Commons consider Lords amendments to the Education Bill
15 November 2011 (updated on 15 November 2011)
The House of Commons considered Lords amendments to the Education Bill on Monday 14 November.
Summary of the Bill
The Education Bill seeks to implement the legislative proposals in the Department for Education’s schools White Paper, 'The Importance of Teaching' and measures from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills relating to skills and the reform of higher education funding.
Key areas
The Bill provides for the introduction of targeted free early years care for children under compulsory school age.
- makes changes to provisions on school discipline and places restrictions on the public reporting of allegations made against teachers
- abolishes five quangos: the General Teaching Council for England, the Training and Development Agency for Schools, the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency and the Young Person’s Learning Agency and gives new powers to the Secretary of State as a consequence of some of these changes
- removes certain duties on school governing bodies, local authorities and further education institutions, including the duty on local authorities to appoint school improvement partners
- makes changes to the arrangements for setting up new schools, and amends the Academies Act 2010 to make provision for 16 to 19 academies and alternative provision academies
- includes measures relating to school admissions, school meals, composition of school governing bodies, school inspection, school finance and permitted charges.
Progress of the Bill
The Education Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 26 January 2011 and received second reading on 8 February. The Bill was considered in a Public Bill Committee between 1 March to 5 April.
The report stage and third reading took place on 11 May and the Bill was sent to the House of Lords for consideration. The Lords made amendments to the Bill and were considered by the Commons on 14 November.
All Lords amendments were agreed to and the Bill will be sent back to the House of Lords to await Royal Assent.
Keep up to date with all the proceedings on the Education Bill and find out how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.
Proceedings on Lords amendments
MPs considered Lords amendments in the following order; 1-26, 27, 28-35, 36 and 37-100.
Lords amendments 1-26 were agreed to without a division.
Lords amendment 27 was agreed to without a division. An amendment (a) to the Lords amendment was negatived on a division (Ayes 196; Noes 284).
Lords amendments 28-35 were agreed to without a division.
Lords amendment 36 was agreed to without a division. An amendment (a) to the Lords amendment was negatived on a division (Ayes 191; Noes 285).
Lords amendments 37-100 were agreed to without a division.
Watch and read the views expressed by MPs on Parliament TV and in Commons Hansard.
- Parliament TV: Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Education Bill
- Commons Hansard: Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Education Bill
Lords Amendments
When a Bill has passed through third reading in both Houses it is returned to the first House (where it started) for the second House's amendments (proposals for change) to be considered.
Both Houses must agree on the exact wording of the Bill. There is no set time period between the third reading of a Bill and consideration of any Commons or Lords amendments.
'Ping Pong'
If the Commons makes amendments to the Bill, the Lords must consider them and either agree or disagree to the amendments or make alternative proposals.
If the Lords disagrees with any Commons amendments, or makes alternative proposals, then the Bill is sent back to the Commons.
A Bill may go back and forth between each House (‘Ping Pong’) until both Houses reach agreement.
What happens after consideration of amendments?
Once the Commons and Lords agree on the final version of the Bill, it can receive Royal Assent and become an Act of Parliament (the proposals of the Bill now become law).