Skip to main content
Menu

Scotland Bill: Commons remaining stages

9 November 2015 (updated on 9 November 2015)

Image of UK Parliament portcullis

MPs debated the remaining stages of the Scotland Bill in the House of Commons on Monday 9 November 2015.

The Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell MP, opened the debate.

A number of amendments were made to the Bill at report stage and the Bill passed third reading without a vote. The Bill will now be considered by the House of Lords.

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 introduced to the House of Commons on 28 May 2015. It had its second reading on 8 June 2015.

The Scotland Bill was considered in Committee of the Whole House on 15, 29 and 30 June and 6 July.

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.

What happens next?

If the Bill passes all of its stages in the House of Commons it will pass 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.