Scotland Bill: Commons Committee stage

MPs debated the Scotland Bill in a Committee of the whole House over four days, on 15, 29 and 30 June and 6 July 2015 .

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

Committee of the whole House: day one

Watch Parliament TV: Committee of the whole House (day 1) debate on the Scotland Bill
Read Commons Hansard: Committee of the whole House (day 1) debate on the Scotland Bill

The first day of debate on the Scotland Bill took place in a Committee of the whole House, a number of amendments were made to the Bill.

Clause 1 (The Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government) was agreed to after proposed Amendment 16 was withdrawn and Amendment no.8 was negatived on division. (Division No. 8: Ayes 271 votes, Noes 302 votes)
Clause 2 (The Sewel convention) was agreed to after proposed Amendment 39 was withdrawn.
Clause 3 (Elections) was agreed to after proposed Amendment 60 was withdrawn and Amendments 92 to 98 were made.
Clause 4 (Power to make provision about elections) was agreed to after Amendments 99 and 100 were made.
Clause 5 (Timing of elections) was agreed to after Amendment 101 was made and Amendment no.43 was negatived on division. (Division No. 9: Ayes 269 votes, Noes 305 votes)
Clause 6 (Electoral registration: the digital service) was agreed to after Amendments 102 to 105 were made.
Clauses 7 and 8 were agreed to.
Clause 9 (Minor and consequential amendments: elections etc.) was agreed to after amendments 106 and 107 were made.
Clause 10 (Super-majority requirement for certain legislation) was agreed to after proposed Amendment 62 was withdrawn.
Clause 11 (Scope to modify the Scotland Act 1998) was agreed to after Amendments 108 to 110 were made and Amendment no.89 was negatived on division. (Division No. 10: Ayes 60 votes, Noes 309 votes)
The question that New Clause 2 be read a second time was negatived on division. (Division No.11: Ayes 218 votes, Noes 306 votes)
New Clause 3 was negatived on division. (Division No. 12: Ayes 68 votes, Noes 298 votes)
New Clause 5 was negatived on division. (Division No. 13: Ayes 274 votes, Noes 309 votes)
New Clause 10 was negatived on division. (Division No. 14: Ayes 63 votes, Noes 309 votes)

Committee of the whole House: day two

Committee of the whole House: day three

Committee of the whole House: day four

Related information

Summary of the Scotland Bill

A Bill to amend the Scotland Act 1998 and make provision about the functions of the Scottish Ministers; and for connected purposes.

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 passed second reading on Monday 8 June 2015.

Following second reading the House of Commons agreed a programme motion. The programme motion scheduled the Bill to be considered in a Committee of the whole House over four days.

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 Scotland Bill and find out how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

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.

What happens at a Committee of the whole House?

When a Bill passes its second reading and is considered in detailed, 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.