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UK Parliament

Bills & legislation

Bills and Legislation sets out the proposals for new laws, and plans to change existing laws, that are presented for debate before Parliament.

Keep up to date with the progress of current and draft Bills before Parliament; read the full texts of Acts of Parliament, and find out the details of delegated legislation that change laws under existing Acts.

Bills before Parliament

Full text of Public, Private and Hybrid Bills, plus their progress through Parliament; includes Acts passed this session

Draft Bills

The Government publishes a number of Bills each session in draft form to enable consultation before a Bill is issued formally

Secondary Legislation

Delegated legislation allows the Government to make changes to the law using powers conferred by an Act of Parliament

Acts of Parliament

Learn more about the full text of Public General Acts from 1988 and all Local (Private) Acts from 1991 as they were originally enacted

Treaties

Treaties are international agreements between states. The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 requires the Government to lay most treaties for Parliamentary scrutiny for at least 21 sitting days.

How does a Bill become law?

Our Passage of a Bill guide shows a Bill’s journey through Parliament – find out what happens at each stage.

Bills v Acts

A bill is a draft law; it becomes an Act if it is approved by a majority in the House of Commons and House of Lords, and formally agreed to by the reigning monarch (known as Royal Assent). An Act of Parliament is a law, enforced in all areas of the UK where it is applicable.

Statutory Instruments