This House of Lords Library briefing provides background information in advance of the second reading of the Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Bill in the House of Lords on 26 February 2016.
Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Bill 2015–16: Briefing for Lords Stages (126 KB , PDF)
The Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Bill is a private member’s bill introduced by Chris Heaton-Harris (Conservative MP for Daventry) and sponsored in the House of Lords by Lord Saatchi (Conservative). The Bill completed its House of Commons stages on 29 January 2016 and received its first reading in the House of Lords on 1 February 2016. It is expected to receive its second reading in the House of Lords on 26 February 2016.
The purpose of the Bill is to promote access to innovative medical treatments by providing for the establishment of a database of innovative medical treatments, and access to that database. When it was introduced in the House of Commons, the Bill also contained two clauses concerning medical negligence which set out the steps a doctor would need to take in order to show that he or she has acted responsibly in giving innovative treatment. These clauses were removed during report stage in the House of Commons. These two clauses were largely the same as those contained in the Medical Innovation Bill [HL], which was introduced by Lord Saatchi in the House of Lords on 8 June 2015 and has yet to receive a second reading.
Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Bill 2015–16: Briefing for Lords Stages (126 KB , PDF)
The bill aims to create a 'smoke-free generation' by banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, alongside other measures to tackle smoking and tobacco harms. It would also further regulate vaping, curbing its appeal to children, while enabling adult smokers to use vapes as a quitting tool. The bill is similar to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which fell at dissolution 2024.
In October 2024, a report from the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee concluded that poor-quality diets were contributing to an obesity crisis in England. It said that successive governments had failed to tackle the issue, and more regulation was now needed. This briefing summarises the committee’s recommendations, the government’s response in January 2025, and reaction to both reports.
On 9 March, the Covid-19 Day of Reflection 2025 took place to mark five years since the start of the pandemic in the UK. This briefing has been prepared ahead of a debate in the House of Lords focused on the support available to those bereaved because of Covid-19. It outlines the help available for families and sets out background information on the Covid-19 Day of Reflection, as well as the UK Covid-19 inquiry.
