Private members' bills complete passage through Parliament
27 April 2021
The House of Lords considered two private members' bills at third reading, a chance for members to make sure the eventual laws are effective, workable and without loopholes, on Monday 26 April.
The bills cover the the British Library Board and the welfare of children.
No changes to the wording of the bills were suggested ahead of third reading.
As both Houses have agreed on the text of the bills, they now await the final stage of Royal Assent. They will then become an Act of Parliament (law).
A date for Royal Assent is yet to be scheduled.
Private members’ bills
A private member's bill is a type of public bill introduced by a member of the House of Lords (rather than the government). It must go through the same set of procedures as all public bills.
Committee stage: Thursday 15 April
As no changes were suggested, both committee stage and report stage were passed for the bills to progress directly to third reading (a procedure is known as ‘order of commitment discharged’).
British Library Board (Power to Borrow) Bill
This bill removes the restriction set in the British Library Act 1972 which prevents the British Library Board from borrowing money on behalf of the British Library.
Second reading: Friday 19 March
Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative), former Minister for Culture, Media and Sport and the bill's sponsor in the Lords, opened the debate.
Education and Training (Welfare of Children) Bill
This bill requires providers of publicly funded education and training for children aged 16+ to promote and safeguard the welfare of the children they educate.
Second reading: Friday 19 March
Baroness Blower (Labour), former president of the National Union of Teachers and the bill's sponsor in the Lords, opened the debate.
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