Home Page

Parliamentary Bill

Private Bill

PUBLIC BILL

First reading The Bill is formally introduced to the House, no discussion will take place, only the Bill's title is read out and order given for it to be printed .

Second reading Members of the full House debate on the principles of the Bill and vote on whether it should be passed for consideration by a committee . If the House decides it is not in favour of what the Bill intends to do, it votes against the Bill-and the Bill is abandoned at once.

Committee stage The Bill is discussed in detail, clause by clause, and any amendments are made to it. In the Lords, the committee is the full membership of the House. In the Commons all finance Bills and any Bill of major importance are referred to the Committee of the Whole House for detailed discussion by all members.

Otherwise, a public Bill is discussed by a committee which reflects the political balance of the House.known as a Standing Committee, which must have at least 16 and not more than 50 members, chosen by the Commons Committee of Selection.

Although the chairman of a standing committee does not always belong to the majority party. When particular members have an interest in a Bill, they are generally selected to sit on the committee . It is at the committee stage that the opposition party can voice its objections to a Bill, but any member of the House is entitled to table an amendment at the Public Bills Office. Opponents may make amendments to by to delay a Bill or simply to embarrass the Government. The Government may also decide to amend clauses if outside pressure groups have made representations.

Report Stage The committee reports back to the full House, they may decide to accept the amendments or it may decide to make further amendments or refer the Bill to another committee.

Third reading When the amendments are agreed by the House, the Bill receives its third reading. A member of the House of Commons is entitled to make a verbal amendment at that stage, but a member of the House of Lords is not.

After the third reading, the Bill is sent to the House of Lords where it has to pass through the same procedure.