Four short debates in the Lords

Lords Thursday debates

One Thursday each month, the House of Lords holds four short debates (one hour each) in Grand Committee.

On Thursday 13 March from 1pm, members debated the following subjects: 

Railway operators

Members considered plans for open access operators following the creation of Great British Railways, in a debate put forward by Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative).

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
• Find out more in the House of Lords Library briefing.

National Youth Strategy

Members discussed progress in developing a National Youth Strategy, in a debate put forward by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative).

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
• Find out more in the House of Lords Library briefing.

Sale, display and retention of human body parts

Members debated the offence caused to indigenous people affected by the sale of human body parts in public auctions, and their display and retention in public collections, in a debate put forward by Lord Boateng (Labour).

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
• Find out more in the House of Lords Library briefing.

Biodiversity and conservation

Members considered a strategy for biodiversity and conservation, in a debate put forward by Lord Grayling (Conservative).

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
• Find out more in the House of Lords Library briefing.

Short debates 

Questions for Short Debate are an opportunity for members to draw the government’s attention to concerns and hold it to account. They last for about 60 minutes. A minister or spokesperson responds on behalf of the government.

Image: House of Lords / Annabel Moeller