Lords Bolster Victims’ Protections, Scrutinise Knife Crime Plan

High-Level Summary

The Lords met for Oral Questions on marine protected areas and bottom trawling, Zimbabwe’s proposed constitutional changes, NHS adult gender identity services, and misogyny in schools. The House then approved the Conservation of Habitats and Species (Offshore Wind) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2026. Peers completed Third Reading of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill with technical amendments and returned it to the Commons. On the Victims and Courts Bill, the House rejected mandatory online publication of sentencing remarks but agreed safeguards on private prosecution costs and reforms to the Unduly Lenient Sentences scheme. Ministers also made Statements on the Southport inquiry’s first report and a government plan to halve knife crime.

Detailed Summary

Death of a Member: Viscount Bridgeman – Announcement

The House was informed of the death of Viscount Bridgeman. Lord Forsyth of Drumlean said: “I regret to inform the House of the death of the noble Viscount, Lord Bridgeman… On behalf of the House, I extend our condolences”. No decision was required.

Marine Protected Areas: Bottom Trawling – Question

Baroness Sugg asked about banning bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas. Baroness Hayman of Ullock said decisions on proposed by-laws for 41 sites will follow analysis of extensive consultation responses, adding the commitment to “finish putting MPA fisheries by-laws in place by the end of this year”. Peers urged urgency and wider bans; the Minister emphasised site‑specific management due to ecological complexity: “It is quite complex” and regulators assess “how different types of fishing affect those different habitats and species”. She noted that “management measures will involve a ban across the whole site” in some cases, but sought to avoid unnecessary restrictions. On EU fishing, she would not discuss “the current negotiations on the EU reset”, and she said extending protections to 41 more areas is “entirely to support our ambition of delivering on 30 by 30”.

Zimbabwe: Constitution – Question

Baroness Hoey asked about UK discussions over proposals to allow President Mnangagwa a third term. Lord Lemos said officials remain engaged with Zimbabwean authorities and civil society, while noting “constitutional amendments are a sovereign legislative matter for Zimbabwe,” and emphasising democratic freedoms. Citing the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, he said the constitutional consultations “were highly managed, with limited space for dissenting voices” and stressed the UK’s call for inclusive, transparent processes. He rejected “megaphone diplomacy,” saying “20 years of megaphone diplomacy did not get us anywhere, and we are now in the business of engaging”. He welcomed the president’s re‑engagement efforts while acknowledging concerns, said Commonwealth readmission is for the Secretary‑General to recommend and members to decide, and, responding to criticism, added: “I have not used the words ‘consultation’ or ‘listening carefully’… that is a complete travesty of what I have said”. He also referenced economic reforms including “the signing of the IMF staff-monitored programme,” and multilateral work on debt distress.

NHS Adult Gender Identity Clinics – Question

Baroness Maclean of Redditch asked about referrals of under‑25s and safeguarding. Baroness Merron reported 5,624 referrals in 2023‑24, 6,355 in 2024‑25 and initial 6,167 in 2025‑26, and described safeguards: “These include specialist assessment, accounting for complex co-morbidities and care delivered by a multidisciplinary team”. She confirmed commitment to “developing services for 17 to 25 year‑olds”. On capacity and consent, she said “the law presumes that patients aged 16 and over have capacity” with additional safeguarding case‑by‑case. Acknowledging long waits, she said, “We recognise that waiting times are too long,” citing service expansion and a national waiting list. She stated, “Surgical interventions are only for adults” and that “there is no casualisation at all about decision-making”.

Masculinity and Misogyny in Schools – Question

Baroness Berger asked about the NASUWT survey on misogyny. Baroness Smith of Malvern said “misogyny has no place in our society or in our schools,” pointing to resources for schools and parents and the government’s Violence Against Women and Girls strategy. She highlighted social media’s role and referenced “the consultation on social media use among young people”, and said the DfE and DSIT are “developing misogyny-specific content” for parents. She underlined early education: “important work to be done at key stage 2”. Addressing concerns raised by Lord Bailey, she noted that “the vast majority of boys and young men abhor misogyny”, and that tackling misogyny should be “part of a school’s safeguarding process”. She added it is important that “the strong powers within the Online Safety Act are implemented”.

Conservation of Habitats and Species (Offshore Wind) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2026 – Motion to Approve

The House approved the regulations without division: “That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 26 February be approved”. The Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee had drawn special attention to the instrument, which was considered in Grand Committee.

English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill – Third Reading

King’s consent was signified. A series of minor and technical amendments (1–11) were agreed, with Baroness Scott of Bybrook stating, “These are minor and technical amendments, which I understand have been agreed by the Government,” and the Minister saying, “The Government will not oppose them today”. In moving that the Bill do now pass, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage thanked contributors and highlighted improvements including establishing “local scrutiny committees”. Baroness Scott of Bybrook welcomed changes but argued the Bill centralises regionally. Lord Shipley described it as decentralisation, not devolution, and urged parish‑level empowerment. Outcome: “Bill passed and returned to the Commons with amendments”.

Victims and Courts Bill – Commons Reasons

Baroness Levitt moved that the Lords should not insist on amendments concerning court transcripts and homicide abroad. On transcripts, Ministers argued that publishing sentencing remarks online risks distress to victims and would “do more harm than good,” instead reaffirming that “by spring 2027, we will provide all victims with Crown Court sentencing remarks… free of charge, upon request,” and announcing a “study to explore the use of AI transcription”. Baroness Brinton welcomed progress and, after assurances of a cross‑departmental review on homicide abroad whose findings are “to be published in 2027,” did not move her Motion B1. Lord Keen’s Motion C1 to insist on online publication of sentencing remarks was defeated (Ayes 209, Noes 260).

On private prosecutions’ costs (Clause 12), Ministers said the Lord Chancellor needs power to set recoverable rates, with consultation and impact assessment. The House agreed Lord Keen’s Motion D1 requiring publication of an impact assessment and use of the affirmative procedure (Ayes 270, Noes 200).

On the Unduly Lenient Sentences scheme, government amendments in lieu created an “interests of justice” out‑of‑time route for victims to seek referrals “within six months” of sentence and placed a statutory duty in the Victims’ Code to inform victims about the scheme. Motions E and F were agreed.

Southport Inquiry – Statement

The House considered the Home Secretary’s Statement on Sir Adrian Fulford’s phase‑one report into the Southport attack. The inquiry found “systematic failures across multiple public sector organisations,” including poor information‑sharing, unclear ownership of risk, misapplied Prevent thresholds, and an over‑emphasis on vulnerability due to autism. The Government will respond to the 67 recommendations this summer and have already updated Prevent guidance and training, appointed an Independent Prevent Commissioner, and plan to legislate to “prevent the spread of extreme violent content online” and create a new offence for non‑ideological attack planning. Phase two will assess management of “violence‑fixated” individuals and online and weapons access.

Peers asked about Prevent improvements, multi‑agency accountability, the role of autism and race, and ongoing support. Lord Hanson said “we will respond to phase 1 of the report by the summer,” that behaviour “should not have been excused because of autism,” and referred to a Home Office “violence fixation taskforce” reviewing immediate risks. No motions or divisions arose.

Knife Crime – Statement

Ministers outlined the plan to “halve knife crime in a decade,” citing early actions such as bans on certain blades, expanded neighbourhood policing and county lines disruption, and stating that since the start of this Parliament “knife crime is down by 8% and knife homicides are down by 27%”. The plan focuses on four outcomes: supporting young people (including “50 Young Futures hubs”); stopping at‑risk youth being drawn in (a Safety In & Around Schools Partnership for “around 250 schools”); policing (including maximising “intelligence-led stop and search” and tougher online knife sale rules—“Ronan’s law”); and ending the cycle via youth justice and managing habitual knife offenders.

Peers queried stop‑and‑search, police numbers, online enforcement, and youth work funding. The Minister noted that 15,955 knives were recovered via stop and search last year, 63,611 knives have been taken out of circulation since the general election, and forthcoming legislation will require “age verification controls, checks at sale and delivery” for online knife sales. No divisions occurred.