Commons second reading: Stamp Duty Land Tax Bill
10 December 2014
MPs debated the second reading of the Stamp Duty Land Tax Bill in the House of Commons on Wednesday 10 December 2014. The Bill passed without a division and will now be considered by a Committee of the whole House.
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mr David Gauke, opened the debate. Shabana Mahmood, Shadow Treasury Minister, responded on behalf of the Opposition.
- Watch Parliament TV: Second reading debate of the Stamp Duty Land Tax Bill
- Read Commons Hansard: Second reading debate of the Stamp Duty Land Tax Bill
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Taxation
Related information
Summary of the Stamp Duty Land Tax Bill
The Bill amends the existing legislation which prescribes the method of calculating the amount of SDLT due in respect of residential property transactions and linked transactions and sets out a new table of rates and bands applying to residential property transactions. It includes transitional provisions which allow purchasers in transactions where contracts were exchanged before the measure was announced, but completion takes place afterwards, to choose whether the new or the old rates will apply.
Progress of the Bill
This Government Bill was presented to Parliament on 4 December 2014. This is known as the first reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage.
Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers, on the Stamp Duty Land Tax Bill and find out how a bill becomes an Act of Parliament.
Further reading
The following documents are relevant to the second reading debate:
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. The Library has published a briefing paper for second reading.
What happens at second reading?
At second reading the House debates the whole principle of the bill. It usually takes place no sooner than two weekends after first reading.
The Member in charge or the Minister moves the motion 'that the bill be now read a second time'. MPs then debate the bill. At the end of the debate the Speaker determines whether there are any objections to the motion being debated and asks for the Ayes and Noes.
Members voice their opinion, and if no objections are made, the bill passes second reading without a vote. If the Speaker believes Members have voiced disagreement, a division is called and a vote taken.
What happens after second reading?
If the motion at second reading is agreed to, the Bill will go to a Public Bill Committee for consideration.
Watching proceedings from the public gallery
UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery.
This article was produced by the Commons Digital Outreach Team. Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.