Second reading of Scotland Bill

Scotland Bill

The Bill passed with a vote and will now be considered in Committee of the whole House. Watch and read the views expressed by MPs who took part in the debate.

• Watch the debate: Scotland Bill, second reading
• Commons Hansard: Scotland Bill, second reading

Second reading

Second reading is the first opportunity for MPs to debate the main principles of the Bill. It usually takes place no sooner than two weekends after first reading.

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 and made up of between 16 and 20 MPs.

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 will implement recommendations of the Final Report of the Commission on Scottish Devolution (the Calman Commission).

It would make changes to the finances of the Scottish Parliament, including a new Scottish rate of income tax, and make a number of adjustments to the boundary of devolved responsibilities.

Keep up to date with all the proceedings on the Scotland Bill and find out how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

• Bills before Parliament 2010-11: Scotland Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill

House of Commons Library analysis

The House of Commons Library regularly produce briefing notes which inform MPs about key issues. The Library have produced a Research Paper on the Scotland Bill.

• Commons Library briefing: Scotland Bill