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Trade Union Bill: Commons remaining stages

10 November 2015 (updated on 10 November 2015)

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MPs debated the remaining stages of the Trade Union Bill in the House of Commons on Tuesday 10 November 2015.

No changes were made to the Bill at report stage and the Bill passed third reading after a vote (Division 121, Ayes 305, Noes 271). 

The Bill will now be considered by the House of Lords.

Related information

Summary of the Trade Union Bill

A Bill to make provision about industrial action, trade unions, employers’ associations and the functions of the Certification Officer.

Progress of the Bill

The Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 15 July 2015 and its second reading debate was on Monday 14 September 2015.

The Trade Union Bill completed its committee stage on 27 October 2015.

Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers on the Trade Union 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.