Lords Tackle Rule Of Law, Ukraine And Workers’ Rights

High-Level Summary

The sitting covered oral questions on the redistribution of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s functions, safeguards for Havant Thicket Reservoir, housing targets and a US–Russia diesel-export deal affecting Ukraine. It also considered statements on Drumcree and international affairs, including public safety, the rule of law, support for Ukraine, UK–EU relations and security threats. The Sovereign Grant Bill was passed, and the listed statutory instruments and codes of practice were approved. A regret amendment on the ACAS code was defeated by 56 votes to 82, while the other regret amendments were withdrawn.

Detailed Summary

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: abolition and Civil Service headcount

Lord Empey asked whether the redistribution of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s functions would reduce Civil Service headcount. Baroness Twycross said machinery-of-government changes were separate from decisions on overall headcount and stated that the change was “not about reducing headcount”. She said a Cabinet Secretary-led review of the size, shape and structure of the permanent Civil Service would report before summer 2027.

Other Members asked about the loss of a dedicated department, responsibility for artificial intelligence (AI), AI regulation and support for industry. Baroness Twycross said science and technology were cross-government priorities, with an AI Minister at Cabinet level and BIST responsible for emerging and frontier technologies. She said the proportion of staff in digital and data roles was projected to increase, but the transcript does not state an exact staffing figure for the Cabinet-level AI function.

Havant Thicket Reservoir: pollutants and water safeguards

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb asked what safeguards would prevent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), nanoplastics and other emerging pollutants from presenting an unacceptable risk at Havant Thicket Reservoir. Baroness Hayman of Ullock said reservoir operations had to comply with water framework directive objectives and that water companies had to assess risks from the source to consumers’ taps. She said planned raw-water sources had been monitored and mitigations proposed where required, including for emerging substances.

The Minister said the project would use highly treated recycled water, followed by further treatment and testing before it was supplied as drinking water: “Water stored in the reservoir would then go through further treatment and testing before being supplied as drinking water.” Members also raised Southern Water’s discharges, PFAS monitoring, drought resilience, agricultural run-off, smaller reservoirs and the proposed clean water legislation. The Minister could not give a publication date for the Bill. She referred to the Government’s PFAS strategy and to the Corry review of Defra’s arm’s-length bodies. No commitment to an independent expert panel was stated in the transcript.

Housing: national targets and devolved powers

Lord Evans of Guisborough asked whether local authorities receiving additional devolved housing powers would remain subject to national housing targets. Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said devolution would operate within a national framework and that the Government had no plans to amend the standard method for assessing housing need introduced in December 2024. She described housing targets as “an important tool to make sure that sufficient housing is delivered in the right places”.

The discussion covered London housebuilding, land assembly, local democratic oversight, data centres, development corporations, construction costs and land banking. The Minister referred to temporary measures to support London housebuilders, up to £11.7 billion for London’s social and affordable homes programme and £1.5 billion from a new low-interest loans scheme. She said councillors and communities would continue to participate through local plans and planning consultations, and referred to support for mayoral strategic authorities including Civil Service secondments and leadership-development opportunities.

US–Russia diesel-export deal and Ukraine

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale asked what action the Government planned to take after the announcement of a US–Russia deal on diesel exports. Lord Wood of Anfield said, “The quickest way to get diesel back on to world markets is a full energy ceasefire”. He welcomed the proposed reciprocal energy ceasefire and said Ukraine was ready to implement it once a start date had been confirmed.

Members also asked about expanding the coalition supporting Ukraine, European purchases of Russian gas, sanctions, Russia’s shadow fleet, Ukrainian children deported to Russia and sanctions on refined Russian oil products. Lord Wood said expansion of the coalition was regularly discussed and that more than 640 vessels had been specified under the UK Russia sanctions regime. He declined to discuss individual sanctions measures and said policy would remain focused on monitoring flows and attempts to evade sanctions. He did not confirm in the transcript whether the sunset clause for the relevant refined-oil exemption would remain unchanged.

Courts and Tribunals Bill: First Reading

The Courts and Tribunals Bill was brought from the Commons, read a first time and ordered to be printed. The transcript records: “The Bill was brought from the Commons, read a first time and ordered to be printed.” No debate or next step beyond printing was recorded.

Code of Practice on Access and Unfair Practices During the Recognition and Derecognition Process

Lord Leong moved approval of the draft Code of Practice and associated regulations, which had been considered in Grand Committee on 13 October. The motion was agreed; the transcript records, “Motions agreed.” No further discussion or next step was recorded.

Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector and Social Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Lord Wilson of Sedgefield moved approval of the draft Regulations, which had been considered in Grand Committee on 13 October. The motion was agreed; the transcript records, “Motions agreed.” No further discussion or next step was recorded.

Prisoner Early Release Scheme

The Lords received the Commons Answer to an Urgent Question on the prisoner early release scheme. Questions focused on electronic tagging, the preparation of prisoners for release, the risk of reoffending and pressure on the Probation Service. Lord Lemos said tagging-installation rates had increased by nearly 50% since 2024, that £100 million was being invested in electronic monitoring and that quarterly statistics would provide figures; he added that “the next quarterly update will be published in October”.

The Minister said releases under the earned progression model were being made in 10 phases and were better planned than the earlier emergency scheme. He said the Government were investing £700 million in probation and onboarding 1,300 new probation officers in the year. In response to a question about additional serious crimes, he said it was too early to provide an estimate. No division or further decision was recorded.

Drumcree: prohibition of an Orange Order parade

The House considered a Commons Statement on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland’s decision to prohibit an Orange Order parade from Drumcree church along the Garvaghy Road. Lord Caine accepted the seriousness of the public-order situation but argued that the Parades Commission had lawfully authorised a restricted procession and that prohibiting it after an unlawful protest could damage confidence in the rule of law. Baroness Suttie supported de-escalation and reliance on advice from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), while asking about practical support for Portadown and the policing costs.

Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent said the Parades Commission determination had been upheld by the courts, but the chief constable had advised that facilitating the parade would carry “an unacceptable risk of serious injury, widespread disorder and public safety threats”. She said the Secretary of State had used section 11 powers in response to the circumstances at Drumcree, while section 9 powers had also been considered in the process. Investigations into unlawful protesting were continuing, and she said one person had received a six-month custodial sentence. Negotiations had explored several possible compromises but had not produced a local agreement. The Minister said the policing cost was £5 million and that work with partners was under way to address community tensions. She also referred to an independent judge-led review of the Parades Commission’s processes and procedures.

Sovereign Grant Bill

Lord Pitt-Watson introduced the Bill to reduce the sovereign grant from £137.9 million in 2026–27 to £99.9 million in 2027–28, following the near-completion of the Buckingham Palace reservicing programme. The Bill also provides mechanisms relating to reserves between 10% and 50% of annual expenditure and permits adjustments in exceptional circumstances. Lord Redwood and Baroness Neville-Rolfe supported the reduction while seeking assurance that the future framework would remain adequate and predictable.

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, Lord Sikka and Lord Berkeley questioned the grant’s transparency, value for money, taxation arrangements and the independence of the royal trustees. Baroness Kramer called for greater parliamentary and National Audit Office scrutiny. Lord Pitt-Watson said, “It does not provide any personal income to any member of the royal family.” He also said that the grant was subject to statutory reporting, audit and the usual parliamentary supply processes. The Bill was read a second time, its committee stage was negatived, and it was read a third time and passed.

Protection Against Detriment (Industrial Action) Regulations 2026

Lord Leong moved regulations intended to close the legal gap identified by the Supreme Court in the Mercer case by protecting workers from detriment where the sole or main purpose was to penalise, prevent or deter protected industrial action. He said the regulations would not prevent ordinary management decisions, disciplinary action for unrelated misconduct or deductions for work not done. Lord Hunt of Wirral opposed the breadth of the protection, citing possible litigation, administrative burdens and risks to public services.

Baroness Carberry of Muswell Hill and Lord Davies of Brixton supported the regulations, arguing that a statutory right to take protected action would be weakened if employers could impose lesser penalties to deter its exercise. Lord Goddard of Stockport asked about guidance, pay deductions and monitoring. Lord Leong said the expected number of cases was low, that implementation would be monitored and that a review was planned for 2031; he also undertook to write on guidance. Lord Hunt withdrew his regret amendment and the motion was agreed.

International Update

The House considered a Commons Statement covering support for Ukraine, sanctions, an energy ceasefire, NATO commitments, hybrid threats, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the Falkland Islands, the forthcoming UK–EU summit and the UK’s G20 presidency in 2027. The Government said that more than 90% of Russia’s oil-producing capacity was covered by UK sanctions and welcomed a reciprocal energy ceasefire. It also confirmed that the UK–EU summit would take place in Brussels on 20 November and identified possible agreements on food and drink, emissions trading, energy, a youth experience scheme and immigration co-operation.

Questions addressed the terms and prospects of UK–EU discussions, defence spending, Russian and Iranian threats, development aid, Sudan, the Chagos Islands, the Falkland Islands, Palestinian elections and AI governance. Baroness Smith said the Government’s Brexit red lines remained and that there was “no predetermined outcome” for the longer-term relationship with the EU. She described Diego Garcia as a key strategic military asset and said discussions with the United States were continuing. On AI, she said international work should be led by Governments and that the issue would be a key focus of the UK’s G20 presidency.

ACAS Code of Practice on Time Off for Trade Union Duties and Activities

Lord Leong moved approval of the revised Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) code, which reflects Employment Rights Act 2025 provisions on paid facility time, workplace facilities and time off for trade union equality representatives. Lord Sharpe of Epsom argued that placing the burden on employers to show that requested time was unreasonable could increase tribunal claims and costs, particularly in the public sector.

Baroness Carberry of Muswell Hill and Lord Balfe argued that the code gave practical effect to rights already enacted and could support communication and early dispute resolution. Lord Goddard supported the code but asked about cost estimates, monitoring and the timing of review. Lord Leong said ACAS had received 47 consultation responses, that the code had been amended for clarity and that a post-implementation review was planned after five years. Lord Sharpe pressed his amendment to a division; it was defeated by 56 votes to 82, and the motion was agreed.

Trade Unions (Right to Access Workplaces) Regulations 2026 and accompanying code

Lord Leong introduced regulations and an accompanying code implementing a statutory framework for trade-union access to workplaces. Employers and unions must first negotiate an access agreement, with unresolved cases potentially referred to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC). The CAC must refuse access when an employer has fewer than 21 workers, access must not unreasonably interfere with operations and maximum penalties are £75,000 for a first order, £150,000 for a second and £500,000 for subsequent orders.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom and other Members opposed the model of potentially weekly access, citing consultation responses, operational disruption, costs for small employers and public services, and the scale of the penalties. Lord Balfe supported access, describing it as “fundamental to trade unions”. Lord Leong said that 99% of businesses employed fewer than 21 workers, that both unions and employers could be subject to penalties, and that a targeted assessment for adult social care and school support staff was intended from 2027. He undertook to write to Lord Moynihan on points raised in the debate. Lord Sharpe withdrew his regret amendment, and both the regulations and the accompanying code were approved.