European Union Referendum Bill: Commons Committee stage: Day 2

The Bill will now be considered at Report and Third Reading stages over one day on a date to be confirmed. 

Committee of the whole House, day two: 18 June 2015

• Watch Parliament TV: Committee of the whole House debate on the European Union Referendum Bill, day two 
• Read Commons Hansard: Committee of the whole House debate on the European Union Referendum Bill, day two

Votes were held on Amendments 1, 3 and 18. Other decisions were made without votes. The decisions made by the House of Commons are recorded in Votes and Proceedings.

• Amendment 18 was negatived on division. (Division No. 19: Ayes 71 votes, Noes 514 votes)
• Amendment 1 was negatived on division. (Division No. 20: Ayes 265 votes, Noes 310 votes)
• Amendment 3 was negatived on division. (Division No. 21: Ayes 267 votes, Noes 308 votes)
• Read Votes and Proceedings: Tuesday 18 June 2015: item 4, European Union Referendum Bill Committee of the whole House (second day)

Committee of the whole House, day one: 16 June 2015

• Watch Parliament TV: Committee of the whole House debate on the European Union Referendum Bill, day one 
• Read Commons Hansard: Committee of the whole House debate on the European Union Referendum Bill, day one

A number of amendments were made to the Bill. Votes were held on Amendment 11 and New Clause 3. Other decisions were made without votes. The decisions made by the House of Commons are recorded in Votes and Proceedings.

• Amendment 11 was negatived on division.(Division No. 15: Ayes 97 votes, Noes 288 votes)
• New Clause 3 was negatived on division. (Division No. 16: Ayes 75 votes, Noes 313 votes)
• Read Votes and Proceedings: Tuesday 16 June 2015: item 2, European Union Referendum Bill Committee of the whole House

Related information

Summary of the European Union Referendum Bill

A Bill to make provision for the holding of a referendum in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar on whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union.

Progress of the Bill

This Government Bill was presented to Parliament on 28 May 2015. This is known as the first reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage.

The Bill had its second reading debate on Tuesday 9 June 2015.

A programme motion following second reading was agreed to. The Bill was considered by a Committee of the whole House over two days, on 16 and 18 June 2015.

The programme motion also schedules the report and third reading stages to take place over one day.

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

• Follow Bills before Parliament: European Union Referendum Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill
• Glossary: Committee of the whole House
• Glossary: Programme motion

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 Committee stage.

• Read Library briefing paper: European Union Referendum Bill 2015-16
• Read Library Briefing Paper: The UK and the EU: reform, renegotiation, withdrawal? A bibliography
• Read Library Briefing Paper: EU exit: impact in key UK policy areas
• Read Library Briefing Paper: Exiting the EU: UK reform proposals, legal impact and alternatives to membership
• Read Library Briefing Paper: In brief: UK-EU economic relations
• Commons Library News: Three briefings on EU referendum Bill published by Commons Library

What happens at a Committee of the Whole House?

When a bill passes its second reading and is considered in detail, this usually takes place in a Public Bill Committee held outside the Chamber and made up of between 16 and 20 MPs.

Occasionally a bill will be considered by a Committee of the whole House and this discussion takes place in the Chamber itself, where all MPs can take part.

Any bill can be referred to a Committee of the whole House, but the procedure is normally reserved for finance bills and other important or controversial legislation.

What happens next?

The Bill will be considered at Report and Third Reading stages over one day, on a date yet to be announced.

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.