Energy Bill Debated by MPs, 4 December 2013

UKParliament

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Energy Bill - Consideration of Lords amendments
Wednesday, 4th December at c.1.40pm* in the House of Commons Chamber


How it works:

The Energy Bill has been returned to the House of Commons following its passage through the House of Lords. It has now reached the stage in the Passage of a Bill referred to as ‘Parliamentary ping pong’.

When a Bill has passed through third reading in both Houses it is returned to the first House (where it started) for the second House's amendments (proposals for change) to be considered.

Both Houses must agree on the exact wording of the Bill.

There is no set time period between the third reading of a Bill and consideration of any Commons or Lords amendments.

'Ping Pong'

If the Commons makes amendments to the Bill, the Lords must consider them and either agree or disagree to the amendments or make alternative proposals.

If the Lords disagrees with any Commons amendments, or makes alternative proposals, then the Bill is sent back to the Commons.

A Bill may go back and forth between each House (‘Ping Pong’) until both Houses reach agreement.

Once both Houses reach agreement the Bill will be passed to the Queen for Royal Assent.


Summary of the Energy Bill:

• To make provision for or in connection with reforming the electricity market for purposes of encouraging low carbon electricity generation or ensuring security of supply;
• for the establishment and functions of the Office for Nuclear Regulation;
• about the government pipe-line and storage system and rights exercisable in relation to it;
• about the designation of a strategy and policy statement;
• for the making of orders requiring regulated persons to provide redress to consumers of gas or electricity;
• about offshore transmission of electricity during a commissioning period;
• for imposing further fees in respect of nuclear decommissioning costs;
• and for connected purposes.

For further information on the Energy Bill go to the Bill’s webpage at http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/energy.html

A House of Commons Library Briefing Paper providing a brief explanation of the Bill and its progress through Parliament so far is available to view at http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN06653 [PDF, 7 pages, 278 KB]


How to watch:

The debate will be streamed on Parliament TV and is available to watch live or after the event (Silverlight or Windows Media Player required to stream Parliament TV): http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=14278

Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available three hours after they happen in http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commons-debates/



* Following the conclusion of the 10 Minute Rule Motion on Recall of Elected Representatives. It may begin later if any Urgent Questions are granted on the day, as Parliamentary business is subject to change.


We hope this is of interest to some MSE'ers
Thanks
DOT

kaya

I guess they won't be discussing the £4.5 Billion in subsidies they are about to dole out to a transnational gas company for britains 8 new deep water gas rigs will they ? They allow us to be screwed over and go without whilst handing out billions of pounds of taxpayers money under the table to private companies who won't have to repay a penny but will make billions whilst we all suffer their artificially inflated prices

Road_Hog

House_of_Commons wrote:

Both Houses must agree on the exact wording of the Bill.

Not true. I suggest you read up on the Parliament Acts. The HoC can force through any bill they like.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_Acts_1911_and_1949

UKParliament

Road_Hog wrote: »

Not true. I suggest you read up on the Parliament Acts. The HoC can force through any bill they like.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_Acts_1911_and_1949

Hi Road_hog

Thank you for your comments - the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 permit the House of Commons to pass a Bill to the Monarch for Royal Assent if the Lords have refused the Bill three times in a Parliamentary year or if the Bill refers to 'Ways and Means' - e.g. the spending of public money.

However general parliamentary convention means that 'ping pong' will take place. This is due to the bicameral nature of the UK Parliament which permits for Parliamentary scrutiny.

To find out more information about the Parliament Acts please go to:
Parliament Act of 1911 - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/1-2/13/contents
Parliament Act of 1949 - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/12-13-14/103/contents

House of Commons Library Standard Note on the Parliament Acts: http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN00675

We hope this is useful?
Thanks
DOT

UKParliament

For those who may be interested in the results of the Consideration of the Lords Amendments for the Energy Bill which took place in the Commons yesterday we can now link to the Hansard transcript of the debate:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131204/debtext/131204-0002.htm#13120494000003

An amendment made by the Lords was not agreed to yesterday by the Commons so this will now be relayed back to the House of Lords.

So - the Bill is not yet ready to go to the Queen for Royal Assent.