Lords Advance Abortion Reform as New Lord Speaker Welcomed

High-Level Summary

The House of Lords heard introductions, a death announcement, wide‑ranging tributes to outgoing Lord Speaker Lord McFall of Alcluith, and welcomed Lord Forsyth of Drumlean. Ministers answered Oral Questions on Jimmy Lai, nationalised rail performance, hunger‑striking remand prisoners, and the EHRC’s single‑sex spaces code, and a Private Notice Question on China covered human rights and national security. The House agreed the Conduct Committee’s recommendation to suspend the Earl of Shrewsbury for two weeks and approved secondary legislation and business motions. In Committee on the Crime and Policing Bill, Clause 191 (removing criminal liability for a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy) was agreed after extensive debate; the Government reiterated neutrality and clarified third‑party offences remain. A Statement confirmed no compensation scheme for 1950s‑born women over state pension age communications, with an apology for delayed letters and emphasis on pensioner support.

Detailed Summary

Introductions and announcement of the death of a Member

Baroness Linforth and Lord Isaac were introduced, each making the affirmation or oath and signing the undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct. Lord Forsyth of Drumlean informed the House of the death of Lord Triesman: “I regret to inform the House of the death of the noble Lord, Lord Triesman, on 30 January.”.

Tributes to Lord McFall of Alcluith and welcome to the new Lord Speaker

Peers from all sides praised Lord McFall’s service as the fourth elected Lord Speaker and his wider parliamentary career. Baroness Smith of Basildon said she was pleased to “pay tribute to my noble friend Lord McFall of Alcluith for his great service to this House as the fourth elected Lord Speaker”. Baroness Williams of Trafford recalled that “he has presided over countless state visits and he has engaged in extensive outreach in schools”. Lord Purvis of Tweed noted, “Being Speaker—who often cannot speak—of this self‑regulating Chamber is a difficult job”. The Earl of Kinnoull recounted that 50 Cross‑Bench Peers “gave him a standing ovation”. Lord Forsyth said they “became firm friends” and that Lord McFall was “guided by principle and driven by the common good”. Outcome: tributes noted; the House welcomed Lord Forsyth to the role (no decision required).

Oral Question: China – Jimmy Lai

Baroness Hayter asked about representations seeking the release and return of British citizen Jimmy Lai. Minister Baroness Chapman said, “the UK condemns in the strongest terms the politically motivated prosecution of British national Jimmy Lai… we summoned the Chinese ambassador … The Prime Minister raised it directly with President Xi last week”. She confirmed the Prime Minister had met Mr Lai’s son, Sebastien, and indicated more detail would come in a later Statement in the Commons. On summoning the ambassador, she said it is “a serious thing” in diplomatic terms. Outcome: no decision; engagement and a forthcoming PM Statement signalled.

Oral Question: Nationalised passenger rail services

Lord Moylan asked about performance improvements since 28 November 2024. Minister Lord Hendy said public ownership is “a vital step towards reforming our railways” and, on average, publicly owned operators “perform better on punctuality and cancellations”. On South Western Railway, he cited inherited shortages and delayed new trains but said recovery was under way, with “more than 30 of the new trains … now in service”. He highlighted Sunday working constraints due to historic contracts, and acknowledged east coast main line infrastructure failures while monitoring timetable performance. He undertook to write with figures on transition payments to private operators. Outcome: no decision; actions and further information promised.

Oral Question: Prisoners for Palestine – hunger strikes in prison

Lord Hain asked how the Government would prevent deaths among hunger‑striking remand prisoners. Minister Lord Timpson said he was “very concerned for every prisoner refusing food,” outlining reliance on NHS partners and established procedures; hospital care would be facilitated if required. He stressed, “I do not want to see any person in our prisons die” and noted bail decisions rest with the courts, not Ministers. In exchanges, he agreed that capitulating to the substantive demands of hunger strikers would be a mistake: “The noble Viscount is correct. This is a clinical decision”. Outcome: no policy change; assurances on clinical decision‑making and continuity‑of‑care initiatives.

Oral Question: Single‑sex spaces – EHRC guidance

Lord Rooker asked whether a target would be set to lay the EHRC code before its first anniversary with Ministers. Minister Lord Collins said the draft is being reviewed to ensure it is “legally robust” and that providers should follow the law as clarified by the Supreme Court. Asked whether all government‑delivered public services are currently in compliance, he replied, “Absolutely.”. He declined to discuss any Attorney‑General advice and emphasised the aim is a code that can be “applied properly” without further legal challenge. Outcome: code still under consideration; Government says existing law must be applied now.

Private Notice Question: China – human rights and UK national security

Lord Alton asked about recent discussions with China concerning human rights and threats to UK national security. Minister Baroness Chapman said human rights are “a non‑negotiable part of this Government’s approach to China,” adding the Prime Minister raised human rights and Jimmy Lai with President Xi, and that national security “underpins all our international relationships”. She said clarity on sanctions was being pursued and defended engagement as offering “more options … now”. She confirmed dissatisfaction with the lack of consular access and medical attention for Mr Lai. She listed commercial outcomes from the visit, including tariff cuts on Scotch whisky and an AstraZeneca investment commitment, stressing “our national security underpins everything”. Outcome: no decision; engagement alongside security and human rights reiterated.

Conduct Committee report and suspension of the Earl of Shrewsbury

The Earl of Devon outlined the commissioner’s findings that the Earl of Shrewsbury misused a House of Lords travel rover ticket for a business journey and submitted mileage claims for four journeys not made. While noting apology and repayment (just under £200), the committee concluded misuse of public funds is “inherently serious” and endorsed a two‑week suspension. The report was agreed without debate, and the House resolved to suspend the Earl for two weeks. Outcome: motions agreed; two‑week suspension imposed.

Secondary legislation and business motions

The House approved the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2025: “That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 15 December 2025 be approved.”. The House also agreed the order of consideration for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill’s Report stage. Outcome: both motions agreed without division.

Statement: Women’s State Pension Age communications (PHSO report)

The Government restated its response to the ombudsman’s findings on communications to 1950s‑born women. The Statement accepted that letters “could have been sent earlier. For that, I want to repeat the apology … I am sorry those letters were not sent sooner,” but concluded there was no direct financial loss and that earlier letters would likely not have changed knowledge for most. It said, “It would not be practical to set up a compensation scheme,” and a flat‑rate scheme “would cost up to £10.3 billion”. In questions, Baroness Sherlock confirmed acceptance of maladministration but not the ombudsman’s approach to injustice, and highlighted pension credit take‑up and the triple lock. Outcome: no compensation scheme; focus on future communications and pensioner support.

Crime and Policing Bill – Committee (Day 14): Clause 191 (abortion)

Peers debated Clause 191, which would remove criminal liability for a woman “acting in relation to her own pregnancy,” while keeping offences for third parties. Opponents argued it would remove deterrents for late‑term abortions, risk coercion and undermine viability protections. Viscount Hailsham said the clause “would permit a mother … to abort a child right up to the moment of birth”. Baroness Monckton said, “Clause 191 is not moderate; it is radical”. Baroness O’Loan said it “removes all deterrence against a woman performing her own abortion up to the very moment of birth”. Supporters argued it would stop distressing, often unmeritorious investigations into miscarriages and suspected late abortions, without changing the Abortion Act’s grounds or time limits for providers. Lord Pannick said Parliament faces a “choice between two evils” regarding investigations versus non‑prosecution. Baroness Thornton said the Commons had voted for the clause and that decriminalisation in Northern Ireland had “no detrimental effect”. A linked debate on telemedicine saw supporters cite evidence that “telemedical abortion is safe, effective and improves care”, while opponents sought to restore mandatory in‑person consultations (Amendment 460) to improve gestational assessment and safeguards. The Government reiterated neutrality and clarified Clause 191 does not alter provider offences: “The Abortion Act is unaffected … [and] offences still apply to third parties”. Outcome: after extensive debate, Clause 191 was agreed in Committee; numerous amendments were withdrawn or not moved.

Crime and Policing Bill – Committee: reporting/data and technical amendments

Further amendments sought annual reviews and enhanced abortion data collection; the Government noted operational and workability concerns and remained neutral. An assisted‑dying‑related amendment about the Crown Dependencies was tabled and not moved. The House agreed Government amendments to Clause 192 to remove now‑unnecessary text due to later data‑protection changes. Outcome: reporting amendments not agreed at this stage; Clause 192 technical changes agreed.