Post on 13-Dec-2015
Taking a Government Bill Through Parliament
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• PRIMARY LEGISLATIONPublic – Government BillsPublic – Private Members’ Bills
Ballot Bills10 Minute Rule Bills
Presentation Bills• SECONDARY LEGISLATION
Statutory Instruments (SIs)
AffirmativeNegative
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Bill Team Manager
Bill Team Leader (SCS)
Policy leadPolicy lead
OGD’sPolicy lead
Lawyer(s)
Administration
Parliamentary CounselParliamentary Counsel
Formation of a Bill Team
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Role of the Bill Team:Pre-Introduction
FORMULATION.FORMULATION.
CONSULTATION:CONSULTATION:
Green PaperGreen Paper
White PaperWhite Paper
Pre-legislative scrutinyPre-legislative scrutinyDraft Bill….Draft Bill….
DiscussionsRoad ShowsCorrespondence
Written and Oral evidenceGovernment response
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Clause Stand Part briefing..
PreparationRole of the Bill Team:
Pre-Introduction preparation
Press Briefing material.
Queen’s Consent: : “Affect the hereditary revenues personal property or interests of the Crown, the Duchy of Lancaster or Duchy of Cornwall”
Money Resolution: : expenditure for new purposesWays and Means Resolution:: imposing a new charge
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1. The draft Bill
2. Explanatory Notes
3. Impact Assessment
4. ECHR statement
5. Impact on Devolved Administrations
6. Handling strategy
7. Memorandum & briefing
Prior to Introduction:L Committee documents.
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Prior to Introduction
L CommitteeL Committee
• agree Bill is completeagree Bill is complete
• agree Bill is ready for Introductionagree Bill is ready for Introduction
• agree date for Introductionagree date for Introduction
• agree House of Introductionagree House of Introduction
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L MEMBERSHIPLeader of the Commons (Chair)
Secretary of State for Justice & Lord Chancellor
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Wales
Commons Chief Whip
Minister for the Cabinet Office& Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Leader of the House of Lords
Chief Secretary
Lords Chief Whip
Attorney General
Advocate General for Scotland
Minister of State, DBERR
Deputy Leader of the Commons
Deputy Chief Whip
S/S Northern Ireland and Wales
S/S Scotland
Home Secretary
Minister for the Cabinet Office
Minister without Portfolio
Deputy Chief Whip
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THE PASSAGE OF A BILL THROUGH PARLIAMENT
HOUSE OF COMMONS
First Reading
Second Reading(may last less than or more than a full day)
Programme Motion
Committee Stage(usually a Public Bill Committee which now have similar powers to
those of Select Committees)Report Stage
Third Reading
www.publicsectordelivery.comThe House of Commons
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House of Commons - Second Reading
passing them to the Minister who will close the debate.
The Minister will open the debate with a prepared speech.
Civil Servants will be in the Officials Gallery throughout the debate:
listening to contributions from members, preparing responses, clearing them with the lawyer,
Points raised during the debate will highlight areas of concern likely to surface at Committee.
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House of Commons – Committee Stage
Oral Evidence:“Committees should hold at least one evidence
session with Ministers and officials.”
Written Evidence:“Committees will decide whether it formally accepts any written material submitted as “evidence”, and how it will be reported to the House.
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Members Entrance
Officials Chairman Clerk Hansard
Public Entrance
X X X
X
x
xx
Government Opposition
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Committee Stage
Government amendment.
Resist. Accept in Principle.
Consider.
Accept.
DECISIONS ON AMENDMENTS
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Report Stage
Speaker’s criteria in selecting amendments;
• all Government amendments;• all involving some undertaking by the Government;• new “compromises” or “halfway” proposals;• important issues “carefully debated” in Committee worthy of a “last look”;• new matters brought in by members of the
Committee;• new developments since Committee.
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THE PASSAGE OF A BILL THROUGH PARLIAMENT
HOUSE OF LORDSFirst Reading
Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform CommitteeConstitution Committee
Second ReadingCommittee Stage
(on the Floor of the House or Grand Committee)Report StageThird Reading
Commons consideration of Lords’ AmendmentsRoyal Assent
(ACT OF PARLIAMENT)
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The House of Lords
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The role of the Bill Team
Record Keeping:
detailed note of important decisions made: eg policy decisions, acceptance of changes etc
Commencement: ensure that provisions of the Bill are actually
brought into effect!
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An Act of Parliament
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First Act of Parliament kept at Westminster - 1497
• It concerns the taking of apprentices to make worsted (woollen yarn) in Norfolk.