Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill: Consideration of amendments
14 September 2011
The House of Lords is considering amendments made in the Commons to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (Wednesday 14 September)
The Commons disagrees with the Lords amendments to remove the election of police and crime commissioners from the Bill and has offered alternative proposals.
The Lords is discussing four different courses of action: one of which rejects the Commons proposals; the other three propose a range of alternatives.
Both Houses must reach agreement on the Bill for it to receive Royal Assent and pass into law.
- Watch the proceedings live on Parliament TV
- Lords Hansard: read a transcript of the debate from Today in the Lords (available approximately three hours after the debate begins)
- Commons Disagreements, Amendments in Lieu and Amendments to Amendments as at 13 September 2011
- Passage of a Bill: Consideration of Amendments
Further information
The Bill covers five main policy areas:
- police accountability and governance
- alcohol licensing
- regulation of protests around Parliament Square
- misuse of drugs
- arrest warrants in respect of private prosecutions for universal jurisdiction offences.
The Bill completed all its stages in the House of Commons on 18 February and had its first reading in the House of Lords on 1 April.
- Bills before Parliament: Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill
- Lords News: Police Reform Bill: third reading
The Police Reform Bill has also been the subject of three select committee reports:
- Joint Committee on Human Rights: 11th Report Legislative Scrutiny: Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (published 10 May)
- Lords Constitution Committee: 14th Report: Part 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (published 6 May)
- Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 13th Report: Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (published 4 May)
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.