Consideration of Lords amendments to Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill

Watch and read the views expressed by MPs on Parliament TV and in Commons Hansard.

• Parliament TV: Consideration of Lords amendments to Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill
• Commons Hansard: Consideration of Lords amendments to Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill

Summary of the Bill

The Bill covers five distinct policy areas: police accountability and governance; alcohol licensing; the regulation of protests around Parliament Square; misuse of drugs; and the issue of arrest warrants in respect of private prosecutions for universal jurisdiction offences.

Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers on the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.  Also find out how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

• Bills before Parliament 2010-12: Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill

Further information about the progress of the Bill in the House of Commons can be found in the Commons news section.

• Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill second reading (13 December 2010)
• Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill report stage and third reading (30 March 2010)

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).