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Draft Bills 2002-03

The Government publishes a number of Bills each parliamentary session in draft form, before they are introduced in Parliament as formal Bills

Draft Bills

Listed on this page are the Draft Bills published by the Government for the 2002-03 parliamentary session. Also published are select and joint committee reports, Government responses to select or joint committee reports or consultations.

Draft Civil Contingencies Bill

The Cabinet Office on 19 June 2003 published a draft Bill which is in two parts: civil protection and emergency powers. The Bill was intended to replace the Civil Defence Act 1948.

The Civil Contingencies Bill was introduced into Parliament on 7 January 2004 and received Royal Assent on 18 November 2004.

Draft Corruption Bill

The Home Office on the 24 March 2003 published a draft Bill. The draft Bill was intended to modernises the law by bringing together all offences of corruption in a single statute and addressing existing lacunae.

The Joint Committee on the Draft Corruption Bill heavily criticised the Bill and recommended that the scheme of offences be restructured. In an attempt to seek a new consensus on the way forward, the Government held a consultation process in 2005.

The consultation revealed that there was broad support for reform of the existing law but no consensus as to how it can best be achieved. As a result, in March 2007 the Government asked the Law Commission to take forward the findings of the Government’s consultation and to consider the options for reform further. The Government then published in March 2009 the Draft Bribery Bill.

Draft Gender Recognition Bill

The Department for Constitutional Affairs (now known as the Ministry of Justice) on 11 July 2003 published a draft bill. This was the Government’s response to decisions taken by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the House of Lords, holding that aspects of English legislation violated rights under ECHR Article 8 (respect for private life) and Article 12 (right to marry) so far as it refuses to give legal recognition to a transsexual person’s reassigned gender.

The Gender Recognition Bill was introduced to Parliament on 27 November 2003 and received Royal Assent on 1 July 2004.

Draft Mental Incapacity Bill

The Department for Constitutional Affairs (now known as the Ministry of Justice) on 27 June 2003 published a draft bill. The draft Bill proposed to reform the law in order to improve and clarify the decision making process for those aged 16 and over who are unable to make decisions for themselves.

The Mental Capacity Bill was introduced to Parliament on 17 June 2004. It was carried over into the 2004-05 session and received Royal Assent on 7 April 2005.

Draft Nuclear Sites and Radioactive Substances Bill

The Department of Trade and Industry (now known as the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) on 24 June 2003 published a draft bill. The draft Bill proposed plans to transfer the responsibility for the management of the UK’s civil public sector nuclear liabilities from British Nuclear Fuels Ltd and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to an independent authority.

The Trade and Industry Committee were broadly content that the draft Bill would provide the correct framework to give effect to the Government's plans for a coherent strategy for the decommissioning and clean-up of the UK civil nuclear liability through the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.  

The Energy Bill was introduced to Parliament on 22 November 2003 and received Royal Assent on 22 July 2004.

Draft clauses to the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill

The Northern Ireland Office on 9 December 2002 published draft clauses to the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill.

The Police (Northern Ireland) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 5 December 2002 and received Royal Assent on 8 April 2003.

Draft Public Audit (Wales) Bill

The Wales Office on 3 April 2003 published a draft bill. The draft Bill proposed plans to create a new Wales Audit Office under the Auditor General for Wales, to embrace local government and NHS bodies as well as the National Assembly for Wales and its sponsored bodies.

The Public Audit (Wales) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 27 November 2003 and received Royal Assent on 16 September 2004.

In this section

What is a Draft Bill?

Draft Bills from previous sessions

Draft Bills that were published in previous parliamentary sessions are available to view.

What is a Draft Bill?

A Draft Bill is published to enable consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny. After consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny has taken place, the Draft Bill may be introduced formally in House of Commons or the House of Lords.

Most Draft Bills are examined either by select committees in the House of Commons or in the House of Lords or by a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament.

What is a Draft Bill?

Draft Bills from previous sessions

Draft Bills that were published in previous parliamentary sessions are available to view.

What is a Draft Bill?

A Draft Bill is published to enable consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny. After consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny has taken place, the Draft Bill may be introduced formally in House of Commons or the House of Lords.

Most Draft Bills are examined either by select committees in the House of Commons or in the House of Lords or by a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament.