MPs consider Lords amendments to the Lobbying Bill

• Watch Parliament TV: Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill
• Read Commons Hansard: Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill
• Read the Lords Amendments to the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill 

Summary of the Bill

This Bill seeks to: 

• introduce a statutory register of consultant lobbyists and establish a Registrar to enforce the registration requirements
• regulate more closely election campaign spending by those not standing for election or registered as political parties
• strengthen the legal requirements placed on trade unions in relation to their obligation to keep their list of members up to date.

Progress of the Bill

The Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 17 July 2013. This Bill completed all its stages in the House of Commons on the 9 October 2013.

The Bill then went to the House of Lords for consideration. The Bill had its first reading in the Lords on the 9 October 2013 and completed its remaining stages on the 21 January 2014.

• Catch up on news: Lords scrutinises Lobbying Bill

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

• Bills before Parliament 2013-14: Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a bill

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 produced the following papers:

• Read Commons Library briefing paper: Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill: progress of the Bill
• Read Commons Library briefing paper: Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill
• Read Commons Library Briefing Paper: Lords Amendments to the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill

Political and Constitutional Reform Committee Report

The House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee published a follow-up report on 22 January 2014 on the Bill to update Members on the changes that have been made during its passage and to aid them in their scrutiny of the Lords amendments to the Bill.

• Read Political and Constitutional Reform Committee report: The Government's Lobbying Bill: Follow-up (HC 891 2013-14)

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.

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).

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 the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.