36 1he procedure of how a b||| becomes a |aw

8lll sLarLlng ln Lhe Pouse of Lords

llrsL readlng ls Lhe flrsL sLage of a 8lll's passage Lhrough Lhe Pouse of Lords usually a formallLy lL Lakes place
wlLhouL debaLe
llrsL readlng of a 8lll can Lake place aL any Llme ln a parllamenLary sesslon 1he long LlLle (lndlcaLlng Lhe conLenL
of Lhe 8lll) ls read ouL by Lhe Member of Lhe Lords ln charge of Lhe 8lll Cnce formally lnLroduced Lhe 8lll ls
prlnLed
8efore second readlng Lakes place A llsL of speakers for Lhe second readlng debaLe ls opened and lnLeresLed
Members add Lhelr names Lo lL 1he llsL ls publlshed ln Lhe order ln whlch Members wlll speak shorLly before
Lhe debaLe
1he nexL sLage ls second readlng Lhe flrsL opporLunlLy for Members of Lhe Lords Lo debaLe Lhe maln prlnclples
and purpose of Lhe 8lll and Lo flag up concerns and areas where Lhey Lhlnk changes (amendmenLs) are needed
A 8lll's second readlng usually Lakes place no less Lhan Lwo weekends afLer flrsL readlng
1he CovernmenL mlnlsLer spokesperson or Member of Lhe Lords responslble for Lhe 8lll opens Lhe debaLe
Any Member can speak ln Lhe debaLe so Lhls sLage can lndlcaLe Lhose Members parLlcularly lnLeresLed ln Lhe
8lll or a parLlcular aspecL of lL and Lhose who are mosL llkely Lo be lnvolved ln amendlng Lhe 8lll aL laLer
sLages
Second readlng debaLes usually lasL for a few hours buL someLlmes sLreLch over a couple of days
AfLer second readlng Lhe 8lll goes Lo commlLLee sLage where deLalled llne by llne examlnaLlon of Lhe 8lll and
dlscusslon of amendmenLs Lakes place Any Member of Lhe Lords can Lake parL
1he day before commlLLee sLage sLarLs amendmenLs are publlshed ln a Marshalled LlsL ln whlch all Lhe
amendmenLs are placed ln order
AmendmenLs on relaLed sub[ecLs are grouped LogeLher and a llsL (grouplngs of amendmenLs") ls publlshed on
Lhe day
CommlLLee sLage can lasL for one or Lwo days Lo elghL or more lL usually sLarLs no fewer Lhan Lwo weeks afLer
Lhe second readlng
Lvery clause of Lhe 8lll has Lo be agreed Lo and voLes on Lhe amendmenLs can Lake place
All proposed amendmenLs (proposals for change) can be dlscussed and Lhere ls no Llme llmlL or gullloLlne on
dlscusslon of amendmenLs
lf Lhe 8lll has been amended lL ls reprlnLed wlLh all Lhe agreed amendmenLs
AL Lhe end of commlLLee sLage Lhe 8lll moves Lo reporL sLage for furLher examlnaLlon
8eporL sLage ln Lhe Chamber glves all Members of Lhe Lords furLher opporLunlLy Lo conslder all amendmenLs
(proposals for change) Lo a 8lll
8eporL sLage usually sLarLs 14 days afLer commlLLee sLage lL can be spread over several days (buL usually fewer
days Lhan aL commlLLee sLage)
1he day before reporL sLage sLarLs amendmenLs are publlshed ln a Marshalled LlsL ln whlch all Lhe
amendmenLs are placed ln order
AmendmenLs on relaLed sub[ecLs are grouped LogeLher and a llsL (grouplngs of amendmenLs") ls publlshed on
Lhe day
ueLalled llne by llne examlnaLlon of Lhe 8lll conLlnues
voLes can Lake place and any Member of Lhe Lords can Lake parL
lf Lhe 8lll ls amended lL ls reprlnLed Lo lnclude all Lhe agreed amendmenLs
1he 8lll moves Lo Lhlrd readlng for Lhe flnal chance for Lhe Lords Lo debaLe and amend Lhe 8lll
1hlrd readlng ln Lhe Chamber ls Lhe flnal chance for Lhe Lords Lo debaLe and change Lhe conLenLs of Lhe 8lll
AL leasL Lhree slLLlng days usually pass beLween reporL sLage and Lhlrd readlng
1he day before Lhlrd readlng sLarLs amendmenLs (proposals for change) are publlshed ln a Marshalled LlsL ln
whlch all Lhe amendmenLs are placed ln order
AmendmenLs on relaLed sub[ecLs are grouped LogeLher and a llsL (grouplngs of amendmenLs") ls publlshed on
Lhe day
unllke Lhe Commons amendmenLs can be made aL Lhls sLage provlded Lhe lssue has noL been fully consldered
and voLed on aL an earller sLage
AmendmenLs aL Lhlrd readlng ln Lhe Lords are ofLen used Lo clarlfy speclflc parLs of Lhe 8lll and Lo allow Lhe
CovernmenL Lo make good any promlses of changes Lo Lhe 8lll made aL earller sLages
lf Lhe 8lll sLarLed ln Lhe Lords lL goes Lo Lhe Pouse of Commons for lLs flrsL readlng 1he Commons reprlnLs Lhe
8lll wlLh Lhe Lords amendmenLs
lf Lhe 8lll sLarLed ln Lhe Pouse of Commons afLer Lhlrd readlng ln Lhe Lords Lhe amended 8lll ls senL back Lo
Lhe Commons for lL Lo conslder Lhe Lords amendmenLs
llrsL readlng ls Lhe flrsL sLage of a 8lll's passage Lhrough Lhe Pouse of Commons usually a formallLy lL Lakes
place wlLhouL debaLe
llrsL readlng of a 8lll can Lake place aL any Llme ln a parllamenLary sesslon
1he shorL LlLle of Lhe 8lll read ls ouL and ls followed by an order for Lhe 8lll Lo be prlnLed
1he 8lll ls publlshed as a Pouse of Commons paper for Lhe flrsL Llme
1he nexL sLage ls second readlng Lhe flrsL opporLunlLy for Ms Lo debaLe Lhe general prlnclples and Lhemes of
Lhe 8lll
Second readlng ls Lhe flrsL opporLunlLy for Ms Lo debaLe Lhe maln prlnclples of Lhe 8lll
lL usually Lakes place no sooner Lhan Lwo weekends afLer flrsL readlng
1he CovernmenL mlnlsLer spokesperson or M responslble for Lhe 8lll opens Lhe second readlng debaLe
1he offlclal CpposlLlon spokesperson responds wlLh Lhelr vlews on Lhe 8lll
1he debaLe conLlnues wlLh oLher CpposlLlon parLles and backbench Ms glvlng Lhelr oplnlons
AL Lhe end of Lhe debaLe Lhe Commons decldes wheLher Lhe 8lll should be glven lLs second readlng by voLlng
meanlng lL can proceed Lo Lhe nexL sLage
lL ls posslble for a 8lll Lo have a second readlng wlLh no debaLe as long as Ms agree Lo lLs progress
Cnce second readlng ls compleLe Lhe 8lll proceeds Lo commlLLee sLage where each clause (parL) and any
amendmenLs (proposals for change) Lo Lhe 8lll may be debaLed
CommlLLee sLage ls where deLalled examlnaLlon of Lhe 8lll Lakes place lL usually sLarLs wlLhln a couple of weeks
of a 8lll's second readlng alLhough Lhls ls noL guaranLeed
CovernmenL 8llls are usually formally LlmeLabled afLer Lhey have recelved a second readlng
MosL 8llls are dealL wlLh ln a ubllc 8lll CommlLLee
lf Lhe 8lll sLarLs ln Lhe Commons Lhe commlLLee ls able Lo Lake evldence from experLs and lnLeresL groups from
ouLslde arllamenL
AmendmenLs (proposals for change) for dlscusslon are selecLed by Lhe chalrman of Lhe commlLLee and only
members of Lhe commlLLee can voLe on amendmenLs durlng commlLLee sLage
AmendmenLs proposed by Ms Lo Lhe 8lll wlll be publlshed dally and reprlnLed as a marshalled llsL of
amendmenLs for each day Lhe commlLLee dlscusses Lhe 8lll
Lvery clause ln Lhe 8lll ls agreed Lo changed or removed from Lhe 8lll alLhough Lhls may happen (parLlcularly
under a programme order) wlLhouL debaLe
A mlnorlLy of 8llls are dealL wlLh by a CommlLLee of Lhe Whole Pouse (Lakes place on Lhe floor of Lhe Pouse of
Commons) wlLh every M able Lo Lake parL
8llls fasL Lracked Lhrough Lhe Pouse of Commons wlll recelve less conslderaLlon ConsolldaLed lund 8llls do noL
have a commlLLee sLage aL all
lf Lhe 8lll has been amended Lhe 8lll ls reprlnLed before lLs nexL sLage
Cnce commlLLee sLage ls flnlshed Lhe 8lll reLurns Lo Lhe floor of Lhe Pouse of Commons for lLs reporL sLage
where Lhe amended 8lll can be debaLed and furLher amendmenLs proposed
8eporL sLage glves Ms an opporLunlLy on Lhe floor of Lhe Pouse Lo conslder furLher amendmenLs (proposals
for change) Lo a 8lll whlch has been examlned ln commlLLee
1here ls no seL Llme perlod beLween Lhe end of commlLLee sLage and Lhe sLarL of Lhe reporL sLage
All Ms may speak and voLe for lengLhy or complex 8llls Lhe debaLes may be spread over several days
All Ms can suggesL amendmenLs Lo Lhe 8lll or new clauses (parLs) Lhey Lhlnk should be added
8eporL sLage ls usually followed lmmedlaLely by debaLe on Lhe 8llls Lhlrd readlng
1hlrd readlng ls Lhe flnal chance for Lhe Commons Lo debaLe Lhe conLenLs of a 8lll lL usually Lakes place
lmmedlaLely afLer reporL sLage as Lhe nexL lLem of buslness on Lhe same day
uebaLe on Lhe 8lll ls usually shorL and llmlLed Lo whaL ls acLually ln Lhe 8lll raLher Lhan as aL second readlng
whaL mlghL have been lncluded
AmendmenLs (proposals for change) cannoL be made Lo a 8lll aL Lhlrd readlng ln Lhe Commons
AL Lhe end of Lhe debaLe Lhe Pouse decldes (voLes on) wheLher Lo approve Lhe Lhlrd readlng of Lhe 8lll
lf Lhe 8lll sLarLed ln Lhe Commons lL goes Lo Lhe Pouse of Lords for lLs flrsL readlng
lf Lhe 8lll sLarLed ln Lhe Lords lL reLurns Lo Lhe Pouse of Lords for conslderaLlon of any amendmenLs Lhe
Commons has made
When a 8lll has passed Lhrough Lhlrd readlng ln boLh Pouses lL ls reLurned Lo Lhe flrsL Pouse (where lL sLarLed)
for Lhe second Pouses amendmenLs (proposals for change) Lo be consldered
8oLh Pouses musL agree on Lhe exacL wordlng of Lhe 8lll
1here ls no seL Llme perlod beLween Lhe Lhlrd readlng of a 8lll and conslderaLlon of any Commons or Lords
amendmenLs
lng ong
lf Lhe Commons makes amendmenLs Lo Lhe 8lll Lhe Lords musL conslder Lhem and elLher agree or dlsagree Lo
Lhe amendmenLs or make alLernaLlve proposals
lf Lhe Lords dlsagrees wlLh any Commons amendmenLs or makes alLernaLlve proposals Lhen Lhe 8lll ls senL
back Lo Lhe Commons
A 8lll may go back and forLh beLween each Pouse ('lng ong') unLll boLh Pouses reach agreemenL
Cnce Lhe Commons and Lords agree on Lhe flnal verslon of Lhe 8lll lL can recelve 8oyal AssenL and become an
AcL of arllamenL (Lhe proposals of Lhe 8lll now become law)
ln excepLlonal cases when Lhe Lwo Pouses do noL reach agreemenL Lhe 8lll falls lf cerLaln condlLlons are meL
Lhe Commons can use Lhe arllamenL AcLs Lo pass Lhe 8lll wlLhouL Lhe consenL of Lhe Lords ln Lhe followlng
sesslon
When a 8lll has compleLed all lLs parllamenLary sLages ln boLh Pouses lL musL have 8oyal AssenL before lL can
become an AcL of arllamenL (law)
8oyal AssenL ls Lhe Monarchs agreemenL Lo make Lhe 8lll lnLo an AcL and ls a formallLy
1here ls no seL Llme perlod beLween Lhe conslderaLlon of amendmenLs Lo Lhe 8lll and 8oyal AssenL lL can
even be a maLLer of mlnuLes afLer lng ong ls compleLe
When 8oyal AssenL has been glven Lo a 8lll Lhe announcemenL ls usually made ln boLh Pouses aL a sulLable
break ln each Pouse's proceedlngs by Lhe Lord Speaker ln Lhe Lords and Lhe Speaker ln Lhe Commons
AL prorogaLlon (Lhe formal end Lo a parllamenLary year) 8lack 8od lnLerrupLs Lhe proceedlngs of Lhe Commons
and summons Ms Lo Lhe Lords Chamber Lo hear Lhe Lords Commlssloners announce 8oyal AssenL for each 8lll
1he leglslaLlon wlLhln Lhe 8lll may commence lmmedlaLely afLer a seL perlod or only afLer a commencemenL
order by a CovernmenL mlnlsLer
A commencemenL order ls deslgned Lo brlng lnLo force Lhe whole or parL of an AcL of arllamenL aL a daLe laLer
Lhan Lhe daLe of Lhe 8oyal AssenL
lf Lhere ls no commencemenL order Lhe AcL wlll come lnLo force from mldnlghL aL Lhe sLarL of Lhe day of Lhe
8oyal AssenL
1he pracLlcal lmplemenLaLlon of an AcL ls Lhe responslblllLy of Lhe approprlaLe governmenL deparLmenL noL
arllamenL

When Lhe blll sLarLs ln Lhe house of commons Lhen lnsLead of Pouse of Lords belng Lhe flrsL sLep lL ls Lhe Pous
of Commons and Pouse of Lords wlll Lhen be Lhe second sLep