HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

e resumed. The Lord in the Chair then goes to the Woolsack to report
the bill to the House. 1 If the bill has been amended, an order is made for
the bill to be reprinted as amended, and the report stage takes place
(“the report is received”) on a later date.
Report received immediately
8.92 If the bill is reported without amendment, the Lord in charge of
the bill may immediately move “That this report be now received”. If this
is agreed to, the next stage is third reading. It is, however, common for a
separate report stage to be taken on a later date even when the bill has
not been amended in committee. 2 This ensures that there is an
opportunity to amend the bill before third reading.
Committee dispensed with or discharged
Committee negatived
8.93 See paragraph 8.48.
Order of commitment discharged
8.94 If no amendments have been set down to a bill and it appears that
no member wishes to move a manuscript amendment or to speak to any
clause or Schedule, the Lord in charge of the bill may move that the
order of commitment (or recommitment) be discharged. 3 This motion
may be moved only on the day the committee stage is set down for and
notice must be given on the order paper.
8.95 The Lord in charge of the bill says:
“My Lords,
I understand that no amendments have been set down to this bill, and
that no noble Lord has indicated a wish to move a manuscript
amendment or to speak in Committee.
Unless, therefore, any noble Lord objects, I beg to move that the
order of commitment [or recommitment] be discharged.”
1 Or, if the Lord Speaker or another Deputy Speaker takes over the Woolsack, the Lord who
was in the Chair may report the bill from the Government front bench.
2 Procedure 1st Rpt 1956–57.
3 SO 47(2).
142