ABSTRACT
The scrutiny of legislation occupies the largest, and an increasing, proportion of the time of the House. Bills, other than financial Bills, which fall within the exclusive powers of the House of Commons, can be introduced in either the Commons or the Lords. The majority of government Bills will be introduced in the Commons and, having passed the Commons’ stages of scrutiny, will be passed to the House of Lords, although many Bills are introduced in the Lords. The process of scrutiny in the Lords in some respects mirrors that in the Commons, and Bills receive a formal first reading, followed by the second reading debate and then ‘stand committed’ for the committee stage, after which the Bill is reported back to the House and then receives its third reading.
