Scotland Bill consideration of Lords Amendments

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.

Progress of the Bill

The Scotland Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 30 November 2010 and received second reading on 27 January 2011. The Bill was considered in Committee of the whole House from 7 March to 15 March 2011. The report stage and third reading took place on 21 June 2011.

• Commons news: Second reading of Scotland Bill
• Commons news: Remaining stages of Scotland Bill

The Bill was sent to the House of Lords for consideration. The Lords made amendments to the Bill and these were considered by the Commons on 26 April 2012.

The Bill will now be sent to the House of Lords for Royal Assent.

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

• Bills before Parliament 2010-12: Scotland Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill

Proceedings on Lords amendments

MPs considered and agreed to Lords amendments in the following order; 1-26  

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

• Parliament TV: Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Scotland Bill
• Commons Hansard: Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Scotland 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).