Bills before Parliament: no debate

Often a Bill will not be debated during one or more of its stages.

  • The first reading of a Bill represents its formal presentation to Parliament and because Members have not yet had a chance to review its content there is usually no accompanying debate.
     
  • An order for commitment discharged occurs when there are no amendments tabled at the committee stage of a Bill. It will pass to its next stage without being debated by a committee.
     
  • The report stage of a Bill will not take place if the Bill was referred to a committee of the whole house and then discharged in the Commons or if the committee stage has been discharged in the Lords. In these instances the Bill will not be debated at report stage but will skip to the third reading.
     
  • No committee stage or report stage occurs for a Consolidated Fund or an Appropriation Bill.

How does a Bill become law?

Our Passage of a Bill guide shows a Bill’s journey through Parliament – find out what happens at each stage.

About Parliament

Learn how Parliament works, explore its history and find out more about its role.