Commons remaining stages: European Union Referendum Bill
7 September 2015 (updated on 7 September 2015)
MPs debated the remaining Commons stages of the European Union Referendum Bill in the House of Commons on Monday 7 September 2015.
The European Union Referendum Bill passed the Report Stage and Third Reading in the House of Commons. A number of amendments were made to the Bill at Report stage.
- Watch Parliament TV: Remaining stages of the European Union Referendum Bill
- Read Commons Hansard: Remaining stages of the European Union Referendum Bill
- Catch up on Commons news: Committee stage European Union Referendum Bill
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: European Union
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. It 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.
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.
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.
- Read Library Briefing Paper: Exiting the EU: UK reform proposals, legal impact and alternatives to membership
- Read Library Briefing Paper: EU exit: impact in key UK policy areas
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.