Lords Scrutinise Sporting Events Bill; Ministers Promise Consultation and Reform

High-Level Summary

The House of Lords took oral questions on HS2 consultants and timetable, dementia research and diagnosis, master’s‑level history scholarships and access, and support for first‑time buyers. Peers then questioned Ministers on transnational repression and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, agreed a series of committee membership changes, and considered an Answer to a Commons Urgent Question on the grooming gangs inquiry. The first Committee day on the Sporting Events Bill [HL] covered amendments on industrial action, gambling and data rights, delivery authorities, scope, broadcasting access, ticket touting and local trading. Most amendments were withdrawn after ministerial replies, with Ministers offering further engagement and signalling consultations and future policy work. Two Members took the oath at the outset.

Detailed Summary

Oaths and Affirmations

The House recorded that two Members took the oath and signed the Code of Conduct undertaking: “Lord Reay and Lord Londesborough took the oath, and signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct.”

HS2 Ltd: Consultants – oral question

Introducing the question on consultancy spend and scope, the Minister said: “HS2 Ltd spent £77.8 million on consultancy in 2025-2026” to support a “fundamental reset” of the project’s scope and cost. He explained the spend aimed to establish control over legacy contracts amid concerns that “roughly two-thirds of the original budget has been spent and only one-third of the work has been done”.

On timetable and budget, he stated the project is “now expected to cost between £87.7 billion and £102.7 billion” with first services between Old Oak Common and Birmingham due “between May 2036 and October 2039”, and the full scheme, including Euston and Handsacre, expected “between May 2040 and December 2043”. He stressed HS2’s purpose is capacity: “The point of HS2 … is to produce a serial improvement in train capacity”. He said “nearly all the steel for HS2 has already been purchased”, and attributed cancellation of phase 2a to a previous Prime Minister, adding the Government is keeping acquired land and “thinking carefully about what needs to be done north of Birmingham”. He cited the Transpennine Route Upgrade as evidence the UK can deliver major projects, saying it is “on time and on budget”.

NHS: Dementia treatment trials – oral question

The Government reported spending “more than £555 million on dementia research” over five financial years and prioritising UK leadership in trials. On diagnosis, Ministers aim to recover the rate to 66.7%, with performance at 66.3% as of 31 March. NICE is evaluating two licensed disease‑modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, with a committee meeting on 8 July.

On screening, the Minister said Mini‑Cog “will be considered” within wider innovation efforts, while peers warned “screening tests have all sorts of major disadvantages”. The Government will consider Alzheimer’s Research UK’s proposal for an 18‑week target for diagnosis and a treatment plan, and will raise calls for a public awareness campaign with the Minister for Care.

Master’s‑level history scholarships – oral question

Ministers affirmed the value of history, saying it “equips students to think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments and develop perspective” and noted support through postgraduate master’s loans. On access, the Government “want to do more” to widen postgraduate participation and argued for sector sustainability, including by “increasing the maximum tuition fee cap”.

They announced measures linking any future tuition fee increases to quality and empowering the Office for Students to act on poor‑quality courses: “we will link any future increase in tuition fees to quality”. On international students, Ministers said the UK remains welcoming and marked the Windrush anniversary.

Home ownership: first‑time buyers – oral question

The Government published a road map to reform home buying and selling to “slash delays, cuts costs and stop sales falling through”, aiming to cut buying times by around four weeks and save first‑time buyers about £650. In discussion, a quote attributed to the Prime Minister emphasised making home ownership a reality again.

Ministers highlighted innovative mortgage products, noting advertising for “£5,000‑deposit mortgages”, openness to explore land‑value approaches used abroad, and support for older people’s housing to free up stock. On shared ownership, they cited steps for greater transparency and affordability. First‑time buyer stamp duty relief up to £300,000, with relief on purchases up to £500,000, was reiterated. On supply, Ministers referred to “£39 billion” for social and affordable homes, with at least 60% for social rent.

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office – Private Notice Question

Ministers condemned transnational repression, saying “any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the United Kingdom will not be tolerated”. Following convictions under the National Security Act, officials strengthened safeguards across Home Office systems and a review of national security vetting by Sir Adrian Fulford is under way.

On the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme’s enhanced tier, Ministers said it is “still a relatively new tool” and remains “under close review”. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office’s purpose is to promote trade, which is “a legitimate activity”, while action will be taken where state threat activity occurs. The Government assess China as a significant threat in several areas while noting that it is the UK’s third‑largest trading partner. Work has been commissioned on potential conflicts of interest concerning Border Force/immigration officers and private security roles.

Built Environment Committee – membership motions

The House agreed a series of membership changes to select committees and related roles: “Motions agreed.”

Grooming Gangs: Independent Inquiry – Answer to Commons Urgent Question

The Government restated acceptance of all 12 recommendations of Baroness Casey’s audit and listed actions: “We have made good progress … changed the law on rape … established a new national police operation … and commissioned new research”. The statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs has been established and will shortly announce its first local areas.

On ethnicity data, Ministers said they “will legislate to mandate collection as soon as possible” via the forthcoming police reform Bill. A disregard scheme for past on‑street prostitution offences committed as children has been legislated, and the Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred its first grooming gang case. In response to concerns about vetting of taxi/PHV drivers, Ministers said the Department for Transport “will legislate to address … inconsistent standards”. They said the inquiry’s conduct, including calling witnesses, is for the Chair within the terms of reference.

Sporting Events Bill [HL] – Committee (1st Day)

Peers probed wide aspects of the event‑agnostic framework. An amendment to mandate a strike ban for specified workers during designated events was proposed, citing targeted disruption at past Games, but Ministers argued for a collaborative industrial relations model and noted repeal of previous strike restrictions: “we … committed to repeal the minimum service level legislation … and we did this in the Employment Rights Act 2025”. The amendment was withdrawn.

Proposals to protect sports data rights and prohibit gambling advertising in restricted zones were aired. Ministers balanced commercial freedom with harm reduction, pointing to recent reforms including a statutory levy, online slot stake limits and plans to consult “as soon as possible on the banning of unlicensed sponsorship within sports”. On sports data, the Minister offered to meet to discuss technical points.

On delivery structures, an amendment to enable a statutory delivery authority modelled on the Olympic Delivery Authority was resisted as unnecessary given event‑by‑event governance and the IOC’s push to use existing infrastructure. A call to require compliance with host city/nation contracts before regulations and to harden legacy tests from “likely to” to “will” was declined; the Government said applying the framework is how host guarantees are met and that benefits extend beyond economics alone.

Time‑limit and scrutiny amendments sought to cap regulation periods and require the affirmative procedure for all SIs. Ministers noted advertising and trading offences can run “no more than 10 days before” an event and end five days after, with initial affirmative scrutiny and later agility via the negative procedure, and said they are considering the Delegated Powers Committee’s report.

Peers pressed to extend the framework to major recurring UK events (e.g., Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix). Ministers cited the Bill’s focus on bid‑dependent events, a forthcoming UK‑wide major events strategy “within the next 12 months”, and insufficient evidence and enforcement appetite for recurring events, while offering continued dialogue. Attempts to make free‑to‑air coverage a condition for using the framework were rejected; Ministers pointed to the listed events regime and said Clause 25 funding should not be used to direct broadcast deals.

On ticket touting, Lord Moynihan argued the clause belonged in broader reform, not this Bill. Ministers said the clause is integral to delivering event owner requirements, confirmed a draft Bill on secondary ticketing this Session, and undertook to host an all‑Peers session before the Summer Recess. Calls to protect SMEs, local traders and charities from advertising/trading restrictions were met with assurances of proportionate, event‑specific exceptions, precedence for existing licensed traders where feasible, and consultation and guidance duties. Most amendments were withdrawn after debate.