Lords Hand Government String of Devolution Defeats

High-Level Summary

The Lords held oral questions on the steel sector, first‑time buyers, the Sustainable Farming Incentive’s role in flood and drought resilience, and recent labour market data. Peers then agreed procedural changes to Grand Committee timings and delegated legislation debates, and amended Standing Orders to reflect the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026. The House undertook extensive ping‑pong on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, insisting on several amendments (including rural affairs, brownfield priority, the agent‑of‑change principle, local governance choice, parish representation and curbing ministerial directions), while a proposal to review London Assembly budget voting was defeated. A Statement on the renewed Women’s Health Strategy outlined redesigned pathways, stronger consent standards and a pilot of “patient power payments”. On the Victims and Courts Bill, the House accepted a Government amendment requiring consultation and an impact assessment before any regulations on private prosecutions’ costs are made.

Detailed Summary

Oaths and Affirmations

Several Members took the oath or made affirmation and signed the undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct: “Several noble Lords took the oath or made the solemn affirmation, and signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct.”

Steel sector: investment, competitiveness and trade measures (Oral Question)

Lord Sharpe of Epsom asked about incentivising investment and competitiveness in steel. Lord Stockwood said the Government had published “their first ever steel strategy, underpinned by up to £2.5 billion of funding” to create stable, competitive conditions and mobilise demand for UK‑made steel. On trade safeguards, he said the new measure “covers 20 categories of steel… This means that the measure protects 100% of steel production domestically in the UK”, and it will be reviewed within 12 months. Peers pressed on energy prices and infrastructure. Stockwood said the only way to reduce prices was “with secure domestic supply” and highlighted grid‑connection reform priorities, offering updates to the House. On technology, he reported industry views that “arc furnaces are the future” but could not give exact domestic production figures, stressing a balance between protection and imports. He declined to discuss specifics on Scunthorpe’s owners but aimed for “a positive outcome”, and confirmed the £2.5 billion provision. No decisions were taken; further near‑term energy announcements were said to be expected “in the coming days”.

Home ownership for first‑time buyers (Oral Question)

Lord Young of Cookham asked about promoting home ownership. Baroness Taylor of Stevenage cited support across tenures and schemes including shared ownership, a forthcoming Treasury consultation on a lifetime ISA replacement, and a home‑buying and selling reform road map “expected to save buyers £180 million a year and shave a month off transactions”. She acknowledged inequality in access, noting that “access is being determined by family wealth, not earnings”, and said the Government was working with lenders and stakeholders to raise awareness of mortgage options. On social and affordable housing, she announced a new 10‑year, £39 billion programme aiming for around 300,000 homes, with “at least 60% of the homes delivered… for social rent”. She confirmed a long‑term housing strategy would be published in spring, saying “spring is not quite over yet”. On shared ownership concerns post‑Grenfell, she outlined new expectations on affordability and transparency and pointed to recent leasehold and commonhold reforms. No decisions were taken.

Sustainable Farming Incentive: flood prevention and drought resilience (Oral Question)

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering asked whether SFI funding would support environmental measures for flood prevention and drought resilience. Baroness Hayman of Ullock said the streamlined SFI for 2026 includes actions that slow water during heavy rainfall, keep soils covered and increase organic matter, with applications opening in June for small farms and September for all farms. She emphasised farmers’ roles while maintaining profitability. Peers raised storage ponds, Flood Re eligibility, and stacking SFI agreements. The Minister endorsed storage ponds’ role—citing work in Cumbria—, explained that business‑rated outbuildings are not eligible for Flood Re while exploring long‑term business flood insurance, said she would take stacking/cap issues back to the department, and confirmed SFI26 has 71 actions, including 35 for flood and drought resilience.

ONS labour market data: economic inactivity and vacancies (Oral Question)

Lord Hunt of Wirral asked about ONS labour market data and steps to address inactivity and falling vacancies. Lord Katz said economic inactivity had fallen by “nearly 360,000 since we came into office” and that the fall in vacancies had slowed. He cited £2.5 billion over three years via the youth guarantee and growth and skills levy to support “almost 1 million young people” into education, employment or training. On AI’s labour‑market impact, he noted free AI skills courses with 1 million workers already upskilled and an ambition for 10 million by 2030, plus an AI and future work programme and a new AI economic institute. He described youth‑guarantee trailblazers, more than 360 youth hubs, and “300,000 more opportunities… including up to 150,000 work experience placements and 145,000 employer‑designed training opportunities”. No decisions were taken.

Private Business: Malvern Hills Bill [HL] and Cheltenham Borough Council (Markets) Bill—suspension

The House agreed that both bills, introduced this Session, may be suspended at the end of the Session and proceed in the next under Private Business Standing Order 150A: “Motions agreed.”.

Procedure and Privileges Committee report—Grand Committee and delegated legislation debates; hereditary peers changes

The Senior Deputy Speaker moved to agree the committee’s 7th Report (HL Paper 288). Lord Gardiner of Kimble outlined proposals to expand Grand Committee capacity and provide more certainty, including increasing the default maximum Grand Committee sitting length to five hours, introducing an additional Tuesday Grand Committee for delegated legislation, and time‑limiting Chamber debates on delegated legislation to 60 minutes (extendable by the usual channels). He stressed the changes are a trial to be reviewed in spring 2027, and explained consequential Standing Order and Companion changes following the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026. Lord Watson of Invergowrie welcomed the extra Tuesday slot. Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle sought clarity that time limits would be flexibly extended for regret/fatal Motions; Lord Gardiner said the trial was “in no sense to stifle scrutiny” and intended to give “greater certainty about timing”. Motion agreed.

Standing Orders (Public Business)—amendments

The House agreed to delete Standing Orders relating to hereditary peers (including Standing Orders 3, 9 and 10) and to make consequential changes, including applying time‑limit rules to debates on delegated legislation in the Chamber: “Motion agreed.”.

English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill—Commons Reasons and Lords Motions (ping‑pong)

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage moved the Government’s Motions on Commons Reasons. The House insisted on multiple amendments: • Rural affairs competence: The Government argued rural needs are covered by existing competences and proposed non‑statutory guidance. Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville said, “I remain convinced that rural England will get the recognition it deserves only if it is in the Bill”. Division: Ayes 220, Noes 143; Motion A1 agreed. • Brownfield first: The Government resisted primary legislation but committed to regulations requiring spatial development strategies (SDSs) to have regard to prioritising brownfield. Lord Jamieson argued that “greenfield development continues to represent around 50% of all housing development”, pressing for a statutory test. Division: Ayes 209, Noes 145; Motion D1 agreed. • Agent of change: The Government favoured policy and guidance; Baroness McIntosh of Pickering promoted a statutory duty modelled on Scotland to protect existing venues/businesses from unreasonable restrictions caused by new developments. She said Scottish law “has brought clarity and legal certainty”. Division: Ayes 208, Noes 138; Motion G1 agreed. • Local authority governance choice: The Government argued leader‑and‑cabinet models provide clearer accountability. Lord Shipley urged, “let the local people decide” on governance models. Division: Ayes 207, Noes 141; Motion E1 agreed. • Parish representation: The Government tabled an amendment allowing regulations that “may” include parish representatives. Baroness Scott of Bybrook sought to require such inclusion, saying this was about “more inclusive and effective local governance”. Division: Ayes 197, Noes 144; Motion F1 agreed. • Ministerial direction powers: The Government defended backstop powers, noting a commitment not to commence them for two/four years—“for a period of two years following Royal Assent… [and] for a period of four years” without local consent. The House insisted on removing these powers. Division: Ayes 199, Noes 146; Motion H1 agreed. One proposal failed: London Assembly budget voting. The Government maintained London’s model was “fundamentally different” and a simple majority would be out of step. Baroness Scott’s review amendments (87B/C) were defeated. Division: Ayes 152, Noes 207; Motion C1 disagreed. Next steps: the insisted amendments return to the Commons; the Government also signalled secondary legislation and guidance in some areas.

Women’s Health Strategy—Statement

The House considered a Commons Statement on the renewed women’s health strategy. The Government said women’s voices and choices would be central, with redesigned pathways (e.g. heavy periods, menopause, urogynaecology), a single point of access, and NHS Online prioritising women’s health. A pilot of “patient power payments” in gynaecology would let women influence provider payment based on experience: “women will have the power to kick medical misogyny where it hurts: in the budget”. Baroness Merron said gynaecology pathways would be prioritised in the NHS online hospital and surgical hubs, set three success measures including “reversing the decline in healthy life expectancy” and reducing time women spend in poor health, and confirmed that poor patient experience could see tariff withheld and redirected to service improvements. On redress for past harms (e.g., pelvic mesh, sodium valproate), she said recommendations are being carefully considered. Other points included expanding DEXA scanning and rolling out fracture liaison services by 2030, publishing a workforce plan in spring, menstrual health education and applying “Jess’s Rule” in primary care, and ongoing maternity work including the review led by Baroness Amos and a new taskforce. No motions were moved.

Victims and Courts Bill—private prosecutions’ costs (Commons Amendment)

Baroness Levitt moved that the Lords do not insist on its Amendments 4B/4C and agree to Commons Amendment 4D in lieu. The Government’s amendment requires that, before making regulations on private prosecutions’ costs, the Lord Chancellor must consult the Law Society, the Bar Council and others and publish an impact assessment—“a statutory duty requiring the Lord Chancellor to consult… [and] that an impact assessment be published”. The Minister said the negative procedure remained proportionate but the consultation would be full and public, with a published response. Peers across the House welcomed the move, though some regretted not using the affirmative procedure. Motion A agreed.

Other business

Standing Orders were amended following the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026 (see above). The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and the Crime and Policing Bill were returned from the Commons with reasons/amendments. The House adjourned at 4.13 pm.