ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the various origins of proposals for legislation and the differing types of Bills and discusses the differing parliamentary stages through which Bills must pass to become law, including both pre- and post-legislative scrutiny and procedures in the House of Lords. It discusses the ways in which scrutiny of a Bill may be curtailed and recent reforms relating to the timetabling and carry-over of Bills; and describes the relationship between the House of Commons and House of Lords as laid down in the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949. The chapter addresses the need and justifications for secondary legislation and the procedures by which it is scrutinised in both the House of Commons and House of Lords and evaluates the adequacy of parliamentary scrutiny of Bills and secondary legislation. In order to improve the quality of legislation, governments increasingly publish draft Bills for consideration before the Bill is presented in its proposed final form.
