Crime Bill Scrutiny Dominates as Lords Pledge Standards Reform
High-Level Summary
The House of Lords took oral questions on youth unemployment, timber use in construction, the jobs market and Civil Service Pensions administration. Ministers also answered on Iran following a Commons Urgent Question, and Baroness Smith of Basildon made a Statement on the US Department of Justice’s Epstein files and parliamentary standards. The House then undertook the 15th day of Committee on the Crime and Policing Bill, debating safeguards for international law‑enforcement data sharing, extradition retrials after convictions in absentia, the age of criminal responsibility, CHIS immunity, universal jurisdiction for atrocity crimes, funding against economic crime, rural crime strategy, water company pollution offences, joint enterprise, and drone misuse. The Victims and Courts Bill was recommitted to a Committee of the Whole House, and the Crime and Policing Bill was reported with amendments.
Detailed Summary
Introductions of Lords Spiritual
Two Lords Spiritual were introduced and took the oath: Sarah Elisabeth, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and Joanne Woolway, Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. Each “signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct”.
Youth Unemployment – Oral Question
Lord Young of Cookham asked about steps to reduce youth unemployment. Baroness Smith of Malvern said the Government is “investing over £1.5 billion through the youth guarantee and growth and skills levy” and described a jobs guarantee for eligible 18–21 year‑olds, with phase 1 delivery from spring 2026 in six high‑need areas and “supporting around 55,000 young people over three years”. She characterised earlier interviews, 300,000 more experience/training opportunities and a backstop placement after 18 months as welfare reform: “That is welfare reform”. Peers raised mental health, autistic employment, NEETs not on benefits, lessons from Wales, and wage policy. Smith said Alan Milburn’s review will examine mental health links and that schools will have access to mental health professionals, and highlighted £90m youth guarantee trailblazers in eight areas to reach young people outside the benefits system. On youth pay, she said the April 2026 uplift towards equalising the 18–20 minimum wage with the national living wage is being taken “in a way that avoids increases in unemployment”. No division; next steps include the Milburn review and phased rollout from spring 2026.
Construction Industry: Timber – Oral Question
Lord Blencathra asked about increasing timber use as a low‑carbon material. Baroness Hayman of Ullock said the Timber in Construction Roadmap was updated and relaunched in February 2025 to “increase the use of timber in construction”, with collaboration on best practice, innovation and circularity. She noted the UK imports “the vast majority of our timber and wood products… the second largest net importer in the world after China”, and said the Government wants to grow the domestic market, investing £1 billion in tree‑planting/forestry and aiming to “increase conifer planting”. Peers raised prefabrication, reclaimed timber, hemp, national security, biosecurity, grey squirrels and vernacular design. Hayman pointed to modern methods of construction and pattern books to speed delivery, said reusable timber “has to be part of the discussion”, and called heavy imports “not good for our national security”. She cited UK timber regulations against illegal logging and said a circular economy growth plan will be published “shortly”. No decisions were taken.
Jobs Market – Oral Question
Lord Hunt of Wirral asked about the jobs market and implications for the wider economy. Lord Katz said “the claimant count is falling—43,000 on the year—more than half a million people have moved into work over the past year, and real wages have risen more since July 2024” and cited the Get Britain Working plan. He added that unemployment has been rising since 2023 across the G7, but that inactivity has fallen by nearly 500,000 and employment rose by over 500,000. On AI, Katz said free courses will upskill “about 10 million employees” and that an AI and the Future of Work Unit has been set up in DSIT. He said reforms ensure zero‑hours contracts “do not drive standards to the bottom” and outlined a youth target of two‑thirds in higher‑level learning, with Alan Milburn’s review reporting in spring and summer. He referred to work with Sir Charlie Mayfield to keep people in work, involving “over 120 businesses… 5 million workers”. No decisions; next steps are ongoing programmes and review reports.
Civil Service Pensions: Capita – Oral Question
Lord Davies of Brixton asked about problems arising from the transfer of Civil Service Pensions administration to Capita. Baroness Anderson of Stoke‑on‑Trent apologised, calling the current service “totally unacceptable,” and said a recovery taskforce led by HMRC’s Second Permanent Secretary is in place with a 150‑person surge team and interest‑free bridging loans up to £10,000 in hardship cases. She said the most urgent cases (death in service and ill‑health retirement) are expected to be “dealt with by the end of this month” and that hardship loans “started to be paid this week”. She said the online portal should be “fully operational” by the “end of next month,” with hardship cases prioritised now. The Government has “withheld £9.6 million in transition payments… from a contract value over seven years of £285 million”, and departments are contacting bereaved families directly so money reaches bank accounts “within days”. No division; next steps are recovery milestones and continued oversight.
Victims and Courts Bill – Order of Commitment
The House agreed to discharge the previous order of commitment and to commit the Bill to a Committee of the Whole House; the previous instruction to Grand Committee was also made an instruction to the Committee of the Whole House. No division; next step is Committee of the Whole House.
Iran – Commons Urgent Question (Answer in Lords)
Following a Commons UQ, Baroness Chapman of Darlington said the Government welcomes recent EU moves on the IRGC. She explained that Jonathan Hall KC’s review identified a need to change UK law because there is “a difference between the way we can deal with the proscription of state actors and with terrorists”, and that the Government is “proceeding” accordingly. She endorsed support for BBC Persian and journalists and confirmed that proscription work is “being actively looked at with urgency”. On Iran’s internet shutdown, she said access is vital and that shutdowns aim at “hiding what is happening and preventing people from organising”. She stressed accountability via the Human Rights Council’s fact‑finding mission. No new decisions; next steps are legal changes for potential proscription and continued international accountability efforts.
US DOJ Epstein Files – Statement
Baroness Smith of Basildon emphasised that victims “must be our first priority” and that as much information as possible should be public, with national security matters for the Intelligence and Security Committee. She said some information cannot be released immediately due to police investigations, but it has been given to the police and the ISC and will be released “as a matter of some urgency” when possible. She confirmed that strengthened vetting processes may need review, that the Cabinet Secretary will be guided by an independent KC and meet the ISC, and that the Government will bring forward legislation so that disgraced Peers cannot retain titles: “The Government are preparing that legislation”. She also wrote to the Conduct Committee chair to consider strengthening removal powers. No vote; next steps include ISC scrutiny, police inquiries, and prospective legislation.
Crime and Policing Bill (Committee Day 15): International law enforcement data sharing
Lord Clement‑Jones sought additional safeguards (privacy impact assessments, limits on sensitive data transfers, annual reporting, and affirmative procedure). Lord Katz argued existing data protection impact assessments, ICO consultation and treaty scrutiny already apply, that extra duties risk duplication and expose sensitive operations, and that the Delegated Powers Committee made “no such recommendation” on procedure. Clement‑Jones withdrew, saying the 2025 Data Act “changed the rules of the game”. Clauses 192–194 were agreed without division; no further steps stated.
Crime and Policing Bill: Extradition—Clause 195 (convictions in absentia)
Baroness Brinton opposed Clause 195, arguing it weakens safeguards by reducing a “right to a retrial” to “a mere ‘right to apply’ for a retrial” and by treating a person as present solely due to legal representation without contact, risking inconsistency with the UK‑EU TCA. Lord Hanson said the clause restores the original policy intention following the Supreme Court’s Merticariu judgment, retains the full suite of safeguards, and offered to meet Peers and practitioners. Brinton withdrew opposition pending discussions. Next step: Ministerial meeting before Report.
Crime and Policing Bill: Age of criminal responsibility (Amendment 469)
Baroness Chakrabarti proposed raising the age from 10 to 14, citing international norms and brain development. She argued that criminalising primary‑school‑age children harms rehabilitation: “They are entered into a system where they are likely to be deprived of education”. Lord Davies of Gower replied that the system already uses powers sparingly—of 1,687 sentences for 10–14 year‑olds in 2025, “just 23 resulted in custody”—and warned of a gap exploited by gangs, with Sweden proposing to reduce its age from 15 to 13. Baroness Levitt called the issue “complex and sensitive,” said most children are diverted and cautions are quickly spent, and that any reconsideration should be “through a carefully considered procedure… rather than through an amendment”. The amendment was withdrawn; the proposer may return at Report.
Crime and Policing Bill: CHIS immunity and safeguards (Amendment 470)
Baroness Chakrabarti proposed replacing advance civil/criminal immunity for authorised criminal conduct by CHIS with a public‑interest defence and a bar on agents provocateurs. She cited oversight delays and IPCO findings that CCAs sometimes used “vague or ambiguous wording for conduct”. Lord Hanson said CHIS remain crucial, oversight by Sir Brian Leveson’s office is in place, and CHIS “cannot be authorised to entrap people… Article 6” applies and authorised professional practice states an undercover operative “must not act as an agent provocateur”. He noted the undercover policing inquiry is ongoing and said the Government believes “we are in a better place than we were many years ago”, while reflecting on report timeliness. The amendment was withdrawn; no changes committed.
Crime and Policing Bill: Universal jurisdiction for atrocity crimes (Amendments 472 & 473)
Lord Alton, for the Joint Committee on Human Rights, sought to allow prosecutions in England and Wales for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes without a UK link where suspects are present (with Attorney‑General consent). He argued the ICC cannot “single‑handedly provide accountability” and that capable national courts must share the burden, to avoid the UK becoming a safe haven. Lord Hanson expressed sympathy in a specific case and said the UK supports the ICC and domestic investigations abroad, but does “not believe that it is necessary at this time to extend the scope” of universal jurisdiction; where there is no UK link, crimes are “best investigated and prosecuted where they are perpetrated”. The amendments were withdrawn; next steps are continued support for international and domestic accountability mechanisms.
Crime and Policing Bill: Economic crime fighting fund (Amendment 482)
Lord Cromwell proposed a viability assessment of a fund to reinvest a proportion of enforcement receipts into multi‑year resourcing against economic crime, noting costs of “£350 billion a year… equal to 17.5% of GDP” and recovery of “only some 0.2%” of illicit flows. He highlighted annularity problems and compared existing hypothecation precedents. Lord Hanson said the Government will “explore the funding landscape with the aim of strengthening economic crime enforcement” as a joint Treasury/Home Office commitment in the Economic Anti‑Corruption Strategy published last December, within the context of Spending Review 2025. The amendment was withdrawn; next step is that exploration, with the proposer intent on scrutiny.
Crime and Policing Bill: Rural crime prevention strategy (Amendment 483)
Baroness Miller sought a cross‑government rural crime taskforce and strategy, citing organised fly‑tipping, hare coursing and wildlife crime, and asked why wildlife crime figures are not recorded. Lord Cromwell described isolation, waste dumping and gang hare coursing as drivers. Lord Hanson said a Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy was published in November 2025 and a Defra‑led rural task force was set up last year to gather evidence. He cited the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and Clause 128 powers to enter premises where GPS‑tagged stolen items are present, and confirmed continued £800,000 funding for the national rural and wildlife crime units. The amendment was withdrawn.
Crime and Policing Bill: Water company pollution offences (Amendments 484 & 485)
Earl Russell (for Baroness Bakewell) proposed offences for companies failing for three consecutive years to meet pollution commitments or with rising serious incidents, and personal liability for senior managers failing to take reasonable steps. He cited a “60% increase in serious category 1 and category 2 incidents… to 75 in 2024”. Lord Katz opposed creating new offences, pointing to the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, which extends court powers to imprisonment for obstruction and enables expanded penalties, and to Ofwat’s bonus ban already blocking “more than £4 million of potential bonuses”. He said a new water regulator will be created and legislation brought “when parliamentary time allows”. The amendment was withdrawn; next steps are implementation of existing reforms and future legislation.
Crime and Policing Bill: Joint enterprise—‘significant contribution’ (Amendment 486)
Lord Garnier proposed amending the Accessories and Abettors Act 1861 so secondary liability requires “a significant contribution” to the offence, arguing post‑Jogee case law risks over‑criminalisation and that without a threshold “there is a real risk of convicting people who make no significant contribution”. Supporters cited disproportionate impacts and CPS data; opponents warned “significant” is undefined and risked inconsistency. Baroness Levitt acknowledged concerns but said such a change risks disparate verdicts (e.g., whether a lookout is significant) and does not address interactions with other doctrines; she pointed to ongoing Law Commission work on homicide and appeals, CPS policy reviews and parliamentary inquiries. The amendment was withdrawn pending those reviews.
Crime and Policing Bill: Drone misuse offence (Amendment 486A)
Lord Cromwell sought an offence for using drones for criminal reconnaissance or to carry illicit items. Lord Katz said such acts are already covered (e.g., “going equipped” and existing possession/supply offences) and that the issue is enforcement, not legal gaps; he highlighted new rules requiring drones to have direct remote identification to aid accountability. The amendment was withdrawn; no legislative change proposed.
Crime and Policing Bill: Technical amendments and progress
The Committee agreed a range of technical amendments on regulation‑making powers, territorial extent and commencement for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Bill was reported with amendments, and the House adjourned at 7.33 pm.