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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 29 Oct 2026
Online Safety Act 2023: Platform Categorisation

"My Lords, is it not the case that, once again, Ofcom is hopeless, and we need to review its role? Unless we have an effective regulator, things such as this will happen on a regular basis. We need to do something about the poor standard of regulators in this country...."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Online Safety Act 2023: Platform Categorisation

Division Vote (Lords)
28 Oct 2026 - Railways (Interoperability in Northern Ireland) (Convention on International Carriage by Rail) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 - View Vote Context
Lord Watts (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 46 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 20 Noes - 63
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 27 Oct 2026
Meta: AI Development

"My Lords, would not one way of building confidence in the creative industries be for people who have already stolen material to pay some compensation for the things that they have done over the years?..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Meta: AI Development

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 27 Oct 2026
Meta: AI Development

"I am asking why people who have stolen material should not pay compensation to those from whom they have stolen it...."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Meta: AI Development

Division Vote (Lords)
26 Oct 2026 - Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Watts (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 148 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 194 Noes - 155
Division Vote (Lords)
26 Oct 2026 - Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Watts (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 148 Labour No votes vs 1 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 202 Noes - 155
Division Vote (Lords)
26 Oct 2026 - Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Watts (Lab) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 158 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 95 Noes - 165
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 26 Oct 2026
British Steel Business Plan

"My Lords, is it not the case that we had 14 years of no action by the last Tory Government, while it has taken this Government a few months to get a credible plan together? Is it not a bit ironic that a party that did nothing for 14 years …..."
Lord Watts - View Speech

View all Lord Watts (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: British Steel Business Plan

Written Question
Kidney Diseases: Dialysis Machines
Friday 23rd October 2026

Asked by: Lord Watts (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of dialysis capacity in renal units in England; and what steps are they taking to (1) increase early detection of kidney disease, (2) increase home dialysis provision in line with the 20 per cent target set by the Getting It Right First Time initiative, and (3) increase access to pre-emptive transplantation.

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

The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the renal nursing workforce as a distinct professional group. Workforce considerations for specialist areas, including renal services, will be considered as part of the wider assessment of current and future workforce demand and supply through the forthcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan.

The updated Renal Service Specification is progressing through NHS England’s governance and approval processes and will be published in due course.

The Renal Services Transformation Programme sets out high-impact changes which includes earlier identification and management of chronic kidney disease, increasing home dialysis towards the Getting It Right First Time ambition of 20%, and improving access to pre-emptive transplantation. Kidney networks are working with commissioners and providers to implement these changes and increase provision across their populations.

The Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework reinforces the importance of identifying and managing kidney disease at an earlier stage as part of reducing cardiovascular risk and premature mortality.


Written Question
Kidney Diseases: Dialysis Machines
Friday 23rd October 2026

Asked by: Lord Watts (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 renal nursing workforce in England; and what steps they are taking to address workforce shortages and ensure that nursing capacity is not a barrier to patients accessing dialysis, including home dialysis where appropriate.

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

The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the renal nursing workforce as a distinct professional group. Workforce considerations for specialist areas, including renal services, will be considered as part of the wider assessment of current and future workforce demand and supply through the forthcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan.

The updated Renal Service Specification is progressing through NHS England’s governance and approval processes and will be published in due course.

The Renal Services Transformation Programme sets out high-impact changes which includes earlier identification and management of chronic kidney disease, increasing home dialysis towards the Getting It Right First Time ambition of 20%, and improving access to pre-emptive transplantation. Kidney networks are working with commissioners and providers to implement these changes and increase provision across their populations.

The Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework reinforces the importance of identifying and managing kidney disease at an earlier stage as part of reducing cardiovascular risk and premature mortality.