Lords Scrutinise Migration Rules, Pass Grenfell Memorial, Salaries Bill

High-Level Summary

Peers conducted a full day of scrutiny across asylum and settlement reforms, equalities guidance, defence and foreign affairs, remembrance, and House procedure. Ministers were pressed on the child poverty and homelessness implications of asylum and settlement changes, and later faced regret motions challenging Immigration Rules that move refugees to temporary protection and impose student visa brakes. The House agreed procedural reports (including a new Standing Order enabling resignation on behalf of a Peer lacking capacity), passed the Grenfell Tower Memorial (Expenditure) Bill and the Ministerial Salaries (Amendment) Bill, and questioned the Government on Middle East de‑escalation and the Diego Garcia treaty’s delay. Questions also covered preparations for Windrush 80 and measures to deter Russian threats to undersea cables.

Detailed Summary

Oaths and Affirmations

Lord Boyd of Duncansby took the oath and signed the undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct: “took the oath, and signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct”. No further business followed on this item.

Child Poverty and Homelessness: Asylum and Settlement Policies – Oral Question

Baroness Lister of Burtersett asked for the Government’s assessment of how proposed asylum and settlement changes would impact child poverty and homelessness, citing a warning that “The Government will need to understand and mitigate any increase in child poverty”. Lord Hanson of Flint said reforms would consider “the needs of vulnerable people, including families with children,” and that the aim is “not to make people homeless or to increase child poverty”. He noted about 200,000 consultation responses and promised economic and equality impact assessments “in due course”. Peers raised the mental health effects of shortened refugee protection and concerns about extending the qualifying period for settlement. The Minister said analysis of responses would be supported by AI and that assessments would consider impacts on children: “AI is much used in the Home Office now to analyse what is happening”; “We will undertake a full economic and equality impact assessment of the proposals”. He also pointed to operational progress: returns since mid‑2024 and halving of asylum hotel use.

Single‑sex Spaces: Equality and Human Rights Commission Guidance – Oral Question

Lord Rooker asked about implementing the EHRC’s proposed single‑sex spaces guidance via primary legislation. Lord Collins of Highbury outlined the Equality Act 2006 process: if the draft code is approved by the Secretary of State it is laid before Parliament, and if neither House disapproves within 40 days it comes into force by commencement order. Peers challenged delays and asked about compliance with the Supreme Court ruling on sex. The Minister said the Government must “get this right” and will ensure compliance, while noting existing policies require careful Civil Service review. He repeatedly declined to discuss the draft code during the pre‑election period, stating “purdah is a well‑established process”, and reaffirmed protections for all under the Equality Act: “We are absolutely committed to ensuring that the rights of everyone under the Equality Act are, and continue to be, protected”.

HMT “Empire Windrush”: 80th Anniversary – Oral Question

Baroness Benjamin asked about plans to mark the 80th anniversary of the Empire Windrush’s arrival in 2028. Baroness Taylor of Stevenage called it “a significant national milestone” to be marked “with care, respect and pride,” acknowledging past injustices and community involvement. She said funding decisions would follow engagement with the steering committee: “it would not be right to pre‑empt the decisions on funding”. On compensation, she reported that as of January 2025 “over £124 million had been paid … and 94% of claims have now received a final decision”. She confirmed specific Windrush 80 projects would be set out “in due course” and agreed to write regarding whether the Muslim Council of Britain had received a grant. Peers urged continued support for outstanding claimants and youth engagement.

Atlantic Undersea Cables: Russian Sub‑surface Operations – Oral Question

Baroness Antrobus asked about deterring Russian sub‑surface threats to Atlantic undersea cables. Lord Coaker cited recent operations and outlined support for the Armed Forces: “launching the Atlantic Bastion programme … providing an extra £100 million for vital P‑8 submarine‑hunting aircraft; and … the Lunna House agreement with Norway”. He agreed on the need to deter adversaries and highlighted investment in capabilities and allied co‑operation. In response to questions, he detailed a new UK‑Ireland memorandum on maritime co‑operation, plans for hybrid naval capabilities including autonomous systems, and, regarding a recent operation, said: “We found them, we saw them, we took action against them,” while not disclosing specific assets.

House of Lords Commission – Motion to Agree

The House agreed the 5th Report, providing that, following Royal Assent to the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, excepted hereditary Peers leaving at the end of the Session should receive the same access rights as Members who retire under the 2014 Act. The motion was agreed.

Procedure and Privileges Committee – Motion to Agree

The House agreed a new Standing Order implementing Section 2 of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026 to allow a person to sign a resignation notice on behalf of a Member lacking capacity. Lord Gardiner of Kimble described oversight by the Leave of Absence Sub‑Committee and set out the conditions that must be met. The motion was agreed.

Standing Orders (Public Business) – Motion to Amend

Standing Orders were amended to insert SO 21ZA (“Resignation on behalf of peers who lack capacity to give or sign a notice of resignation”), detailing application, evidence, and decision‑making by the Sub‑Committee. The motion was agreed.

Grenfell Tower Memorial (Expenditure) Bill – Second Reading (and remaining stages)

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage presented a Bill to authorise public expenditure for the construction and long‑term care of a Grenfell Tower memorial, related preservation and an archive, stressing that design is community‑led: “This is a simple Bill with a focused purpose”. Baroness Scott of Bybrook gave cross‑party support, stating “Every one of them deserves to be remembered”, while seeking updates on Lancaster West Estate, inquiry recommendations and funding arrangements. Peers spoke movingly. Lord Roe of West Wickham described the night of the fire and firefighters’ courage: “Not a single one of them stepped back”. Lord Sentamu urged remembrance “lest we forget”. Lord Garnier argued that extending “failure to prevent” offences to non‑financial harms would strengthen corporate accountability, noting the model “has changed corporate behaviour before”. Concluding, Baroness Taylor confirmed the Bill “authorises expenditure but does not approve budgets” and restated commitments on justice and remediation. The Bill passed all stages that day: “Bill read a second time … the Bill was read a third time and passed”.

Middle East – Prime Minister’s Statement (taken in the Lords)

Peers questioned the Prime Minister’s update on the evolving Middle East situation. The Statement announced that the Prime Minister and President Macron would “convene a summit of leaders this week” to co‑ordinate efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, warning the ceasefire is “highly fragile”. Responding in the Lords, the Leader of the House emphasised de‑escalation and reopening the strait as priorities, and, pressed on the IRGC, pointed to existing measures, stating “we currently have over 550 sanctions against Iranian‑linked individuals and entities, including the IRGC” and that further tools were being developed following Jonathan Hall KC’s recommendations. Questions also covered Lebanon, energy security, and work with Gulf partners; the Leader underlined ongoing engagement with regional allies.

Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill – Statement

The House was updated on the status of the Diego Garcia treaty and associated Bill. The Government explained that, although the treaty had been negotiated with US support, “the position of the US President appears to have changed,” making it impossible to agree the necessary update to the 1966 exchange of notes in time, so the Bill cannot complete this Session. Answering questions, Lord Coaker confirmed “there will be no treaty payments at all to Mauritius”, that any future progress requires US agreement to update the exchange of notes, and that resuming heritage visits is an aim “as soon as possible”. He reiterated that safeguarding the base’s strategic role remains the Government’s priority.

Ministerial Salaries (Amendment) Bill – Second Reading (and remaining stages)

Baroness Smith of Basildon introduced a Bill to raise the statutory cap on paid ministerial salaries from 109 to 120, to end reliance on unpaid Ministers—particularly in the Lords—calling it “a short but important piece of legislation”. She noted that successive Governments have “become dependent on Ministers being willing and able to work unpaid”. Peers from all sides supported the measure. Lord True said public office must be open to all and that the Bill would “bring that inherent unfairness … to a close”. The Bill completed all stages the same day.

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules – Motions to Regret

Two regret motions from Lord German and Lord Dubs challenged wide‑ranging changes, including shifting refugees to 30‑month temporary protection and imposing visa brakes on students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. Lord German criticised the process as based on “one of the most excoriating reports” from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee and warned against reducing protection “from five years to two and a half”. Lord Kerr, citing the committee, said, “we could not do our job and so Parliament cannot do its job”. For the Government, Lord Hanson described a “new approach to refugee and humanitarian protection” with “a new core protection offer”, calling the reforms “the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in a generation”. He highlighted progress in reducing the asylum backlog and hotel use and defended the student visa brake due to high asylum claim ratios from those countries. After debate, Lord German withdrew his motion and Lord Dubs did not move his.

Crime and Policing Bill – Returned from the Commons

The Crime and Policing Bill was returned from the Commons “with reasons and amendments”. Further consideration in the Lords will follow in the usual way.