Digital Economy Bill: Commons stages
28 April 2017
Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords have agreed on the text of the Digital Economy Bill. The Bill received Royal Assent on 27 April 2017 becoming an Act of Parliament (law).
The Digital Economy Bill 2016-17
Summary of the Bill
The Digital Economy Bill aims to:
- make provision about electronic communications infrastructure and services
- provide for restricting access to online pornography
- make provision about protection of intellectual property in connection with electronic communications
- make provision about data-sharing
- make provision about functions of OFCOM in relation to the BBC
- provide for determination by the BBC of age-related TV licence fee concessions
- make provision about the regulation of direct marketing; to make other provision about OFCOM and its functions
Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers, on the Digital Economy Bill and find out how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.
- Bills before Parliament: Digital Economy Bill
- About Parliament: Passage of a Bill through Parliament
Digital Economy Bill: Commons stages
Royal Assent
The Digital Economy Bill received Royal Assent on 27 April 2017, becoming an Act of Parliament (law).
Consideration of Lords Amendments
MPs considered Lords amendments to the Digital Economy Bill on Wednesday 26 April 2017. MPs disagreed to some Lords amendments to the Digital Economy Bill. A Reasons Committee was appointed and the Bill now returned to the Lords for further consideration. The House of Lords agreed to the amendments and the Bill received Royal Assent on 27 April 2017.
- Watch Parliament TV: Consideration of Lords amendments to the Digital Economy Bill
- Read Commons Hansard: Consideration of Lords amendments to the Digital Economy Bill
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Information technology
Report Stage, Legislative Grand Committee and Third Reading
MPs considered Lords amendments to the Digital Economy Bill in the House of Commons on Wednesday 26 April 2017.
A number of amendments were made at Report Stage.
The Legislative Grand Committee (England) agreed to a consent motion without a division.
The Bill passed Third Reading without a division and returned to the House of Lords for further consideration.
- Watch Parliament TV: Remaining stages of the Digital Economy Bill
- Read Commons Hansard: Remaining stages of the Digital Economy Bill
Committee stage
The Public Bill Committee considered the Bill from 11 October to 1 November 2016. The Public Bill Committee then reported the Bill to the House with amendments.
Find out more about the Public Bill Committee:
Second Reading
MPs debated the Second Reading of the Digital Economy Bill in the House of Commons on Tuesday 13 September 2016. The Bill passed Second Reading without a division.
- Watch Parliament TV: Second Reading of the Digital Economy Bill
- Read Commons Hansard: Second Reading of the Digital Economy Bill
Related information
House of Commons Library analysis
The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs and their staff 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 Bill.
- Read Library briefing paper: Commons Library analysis of the Digital Economy Bill
- Read Library briefing paper: Committee Stage Report on the Digital Economy Bill
- Read Library briefing paper: Digital Economy Bill: Lords Amendments
Watching proceedings from the public gallery
UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery.
Follow @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.
Please fill in our quick feedback survey to help us improve our news content.