Lords Honour Laming; Approve Reforms, Defeat Welfare Regret

High-Level Summary

The House of Lords opened with cross-party tributes to Lord Laming, acknowledging his decisive influence on child protection and public service. Oral questions covered the Pensions Commission’s interim findings, EU touring access for performers, support for NHS clinician-innovators, and international co‑operation on AI. A Private Notice Question examined new steel import quotas. The House approved several statutory instruments: infected blood compensation amendments (with a regret amendment withdrawn), the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation Order (regret withdrawn), and modernised trade union balloting and its code (regret withdrawn). A regret motion on welfare decisions and appeals regulations was defeated on division (Ayes 64, Noes 95); regret on NS&I remediation was withdrawn, and routine first reading and committee membership motions were agreed.

Detailed Summary

Tributes: Lord Laming

Peers from all benches praised Lord Laming’s lifetime of public service and leadership on child protection. Baroness Smith of Basildon called him a “fearless seeker of accountability” and said his work “laid the foundations for the Every Child Matters framework”. Lord True highlighted his inquiries into the Climbié and Baby P cases and said his work “revolutionised child care”. Lord Purvis remembered him as “supportive, kind and, when necessary, firm”. The Earl of Kinnoull noted his international influence, including work that helped develop foster care in China. Lord Forsyth said Laming “gave voice to children who had none”.

Pensions Commission – Question

Baroness Sherlock said the Government revived the Pensions Commission and that its interim report (19 May 2026) identified that “too many people, especially low and middle-income earners, are not saving enough for retirement” and that a final report is due in early 2027. She explained decisions on state pension age will draw on the commission and an independent review, adding she could not pre‑empt rates or outcomes. On the self‑employed, she noted saving participation is “now under 20%” and that “only 4%” of those whose only income is self‑employment were saving for a pension. She also cautioned that “too many people are not working long enough to save” and that decumulation choices are crucial.

Performing Artists and Musicians: Access to the EU – Question

Baroness Twycross said improving EU access for touring creatives is a priority, welcoming the European Commission’s move to “explore practical flexibilities for touring artists” and committing to “pursuing practical, mutually beneficial improvements”. She reaffirmed it is a manifesto commitment and noted the Prime Minister agreed UK and EU teams should work towards a summit later this year. Responding to concerns about delays, she said, “I reject the term ‘festering’” and reiterated that helping touring artists “remain[s] a priority”. On the EU entry/exit system, she acknowledged “considerable disruption” and said the Government will advocate flexibilities to minimise impacts, including for performers.

Healthcare Sector: Clinicians – Question

Baroness Merron said the Government is supporting NHS staff to innovate, recommissioning the Clinical Entrepreneur Programme for five years and publishing updated intellectual property guidance after 24 years. She reported the programme “has supported over 1,800 NHS staff and 690 start-ups, and it has raised more than £1.2 billion”, adding baseline annual funding has been doubled. To spread adoption, she pointed to the National Healthtech Access Programme and NICE assessments of technologies including “AI in histopathology”. She said the UK life sciences sector raised the third-highest equity finance in 2023 “behind only the United States and China”.

AI: International Co‑operation – Question

Baroness Lloyd of Effra stated, “The Government agree that international co-operation on AI is essential” and cited UK leadership via the UN and OECD, the AI Security Institute and the International AI Safety Report, alongside a new Prime Ministerial AI task force. She added the UK co‑ordinates the international network of AI Safety Institutes and funds partnerships with the OECD, African Union and south‑east Asia. On China’s World AI Cooperation Organization, she said the UK is “not a member” and is assessing its implications while maintaining dialogue. She clarified that the Cabinet Office leads AI strategy while DBIST handles science and innovation.

Category 4 Steel Imports: Tariff‑free Quotas – Private Notice Question

Lord Leong said that from 1 July 2026 the steel measure “limits tariff-free steel imports” and reduces overall quotas “by 51%, compared to the expired steel safeguard, to 3.2 million tonnes”, with a 50% tariff on imports above those levels; details are unchanged since his 30 June Statement. He said there has been “no change to India’s category 4 quota compared to the provisional quota” and that, apart from the EU, quotas were not bilaterally negotiated. He noted “74% of all imports by volume fall outside the scope of this measure” and tariffs apply only once quotas are exhausted, with a 12‑month review.

Co‑operative Capital Bill – First Reading

The House recorded: “The Bill was introduced by Lord John of Southwark, read a first time and ordered to be printed”. Its long title explains it will “permit and facilitate the use of a new and additional class of co‑operative share capital” and related provisions.

Committee membership and Joint Committee on the Draft Conversion Practices Bill – Motions

The Senior Deputy Speaker moved that “Baroness Gustafsson be appointed a member of the Select Committee, in place of Baroness Brown of Silvertown”; the Motion was agreed. The Lord Privy Seal moved that a Joint Committee be appointed on the Draft Conversion Practices Bill “and that the Committee should report … by 22 January 2027”; the Motion was agreed and a message sent to the Commons.

Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026 – Motion to Approve

Baroness Anderson said the infected blood scandal “was a catastrophic failure of the state” and assured the House the work would not be deprioritised. She outlined changes including a new “level 2B” award for interferon treatment, removing the 25% deduction on past care for those opting for lifetime support, a 50% uplift for those infected under 18, and increased unethical research awards (e.g., Treloar’s at £60,000). She confirmed the £11.8 billion allocation “is neither a target nor a cap”. A regret amendment was withdrawn and the regulations were approved.

Greater Cambridge Development Corporation (Establishment) Order 2026 – Motion to Approve

Baroness Taylor said the corporation would deliver “ambitious, high-quality and sustainable growth” and bring “a combination of powers, financing and national influence” while engaging residents. She confirmed strategic planning thresholds to focus the corporation’s remit: “a minimum of 250” homes, “5,000 square metres” non-residential, or infrastructure occupying more than “1 hectare”. Lord Lansley’s regret amendment, which questioned geographic scope and plan‑making overreach, was withdrawn and the Order agreed.

Universal Credit, PIP, JSA and ESA (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 – Motion to Regret

Baroness Stedman‑Scott argued that extending fixed‑term PIP awards to manage backlogs risks over‑ and under‑payments and undue reliance on self‑reporting. Baroness Sherlock said the change allows award extensions only to make “efficient” administration possible—i.e., “to safeguard the efficient administration of personal independence payment”—preventing loss of entitlement when assessment capacity is constrained. She added it supports rebuilding face‑to‑face assessment capacity and better use of finite resources. The House divided and the regret motion was defeated: “Ayes 64, Noes 95”.

National Savings (Remediation Scheme) Regulations 2026 – Motion to Regret

Baroness Neville‑Rolfe criticised delays and failures in NS&I’s bereavement process and asked for clarity on scale and costs. The Government said NS&I “expects to complete its remediation programme in the first half of 2027” and that up to “34,000 estates” may have been affected, with a “total value of approximately £367 million”. Costs to taxpayers are uncertain and will be set out in NS&I’s annual report, with quarterly progress updates. The regret motion was withdrawn.

Trade Unions (Permissible Means of Voting) and Employment Rights (Unfair Dismissal) (Amendment) Order 2026 – Motion to Approve; and Code of Practice – Motion to Approve

Lord Leong said the SI modernises statutory union ballots by allowing “secure electronic voting” and hybrid and workplace voting (the latter “only when both the employer and trade union agree”), while preserving secrecy and independent scrutiny. He stressed the reforms “do not alter the legal framework governing industrial action” and include cyber‑security and verification safeguards. A regret amendment was withdrawn and the Order agreed; the House then approved the accompanying code of practice.