The Financial Services and Markets Bill [HL] is a wide-ranging bill that aims to reform the way the UK financial services sector is regulated. This briefing provides a summary of the bill’s second reading and committee stage in the House of Lords ahead of its further consideration at report.

The Financial Services and Markets Bill [HL] is a wide-ranging bill that aims to reform the way the UK financial services sector is regulated. This briefing provides a summary of the bill’s second reading and committee stage in the House of Lords ahead of its further consideration at report.

To ask His Majesty's Government why the Prevent programme is not applicable to Northern Ireland; and what plans they have to extend it to there.

To ask His Majesty's Government why the Prevent programme is not applicable to Northern Ireland; and what plans they have to extend it to there.

Letter dated 03/08/2026 from Shabana Mahmood MP to Karen Bradley MP regarding Terms of reference for the overarching independent review in the murder of Sir David Amess. Terms of reference attached as annex A. 3p.

Letter dated 03/08/2026 from Shabana Mahmood MP to Karen Bradley MP regarding Terms of reference for the overarching independent review in the murder of Sir David Amess. Terms of reference attached as annex A. 3p.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of polygraph testing as a tool for assessing and managing the risk posed by terrorist-connected offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of polygraph testing as a tool for assessing and managing the risk posed by terrorist-connected offenders.

Lords statement on the death of Ann Widdecombe.

Lords statement on the death of Ann Widdecombe.

My Lords, no 78 year-old woman deserves to be bludgeoned to death in her own home. The whole House will wish that the search for anyone who may have incited or abetted her cowardly killer will be far-reaching and remorseless and their punishment unbending. To those who sneered about Ann...

My Lords, no 78 year-old woman deserves to be bludgeoned to death in her own home. The whole House will wish that the search for anyone who may have incited or abetted her cowardly killer will be far-reaching and remorseless and their punishment unbending. To those who sneered about Ann...

My Lords, from these Benches, we join others in extending condolences for the death of Ann Widdecombe. The reaction to this tragedy has rightly included tributes from every party and from all sections of society. That is a reminder that, under fierce disagreement, there is a shared commitment to our...

My Lords, from these Benches, we join others in extending condolences for the death of Ann Widdecombe. The reaction to this tragedy has rightly included tributes from every party and from all sections of society. That is a reminder that, under fierce disagreement, there is a shared commitment to our...

My Lords, I am grateful for the contributions from both the noble Lord, Lord True, and the noble Baroness, Lady Doocey. Everybody in this House knows that politics is about beliefs, about standing for things, and about making your views known. No one can deny that Ann Widdecombe did that...

My Lords, I am grateful for the contributions from both the noble Lord, Lord True, and the noble Baroness, Lady Doocey. Everybody in this House knows that politics is about beliefs, about standing for things, and about making your views known. No one can deny that Ann Widdecombe did that...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Hanson of Flint, just referred to the assassination of Airey Neave here in the precincts of Parliament in 1979. It was the day after I was elected in a parliamentary by-election, so some of the horrors we have witnessed in the years that have...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Hanson of Flint, just referred to the assassination of Airey Neave here in the precincts of Parliament in 1979. It was the day after I was elected in a parliamentary by-election, so some of the horrors we have witnessed in the years that have...

I am grateful to the noble Lord and, may I say, he is one of my favourite bleeding-heart liberals as well. But, that said, his point is vital. Essentially, this is about expressing our political differences in a way that understands our basic humanity. Whatever the circumstances, and we cannot...

I am grateful to the noble Lord and, may I say, he is one of my favourite bleeding-heart liberals as well. But, that said, his point is vital. Essentially, this is about expressing our political differences in a way that understands our basic humanity. Whatever the circumstances, and we cannot...

My Lords, I associate myself with the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord True, and thank the Minister for what he said about our friend Ann Widdecombe. There has been much conversation in the media about whether the Government or the police take seriously the protection of those in public...

My Lords, I associate myself with the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord True, and thank the Minister for what he said about our friend Ann Widdecombe. There has been much conversation in the media about whether the Government or the police take seriously the protection of those in public...

I am grateful to the noble Lord for his comments. He will know that Operation Bridger was established and, since 2024, the Home Office has funded a full-time network of national official advisers across all territorial police forces in the UK to bolster the Operation Bridger network. Each officer appointed...

I am grateful to the noble Lord for his comments. He will know that Operation Bridger was established and, since 2024, the Home Office has funded a full-time network of national official advisers across all territorial police forces in the UK to bolster the Operation Bridger network. Each officer appointed...

My Lords, like my noble friend, I pay my respects to Ann Widdecombe and her family. She was an extraordinary woman. Like my noble friend, I did not agree with her, but I respected her. I associate myself with the comments that have been made about respecting politics, and the...

My Lords, like my noble friend, I pay my respects to Ann Widdecombe and her family. She was an extraordinary woman. Like my noble friend, I did not agree with her, but I respected her. I associate myself with the comments that have been made about respecting politics, and the...

I am grateful to my noble friend; I do not disagree with any word she said. Increasingly, threats and views are delivered in an online way. That online way has increased the toxicity of the debate we have in the public forum. We need to ensure that we examine that....

I am grateful to my noble friend; I do not disagree with any word she said. Increasingly, threats and views are delivered in an online way. That online way has increased the toxicity of the debate we have in the public forum. We need to ensure that we examine that....

My Lords, I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe. I have felt for many years that the Government underinvest in the protection of those in public life who face

potential terrorist threats. I realise that there has been considerable progress in recent years, both on...

My Lords, I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe. I have felt for many years that the Government underinvest in the protection of those in public life who face

potential terrorist threats. I realise that there has been considerable progress in recent years, both on...

The noble Lord speaks with great authority about the type of threat that many elected politicians and Members of this House may face, and I bow to his experience and knowledge. We keep this under review at all times; in fact, following the murder of Sir David Amess, my right...

The noble Lord speaks with great authority about the type of threat that many elected politicians and Members of this House may face, and I bow to his experience and knowledge. We keep this under review at all times; in fact, following the murder of Sir David Amess, my right...

My Lords, Ann and I were on totally different sides in the hunting debate, which went on for many hours in the other place. All through that we remained friends, because Ann understood that differences could be respected. She was in a minority in her party on the hunting Bill...

My Lords, Ann and I were on totally different sides in the hunting debate, which went on for many hours in the other place. All through that we remained friends, because Ann understood that differences could be respected. She was in a minority in her party on the hunting Bill...

It is important that we allow people to grieve and express their view on the death of Ann in whichever way they feel appropriate.

I am not going to criticise anybody for laying flowers or a wreath at the site of Ann’s home. That is a matter for individuals to...

It is important that we allow people to grieve and express their view on the death of Ann in whichever way they feel appropriate.

I am not going to criticise anybody for laying flowers or a wreath at the site of Ann’s home. That is a matter for individuals to...

My Lords, I am grateful to put on the record of the House that I met Ann in the early 1980s and we became close friends. We worked together to become Members of Parliament. We debated with anybody and on anything, and she taught me a lot. She was ahead...

My Lords, I am grateful to put on the record of the House that I met Ann in the early 1980s and we became close friends. We worked together to become Members of Parliament. We debated with anybody and on anything, and she taught me a lot. She was ahead...