This House of Lords Library briefing provides background information in advance of the second reading of the Bread and Flour Regulations (Folic Acid) Bill in the House of Lords on Friday 8 July 2016.
Bread and Flour Regulations (Folic Acid) Bill [HL]: Briefing for Lords Stages (132 KB , PDF)
The Bread and Flour Regulations (Folic Acid) Bill is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Rooker (Labour). The Bill received its first reading on 23 May 2016 and is scheduled to receive its second reading on 8 July 2016. The Bill would amend schedule 1 of the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 to include folic acid (Vitamin B9) as an “essential ingredient” in flour, with the amount to be added and the conditions of use to be set by the Secretary of State upon advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. It is recommended that women take folic acid supplements when they are trying for a baby and when pregnant (up to the 12th week of pregnancy) as folic acid can reduce the chances of neural tube defects occurring (including spina bifida and anencephaly). However, there have been a number of calls to instead fortify flour with folic acid to better cover unplanned pregnancies and low compliance with these recommendations.
Bread and Flour Regulations (Folic Acid) Bill [HL]: Briefing for Lords Stages (132 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.
