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What's on in the Lords 28 April-1 May
2 May 2025
Questions
From 28 April - 1 May, members pressed the government on the level of self-harm among young people, development of dementia and Alzheimer's treatments, the impact of changes to inheritance tax rules on rural businesses, and the announced abolition of NHS England.
Bills
Detailed examination of the Renters' Rights Bill continued on Monday, and members began to check and change the Employment Rights Bill on Tuesday. Plus 'ping-pong', where a bill is sent back and forth between the House of Commons and the House of Lords as they tried to resolve disagreements about the final text, for the Great British Energy Bill on Wednesday.
Debates
Improving access to banking and finance for small businesses, single-sex spaces for NHS staff, and using frozen Libyan assets to provide compensation to victims of IRA terrorism were all on the agenda.
Committees
- The UK Engagement with Space Committee heard from former British European Space Agency astronaut, Major Tim Peake CMG, as part of its inquiry into the UK's engagement with space.
- The International Relations and Defence Committee spoke to David Lammy MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.
- As part of its inquiry on the practical delivery of new towns, the Built Environment Committee heard from housing and public policy experts.
Read on for more.
Catch up
Monday
From 2.30pm
Questions
- self-harm among young people
- funding provided to tackle violence against women and girls
- publishing the 25-year farming roadmap
- Thames Water.
Legislation
The Lords continued to check and change the Renters' Rights Bill at committee stage.
Debates
From 3.45pm in Grand Committee, work away from the chamber, the Lords considered the following committee reports:
- 'The Governance of the Union: Consultation, Co-operation and Legislative Consent' by the Constitution Committee
- 'Don’t fail to scale: seizing the opportunity of engineering biology' by the Science and Technology Committee.
Urgent questions
Members quizzed the government on the London Sudan Conference, and Ukraine war talks in London, following Commons urgent questions.
Tuesday
From 2.30pm
Questions
- legislation on artificial intelligence
- nuclear power generation in Wales
- impact in Scotland of increased defence spending
- loss of tax revenue from wealthy individuals leaving the country.
Legislation
The Lords 'tidied up' the Bus Services (No.2) Bill and began to examine the Employment Rights Bill.
Statement
Following a statement in the House of Commons, members debated the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister visit.
Wednesday
From 3pm
Questions
Members pressed the government on:
- young adults and homelessness
- the national shipbuilding strategy
- LGBT Veterans Financial Recognition Scheme
- AI child sexual abuse material.
Orders and regulations
Members debated the Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2025, and associated motion to regret and annul the regulations put forward by Lord Roborough and Baroness Grender.
Legislation
The Lords considered Commons changes to the Great British Energy Bill and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc.) Bill. Plus, further checks to the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill and Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill.
Urgent questions
Following several urgent questions in the Commons, Lords members quizzed the government on the following topics:
Thursday
From 11am
Questions
Members questioned the government on:
- dementia and Alzheimer's treatments
- inheritance tax rules on rural businesses and economic growth
- the announced abolition of NHS England
- Update on the recent Supreme Court judgement.
Debates
From 1pm in Grand Committee, members took part in four short debates on:
- improving access to banking and finance for small businesses
- NHS staff access to single-sex spaces
- ensuring that amputees receive prosthetics at an appropriate time
- using frozen Libyan assets to provide compensation to victims of IRA terrorism.
Legislation
The Lords debated the key principles and main purpose of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill at second reading.
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
