Lords Back Phone-Free Schools and Allergy Safety Mandates

High-Level Summary

The House of Lords met for introductions, tributes, ministerial questions, a Home Office White Paper statement, and the fifth day of Report on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Peers paid cross-party tributes to the late Lord Wallace of Tankerness. Ministers answered questions on ending the two‑child benefit limit, child poverty delivery with faith and voluntary groups, AI superintelligence and regulation, and the case of Shamima Begum. During Report, the House agreed to mandate a school‑day smartphone ban and to require allergy safety policies with spare adrenaline devices in all schools, while other proposed changes (including exclusions policy) were withdrawn or not pressed. The Government also outlined wide‑ranging police reform proposals in a statement, and routine business on committee membership and secondary legislation was agreed.

Detailed Summary

Introductions and Lord Speaker’s announcement

Baroness Teather and Lord Hobby were introduced and took the oath or made affirmation, signing the Code of Conduct undertaking. The Lord Speaker informed the House that the Clerk of the Parliaments had received Lord Mandelson’s notice of intention to retire, effective 4 February: “I will formally notify the House tomorrow in the usual way”.

Tributes: Lord Wallace of Tankerness

Peers from across the House paid tribute. Lord Purvis of Tweed said Jim Wallace “was a good man who saw it as his role in life to do good things”, and Baroness Smith of Basildon noted he was “widely respected and held in great affection”. Earl Howe recalled that, after joining the Lords, “he earned a further crown when he succeeded the noble Lord, Lord McNally, as leader of the Liberal Democrat Peers”. Lord McConnell said he “helped deliver devolution for Scotland, but he also ensured that devolution delivered for Scots”. No decision was sought; condolences were offered to his family.

Oral Question: Two‑child benefit limit—foreign‑born children

Baroness Maclean asked what proportion of increased spending from removing the two‑child limit would benefit foreign‑born children. Baroness Sherlock said: “Experts agree that the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty is to end the two-child limit, and that is what we are doing”. She explained DWP does not record “foreign born” as a benefit category and pointed to the child poverty strategy, which “including removing the two-child limit, will bring another 550,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament”. On work incentives, she underlined that “the Government are not lifting the benefit cap on the total amount that any household can get”.

Oral Question: Child Poverty strategy—partnership with faith and voluntary sectors

The Bishop of Lincoln asked about collaboration with faith-based and voluntary organisations. Baroness Sherlock said: “The Government are turning the tide on child poverty. This requires consensus, partnership and shared action”, adding the Government is “committed to harnessing the power of faith and belief for national renewal”. She stressed engagement with local charities and devolved delivery approaches, and said “we need to invest in all the children of our country”.

Oral Question: AI superintelligence and regulation

Baroness Berger asked about the development timeline and impacts of AI superintelligence. Lord Leong said some experts believe AI could exceed human capabilities by 2030. He outlined a proportionate regulatory approach via the SPACE framework, multilateral engagement including the Council of Europe, and testing “frontier models” at the AI Security Institute, which “has conducted more than 30 such tests” recently. On economic and labour impacts, he cited £2 billion for AI projects and £500 million for the Sovereign AI Unit, as well as a new AI and the Future of Work Unit.

Oral Question: Shamima Begum and British nationals in north‑east Syria

Lord Dubs asked whether to reconsider allowing Shamima Begum and others to return given increased fighting in the area. Lord Hanson of Flint replied that Begum “had her British citizenship removed, as upheld by the UK courts” and would not comment further due to ongoing legal proceedings. He said the Government would monitor the situation—“we will continue to monitor the security situation in northern Syria”—and consider repatriations, especially for unaccompanied minors, case‑by‑case. He emphasised deprivation powers are used sparingly and “no one is left stateless”.

Committee membership changes and Secondary Legislation

On motions moved by the Senior Deputy Speaker, the House appointed Lord Forsyth of Drumlean to a Select Committee as Chair and Lord Goddard of Stockport to a Select Committee; “Motions agreed”. The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026 was approved without division: “Motion agreed”.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): Admissions, off‑rolling, and PAN decisions

Baroness Barran moved Amendment 198 to add safeguards when local authorities direct academies to admit a pupil, citing the small number of national directions. She also moved Amendment 199 to limit when the Schools Adjudicator can reduce published admission numbers (PAN). Baroness Smith of Malvern said existing legal and public law requirements already apply to directions and that objections should go to the Schools Adjudicator, while committing to “update the statutory School Admissions Code so that school quality and parental preference are central to any decision on PAN”. She also highlighted new monitoring of pupil movement: local authorities “have access to a weekly report identifying any pupil … whose name has been removed from a school roll … and has not subsequently been added to another”. Outcome: Amendment 198 was withdrawn; Amendment 199 was agreed on division (Ayes 295, Noes 180).

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): New schools process and free schools

Amendment 202 (Baroness Smith of Malvern) to retain consultation requirements when establishing new academies was agreed. Baroness Barran’s proposal to remove Clause 58 (which ends the free school presumption and allows wider proposers) was not moved after debate. The Minister said the Government would proceed with new mainstream free schools only where they meet community need, respond to demographic and housing demand, and “will raise standards without undermining the viability of existing local schools and colleges”, approving projects in Dudley and Oldham but not in Teesside because of higher risks to existing provision.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): Post‑legislative scrutiny

Lord Norton of Louth sought a statutory five‑year review of the Act. Baroness Blake of Leeds said government already expects post‑legislative scrutiny and committed: “we will undertake post-legislative scrutiny for this Bill” though not on the face of the Bill. The amendment was withdrawn.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): Citizenship education and ‘British values’

The noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Harries of Pentregarth, proposed defining ‘values of British citizenship’ in statute. The Government agreed citizenship teaching must be strengthened but preferred to use curriculum routes, committing to introduce “new statutory citizenship teaching at primary level and an updated secondary programme of study” following the curriculum and assessment review. The amendment was withdrawn.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): Guidance on gender‑questioning children

Baroness Barran pressed for statutory guidance to be issued immediately on enactment, criticising delays since the 2024 consultation. The Minister said next steps would follow careful consideration, with children’s well‑being central: “We will confirm next steps in due course”. No amendment was agreed at this stage.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): Duty to keep schools open in emergencies

Lord Young of Acton proposed a statutory duty to keep schools open during civil emergencies and to require parliamentary approval for any continuing closures. He argued that Covid closures were “a catastrophic error”. The Government said future planning must be agile and cross‑governmental, referencing Exercise Pegasus: “planning is at its best when it is agile”. The amendment was withdrawn.

Statement: Police Reform White Paper

A Commons statement on police reform was repeated. The Home Secretary argued that “policing remains the last great unreformed public service”, proposing a new national police service to take national responsibilities and ending police and crime commissioners, with alternative local governance. In the Lords exchange, Lord Hanson said reforms aim to reconnect local policing and create national capability while improving procurement and standards. Peers queried accountability and the risk of political interference, and Ministers said devolving policing to Wales was not planned. No decision was taken in the Lords.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): Allergy safety (‘Benedict’s law’)

Baroness Morgan of Cotes’ Amendment 209 requires all schools in England to adopt an allergy/anaphylaxis policy, prepare individual plans, train staff, and hold spare adrenaline auto‑injectors (AAIs). The Government committed to new statutory guidance before September 2026 and said: “we expect schools to do so” in purchasing spare AAIs, but declined central funding: “no … centrally provided funding”. The House divided and agreed the amendment (Ayes 176, Noes 132).

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): Smartphone ban during the school day

Baroness Barran’s Amendment 215, requiring schools to prohibit the possession and use of smartphones during the school day (with limited exceptions), was agreed. The Government had issued strengthened guidance and said Ofsted would check policies, stating schools “should be mobile phone-free environments by default”. An exemption for assistive technologies (Amendment 216) was rejected (Ayes 36, Noes 144). The principal ban was approved on division (Ayes 178, Noes 140).

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): Exclusions and pupil safety

Baroness Barran proposed that local authorities must assess a child’s needs upon permanent exclusion and that there should be presumptions against reinstatement following serious offences or repeated exclusions. The Government said “Governing bodies play an essential role in reviewing exclusions and deciding on reinstatement on a case-by-case basis” and emphasised early intervention and behaviour support. The amendments were withdrawn or not moved.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): Child rights impact assessments (CRIAs)

Baroness Lister of Burtersett’s Amendment 221 to require statutory CRIAs was withdrawn after the Government argued existing cross‑government practice suffices and promised to “continue our work to ensure that child rights impact assessments will be delivered across government”. The mover referenced the Covid inquiry’s recommendation to legislate for CRIAs.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): National tutoring and apprenticeships

Lord Storey’s Amendment 222 proposing a national tutoring guarantee was withdrawn; Ministers said “schools are best placed to understand the needs of their pupils” and can use pupil premium, and announced AI tutoring tools would be co‑created and robustly tested. On apprenticeships (Amendment 243E), the Government announced an ambition to support 50,000 more young people backed by £725 million but noted apprenticeships are jobs that cannot be compelled.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): Edtech standards and filtering/monitoring

On Amendment 227 (software tools register) and Amendments 238–240 (edtech efficacy, filtering certification, and an ICO edtech code), the Minister said safety and pedagogy require different approaches, promising an evidence framework and expanded test bed trials. She confirmed “the Government will consult on a scheme to certify filtering and monitoring products used in schools” and that regulations will require the ICO to publish codes—AI first, then a dedicated edtech code. The amendments were withdrawn.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill—Report (5th Day): SEND and children’s wellbeing measurement

Lord Addington’s SEND amendments were withdrawn. The Minister set out workforce investment and reiterated that wider SEND reforms will be in the forthcoming schools White Paper, adding “no, you cannot have a date” when asked for timing. On a national children’s wellbeing measurement programme (Amendment 233), the Government said they will “publish non-statutory guidance helping schools to measure” key factors and are “exploring whether and how this data could be collected centrally”. The amendment was withdrawn.

Devolution-related consequential powers and other business

Government amendments conferring consequential regulation‑making powers on Welsh and Scottish Ministers were agreed. Technical commencement wording changes (e.g., Amendment 246) were agreed. The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill was returned from the Commons agreed to.