HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

provisional order confirmation bills. The statement is usually set out on
the cover page of a bill as first printed for each House; where bills are not
printed for the Lords the statement is publicised by means of a written
statement.
8.25 The minister who makes the statement should under normal
circumstances move the second reading of the bill. If that minister is
unable to do so, another minister should do so on the basis that he or
she is acting on behalf of the minister who has made the statement. 1
8.26 Section 19 does not apply to a private member’s bill.
Notice of subsequent stages
8.27 It is for the Lord who is in charge of a bill to give notice of a date
for second reading, and for the stages thereafter. When a day is fixed for
the second reading, or for any subsequent stage, notice is given in House
of Lords Business.
8.28 A member may move any stage of a bill on behalf of the Lord in
charge of the bill. Bills once introduced are in the possession of the
House and not in the sole ownership of the Lord in charge. 2
Government and private members’ bills
8.29 There is no procedural distinction between bills sponsored by a
minister and those introduced by other members of the House, save in
respect of carry-over and human rights statements. In practice the House
normally accords priority to proceedings on government bills except
where private members’ bills are not expected to give rise to debate. But
there is no concept of government or private members’ “time” in the
Lords, nor any specific time when government or private members’ bills
are taken.
8.30 Two booklets, Taking part in public bills in the House of Lords and
A Guide to House of Lords amendment style, and a leaflet Promoting a
private member’s bill in the House of Lords, are available to members
from the Public Bill Office.
1 Procedure 1st Rpt 2001–02.
2 HL Deb. 19 July 1989, cols 788–91; Procedure 3rd Rpt 1992–93.
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