Committee stage of Fixed-term Parliaments Bill, day three

Wednesday 1 December

• Video and Audio: Fixed-term Parliaments Bill, day three
• Commons Hansard: Fixed-term Parliaments Bill, day three
• Parliamentary news: Second reading of the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill
• Bills before Parliament: Fixed-term Parliaments Bill
• Topics: Parliament

Wednesday 24 November

• Video and Audio: Fixed-term Parliaments Bill, day two
• Commons Hansard: Fixed-term Parliaments Bill, day two

Tuesday 16 November

• Video and Audio: Fixed-term Parliaments Bill, day one
• Commons Hansard: Fixed-term Parliaments Bill, day one

Committee of the whole House

When a Bill passes its second reading and is considered in detail, this usually takes place in a Public Bill Committee held outside the Chamber. These Committees - which are made up of between 16 and 20 MPs - reflect the political makeup of the House, so the government always has a majority.

But occasionally a Bill will be considered by a Committee of the whole House and this discussion takes place in the Commons Chamber itself, where all MPs can take part.

Any Bill can be referred to a Committee of the whole House, but the procedure is normally reserved for finance bills and other important or controversial legislation.

Summary of the Bill

The Bill fixes the date of the next General Election at 7 May 2015, and provides for five-year fixed terms. It includes provisions to allow the Prime Minister to alter the date by up to two months by Order. There are also two ways in which an election could be triggered before the end of the five-year term:

• if a motion of no confidence is passed and no alternative government is found
• or if a motion for an early general election is agreed either by at least two-thirds of the House or without division.