House of Lords — sitting of 29 October 2026: transcript & video · Polyfact

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House of Lords

29 October 2026

Contents updated on 30 Oct 2026

Formal introduction of the Lord Bishop of Rochester, including the reading of the writ of summons and the taking of the oath of allegiance.

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Introduction: The Lord Bishop of Rochester

37:01

Introduction of the Lord Bishop of Rochester — writ of summons and oath

37:01

Oral questions: Business confidence among SMEs in the AI sector

40:16

Government support and investment environment for AI SMEs

40:16

Question of The Lord Ranger of Northwood on support for AI sector SMEs — initial answer

40:16

Follow-up by The Lord Ranger of Northwood on scale and regional focus of AI investment

41:07

Question of The Lord Clement-Jones CBE on AI procurement for UK SMEs

42:56

Question on open-source AI and barriers to entry for smaller firms

44:22

Question on gender gaps in AI skills, leadership and investment

45:32

Question of The Lord Sharpe of Epsom OBE on energy costs for AI investors

47:09

Question on management expertise and AI adoption in SMEs

47:51

Question of The Lord Patel KT on Isambard supercomputing capacity for SMEs

48:55

Question of The Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate on encouraging private AI investment and academic collaboration

49:50

Oral questions: Impact of the Gwynt y Ddraig Project on civil nuclear employment in Wales

51:00

Gwynt y Ddraig SMR project: jobs, infrastructure and regional development

51:00

Question on the Gwynt y Ddraig SMR project and nuclear employment in Wales — initial answer

51:00

Intervenant 20 — Question on infrastructure and A55 upgrades for the Gwynt y Ddraig project

51:44

The Lord Patel KT — Question on reactor-based medical isotope production

52:58

The Rt Hon. the Lord Foulkes of Cumnock — Question on overruling Scottish opposition to new nuclear

54:42

Intervenant 22 — Question on skills pipeline and local Welsh access to Gwynt y Ddraig jobs

56:20

Intervenant 23 — Question on regulatory barriers and Fingleton review recommendations

57:49

Intervenant 24 — Question on prioritising local recruitment on Ynys Môn

59:27

Intervenant 25 — Question on secure, high-quality and union-recognised nuclear jobs and UK-wide skills

01:00:57

Oral questions: Ofcom's register of categorised services and the Online Safety Act

01:02:30

Scope, categorisation and enforcement under the Online Safety Act

01:02:30

Baroness Morgan of Cotes — Question on Ofcom’s categorisation thresholds under the Online Safety Act

01:02:30

Intervenant 28 — Question on user-number-only categorisation and powers against small high-harm platforms

01:03:11

Intervenant 30 — Question on requiring platforms to act on Online Safety Act risk assessments

01:05:11

Intervenant 31 — Question on Ofcom powers against pro-anorexia forums

01:06:11

Intervenant 32 — Criticism of Ofcom’s effectiveness as regulator

01:07:35

Intervenant 33 — Question on resisting Lords’ will over small high-harm platforms

01:08:39

Intervenant 34 — Question on small high-harm platforms and VAWG strategy

01:09:37

The Lord Clement-Jones CBE — Review of categorisation thresholds based on harm

01:10:37

The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff — Question on AI-enabled children’s toys

01:11:50

Oral questions: Recent aerial bombardments in the war in Sudan

01:12:54

Aerial warfare in Sudan: civilian harm, chemical weapons and international action

01:12:54

Lord Alton of Liverpool — Initial question on aerial bombardments in Sudan

01:12:54

Lord Alton of Liverpool — Follow-up on chemical weapons and UN Secretary-General

01:13:54

The Lord Purvis of Tweed — Question on independent investigations under OPCW

01:16:14

Intervenant inconnu — Question on external support and UAE/UN concerns

01:17:42

Intervenant 40 — Question on justice for atrocities in El Fasher and El Geneina

01:18:59

Intervenant 41 — Question on US-led Quad processes and UK role with civil society

01:20:22

Intervenant 42 — Freedom of religion and humanitarian aid to religious minorities in Sudan

01:21:53

Private notice question: Rosebank oil field and OBR forecasts

01:23:19

Rosebank oil field: development decision, OBR forecasts and climate implications

01:23:19

Lord Moynihan — Private notice question on Rosebank and its inclusion in OBR forecasts

01:23:19

Lord Moynihan — Delay to Rosebank decision and consistency with Jackdaw

01:24:43

The Lord Foulkes of Cumnock — Risk of further legal challenge if decision is politicised

01:27:52

Intervenant 22 — Export share, scope 3 emissions and carbon budget compatibility

01:29:04

The Rt Hon. the Lord Harper — Political override in Jackdaw and expectations for Rosebank

01:29:56

Intervenant 45 — Rosebank, international example and climate leadership

01:30:51

The Lord Carlile of Berriew — Challenge to the description of the process as quasi‑judicial

01:32:27

Intervenant 47 — Effect of Rosebank on the Government’s fiscal headroom

01:33:29

The Baroness Hayman — Overall North Sea decline and delinking electricity from gas prices

01:33:59

The Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle — Environmental risks and marine protected areas

01:36:42

Question of Intervenant 51 on OBR revenue impact estimates for Rosebank

01:37:46

Question of Intervenant 52 on quasi-judicial delay and changing the law for Rosebank

01:38:32

Short break and calling of motion on mediation and conflict prevention

01:39:35

Debate: Mediation, conflict prevention and the UK's role in peacebuilding

01:40:32

Global conflict escalation and strengthening UK support for mediation and peacebuilding

01:40:32

Intervenant 54 — Opening speech on rising global conflict and UK peacebuilding strategy

01:40:32

The Rt Hon. the Lord Redwood — Defence capabilities, deterrence and current wars

01:55:01

Intervenant 58 — UK reputation and the hard‑power value of conflict resolution

02:04:48

Intervenant 58 — Increasing investment and flexibility in UK peacebuilding

02:09:00

Intervenant 59 — Strategic peacebuilding review and the role of the church

02:10:14

Intervenant 41 — Lessons from Colombia and limits of standard diplomatic toolkits

02:18:07

Intervenant 41 — From warlord deals to long‑term civil society peacebuilding

02:24:58

Intervenant 60 — Rebuilding multilateral institutions for global stability

02:27:04

The Lord Campbell-Savours — Reflections on Russia, Ukraine and Western policy

02:33:28

The Lord Campbell-Savours — Proposal for a protectorate settlement in eastern Ukraine

02:39:55

The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon — UK diplomacy, conflict prevention and UN reform

02:41:41

The Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle — Atrocity prevention, Antarctic responsibilities and reparations

02:51:36

The Lord Griffiths of Burry Port — Haiti, UN failures and misuse of peacekeeping funds

03:01:27

Intervenant 67 — Moral voice, dialogue with adversaries and "heart power" in conflict resolution

03:11:35

Intervenant 68 — Mediation, objectivity and the role of the UN in preventing war

03:21:37

Intervenant 69 — Appeal to invest in peace for growth

03:31:30

Intervenant 71 — Religious diplomacy, Nigerian faith leaders and UK support

03:31:36

The Lord Bruce of Bennachie (Liberal Democrat) — Global conflicts, UN weaknesses and a UK peacebuilding reset

03:41:44

Intervenant 73 — UK's role in mediation, UN peacebuilding and defence spending

03:52:15

Intervenant 38 — Government response on UK mediation, prevention and peacebuilding

04:00:27

Intervenant 54 — Closing remarks on UN reform and persistence in peace processes

04:21:38

Vote on the mediation and peacebuilding motion — agreed

04:25:35

Short debate: Community sponsorship and annual refugee settlement numbers

04:26:44

Support, resources and capacity for community sponsorship of refugees

04:26:44

Intervenant 59 — Community sponsorship model, scale and support needs

04:26:44

Intervenant 77 — Scaling sponsorship and removing bureaucratic barriers

04:34:34

Intervenant 78 — Support for the Minister’s forthcoming response

04:40:43

Intervenant 79 — Homes for Ukraine cuts, hosting pressures and visa uncertainty

04:40:50

The Baroness Brinton — Limits of current sponsorship routes, local authority capacity and Hong Kong BN(O) status

04:46:11

Intervenant 82 — Liberal Democrat support with criticisms on scale, resourcing and focus of sponsorship scheme

04:54:07

Intervenant 82 — Closing appeal for a controlled, compassionate and substantial scheme

05:01:34

The Lord Davies of Gower — Questions on caps, costs, local authority consent and vetting of sponsors

05:02:34

Intervenant 84 — Anticipation of ministerial reply

05:09:06

Intervenant 85 — Ministerial response on new safe and legal routes and Homes for Ukraine

05:09:10

Debate: Implementation and impact of Personal Independence Payment

05:19:24

PIP sustainability, fairness and incentives within the welfare system

05:19:24

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington — Opening speech on PIP and disability benefits

05:19:24

The Lord Davies of Brixton — Principles for PIP reform, fraud context and extra-costs focus

05:33:03

The Rt Hon. the Lord Willetts — Resolution Foundation proposals for PIP reform, costs and work participation

05:44:46

Intervenant 93 — Anticipation of ministerial reply

05:57:12

The Rt Hon. the Lord Young of Cookham CH — Timms and Milburn reviews, work incentives and gaming of PIP

05:57:15

Intervenant 95 — Statistics on rising incapacity claims and concerns about incentives and mental health

06:06:53

Intervenant 96 — Comment on changing language around anxiety

06:11:31

Intervenant 95 — Risks of medicalising distress and discouraging work for mental health claimants

06:11:35

Intervenant 97 — Paternalism in disability benefits and need to review PIP criteria

06:14:46

Intervenant 99 — PIP reassessments, assessment quality and role of disabled people in reform

06:19:08

Intervenant 101 — Critique of Labour welfare approach, PIP incentives and disability definitions

06:28:01

Intervenant 102 — Anticipation of ministerial response

06:39:54

M. Seb DANCE — Government response on PIP, Timms and Milburn reviews and welfare sustainability

06:40:03

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House of Lords

29 October 2026

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 Actual start 21:30 House of Lords

Follow its sittings

37:01 - 38:30

Speaker 1

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 the Right Reverend Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Jonathan Robert, Bishop of Rochester, Greeting. Whereas Our Parliament, for arduous and urgent affairs concerning Us, the state and defence of Our United Kingdom and the Church, is now met at Our City of Westminster; We, strictly enjoining, command you, upon the faith and love by which you are bound to Us, that considering the difficulty of the said affairs and dangers impending, waiving all excuses, you be personally present at Our aforesaid Parliament with Us, and with the prelates, nobles and peers of Our said Kingdom, to treat and give your counsel upon the affairs aforesaid.

And this as you regard us and our honour and the safety and defence of the said kingdom and church and dispatch of the said affairs in no wise do you omit. Witness ourself at Westminster the 13th day of August in the fourth year of our reign.

38:30 - 38:42

Speaker 2

I, Jonathan, Lord Bishop of Rochester, do swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.

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