HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

9.61 If the bill is opposed, it is referred to a select committee of five
members named by the Chairman of Committees and proceeded with in
the same manner as any other opposed private bill. 1 The Chairman of
Committees may propose that an unopposed bill be treated as opposed.
9.62 No committee may consider a personal bill until 10 days after the
second reading. 2
9.63 The proceedings on third reading and passing of a personal bill are
the same as for an ordinary private bill, but Royal Assent is given in the
form “Soit fait comme il est désiré.”
Marriage enabling bills
9.64 Bills to enable persons to marry within the prohibited degrees of
affinity are subject to a special procedure, intended to avoid discussion of
personal details on the floor of the House. 3 The bill is granted a second
reading without debate and is then committed to a select committee
consisting of the Chairman of Committees, a bishop and two other
members, which examines the promoters of the bill on oath in private
before deciding whether the bill should proceed.
2: PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION BILLS
9.65 Procedure by way of a provisional order confirmation bill is
simpler than private bill procedure. It is available only where a statute so
provides, and has now been largely superseded by procedure outside
Parliament. No such bills have been introduced since 1980; and the
provisional order confirmation bill procedure has fallen into disuse.
3: SCOTTISH PRIVATE LEGISLATION
9.66 Private legislation on matters affecting interests in Scotland, and
not wholly within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, is
governed by the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936. 4 A
person seeking such legislation does not present a petition for a private
bill to Parliament but submits a draft order to the Secretary of State for
1 PBSO 161.
2 PBSO 159.
3 Procedure 2nd Rpt 1985–86.
4 s. 1(1).
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