquiry on the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority’s secondary competitiveness and growth objective.
Read on for more.
Catch up
Monday
From 2.30pm
Questions
Members quizzed the government on:
- the UK's relationship with the European Union
- the national cap on bus fares
- diplomatic tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia
- report of the Commission on Justice in Wales.
Legislation
The House of Lords debated the key principles and main purpose of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill.
Tuesday
From 2.30pm
Questions
The Lords pressed the government on:
- UK's membership of Horizon Europe
- unresolved allegations of child sex abuse against Sir Edward Heath
- public bodies “onshoring” professional services
- Chagos Islands.
Statements
Members quizzed the government following statements on the 7 October anniversary and the Middle East, and Lord Darzi's independent investigation into the NHS.
Legislation
Members debated the main themes of the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, and 'tidied up' the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill.
Debates
From 3.45pm in Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, members discuss the review by the Conduct Committee of the House of Lords code of conduct.
Wednesday
From 3pm
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- increasing apheresis capacity in NHS hospitals in England
- Capital Gains Tax
- studying computer science at English universities
- illegal migration.
Statements
Members pressed the government during a statement on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Legislation
The House of Lords debated the key principles and main purpose of the Water (Special Measures) Bill.
Debates
Improving productivity across the public sector was on the agenda in Lords debates.
From 4.45pm in Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, members debated the Strategic Defence Review.
Thursday
From 11am
Questions
The House of Lords quizzed the government on:
- the UK's future combat air capability
- recognising Somaliland as an independent nation
- VAT on school fees
- fourth question to be determined.
Debates
The state of social care in England, support for farmers for their role in flood prevention, and UK-EU relations were all on the agenda in Lords debates.
Get involved
Watch
Questions, debates and scrutiny of legislation are streamed live online for free. Watch chamber business 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.
Follow on X
Visit @UKHouseofLords on X for highlights of each day’s work in the House.
Follow the hashtag #HouseOfLords for what’s happening, or #LordsQs for details of questions put to the government at the start of business Monday to Thursday.
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Image credit: House of Lords / Roger Harris
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