HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

9.77 The Secretary of State then issues the provisional order. He is
entitled to make further amendments after the inquiry, and he is required
at this stage to have regard to any recommendations made by the
Chairmen or by departments. It is an essential feature of the procedure,
however, that the fullest respect is paid to the views of the
Commissioners. With the rarest exception, further amendments are
limited to matters of drafting.
Confirmation bills
9.78 No provisional order issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland
has any validity until it has been confirmed by public Act of Parliament. A
bill to confirm any such order or orders is usually introduced by the
Secretary of State in the House of Commons. A bill to confirm an order
into which no inquiry has been held is deemed to have passed through all
its stages up to and including Committee in each House. 1 In the House of
Lords, after first reading, it is put down for consideration on report. The
Lord in charge of the bill moves:
“That this bill be now considered on Report.”
9.79 The third reading and passing of the bill are usually taken on the next
convenient day. Proceedings on such a bill are usually formal. Such bills are
not printed in the Lords unless amended on consideration on report.
9.80 A bill to confirm an order into which an inquiry has been held may
be petitioned against within seven days of introduction in the House of
origin. 2 If a petition is presented, a member may, with notice, move
immediately after second reading to refer the bill to a joint committee,
which broadly follows the procedure of a select committee on an
opposed private bill. 3 Such a motion is rare. If such a motion is agreed to
in the House of Commons and the bill is passed by that House, then in
the House of Lords the bill proceeds straight from second reading to
third reading. 4 If no such motion is agreed to, then, if the bill was
introduced in the Lords, it proceeds from second reading to
consideration on report; if the bill was introduced in the Commons, it
1 s. 7(2).
2 s. 9.
3 PBSO 191.
4 PBSO 192.
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