Commons remaining stages: Children and Families Bill
11 June 2013 (updated on 11 June 2013)
The report stage and third reading of the Children and Families Bill took place in the Commons Chamber on Tuesday 11 June 2013.
- Watch Parliament TV: Remaining stages of the Children and Families Bill
- Read Commons Hansard: Remaining stages of the Children and Families Bill
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Children and Families
The Bill has now completed all of its Commons stages and will be introduced into the House of Lords for consideration.
Summary of the Children and Families Bill
The Bill seeks to reform legislation relating to the following areas:
- Adoption and children in care
- Aspects of the family justice system
- Children and young people with special educational needs
- The Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England
- Statutory rights to leave and pay for parents and adopters
- Time off work for ante-natal care
- The right to request flexible working
Progress of the Children and Families Bill
The Bill was presented to Parliament on 4 February 2013. The Bill was one of five which were selected by the Government to carry over into the 2013-14 session.
Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers, on the Energy 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. The Library has published the following briefing papers for the Bill:
- Library briefing paper on the Committee Stage: Children and Families Bill
- Library briefing paper on the Children and Families Bill
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.
If the bill started in the Lords it returns to the House of Lords for consideration of any amendments the Commons has made.
View proceedings from the public gallery
UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings for free in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery.