Lords continues detailed check of Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill

The  Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill will support the government’s commitment to reducing geographical disparities between different parts of the UK by spreading opportunity more equally. The bill will also require the government to report annually on its progress, support the devolution of powers in England and create a framework for the delivery of green homes.

Line by line examination

Committee stage is the first chance for line by line check of the bill. 

Proposed changes

Ten days of committee stage have been scheduled so far: 

• Monday 20 February
• Wednesday 22 February
• Monday 27 February 
• Monday 13 March
• Wednesday 15 March
• Monday 20 March
• Wednesday 22 March
• Monday 27 March
• Tuesday 18 April
• Thursday 20 April*

*schedule is subject to change

Wednesday 22 March

Members speaking on day seven of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill to be discussed. These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

• climate and environment duties in local planning policy
• second homes and holiday lets
• consultations between the Secretary of State and local authorities.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV (part one and part two)
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (part one and part two)

Explore further information

Read background on the bill in the House of Lords Library Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill briefing.

Next steps

Committee stage continues on Monday 27 March when further amendments will be discussed.

How to follow

• Read the text of proposed changes
• Watch live on Parliament TV from 3.15pm
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (available from three hours after the debate)

What's happened so far?

Committee stage day six: Monday 20 March

Members speaking on day six of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) to the bill to be discussed. These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

• powers for local authorities and other bodies to dispose of surplus land
• managing short-term lets and empty dwellings, and tackling under investment by landlords
• changing the names of streets
• ensuring consultations by local authorities are impartial and conducted by independent third parties.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV (part one and part two)
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (part one and part two)

Committee stage day five: Wednesday 15 March

Members speaking on day five of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill to be discussed. These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

• local policing provisions
• services provided by district councils
• devolution of fiscal powers.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV (part one and part two)
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (part one and part two)

Committee stage day four: Monday 13 March

Members speaking on day four of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) to the bill to be discussed. 

These amendments cover a range of subjects, including: 

• scrutiny of combined county authorities (CAAs)
• transferring NHS responsibilities to local government.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV (part one and part two)
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (part one and part two)

Committee stage day three: Monday 27 February

Members speaking on day three of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) to the bill to be discussed. 

These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

• local authority spending on levelling-up consultations
• support for proposed regulations from local residents 
• environmental impact assessments.

Catch up 

• Catch up on Parliament TV (part one and part two)
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (part one and part two)

Committee stage day two: Wednesday 22 February

Members speaking on day two of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) to the bill to be discussed. 

These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

• the impact of levelling-up missions on reducing geographical disparities across the UK
• the distribution of levelling-up funding
• reviewing the effectiveness of the levelling-up fund bidding process.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV (part one and part two)
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (part one and part two)

Committee stage day one: Monday 20 February

Members speaking on day one of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) to the bill to be discussed. 

These amendments covered a range of subjects, including: 

• reducing geographical disparities
• reducing child poverty
• defining the government's levelling-up missions
• making net zero a goal of all levelling-up missions.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV (part one and part two)
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (part one and part two)

Second reading: Tuesday 17 January

Members discussed the main issues in the bill and drew attention to specific areas where they thought amendments (changes) were needed during second reading. Topics covered during the debate included: 

• town and country planning
• local democracy 
• the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Members speaking

Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Conservative), Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, opened the debate and responded on behalf of the government. 

Members speaking in the debate included: 

• Lord Best (Crossbench), chair of the University of Oxford Commission on Creating Healthy Cities
• Lord Inglewood (Non-affiliated), chair of the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership
• Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green), former chair of the GLA Planning and Housing Committee
• Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative), president of Yorkshire First - Enterprise for Yorkshire
• Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Labour), chair of the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network
• Lord Stunnell (Liberal Democrat), president of the Home Improvement Council.

Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour) and Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative) made their maiden speeches in the House of Lords during this debate.

Watch and read the debate

Find out more about the issues discussed: catch up on Parliament TV or read a transcript in Lords Hansard.

Image: Maria Godfrida / Pixabay