Commons remaining stages: Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill
19 November 2014
MPs concluded the debate on the remaining stages of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill in the House of Commons on Wednesday 19 November 2014.
Report stage, day two, and third reading of the Bill both took place in the House of Commons on Wednesday 19 November 2014.
A number of amendments were made to the Bill. The Bill passed third reading, without a vote, and will now move to the House of Lords for consideration.
- Watch Parliament TV: Report stage (day two) and third reading of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill
- Read Commons Hansard: Report stage (day two) and third reading of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill
- Catch up on Commons news: Commons second reading: Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Small businesses
Report stage (day one)
Report stage, day one, of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill took place on Tuesday 18 November 2014.
- Watch Parliament TV: Report stage (day one) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill
- Read Commons Hansard: Report stage (day one) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill
Related information
Summary of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill
The Bill contains 142 substantive clauses and 10 Schedules, which in the main seek to reduce regulatory burdens and facilitate the inception, financing and growth of business.
The Bill’s scope includes access to finance; exports; regulatory reform; competition; public sector procurement; the Pubs Code; childcare and education; transparency of company ownership; company law; directors’ disqualification; insolvency; and employment law.
Progress of the Bill
The Bill completed its committee stage on 6 November 2014. It had its second reading debate on 16 July 2014. This is a Government Bill, which was presented to Parliament on 25 June 2014.
Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers, on the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill and find out how a bill becomes an Act of Parliament.
- Follow Bills before Parliament: Small Business, Enterprise and Employment 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.
What happens next?
Because the report stage and third reading of the Bill were passed in the House of Commons it moves to the House of Lords for consideration.
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.
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