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Committee stage of 'alternative vote' Bill continues

14 December 2010 (updated on 15 December 2010)

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Members of the House of Lords voted for an amendment to run elections for the devolved assemblies and a referendum on the alternative vote on the same day, during the fourth day of committee stage of the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Bill on Monday 13 December.

The debate covered discussion of amendments to clause 2: Entitlement to vote in the referendum; clause 3: Conduct of the referendum; and clause 4: Combination of polls.

Lord McNally introduced the amendment and it was agreed to - 96 votes to 38.

Proposals for amendments to a Bill are published in a marshalled list of amendments one day before the Bill stage takes place.

Committee stage of the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Bill continues Wednesday 15 December when further amendments will be discussed.

Further information

The Bill provides for the next General Election to be held under the Alternative Vote system, provided this change is endorsed in a referendum on 5 May 2011 and boundary changes have been made to reduce the size of the House of Commons to 600.

Committee stage involves the detailed line-by-line examination of the separate parts - clauses and schedules - of the Bill. Any Member of the Lords can take part.

Committee stage can last for one or two days to eight or more. It usually starts no fewer than two weeks after the second reading.