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Written Question
Electric Bicycles and Electric Scooters: Regulation
Monday 2nd February 2026

Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of illegal e-bikes and e-scooters on the L-Category sector; and what steps they are taking to ensure a fair, safe, and properly regulated micro-mobility market.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department continues to engage with the Motorcycle Industry Association to better understand how the micromobility and L-category sectors interact and can best support people in making the journeys that matter to them in a safe, efficient and cost-effective way.

The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows. This will create safe, legal routes for people to use new transport technology, and help the police to crack down on those who use them in an irresponsible or anti-social way.


Written Question
Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Babies
Thursday 29th January 2026

Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Merron on 16 December 2025 (HL Deb col 661), what estimate they have made of RSV-related hospitalisations among infants under the age of one this season, and how this compares with the 2024/25 season.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The United Kingdom maternal immunisation programme to protect infants started in September 2024 and is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The information requested is not available, however respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospital admission rates in those under five years of age are reported in Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Watch surveillance weekly reports.

Further surveillance data and a programme impact assessment will be included in the annual surveillance report on RSV, due to be published in summer 2026.


Written Question
Hives: Health Services
Thursday 29th January 2026

Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of pharmacy-first protocols and pharmacy-led clinics in the early intervention and ongoing management of chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Chronic spontaneous urticaria is not one of the conditions currently included in the Pharmacy First Clinical pathway protocols. NHS England will continue to keep the clinical scope of the Pharmacy First service under review, including any future service expansion to include new conditions.

If patients do not qualify for the Pharmacy First service, they should still be able to access healthcare advice from their pharmacy. Support for self-care is an essential service that all pharmacies must provide. This can include the provision of healthcare advice, the sale of over-the-counter medicines and, where appropriate, pharmacies must signpost to other providers if the supply of a prescription-only medicine is required.


Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 28 Jan 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

"My Lords, I will speak to Amendments 193A and 193B in the names of the right Reverend Prelate the Bishop of Portsmouth and myself. These amendments are very simple. They seek to address a small technical omission regarding the inspection of multi-academy trusts when they are the proprietor of one …..."
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech

View all Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Division Vote (Lords)
28 Jan 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 156 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 255 Noes - 183
Division Vote (Lords)
28 Jan 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 88 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 16 Noes - 92
Division Vote (Lords)
28 Jan 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 140 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 231 Noes - 147
Division Vote (Lords)
28 Jan 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 151 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 67 Noes - 191
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 27 Jan 2026
Warm Homes Plan

"My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for his very extensive Statement on the warm homes plan today. Does he agree that heat pumps are most effective when paired with insulation? Could he say a little more about what the Government will do to increase insulation in existing …..."
Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick - View Speech

View all Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Warm Homes Plan

Written Question
Food: Labelling
Monday 26th January 2026

Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 15 September (HL10372), what estimate they have made of the (1) initial, and (2) ongoing, costs of complying with the phase three food labelling requirements under the Windsor Framework.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government considered the practical and cost impacts of Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme Phase Three labelling requirements through detailed conversations with industry. However, based on previous experience showing the difficulty of accurately estimating labelling costs due to variability in business practices, we did not seek to quantify Phase Three cost estimates prior to it commencing. The data in the Impact Assessment on the costs of GB-Wide ‘Not for EU’ labelling published alongside the Marking of Retail Goods Regulations provides some context, however.

Businesses have already successfully carried out Phase Three, and we continue to monitor the market and work closely with industry across the United Kingdom to implement the Windsor Framework.