European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill: Commons stages

Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords have agreed on the text of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The Bill received Royal Assent on 16 March 2017 becoming an Act of Parliament (law).

The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill

Summary of the Bill

"Bill to confer power on the Prime Minister to notify, under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union, the United Kingdom's intention to withdraw from the EU."

Find out more about the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal ) Bill and find out how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill: Commons Stages

Royal Assent

The Bill received Royal Assent on 16 March 2017, becoming an Act of Parliament (law).

Consideration of Lords Amendments

MPs considered Lords Amendments to the Bill on Monday 13 March 2017.

The Commons debated two Lords Amendments to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill relating to the rights of EU and EEA citizens legally resident in the UK, and to parliamentary approval for the outcome of negotiations within the European Union.

MPs disagreed to the Lords Amendments.

Lords Amendment 1 disagreed to by 335 to 287 votes (Division No. 178)
Lords Amendment 2 disagreed to by 331 to 286 votes (Division No. 179)
Read Lords Amendments to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill

The Bill returned to the House of Lords for further consideration where it was passed without further amendment.

Third Reading

The Bill passed Third Reading by 494 to 122 votes (Division No. 161)

Report Stage

When a Bill has its committee stage in a Committee of the whole House and is not amended it does not have a Report Stage. (Standing Order 72)

Committee of the whole House

No amendments were made to the Bill during Committee Stage.

Monday 6 February 2017

The amendments selected by the Chairman of Ways and Means were debated in two groups.

The first group to be debated related to parliamentary scrutiny of the process for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, including rights of EU citizens in the UK. The second group to be debated covered devolved administrations or legislatures.

Tuesday 7 February 2017

The amendments selected by the Chairman of Ways and Means were debated in two groups.

The first group to be debated related to a vote on the final terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. The second group covered proposals for impact assessments.

Wednesday 8 February 2017

The amendments selected by the Chairman of Ways and Means were discussed in a wide-ranging debate covering priorities for negotiations with the EU on the UK’s withdrawal, and other issues not covered fully in earlier debates, such as implications for Gibraltar and membership of Euratom.

Second Reading

The Second Reading of the Bill took place over two days on Tuesday 31 January and Wednesday 1 February 2017. The Bill passed Second Reading by 498 votes to 114 (Division No. 135)

Related information

House of Commons 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 produced briefing papers on the Bill and the Article 50 process.

Follow @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.

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