Lords
Committee Stage
14 July 2026
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Temporary Class Drug) Order 2026
This instrument, laid before Parliament on 10 June, takes urgent action to control a new and very dangerous class of synthetic opioid. In the space of little over a year, orphines have been involved in at least 22 deaths in the United Kingdom, and 14 of those deaths were sadly between December and M…
Lords
Proceedings
14 July 2026
9 contributions
National Crime Agency: Reform Party Funding
The Government do not comment on the submission of suspicious activity reports. The National Crime Agency is operationally independent and has been clear in its statements that it does not confirm or deny the receipt of a suspicious activity report nor comment on how such reports are used. Suspiciou…
I always try to be helpful, but, for the reasons I have mentioned, I cannot give information to the House or to my noble friend on the number of reports that are taken. I can say that it is in the interest of all of us in this House to make sure that our politics is clean and not funded by illegal s…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
14 July 2026
9 contributions
Violence Against Retail Workers
Violence and abuse towards retail workers is unacceptable. Through the Crime and Policing Act 2026, the Government have created a new stand-alone offence of assaulting a retail worker, which we are working to commence as soon as possible. We are also restoring neighbourhood policing to tackle retail…
Violence against shop workers is properly prioritised. In fact, recorded shop theft fell by 1% in the year to December, the number of charges for shop theft rose by 21% over the previous year and a British Retail Consortium report has shown that violence and abuse fell from 2,000 incidents a day to …
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
9 July 2026
9 contributions
European Entry and Exit System
The Government are in constant dialogue with the European Union. We are working closely with European member states to ensure that the juxtaposed ports have the right technology and processes to enable travel to be as smooth as possible for UK citizens. This has included providing £3.5 million in fu…
The noble Baroness is right that, were we still a member of the European Union, this issue would not be a problem. She knows how I voted in the referendum and she knows that this is a consequence of that referendum and decision. Having said that, we are where we are. The European Union is responsibl…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
9 July 2026
10 contributions
UK Migration
Net migration increased from 2021 to record levels in 2023, reaching 944,000 at its peak. Since 2023, numbers have fallen substantially. Net migration fell to 171,000 by the end of 2025—an 82% decrease compared to the peak and the lowest level since the pandemic.
My noble friend makes an important point. Immigration is a very sensitive issue, but it is also multifaceted. The figures on net migration are falling, the number of asylum claims being processed is increasing, and we have to deal with the small boats, the numbers of which are reducing. But we also …
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
8 July 2026
11 contributions
Police Leadership Commission Report
I place on record my thanks to my noble friend Lord Blunkett and the noble Lord, Lord Herbert of South Downs, for their work on this important report commissioned by the Home Office to look at the important issues of policing. My noble friend Lord Blunkett is a former Home Secretary and the noble Lo…
I am grateful to my noble friend for bringing his experience of policing at a leadership level to the debate and this discussion. He will know that leadership is critical in delivering high performance and for the public. The recommendations intend to help generate that discussion and to focus on ho…
+9 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
8 July 2026
8 contributions
Rochdale Grooming Gang: Offender Deportation
The crimes which led to the imprisonment of the individual concerned were despicable and horrendous. I say again to the noble Lord that we are urgently looking at these matters and will bring potential urgent action on them. We are examining this in detail and nothing is ruled out at all. I will kee…
I am grateful to the noble Baroness. Self-evidently, there are a number of lessons to be learned. That is why we have established the grooming gangs inquiry, currently operating under the auspices of the noble Baroness, Lady Longfield. There are a number of lessons to be learned on this matter. We w…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
8 July 2026
10 contributions
Safe Refugee Routes for Students
My Lords, the Government committed to three new safe and legal routes in the Restoring Order and Control Statement. The Home Secretary announced that the refugee study route will be open this autumn, with arrivals in autumn 2027. Officials are working closely with stakeholders to design the new rout…
We intend to set out details of the scheme very shortly, which will, hopefully, provide clarity on what the Government are intending to do with the safe and legal routes. As my noble friend said, it is also important that the universities themselves are involved in, and at least have some discussion…
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
7 July 2026
9 contributions
Drugging and Sexual Assault of Women
Sexual violence has a devastating impact on victims, and the accounts of drug-facilitated sexual offences are deeply concerning. However, the law is clear: this behaviour is criminal. The Government will relentlessly pursue perpetrators who target women, whether online or offline, and the Home Offic…
My noble friend is right. As I have said already, these actions are criminal in United Kingdom and there is a duty on tech platforms to take down criminal activity or face severe fines. I also say to my noble friend that the Government are supporting Project Medusa, a collaborative effort between th…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Committee Stage
7 July 2026
2 contributions
Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2026
My Lords, this order seeks to amend the definition of “ninja sword” in the list of prohibited offensive weapons contained in the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988.
I will briefly set out the context. Noble Lords will recognise the campaigning by the family of Ronan Kanda, who…
I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Davies of Gower, for his broad support for the original and existing orders. I am indebted to him for his contribution to this debate.
In 2024, the Government consulted on new legislative proposals on ninja swords, which were agreed last year, as the noble Lord…
Lords
Proceedings
1 July 2026
7 contributions
Counterterrorism: AI and Facial Recognition
The current legal architecture allows effective use of these technologies, but the Government continue to keep legislation under regular review as threats evolve. The Government are investing a record £141 million in AI technology and automation, including over £11 million on 40 new live facial reco…
I am grateful to my noble and learned friend for his question. What we are trying to do in the police reform Bill is respond to the consultation he has mentioned, which closed a few weeks back. We are currently analysing the responses to that consultation, and the intention is to put in place a lega…
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
30 June 2026
National Security (State Threats) Bill
My Lords, I thank the officials of the House for the speedy turnaround of the amended Bill. It is a tribute to their dexterity that we have managed to turn this round much quicker than I expected, and our thanks go to them. I thank the officials in the Home Office and all the people behind the Bill …
Lords
Proceedings
29 June 2026
11 contributions
Immigration and Asylum: Appeals
I am grateful to the noble Lord for his Question. In the Government’s Restoring Order and Control Command Paper, which was published on 17 November 2025, we announced systemic reforms to the appeals system. The Government have provided additional funding to the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and As…
I remind the House that the backlog stands at over 151,000, but that that has not happened in just the last two years. It is the result of 14 years of individuals not being processed, dealt with or sorted by the noble Lord and his party. To answer his question, as of now, we will ensure that individ…
+9 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
23 June 2026
National Security (State Threats) Bill
My Lords, it is my pleasure to open the debate on what is a vital Bill. I will start with the importance of the Bill and what it will achieve. I am pleased to have had an opportunity to discuss the content, direction and purpose of the Bill with a number of noble Lords outside the Chamber, and I am …
Lords
Proceedings
22 June 2026
7 contributions
Grooming Gangs: Independent Inquiry
My Lords, I apologise for the confusion—it is one of those days.
First, I welcome the noble Baroness, Lady Cash, to her new role. I wish her every success in holding the Government to account and raising those issues. I hope that she enjoys the new role and does it as successfully as possible. I al…
The noble Baroness has a very strong point. It is horrific that the law has historically treated children, including victims of grooming, as capable of being child prostitutes when they were and are sexually exploited children. We have already legislated to introduce a disregard scheme for those who…
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
22 June 2026
12 contributions
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for her Question. I assure her that any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the United Kingdom will not be tolerated. This trial has shown that anyone working to assist a foreign state to undermine our security wi…
As my noble friend indicated, the two individuals concerned received significant prison sentences of eight years and 10 years for their offences. Immediately following the arrest, officials in the Home Office took steps to bolster protections across Home Office systems. This has included further str…
+10 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
18 June 2026
7 contributions
Transnational Marriage Abandonment
The Government monitor data on applications under the transnational marriage abandonment route and publish quarterly data on GOV.UK under the “Settlement VDA” section. The latest data shows 82 applications in 2024 and 69 in 2025. Transnational marriage abuse behaviours are covered by a number of exi…
I understand the noble Baroness’s personal experience and her commitment to resolve these matters. The Government are keeping all matters under review, but, in essence, we are looking at prevention through existing legislation. In January 2024—this would have helped the noble Baroness in her circums…
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
17 June 2026
10 contributions
State of Extremism Report
The Answer to the noble Lord is yes. Where necessary and proportionate, the report will include examples of those propagating extremism and where they have been disrupted.
It is vital that those spreading extremism are tackled in every form by the state and by other parties. The Home Office will publish, as the noble Lord knows, the landmark state of extremism report by the end of this calendar year. We are delivering a fundamental reset of how we counter extremism an…
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
15 June 2026
9 contributions
Immigration: Eurodac and SIS II
The Government are committed to enhancing reciprocal data exchange with the EU for border security and public safety purposes. Through the UK-EU reset, including commitments made at last year’s summit, we are making progress on biometric and criminal records data and continue to work closely with th…
I am grateful to the noble Lord. As he mentioned, the loss of that information was one of the Brexit downsides—one that many of us warned about before we left the European Union, but we are where we are. The Government are trying to ensure that we get that access back as soon as possible, and we wil…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Committee Stage
15 June 2026
2 contributions
Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2026
As my noble friend Lady Chapman said earlier, it is just like old times.
The order we are debating today makes a simple and minor change to the legislation which governs how a person may seek to obtain permission to enter the UK via an automated e-passport gate or e-gate. In real terms, this change…
I am grateful to the noble Lords, Lord Davies of Gower and Lord German, and the noble Baroness, Lady Ludford, for their broad support for the order. They have asked legitimate questions, which I will come to in a moment. The purpose of this order is to improve the customer experience for young peopl…
Lords
Proceedings
11 June 2026
8 contributions
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: Proscription
The National Security (State Threats) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 9 June. This legislation will create a new power for the Secretary of State to designate bodies engaged in foreign power threat activity equivalent to proscription under the Terrorism Act 2000. Designation will disrupt and de…
My noble friend will know that in the King’s gracious Speech we said we wanted to get this matter on the statute book as quickly as possible. I am in the hands of the House of Commons and this noble House with regard to that, but we want to get this done so that the power is there for the Secretary …
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
10 June 2026
8 contributions
Refugee Move-on Period Pilot Evaluation Report
My Lords, the Home Office commissioned an evaluation of the 56-day move-on period, which has now been completed, following the pilot concluded earlier this year. The final report, by happy coincidence, was published on 10 June and is available to read online.
The Government began with a 28-day period when we inherited office in 2024. Following a pilot and an evaluation, we determined that the optimum period is 42 days. We have put in additional support, and we always keep these matters under review. The Government have given 14 extra days to the move-on …
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
10 June 2026
11 contributions
Concealed Surveillance Equipment in Government Offices and Vehicles
In line with the practice of successive Administrations, this Government do not comment on the detail of internal security matters, but I can confirm that an electronic device was found in a communal area of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government during a routine security check. T…
On the latter point, the Government keep all matters, such as registration under the FIRS, under review at all times. Again, it is not appropriate to comment on any consideration of that at this time. I also say to the noble Lord that it is not appropriate for me to comment on what is a live investi…
+9 more contributions in this session
Lords
Committee Stage
10 June 2026
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amendment) Regulations 2026
My Lords, these regulations form part of the Government’s wider programme of reviewing retained EU law to ensure that the statute book operates clearly and effectively within the UK’s domestic framework following EU exit. They ensure that the UK’s high standards for the use of animals in scientific …