Commons remaining stages of the Justice and Security Bill

MPs have completed the debate on the report stage and third reading of the Justice and Security Bill on Thursday 7 March in the House of Commons. The debate on the report stage commenced in the House of Commons on Monday 4 March

The Bill has now completed all its stages in the House of Commons and will return to the House of Lords for consideration of any amendments.

Report stage of Justice and Security Bill: Day One

The first day of debate on the report stage of the Justice and Security Bill took place in the House of Commons on Monday 4 March 2013.

Report stage and third reading of Justice and Security Bill: Day Two

The second day of debate on the report stage and third reading of the Justice and Security Bill took place in the House of Commons on Thursday 7 March 2013.

About the Justice and Security Bill [HL]

The Bill proposes:

Strengthened oversight by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) of the Security Service, the Secret Intellligence Service, the Government Communications Headquarters and other activities relating to intelligence matters.
To expand the statutory remit of the ISC and allow Parliament to have a more substantial role in ISC appointments.
To provide for closed material procedure in relation to certain civil proceedings in the High Court, the Court for Session or the Court of Appeal. Also to extend closed material procedure for cases containing sensitive information and connected purposes.

Progress of the Bill

The Bill completed its passage through the House of Lords and was introduced into the House of Commons on 28 November 2012.

The Bill had its second reading in the House of Commons on 18 December 2012.

Catch up on Parliament News: Commons second reading of Justice and Security Bill

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

Report by Joint Committee on Human Rights

The Joint Committee on Human Rights scrutinises all Government Bills for their human rights implications. The Committee identified the Justice and Security Bill as one of their priorities for legislative scrutiny. Their report on the Bill was published on 6 November 2012.

House of Commons Library analysis

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

What are report stage and third reading 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.