Lords Bolster Tobacco and Vapes Bill, Scrutinise Energy and Gibraltar

High-Level Summary

The House of Lords examined energy policy delivery for Carbon Budget 6, regional impacts of the Defence Industrial Strategy 2025, farming competitiveness, assisted dying processes in the Crown Dependencies, and the draft UK–EU treaty on Gibraltar, before completing an extensive second Report day on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Ministers said revised plans would meet Carbon Budget 6 and stressed nuclear’s importance. Peers pressed for a defence investment plan timetable and highlighted jobs and investment across the nations and regions. On Gibraltar, Ministers outlined sovereignty, security and scrutiny arrangements. The House agreed numerous government amendments to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, strengthened enforcement funding, and confirmed a statutory review, with consultations flagged on packaging, flavours and smoke‑/vape‑/heated‑tobacco‑free places.

Detailed Summary

Carbon Budget 6 – Oral Question

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb asked whether current policies will deliver Carbon Budget 6. Lord Whitehead said the Secretary of State’s assessment of the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan “concluded that they will enable carbon budget 6 to be met” and that delivery would be monitored and kept under review. He said the Government had adopted a more robust approach after legal judgments and quantified “real‑world trends”, adding that new policies since taking office support delivery. Peers raised electricity demand, grid constraints and data centres, citing Ofgem’s warning that connection demand “exceeds even the most ambitious demand forecasts”. Whitehead said clean power plans mean “pretty much only low‑carbon power will be used” and that data‑centre trends are modelled. He called nuclear integral—“very difficult to see how carbon budget 6 might easily be met without that power”—rejected that decarbonisation had caused deindustrialisation, noted more than 80,000 EV charge points, and argued extra North Sea gas would be slow and not lower UK prices because gas is traded internationally. No decision was taken; the Minister provided assurances on policy adequacy and ongoing review.

Defence Industrial Strategy 2025: Economic Growth and Jobs – Oral Question

Lord Forbes of Newcastle asked about the Strategy’s regional impact. Lord Coaker said £773 million has been invested to position the UK as a leader in defence technology, with growth deals and skills programmes, stating: “investment in defence is investment in jobs and growth in every nation and region in the UK”. Pressed for the overdue defence investment plan, he said it “will be published as soon as it is ready”, citing ongoing spend at Leonardo, shipbuilding on the Clyde and at Rosyth, Plymouth dockyards, and a £9 billion nuclear programme. Further exchanges covered timing—“will be published when it is ready”—and munitions capacity: “£1.5 billion in six new munitions sites” with 13 sites identified. He said Type 26 orders would be protected—“We will ensure that we deliver the frigate programme”—and pointed to Northern Ireland’s role, with a growth deal announcement hoped for. Outcome: reaffirmed investments and engagement; plan to be published following decisions on budget and capability.

British Farming: Competitiveness – Oral Question

Lord Harlech asked how to improve competitiveness against imports. Baroness Hayman of Ullock said the Government is “backing British farmers” and would consider whether overseas produce had an unfair advantage, using “the full range of powers… to protect our most sensitive sectors”. She said trade agreements would not undercut domestic standards—“our standards are sacrosanct”—and referenced £11.8 billion farm‑budget support and a response to the Farming Profitability Review later this year. On public procurement, she reiterated the 50% British‑sourcing ambition and said policy tools favour local suppliers. On discussions with the EU on sanitary and phytosanitary issues, she declined to detail “specific carve‑outs” during negotiations. She said the UK is not currently negotiating an EU–Mercosur FTA, and that in the India deal tariffs were maintained on some products to protect welfare and farmers. She noted 57 recommendations in the Batters Review and announced a new farming and food partnership board to drive collaboration across the supply chain. Outcome: assurances on standards, procurement and forthcoming profitability measures.

Assisted Dying Legislation: Isle of Man and Jersey – Oral Question

Lord Bassam of Brighton asked about enabling timely Royal Assent for Crown Dependency Bills. Baroness Levitt said the UK is engaging with the Isle of Man to ensure compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and that “Advice on Royal Assent will go to the Lord Chancellor in due course,” adding that, when the Jersey law is received, scrutiny will be undertaken “in a timely manner”. She reiterated neutrality: “the Government have been clear that we are neutral” on assisted dying and on the Private Member’s Bill in the Lords. Peers raised scope creep, cross‑border frameworks and parliamentary time. Levitt said it would be premature to develop a UK‑wide framework before outcomes are known, confirmed extra Friday sittings but no government time for the Private Member’s Bill, and noted officials are preparing advice for the Lord Chancellor on the Isle of Man Bill. Outcome: process and neutrality restated; no change in policy.

Deputy Chairmen of Committees – Membership Motions

The Senior Deputy Speaker moved motions to appoint members to the panel of Deputy Chairmen of Committees and to Select Committees. The House agreed: “Motions agreed.”. Outcome: appointments approved.

Armed Forces Commissioner (Family Definition, and Consequential and Transitional Provision etc.) Regulations 2026 – Motion to Approve

Lord Coaker moved approval of the draft regulations, previously considered in Grand Committee on 2 March. The motion was agreed: “Motion agreed.”. Outcome: regulations approved.

Gibraltar Treaty – Statement and Questions

Ministers took questions on the published draft UK–EU treaty in respect of Gibraltar. The Statement emphasised that Gibraltar is not joining Schengen and that checks will move from the land border to dual controls at the airport, with Gibraltar conducting its own controls and Spain conducting checks on behalf of the EU. The final treaty will be laid for scrutiny under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. Lord Collins of Highbury said signature is expected “next month” and confirmed that British citizens have always been subject to immigration checks in Gibraltar. He outlined dispute‑resolution and termination safeguards, including independent arbitration and a unilateral termination clause. On defence, he confirmed that “nothing in this agreement will affect our ability to operate unimpeded” and that RAF Gibraltar remains under MoD control. A comparison was drawn with juxtaposed controls “with the French in St Pancras”. Outcome: publication and scrutiny timetable set; sovereignty and defence assurances reiterated; questions on citizens’ access and oversight addressed.

Tobacco and Vapes Bill – Report (2nd Day)

Peers considered amendments across licensing, enforcement, packaging, flavours, technology, advertising and smoke‑/vape‑/heated‑tobacco‑free places. A proposal to mandate a one‑year lead‑in for retail licensing was not accepted; Ministers said implementation timings would be settled through consultation and engagement—“these amendments are not needed”. The House agreed government changes allowing local authorities in England and Wales to retain proceeds from fixed‑penalty notices for enforcement. Ministers secured a statutory post‑legislative review within four to seven years; Amendment 205 “requires the Secretary of State to review the operation of the Bill” and lay a report before Parliament. On Northern Ireland compatibility, Ministers said the TRIS process had concluded and published their response asserting compatibility under the Windsor Framework; related amendments were withdrawn. On vaping, they confirmed existing powers cover packaging and flavour descriptors, pledged to consult on regulating descriptors first, and retained flexibility to act on ingredients as evidence develops. New powers were added to regulate technological features and associated software in devices to address emerging risks. On advertising, the Government resisted carve‑outs, citing rising youth promotion awareness, but created a defence for public health campaigns to promote unbranded cessation messaging in specified media. On smoke‑/vape‑/heated‑tobacco‑free places, Ministers announced a consultation on certain outdoor public places (e.g. playgrounds, hospitals, schools) and aligning indoor rules, explicitly excluding outdoor hospitality at this stage. Multiple technical amendments—such as defining “filters”, recasting enforcement powers and adjusting broadcasting rules—were agreed. Several non‑government amendments were withdrawn or not moved.