HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

Room. 1 Following first reading, a motion is tabled, with at least three
sitting days’ notice, to refer the bill to a “Second Reading Committee”.
The Committee debates the bill, and reports to the House that it has
considered the bill. The second reading motion is then normally taken
without debate in the House, though it remains possible, in the event of
opposition, for amendments to be tabled or a vote to take place on the
motion. Law Commission bills are normally committed to a special public
bill committee (see below).
COMMITMENT
8.45 After second reading, either immediately or at a later date, bills are
committed to a committee on a motion in the name of the Lord in
charge of the bill. Bills are usually committed to a Committee of the
whole House or a Grand Committee. The forms of words are “That this
bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House” or “to a Grand
Committee”.
8.46 In certain cases bills may be committed to other types of
committee. These include public bill committees, special public bill
committees and select committees, which are described at paragraphs
8.105–8.123.
8.47 The House sometimes wishes, after committing a bill to one kind
of committee, to commit it to another instead. The motion is “That the
order of commitment of [date] committing the bill to an [original
committee] be discharged and that the bill be committed to a [new
committee].”
8.48 Sometimes, in order to save the time of the House, a bill is not
committed. This is the invariable practice in the case of supply bills and
the normal practice for money bills. 2 Immediately after the second reading
the Lord in charge of the bill moves “That this bill be not committed” and
the Question is put. If it is agreed to, the next stage is third reading.
Instructions
8.49 Instructions to any committee on a bill may be moved after the
second reading.
1 Procedure 1st Rpt 2007–08.
2 SO 47(1), Procedure 1st Rpt 1960–61.
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