HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

Procedure on introduction: Lords bills
8.14 A member who wishes to present a bill rises in his place at the
beginning of public business after oral questions or (on rare occasions) at
the end of public business immediately before the adjournment of the
House. 1 He introduces the bill by saying only:
“My Lords, I beg to introduce a bill to [long title of bill]. I beg to move
that this bill be now read a first time.”
8.15 The Question is put from the Woolsack. The first reading of a bill
is agreed to without dissent or debate, both as a matter of courtesy and
because the House usually has no knowledge of the bill until it is printed.
8.16 A bill may be introduced by a member on behalf of another
member.
Procedure on introduction: Commons bills
8.17 A bill which has been introduced in the Commons and which has
passed through all its stages in that House is brought to the Lords by a
Commons Clerk with a message stating that the Commons have passed
the bill. The message is read by the Clerk at the Table as soon as the
item of business in progress has ended, and the first reading of the bill
(whether a government bill or a private member’s bill) is moved
immediately by a government Whip.
8.18 As with Lords bills, the first reading of a bill brought from the
Commons is agreed to without discussion, both as a matter of courtesy
to the Commons and because at this stage no member has formally
taken charge of it.
8.19 The Lord taking charge of a Commons bill should inform the
Public Bill Office.
Bills brought up and printed when Lords not sitting
8.20 A bill passed by the Commons may be carried up to the Public Bill
Office when the Lords are not sitting. Under SO 50 it is deemed to have
been brought from the Commons on that day and the bill and any
explanatory notes may be printed before first reading if this is for the
convenience of the House.
1 SO 41(3).
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