Guidance

Handling a Bill in Parliament

A guide on the process of a Bill moving through Parliament

• From: Office of the Parliamentary Counsel
• Published: 21 March 2023
• Last updated: 18 April 2024
  Show all updates

  1. 18 April 2024

     - most references to Framemaker have been omitted (although references to Framemaker in the context of motions have been retained). - statements under section 13C of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 are now dealt with at the appropriate places - there are reminders to make sure that email attachments sent to the PBOs include in their filename the short title of the Bill to which they relate. - para 1.32 contains a new bullet point on when OPC should suggest to a department that it contacts OAG - para 1.66 contains a reminder to check, when being asked to create powers to make subordinate legislation, whether those powers should allow for sub-delegation. - para 3.12 notes that the Vote Office may be willing to print further copies of a Bill after each amending stage (and see para 7.16 too). - para 5.39 on when a supplementary memorandum for the DPRRC will be required has been updated (and see paras 6.16 and 8.39 and the final bullet in para 8.1 too). - paras 5.73 and 5.74 deal with the mechanics of withdrawing amendments (and see para 6.35 too). - there are a number of changes to Chapter 6 to reflect current practice and provide updated examples, especially around the tabling and publishing of amendments in the Lords - para 7.2 is updated to contain a reminder to check with the Commons PBO whether a Lords starter moving to the Commons will need financial resolutions (and see para 7.22 too). - para 9.14 contains a reminder that counsel should, at the conclusion of a bill project, email 1PC indicating any areas of law that would benefit from consolidation - the table after para 11.4 (Commons - times for tabling and handing in) has been updated.

  2. 21 March 2023

     First published.

Documents

Handling a Bill in Parliament

HTML

2024-04-25 Handling a Bill in Parliament

PDF, 547 KB, 81 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

A guide for legislative drafters on the passage of a Bill from beginning to end, covering each individual step the Bill takes, what other factors may be involved and the procedural issues to navigate within the House of Commons and the House of Lords.