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MPs debate Coinage Measurement Bill

7 February 2011 (updated on 7 February 2011)

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Mark Lancaster, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes North introduced the second reading of the Coinage (Measurement) Private Members’ Bill in the House of Commons on Friday 4 February.

The Bill passed without a vote and will now be considered by a Public Bill Committee.

The Bill seeks to make provision about the arrangements for measuring the standard weight of coins.

Private Members' Bills

Private Members' Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs and Members of the Lords who aren't government ministers. As with other Public Bills their purpose is to change the law as it applies to the general population.

Public Bill Committees

Public Bill Committees are appointed for Bills that goes through Parliament. Depending on its complexity, the consideration of a Bill can take a few minutes to a few months.

Each Public Bill Committee is named after the Bill it considers and is assigned a chair. Public Bill Committees have the power to take written and oral evidence from officials and experts outside of Parliament.

Public Bill Committees examine each Bill clause by clause and once it has finished looking at the Bill, it reports its findings to the Commons, where MPs debate the Bill further.