This document summarizes the key differences between the procedures used by the House of Lords and the House of Commons for scrutinizing primary legislation in the UK. It outlines that while there are some similarities like first and second readings, the Lords process is less certain, allows all amendments to be debated, and has fewer votes. It also explains the "ping-pong" process where the two Houses resolve differences by sending amended bills back and forth until they agree on the final language.

1. © House of Lords 2015
Thursday 4 February 2016
House of Lords procedure for
primary legislation
Susannah Street, Legislation Clerk, House of
Lords

2. © House of Lords 2015
Different stages of Bill scrutiny

3. © House of Lords 2015
Lords / Commons procedures:
the similarities
• First and Second Reading (but few votes
at Second Reading in the Lords)
• Commitment to Committee of the Whole
House or away from the floor of the
House
• Orders of consideration
• Clauses and schedules stood part at
Committee but not at Report

4. © House of Lords 2015
Lords / Commons procedures:
the differences (1 of 2)
• No formal programming of bills: timetabling is
less certain
• No selection of amendments – all amendments
tabled can be debated
• Committee stage open to all members
• No evidence-taking
• No votes in Grand Committee (and increasingly
rare in Committee of the Whole House)

5. © House of Lords 2015
And more differences…
• Decisions on relevance (appeal to the
House)
• Groupings mutually agreed and non-
binding
• Report Stage amendments – rules
• Third Reading on a separate day – and
amendments can be tabled (tight rules)
• Money!

6. © House of Lords 2015
Ping-pong
• Both Houses have to agree on every word of every Bill
• ‘Ping-pong’ is how the two Houses resolve their
differences
• Second House sends amended bill back to first House
• First House has three options on each amendment:
– Agree with the amendment
– Disagree with the amendment (reason given)
– Propose something else (e.g. amendment in lieu)
• Packaging
• Key is to avoid “Double Insistence”
• Parliament Acts