Report Stage: Private Bills (Commons only)
Report stage for a Private Bill offers an opportunity on the floor of the House for MPs to oppose amendments made in committee or to propose new amendments. Report stage for a Private Bill only occurs in the Commons - there is no equivalent in the House of Lords.
Unopposed Private Business
If there is no objection to the amendments made in committee, or to any new amendments, there is no debate at report stage.
Opposed Private Business
If there is an objection to the amendments made in committee, or to any new amendments, there can be a debate on the floor of the House at report stage. Procedure is very similar to report stage for Public Bills. Any MP can propose a new amendment, or object to an amendment already made in committee.
The Speaker selects which amendments will be considered by the House during report stage. Similar amendments can be grouped together for debate.
What happens in the Lords?
As there is no report stage for Private Bills in the House of Lords, the Bill goes straight from committee stage to third reading.