Lords Advance Armed Forces Bill, Unveil Maternity Safety Plan

High-Level Summary

The House of Lords took four Oral Questions on health, foreign policy, criminal justice and ocean protection; approved several statutory instruments and business motions without division; considered a major Statement on maternity and neonatal safety; and gave the Armed Forces Bill a Second Reading before committing it to Committee. Ministers restated the goal of universal Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) in England by 2030, set out the UK’s approach to West Bank settlement‑related purchases, outlined operational steps on Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) prisoners, and supported advancing protection for the Sargasso Sea under the Global Ocean Treaty. The maternity and neonatal Statement announced a new commissioner, national triage standards and targeted investment, with a comprehensive action plan due by year‑end. The Armed Forces Bill attracted broad support, with detailed scrutiny on the covenant’s scope, defence housing, reserve reforms, service justice and visiting forces jurisdiction; it was read a second time and committed for full Committee scrutiny.

Detailed Summary

Fracture Liaison Services – Oral Question

Baroness Merron reaffirmed the commitment to nationwide Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) by 2030, citing current coverage: “all but two ICBs… have fracture liaison services already”, and elsewhere that “23 out of 25 ICBs have at least one fracture liaison service”. She pointed to related measures, including screening work, expanded diagnostics and a modern service framework.

Peers pressed for faster rollout, a funded plan and milestones. Asked to publish an implementation plan with timelines, she said this is “not something we do with every single policy”, while stressing “The commitment and progress are there”. Inequalities and clinical join‑up concerns were raised (e.g., prostate cancer and osteoporosis), with the Minister agreeing to follow up. Baroness Hayter argued progress had “almost flatlined” and queried monitoring without milestones. Outcome: no new publication commitment; work continues via ICB delivery, osteoporosis screening consultation and diagnostics expansion.

West Bank: Purchase of Settlement Land and Property – Oral Question

Responding to Baroness Kennedy, Baroness Chapman reiterated that “settlements are illegal under international law” and updated business risk guidance advises anyone contemplating activity in settlements to “seek legal advice”. On criminalising purchases by British citizens, she said the Government will act only where measures are “practical… enforceable and implementable” and are monitoring other countries’ approaches.

Peers queried double standards and wider legality. Chapman underlined that “We are not telling people what they have to do” while warning of risks and restating support for a two‑state solution. She would not pre‑empt sanctions and said UK agencies are aware of the Government’s position. Addressing concerns about targeting Jews, she said the aim is to “ensure the preservation of the potential of a two‑state solution”. Outcome: no move to criminalisation; continued guidance, monitoring and reiteration of two‑state policy.

Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) Prisoners – Oral Question

Lord Timpson called IPP “a stain on our justice system” and outlined operational steps to expedite safe release. He cited an “11% reduction in the number of never‑released IPP prisoners” year‑on‑year, rollout of IPP advocates in 12 prisons, the August opening of a specialist Phoenix wing at HMP Aylesbury, and reduced Parole Board review times averaging 14.5 months with a 12‑month aim.

He also reported a 31% fall in recalls and use of risk‑assessed recall reviews, support for open conditions to test readiness, placement of 95% of IPP prisoners in the “right prison”, and reductions in self‑harm and deaths in custody. Emphasising balance of opportunity and risk, he highlighted strengthening probation and plans to halve the number leaving prison with nowhere to live by the end of the Parliament. Outcome: no legislative change; operational measures and targets to accelerate parole readiness and support post‑release stability.

International Marine Protected Area: Sargasso Sea – Oral Question

Baroness Chapman affirmed UK support for conserving the Sargasso Sea and for developing area‑based tools under the Global Ocean Treaty, noting work with Bermuda via the Hamilton II Declaration to advance a collective proposal. On wider Atlantic MPAs, she said the UK would work with partners as treaty signatories, and confirmed the treaty has not yet been ratified, hoping it would be “imminently”.

On protection levels and timing, she said measures “need to be negotiated” and aimed to settle proposals ahead of the first conference of the parties “early next year”, adding the agreement “must not be allowed” to remain words on paper. On BIOT/Chagos, she said Mauritius is willing and the UK will work alongside it to ensure protection. Outcome: continued diplomatic and technical work towards a proposal; ratification intent signalled; precise COP timing beyond these statements not stated in the transcript.

Statutory Instruments and Business Motions – Motions to Approve/Agree

The House approved, without division, several items: the Private Landlord Redress Schemes (Approval and Designation) Regulations 2026; the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Anti‑social Behaviour and Prevention and Investigation Measures) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026; the West Midlands Combined Authority (Key Route Network) (Amendment) Order 2026; and the Register of Overseas Entities (Protection and Trusts) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Company Law) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. The Order of Consideration for the Social Housing Bill (Report) was also agreed.

National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation – Statement

A Statement to Parliament set out Baroness Amos’s national investigation findings, describing “systemic failures” and the need for overhaul. Immediate measures included appointing “the first ever maternity and neonatal commissioner”, publishing new national maternity triage standards “this week”, rapidly expanding the perinatal equity and anti‑discrimination programme to every trust, creating 1,000 temporary midwife roles, and investing “an extra £41 million, on top of the £145 million already invested,” to upgrade facilities.

In Lords exchanges, Baroness Merron said triage standards must be implemented by June 2027 with board‑level oversight, confirmed rollout of “all five strands of the national bereavement care pathway”, and stressed culture change and accountability across leadership. Peers queried timelines for further local reviews, the commissioner’s powers, workforce pressures and estates funding; Merron said the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will produce a comprehensive action plan by year‑end, with immediate actions already underway. Outcome: policy commitments and a dated implementation requirement for triage standards; taskforce to deliver the full action plan by year‑end.

Armed Forces Bill – Second Reading

Lord Coaker stressed the constitutional need to renew the Armed Forces Act and outlined four pillars: broadening the covenant’s legal duty across 12 policy areas; creating a Defence Housing Service as part of a £9 billion, 10‑year strategy; strengthening service justice, victim support and protections; and Reserve reforms to enable smoother transfers and wider call‑out/recall, including lifting the recall age to 65. The Bill also addresses drone activity near defence sites and increases protections for military shipwrecks.

Peers broadly supported the Bill while probing funding, housing governance, covenant scope, reserve growth, justice reforms and visiting forces jurisdiction. Concerns were raised about the defence investment plan’s affordability—“It is all rather unconvincing and unsatisfactory”—and potential duplication between the new housing body and existing functions. Specific issues included whether and how the covenant applies to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, reserve expansion “by at least 20% when funding allows”, and the Cambridge case where UK jurisdiction was waived to a US court martial, prompting calls to publish jurisdictional agreements. In closing, Coaker defended the £9 billion housing commitment, set out the Defence Housing Service’s relationship with the DIO, confirmed joint work with the Home Office to “scrap visa fees for non‑UK veterans” meeting service criteria, and said officials are establishing the facts of the visiting forces case under the 1952 Act. Outcome: “Bill read a second time” and committed to a Committee of the Whole House with an agreed order of consideration.