AI Regulation, Carer Support and Smokefree Britain Debated
High-Level Summary
The sitting opened with Alex Sobel presenting the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ fourth report on human rights and the regulation of artificial intelligence, including proposals for a new risk-based AI Bill and stronger testing and oversight. Members then debated support for unpaid carers, covering financial security, respite, identification of young and older carers, employment, dementia support and the proposed national care service; the Minister outlined the cross-government action plan and related measures. The final debate considered progress towards a smokefree UK, including the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, smoking-cessation services, youth vaping, enforcement and calls for a new target and road map. The carers motion lapsed under Standing Order No. 10(6), while the smokefree motion was agreed without a recorded division and the sitting adjourned.
Detailed Summary
Human Rights and the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence — Joint Committee on Human Rights statement
Alex Sobel, the newly elected Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, presented the Committee’s fourth report. He said existing regulators lacked sufficient powers to test AI systems before release or prevent the deployment of systems posing unacceptable risks, while recognising potential benefits for defence, science, medicine and the UK’s prosperity. He identified risks to equality and non-discrimination, privacy and personal data, workers’ rights and the environment. The report’s recommendations included a new AI Bill, a risk-based framework, proportionate obligations across the AI lifecycle and supply chain, and international co-operation. Sobel said: “we must regulate now—not in a year, not in five years, but now.” He also argued that some uses should be prohibited, identifying recursive self-improvement as the point at which “we lose control”.
Euan Stainbank, Chi Onwurah, Peter Swallow and Jim Shannon asked questions on mandatory testing, the distinction between human rights and claims about AI, the role of the AI Security Institute, the benefits and risks of AI, and the implications for the UK’s nations and regions. Sobel said testing should take place during all stages of development, distinguished between ordinary assistive tools and frontier models, and supported a different level of regulation for the latter. He welcomed the Prime Minister’s acceptance of a recommendation that the Government use the G20 presidency to address AI harms, and said the proposed Bill should give full effect to the Council of Europe framework convention. No decision or division was recorded; the sitting was suspended after the questions.
Support for unpaid carers
Alison Bennett opened the debate by moving that the House consider support for unpaid carers. Members discussed the scale and value of unpaid care, financial insecurity, carer’s allowance, overpayment recovery, employment, respite and the identification of young carers. Bennett cited 5.8 million unpaid carers in the UK, including 1.7 million providing at least 50 hours of care a week, and called for measurable improvements over the next 12 months. She asked about the identification of young carers after describing a case in which neither of two boys caring for their mother had been identified before one found her dead, and she questioned the pace of the Department for Work and Pensions’ review of carer’s allowance overpayments. Her priorities included recognition, financial security, breaks, health support and continued access to employment: “carers deserve recognition, financial security, access to breaks, support for their health and a fair opportunity to remain in paid employment”.
Josh Newbury, John McDonnell, Linsey Farnsworth, Jim Shannon, Elsie Blundell, Anna Dixon, Christopher Vince, Alison Hume, Helen Maguire and Neil Shastri-Hurst raised further issues and proposals. These included support for older carers at state pension age, a possible move towards a living wage for carers, respite and replacement care, dementia pathways, school-based identification of young carers, support during transitions to adulthood, paid carers’ leave, a guaranteed respite scheme, and the effects of changes involving NHS England and the Better Care Fund. Minister James Frith described the cross-government unpaid carers action plan, covering health, social care, education, employment and benefits. He said a new “my carer” section in the NHS app would provide information and support, and that an unpaid carers’ champion would work across Government, the health and social care sector and carers’ organisations. He stated: “carers have to be recognised as partners in care, with their own needs and ambitions.” He said the modern service framework on dementia and frailty was forthcoming. He did not answer questions about funding the proposed national care service, stating: “I will gladly answer your question if they ever dare to give me responsibility for such things”. The motion lapsed under Standing Order No. 10(6); no division was recorded.
Progress towards a smokefree UK
Bob Blackman and Mary Foy introduced a debate on progress towards a smokefree UK. Members broadly supported the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 and noted that smoking prevalence had fallen below 10%, while arguing that further support was needed for the remaining 4.9 million smokers. The debate covered the achievability of the 2030 target, calls for a new target and road map, smoking-cessation services in hospitals and community settings, health inequalities, a possible levy on tobacco manufacturers, and the regulation of vaping. Blackman called for an ambition below 1% in all communities and said: “We need an ambition for current smokers that matches the ambition for the smoke-free generation”. Foy also called for a new target, stating: “We also need a new target.”
Mary Glindon and Euan Stainbank argued that regulated vaping could help adult smokers quit and cautioned against treating vaping as equivalent to tobacco; other Members emphasised youth uptake, illicit products, age verification and the unknown longer-term risks. Gregory Stafford asked about enforcement resources, outdoor hospitality, hospital cessation services and lung-cancer screening. Health Minister Diana R. Johnson said smoking prevalence was 9.8%, that £153 million a year was ringfenced for local stop-smoking services, and that cessation services were available in 99% of maternity services and 92% of inpatient services. She said the Government were developing a nationwide awareness campaign, expected to be rolled out in November, and would provide up to £30 million a year for enforcement agencies until 2028-29. She said the Government intended to consult on retail licensing the following year, but did not announce a new smoking target or road map. She described the immediate priority as: “delivering the Tobacco and Vapes Act successfully”. The question was put and agreed to, and the motion was resolved: “That this House has considered progress towards a smokefree UK.” The sitting then adjourned.