Committee of the whole House
Selected letter
C
A Committee of the whole House is sometimes used instead of a Public Bill Committee for some or all of a Bill's committee stage in the Commons. It takes place in the main chamber and allows all MPs to take part in the debate and to vote on the Bill's contents.
When the House sits as a committee it is chaired by the Deputy Speaker from a seat at the Table of the House. Committees of the whole House are favoured for Bills of constitutional or ethical importance and for parts of the annual Finance Bill.
- Research Briefing: Bills whose Commons Committee stage has been taken in committee of the whole House
- Related glossary term: Committee stage