The Senior Deputy Speaker — Hansard

Lords Debate 13 July 2026

In terms of our desire for clean water, can I ask that the Government work very closely with the champions of clean water—the fishing community, who are often the eyes and ears on early signs of pollution? It is important because, although we have the desire to do this, we need volunteers and others…

Lords Proceedings 13 July 2026

Farming Practices: Sustainable Farming Incentive

My Lords, I declare my farming interests. One should not be provoked by comments, but it is important that we feed the nation, and I am worried about this concern that, if you are a medium or large farmer, somehow you are the enemy. We need all farmers to ensure that we are well fed and have nationa…

Lords Proceedings 29 June 2026

Food Security

My Lords, it was your Lordships’ House that agreed that, instead of five years, as was in the Agriculture Bill, we should consider these matters every three years. It is very important for His Majesty’s Government to keep this under review, because we are in an even more volatile situation: I ask th…

Lords Proceedings 18 June 2026

Livestock Grazing on Dartmoor National Park

My Lords, I ask the Minister to reflect on the importance of balance in the countryside between the interests of farming and conservation. One of the lessons I think we should take from this is that there has not been proper co-ordination of the impact on rural communities of this proposal. I hope t…

Lords Proceedings 16 June 2026 2 contributions

Environment Act 2021 Targets

My Lords—

Does the Minister agree that invasive non-native species have a very profound effect on not only the economy but our native ecosystem? Does she agree also that we should do more by way of research in dealing with this, and with the mobilisation of volunteers? I am thinking particularly of the effort…

Lords Proceedings 3 June 2026

Access to Nature Green Paper

My Lords, I declare my farming interests as declared in the register. Farming for food production and the environment is eminently compatible, but does the Minister agree that with rights come responsibilities, and with the importance of adherence to the Countryside Code and a much greater awareness…

Lords Debate 27 April 2026

City of London (Markets) Bill

That this House do agree with the order made by the Commons set out in their message of 23 April; that the promoter of the City of London (Markets) Bill, which was originally introduced in this House in this Session on 22 January 2025, should have leave to suspend proceedings on the bill from the da…

Lords Debate 24 April 2026 2 contributions

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell of Surbiton, is taking part remotely. I invite the noble Baroness to speak.

My Lords, this House has debated assisted dying this century on nine occasions, first in 2003 and then in 2005. There are very few members in the House today who spoke in those debates, with the possible exception of the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay of Llandaff. She was a very devoted opponent of the…

Lords Proceedings 23 April 2026

Standing Orders (Public Business)

That the standing orders relating to public business be amended as follows: Delete Standing Orders 3 ( Peers by descent not to be introduced ), 9 ( Hereditary peers: by-elections ), 10 ( Register of hereditary peers ), 77 ( Committees for peerage claims ), 78 ( Claims of peerage ), 79 ( Claims of Ir…

Lords Proceedings 23 April 2026 3 contributions

Procedure and Privileges Committee

My Lords, the first part of the report proposes changes to Grand Committee sittings and to debates on delegated legislation in order to increase the House’s capacity to scrutinise legislation before it and to give Peers more certainty around timings. The committee recommends that the default maximu…

My Lords, I speak as the chair of the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, and I want to put on the record that I very much approve of the suggested additional day on Tuesdays specifically for delegated legislation. It is important that delegated legislation is given the stature that it deserve…

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Lords Debate 23 April 2026

Malvern Hills Bill [HL]

Malvern Hills Bill [HL] That this House resolves that the promoters of the Malvern Hills Bill [HL], which was originally introduced in this House on 22 January 2025, should have leave to suspend proceedings on the bill from the day on which the current session ends in order to proceed with it, if th…

Lords Debate 15 April 2026

Victims and Courts Bill

My Lords, I start by thanking the Minister, her ministerial colleagues in the justice department, officials and staff, who have been available for conversations both during the passage of the Bill, especially since Report, and the helpful discussions reflected in the Government’s Motions in front of…

Lords Proceedings 14 April 2026

Standing Orders (Public Business)

That the standing orders relating to public business be amended as follows: After Standing Order 21, insert: “21ZA Resignation on behalf of peers who lack capacity to give or sign a notice of resignation 1. In implementation of section 1(5) of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014, this Standing Order …

Lords Proceedings 14 April 2026 2 contributions

Procedure and Privileges Committee

My Lords, this report proposes a new Standing Order to implement Section 2 of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026, to allow another person to give or sign a notice of resignation from the House on behalf of a Member who lacks capacity to give or sign that notice personally. The process wi…

Lords Proceedings 14 April 2026 2 contributions

House of Lords Commission

My Lords, following Royal Assent of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, the remaining excepted hereditary Peers will leave the House at the end of the current Session. The report before the House today proposes that these hereditary Peers should be granted the same access rights as Members w…

Lords Proceedings 3 March 2026

Deputy Chairmen of Committees

My Lords, I beg to move the three Motions standing in my name on the Order Paper en bloc. In doing so, I place on record my considerable thanks to deputies past and present, who are so integral, indeed essential, to the work of your Lordships’ House.

Lords Proceedings 27 February 2026

Retirement of a Member: Earl Attlee

My Lords, I should like to notify the House of the retirement, with effect from yesterday, of the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, pursuant to Section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014. On behalf of the House, I thank the noble Earl for his much-valued service to the House.

Lords Debate 11 February 2026 2 contributions

Victims and Courts Bill

My Lords, I should inform the House that, if Amendment 48 is agreed to, I cannot call Amendment 49 by reason of pre-emption. Also, if Amendment 50 is agreed to, I cannot call Amendments 51 to 53 by reason of pre-emption.

My Lords, I inform the Committee that if Amendment 59 is agreed to, I will not be able to call Amendment 60 by reason of pre-emption.

Lords Proceedings 3 February 2026

House of Lords Commission

My Lords, I place on record my gratitude to the noble Lords, Lord McFall of Alcluith and Lord Stoneham of Droxford, whose terms as Lord Speaker and Liberal Democrat Chief Whip have concluded. As such, they will be coming off their respective committees, and I am very grateful for their significant c…

Lords Proceedings 30 January 2026

Retirement of a Member: Lord Offord of Garvel

My Lords, I should like to notify the House of the retirement, with effect from today, of the noble Lord, Lord Offord of Garvel, pursuant to Section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014. On behalf of the House, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his valued service to the House.

Lords Proceedings 30 January 2026

Death of a Member: Lord Wallace of Tankerness

My Lords, I much regret to inform the House of the death of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Wallace of Tankerness, on Thursday 29 January. On behalf of the House, I extend our condolences to the noble and learned Lord’s family and friends.

Lords Proceedings 27 January 2026

Built Environment Committee

My Lords, these 29 Motions give effect to the rotation rule that is applied each January, following the recent meeting of the Committee of Selection, to secure a regular turnover of Select Committee membership. They also appoint and establish the membership of the 2026 special inquiry committees. I …

Lords Proceedings 18 December 2025

Retirement and Participation Committee

That: (1) A Select Committee be appointed to consider and make recommendations on— (a) a retirement age, and (b) a participation requirement for members of the House of Lords; (2) In relation to these issues the Committee shall consider and report to the House on— (a) the impact of a retirement age …

Lords Proceedings 18 December 2025 2 contributions

Procedure and Privileges Committee

My Lords, the 5th report from the Procedure and Privileges Committee follows an invitation from the Conduct Committee to the Procedure and Privileges Committee to review the application of the rotation rule to Peer members of the Conduct Committee. The report before your Lordships’ House recommends …

Lords Proceedings 12 December 2025

Retirement of a Member: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts

My Lords, I should like to notify the House of the retirement, with effect from today, of the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, pursuant to Section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014. On behalf of the House, I thank the noble Lord for his much-valued service to the House.