LED Lighting: Health Effects

Lord Robathan Excerpts

Wednesday 28th October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I too very much welcome the new Moorfields hospital which, as my noble and learned friend says, is to open next year. The architecture integrates national daylight with 100% LED lighting. I can assure the House that it has been developed in accordance with applicable net-zero design standards, approvement requirements, technical standards and assurance processes, as I am sure noble Lords would expect. We are seeking confirmation from the trust about any daylighting studies or assessments that have been undertaken as part of the design process. When I get that information, I will be very pleased to write to my noble and learned friend.

[Lord Robathan (Con)]

My Lords, what research is being done on the effects of high-visibility headlights on cars? I am not sure whether they are LED, but they are causing people to have accidents.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The DfT is undertaking independent research and is approaching this with regulatory changes and through international safety standards. The noble Lord raised the question of why glare is a problem. The Which? report on this, published only yesterday, talked not just about brighter LED but the height of vehicles and beam alignment. The DfT has just this week updated driver advice in the Highway Code on this very point, encouraging people to get it checked.