Commons remaining stages: Finance Bill

MPs completed the debate on the report stage and third reading of the Finance Bill in the House of Commons Chamber on Tuesday 2 July 2013.

The report stage of the Finance Bill was held over two days in the Commons Chamber. Day one took place on Monday 1 July. Day two of the report stage took on Tuesday 2 July, along with the third reading of the Bill.

The Bill has now completed all of its Commons stages and will be introduced into the House of Lords for consideration.

Finance Bill 2013-14: Report stage day two and third Reading

Finance Bill 2013-14: Report stage day one

Summary of the Finance Bill

The Bill will enact many of the measures announced in the Budget which was presented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, on 20 March 2013.

The Finance Bill proposes to grant certain duties, to alter other duties, and to amend the law relating to the National Debt and the Public Revenue, and to make further provision in connection with finance.

Progress of the Finance Bill

The Bill was introduced in the House of Commons in the 2012-13 session as the Finance (No.2) Bill on 25 March 2013. The Bill was one of five which were selected by the Government to carry over into the 2013-14 session.

Catch up on Parliament News: Carry-over Bills 2012-13 to 2013-14

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

House of Commons Library analysis

The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs of key issues. The papers contain factual information and a range of opinions on each subject, and aim to be politically impartial.

What is the report stage of a bill?

The report stage gives MPs an opportunity, on the floor of the House, to consider any further amendments (proposals for change) to a bill which has been examined in a public bill committee or on the floor of the House. There is no set time period between the end of committee stage and the start of the report stage.

What happens at 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) that they think should be added.

What happens after report stage?

Report stage is usually followed immediately by debate on the bill's third reading.

What happens at third reading?

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 a 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.

What happens after third reading?

If the bill started in the Commons it goes to the House of Lords for its first reading.

Since the 17th century the Lords has respected the Commons' sole right to initiate and amend any such bill, so that scrutiny of tax legislation in the Lords is a purely formal affair.

Once the Bill has passed from the Commons, the Lords cannot amend it: the Lords will have a debate on its second reading, but will not debate the Bill clause by clause – and its remaining stages will go through on the nod.

Watching proceedings from the public gallery

UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery.

How to attend a debate in the Chamber or in Westminster Hall

This article was produced by the Commons Digital Outreach Team. Follow @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.