European Union Bill, report stage and third reading
9 March 2011 (updated on 9 March 2011)
The European Union Bill had its report stage and third reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday 8 March
European Union Bill
The Bill was considered further at report stage and Clause 10 was amended. The Bill was read a third time and will now be considered by the House of Lords. Watch and read the views expressed by MPs who took part in the House of Commons debate.
- Watch the debate: European Union Bill, Report stage and third reading
- Commons Hansard: : European Union Bill, Report stage and third reading
Committee stage and second reading
- Commons news: Committee stage of the European Union Bill
- Commons news: European Union Bill, Second reading
Background
The Bill aims to strengthen the UK procedures for agreeing to or ratifying certain EU decisions and Treaty changes. It also provides for a sovereignty clause in the European Communities Act 1972 confirming that ultimate legal authority remains with the UK Parliament rather than the EU.
The European Scrutiny Committee has published a report on the European Union Bill.
Find a summary of the main points of the Bill and keep up to date with all the proceedings on the European Union Bill. Also find out how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.
House of Commons Library analysis
The House of Commons Library regularly produce briefing notes which inform MPs about key issues. The Library has produced a Research Paper on the European Union Bill.
Report stage
Report stage gives MPs an opportunity, on the floor of the House, to consider further amendments (proposals for change) to a Bill which has been examined in committee.
There is no set time period between the end of committee stage and the start of the report stage. All MPs may speak and vote - for lengthy or complex Bills the debates may be spread over several days. All MPs can suggest amendments to the Bill or new clauses (parts) they think should be added.
Report stage is normally followed immediately by debate on the Bill's third reading.
Third reading
Third reading is the final chance for the Commons to debate the contents of a Bill. Debate on the Bill is usually short, and limited to what is actually in the Bill, rather than, as at second reading, what might have been included.
Amendments (proposals for change) cannot be made to a Bill at third reading in the Commons. At the end of the debate, the House decides (votes on) whether to approve the third reading of the Bill.
If the Bill started in the Commons it goes to the House of Lords for its first reading.