What's on in the Lords 2-6 December
6 December 2024
Questions
This week members press the government on improving food security, illegal migrant returns agreements, encouraging new businesses, productivity in the UK economy, and the cancellation of train services due to staff shortages.
Bills
Lords begins line by line examination of the Great British Energy Bill and Data (Use and Access) Bill, and continues checks on the Football Governance Bill.
Debates
Tune in for discussions on housing supply and tackling homelessness, retail crime, and the annual advent debate, put forward by the Archbishop of York, on the importance of social cohesion during periods of change and global uncertainty.
Committees
- Focusing on the economic potential of AI and creative technology, the Communications and Digital Committee hears from industry experts.
- The Economic Affairs Committee speaks to Alison McGovern MP, Minister for Employment, as part of its work on economic inactivity.
- The Constitution Committee hosts Lord Sedwill, former cabinet secretary and national security adviser, for its inquiry into the responsibility for the UK Constitution.
Read on for more.
Friday
From 10am
Debates
The annual advent debate, put forward by the Archbishop of York, focusses on the importance of social cohesion and strong, supportive community life during periods of change and global uncertainty.
Catch up
Monday
From 2.30pm
Questions
The Lords questioned the government on:
- design and manufacturing of modular reactors
- NHS 10 Year Plan
- humanist marriages
- food security.
Statement
Members pressed the government following a statement on UK leadership on Sudan.
Legislation
Lords continued to check the Football Governance Bill, plus committee stage scrutiny of private members' bills on support for women in conflict prevention and investment companies began.
Orders and regulations
From 3.45pm in Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, members considered regulations on:
- greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme
- contracts for difference
- Financial Services and Markets Act 2023
- international passenger services
- search, seizure and detention of property (Northern Ireland).
Tuesday
From 2.30pm
Questions
House of Lords pressed the government on:
- Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
- net zero carbon emissions
- illegal migrant returns agreements
- fibre optic cables in the Baltic Sea.
Statements
Members also quizzed the government following statements on anti-social behaviour and northwest Syria.
Legislation
Members began line by line check of the Great British Energy Bill.
From 3.45pm in Grand Committee, members scrutinised the Data (Use and Access) Bill.
Wednesday
From 3pm
Questions
Members quizzed the government on:
- encouraging new businesses
- attractiveness of higher education sector
- Shared Prosperity Fund
- political situation in Georgia.
Legislation
Lords continued checks of the Football Governance Bill.
Debates
Provision of fracture liaison services in England was on the agenda.
Thursday
From 11am
Questions
House of Lords drew attention to:
- productivity in the UK economy
- government housebuilding targets
- shortage of train crew
- donations to political parties.
Debates
Housing supply and tackling homelessness, physician associate and anaesthetist associate roles, and retail crime were all in the spotlight 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.
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Image credit: House of Lords / Roger Harris