Local Government Bill receives second reading
1 July 2010 (updated on 1 July 2010)
The Local Government Bill received its second reading - a general debate on all aspects of the Bill - in the House of Lords on Wednesday 30 June.
Baroness Hanham, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, introduced the debate.
- Watch the second reading debate on the Local Government Bill
- Read a transcript of the debate on the Local Government Bill
Second reading was scheduled to take place on 8 June. However following a division (vote) the House agreed that the Bill be “referred to the examiners” to determine whether the Bill is a hybrid Bill. The Examiners met on Wednesday 23 June and have certified that the Bill is not hybrid. Their reasons for their decision and the record of the hearing before the examiners was published on 29 June (HL Paper 12).
Issues discussed during second reading on 30 June included the structure of local government and the cost of creating of new unitary authorities.
The committee stage - line by line examination of the Bill - will begin on 14 July.
Further information
The second reading of the Bill usually takes place two weeks after the first reading. The government Minister or a senior spokesperson in the Lords for the government department responsible for the Bill opens the debate. Second reading provides the first opportunity for Members of the Lords to discuss the purpose of a Bill and its main principles.