B1668 - Equality (Transgender Rights) Bill - Results

There have voted:

Content: 20

Not Content: 4

Present: 3

The Contents have it! The Contents have it! The Final Bill shall now be sent for Royal Assent

B1655.2 - Bottom Trawling, Gillnetting, and Long-Lining (Restriction) (Amendment) Bill

A

B I L L

T O

remove scientific study exemptions for harmful fishing practices and repeal the Bottom Trawling Act 2022.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Section 1: Repeals

(1) The Bottom Trawling Act 2022 is repealed.

(2) Section 3 of the Bottom Trawling, Gillnetting, and Long-Lining (Restriction) Act 2019 is hereby repealed.

Section 2: Existing Exemptions

(1) All Existing Exemptions granted under Section 3 of the Bottom Trawling, Gillnetting, and Long-Lining (Restriction) Act 2019 are hereby void.

Section 2: Exemptions

(1) A person is exempt from Section 1(2) of the Bottom Trawling, Gillnetting, and Long-Lining (Restriction) Act 2019 if the purpose is for archival reasons or for usage in museums.

Section 3: Commencement

(2) This Act comes into force at the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

Section 4: Short Title

(1) This Act may be cited as the Bottom Trawling, Gillnetting, and Long-Lining (Restriction) (Amendment) Act 2024.

This Bill was introduced by The Rt Hon Marquess of Stevenage, Sir u/Muffin5136 , KT KP KD GCVO KCT KCMG KBE MP MS MLA PC on behalf of the Green Party

Opening Speech:

Speaker,

In 2022, the Conservatives brought into place an ill-thought out Bill to attempt to introduce legislation that covered an already regulated and legislated upon topic. Unfortunately, this House passed that bill into law, a bill I proudly voted against at the time. It is time to repeal that legislation that wastes space in our books, and introduced a duty which the Government duly ignored.

The bill was pointless given we already had legislation on the books from 2019 which outlawed the practices of bottom-trawling, Gill netting and long lining, however it included an exemption that I would argue is wholly pointless, in that it allows for these destructive methods if for scientific research.

This Bill sets up a blanket ban for these practices by outlawing the exemption, and I would urge the House to back this bill.

Lords may debate and submit amendments until the 5th of May at 10pm BST.

B1668 - Equality (Transgender Rights) Bill - Second Reading

A

Bill

To

Clarify existing equality legislation in respect to the rights of transgender and non-binary people, to enshrine new rights for transgender and non-binary people, to institute a duty for inclusion, and for connected purposes

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Section 1: Definitions

(1) A “transgender woman” is any person who was assigned male or intersex at birth and now holds the gender identity of woman.

(2) A “transgender man” is any person who was assigned female or intersex at birth and now holds the gender identity of man.

(3) A “non-binary person” is any person who was assigned male, female or intersex at birth and now holds a gender identity that is neither male nor female.

(4) “Gender Identity” is defined as per Section 7 of the Equality Act 2010, as amended by the Equality Act (Amendment) Act 2021.

(5) Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) is defined as hormonal therapy intended to align a transgender person’s hormone chemistry with that of their identified sex.

Section 2: Sport

(1) Section 195(2) of the Equality Act 2010 is repealed and subsequent sections renumbered accordingly.

(2) Section 195(3) of the Equality Act 2010 is amended to read:

(3) A gender-affected activity is a sport, game or other activity of a competitive nature in circumstances in which the physical strength, stamina or physique of average persons of one sex would put them at a disadvantage compared to average persons of the other sex as competitors in events involving the activity.

(a) A transgender woman is to be considered female, for the purposes of a gender affected activity, after 12 months of GAHT.

(b) A transgender man is to be considered male, for the purposes of a gender affected activity, at a time of their own choosing.

(c) Subsections (a) and/or (b) have no bearing or relevance to a transgender persons legal, affirmed, or identified gender.

(c) Following the satisfaction of subsections (a) and (b) conditions, a transgender person may not be excluded from participation or competition in a gender affected activity.

(3) All Sports Governing Bodies must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that transgender persons can participate in their sport in their affirmed gender, including but not limited to:

(a) Producing policy governing the inclusion of transgender participants.

(b) Reviewing said policy at least every two years.

(c) Ensuring that all policy is written with inclusion as the primary goal.

(4) Persons identifying with a gender that is neither male nor female (non-binary) should participate (compete) in the category within their gender affected activity that most closely aligns with their primary sex hormone, regardless of their birth status.

Section 3: Duty of Inclusion

(1) All organisations within the public sector and with charitable status must make an honest and reasonable effort to enable the inclusion of transgender and non-binary people within their activities.

(2) Where there is a need for changing and/or washing facilities within a public or commercial building, provision for non-gendered facilities is compulsory.

(1) After section 159 of the Equality Act 2010, insert—

CHAPTER 3

INCLUSION OF TRANSGENDER PERSONS

159A Transgender persons in sport

(1) Sports governing bodies must prepare a Transgender Inclusion Plan in accordance with this section.

(2) The Transgender Inclusion Plan is to set out the sports governing body’s policies and proposals to ensure that transgender persons can participate in the sport in—

(a) their acquired gender, if their gender identity is male or female, or

(b) otherwise, in the gender which most closely matches their primary sex hormone.

(3) The Transgender Inclusion Plan must be published as soon as is reasonably practicable after this section comes into force.

(4) The sports governing body is to keep the Transgender Inclusion Plan under review.

(5) Without limit to subsection (4), the sports governing body must—

(a) review the Transgender Inclusion Plan no more than 2 years after it is published, and

(b) thereafter, review the plan at least once in every period of 2 years beginning with the most recent date on which—

(i) a revised plan prepared under subsection (6)(a) was adopted and published, or

(ii) an explanation was published under subsection (6)(b) of this section.

(6) Following such a review, the sports governing body is to—

(a) prepare a revised plan, or

(b) publish an explanation of why it has decided not to revise it.

159B Inclusion of transgender persons

(1) A public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, make all reasonable efforts to enable the inclusion of transgender and non-binary persons within its activities.

(2) A charity must, in the exercise of its functions, make all reasonable efforts to enable the inclusion of transgender and non-binary persons within its activities.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), if a public building has washing facilities, then the building must have washing facilities accessible to persons of any gender identity (or lack thereof).

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply if meeting subsection (3) would not reasonably be possible.

159C Interpretation of chapter

In this Chapter—

“transgender person” means a person whose gender identity (or lack thereof) is different to their sex assigned at birth;

“non-binary person" means a person whose gender identity (or lack thereof) is not male or female;

“gender identity” means the protected characteristic of gender identity;

“public authority” is a person who is specified in Schedule 19;

“charity” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Charities Act 2011;

“public building” means a building accessible to the public;

“sports governing body” means any body which—

(a) serves as the national or regional ruling body for a sport or for a sporting event involving one or more sports within the nation or a region,

(b) selects sports teams at a national or regional level,

(c) operates a licensing system at a national or regional level authorising the conduct of sporting events, or

(d) exercises disciplinary authority over one or more sports on a national or regional basis;

“acquired gender” has the meaning given by the Gender Recognition Act 2004.”.

Section 4: Connected Purposes

(1) Nothing in this bill redefines, changes, or affects provisions as enacted by the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (as amended by subsequent legislation).

Section 5: Short Title, Commencement and Extent

(1) This Act may be cited as the Equality (Transgender Rights) Act 2024.

(2) This Act, with exception of Section 3, comes into force immediately upon Royal Assent. Section 3 enters into force 12 months following Royal Assent.

(3) This Act extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.

This Bill was written by the Right Honourable Dame Countess Kilcreggan CT KG MVO PC and is submitted as a Bill on Behalf of the Liberal Democrats.

Opening Speech

Speaker,

I rise to introduce this landmark piece of legislation, which I believe has been a long time coming, to clarify and update the Equality Act as it pertains to the rights of transgender and non-binary people in the UK. In the last 9 and a half years, this Parliament has passed a wide variety of acts that enhance and modernise the law as it pertains to people who are not cisgender and heterosexual. This bill is the logical next step in this process.

This bill has a core intention, to make it unlawful to exclude transgender people from competing in sport alongside their identified gender. Alongside that, this bill will introduce a statutory responsibility for charities (sport federations) to make all reasonable effort to include transgender and non-binary people in their competitions and events. The reason for making this legislative change is that there is simply no longer any reason to exclude, whereas in 2010 there remained some reasonable doubt as to the effect of GAHT on athletic performance in transgender people as we go through GAHT. As members of this House will know, I am transgender myself and I am nearly a full year into GAHT. I am a keen runner in my spare time, and my athletic performance has steadily dropped off in the last 11 months and I have only been able to arrest the decline with a significant amount of effort and training on my part. My experience is unique and there is a raft of academic papers that confirm that GAHT is sufficient to bring the athletic performance of transgender elite athletes in line with their identified sex in around 12 months, but in some cases a lot less.

In 2022, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport performed a landmark analysis, entitled “Transgender Women Athletes and Elite Sport: A Scientific Review” which analysed the available scientific literature published on the subject between 2011 and 2021. Their analysis was both comprehensive and conclusive. To quote the key findings from a biomedical perspective:—

1: “There is limited evidence regarding the impact of testosterone suppression (through, for example, gender affirming hormone therapy or surgical gonad removal) on transgender women athletes’ performance.” 2: “Available evidence indicates trans women who have undergone testosterone suppression have no clear biological advantages over cis women in elite sport.”

And for a key socio-cultural finding:

3: “Policies that impact trans women’s participation in elite sport are the continuation of a long history of exclusion of women from competitive sport – an exclusion that resulted in the introduction of a ‘women’s’ category of sport in the first place.”

I have made the full report available for your perusal. It is a comprehensive and, at times, entertaining read, and I would encourage all attendees to this debate to give it some of your time. The key takeaway I would like you all to consider, as a reason to support this legislation, is that in order to continue to progress as a society we must remove legal and bureaucratic barriers to inclusion. Fundamentally we are still a segregated society when it comes to trans people and it is time that we fully remove the legislative barriers and make it compulsory, legally to include us.

Thank you.

Lords can debate and submit amendments until the 4th of May at 10pm BST.

Order! Order!

There will now be questions put to the Government, under Standing Order 16. Questions will be directed to the Leader of the House of Lords, u/Lady_Aya, however, they can direct other members of the Government to respond on their behalf.

Lords are free to ask as many questions as they wish, however I have the power to limit questions if deemed excessive. Therefore I implore the Lords to be considerate and this session will be closely monitored.

The session will end on Saturday 4th May at 10pm BST.

Activity Review - 27th April 2024

My Lords,

This is the first Activity Review of the term. As per the amendment made to the constitution, "any Peer with a voting attendance of 40% or lower, cumulatively throughout the term, assessed monthly, shall be removed."

However, following the recent consultation, amendment divisions are now being counted as one vote again (85% voted in favour of doing it that way) as opposed to one per amendment.

The next activity review will occur on Friday the 24th of May, along with the next announcement of Working Peers (there were no applications this month.

We will sadly be losing four Peers who are:

• The Baron of Acocks Green - /u/copecopeson, NP - 0%
• The Baroness Willenhall - /u/model-finn, WP - 40%
• The Baron of Chichester - /u/darth-nimious, WP - 26.7%
• The Earl of Oxford and Asquith - /u/ThatThingInTheCorner, AP - 40%

WPs and NPs will need to reapply for a Working Peerage (or be nominated next month), and APs will now need to wait one month as per the Constitution before swearing in again.

B1665 - Tobacco and Vapes Bill - Results

There have voted:

Content: 7

Not Content: 13

Present: 5

The Not Contents have it! The Not Contents have it! The Bill shall be sent back to the Other Place!

B1663 - Wages Bill - Results

There have voted:

Content: 10

Not Content: 10

Present: 8

The Speaker votes Not Content with the status quo to break the tie, in favour of more debate.

The Not Contents have it! The Not Contents have it! The Bill shall be sent back to the Other Place!

B1664 - British Nationality (Amendment) (Inviolability) Bill - Results

There have voted:

Content: 15

Not Content: 9

Present: 5

The Contents have it! The Contents have it! The Bill shall be sent back to the Other Place!

B1665 - Smoking Elimination Bill - Second Reading

A

BILL

TO

Create a statutory duty to eliminate most smoking by 2030, implement licensing for the sale of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, regulate e-cigarettes and for connected purposes

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:--

Chapter I: Smoke Free by 2030

Section 1: Smoke Free Target

(1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure that by 2030, less than 5% of the United Kingdom population are regular smokers. This shall be referred to as the “Smoke Free Target”.

(2) The Secretary of State must publish an annual smoking elimination plan, which must include:

(a) an action plan demonstrating the actions to be taken by the Secretary of State to achieve the Smoke Free Target,

(b) measurable objectives to be achieved by the time of the publication of the next annual smoking elimination plan,
(d) a summary of failures to achieve targets set out in all previous smoking elimination plans until such time as they have been achieved, alongside remedial measures to ensure ascertainment of the relevant target.

Section 2: Definitions

(1) For the purposes of this act, a regular smoker is a person who usually consumes at least one tobacco product per week

(2) For the purposes of this act, a tobacco product is a product primarily intended for the consumption of nicotine, including but not limited to:

(a) smoked tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars and hookah tobacco,

(b) smokeless tobacco products such as dipping tobacco, chewing tobacco or snus,
(c) heated tobacco products, or
(d) any other product as designated by regulations by the Secretary of State.

(3) For the purposes of this act, a nicotine-containing product is any product given under subsection (3), or an electronic cigarette, or any other product as designated by regulations by the Secretary of State.

Chapter II: Introduction of Licensing of Sale

Section 3: Licensing Requirement for sale

(1) A person commits an offence if they—

​

(a) sell nicotine-containing products by retail without a licence, or

(b) sell nicotine-containing products by retail from premises other than premises in respect of which they have been granted a licence, unless that licence is granted for online sales.

​

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

​

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person is considered to have sold a nicotine-containing product by retail if they provide the item for free.

(4) This Subsection shall come into force upon either the 1st of January 2025, or on a date appointed by regulation by the Secretary of State not later than the 1st of January 2027.

Section 4: Regulations Regarding Licensing

(1) A body known as the Tobacco Licensing Agency is to be formed.

(2) The Secretary of State must by regulations make provision about the granting of licences for the sale by retail of nicotine-containing products, and such regulations as the Secretary of State deems reasonably necessary for the orderly function of the Tobacco Licensing Agency.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2) must provide that—

​

(a) the licensing authority for the sale by retail of nicotine-containing products is the Tobacco Licensing Agency,

(b) the licensing authority may place conditions on persons to whom licences have been granted,

(c) no licence may be issued to or held by a person who has been convicted of an offence under section 7 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

(d) licences will be issued on an individual basis for a specific address, or online point of sale, and subject to compliance inspection by the licensing authority.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2) must further ensure that the licensing authority may to such an extent compliant with other legislation regulate product standards with respect to products under their remit, including but not limited to:

​

(a) Restrictions of the marketing and advertising of tobacco products

(b) Requirements regarding health warning and information displays with respect to the sale of tobacco products

Section 5: Age Verification Conditions

(1) Regulations under section 4 must—

(a) require holders of a licence to operate an age verification policy,

(b) enable the licensing authority to issue fines in respect of a failure to operate an age verification policy,
(c) create criminal offences in respect of a failure to operate an age verification policy.

(2) The Secretary of State may publish guidance on matters relating to age verification policies, including guidance about—

(a) steps that should be taken to establish a customer's age,

(b) documents that may be shown to the person selling a tobacco product or related goods as evidence of a customer's age,
(c) training that should be undertaken by the person selling the tobacco product or related goods,
(d) the form and content of notices that should be displayed in the premises,
(e) the form and content of records that should be maintained in relation to an age verification policy.

(3) A person who carries on a business involving the retail sale of tobacco products must have regard to guidance published under subsection (2) when operating an age verification policy.

Chapter III: Regulations Regarding E-Cigarettes

Section 6: Extension of Plain Packaging to all “nicotine-containing products”

(1) Within the Plain Packaging Act 2016, the following amendments are to be made:-

(a) replace all instances of tobacco products with nicotine-containing products

(b) replace Section 1 subsection c with:
“c) Nicotine-containing products shall have the same meaning as that given in the Smoking Elimination Act 2023”.

Section 10: Ban of disposable e-cigarettes

(1) A person commits an offence if they sell disposable e-cigarettes (where intended for use as a nicotine-containing product) by retail.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine, or-

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.

(3) For the purposes of this section, an e-cigarette shall be considered disposable if it is intended only for a single use, and lacks capacity either to be refilled or recharged by the user.

(4) This Subsection shall come into force upon either the 1st of January 2025, or on a date appointed by regulation by the Secretary of State not later than the 1st of January 2027.

Chapter IV: Implementation

Section 11: Commencement, Extent and Short Title

(1) This Act shall come into force one year after receiving Royal Assent.

(2) This Act shall extend to England only unless—

(a) a Legislative Consent Motion is passed in the Pàrlamaid na h-Alba, in which case it shall also apply to Scotland, or

(b) a Legislative Consent Motion is passed in the Senedd Cymru, in which case it shall also apply to Wales, or
(c) a Legislative Consent Motion is passed in the Northern Ireland Assembly, in which case it shall also apply to Northern Ireland.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2024.

This bill was written by the Right Honourable Dame u/SpectacularSalad KG KP GCB OM GCMG GBE CT PC MP MLA FRS and the Right Honourable Sir u/weebru_m CT KT PC MP on behalf of His Majesty’s Government

Chapter 2 was largely sourced from the real life Sale of Tobacco (Licensing) Bill.

This Legislation amends the Plain Packaging Act 2016.

Opening Speech:

Deputy Speaker,

The house recently read the Advertisement of Vape Products (Regulation) Bill, one I was happy to welcome to this house and support at division. I believe that we in this house must do more to regulate vaping, and also to do what we can to eliminate smoking more generally.

Recalling also the Plain Packaging Bill read earlier this year (and subsequently withdrawn), I was spurred into action to propose the following legislation. I have sought to propose a package of world-leading, comprehensive measures.

Firstly, this bill will create a statutory duty for the Secretary of State to reduce the number of regular smokers to 5% of the population by 2030. In 2021 it was 13.3%, and below this threshold the UK will be considered “smoke free”. This 5% target is inspired by New Zealand’s health measures, but I must make clear that this bill does not go as far as a total ban for certain ages as seen in Aotearoa.

To support this goal, the bill will introduce two new licences. These are a licence on the sale of nicotine products (meaning tobacco products, and vapes), and a licence on the purchase of tobacco products specifically, but not vapes.

The nicotine-containing products licence will come into effect a year after passage of the bill, and this will require any business selling either tobacco or vapes to be licensed. This will also ban online sales of these products, making them only available in brick and mortar stores.

This effort is aimed at cracking down on the sale of tobacco and particularly vapes to young people, as the 25 years of age check will apply as a part of the terms of the licence itself. The NHS estimates that 9% of secondary school pupils either regularly or occasionally vape. This is 9% too many.

Eliminating online sale of tobacco or vaping products will close the online sales loophole, and by controlling which businesses are able to sell these products, we can implement better checks and controls to ensure that young people are unable to access them.

The second measure is the Tobacco Purchase Licence, which will come into forhttps://www.reddit.com/r/MHOC/comments/1bskb2u/b1665_smoking_elimination_bill_2nd_reading/ce no earlier than the beginning of 2027. This is a licence to be required for an individual to buy tobacco containing products (but explicitly not vapes).

This will be a free, renewable, annual licence. Everyone who is 18 or older will be able to get one, but they will need an application signed by their GP, with the licences themselves issued by NHS bodies, who may issue guidance to the GP on how to support the individual in question.

The aim here is twofold, firstly to ensure that all active smokers have some interaction with the NHS relating to smoking, giving us a greater ability to support cessation. Individuals will retain the right to choose to smoke tobacco, but they will be unable to renew their licence to purchase without a GP’s awareness.

The second aim is simply to make smoking tobacco more hassle than vaping. We do not know how harmful vaping is, but the NHS’ own guidance is that vapes are far less harmful than cigarettes, exposing users to fewer toxins and at lower levels than smoking cigarettes. By creating a licence required to buy tobacco but not vaping, it is hoped that individuals will be nudged away from cigarettes and towards vaping as a substitute. Due to the nature of the licence, this will be a passive incentive built into the nicotine-products market.

And that brings me neatly onto the fourth key strand of this legislation, that is the extension of plain packaging and out-of-view laws to vapes, and banning disposable vapes. The first component is intended to crack down on bright packaging intended especially to appeal to young people. The second component is intended to tackle both the ease of access to addictive nicotine products, and also to reduce the environmental impact of vaping.

Overall, this represents a comprehensive package of measures that will fit well with the Government’s existing proposals. I hope they will see fit to provide cross-bench support for these measures, aimed at the substantive elimination of smoking in the UK.

Lords can debate and submit amendments until the 22nd of April at 10pm BST.

TDXXI.II - Upper Age Limit on Voting

We now come to a Topic Debate under Standing Order 18, to debate the following Topic entitled 'TDXXI.II - Upper Age Limit on Voting' as selected by the Speaker of this House, following a vote of Peers.

“That this House has considered the merits of an upper age limit on voting."

The Secretaries of State invited to participate in this debate are:

• The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Justice, Lord Chancellor - /u/model-avery
• The Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury - u/ARichTeaBiscuit

Members shall have one week to debate this topic, until 10PM BST on Friday the 26th of April.

B1663 - Wages Bill - Second Reading

A

B I L L

T O

update UK-wide minimum wage legislation and amend living wage entitlement.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Section 1: Amendments to the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 (The 1998 Act)

(1) Append to Section 2 of the 1998 Act:

(9) The Secretary of State must, on an annual basis, make provision by regulation to ensure that the National Minimum Wage increases by the level of average earnings, by the average rate of inflation for the previous year, or by 2.5%, whatever number is higher.

(2) Section 45 of The 1998 Act is repealed in its entirety.

(3) Section 45A is repealed in its entirety.

(4) In Section (3) wherever 26 occurs, substitute 21. (5) In Section 4(2), wherever 26 occurs, substitute 21.

Section 2: The National Living Wage

~~(1) The Secretary of State must, by regulations, set rates for a National Living Wage. ~~

(2) The National Living Wage replaces the National Minimum Wage for all persons over the age of 23.

(3) The National Living Wage must be adjusted on an annual basis as per provisions in Section 1(1).

(4) The Automatic Increase in the National Living Wage must be set according to the Consumer Price Index rate as calculated by the Office of National Statistics.

Section 1: Increase to the National Minimum Wage

(1) The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 1(3), insert—

(3A) The Secretary of State must ensure that the national minimum wage is increased every year by no less than—

(a) the percentage increase in inflation since the national minimum wage was last increased,
(b) the percentage increase in average wages in England, Scotland and Wales since the national minimum wage was last increased, or
(c) 2.5%,
whichever is highest.
(3B) In this section, "inflation" means—
(a) the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs published by the Statistics Board, or
(b) where that index is not published for a month, any substituted index or figures published by the Board.

(3) Section 45 is repealed.

(4) Section 45A is repealed.

Section 3: The National Living Wage for London

(1) The Secretary of State must, on an annual basis, make provision by regulation for a National Living Wage for persons resident or working at an address within Greater London.

(2) The Secretary of State must define this wage on the advice of the Office of the Mayor of London.

Section 2: National minimum wage in London

After section 2(6) of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, insert—

(6A) Subject to subsection (6B), the regulations may provide for the national minimum wage to be higher for persons who are resident in or work in Greater London, and the national minimum wage in London is hereafter referred to as the "minimum wage in London".

(6B) Regulations which would provide for the minimum wage in London to be higher than the national minimum wage may not be made unless the Mayor of London has been consulted.
(6C) The Secretary of State must ensure that the minimum wage in London is increased every year by no less than—
(a) the percentage increase in inflation since the national minimum wage was last increased,
(b) the percentage increase in average wages in England, Scotland and Wales since the national minimum wage was last increased, or
(c) 2.5%,
whichever is highest.
(6D) In this section, "inflation" means—
(a) the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs published by the Statistics Board, or
(b) where that index is not published for a month, any substituted index or figures published by the Board.

Section 3: Repeals and amendments

(1) National Minimum Wage (Increase) Act 2019 is repealed in its entirety.

(1) National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2021 is repealed in its entirety.

(2) In section 2(8) of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, for “(c) employment under an apprenticeship”, substitute—

(ba) employment under an apprenticeship;

Section 4: Short title, commencement and extent.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Wages Act 2024.

(2) This Act comes into force on the First of January 2025.

(3) This Act extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.

This Bill was written by the Right Honourable Dame Countess Kilcreggan CT KG MVO PC and is submitted as a Bill on Behalf of the Liberal Democrats.

Links to Amended/Cited Legislation:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/39/contents

https://www.reddit.com/r/MHOLVote/comments/bogykx/b775_national_minimum_wage_increase_bill_3rd/

https://www.reddit.com/r/MHOLVote/comments/plfg0d/b1244_national_minimum_wage_amendment_bill_final/

Opening Speech:

Mr Speaker,

I am glad to be standing in this Place, having written my first piece of legislation in several months. This bill is written to simplify, consolidate and make sensible the manner in which minimum wage legislation works in the UK. To explain how things work currently, as I understand them, any working adult is entitled to the same minimum wage regardless of age, or the terms of their employment. If a person is employed under an apprenticeship scheme, they are entitled to the same rate of pay as a full time trained employee. The problem with this is it creates no incentive for the business to take on an apprentice when they could take on someone who’s been trained elsewhere. It needs to be a genuinely good idea from a business perspective for a company to take on an apprentice who may not be able to produce fruitful work for some months or even years following hiring. This same argument can be applied to young people. If all adults are entitled to the same wage then it becomes significantly more difficult for a company to hire a young person. Arguments that this will leave young people functionally worse off don’t carry water because of the robust welfare system successive governments have created. As of 2022, 58 percent of males and 68 percent of females that were aged 20 still lived with their parents in the United Kingdom. By creating this incentive to get more young people into the workforce, we will be encouraging more businesses to actively seek to hire young people, and it will not result in mass layoffs as I am sure the members opposite will like to posture. We will boost employment by this measure and as I have stated, the basic income system previously established will ensure that no matter what, young people will be able to keep their heads above water.

The other notable changes this legislation makes is to remove the provision that exempts prisoners from being paid the minimum wage. A prisoner’s work is not worth less than someone on the outside, Mr Speaker, and it is right that they are compensated in the same way as any person of the same age. This legislation also makes provision for a separate minimum wage for London which is prudent given the significantly higher cost of living in the Capital.

I hope the House sees fit to support this legislation.

Thank you.

Lords can debate and submit amendments until the 21st of April at 10pm BST.

B1666 - School Freedoms Bill - Results

There have voted:

Content: 10

Not Content: 12

Present: 5

The Not Contents have it! The Not Contents have it! The Bill shall be sent back to the Other Place!

B1664 - British Nationality (Amendment) (Inviolability) Bill - Amendment Reading

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make British citizenship inviolable and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

1. Amendment of the British Nationality Act 1981

(1) The British Nationality Act 1981 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 40(1) insert—

(1A) Citizenship status is inviolable and may not be deprived by the Crown nor the Secretary of State except to the extent permitted by this section.

(2) Omit section 40(2).

(3) In section 40(4), for "subsection (2)" substitute "subsection (3)".

(4) After section 40(6) insert—

(7) Before making an order under subsections (3) and (6), the Secretary of State must also be satisfied that the person intentionally acted dishonestly in order to gain the citizenship status.

(5) Omit section 40A(2)(b) and (c).

2. Reinstatement of citizenship

(1) The citizenship status of any person (P) who has previously had their citizenship status deprived under any enactment or power has their citizenship status revived unless either subsection (2) or subsection (3) applies.

(1) The citizenship status of any person (P) who has previously had their citizenship status deprived under any enactment or power has their citizenship status revived unless either subsection (2), subsection (3) or subsection (4) applies.

(1) The citizenship status of any person (P) who has previously had their citizenship status deprived under any enactment or power has their citizenship status revived unless either subsection (2) or subsection (3) applies.

(2) This subsection applies if P's citizenship status was deprived for a reason that remains permitted under the British Nationality Act 1981 as amended by previous enactments and this Act.

(3) This subsection applies if the revival of the citizenship status would result in P losing citizenship of, or residency or other leave to remain in, any country other than the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

4) The person having had their citizenship revoked for reasons of national security holds citizenship in a country that is a safe and viable alternative.

(4)(5) But if subsection (1) does not apply because of subsection (3) only, P may notify the Secretary of State that they wish to have their citizenship status revived and subsection (3) will not apply on the issuing of such notice.

(5)(6) The effect of revival is that P is treated as if their citizenship status was never deprived.

(6)(7) But this section does not prevent the Secretary of State from subsequently depriving a person of citizenship status that was revived under this Act in accordance with the British Nationality Act 1981.

3. Commencement, extent and short title

(1) This Act comes into force on the day on which it is passed.

(1) Section 1 and this section come into force on the day on which this Act is passed.

(2) Section 2 comes into force at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

(3) This Act extends to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

(4) This Act may be cited as the British Nationality (Amendment) (Inviolability) Act 2024.

Referenced legislation

• British Nationality Act 1981

This Bill was written by the Right Honourable Duke of the Fenlands OM GCMG KCT CB MVO, on behalf of the Labour and Co-operative Party.

Opening Speech

Deputy Speaker,

Citizenship is, I am sure, something that we all value in this House. It provides a foundation for our great nation. It establishes our duties to one another — to protect each other and to look out for each other. And it provides us with our identity.

Under the current law, it is possible for a citizenship to be deprived if the Secretary of State believes it is "conducive to the public good". There is no requirement other than that. It is only necessary for the Secretary of State to be satisfied of that fact. Therefore, challenging such a decision would be difficult under the traditional Wednesbury unreasonableness formulation.

We have a clear system for dealing with people who fail to meet their duties that citizenship entails. That is the criminal justice system. The aim is to rehabilitate someone so that they can slot back into society and further it rather than work against it.

Citizenship deprivation does not do that. It is the nuclear option. We turn our backs on the person and alienate them, and we encourage them to become even more hostile towards us. We assume that another country will take on the burden of bringing them to justice, to rehabilitate them. But this often doesn't happen, and then we have a dangerous criminal roaming free in the world who now despises us even more. Knowing that does not make me feel safe, Deputy Speaker. I would much rather us leave a door open for those who take a wrong in life to return back to society. To allow for terrorists to be deradicalised. To reduce the risk to every resident of the UK.

One final point, Deputy Speaker. We are also required to prevent people becoming stateless under international law. While the current law does provide some protection against this, the problem is that not every country has a respect for their own domestic law or international law. So while we may believe that a person subject to British citizenship deprivation is entitled to citizenship elsewhere, that country may in fact reject it and the person may not have a good right to appeal it. This would render them de facto stateless. We ought to do everything in our power to prevent that.

I commend this Bill to the House.

Amendment 1 (A01):

Omit clause 2 paragraph (1) and insert in its place:

(1) The citizenship status of any person (P) who has previously had their citizenship status deprived under any enactment or power has their citizenship status revived unless either subsection (2) or subsection (3) applies.

Omit clause 2 paragraph (4) and renumber subsequent paragraphs accordingly.

This amendment was submitted by the the Right Honourable Duke of the Fenlands OM GCMG KCT CB MVO

Lords can debate the amendments until the 18th of April at 10pm BST.

B1664 - British Nationality (Amendment) (Inviolability) Bill - Second Reading

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make British citizenship inviolable and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

1. Amendment of the British Nationality Act 1981

(1) The British Nationality Act 1981 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 40(1) insert—

(1A) Citizenship status is inviolable and may not be deprived by the Crown nor the Secretary of State except to the extent permitted by this section.

(2) Omit section 40(2).

(3) In section 40(4), for "subsection (2)" substitute "subsection (3)".

(4) After section 40(6) insert—

(7) Before making an order under subsections (3) and (6), the Secretary of State must also be satisfied that the person intentionally acted dishonestly in order to gain the citizenship status.

(5) Omit section 40A(2)(b) and (c).

2. Reinstatement of citizenship

(1) The citizenship status of any person (P) who has previously had their citizenship status deprived under any enactment or power has their citizenship status revived unless either subsection (2) or subsection (3) applies.

(1) The citizenship status of any person (P) who has previously had their citizenship status deprived under any enactment or power has their citizenship status revived unless either subsection (2), subsection (3) or subsection (4) applies.

(2) This subsection applies if P's citizenship status was deprived for a reason that remains permitted under the British Nationality Act 1981 as amended by previous enactments and this Act.

(3) This subsection applies if the revival of the citizenship status would result in P losing citizenship of, or residency or other leave to remain in, any country other than the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

4) The person having had their citizenship revoked for reasons of national security holds citizenship in a country that is a safe and viable alternative.

(5) But if subsection (1) does not apply because of subsection (3) only, P may notify the Secretary of State that they wish to have their citizenship status revived and subsection (3) will not apply on the issuing of such notice.

(6) The effect of revival is that P is treated as if their citizenship status was never deprived.

(7) But this section does not prevent the Secretary of State from subsequently depriving a person of citizenship status that was revived under this Act in accordance with the British Nationality Act 1981.

3. Commencement, extent and short title

(1) This Act comes into force on the day on which it is passed.

(1) Section 1 and this section come into force on the day on which this Act is passed.

(2) Section 2 comes into force at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

(3) This Act extends to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

(4) This Act may be cited as the British Nationality (Amendment) (Inviolability) Act 2024.

Referenced legislation

• British Nationality Act 1981

This Bill was written by the Right Honourable Duke of the Fenlands OM GCMG KCT CB MVO, on behalf of the Labour and Co-operative Party.

Opening Speech

Deputy Speaker,

Citizenship is, I am sure, something that we all value in this House. It provides a foundation for our great nation. It establishes our duties to one another — to protect each other and to look out for each other. And it provides us with our identity.

Under the current law, it is possible for a citizenship to be deprived if the Secretary of State believes it is "conducive to the public good". There is no requirement other than that. It is only necessary for the Secretary of State to be satisfied of that fact. Therefore, challenging such a decision would be difficult under the traditional Wednesbury unreasonableness formulation.

We have a clear system for dealing with people who fail to meet their duties that citizenship entails. That is the criminal justice system. The aim is to rehabilitate someone so that they can slot back into society and further it rather than work against it.

Citizenship deprivation does not do that. It is the nuclear option. We turn our backs on the person and alienate them, and we encourage them to become even more hostile towards us. We assume that another country will take on the burden of bringing them to justice, to rehabilitate them. But this often doesn't happen, and then we have a dangerous criminal roaming free in the world who now despises us even more. Knowing that does not make me feel safe, Deputy Speaker. I would much rather us leave a door open for those who take a wrong in life to return back to society. To allow for terrorists to be deradicalised. To reduce the risk to every resident of the UK.

One final point, Deputy Speaker. We are also required to prevent people becoming stateless under international law. While the current law does provide some protection against this, the problem is that not every country has a respect for their own domestic law or international law. So while we may believe that a person subject to British citizenship deprivation is entitled to citizenship elsewhere, that country may in fact reject it and the person may not have a good right to appeal it. This would render them de facto stateless. We ought to do everything in our power to prevent that.

I commend this Bill to the House.

Lords can debate and submit amendments until the 15th of April at 10pm BST.

Written Questions - Electric Vehicles

The Countess Kilcreggan has asked a question of the Secretary of State for Transport under Standing Order 17:

1. To ask the Transport Secretary what measures are currently being pursued to decrease ICE vehicle ownership?
2. To ask the Transport Secretary is the rate of EV charging point establishment at, under, or exceeding expectations?
3. To ask the Transport Secretary will the government be seeking to establish any financial incentive to encourage people to ditch their ICE vehicles in favour of an EV?

The Secretary of State for Transport, /u/Inadorable**, has responded:**

1. There's a broad range of policies currently in law to decrease internal combustion engine vehicles on the road, be that the current levels of fuel duty or the upcoming ban on the sale of new ICE vehicles. There are also incentives for owning electric alternatives: be that existing subsidies and tax benefits or the significant expansion of charging stations across the nation.
2. It's not my policy so I cannot know the exact expectations that the authors of these plans had, but there has certainly been a spike in EV charging points since the relevant legislation was passed by Labour governments.
3. The Government has seen no reason to further incentivise ownership of electric vehicles, especially as significant incentives and subsidies already exist. Costs are continuing to come down for consumers and the lack of serious development of electric vehicles that are more compact and fit for less upmarket consumers certainly adds to this hesitation.

There will now be debate for three days on these answers ending at 10PM BST on the 15th of April 2024.

The Secretary of State for Transport has the right, but is under no obligation, to take part in these proceedings.

B1666 - School Freedoms Bill - Second Reading

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provide Primary and Secondary Schools with comprehensive autonomy over Budgets, Curriculum, Policies, and Local Engagement, and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Section One - Interpretation

In this Act:

(1) "Primary School" means a school that provides education to children between the ages of 5 and 11.

(2) "Secondary School" means a school that provides education to children between the ages of 11 and 18.

(3) "Governors" means the governing body of a school as constituted under the relevant provisions of the Education Acts.

Section Two - Enhanced Autonomy over Budgets

(1) Every Primary and Secondary School shall have the power and authority to formulate and manage its own budget, subject to compliance with financial regulations, statute, and in line with any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

(2) In addition to budgetary control, schools shall have the authority to raise supplementary funds through local fundraising efforts, with the funds being used to enhance educational resources, extracurricular activities, and community engagement.

(3) The Secretary of State must ensure that funding from His Majesty’s Government is sufficient to meet the needs of schools.

Section Three - Comprehensive Curriculum Autonomy

(1) Each Primary and Secondary School shall have the authority to determine its curriculum within key stage one, key stage two, and key stage three (as defined by section 82(1) of the Education Act 2002), subject to the requirement that the curriculum must be broad, balanced, inclusive, innovative, and in compliance with national educational standards set by the Secretary of State.

(2) Schools may collaborate with local industries, universities, and cultural organisations to offer specialised courses, workshops, and experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for future careers and contribute to the growth of the local economy.

(3) Unless a school has an individual curriculum in place, as defined by section 6 of the Exam Board (Reorganisation) Act 2022, they may not vary the curriculum for the fourth key stage, as defined by section 82(1) of the Education Act 2002.

Section Four - Policy Autonomy and Local Engagement

(1) Primary and Secondary Schools shall have the discretion to establish their own policies on matters such as admissions, discipline, attendance, and student support services, in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

(2) Schools shall establish mechanisms for regular consultation with parents, students, staff, the local community, and other relevant persons to ensure that policies are reflective of local needs, values, and aspirations.

Section Five - Quality Assurance and Improvement

(1) Primary and Secondary Schools shall participate in periodic reviews and self-assessment processes to ensure the maintenance of high educational standards and continuous improvement.

(2) The Secretary of State shall provide support and resources for schools to engage in quality assurance initiatives and share best practices within the educational community.

Section Six - Enhanced Accountability

(1) Schools shall produce annual reports detailing their financial performance, academic achievements, community engagement initiatives, and student outcomes.

(a) These reports must be sent to the relevant Local Authority and the Secretary of State within 14 working days of being compiled.

(b) Once the Local Authority and the Secretary of State issue notice of receipt of the reports and confirm there are no issues with the reports as written, schools must make reports publicly available within 28 working days in such a format to ensure as wide accessibility as possible.
(i) Schools may compile multiple of the same reports for the purposes of ensuring accessibility, such as translating a report into braille or into a foreign language, but must ensure the content is as equivalent to the initial report as is possible.

(2) OFSTED, as reconstituted by the OFSTED Reform Act 2023, shall conduct regular inspections that take into account the broader context of the school's autonomy and its impact on student well-being and development.

Section Seven - Implementation

(1) Schools shall have the option to utilise the powers granted by this Act or the option to not utilise them.

(2) Where a school has decided to utilise the powers granted by this Act, they shall consult such relevant persons as necessary for the implementation of these powers.

(3) Schools must, at minimum, consult;

(a) The Local Authority within which they reside

(b) The board of governors of the school,
(c) The Secretary of State, or a person delegated by the Secretary of State,

before utilising the powers granted by this Act, though they are not required to implement the results of the consultation but may do so if they so decide.

(4) The Secretary of State shall ensure that appropriate guidance and support is made available to schools to ensure they can be well informed about the powers this Act grants schools.

(5) Any changes made under the powers granted by this Act may only be implemented at the commencement of the next academic year, unless the next academic year commences in 90 days or sooner in which case they may only be implemented at the commencement of the academic year following the next academic year.

Section Eight - Commencement, Short Title, and Extent

(1) This Act shall come into force one year after receiving Royal Assent.

(2) This Act may be cited as the School Freedoms Act 2024.

(3) This Act extends to England only.

This Bill was written by His Grace the Most Honourable Sir /u/Sephronar, the 1st Duke of Hampshire, and the Rt. Hon. Sir Frost_Walker2017, Duke of the Suffolk Coasts, initially for the 33rd Government, and has been submitted on behalf of the Labour Party and the Conservative Party.

Permission to submit the bill was received.

Opening Speech: /u/Frost_Walker2017

Deputy Speaker,

I rise in support of this bill. Schools require flexibility to deliver and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach that has plagued education for some time. Every student is different, and such approaches risk failing students up and down the country.

This bill gives schools flexibility over their budgets, their policies, and their curriculum. The former ensures they can take the necessary steps to safeguard their staff and students, delivering the best education possible, while the flexibility over policies ensures that schools have the opportunity to focus on what matters locally. The flexibility over the curriculum ensures that schools can deliver a tailored education and play to the strengths of their educators or local area - a school in Leiston, for example, may seek to emphasise engineering (as a future pathway) to make use of the trained individuals working in the nuclear power station in Sizewell, while a school in a manufacturing area may make use of other skills to educate their students. In Staffordshire, schools may demonstrate ceramics in Art classes and hold enrichment sessions at nearby pottery works. This bill frees up schools to pursue deepening local ties in whatever manner fits best with them, and helps bring together communities by developing respect for the local area.

An inevitable criticism that will arise is that this is academisation through the back door. While I don’t wish to get bogged down debating academies, I believe that while the powers this bill grants are similar to academies it is ultimately more successful in its implementation through the oversight procedures granted by local governments. By returning many of the equivalent powers that academies had to schools, and placing it within the accountability framework provided by local representatives, we ensure that communities can appropriately hold their educators accountable. Under the Academy system, communities with schools in multi-academy trusts would have to fight often opaque accountability and transparency policies and discuss matters with a headquarters many miles away from their area.

It is important that we continue to work on delivering a high quality education system, fit for the 21st century. Schools and the education system are the basis for our future, and it is imperative that we treat the institutions and staff with the respect they deserve. Being able to trust them with the flexibility and freedom to innovate means we set our education sector up to succeed.

For all these reasons, and more, I commend this bill to the House.

Lords can debate and submit amendments until the 14th of April at 10pm BST.

B1658 - Responsibility for Safety Bill - Results

There have voted:

Content: 14

Not Content: 6

Present: 5

The Contents have it! The Contents have it! The Final Bill shall now be sent for Royal Assent

B1651 - Glue Traps Bill - Results

There have voted:

Content: 14

Not Content: 6

Present: 5

The Contents have it! The Contents have it! The Amended Bill shall be sent back to the Other Place!

Order! Order!

There will now be questions put to the Government, under Standing Order 16. Questions will be directed to the Leader of the House of Lords, /u/Lady_Aya, however, they can direct other members of the Government to respond on their behalf.

Lords are free to ask as many questions as they wish, however I have the power to limit questions if deemed excessive. Therefore I implore the Lords to be considerate and this session will be closely monitored.

The session will end on Saturday 13th April at 10pm BST.

B1655 - Bottom Trawling, Gillnetting, and Long-Lining (Restriction) (Amendment) Bill - Results

There have voted:

Content: 7

Not Content: 16

Present: 4

The Not Contents have it! The Not Contents have it! The amendments shall be removed, and the Bill shall be sent back to the Other Place!

B1659 - Climate Change Bill - Results

There have voted:

Content: 13

Not Content: 6

Present: 4

The Contents have it! The Contents have it! The Bill shall be sent for Royal Assent!

B1655 - Bottom Trawling, Gillnetting, and Long-Lining (Restriction) (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading

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remove scientific study exemptions for harmful fishing practices and repeal the Bottom Trawling Act 2022.

BE IT ENACTED by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Section 1: Repeals

(1) The Bottom Trawling Act 2022 is repealed.

(2) Section 3 of the Bottom Trawling, Gillnetting, and Long-Lining (Restriction) Act 2019 is hereby repealed.

Section 2: Existing Exemptions

(1) All Existing Exemptions granted under Section 3 of the Bottom Trawling, Gillnetting, and Long-Lining (Restriction) Act 2019 are hereby void.

Section 2: Exemptions

(1) A person is exempt from Section 1(2) of the Bottom Trawling, Gillnetting, and Long-Lining (Restriction) Act 2019 if the purpose is for archival reasons or for usage in museums.

Section 3: Commencement

(2) This Act comes into force at the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

Section 4: Short Title

(1) This Act may be cited as the Bottom Trawling, Gillnetting, and Long-Lining (Restriction) (Amendment) Act 2024.

This Bill was introduced by The Rt Hon Marquess of Stevenage, Sir u/Muffin5136, KT KP KD GCVO KCT KCMG KBE MP MS MLA PC on behalf of the Green Party

Opening Speech:

Speaker,

In 2022, the Conservatives brought into place an ill-thought out Bill to attempt to introduce legislation that covered an already regulated and legislated upon topic. Unfortunately, this House passed that bill into law, a bill I proudly voted against at the time. It is time to repeal that legislation that wastes space in our books, and introduced a duty which the Government duly ignored.

The bill was pointless given we already had legislation on the books from 2019 which outlawed the practices of bottom-trawling, Gill netting and long lining, however it included an exemption that I would argue is wholly pointless, in that it allows for these destructive methods if for scientific research.

This Bill sets up a blanket ban for these practices by outlawing the exemption, and I would urge the House to back this bill.

Lords can debate and submit amendments until the 4th of April at 10pm BST.

B1657 - Financial Literacy Education (State-funded Secondary Schools) Bill - Results

There have voted:

Content: 15

Not Content: 7

Present: 6

The Contents have it! The Contents have it! The Amended Bill shall be sent to the Other Place!

B1658 - Responsibility for Safety Bill - Amendment Reading

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Establish statutory responsibility for road safety on behalf of highway authorities.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Interpretation

In this act—

“Highway Authorities” has the meaning provided by the Highways Act 1980

2 Responsibility for Safe Design

(1) Highway authorities have a responsibility to design and maintain roads, cycle paths and pedestrian paths and spaces according to modern safety standards for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

(2) Highway authorities have a responsibility to design and maintain roads, cycle paths and pedestrian paths and spaces in such a way as to limit or prevent the impairment of the character of a place or area by traffic.

(3) Highway authorities have a responsibility to design and maintain roads, cycle paths and pedestrian paths and spaces in such a way as to limit the following forms of polluting and environmental damage as much as possible;

(a) environmental noise pollution assessed to cause either adverse impact or significant adverse impact to existing residential receivers predating the construction of the road—

(i) adverse impact and significant adverse impact are to be interpreted as defined in BS 4142:2014+A1:2019.
(b) carbon dioxide equivalent emissions;
(c) air pollution in general;
(d) PM10 and PM2.5 fine particulate matter in particular; and
(e) any other pollutant as may from time to time be decided by the Secretary of State.

(5) Any design standards for roads and pedestrian spaces put forward by His Majesty’s Government prior to the passage of this legislation are to be seen as recommendations rather than as legally binding regulations.

3 Liability

(1) A highway authority is liable for damages under this subsection 2(3) of this Act if it cannot prove that it followed the design responsibilities laid out under section 1 of this Act.

(a) A highway authority is not liable if the road design is less than twenty years old and was designed according to the best safety practices of the period.

(b) If a highway authority is not liable for damages under subsection 2(2)(a), it will be liable if a similar accident occurs more than five years after the initial accident.

(2) A court can fine a highway authority up to £5,000,000, with the sum divided in equal part between the victim or the family of the victim and towards improving road safety.

4 Road Safety Research Institute

(1) There shall be an entity known as the Road Safety Research Institute under the Department for Transport.

(2) The Road Safety Research Institute is responsible for the research of practical rules, advice and designs with the goal of making Britain’s roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists whilst encouraging active travel.

(3) The Road Safety Research Institute is responsible for the translation of foreign guidelines and advice to English, and to give advice as to how these can be implemented in the United Kingdom.

(4) The Secretary of State may, from time to time, appoint a chairman to lead the Road Safety Research Institute.

(5) The following types of local council shall be obliged to make a contribution to the Road Safety Research Institute equivalent to £0.893 per resident of the locality, annually adjusted by the change in the Consumer Price Index—

(a) The Greater London Authority;

(b) A Combined Authority;
(c) a metropolitan district council for an area for which there is no combined authority;
(d) a non-metropolitan district council for an area for which there is no county council and no combined authority; or

(e) a county council for an area for which there is no combined authority.

5 Extent, Commencement and Short Title

(1) This Act shall extend to England.

(2) This Act shall come into force on the 1st of January 2025.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Responsibility for Safety Act 2024.

This Bill was written by The Most Hon. Dame Ina LG LT LP LD GCMG DBE CT CVO MP MSP MS MLA FRS on behalf of His Majesty’s 34th Government.

Opening Speech

Deputy Speaker,

Solidarity has long been a party that supports active transportation, but in our advocacy for cycling, walking, safer design and decarbonisation of transportation, we have often run into the issue that many of these issues are rightfully devolved to Britain’s local authorities. This makes sense, because these very important and local issues are best handled by the representatives closest to the people being impacted, with these people held to account for those decisions rather than the accountability being lost in the process of discussing a hundred different topics like we do here in the House of Commons.

Simultaneously, we have to realise that the United Kingdom does not achieve the goals of safety and sustainability that all of us in this House support. Local authorities, given their current incentives and powers, cannot deliver the true change that is needed. The Netherlands, back in the 1980s, faced the same issue: they were no longer able to significantly improve the safety of travel in the country given the same rules. Deputy Speaker, what they did was change those rules and created a system of incentives and legislation that encouraged further progress.

Rules are great, and can significantly improve design. Funds can incentivise communities to use them and invest into projects supported by a majority of the population. But if we want a consistency of design that truly encourages people to use active transportation we have to create a system of incentives that achieves that. In this bill, we are creating those incentives to make our roads as safe as possible. If a local authority fails their responsibility to design things in such a way that people are safe, deputy speaker, they are liable for damages which are then reinvested into the safety of the roads. Simultaneously, we are giving these councils more room to diverge from national standards so they can, indeed, achieve the goals of this bill through experimentation done by the Road Safety Research Institute, as well as practical results from other councils across the nation. The effects will not be immediate, but, Deputy Speaker, in fifty years they will be obvious to all. And that is what we fight for.

Amendment 1 (A01):

In Section 4 subsection 4 replace “The Secretary of State may, from time to time appoint a chairman to lead the Road Safety Research Institute." with "The Secretary of State shall appoint a Chairman to lead the Road Safety Research Institute under an one year contract. The Chairman is subject for review yearly by the Secretary of State.

EN: This will provide clearer language for the appointment of the chairman.

This amendment was submitted by the Rt. Hon. Lord of Bangor.

Lords can debate the amendments until the 3rd of April at 10pm BST.

Weekly Update 2024 #9 - 31st March

Welcome back to the weekly update - the Lord Speaker's way of providing a good weekly record/archive of everything that happens in MHoL - as well as noting community achievements amongst our Peers! If you have something for next week's update, please message it to me on Discord or Reddit (Sephronar)!

Community achievements:

• Happy Easter!
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• The next Working Peerage allocation will be on the 26th of April. Aside from an acknowledgement, you are unlikely to hear any response on your application till then.

Weekly Record:

Monday 25th March

• The Convenor Election - Call for Nominations was posted. No Nominations were received, so this post remains mothballed until a majority of Crossbench Peers called for Nominations to be re-opened.

Tuesday 26th March

• The Results for the Equality (Amendment) (Sunrise Clause) Bill were posted - it passed, and so was sent to the Other Place.

Wednesday 27th March

• The Financial Literacy Education (State-funded Secondary Schools) Bill went to its Amendment Division.

Thursday 28th March

• The Glue Traps Bill went to its Second Reading for the first time in the Lords.

Friday 29th March

• The Responsibility for Safety Bill went to its Second Reading for the first time in the Lords.
• The First allocation of Working Peers for the term was posted - welcome to /u/Baxstar21 and /u/ViktorHr!

Saturday 30th March

• The Climate Change Bill went to its Second Reading for the first time in the Lords.
• The Financial Literacy Education (State-funded Secondary Schools) Bill went to its Final Division.

Sunday 31st March

• The Glue Traps Bill went to its Amendment Reading.

General Information:

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• 21st Term Mastersheet - Click here to keep yourself up to date with what's coming up!
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Lord Speakership Team:

• Lord Speaker /u/Sephronar
• Chair of Committees and Deputy Lord Speaker /u/Yimir_
• Deputy Lord Speaker /u/model-kyosanto

Thank you all for a wonderful week, keep debating, submit legislation, and above all else enjoy yourself! Keep it up!

B1651 - Glue Traps Bill - Amendment Reading

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make certain uses of glue traps an offence, and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows —

Chapter 1: General Provisions

Section 1: Definitions

For the purpose of this Act, the following definitions apply

(1) “glue trap” means a trap which—

(a) is designed, or is capable of being used, to catch a rodent, and

(b) uses an adhesive substance as the means, or one of the means, of capture

(2) “public authority” means any person certain of whose functions are functions of a public nature.

(3) “pest controller” means a person—

(a) who, in the course of a business, provides a service which consists of, or involves, pest control, or

(b) is employed by a public authority to carry out pest control.

(4) An “authorised inspector” is a person authorised in writing by the Secretary of State.

(5) In Section 6(2), “dwelling” includes any yard, garden, garage or outhouse which is used for purposes in connection with a dwelling.

(6) In Section 8 —

(a) “director”, in relation to a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of the body corporate;

(b) “senior officer”, in relation to a body corporate, means a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate.

Chapter 2: Glue Traps and Licenses

Section 2: Offences relating to glue traps in England

(1) A person who sets a glue trap in England for the purpose of catching a rodent commits an offence.

(2) A person who sets a glue trap in England in a manner which gives rise to a risk that a rodent will become caught in the glue trap commits an offence.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if the glue trap is set under, and in accordance with the terms of, a glue trap licence (see section 3).

(4) A person who knowingly causes or permits an offence to be committed under subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence.

(5) A person commits an offence if the person—

(a) finds a glue trap in England that has been set in a manner which gives rise to a risk that a rodent will become caught in the glue trap, and

(b) without reasonable excuse, fails to ensure that the glue trap no longer gives rise to such a risk.

(6) If the person reasonably believes that the glue trap was set under, and in accordance with the terms of, a glue trap licence, the person has a reasonable excuse for the purposes of subsection (5)(b).

(7) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1), (2) or (4) is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine (or both).

(8) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (5) is liable on summary conviction to a fine.

(9) In relation to an offence committed before section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force, the reference in subsection (7) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to six months.

(10) The court by which a person is convicted of an offence under this section—

(a) must order the person to forfeit any glue trap in the person’s possession or control which has been used in the course of, or in connection with, that offence, and

(b) may order the person to forfeit any other glue trap in the person’s possession or control.

Section 3: Glue trap licences

(1) The Secretary of State may grant a licence under this section (a “glue trap licence”) authorising a pest controller specified or described in the licence to engage in conduct, for the purpose of preserving public health or public safety, which would otherwise amount to an offence under section 2(1) or (2).

(2) The Secretary of State may not grant a glue trap licence for a purpose mentioned in subsection (1), unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that, as regards that purpose, there is no other satisfactory solution.

(3) A glue trap licence—

(a) may be, to any degree, general or specific,

(b) may be granted to all pest controllers, a class of pest controllers or a particular pest controller (whether or not on an application from the controller or controllers concerned),
(c) may be subject to any conditions specified in the licence,
(d) may be modified or revoked at any time by the Secretary of State (whether or not on an application from the controller or controllers authorised by the licence), and
(e) subject to paragraph (d), is to be valid for the period specified in the licence.

(4) The Secretary of State may require an application for the grant or modification of a glue trap licence, or of a glue trap licence of a particular description, to be made in such form, and to be accompanied by such documentation or information, as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(5) The Secretary of State may by regulations—

(a) make provision for, or in connection with, the charging of fees or other charges in relation to an application for the grant or modification of a glue trap licence (and such fees or other charges may be set by reference to any costs incurred, or expected to be incurred, by the Secretary of State or a public authority in connection with this section or section 5, including costs unconnected with the application);

(b) make provision for, or in connection with, appeals in respect of—
(i) a decision to refuse an application for the grant or modification of a glue trap licence;
(ii) a decision to modify or revoke a glue trap licence.

(6) Regulations under subsection (5)(b) may, in particular, include provision about—

(a) the grounds upon which an appeal may be made;

(b) when an appeal may be made;
(c) the court, tribunal or other person who is to determine the appeal;
(d) the procedure for making, or determining, an appeal.

(7) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for, or in connection with, the delegation of a function of the Secretary of State under this section (including a function involving the exercise of a discretion) to any public authority which the Secretary of State considers to be competent to exercise the function concerned.

(8) Regulations under subsection (7) may not delegate a power to make regulations.

(9) Regulations under this section—

(a) are to be made by statutory instrument;

(b) may make consequential, supplementary, incidental, transitory, transitional or saving provision.

(10) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section shall be subject to affirmative procedure.

Section 4: Offences in connection with licences

(1) A person commits an offence if, in connection with an application for the grant or modification of a glue trap licence, the person—

(a) makes a statement or representation, or provides a document or information, which the person knows to be false in a material particular, or

(b) recklessly makes a statement or representation, or provides a document or information, which is false in a material particular.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine (or both).

(3) In relation to an offence committed before section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force, the reference in subsection (2) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to six months.

Chapter 3: Enforcement

Section 5: Enforcement Powers of Constables

(1) If a competent authority is satisfied by information on oath that —

(a) there are reasonable grounds for believing that an offence under Section 2 is being or has been committed, and

(b) evidence of the offence, or any glue trap which may be liable to be forfeited under Section 2(10), may be found on any premises, the competent authority may grant a warrant to any constable to enter and search those premises, if necessary using reasonable force, for the purpose of exercising a power conferred by subsection (2).

(2) After a constable has entered premises under subsection (1), the constable may seize and detain for the purposes of proceedings under this Act—

(a) anything the constable reasonably believes to be evidence of the offence, or

(b) any glue trap which may be liable to be forfeited under Section 2(10).

(3) A constable may, for the purpose of assisting the constable in exercising a power conferred by subsection (2), when entering premises under subsection (1), take with them—

(a) any other person, and

(b) any equipment or materials.

Section 6: Enforcement Powers of Authorised Inspectors

(1) An authorisation under Section 1(4) is subject to any conditions or limitations specified in it.

(2) An authorised inspector may, at any reasonable time, enter and inspect premises (other than a dwelling) occupied by any pest controller who is authorised by a glue trap licence, for the purposes of—

(a) verifying any statement or representation made, or document or information provided, by the pest controller in connection with an application for the grant or modification of a glue trap licence, or

(b) ascertaining whether any condition to which a glue trap licence is subject has been complied with.

(3) An authorised inspector must produce evidence of the inspector’s authorisation under Section 1(4) before entering any premises under subsection (2), if requested to do so by a person entitled to be on the premises.

(4) After an inspector has entered any premises under subsection (2), the inspector may for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(a) or (b)—

(a) inspect any document, record or other thing found on the premises;

(b) take a sample from anything found on the premises;
(c) question any person on the premises;
(d) require any person on the premises to give the inspector such assistance as is reasonable in the circumstances;
(e) take a photograph or video recording of anything that is found on the premises;
(f) take copies of any document or record on the premises (in whatever form it is held);
(g) require information stored in an electronic form and accessible from the premises to be produced in a form in which it can be taken away and in which it is visible and legible or from which it can readily be produced in a visible and legible form;
(h) seize and detain anything which the inspector reasonably believes to be evidence of the commission of an offence under section 4 or non-compliance with any condition to which a glue trap licence is subject.

(5) Subsection (4)(h) does not include power to seize an item which the person exercising the power has reasonable grounds for believing to be subject to legal privilege (within the meaning of section 10 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984).

(6) The inspector must, on request, provide a record of anything that is seized under subsection (4)(h) to any person who—

(a) is an occupier of the premises, or

(b) has possession or control of the thing seized immediately before its seizure.

(7) Anything which has been seized in the exercise of a power under subsection (4)(h) may be retained so long as is necessary in all the circumstances, including in particular—

(a) for use as evidence in proceedings under this Act, or

(b) for forensic examination or for investigation in connection with an offence under this Act.

(8) But nothing may be retained for either of the purposes mentioned in subsection (7) if a photograph, video recording or a copy would be sufficient for that purpose.

(9) The authorised inspector may, for the purpose of assisting the inspector in exercising any of the powers conferred by subsection (4), when entering premises under subsection (2) take with them—

(a) any other person, and

(b) any equipment or materials.

(10) A person taken onto premises under subsection (9) may exercise any power conferred by subsection (4) if the person is in the company, and under the supervision, of the inspector.

Section 7: Offences in connection with authorised inspectors

(1) A person who intentionally obstructs an authorised inspector acting in the exercise of powers conferred by section 6 commits an offence.

(2) A person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement for assistance reasonably made under section 6(4)(d) commits an offence.

(3) A person who, with intent to deceive, falsely pretends to be an authorised inspector commits an offence.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (3) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine (or both);

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine (or both).

**Section 8: Offences by bodies corporate

(1) This section applies if an offence under this Act is committed by a body corporate.

(2) If the offence is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—

(a) a senior officer of the body corporate, or

(b) a person purporting to act in such a capacity, the senior officer or person (as well as the body corporate) is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Chapter 4: Final Provisions

Section 9: Extent, Commencement, and Short Title

(1) This Act extends to England.

(2) The provisions of this Act shall come into force the day this Act is passed, and has received Royal Assent.

(3) This Act may be cited as the ‘Glue Traps Act’.

This Bill was submitted by The Right Honourable Lord Inverness spokesperson for Home Affairs and Justice on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, with contributions from the Honourable Lady u/Waffel-lol LT CMG MP for Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire, and Spokesperson for Business, Trade & Innovation, and Energy & Net-Zero.

Referenced and Inspired Legislation

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

Criminal Justice Act 2003

Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022

Opening Speech:

Deputy Speaker,

As various animal rights groups state, glue traps are one of the most cruel ways of killing an animal, often leading to innocent and unsuspecting animals caught and killed by them. A glue trap is a small board made of cardboard, fiberboard, or plastic that’s coated with a sticky adhesive. It can ensnare any small animal who wanders across or lands on its surface. Animals trapped in the glue panic and struggle, which causes them to become even more helplessly stuck. Often, the glue tears off their fur, feathers, or skin. Some break bones or even chew off their own limbs in a desperate attempt to escape. It is because of this indiscriminate nature of the traps which is why stringent regulation is necessary to bring caution and protect our wildlife and even pets from these traps.

The issue with glue traps goes even further, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warns against glue traps due to their ability of increasing public exposure to disease due to animals trapped still producing harmful waste that includes pathogens and bacteria. Not to even mention the effects such glue can have on habitats and the natural environment when used in concentration.

Following the lead of nations such as Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Iceland, Ireland and New Zealand, we are proud to bring forward a Bill that criminalises the indiscriminate use of glue traps, making them an offence whilst introducing greater regulations against the practice. We of course recognise their necessity in limited situations hence the need for licenses at the discretion of the Secretary of State but for the most part, these traps should not be without stringent limits.

Committed to protecting our environment and wildlife, the Liberal Democrats urge members to support this common sensed policy and prevent further damage to our wildlife and environment.

Amendment 1 (A01):

In clause 2, leave out paragraphs (5), (6), and (8).

EN: This stops a failure to remove glue traps from being a criminal offence.

This Amendment was submitted by His Grace the Duke of the Fenlands.

Amendment 2 (A02):

In clause 2, leave out paragraph (9).

EN: This does not appear to be relevant as it applies to offences existing before the 2003 Act.

This Amendment was submitted by His Grace the Duke of the Fenlands.

Amendment 3 (A03):

Strike Section 3(2)

EN: Allows for greater flexibility in granting licenses

This Amendment was submitted by His Grace the Duke of Kearton.

Amendment 4 (A04):

Remove Section 3(5)(a)

EN: the fewer random fees we impose on businesses the better

This Amendment was submitted by His Grace the Duke of Kearton.

Amendment 5 (A05):

In Section 4 (2) substitute "51" with "4"

EN: almost a year's prison for setting a mouse trap?

This Amendment was submitted by His Grace the Duke of Kearton.

Amendment 6 (A06):

Replace Section 9(2) with "This act comes into force 3 months after Royal Assent"

EN: gives time for people to remove traps from their premises and businesses to put in place new procedures.

This Amendment was submitted by His Grace the Duke of Kearton.

Lords can debate the amendments until the 2nd of April at 10pm BST.

B1659 - Climate Change Bill - Second Reading

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make provision about targets for the reduction of targeted greenhouse gas emissions.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Net zero target

(1) The Climate Change Act 2008 is amended as follows.

(2) For sections 1 to 3 (including the italic heading immediately preceding section 1), substitute—

"The net zero target

A1 Net zero target

(1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure that the net UK carbon account for the net zero target year is at least 100% lower than the 1990 baseline.

(2) The "net zero target year" means the year 2040.

(3) “The 1990 baseline” means the aggregate amount of—

(a) net UK emissions of carbon dioxide for that year, and

(b) net UK emissions of each of the other targeted greenhouse gases for the year that is the base year for that gas.

A2 Amendment of net zero target year or baseline year

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend section A1—

(a) to provide for a different year to be the net zero target year, or

(b) to provide for a different year to be the baseline year.

(2) The power in subsection (1) may only be exercised—

(a) if it appears to the Secretary of State that—

(i) scientific knowledge about climate change, or

(ii) European or international law or policy,

make it appropriate to do so, or

(b) in connection with the making of an order under section 24 (designation of further greenhouse gases as targeted greenhouse gases).

(3) Regulations under subsection (1)(b) may make consequential amendments of other references in this Act to the baseline year.

(4) Regulations under this section are subject to affirmative resolution procedure.

A3 Consultation on amending net zero target year or baseline year

(1) Before laying before Parliament a draft of a statutory instrument containing regulations under section A2, the Secretary of State must—

(a) obtain, and take into account, the advice of the Committee on Climate Change, and

(b) take into account any representations made by the other national authorities.

(2) The Committee must, at the time it gives its advice to the Secretary of State, send a copy to the other national authorities.

(3) As soon as is reasonably practicable after giving its advice to the Secretary of State, the Committee must publish that advice in such manner as it considers appropriate.

(4) The Secretary of State may proceed to lay such a draft statutory instrument before Parliament without having received a national authority's representations if the authority does not provide them before the end of the period of three months beginning with the date the Committee's advice was sent to the authority.

(5) At the same time as laying such a draft statutory instrument before Parliament, the Secretary of State must publish a statement setting out whether and how the regulations take account of any representations made by the other national authorities.

(6) If the regulations make provision different from that recommended by the Committee, the Secretary of State must also publish a statement setting out the reasons for that decision.

(7) A statement under this section may be published in such manner as the Secretary of State thinks fit.".

(2) For section 33, substitute—

"32A Advice on net zero target year

(1) It is the duty of the Committee to advise the Secretary of State on—

(a) whether the net zero target year specified in section A1(2) (the net zero target year) should be amended, and

(b) if so, what the amended net zero target should be.

(2) Advice given by the Committee under this section must also contain the reasons for that advice.

(3) The Committee must, at the time it gives its advice under this section to the Secretary of State, send a copy to the other national authorities.

(4) As soon as is reasonably practicable after giving its advice to the Secretary of State, the Committee must publish that advice in such manner as it considers appropriate.".

2 Target to improve energy efficiency of buildings

(1) The Building Regulations 2010 are amended as follows.

(2) After regulation 27, insert—

"Minimum energy performance requirements for existing buildings

27A.—(1) The Secretary of State shall, from time to time, approve minimum energy performance requirements for existing buildings, in the form of target CO₂ emission rates, which shall be based upon the methodology approved pursuant to regulation 24.

(2) The minimum energy performance requirements must include a date no less than one year after the Secretary of State has approved the requirements on which the requirements are to come into force.

(3) The minimum energy performance requirements must include a target of zero CO₂ emission rates.

(4) The target referred to in paragraph (3) comes into force on the building decarbonisation target date.

(5) The building decarbonisation target date is the 1st of January 2040.

(6) The Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument amend paragraph (5) to provide for a different date to be the building decarbonisation target date.

(6) The power in paragraph (6) may only be exercised if it appears to the Secretary of State that—

(i) scientific knowledge about climate change, or

(ii) European or international law or policy,

make it appropriate to do so.

(7) A statutory instrument containing regulations under paragraph (6) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the House of Commons.

(8) An existing building shall not exceed the target CO₂ emission rate for the building pursuant to this regulation.

(9) In this regulation, "existing building" means a building which was erected before the minimum energy performance requirements came into force.".

3 Minor and consequential amendments

The Schedule makes minor and consequential amendments.

4 Extent

(1) Section 2 of this Act extends to England.

(2) The other provisions of this Act extend to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

5 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day on which it is passed.

6 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Climate Change Act 2024.

SCHEDULE

MINOR AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

Consequential amendments to the Climate Change Act 2008

1 (1) The Climate Change Act 2008 is amended as follows.

(2) For section 5(1)(b), substitute—

"(b) for the budgetary period including the net zero target year, must be such that the annual equivalent of the carbon budget for the period is lower than the 1990 baseline by at least the percentage specified in section A1;"

(3) In section 8(2)(a), for "1 (the target for 2050)", substitute "A1 (the net zero target)".

(4) In section 13(2)(a), for "1 (the target for 2050)", substitute "A1 (the net zero target)".

(5) In section 15(1)(a), for "1(1) (the target for 2050)", substitute "A1 (the net zero target)".

(6) For section 20, substitute—

"19A Final statement for net zero target year

(1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament in respect of the net zero target year a statement containing the following information.

(2) In respect of each targeted greenhouse gas, it must state the amount for that year of UK emissions, UK removals and net UK emissions of that gas.

That is the amount stated for that year in respect of that gas under section 16 (annual statement of UK emissions).

(3) It must—

(a) state the amount of carbon units that have been credited to or debited from the net UK carbon account for the year, and

(b) give details of the number and type of those carbon units.

(4) It must state the amount of the net UK carbon account for that year.

(5) Whether the target in section A1 has been met shall be determined by reference to the figures given in the statement laid before Parliament under this section.

(6) If the target has not been met, the statement must explain why it has not been met.

(7) The statement required by this section must be laid before Parliament not later than 3 years after the net zero target year.

(8) The Secretary of State must send a copy of the statement to the other national authorities."

(7) In section 36(1)(a), for "1(1) (the target for 2050)", substitute "A1 (the net zero target)".

(8) For section 41(2)(b), substitute—

"(aa) section 32A (advice on net zero target year)".

(9) For section 42(2)(b), substitute—

"(aa) section 32A (advice on net zero target year)".

(10) In Schedule 1 (the committee on climate change), for paragraph 25(2)(b) substitute—

"(aa) section 32A (advice on net zero target year)".

(11) In section 98—

(a) in the second column, in the corresponding place for " “the 1990 baseline” (in Parts 1 and 2)", substitute "section A1(3)",

(b) In the first column, after " “the 1990 baseline” (in Parts 1 and 2)" insert “ “net zero target year” and at the corresponding place in the second column insert “section A1(2)”.

Amendments relating to emissions from international aviation or international shipping

2 (1) Section 1(1) of the Climate Change Act 2019 is repealed.

(2) For sections 30(2) to (3) of the Climate Change Act 2008, substitute—

"(1A) In this section, "Emissions of greenhouse gases from international aviation or international shipping" has the same meaning as “the estimated amount of reportable emissions from international aviation and international shipping” in section 10(2)(i).".

(3) Sections 10(5) to (6) and section 31 of the Climate Change Act 2008 are repealed.

Amendments to the Climate Change Act 2020

3 In the Climate Change Act 2020, sections 2(3) and 3 are repealed.

This bill was written by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, The Rt. Hon. Sir LightningMinion CT CT KT CBE OM OM PC MP MSP

Amended legislation:

Climate Change Act 2008, Building Regulations 2010, Climate Change Act 2019, & Climate Change Act 2020.

Opening Speech:

Mr Deputy Speaker,

In the Paris Climate Agreement, the world agreed to limit the rise in the global temperature to 1.5C since pre-industrial times, and to consequently seek global net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Consequently, as per the Climate Change Acts 2008 and 2019, the UK’s current net zero target is 2050.

The Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres has called for developed nations to accelerate their climate efforts and instead commit to reaching net zero as close as possible to 2040. This bill therefore moves the net zero target year forwards from 2050 to 2040.

A few days ago, I delivered a statement outlining how we will decarbonise electricity generation by 2035. The sale of petrol and diesel vehicles is set to be prohibited in 2030. We have a target to phase out offshore drilling of oil by 2030. This government and past governments have made massive investments into public transport, trains, electric vehicles, and more. Many investments have been made into making our homes and buildings more energy efficient. The new 2040 target is one I am absolutely confident the UK can meet, provided we keep on making the ambitious investments needed to rapidly decrease our greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently, new-build houses and buildings must meet minimum energy efficiency standards. This bill enables the government to set out minimum energy efficiency standards for existing houses and buildings too, and this bill also legislates for a requirement for all buildings to have zero carbon emissions by 2040, in line with the new net zero target.

Following the passage of this bill, the government plans to use this power to set out new minimum energy efficiency standards for existing housing to incentivise the owners of buildings to take the necessary steps to make their buildings more energy efficient, including by making use of government-funded schemes. The minimum energy efficiency standards will be progressively increased up until a zero carbon standard comes into force by 2040.

Buildings which cannot reasonably be expected to comply with these energy efficiency standards, or which otherwise have a good reason to not follow minimum energy efficiency standards, will continue to be exempt, as per regulation 21 of the Building Regulations 2010.

This bill fixes an error in the Climate Change Act 2019. It also repeals a provision in the Climate Change Act 2020 calling on the government to pursue a strategy to end sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2036, which is now redundant as their sale is set to be banned by 2030.

I commend this bill to the House.

Lords can debate and submit amendments until the 1st of April at 10pm BST

Working Peers

CHARLES THE THIRD by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories King Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith To all Lords Temporal and all other Our Subjects whatsoever to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting!

Know Ye that We of Our especial grace certain knowledge and mere motion in pursuance of the Life Peerages Act 1958 and of all other powers in that behalf us enabling do by these Presents advance create and prefer Our trusty and well-beloved (counsellor)–

• /u/Baxstar21
• /u/ViktorHr

to the state degree style dignity title and honour of BARON. And for Us Our heirs and successors do appoint give and grant unto him/her the said name state degree style dignity title and honour of Baron/Baroness to have and to hold unto him/her for his/her life. Willing and by these Presents granting for Us Our heirs and successors that he/she may have hold and possess a seat place and voice in the Parliaments and Public Assemblies and Councils of Us Our heirs and successors within Our United Kingdom amongst the Barons And also that he/she may enjoy and use all the rights privileges pre-eminences immunities and advantages to the degree of a Baron duly and of right belonging which Barons of Our United Kingdom have heretofore used and enjoyed or as they do at present use and enjoy. In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.

WITNESS Ourself at Westminster on the TWENTY-NINTH day of MARCH in the SECOND year of Our Reign.

Welcome to the House of Lords!

So, you're now a working peer, congratulations! As a WP, you are entitled to a Barony within the peerage of the United Kingdom, including locations within Northern Ireland or any of its subsidiary peerages. The location you choose must have a population of less than 50,000, and can't be already in use - check the spreadsheet to see what's in use.

You may be styled as Baron / Baroness / Lord / Lady [of] Place. The “of” in your title is optional and you can choose whether or not to use it. Before participating in debates or voting you must DM me (Sephronar on Discord or here on Reddit) and I will approve your title, then swear in.

Please read the Standing Orders here, as they will help you understand the workings of the House and give you some tools to use in the House. My hope for our new Working Peers is that you enjoy your time in the best House and the new privileges you are entitled to in style and coat of arms, but most importantly that you do the "working" part of your peerage! We will conduct monthly activity reviews and will not stand for inactivity.

The next Working Peer allocation and the first Activity Review of the term shall be on the 26th of April.

Also, feel free to join the House of Lords Discord here.

Before participating in debates or voting you must have your title approved by myself first and then you can swear in - Sephronar on both Reddit and Discord.

B1658 - Responsibility for Safety Bill - Second Reading

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BILL

TO

Establish statutory responsibility for road safety on behalf of highway authorities.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Interpretation

In this act—

“Highway Authorities” has the meaning provided by the Highways Act 1980

2 Responsibility for Safe Design

(1) Highway authorities have a responsibility to design and maintain roads, cycle paths and pedestrian paths and spaces according to modern safety standards for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

(2) Highway authorities have a responsibility to design and maintain roads, cycle paths and pedestrian paths and spaces in such a way as to limit or prevent the impairment of the character of a place or area by traffic.

(3) Highway authorities have a responsibility to design and maintain roads, cycle paths and pedestrian paths and spaces in such a way as to limit the following forms of polluting and environmental damage as much as possible;

(a) environmental noise pollution assessed to cause either adverse impact or significant adverse impact to existing residential receivers predating the construction of the road—

(i) adverse impact and significant adverse impact are to be interpreted as defined in BS 4142:2014+A1:2019.

(b) carbon dioxide equivalent emissions;

(c) air pollution in general;

(d) PM10 and PM2.5 fine particulate matter in particular; and

(e) any other pollutant as may from time to time be decided by the Secretary of State.

(5) Any design standards for roads and pedestrian spaces put forward by His Majesty’s Government prior to the passage of this legislation are to be seen as recommendations rather than as legally binding regulations.

3 Liability

(1) A highway authority is liable for damages under this subsection 2(3) of this Act if it cannot prove that it followed the design responsibilities laid out under section 1 of this Act.

(a) A highway authority is not liable if the road design is less than twenty years old and was designed according to the best safety practices of the period.

(b) If a highway authority is not liable for damages under subsection 2(2)(a), it will be liable if a similar accident occurs more than five years after the initial accident.

(2) A court can fine a highway authority up to £5,000,000, with the sum divided in equal part between the victim or the family of the victim and towards improving road safety.

4 Road Safety Research Institute

(1) There shall be an entity known as the Road Safety Research Institute under the Department for Transport.

(2) The Road Safety Research Institute is responsible for the research of practical rules, advice and designs with the goal of making Britain’s roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists whilst encouraging active travel.

(3) The Road Safety Research Institute is responsible for the translation of foreign guidelines and advice to English, and to give advice as to how these can be implemented in the United Kingdom.

(4) The Secretary of State may, from time to time, appoint a chairman to lead the Road Safety Research Institute.

(5) The following types of local council shall be obliged to make a contribution to the Road Safety Research Institute equivalent to £0.893 per resident of the locality, annually adjusted by the change in the Consumer Price Index—

(a) The Greater London Authority;

(b) A Combined Authority;

(c) a metropolitan district council for an area for which there is no combined authority;

(d) a non-metropolitan district council for an area for which there is no county council and no combined authority; or

(e) a county council for an area for which there is no combined authority.

5 Extent, Commencement and Short Title

(1) This Act shall extend to England.

(2) This Act shall come into force on the 1st of January 2025.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Responsibility for Safety Act 2024.

This Bill was written by The Most Hon. Dame Ina LG LT LP LD GCMG DBE CT CVO MP MSP MS MLA FRS on behalf of His Majesty’s 34th Government.

Opening Speech

Deputy Speaker,

Solidarity has long been a party that supports active transportation, but in our advocacy for cycling, walking, safer design and decarbonisation of transportation, we have often run into the issue that many of these issues are rightfully devolved to Britain’s local authorities. This makes sense, because these very important and local issues are best handled by the representatives closest to the people being impacted, with these people held to account for those decisions rather than the accountability being lost in the process of discussing a hundred different topics like we do here in the House of Commons.

Simultaneously, we have to realise that the United Kingdom does not achieve the goals of safety and sustainability that all of us in this House support. Local authorities, given their current incentives and powers, cannot deliver the true change that is needed. The Netherlands, back in the 1980s, faced the same issue: they were no longer able to significantly improve the safety of travel in the country given the same rules. Deputy Speaker, what they did was change those rules and created a system of incentives and legislation that encouraged further progress.

Rules are great, and can significantly improve design. Funds can incentivise communities to use them and invest into projects supported by a majority of the population. But if we want a consistency of design that truly encourages people to use active transportation we have to create a system of incentives that achieves that. In this bill, we are creating those incentives to make our roads as safe as possible. If a local authority fails their responsibility to design things in such a way that people are safe, deputy speaker, they are liable for damages which are then reinvested into the safety of the roads. Simultaneously, we are giving these councils more room to diverge from national standards so they can, indeed, achieve the goals of this bill through experimentation done by the Road Safety Research Institute, as well as practical results from other councils across the nation. The effects will not be immediate, but, Deputy Speaker, in fifty years they will be obvious to all. And that is what we fight for.

Lords can debate and submit amendments until the 31st of March at 10pm GMT.

B1651 - Glue Traps Bill - Second Reading

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B I L L

T O

make certain uses of glue traps an offence, and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows —

Chapter 1: General Provisions

Section 1: Definitions

For the purpose of this Act, the following definitions apply

(1) “glue trap” means a trap which—

(a) is designed, or is capable of being used, to catch a rodent, and

(b) uses an adhesive substance as the means, or one of the means, of capture

(2) “public authority” means any person certain of whose functions are functions of a public nature.

(3) “pest controller” means a person—

(a) who, in the course of a business, provides a service which consists of, or involves, pest control, or

(b) is employed by a public authority to carry out pest control.

(4) An “authorised inspector” is a person authorised in writing by the Secretary of State.

(5) In Section 6(2), “dwelling” includes any yard, garden, garage or outhouse which is used for purposes in connection with a dwelling.

(6) In Section 8 —

(a) “director”, in relation to a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of the body corporate;

(b) “senior officer”, in relation to a body corporate, means a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate.

Chapter 2: Glue Traps and Licenses

Section 2: Offences relating to glue traps in England

(1) A person who sets a glue trap in England for the purpose of catching a rodent commits an offence.

(2) A person who sets a glue trap in England in a manner which gives rise to a risk that a rodent will become caught in the glue trap commits an offence.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if the glue trap is set under, and in accordance with the terms of, a glue trap licence (see section 3).

(4) A person who knowingly causes or permits an offence to be committed under subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence.

(5) A person commits an offence if the person—

(a) finds a glue trap in England that has been set in a manner which gives rise to a risk that a rodent will become caught in the glue trap, and

(b) without reasonable excuse, fails to ensure that the glue trap no longer gives rise to such a risk.

(6) If the person reasonably believes that the glue trap was set under, and in accordance with the terms of, a glue trap licence, the person has a reasonable excuse for the purposes of subsection (5)(b).

(7) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1), (2) or (4) is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine (or both).

(8) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (5) is liable on summary conviction to a fine.

(9) In relation to an offence committed before section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force, the reference in subsection (7) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to six months.

(10) The court by which a person is convicted of an offence under this section—

(a) must order the person to forfeit any glue trap in the person’s possession or control which has been used in the course of, or in connection with, that offence, and

(b) may order the person to forfeit any other glue trap in the person’s possession or control.

Section 3: Glue trap licences

(1) The Secretary of State may grant a licence under this section (a “glue trap licence”) authorising a pest controller specified or described in the licence to engage in conduct, for the purpose of preserving public health or public safety, which would otherwise amount to an offence under section 2(1) or (2).

(2) The Secretary of State may not grant a glue trap licence for a purpose mentioned in subsection (1), unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that, as regards that purpose, there is no other satisfactory solution.

(3) A glue trap licence—

(a) may be, to any degree, general or specific,

(b) may be granted to all pest controllers, a class of pest controllers or a particular pest controller (whether or not on an application from the controller or controllers concerned),
(c) may be subject to any conditions specified in the licence,
(d) may be modified or revoked at any time by the Secretary of State (whether or not on an application from the controller or controllers authorised by the licence), and
(e) subject to paragraph (d), is to be valid for the period specified in the licence.

(4) The Secretary of State may require an application for the grant or modification of a glue trap licence, or of a glue trap licence of a particular description, to be made in such form, and to be accompanied by such documentation or information, as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(5) The Secretary of State may by regulations—

(a) make provision for, or in connection with, the charging of fees or other charges in relation to an application for the grant or modification of a glue trap licence (and such fees or other charges may be set by reference to any costs incurred, or expected to be incurred, by the Secretary of State or a public authority in connection with this section or section 5, including costs unconnected with the application);

(b) make provision for, or in connection with, appeals in respect of—
(i) a decision to refuse an application for the grant or modification of a glue trap licence;
(ii) a decision to modify or revoke a glue trap licence.

(6) Regulations under subsection (5)(b) may, in particular, include provision about—

(a) the grounds upon which an appeal may be made;

(b) when an appeal may be made;
(c) the court, tribunal or other person who is to determine the appeal;
(d) the procedure for making, or determining, an appeal.

(7) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for, or in connection with, the delegation of a function of the Secretary of State under this section (including a function involving the exercise of a discretion) to any public authority which the Secretary of State considers to be competent to exercise the function concerned.

(8) Regulations under subsection (7) may not delegate a power to make regulations.

(9) Regulations under this section—

(a) are to be made by statutory instrument;

(b) may make consequential, supplementary, incidental, transitory, transitional or saving provision.

(10) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section shall be subject to affirmative procedure.

Section 4: Offences in connection with licences

(1) A person commits an offence if, in connection with an application for the grant or modification of a glue trap licence, the person—

(a) makes a statement or representation, or provides a document or information, which the person knows to be false in a material particular, or

(b) recklessly makes a statement or representation, or provides a document or information, which is false in a material particular.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine (or both).

(3) In relation to an offence committed before section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force, the reference in subsection (2) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to six months.

Chapter 3: Enforcement

Section 5: Enforcement Powers of Constables

(1) If a competent authority is satisfied by information on oath that —

(a) there are reasonable grounds for believing that an offence under Section 2 is being or has been committed, and

(b) evidence of the offence, or any glue trap which may be liable to be forfeited under Section 2(10), may be found on any premises, the competent authority may grant a warrant to any constable to enter and search those premises, if necessary using reasonable force, for the purpose of exercising a power conferred by subsection (2).

(2) After a constable has entered premises under subsection (1), the constable may seize and detain for the purposes of proceedings under this Act—

(a) anything the constable reasonably believes to be evidence of the offence, or

(b) any glue trap which may be liable to be forfeited under Section 2(10).

(3) A constable may, for the purpose of assisting the constable in exercising a power conferred by subsection (2), when entering premises under subsection (1), take with them—

(a) any other person, and

(b) any equipment or materials.

Section 6: Enforcement Powers of Authorised Inspectors

(1) An authorisation under Section 1(4) is subject to any conditions or limitations specified in it.

(2) An authorised inspector may, at any reasonable time, enter and inspect premises (other than a dwelling) occupied by any pest controller who is authorised by a glue trap licence, for the purposes of—

(a) verifying any statement or representation made, or document or information provided, by the pest controller in connection with an application for the grant or modification of a glue trap licence, or

(b) ascertaining whether any condition to which a glue trap licence is subject has been complied with.

(3) An authorised inspector must produce evidence of the inspector’s authorisation under Section 1(4) before entering any premises under subsection (2), if requested to do so by a person entitled to be on the premises.

(4) After an inspector has entered any premises under subsection (2), the inspector may for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2)(a) or (b)—

(a) inspect any document, record or other thing found on the premises;

(b) take a sample from anything found on the premises;
(c) question any person on the premises;
(d) require any person on the premises to give the inspector such assistance as is reasonable in the circumstances;
(e) take a photograph or video recording of anything that is found on the premises;
(f) take copies of any document or record on the premises (in whatever form it is held);
(g) require information stored in an electronic form and accessible from the premises to be produced in a form in which it can be taken away and in which it is visible and legible or from which it can readily be produced in a visible and legible form;
(h) seize and detain anything which the inspector reasonably believes to be evidence of the commission of an offence under section 4 or non-compliance with any condition to which a glue trap licence is subject.

(5) Subsection (4)(h) does not include power to seize an item which the person exercising the power has reasonable grounds for believing to be subject to legal privilege (within the meaning of section 10 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984).

(6) The inspector must, on request, provide a record of anything that is seized under subsection (4)(h) to any person who—

(a) is an occupier of the premises, or

(b) has possession or control of the thing seized immediately before its seizure.

(7) Anything which has been seized in the exercise of a power under subsection (4)(h) may be retained so long as is necessary in all the circumstances, including in particular—

(a) for use as evidence in proceedings under this Act, or

(b) for forensic examination or for investigation in connection with an offence under this Act.

(8) But nothing may be retained for either of the purposes mentioned in subsection (7) if a photograph, video recording or a copy would be sufficient for that purpose.

(9) The authorised inspector may, for the purpose of assisting the inspector in exercising any of the powers conferred by subsection (4), when entering premises under subsection (2) take with them—

(a) any other person, and

(b) any equipment or materials.

(10) A person taken onto premises under subsection (9) may exercise any power conferred by subsection (4) if the person is in the company, and under the supervision, of the inspector.

Section 7: Offences in connection with authorised inspectors

(1) A person who intentionally obstructs an authorised inspector acting in the exercise of powers conferred by section 6 commits an offence.

(2) A person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement for assistance reasonably made under section 6(4)(d) commits an offence.

(3) A person who, with intent to deceive, falsely pretends to be an authorised inspector commits an offence.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (3) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine (or both);

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine (or both).

**Section 8: Offences by bodies corporate

(1) This section applies if an offence under this Act is committed by a body corporate.

(2) If the offence is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—

(a) a senior officer of the body corporate, or

(b) a person purporting to act in such a capacity, the senior officer or person (as well as the body corporate) is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Chapter 4: Final Provisions

Section 9: Extent, Commencement, and Short Title

(1) This Act extends to England.

(2) The provisions of this Act shall come into force the day this Act is passed, and has received Royal Assent.

(3) This Act may be cited as the ‘Glue Traps Act’.

This Bill was submitted by The Right Honourable Lord Inverness spokesperson for Home Affairs and Justice on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, with contributions from the Honourable Lady u/Waffel-lol LT CMG MP for Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire, and Spokesperson for Business, Trade & Innovation, and Energy & Net-Zero.

Referenced and Inspired Legislation

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

Criminal Justice Act 2003

Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022

Opening Speech:

Deputy Speaker,

As various animal rights groups state, glue traps are one of the most cruel ways of killing an animal, often leading to innocent and unsuspecting animals caught and killed by them. A glue trap is a small board made of cardboard, fiberboard, or plastic that’s coated with a sticky adhesive. It can ensnare any small animal who wanders across or lands on its surface. Animals trapped in the glue panic and struggle, which causes them to become even more helplessly stuck. Often, the glue tears off their fur, feathers, or skin. Some break bones or even chew off their own limbs in a desperate attempt to escape. It is because of this indiscriminate nature of the traps which is why stringent regulation is necessary to bring caution and protect our wildlife and even pets from these traps.

The issue with glue traps goes even further, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warns against glue traps due to their ability of increasing public exposure to disease due to animals trapped still producing harmful waste that includes pathogens and bacteria. Not to even mention the effects such glue can have on habitats and the natural environment when used in concentration.

Following the lead of nations such as Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Iceland, Ireland and New Zealand, we are proud to bring forward a Bill that criminalises the indiscriminate use of glue traps, making them an offence whilst introducing greater regulations against the practice. We of course recognise their necessity in limited situations hence the need for licenses at the discretion of the Secretary of State but for the most part, these traps should not be without stringent limits.

Committed to protecting our environment and wildlife, the Liberal Democrats urge members to support this common sensed policy and prevent further damage to our wildlife and environment.

Lords can debate and submit amendments until the 30th of March at 10pm GMT.