Division Vote (Lords)
3 Feb 2026 - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill -
View Vote Context
Lord Lucas (Con) voted Aye
- in line with the party majority
and in line with the House
One of
186 Conservative Aye votes vs
0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 295 Noes - 180
Written Question
Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Asked by:
Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question
to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of preparedness for a Carrington-class event, in particular whether (1) a warning of an event can be received in good time to act, (2) the people receiving the warning can authorise the disconnection of all grid transformers, (3) the people operating those transformers are aware of that authorisation, and (4) plans are in place to inform the public and ensure access to food and water for the duration of the grid shutdown.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra
- Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Government works with Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC), National Energy System Operator (NESO) and DESNZ to issue early alerts, providing awareness calls as soon as severe activity is suspected and formal storm watches at least 12 hours before impact.
The UK is a global leader in space weather forecasting, MOSWOC deliver 24/7 forecasts to operators, including NESO, enabling timely protective actions.
NESO and industry are developing the Space Weather Industry Protocol to set out how forecasts are received and acted upon to manage electricity system risks.
The Government has robust contingency plans for major disruptions. While no plans exist specifically for a Carrington scale event, any large-scale outage would follow established national arrangements, including public preparedness guidance, Pre-Agreed Written Science (PAWS) scientific advice, and Cabinet Office planning to support access to essential services
Written Question
Monday 2nd February 2026
Asked by:
Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question
to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to start the consultation on the proposed natural history GCSE.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern
- Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We plan to consult on the subject content for the new natural history GCSE this year. The public consultation will be an opportunity to gather views on the proposed subject content before it is finalised.
The Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report and the government’s response were published on 5 November 2025. We are working to ensure the natural history GCSE aligns with the Review’s recommendations, is high-quality, and distinct from other GCSEs such as geography and the sciences.
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 28 Jan 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
"My Lords, I echo what the noble Lord, Lord Crisp, has just said, particularly the thanks to the Minister for the time and consideration of civil servants and the many excellent government amendments in this group that reflect that.
I too think that Amendment 135A and the versions of it …..."Lord Lucas - View Speech
View all Lord Lucas (Con - Excepted Hereditary) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 28 Jan 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
"My Lords, in the spring of 2024, my noble friend Lady Barran was kind enough to allow me to explore what is going wrong with GCSE provision for home-educated people. I was foolish enough to think that the election would be in October, so I never got to the end …..."Lord Lucas - View Speech
View all Lord Lucas (Con - Excepted Hereditary) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 28 Jan 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
"My Lords, I very much support my noble friend’s Amendment 157A. One of the fundamental things that can come out of this register is proper information for Parliament on what is happening in home education, and I very much hope that we will receive that...."Lord Lucas - View Speech
View all Lord Lucas (Con - Excepted Hereditary) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 28 Jan 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
"My Lords, new Section 434A(6)(b)(i) asks the local authority to consider
“that it would be in the child’s best interests to receive education by regular attendance at school”.
But no child attends school: they attend a school. They might attend the school where the noble Lord, Lord Hampton, works—fine—or they …..."Lord Lucas - View Speech
View all Lord Lucas (Con - Excepted Hereditary) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 28 Jan 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
"My Lords, I do not read this amendment in the same way as the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, does, but I will come to that. I start with renewed thanks to the Minister for the time that she and her officials have given to me and thanks to the right …..."Lord Lucas - View Speech
View all Lord Lucas (Con - Excepted Hereditary) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 28 Jan 2026
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
"My Lords, I am thoroughly in favour of Amendment 191A. I have been involved in that sort of situation a couple of times in my life. It makes an enormous difference for someone facing a perilous investigation to have someone beside them to make the points that make it clear …..."Lord Lucas - View Speech
View all Lord Lucas (Con - Excepted Hereditary) 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
Lord Lucas (Con) voted Aye
- in line with the party majority
and in line with the House
One of
178 Conservative Aye votes vs
0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 255 Noes - 183