engaging with legislation in the house of lords

© House of Lords 2014

Primary legislationin the House of Lords


• Stages of a Bill

• Differences fromthe Commons, limits on Lords powers and conventions

• Impact of Lords on legislation

• Sources of information about business


Use of time on the “floor of the House”


http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-information-office/hoflbpbillsandhow.pdf


Main stages of public bills in the House of Lords• First reading – purely formal, but followed by

publication of the text.• Second reading – debate on principles.• Committee stage – debates on amendments.

May be in the Chamber or in Grand Committee.

• Report stage – more debates on amendments.• Third Reading – sometimes more debates on

amendments.• “Ping-pong” – resolution of differences

between the two Houses


Differences from the House of Commons

• Minimum intervals.• No formal programming of bills.• No selection of amendments – all

amendments tabled can be debated.• Committee stage normally open to

all members.• Third Reading on a separate day.


Limits on Lords Powers: money

• May not amend bills of “aids and supplies” (Commons Resolution of 1678)

• Must pass within one month any certified Money Bill i.e. any bill exclusively concerned with the imposition of taxes or other charges, loans and appropriation.

• May not infringe Commons Financial Privilege by amending general legislation in a way which affects expenditure or revenue (but they do, and this can be waived by the Commons.)


Conventions on Legislation • Salisbury/Addison Convention not to deny a Second

Reading to a government bill fulfilling a manifesto commitment.

• Is it still respected?– House of Lords Reform Act 1999– Role of the Liberal Democrats– Coalition

• A reasonable time convention (but not PVS and Constituencies in 2010).


Lords impact on bills• “Getting it right” fulfilling undertakings, adding

material.• In 2012-13 session 3,537 amendments tabled, 1,128

agreed.• 82 divisions (votes) and 52 (63%) won by the

Government (in 1999-2005 Government won 65%, in session 2010-12 78%).

• Concessions and meetings off the floor.• Meg Russell’s analysis of 231 Government defeats

during 1999-2005:– 37% Lords wins– 20% minor concession– 43% reversed


Sources of information about legislative business in the House• House of Lords Business• Forthcoming Business• The Government Whips Office

website www.lordswhips.org.uk • The Parliamentary website

www.parliament.uk

http://www.lordswhips.org.uk/

http://www.parliament.uk/


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engaging with legislation in the house of lords

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