Lords Advance Key Bills, Decry Jimmy Lai, Outline Cancer Plan
High-Level Summary
The House of Lords scrutinised government policy across multiple areas and advanced two major Bills. Oral Questions covered animal testing using beagles, Royal Navy operations in the Caribbean, public transport for remote communities, and delayed hospital discharges. A Private Notice Question condemned the 20‑year sentence imposed on British citizen Jimmy Lai and explored diplomatic avenues. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill completed Third Reading and was sent to the Commons with amendments. Committee on the Victims and Courts Bill probed compelling offender attendance at sentencing, parental responsibility restrictions after serious offences, victim support and transparency; most amendments were withdrawn. A ministerial Statement outlined an ambitious national cancer plan focused on early diagnosis, innovation and patient support.
Detailed Summary
Introductions of new Members
Baroness MacLeod of Camusdarach and Baroness Antrobus were introduced, made the solemn affirmation, and signed the undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct: “was introduced and made the solemn affirmation”; “was introduced and made the solemn affirmation”.
Life Sciences: Beagles – Oral Question
Ministers said the Government collect data on procedures involving beagles, not on individual animals, reporting: “In 2024, beagles were used in 2,488 procedures, representing 0.2% of all experimental procedures, and a 30% decrease from 2023”. The Minister highlighted plans to reduce use of dogs, including “reducing their use in cardiovascular safety studies by at least 50% by 2030” and to fund development of non‑animal methods. He also confirmed new funding: “we have put £75 million of new money into that strategy” and “we have a target of a 30% reduction by the end of this Parliament” in specified areas. While accepting that animal testing remains necessary where no alternatives exist, the Government said they are working with regulators to reduce use over time. Asked about international comparisons, the Minister replied “the UK has the highest standards possible in this area”, warning that forcing work abroad risks poorer standards. Several contributions strayed into hunting policy; the Minister noted this was wide of the Question but stated his personal support for stopping trail hunting. No decisions were taken.
Royal Navy: Caribbean – Oral Question
The Government stated the ship “is not part of the Joint Interagency Task Force South” but provides support to the Overseas Territories, engages regionally and “supports counter‑illicit trafficking operations” co‑ordinated through the US‑led task force. The Minister cited operational results: “HMS ‘Trent’ has seized £223.4 million‑worth of cocaine since 2024”. He assured peers there has been “no UK involvement in operations outside our own policy remit”, adding that UK exchange officers are segregated during specific US operations. On naval capacity, he said “the Royal Navy’s readiness performance in 2025 reflects strong operational output”, and that working with Norway on Type 26 frigates and their sequencing would support High North security. No policy changes were announced.
Public Transport: Remote Communities – Oral Question (Isles of Scilly focus)
Ministers said that, for the Isles of Scilly, “there are no plans to introduce a new subsidy, regulatory framework or funding model”, though £750,000 had been awarded “to explore a potential clean technology passenger sea route”. A meeting with the council leader and interested Peers was offered: “will be happy to meet”. On rural bus funding, the Minister stated “the local transport funding formula does recognise rural areas” and noted demand‑responsive schemes and taxi/private hire measures in forthcoming legislation. He praised community transport—“a very elegant way of solving some of these issues”—and volunteers. Challenged on ferry fares and decarbonisation, he said new ships are being procured and “We reject absolutely the concept that somehow these ferry routes have to survive under conditions of excess carbon emissions”. No new schemes were announced beyond the meeting commitment.
Hospitals: Delayed Discharges – Oral Question
The Government acknowledged “too many people are delayed leaving hospital”, focusing on in‑hospital processes, joint working with local authorities and targeted support, “backed by £9 billion through the better care fund”. The Minister agreed that discharge planning should start on admission and stressed integrated, multi‑agency approaches, saying guidance on “planning for discharge before admission” should be adhered to. On tackling procedural delays, she said “£2 billion is being put into NHS digital transformation” including electronic patient records. She added that the Government is “making progress towards building a national care service”, with “around £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care by 2028‑29” compared with 2025‑26. No new targets were announced.
Jimmy Lai: 20‑year sentence – Private Notice Question
The Government condemned the sentence, saying “20 years is tantamount to a life sentence for a 78 year‑old man” and that the Prime Minister had raised the case with President Xi, with further rapid engagement planned. Ministers announced that “the Home Secretary today announced an expansion of eligibility for the Hong Kong BNO route” and called for Jimmy Lai’s immediate release. Peers proposed coordinated international pressure via the Media Freedom Coalition—“That is an excellent suggestion. We are committed to the coalition, and I will take that back”—leveraging trade, and a possible prisoner transfer (noting this would be for the family to consider). The Government also said consular access should be provided: “Yes, we did raise this and will continue to”. No specific new consequences were announced.
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – Third Reading and Passing
The Minister confirmed inter‑governmental engagement and consent progress: “a legislative consent Motion has been successfully agreed in the Scottish Parliament” and the Senedd is arranging time for debate on a supplementary Motion following Lords amendments. A tidying amendment on school uniform limits was accepted so related changes can be considered together in the Commons: “we are prepared to accept it at this stage”. Government technical amendments aligned Welsh regulations with the Senedd’s approval procedure, defined “child” and “carer” for Wales to allow young carer status to be recorded, and resolved a minor conflict on academy trust inspection regulations, making “no policy change”. The Bill “passed and returned to the Commons with Amendments”.
Victims and Courts Bill – Committee (Day 1): Compelling offender attendance at sentencing
Amendments probed extending compulsory attendance powers beyond the Crown Court (e.g. to magistrates) and giving victims a formal role in triggering or opposing orders. The Government emphasised that the Crown Court provisions include three powers—“authorising the use of reasonable force, except in the case of children”, adding an extra sentence for refusal or disruption, and prison‑type sanctions—and warned of delays from litigating such orders. On victims’ roles, Ministers said judges will hear submissions and that prosecutors are expected to advance victims’ views—“prosecuting counsel will inevitably be expected to advance the views of the victim and the family”—but cautioned against creating unrealistic expectations or statutory consultation duties. Amendments were withdrawn; no changes were made.
Victims and Courts Bill – Committee: Age threshold for compulsion
Proposals to permit compulsory attendance and the use of force for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds were opposed. The Minister clarified that an “attendance order can be made in respect of all offenders, including children”, but “force will not be used to get those children to court”, reflecting safeguarding policy and international obligations. The amendments were withdrawn.
Victims and Courts Bill – Committee: Restricting parental responsibility after serious offences (Clause 3) and Jade’s law
Peers sought to lower the four‑year sentence threshold, widen covered offences (e.g. sexual communication with a child), and extend Jade’s law to attempted murder. The Government argued: “we have set the threshold at sentences of four years’ imprisonment” because it is a marker of seriousness linked to existing sentencing rules (two‑thirds custody for 4+ years), and warned that lowering it could move beyond cases where restriction is clearly in the child’s best interests and risk Article 8 challenges. On appeals, Ministers said that after an acquittal or sentence reduction below four years “the relevant local authority will be under a duty to make an application within a very short time” for family court review. They declined to add attempted murder to Jade’s law now, cautioning it could “risk delaying its implementation”; work to implement Jade’s law and associated guidance is under way. Amendments were withdrawn.
Victims and Courts Bill – Committee: Extending restrictions to serious child cruelty offences
A new clause to mirror Clause 3 for serious child cruelty offences (with a two‑year sentence threshold) was proposed. The Minister responded that “automatic restriction… is a novel change to the law and must be done in a responsible and proportionate manner”, so the Government will first evaluate Clause 3’s operation; existing family court routes remain available. Amendment withdrawn.
Victims and Courts Bill – Committee: Victim disclosures and contact scheme; homicide abroad; anti‑social behaviour; detained patients
An attempt to exempt National Crime Agency agreements from protections enabling victims to speak out was rejected; the Government said Official Secrets Act obligations already apply, and that broader non‑disclosure agreements should not “silence victims or cover up crime”. On the victim contact scheme, Ministers confirmed eligibility for victims of coercive or controlling behaviour, stalking and harassment “regardless of sentence”, and for bereaved families in manslaughter and death by dangerous driving (12 months+), with others able to use a new helpline; practice will be monitored. Proposals to extend the victims’ code to murders abroad were declined because “the victims’ code applies to victims of crimes which can be prosecuted in England and Wales”, but the Government have published a “clear, accessible guide” with the FCDO and partners and will review further signposting in the new code. Ministers resisted adding non‑criminal anti‑social behaviour victims to the code and a statutory unique identifier, pointing to the ASB case review and a cross‑CJS data improvement programme exploring identifiers with safeguards. For information requests by victims where offenders are detained in hospital, the Government favoured operational guidance and possible updates to the Mental Health Act code of practice, noting that “reasons can and should be provided wherever possible” when information is withheld.
National Cancer Plan – Statement and Q&A
The Government set an ambition to “save 320,000 more lives by 2035” and to “turn cancer from one of this country’s biggest killers into a chronic condition… for three in four patients”. Ministers said delivery milestones are set out in the plan’s chapters and a cancer workforce plan will be published in spring; a reformed national cancer board will oversee delivery, with cancer alliances working with NHS regions. Investment includes “£2.3 billion of investment in diagnostics to deliver 9.5 million additional tests by 2029” and “more than £650 million” to complete targeted lung screening by 2030. On end‑of‑life care, the Government is integrating supportive oncology with palliative care and investing “£100 million to upgrade” hospices. Prevention actions include tobacco control, obesity and alcohol harm measures, and HPV catch‑up to “eliminate cervical cancer by 2040”.
Victims and Courts Bill – Committee: Support for caregivers; restorative justice; victim navigators
A proposed duty to commission support services for caregivers of abuse and exploitation victims was not accepted; Ministers said “parents and carers… can already access support services” via MoJ‑funded provision and child houses, and highlighted an online directory. On restorative justice (RJ), the Government supports RJ and the draft code “proposed an additional entitlement for the victim to be told about restorative justice again after an offender has been convicted”, but declined a statutory duty of referral as “neither necessary nor appropriate”, stressing consent and suitability—for example in stalking cases. An amendment to roll out victim navigators nationally for modern slavery was resisted as duplicating existing adult and child services, including independent child trafficking guardians; a national contract is being procured.
Victim personal statements (VPS)
An amendment to widen what victims may say in VPSs was met with caution. Ministers acknowledged VPSs’ value but said broader content risks increased cross‑examination and contentious hearings, adding stress. They noted “criminal practice directions are issued by judges, not Ministers”, and offered to work through the victims’ code consultation to improve clarity so victims “fully understand the process”. Amendment withdrawn.
Compensation and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS)
On calls for improved compensation for victims of fraud, bribery and money laundering, Ministers cited existing tools: POCA prioritises compensation (with “£47.2 million” paid from confiscations in 2024‑25), civil forfeiture of crypto can be returned to victims, and APP scam reimbursement now returns 88% of eligible losses; a review of compensating overseas bribery victims is “expected in 2027”. Proposals to extend CICS to all child sexual abuse, including online‑only cases, and to relax the bar for applicants with unspent convictions were declined to preserve “the scheme’s core principle of universality”, though wider reform work was signalled.
Access to court transcripts for victims
The Government confirmed that free sentencing‑remarks transcripts for Crown Court victims will be delivered under the new Sentencing Act, with operational details to follow in regulations after a review. Extending this to bail decisions and judicial summings‑up was resisted: bail outcomes and conditions should be communicated by witness care units and magistrates’ courts proceedings are not yet recorded; summings‑up risk confusion and distress as they are even‑handed summaries rather than explanations of verdicts. A proposal to require online publication of sentencing remarks on request was also declined due to anonymisation burdens and privacy risks, though remarks in high‑profile cases can already be published or broadcast at judicial discretion.