Lords Advance Sporting Events Bill Amid Equality Act Clarification
High-Level Summary
The House of Lords held oral questions, first readings, a ministerial statement, and the Second Reading of the Sporting Events Bill. Ministers confirmed the Cabinet Manual will be updated, outlined work to speed dementia diagnosis and access to treatments, and reaffirmed plans for an Access to Nature Green Paper. Peers questioned high 2026 World Cup ticket prices and considered a Commons Statement on the Equality Act services code reflecting the Supreme Court’s ruling that sex means biological sex while upholding protections for trans people. A further Statement on the murder of Henry Nowak covered the IOPC investigation. The Sporting Events Bill was broadly welcomed and committed to Committee.
Detailed Summary
Oaths and Affirmations
Viscount Stansgate made the solemn affirmation and Lord Strathclyde took the oath; both signed the undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct: “Viscount Stansgate made the solemn affirmation and Lord Strathclyde took the oath, and both signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct.”. No further action.
Cabinet Manual: guidelines for government formation (Oral Question)
Baroness Anderson of Stoke‑on‑Trent said the Government will update the Cabinet Manual, including guidance on elections and government formation where there is no Commons majority: “the Government have committed to updating the Cabinet Manual… including those relating to elections and government formation… accurately articulates arrangements where there is no overall majority”. She later confirmed Cabinet endorsement is expected and that precedent will not change: “yes, I expect the document to be endorsed by the Cabinet… We are not changing precedent”. She noted the 2011 manual is outdated and needs refreshing: “it has not been updated since 2011. It considers us still to be a member of the European Union”. The Government will engage both Houses’ committees: “we have asked both the Lords Constitution Committee and PACAC in the other place for their assistance”. On who forms a government, she reiterated Commons confidence conventions: “those best able to command the confidence of the other place”, and “There is no need for any additional convention”. Outcome: update underway; committees to be consulted; timetable not stated in the transcript.
Alzheimer’s disease: diagnosis and access to experimental drugs (Oral Question)
Baroness Blake of Leeds said the modern service framework (MSF) for frailty and dementia will consider interventions to improve care and diagnosis waiting times: “The modern service framework for frailty and dementia will consider what interventions should be supported to improve dementia care and diagnosis waiting times”. She said earlier access to promising treatments will be supported via the MHRA‑NICE aligned pathway and similar initiatives, and that a public information campaign “will be in the mix”. Peers raised mild cognitive impairment follow‑up, research (including blood tests), NICE modelling, and regional diagnosis targets. The Minister highlighted prevention and escalation: “Early prevention and intervention have to be the key”, noted an appeal hearing on two drugs on 8 July, and urged local NHS–council co‑creation to meet the 67% diagnosis ambition: “Every geographic area is different”. Outcome: MSF development continues; D100 assessment tool published; appeal timetable noted; no new funding announced.
Access to Nature Green Paper (Oral Question)
Baroness Hayman of Ullock confirmed a Green Paper on access to nature will be published during this Parliament and highlighted the Mersey Valley Way river walk: “committed in their environmental improvement plan to publish an access to nature Green Paper during this Parliament”. She cited work with the Department for Education, including a national nature education park. She stressed responsible access alongside the Countryside Code: “with rights come responsibilities… an education process about responsibility in the countryside is incredibly important”. Accessibility on trails will be improved: “we are improving accessibility” for wheelchair users and others. Asked about the 15‑minute access target to green/blue space, she replied: “Yes”. She also acknowledged maintenance challenges such as Thames path bridges: “how we maintain what we already have”. Outcome: commitment restated; initiatives cited; no publication date given.
World Cup ticket prices (Oral Question)
Baroness Twycross said FIFA and tournament organisers determine 2026 World Cup ticket prices and allocations, but UK football associations should raise supporters’ concerns with FIFA: “FIFA and the tournament organisers alone determine ticket pricing… we expect these national bodies to formally represent the ticketing concerns of British supporters directly to FIFA”. She contrasted this with Euro 2028, where “There will not be dynamic pricing”. She described some resale prices as “outrageous”, confirmed free‑to‑air UK coverage and fan zones, and noted the UK cannot legislate on US ticket resale: “we are not currently able to legislate on ticket resale in the US”. Outcome: no policy change; engagement via UK associations; Euro 2028 principles reiterated.
First Readings: European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) Bill [HL]; House of Lords (Alternative Second Chamber) Bill [HL]
Lord Dodds of Duncairn introduced the European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) Bill [HL], which was read a first time and ordered to be printed. The House of Lords (Alternative Second Chamber) Bill [HL] was introduced by Baroness Smith of Llanfaes and read a first time, after the House was reminded that First Readings proceed without dissent: “The Companion is clear that First Readings are agreed without dissent. Therefore, I say the contents have it”, following an audible “Not content!”. Outcome: both Bills ordered to be printed.
Equality Act 2010: draft services code of practice (Statement)
Peers considered a Commons Statement on the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s draft code following the Supreme Court’s For Women Scotland ruling. The Statement said the judgment means “sex means biological sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, and that trans people are still protected by the Act”, and outlined a 40‑day period for parliamentary scrutiny. It also described guidance on single‑sex services (including toilets) and associations. Lord Collins of Highbury stressed sensitivity and compliance with the Court’s judgment: the court “warned against reading this judgment ‘as a triumph… at the expense of another’” and the Government “will protect single‑sex spaces… [and] everyone, including trans people, should have the right to access the services they need”. He said the Cabinet Office had updated Civil Service model policy and that NHS England guidance will follow “in due course”. On process, he said the EHRC made “a small number of changes based on feedback”. Outcome: draft code laid; scrutiny ongoing; departments implementing the judgment. Next steps: if not disapproved, revocation of the 2011 code and commencement of the new code.
Murder of Henry Nowak (Statement)
Peers took note of a Commons Statement on the murder of Henry Nowak. The Home Secretary affirmed impartial policing and condemned threats: “The police… have a sacred duty to police without fear or favour. Everyone in this country is equal before the law”; “Threats against police officers are utterly unacceptable”. The Statement set out the Government’s halving knife crime plan and noted recent reductions: “Knife crime has fallen by 10%… Knife homicides are down 27%”. It clarified protections for kirpans while condemning criminal misuse: “carrying the knife for the purpose of religious observance is one thing, but using it… is quite another”. In the Lords, Lord Hanson of Flint confirmed an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation and that the National Police Chiefs’ Council will review guidance: “there will be an IOPC investigation”; the NPCC “will review the guidance that it issued in 2025”. He echoed the family’s call not to create division: Henry’s death should not be “‘used to create further division, hatred or tension’”. Outcome: IOPC investigation under way; NPCC review planned; Ministers said both Houses will be updated when the IOPC reports.
Sporting Events Bill [HL]: Second Reading
Baroness Twycross said the Bill creates a standing framework to help attract and deliver major international sporting events, underpinning Euro 2028 and a potential 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup: “This Bill will bolster that reputation… Most immediately, these provisions underpin the successful delivery of Euro 2028”. Measures include criminalising unauthorised ticket resale, time‑limited advertising and trading controls, civil protections against unauthorised association, transport and traffic powers in England, and a funding power. Peers broadly supported the Bill but questioned extending protections to regularly held UK events, the scope of secondary legislation, impacts on small traders, ticket pricing transparency, inclusion and innovation, gambling advertising, and alignment with cultural events. Closing, the Minister reaffirmed the focus on one‑off events: “This legislation is designed to enhance our ability to attract one-off bids”, said policy detail is fixed in the Bill with secondary legislation limited to event specifics, and stated: “we are not criminalising the private transfer of tickets between friends, family and associates at face value”. She confirmed cultural programmes linked to events can be in scope, promised a UK‑wide major events strategy within 12 months, and committed to guidance and proportionate enforcement for traders. Outcome: Bill read a second time and committed to a Committee of the Whole House; order of consideration agreed.