What's on in the Lords 14-18 October
11 October 2024
Questions
This week members press the government on processed sugar in food and drink, current negotiations on ending the situation in Gaza, creative arts tax reliefs, the use of biocidal products in hand and body washes, and the regulation of artificial intelligence.
Bills
Members check and change the Crown Estate Bill and Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill at committee stage.
Debates
External auditing deficiencies, the Infected Blood Inquiry, priorities for rural communities, Lords report on electric vehicles, UN sustainable development goals, and the 40th anniversary of the Ethiopian famine are all on the agenda.
Committees
- As part of its inquiry into engineering biology, the Science and Technology Committee hears from Sir Patrick Vallance, now Lord Vallance of Balham, as Minister of State for Science.
- In the final evidence session of its inquiry on the future of news, the Communications and Digital Committee takes evidence from government ministers.
- The Financial Services Regulation Committee continues its work on the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority’s secondary competitiveness and growth objective.
Read on for more.
Thursday
From 11am
Questions
The House of Lords questions the government on:
- equality in schools
- zero emission vehicle targets
- regulation of artificial intelligence
- fourth question to be determined.
Debates
The UN sustainable development goals, implications of levying VAT on independent schools, and the 40th anniversary of the Ethiopian famine are all on the agenda.
Friday
From 10am
Legislation
Members debate the key principles of the following private members' bills:
- Education (Values of British Citizenship) Bill.
- Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill.
- Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill.
- Environmental Targets (Public Authorities) Bill.
Catch up
Monday
From 2.30pm
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- conduct in the Lords chamber
- processed sugar in food and drink
- Independent Pornography Review
- negotiations in Gaza.
Legislation
Members began their line by line check of the Crown Estate Bill at committee stage.
Debates
House of Lords debated external auditing deficiencies.
From 3.45pm in Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, members debated the Immigration (Guidance on Detention of Vulnerable Persons) Regulations 2024.
Tuesday
From 2.30pm
Questions
The House of Lords quizzed the government on:
- Procurement Act 2023
- Council of Europe Framework Convention
- arts, music, and performance tax reliefs
- fourth question to be determined.
Statement and urgent question
Members pressed the government following an urgent question on border checks in Gilbraltar and a statement on Afghan relocations.
Debates
The response to the Infected Blood Inquiry and priorities for rural communities were both on the agenda in Lords debates.
Orders and regulations
From 3.45pm
Members considered regulations on:
- Russia sanctions
- Syria sanctions
- social security.
Wednesday
From 3pm
Questions
Members pressed the government on:
- humanist weddings
- use of biocidal products
- medical product liability
- fourth question to be determined.
Urgent question
Members also quizzed the government following an urgent question on Gaza and Lebanon.
Legislation
Members considered the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill at committee stage.
Debate
The report from the Environment and Climate Change Committee 'EV strategy: rapid recharge needed' was in the spotlight.
Get involved
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