Lords
Proceedings
8 September 2026
9 contributions
El Niño
My Lords, the Met Office is continually updating forecasts for the ongoing El Niño event. Work is under way across government to assess any potential direct and indirect impacts. El Niño is expected to increase the likelihood of wetter and stormier conditions this autumn and winter. The Government a…
My noble friend is right to highlight the attention that is being paid to the impact of El Niño. Indeed, the Government Office for Science is undertaking work to assess the potential impacts on the UK, including implications, as I said, for the food system. Defra is working with the Met Office and o…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
7 September 2026
Local Government Reorganisation
My Lords, it is the turn of the Liberal Democrat Benches, then we will hear from the Labour Benches and the Conservative Benches.
Lords
Statutory Instrument
2 September 2026
2 contributions
Windsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme: Plant Health) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
My Lords, before we begin, as set out in Today’s List, I remind noble Lords that speeches should be limited to two minutes, with the exceptions of the mover and the Minister. I am sure that I speak on behalf of all noble Lords when I say that if everyone can stick to this advised speaking time, we w…
My Lords, we are not due to return to the Bill Committee until 8.12 pm, and we are running five or six minutes ahead of that, so the House will now adjourn during pleasure until that point.
Lords
Proceedings
23 July 2026
9 contributions
Prisoner Early Release Scheme
My Lords, before turning to the substance of the noble Earl’s Question, I first pay tribute to PC Andrew Harper and his family and friends, particularly his widow, Lissie, and his mother, Debbie, who have both spoken so movingly about his case in recent days. PC Harper dedicated his life to public s…
To be very clear, it is only right that the new Prime Minister has a look across the board at the Government’s policies. Nobody in your Lordships’ House will be in any doubt about the horrific murder of PC Andrew Harper. It is only right that the Prime Minister, along with the Lord Chancellor, looks…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
23 July 2026
Young People: Gambling Harm
I apologise to the noble Lord, but this is a timed debate, so can he come to his conclusion?
Lords
Proceedings
15 July 2026
10 contributions
Social Security: Child Poverty
My Lords, social security provides a safety net to support families when they need it most. This is why we have removed the two-child limit, lifting 450,000 children out of poverty, and delivered the first ever sustained rise in the standard allowance of universal credit. While important, our ambiti…
My noble friend is right. We want to make sure that the social security system is there to support all families when they need it, while taking action to make sure that work pays. Our ambition is that social security provides a safety net where needed and that it supports families to increase income…
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
8 July 2026
Police Leadership Commission Report
My Lords, I ask my noble friend if he could bring his comments, interesting though they are, to a conclusion with a question.
Lords
Proceedings
1 July 2026
Defence Investment Plan
My Lords, I think it is time to hear from the Labour Benches and then we can hear from the Liberal Democrats.
Lords
Proceedings
30 June 2026
2 contributions
Steel Trade Measure
My Lords—
My Lords, as noble Lords will be aware, we are now on the Back-Bench section of questions to the Minister on the Statement. As there do not seem to be any more Back-Benchers wishing to ask questions, and we are still waiting for the full complement of Front-Benchers to continue with next business, I…
Lords
Proceedings
29 June 2026
9 contributions
Food Security
My Lords, the UK has a secure and resilient food system, built on strong domestic production and diverse trade relationships that provide a stable supply and safe food despite recent global crises. Defra lays the UK Food Security Report in Parliament every three years, providing a comprehensive asse…
My noble friend is of course entirely correct to underline the importance of the food manufacturing sector and the fact that the Government’s new farming road map recognises it as an important part of the food supply chain. We are supporting food manufacturers with export support, innovation funding…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
22 June 2026
Grooming Gangs: Independent Inquiry
My Lords, we have time for questions. We will hear from the Liberal Democrat Benches and then the Cross Benches.
Lords
Proceedings
18 June 2026
8 contributions
Livestock Grazing on Dartmoor National Park
My Lords, Natural England has not announced plans to reduce livestock grazing on Dartmoor by 75%. However, we recognise that changes to grazing regimes need to be carefully and sensitively handled and agreed to collectively, in order to address declines in wildlife and biodiversity. We expect Natura…
The obvious answer to the noble Lord’s last question is, of course, yes. I want to be absolutely crystal clear: Natural England has not recommended a cull of Dartmoor ponies. It does not have the power to do so, and it has not advised one. As a Government, we are clear that Dartmoor ponies have an i…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
1 June 2026
9 contributions
Devolved Public Services: Funding
My Lords, on 18 May the Secretary of State for Wales held her first call with the new First Minister of Wales. The Secretary of State made clear the benefit of the UK and Welsh Governments working together on shared priorities around public services and economic growth. That follows on from a call h…
Of course, the Government are always open to having constructive dialogue with the Welsh Government about new projects—and, indeed, to considering any requests from the Welsh Government. The noble Lord’s question ignores the fact that the UK Government recently agreed a £14 billion plan for the futu…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
28 April 2026
Pension Schemes Bill
My Lords, as we have only just received the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill back from the Commons, we will have to adjourn during pleasure until a point, to be announced on the annunciator, when we can recommence on that Bill.
Lords
Statutory Instrument
27 April 2026
Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2026
My Lords, next we are due to consider the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which has come from the other place. The window for tabling amendments will be open until 9.10 pm. We will adjourn during pleasure until a point announced on the annunciator.
Lords
Debate
27 April 2026
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, as we are still awaiting the Minister for the next business—we moved a little faster than we were expecting—we will adjourn during pleasure for five minutes, until the Minister arrives.
Lords
Oral Questions
23 April 2026
9 contributions
Office for National Statistics Labour Market Data
My Lords, with over half a million 18 to 24 year-olds unemployed, nearly a million 18 to 24 year-olds not in training, education or employment, and vacancies now down to 711,000, the Government’s answer seems to be to commission a review by Alan Milburn. Is it not blindingly obvious to anyone with a…
My Lords, we know that AI will have a profound impact on work, particularly for young people. As it is already getting harder for graduates to get work, will the Minister urgently commission and publish research into the future impact of AI on the labour market, so that we can have a transparent evi…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
20 April 2026
6 contributions
Pension Schemes Bill
My Lords, in speaking to Motion B1, I welcome that the Government have committed to a review of Regulation 64A of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013. That is an important and necessary step, and their further commitments today are most welcome.
However, if the GAD review is to be …
Have they been moved?
+4 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
24 March 2026
Youth Unemployment
My Lords, we now have 20 minutes for Back-Bench contributions. I just want to give a brief reminder that this is an opportunity for Back-Benchers only, not Front-Benchers, to ask short, succinct questions of my noble friend the Minister, so we can maximise contributions.
Lords
Oral Questions
19 March 2026
8 contributions
Flood Detection and Prevention: Technological Assistance
I am grateful to the Minister for that Answer. The severe flooding that we have experienced again this winter makes it clear that increasingly urgent further action is surely needed to protect homes, businesses and communities. In south Yorkshire, where the River Don has flooded to devastating effec…
Does the Minister agree that some of the most natural, sustainable and environmentally beneficial projects are those such as Slowing the Flow at Pickering, which has prevented Pickering flooding in recent years? Will he use his good offices to ensure that farmers will be reimbursed through environme…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
18 March 2026
5 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
I can clarify for your Lordships’ House that the noble Baroness is able to take interventions, or not, as she wishes.
The noble Baroness is perfectly entitled not to take any interventions. We will make better progress if people just agree to take interventions or not, and then we will be able to hear from everyone.
+3 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
18 March 2026
2 contributions
Crime and Policing Bill
My Lords, we are about to start the final day on Report of the Crime and Policing Bill. There are 13 groups of amendments to complete today, and multiple votes are expected. I will briefly remind the House of some key parts of the Companion that are particularly relevant to Report. This is intended …
I remind the noble Lord that interventions are meant to be short and to ask a question; his has gone on for quite a while.
Lords
Debate
17 March 2026
2 contributions
Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address Motion
My Lords, we have time to hear from both Benches. Let us go to the Labour Benches first and then the Conservative Benches.
My Lords, we will hear from somebody on the Conservative Benches.