The House of Lords International Agreements Committee (IAC) has reported for special attention and debate the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, which would create a mechanism to review, assess and determine compensation claims relating to damage, loss and injury resulting from Russia’s internationally wrongful acts in and against Ukraine. The Committee notes that the Convention forms part of a broader compensation framework comprising the Register of Damage, the proposed Claims Commission and a future Compensation Fund. While recognising the Convention’s significance within wider international efforts to address claims arising from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Committee draws attention to the Convention’s current temporal scope, which is limited to damage occurring on or after 24 February 2022, and the absence of an established Compensation Fund or agreed source of funding for compensation awards. The Committee further notes that, although the Claims Commission would provide a mechanism for adjudicating claims, assessing losses and maintaining a record of damage, its overall impact may depend on whether compensation awards can ultimately be funded and paid.

This immigration analysis considers the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee report, Settlement, Citizenship and Integration, following its inquiry into the government’s proposed reforms to indefinite leave to remain (ILR), citizenship and integration policy. The report focuses on what happens after entry: the route to permanent settlement through ILR or citizenship, including the proposed ‘earned settlement’ scheme. The proposals include extending the baseline qualifying period for settlement from five to ten years, longer routes for lower paid workers and refugees, and the retrospective application of the new rules to those already in the UK. The Committee’s majority is critical of those elements, concluding that longer routes would undermine integration and increase poverty, while retrospective change would be manifestly unfair and damage the UK’s attractiveness to migrants whose skills the UK wishes to retain. The report nevertheless accepts the principle that settlement may be ‘earned’ through requirements relating to conduct, language, work and contribution, provided the scheme is fair, evidence-based and supported by an integration strategy.

The House of Lords Library has published a research briefing on the role and accountability of ministers in the House of Lords. The paper outlines how ministers appointed to the Lords support government business, manage legislation and represent departments within the chamber. It explains that ministers are usually drawn from existing peers or appointed by the prime minister to ensure parliamentary accountability. The briefing describes the responsibilities of the leader of the House of Lords, a cabinet member who oversees legislative proceedings and advises on procedure, supported by a deputy leader. It also details the varied functions of other Lords ministers, including recent appointments following the 2024 general election. Further sections examine how ministers are scrutinised through oral questions and debates in the Lords, and the limited mechanisms available to the House of Commons to question secretaries of state sitting in the Lords. The briefing notes ongoing discussions on strengthening accountability arrangements while preserving the constitutional distinction between the two Houses.

The House of Lords Library has published a briefing on House of Lords membership with data on the diverse professional backgrounds of its members. Focussing on members who have held selected positions in public life, the analysis reveals that 21% of current members previously served as MPs, with the chamber including former Prime Ministers Lord Cameron and Baroness May, as well as a number of former Cabinet ministers. The membership encompasses significant judicial experience, including the current Supreme Court President Lord Reed, alongside former Supreme Court presidents and deputies, judges, attorneys, solicitors and advocates general, as well as senior civil servants, diplomats and public officials.

The House of Lords has approved the final amendments made by the House of Commons to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, completing the Bill’s passage through Parliament. The Bill will now proceed to Royal Assent.

The House of Lords' Science and Technology Committee has launched a call for evidence in the context of the inquiry into engineering biology it launched on 2 April 2024. The government defines engineering biology as the design, scaling and commercialisation of biology-derived products and services that can transform sectors or produce existing products more sustainably. The Committee seeks to understand which technologies fall under the umbrella of engineering biology, and what its potential is, particularly in delivering UK economic growth through commercialisation and for improvements to public services. As such, the questions of the call for evidence include what the risks posed to society by engineering biology are and how engineering biology should be regulated. Contributions can be made until 11.59pm on 7 May 2024.

The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has reported the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Agreement between the UK and Australia for information. The Agreement, laid before Parliament on 1 September 2025 with scrutiny ending 30 October 2025, establishes a bilateral framework for cooperation to design, build and deliver the conventionally-armed nuclear-powered SSN-AUKUS submarine fleet for Australia as part of AUKUS Pillar One. The Agreement will remain in force until 31 December 2075 with reviews every ten years, and amendments will be subject to Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 scrutiny. The Committee noted the Agreement creates contingent liabilities estimated at £3-25m relating to reciprocal indemnities between the parties. The framework covers cooperation in production, operation, sustainment and disposal of SSN-AUKUS vessels, including developing necessary personnel, workforce, infrastructure and regulatory systems.

Members of the House of Lords will begin their line-by-line examination of the Automated Vehicles Bill in the committee stage from 10 January 2024. The Bill seeks to implement the recommendations of the four-year review carried out by the Law Commissions of England & Wales and Scotland to set the legal framework for the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles across Great Britain. Members speaking on 10 January 2024 have put forward amendments to the Bill on subjects including adapting roads for self-driving cars, the impact of automated vehicles on the public's driving skills and if users of automated vehicles will require a driver's license. Examination is due to continue on 15 and 17 January 2024, subject to any scheduling changes.

The UK Parliament has announced that the House of Lord has completed its examination of the Automated Vehicles Bill. The Bill seeks to introduce the recommendations of the four-year review carried out by the Law Commissions of England & Wales and Scotland, which will set out the legal guidance for the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles across the United Kingdom.

The House of Lords has completed the committee stage of the Data (Use and Access) Bill, the final day of scrutiny took place on 18 December 2024 and focused on amendments related to children and AI, national security and data privacy risks and AI compliance with UK copyright law. The bill, aimed at harnessing data for economic growth and improving digital governance, has undergone thorough examination over multiple sessions, addressing issues such as protection of children, misuse of AI rules, data mining and processing of personal data. The next stage, report stage, is scheduled for 21 January 2025.

The House of Lords have completed the Committee stage of the Automated Vehicles Bill which will set the legal framework for the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles. The Report stage will take place next and is yet to be scheduled. The subjects discussed included including vehicle testing, safety assessments and how automated vehicles react to emergency service vehicles. Lucy McCormick, Barrister of Henderson Chambers discusses the debate held during the sittings surrounding introducing greater specificity into the Bill versus retaining flexibility by leaving details to secondary legislation, and software updates.

The House of Lords conducted the second reading of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill on 11 December 2024. This Bill proposes to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords and abolish its jurisdiction in hereditary peerage claims. The government contended that the reform is ‘long overdue’ and would complete the work of the House of Lords Act 1999, while opposition members raised concerns about the absence of wider reforms. Key points of contention include the bill's constitutional implications, its timing, and potential impact on the House's composition and effectiveness. Several possible areas of future debate were also highlighted, including the gradual removal of hereditary peers through the abolition of the by-election system, offering some or all of the hereditary peers life peerages on their removal, reducing the overall size of the House, and implementing broader reforms such as mandatory retirement ages or membership time limits, and revised appointment processes.