Lords Advance Standards, Youth Health and Home‑Grown SAF

High-Level Summary

The House of Lords conducted introductions, oral questions on health and public administration, the Report stage of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill, and two ministerial statements. Ministers confirmed plans to ban sales of high‑caffeine energy drinks to under‑16s within this Parliament and discussed integrating early‑years programme evidence and clarifying death registration guidance. The Government announced that senior ambassadorial appointments will now be vetted before announcement and set out steps following standards-in-public-life concerns, including legislation to enable removal of peerages. Peers approved a time‑limited Scotland Act Section 30 Order related to assisted dying provisions and heard that all 13 recommendations from the separation centres review will be implemented alongside enhanced prison security. On the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill, the House agreed key government amendments favouring UK production, but rejected caps on contract length and a requirement to report impacts on ticket prices.

Detailed Summary

Introductions: Lord Nagaraju and Lord Redwood

Udaykumar Nagaraju and John Redwood were introduced as Baron Nagaraju and Baron Redwood respectively, each taking the oath and signing an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct: “was introduced and took the oath … and signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct”.

Under‑16s Energy Drinks Ban – Question

Baroness Walmsley asked about timing and scope for legislation to ban sales of high‑caffeine energy drinks to under‑16s. Baroness Merron said the Government would introduce the ban “within this Parliament” and confirmed scope across “all sellers, retailers and businesses of all sizes in England, including in-store and online sales”. Members raised school education, family hubs, age‑verification and sponsorship. Merron highlighted potential harms—“more headaches, difficulty with concentration and greater anxiety are all potential consequences of energy drinks”—and said the policy targets drinks with “150 milligrams of caffeine per litre”. She noted voluntary baby‑food reformulation is being reviewed with possible statutory action, would look into caffeine pouches, and said obesity has complex causes. No specific implementation date beyond “within this Parliament”; further timeline details will be set out “in due course”.

Better Start Longitudinal Programmes – Question

Baroness Thornton asked when and how findings from Better Start programmes will inform policy. Baroness Merron said the Government welcomes emerging learning and awaits the national evaluation report: “we welcome the valuable learning … and we look forward to the national evaluation report in the spring”. She said Best Start Family Hubs will embed parent/carer participation and referenced a Government proposal for a three‑month consultation on children’s screen time (a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology matter). On support for very young children with special needs, she said each Best Start Family Hub will have “a children and family services practitioner” for additional needs. She highlighted an independent investigation led by Baroness Amos and a maternity and neonatal taskforce, said issues around cousin marriage are being examined, and emphasised partnership with civil society. A workforce plan is due in the spring. No new policy decisions were announced (not stated in the transcript).

Government Website: Registering a Death – Question

Baroness Brinton raised confusion over the five‑day requirement to register a death. Lord Hanson of Flint clarified the statutory timing: the five‑day period “starts once the medical examiner has sent the medical certificate of cause of death to the registrar”. He undertook to improve GOV.UK and to write within a month: “we are looking at how we can improve the website … and I will write to the noble Baroness within a month”. He said the median time to register is nine days and delays often occur before the medical examiner’s certificate is issued. He highlighted work towards electronic registration and undertook to consider issues affecting faith groups and sharing best practice. No legislative changes were announced (not stated in the transcript).

Ambassadors: Vetting Process – Question

Lord Pack asked whether ambassadorial vetting is robust. Baroness Chapman of Darlington said ambassadorial appointments undergo national security vetting and announced a process change: “direct ministerial appointments for senior ambassadorial roles must now pass security vetting before they are confirmed or announced”. She described the recent case as exceptional, said the difference concerned “the timing of the vetting and the announcing”, and supported parliamentary oversight in principle but not for all appointments. She could not say who had first suggested the appointment at issue and noted that the Prime Minister’s apology “was received and accepted by one of the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein”. Outcome: vetting now required before announcement; further changes may arise following ongoing reviews.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill – Report Stage

Government amendments to constrain revenue certainty contracts (RCMs) to UK‑produced SAF were agreed: they “ensure that the Secretary of State can enter into revenue certainty contracts only where the supported SAF is produced at a facility in the United Kingdom”. Amendments 1, 2 and 4 were agreed. Lord Moylan’s Amendment 3 to prohibit support for power‑to‑liquid fuel was withdrawn.

Amendment 6 to cap RCM contract terms at 10 years was defeated on division (Ayes 188, Noes 258). The Minister indicated a proposed 15‑year term aligned to financing norms and said contract lengths would be transparently reported: “we propose a 15-year term for all contracts” and “we can find a reporting mechanism that sets out the actual length”. On HEFA fuels, the Minister stated: “Our intention is for HEFA technology and feedstocks to be excluded from RCM contracts” while retaining flexibility if market conditions change. Lord Moylan’s Amendment 12 requiring annual reports on ticket‑price impacts was also defeated (Ayes 186, Noes 251). Several levy‑design amendments were withdrawn after assurances: “money raised through the levy will be used only to support eligible SAF plants in the United Kingdom”, with detailed rules to come by affirmative regulations.

Standards in Public Life – Statement

A Statement first made in the Commons addressed vetting and standards issues. It said the Government will legislate to allow removal of peerages and that “direct ministerial appointments … must now pass security vetting before they are confirmed or announced”. It also committed to publish relevant documents under the humble Address, with national security‑sensitive papers provided to the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Answering questions, Baroness Smith of Basildon said the Prime Minister accepted that the ambassadorial appointment decision “was a wrong decision … and he has apologised”. She confirmed that any peerage‑removal Bill would be consulted on and not passed this Session: “No, not this Session of Parliament … we will consult on this”. She discussed HOLAC processes and due diligence, case‑handling and the need for proper process, and updating governance codes including the Cabinet Manual.

Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2026 – Motion to Approve

Baroness Smith of Cluny moved approval of a time‑limited Section 30 Order to allow the Scottish Parliament, for the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, to legislate on medicines and devices while maintaining UK‑wide regulatory coherence. She said the Order is time‑limited and enables the Scottish Parliament “to create an overall framework for medicines and devices to be used in an assisted dying regime”. The Government explained why Section 30 was used instead of Section 104—Section 104 cannot be used before Royal Assent or to create regulation‑making powers—and said remaining issues could be handled by consequential legislation under Section 104.

Lord Keen of Elie tabled a regret amendment arguing the Order was too narrow. The Minister defended the narrow scope and collaboration with the Scottish Government. The regret amendment was withdrawn and the Motion agreed.

Separation Centres Review – Statement

Peers considered Jonathan Hall KC’s review following the April 2025 attack at HMP Frankland. The Government said the separation‑centre model remains essential and that they “accept all 13” recommendations. Immediate measures include expanding protective equipment and training—“from 750 to 10,000 … and providing training for up to 500 staff”—and work to strengthen governance, intelligence use and legal robustness.

Lord Timpson confirmed acceptance of all recommendations and outlined next steps: further counter‑terrorism training and exploring “tougher, supermax‑style units” within a tiered system. He said the Government will consider whether legislation is needed to protect operational decisions while remaining ECHR‑compliant and noted: “we are appealing the Abu judgment”.