Safety, Justice and High Street Renewal Dominate Lords' Agenda

High-Level Summary

The House of Lords scrutinised town‑centre renewal through Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), intelligence‑sharing with the United States, and online scam adverts, and questioned West Midlands Police’s advice on the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv match. Peers also considered a major Statement establishing the grooming gangs independent inquiry, approved regulations on the Immigration Skills Charge and on the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, and debated wheelchair/community equipment provision and the UK’s demographic future. Ministers confirmed planned expansion of property‑owner BIDs outside London, reassured the House on Five Eyes cooperation, trailed a revised fraud strategy, and commissioned inspections into the Villa–Maccabi case. The Government set out the grooming gangs inquiry’s scope, budget and timetable, maintained there would be no national wheelchair strategy, and highlighted a cross‑government evidence approach on population alongside recent ONS data indicating lower net migration to June.

Detailed Summary

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and town‑centre renewal – Oral Question

Lord Pitkeathley of Camden Town asked about further powers and fiscal instruments for BIDs. Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said: “This Government recognise the important role business improvement districts can play in supporting local growth and regenerating our high streets and town centres” [ref: a331.3/2]. She confirmed BID reform is not in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, but the Pride in Place Strategy commits to expanding property‑owner BIDs outside London “as soon as parliamentary time allows” and to consulting on ballots and raising standards, with further details in due course [ref: a331.5/1; a331.3/2].

Peers raised hospitality support (VAT/business rates), culture’s role, using public buildings, and historic churches. The Minister pointed to small business measures and set out Pride in Place funding: “£5 billion over 10 years to 244 neighbourhoods”, with local boards having “£20 million” and a separate “£150 million” impact fund [ref: a334.0/1]. She also noted the visible decline of high streets and the need for amenities, services and culture [ref: a333.1/1]. Outcome/next steps: policy development continues on property‑owner BIDs; further details to be published [ref: a331.5/1].

United States: Intelligence sharing – Oral Question

Lord Berkeley asked why the UK had reportedly suspended some intelligence sharing with the US. Lord Hanson of Flint replied that Five Eyes arrangements continue and that “the Foreign Secretary and the US Secretary of State have both dismissed recent reports” [ref: a335.0/1]. On alleged strikes in the Caribbean, he said: “the United Kingdom was not involved” and reiterated adherence to legal obligations [ref: a335.2/1].

Peers asked about UK autonomous intelligence‑gathering and broader partnerships. The Minister said, “It is important that the UK independently gathers intelligence” while stating that Five Eyes partners are “critical intelligence-gathering partners” [ref: a335.4/1]. He confirmed the UK would “retain its legal responsibilities” in information sharing [ref: a336.1/1], and described cooperation with the US and UK overseas territories in the Caribbean on drugs, gangs and illegal migration [ref: a336.5/1]. Outcome: reassurance given; no changes to intelligence‑sharing arrangements were announced.

Social media: scam adverts and fraudulent content – Oral Question

Lord Clement‑Jones asked about the role of social media platforms in enabling scam adverts and fraudulent content. Lord Hanson of Flint said: “The Government take seriously the criminal abuse of online advertising… Under the Online Safety Act, the largest social media and search services will be required to address fraudulent adverts” and “further action will be set out in the Government’s forthcoming fraud strategy” [ref: a337.2/1]. He added, “Early in the new year, I will produce the revised fraud strategy” and that AI‑enabled fraud will be a key focus [ref: a337.4/1].

Peers raised international cooperation, platform/telecoms liability, youth ‘money‑muling’ and enforcement. The Minister cited a UN resolution, a Vienna conference in March, and agreements with Nigeria and Vietnam to tackle overseas scams [ref: a338.1/1]. He referenced a new telecoms fraud charter and said a large portion of fraud goes via telecoms, with plans to reduce telephone‑enabled fraud over the next 12 months [ref: a338.3/1]. On enforcement, he said the aim is “better criminal justice outcomes” with improved victim journeys and asset seizures [ref: a339.2/1]. Next steps: publication of the updated fraud strategy; Ofcom implementation work under the Online Safety Act.

West Midlands Police: Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv – Oral Question

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath asked about the evidence underpinning police decisions around the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv match. Lord Hanson of Flint said: “To ensure full independent scrutiny, the Home Secretary has commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services to inspect how police forces in England and Wales provide risk assessment advice to local safety advisory groups, with an initial report focusing on the Maccabi Tel Aviv v Aston Villa match” [ref: a340.6/2].

He added that an urgent report on the intelligence was requested by 31 December and that a wider review of safety advisory process issues would report by 31 March, both to be shared with the House [ref: a341.0/2; a342.3/1]. On UEFA, he understood it “was not directly represented at the meeting, but was involved in wider discussions” [ref: a343.1/1]. Outcome/next steps: HMICFRS inspection underway; reports due 31 December and 31 March.

Immigration Skills Charge (Amendment) Regulations 2025 – Motion to Approve

The House approved the draft regulations laid on 15 October. “That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 15 October be approved” [ref: a344.1/2]; “Motion agreed” [ref: a344.1/4].

Grooming gangs: Independent Inquiry – Statement

The House considered a Commons Statement announcing the chair, panel and terms of reference for the grooming gangs inquiry. It will be chaired by Baroness Longfield and “completed within three years, supported by a £65 million budget” [ref: a344.5/11]. It will focus on grooming gangs, “consider, explicitly, the background of offenders, including their ethnicity and religion” and examine whether authorities failed due to concerns about community cohesion [ref: a344.5/12]. The inquiry will act “without fear or favour” and pass evidence to law enforcement for prosecutions [ref: a344.5/13]. The NCA’s Operation Beaconport has “flagged more than 1,200 cases for potential reinvestigation, more than 200 of which are high-priority cases of rape” [ref: a344.5/20].

Peers questioned the speed of set‑up, appointments, survivor engagement and related legal changes. Lord Hanson of Flint emphasised the budget and timetable [ref: a350.0/2], confirmed the inquiry will examine offender background including ethnicity and religion [ref: a350.0/4], and said it is “a historical examination, not a current investigation” [ref: a350.0/5]. He said £3.65 million was allocated to support Operation Beaconport and assist survivors’ engagement [ref: a352.1/1], and highlighted forthcoming taxi‑licensing changes [ref: a350.0/11]. Next steps: consultation on draft terms to conclude by March, after which the inquiry will begin [ref: a344.5/14].

Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2025 – Motion to Approve

Baroness Anderson of Stoke‑on‑Trent outlined scheme changes following the inquiry’s additional report. IBCA “has contacted all infected people registered with a support scheme to start their claim, and made offers of over £2 billion”; it has opened to first claims from living infected people, and is moving toward opening to affected people and estates [ref: a355.3/1–a355.3/2]. The regulations include: “Regulation 3 … removes the 1982 start date for eligible HIV infections”; changes to allow certain affected estates to receive compensation, with an extended date range; removing the need to evidence hepatitis diagnosis dates; deeming six years at level 3 where level 4 is shown; and removing the earnings floor for exceptional loss awards [ref: a355.3/4–a355.3/6]. “Regulation 10 delays by one calendar year the transfer of responsibility to make support scheme payments … to allow IBCA to focus its resources” [ref: a355.3/8].

In exchanges, the Minister clarified awards for children and bereaved parents [ref: a361.0/3–a361.0/4], confirmed prioritisation of those “nearing the end of their lives” [ref: a362.1/1], and said those on the special category mechanism would be “automatically eligible for a severe health condition award” [ref: a362.1/3]. On tax, she confirmed compensation is exempt from income, capital gains and inheritance tax, with additional IHT protections for estates and gifts [ref: a362.1/5–a362.1/6]. Enhancements will be applied retrospectively and “will not slow us down” [ref: a362.1/8]. Outcome: Motion agreed [ref: a364.3/3].

Wheelchair and Community Equipment Strategy – Question for Short Debate

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath highlighted inconsistent and under‑resourced wheelchair/community equipment provision and called for a national strategy and leadership: “What is required? I am absolutely convinced that we need a national strategy” [ref: a365.2/9]. In reply, Baroness Merron said integrated care boards commission local wheelchair services and, “There are no plans to publish a national strategy for wheelchair provision” [ref: a377.0/5]. She cited the NHS Medium Term Planning Framework to “actively manage and reduce waits over 18 weeks” and eliminate 52‑week waits [ref: a377.0/8], the Wheelchair Quality Framework aligned to the CQC [ref: a377.0/11], and personal wheelchair budgets [ref: a377.0/13]. Next steps: performance monitored via the community health services sitrep [ref: a377.0/9].

The UK’s demographic future – Motion to Take Note (valedictory debate)

Introducing his report Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow, Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts argued for a strategic approach to population change, saying: “We have to have the courage to recognise that the irrevocable nature of demographic change means that departmentally based solutions will never provide a coherent response” [ref: a379.3/19]. He proposed “creating a new strategic body to be called the office for demographic change” to analyse impacts, learn from best practice and report to Parliament [ref: a379.3/19–a379.3/20].

Peers debated migration levels, social cohesion, national security, fertility decline, skills and economic impacts. Responding, Baroness Anderson of Stoke‑on‑Trent cited ONS data showing “net migration of 204,000 in the year to June” [ref: a417.0/9], outlined asylum policy reforms—“refugee status will be temporary” with a 20‑year route to settlement [ref: a417.0/10]—and emphasised shifting immigration towards higher‑skilled workers [ref: a417.0/12]. She noted investment in cohesion via Pride in Place [ref: a417.0/19–a417.0/20], the NHS 10‑year plan and a forthcoming workforce plan [ref: a417.0/21–a417.0/22], housing targets of 1.5 million homes [ref: a417.0/24], and improvements to migration data [ref: a417.0/38–a417.0/39]. On the proposed ODC, she pointed to strengthening the Migration Advisory Committee and creating a Labour Market Evidence Group to coordinate skills, labour market and migration evidence [ref: a417.0/42–a417.0/43]. Outcome: Motion agreed [ref: a424.0/11].