Lords Grill Prison Reforms as Forces Governance Sparks Row

High-Level Summary

The House of Lords opened with two new introductions before four oral questions on (1) data security and international adequacy, (2) No.10 North’s role and costs, (3) access to primary and community services via Integrated Care Boards, and (4) El Niño’s likely impacts. Peers then questioned a Commons Statement on prisons and sentencing, including tagging expansion, exclusions from accelerated release, foreign national offender removals, and plans to end IPP sentences. The Armed Forces Bill’s second Committee day agreed email call‑out notices and debated creating a single RFCA NDPB, with Ministers promising draft regulations. A regret amendment on a Northern Ireland plant/seed SI under the Windsor Framework was defeated (Ayes 26, Noes 63) and the instrument approved.

Detailed Summary

Introductions: Lord Singh of Solihull and Lord Stace

The House introduced Swaran Preet Singh as Lord Singh of Solihull and Nicholas Charles Stace, OBE as Lord Stace; each took the oath and signed the Code of Conduct undertaking: “was introduced and took the oath … and signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct”.

Oral Question: Data security of UK citizens’ data and international adequacy

Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath said the DCMS Secretary of State is “required to monitor all jurisdictions with UK adequacy decisions, including the US”. She stressed monitoring against the “not materially lower” standard under UK GDPR. On the UK‑US data bridge, she noted that where firms are outside adequacy, “British companies … will be obliged to ensure that there are contractual obligations for compliance with GDPR”. She undertook to write on data from Chinese‑manufactured cars. On IoT imports and firmware updates, she said DCMS facilitates data flows to high‑standard jurisdictions and assesses “the risk to UK data subjects rather than jurisdiction”.

Oral Question: No.10 North – costs and purpose

Baroness Twycross called No.10 North “central to the Prime Minister’s commitment to get good growth in every postcode” and said “The cost of establishing No. 10 North is covered by existing departmental budgets”. She said costs would “not necessarily increase” and that the Prime Minister has worked there “at least once a week” so far. She promised to report back on outcomes — “People will not be able to stop us shouting about the success of No. 10 North” — and emphasised joint working with devolved Governments: “Collaboration with the devolved Governments will be required”.

Oral Question: Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) – access to primary and community services

Baroness Merron reported improvements: “nearly 14 million more GP appointments … and satisfaction … increased by over 14%” plus a new community waiting‑time standard and higher dental activity. On eye care via optometrists, she cited £20 million for digital connectivity with secondary eye care. She said services are shifting into communities with stronger oversight, reducing inequalities is core to the women’s health strategy, and a forthcoming Health Bill will strengthen the patient voice: “very focused on that”.

Oral Question: El Niño – climate, flooding and food security

Lord Katz said El Niño is likely to bring a wetter, stormier autumn/winter and that Government is monitoring flooding, international food supply chains, energy resilience and food security. He said there is “no current evidence that this event will lead to food security issues for the UK”. Preparedness measures include a national flood response exercise, a cross‑government Floods Resilience Taskforce meeting in October, and Flood Action Week from 12 October. On Jackdaw and Rosebank, he said the Secretary of State “will consider the representations … and will make decisions … in due course”.

Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission – membership change

The House agreed to appoint Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede in place of Lord Gardiner of Kimble: “That Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede be appointed … in place of Lord Gardiner of Kimble”; “Motion agreed”.

Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) (Amendment) Order 2026 – Approval

The House approved the draft Order laid on 30 June, previously considered in Grand Committee on 2 September: “That the draft Order … be approved”; “Motion agreed”.

Criminal Justice Reform – Statement (Sentencing Act 2026 implementation and prisons)

Peers questioned a Commons Statement that, on taking office, prisons were “regularly at 99% capacity”. The Statement said tagging has been expanded so “Every single offender leaving prison can now be tagged” and described ‘restriction zones’ for serious sexual and violent offenders. Offences excluded from accelerated release include rape, many serious child sex offences, all unlawful killing and indecent assault. Foreign national offender removals will be accelerated, with lifetime re‑entry bans: “begin removing … immediately after sentencing … barred from returning … for life”. The Government intends to end IPP sentences “by the end of this Parliament”. Lord Lemos added that £18.9 million supports victims and liaison officers are contacting them; probation is receiving £700 million more with plans for 1,300 further trainee officers by March 2027; and £110 million is being brought forward to convert spaces into cells while accelerating builds. On IPP, he said dangerous offenders would not be released and recall powers remain essential. He said the Government is tightening application of the ECHR’s family‑life provision in immigration rules without leaving the ECHR, and acknowledged prison numbers are set to rise.

Armed Forces Bill – Committee (2nd Day): modernisation and RFCA governance

The House agreed government Amendment 38 to permit reservist call‑out/recall notices by email, retaining post, and a drafting correction (Amendment 39). A major debate on Clause 38/Schedule 6 (replacing 13 regional RFCAs with a single NDPB and regional councils) revealed strong cross‑bench opposition. Concerns included loss of the voluntary ethos and lieutenancy links — it would “destroy the voluntary character of the associations” — and centralisation conflicting with devolution. Lord Coaker defended a national strategic body with statutory regional councils and promised to share draft regulations before Report: “the Bill puts into primary legislation regional councils” and he is “happy to share a copy of the draft regulations”, citing NAO and PAC findings while saying regional engagement “will remain at the heart”. Clause 38 was agreed, with notice given to return on Report.

Armed Forces Bill – Committee (2nd Day): reservists’ employment and protections

Lord Harlech’s Amendments 40–45 proposed requiring larger employers to publish a reservist policy, creating 10 days’ unpaid leave for training/promotion courses, and weighting procurement for supportive employers. He argued “Most reservists fund their own training out of their annual leave” and proposed a capped, notice‑based unpaid leave right. The Government preferred voluntary schemes (employer recognition and covenant), warning of burdens on SMEs and that procurement conditions would be remote from contracts and could deter suppliers. Amendments 42–44 would have prohibited refusing employment or subjecting reservists to detriment because of reserve service; the Government said these would be disproportionate, create new tribunal actions, and risk unintended effects in recruitment and commercial contracts.

Armed Forces Bill – Committee (2nd Day): regional representation, lieutenancies and external scrutiny

Amendments 46–52 sought to guarantee regional chairs on the national board, preserve lords‑lieutenant roles, create a national council of regional chairs, and protect the independent external scrutiny team. The Minister said, “We remain committed to the involvement of lords-lieutenant” and “we intend to establish a national council” through secondary legislation, inviting further discussion and promising sight of draft regulations before Report.

Armed Forces Bill – Committee (2nd Day): visiting forces jurisdiction; military remains; fees; ECHR; service police

Peers probed jurisdiction over alleged offences by visiting forces following recent reported US cases. Lord Coaker confirmed the US is designated under the 1954 Order and that the NPCC chair “has written to all chief constables” to remind forces of responsibilities, with further guidance under consideration; MoD will work with the Home Office and NPCC. On Clause 48 (protection of military remains), the House agreed to extend automatic protection to all military shipwrecks, maintaining ‘look but don’t touch’ diving. Lord Parkinson withdrew an amendment after the Minister undertook to investigate interactions between salvage law and sovereign immunity. On immigration fees, the Minister said he would speak to the Home Office regarding ILR fee waivers for spouses/children of qualifying service personnel, noting cross‑party commitments. A proposal to mandate ECHR derogation for overseas operations was withdrawn after the Minister argued that disapplying the Human Rights Act would not remove the UK’s international ECHR obligations and that derogations are context‑specific. On service police, the Minister agreed to examine gaps on impersonation offences and emergency‑worker protections and to continue discussions before Report.

Armed Forces Bill – Committee (2nd Day): recruitment/retention; medical records; PIP; Defence Investment Plan

Proposals for an independent review of Armed Forces recruitment/retention, improved transfer of medical records on discharge, and a PIP reassessment exemption for amputees were raised; the Minister undertook to write with fuller responses given time constraints. On the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), he said extra reporting duties were unnecessary, noting a commitment to an annual NAO‑audited update by July 2027 and that the Autumn Budget will confirm the remaining £4.7 billion.

Northern Ireland plant/seed SI under the Windsor Framework – approval

Baroness Hayman of Ullock said the NI‑only SI is a “necessary measure to update Northern Ireland’s domestic legislation … and fulfilment of our Windsor Framework obligations”. Lord Dodds of Duncairn moved a regret amendment, arguing Parliament was enforcing EU rules in part of the UK and highlighting text reading NI “as if Northern Ireland were a member State of the European Union”. The regret amendment was defeated (Ayes 26, Noes 63) and the Motion agreed.