HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

Marshalled lists of amendments are published on the day of third reading
itself, rather than the day before as for other stages. When third reading
is on a Thursday, the marshalled list may be published the previous day. 1
Admissibility of amendments
8.145 The practice of the House is normally to resolve major points of
difference by the end of report stage, and to use third reading for tidying
up the bill. 2
8.146 The principal purposes of amendments on third reading are:
to clarify any remaining uncertainties;
to improve the drafting; and
to enable the government to fulfil undertakings given at earlier
stages of the bill.
8.147 An issue which has been fully debated and voted on or negatived
at a previous stage of a bill may not be reopened by an amendment on
third reading. 3
8.148 Where the Public Bill Office considers that amendments fall clearly
outside the guidance, including, for example, amendments which are
identical, or very similar, to ones tabled and withdrawn at Committee and
Report, or amendments raising completely new major issues, it will advise
the member concerned. If the member tables the amendments
notwithstanding this advice, the Public Bill Office sends notification of
these amendments to all members of the Usual Channels and to the
Convenor of the Crossbench Peers. They may then draw the matter to
the attention of the House; it is for the House itself to decide what action
to take. 4
8.149 In all other respects the procedure on third reading is the same as
that on report.
1 Procedure 3rd Rpt 2003–04.
2 Procedure 2nd Rpt 2005–06.
3 Procedure 2nd Rpt 1976–77. The term “issue” is wider than a specific amendment. Thus
where amendments have been grouped together at an earlier stage of the bill it may be
assumed that all amendments in the group relate to the same “issue”.
4 Procedure 1st Rpt 2006–07.
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