 House of Lords |
| Committee Stage on Public Bills
BRIEFING |
House of LordsCommittee of the Whole House Most Bills are considered in the Chamber of the House with all members eligible to participate. There are three procedures which may replace Committee of the Whole House:- Grand Committee The Committee has unrestricted membership - all Lords are free to attend and participate - but no votes can take place. Public Bill Committee A limited number of Lords are selected to conduct the Committee Stage of Government Bills which are of a technical and non-controversial nature. Lords not selected for the Committee can participate but may not vote. Special Public Bill Committee This is a Public Bill Committee which can take written and oral evidence on Bills, within 28 days of appointment, before considering the Bill line by line. Any Bill can be referred to such a Committee. There are two procedures which are additional to the Committee Stage above: Select Committee This relatively rare procedure allows detailed investigation and taking evidence and may take place at any stage between Second and Third Readings. The Committee reports the Bill to the House, recommending whether or not the Bill should proceed. If it is to proceed, the Select Committee may make amendments and the Bill is then re-committed. Scottish Select Committee This procedure allows a Select Committee to take evidence on Government Bills relating to Scotland after Second Reading and to travel to Scotland to do so. The evidence is then reported to the House before re-commitment. |
 
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| © Parliamentary copyright 1997 | Prepared 17 December 1997 |