House of Lords pauses for summer recess
26 July 2012 (updated on 26 July 2012)
Since the new parliamentary session started on 9 May, the House of Lords has been scrutinising several new public bills, including:
Financial Services Bill
Members of the Lords turned their attentions to LIBOR and financial regulation, during their debates on the Financial Services Bill. They also focused on the role of a new body called the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which will replace the existing Financial Services Authority (FSA).
Lords continues with committee stage day six after the summer recess. The next debate is scheduled for Monday 8 October (business dates are subject to change).
Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill
Fairer terms for suppliers to large supermarkets, including rates for dairy farmers, were debated in the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill. The bill proposes that a new groceries code is introduced to the UK's 10 'large' retailers.
Members fine-tuned the bill during third reading on Tuesday 24 July. The bill will be reprinted including Lords' amendments and considered by the House of Commons after summer recess.
Justice and Security Bill
The bill, looking at using sensitive material in secret hearings, completed committee stage in the House of Lords on Monday 23 July. Members will have a further opportunity to debate the bill in report stage after recess.
Crime and Courts Bill
This bill looking at setting up a National Crime Agency continues its committee stage with day seven on 9 October.
Lords news: Crime and Courts Bill
Electoral Registration and Administration Bill
This constitiutional bill had its second reading - the first chance for members to debate general aspects of the bill - on Tuesday 24 July. Committee stage and line by line scrutiny of the registration of electors and the administration and conduct of elections begins after summer recess.
Lords focuses on London 2012
Lords members are busy focusing on health and exercise in the run up to then London 2012 Olympic Games in their committee work. The Science and Technology Committee recently published a new report looking building on the Olympic legacy.
Lords continues committee work
The Science and Technology Committee also published a new report looking at how to encourage young people to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Other important inquiries that have taken place include adoption reform, by the Adoption Legislation Committee and research into women on company boards and boardroom diversity by the EU Sub-Committee B - Internal Market, Infrastructure and Employment.
The Lords introduced a new committee on 29 May. The Committee on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises will consider and make recommendations for assistance and promotion of the export of products and services by small and medium sized enterprises.
Lords committees continue their work into the first week in August when the Communications Committee publishes a report on superfast broadband.
As recess continues into September, Lords EU Sub-Committee D - Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Energy will publish a report on the EU Sugar Regime.
Aung San Suu Kyi's visit
The Burmese parliamentarian Aung San Suu Kyi addressed Lords and MPs in Westminster Hall as part of her UK visit on 21 June.