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Written question asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour) on Monday, 3 December 2018, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 December 2018. It was answered by Lord McFall of Alcluith (Non-affiliated) on Tuesday, 18 December 2018 on behalf of the Senior Deputy Speaker (HL).

Bills: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Government’s response to the report of the Constitution Committee, Parliament and the Legislative Process, published on 20 April 2005 (HL Paper 114), whether the Procedure Committee will consider the recommendation that bills should normally be committed after Second Reading to a committee empowered to take evidence.

Answer

In 2005, when it responded to the Constitution Committee’s report, Parliament and the Legislative Process, the Government was “not convinced that it would be appropriate to commit all bills which have not been scrutinised in draft to an evidence-taking committee after Second Reading but we are ready to consider this option in exceptional circumstances (and have done in the past).”

I am aware that the idea that bills should normally be committed after Second Reading to a committee empowered to take evidence is under fresh consideration by the Constitution Committee as part of its current inquiry on the legislative process, stage 2 of which is covering the passage of legislation through Parliament. Written and oral evidence received as part of that inquiry is available here - https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/constitution-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/legislative-process/. I am looking forward to the Committee’s report and any recommendations it might make on this and other matters. The Procedure Committee will give it due consideration then.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL11959
Session
2017-19
Related items
Subjects
Legislative process House of Lords Parliamentary scrutiny Committee stage Procedure Committee (HL) Bills
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk