Today’s parliamentary activity in the Lords centred on several private members’ style bills in the Lords Chamber, alongside a package of fresh government statistics and consultations published by departments.
Key points
- Peers considered bills on genocide determination, undercover policing and surveillance, and legal rights for boat dwellers and cohabiting couples.
- The Government published updated road casualties analysis for 2025 and weekly road fuel price figures.
- Ministers opened a consultation on time-limited Community Infrastructure Levy relief in London to support housebuilding.
Main development
In the House of Lords, peers turned to a set of bills addressing sensitive questions of law, rights and accountability. The Conduct of Undercover Policing and Surveillance Operatives Bill [HL] was at second reading, setting out parliamentary scrutiny of how covert policing and surveillance are carried out and supervised. Peers also considered bills focused on genocide determination, and on legal protections for specific groups and relationships, including people living on boats and cohabiting couples. Taken together, the day’s Lords business reflected sustained attention to legal safeguards and the practical rules that affect people’s rights and exposure to state power. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Bills and legislation
- Cohabitation Rights Bill [HL] was also at second reading in the House of Lords, with initial debate on legal rights for unmarried couples living together. [6]
Government announcements
- The Department for Transport published additional analysis for 2025 alongside reported road casualties data for Great Britain, covering personal injury collisions on public roads. [7]
- The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government opened a consultation on draft CIL regulations proposing a time-limited relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy in London to support housebuilding. [8]
- The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero released weekly road fuel price statistics for 20 July 2026, reporting unleaded petrol and diesel prices. [9]
Committee reports
- The Justice Committee published a report on Access to Justice: Legal Aid, examining legal aid as part of the wider access to justice framework. [10]
- The Public Accounts Committee published its 11th report, Unlocking land for housing, focusing on land availability and the risks around housing delivery implementation where public resources and planning decisions may be involved. [11]
- The Home Affairs Committee published a report setting out its work ahead of a pre-appointment hearing for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Authorities, addressing appointment scrutiny for a senior public safety role. [12]
Sources used
- Conduct of Undercover Policing and Surveillance Operatives Bill [HL] — UK Parliament Bills
- Genocide Determination Bill [HL] — Hansard
- Conduct of Undercover Policing and Surveillance Operatives Bill [HL] — Hansard
- Rights of Boat Dwellers Bill [HL] — Hansard
- Cohabitation Rights Bill [HL] — Hansard
- Cohabitation Rights Bill [HL] — UK Parliament Bills
- Reported road casualties Great Britain, additional analysis: 2025 — GOV.UK
- Time-limited relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy in London — GOV.UK
- Road fuel prices: 20 July 2026 — GOV.UK
- 3rd Report – Access to Justice: Legal Aid — UK Parliament Committees
- 11th Report – Unlocking land for housing — UK Parliament Committees
- 1st Report – Pre-appointment hearing: His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Authorities — UK Parliament Committees
Licensing
Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
Last updated
First published on 18 July 2026. No corrections at the time of publication.
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