The Legislative Process: 1st Report of Session 2005-06 Report, Together With Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

The Legislative Process: 1st Report of Session 2005-06 Report, Together With Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons
Publisher: Stationery Office/Tso
ISBN: 9780215030559
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 189

Get Book Here

Book Description
This report makes a number of conclusions and recommendations for revised procedures so that it is easier for the general public, as well as lobby groups, representative organisations and other stakeholders to influence Parliament's consideration of bills. Issues discussed include: the volume of legislation; pre-legislative scrutiny; information about bills; programming; second, committee and third reading stages; consideration of Lords amendments; timing of votes; and resource implications. Recommendations include that pre-legislative scrutiny of draft bills should become more widespread, and as a matter of routine, Government bills should be referred to committees with the power to take evidence and to amend bills. For greater clarity, standing committees should be renamed as 'public bill committees' in relation to bills and 'delegated legislation committees' in relation to statutory instruments. The standing committee stage could be improved by increasing the notice period for amendments, and the Commons should begin to computerise standing committee papers and provide on-screen access to papers in committee rooms. There should be a more flexible approach to the timing of bills to allow for longer second reading debates on some bills and shorter debates on others as required. Parliament should improve the quality of its information provision, using a series of 'legislation gateways' on its internet site to provide a single source of information for each bill, and there should be greater use of information currently available, such as the Government's Regulation Impact Assessments.

The Legislative Process: 1st Report of Session 2005-06 Report, Together With Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

The Legislative Process: 1st Report of Session 2005-06 Report, Together With Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons
Publisher: Stationery Office/Tso
ISBN: 9780215030559
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 189

Get Book Here

Book Description
This report makes a number of conclusions and recommendations for revised procedures so that it is easier for the general public, as well as lobby groups, representative organisations and other stakeholders to influence Parliament's consideration of bills. Issues discussed include: the volume of legislation; pre-legislative scrutiny; information about bills; programming; second, committee and third reading stages; consideration of Lords amendments; timing of votes; and resource implications. Recommendations include that pre-legislative scrutiny of draft bills should become more widespread, and as a matter of routine, Government bills should be referred to committees with the power to take evidence and to amend bills. For greater clarity, standing committees should be renamed as 'public bill committees' in relation to bills and 'delegated legislation committees' in relation to statutory instruments. The standing committee stage could be improved by increasing the notice period for amendments, and the Commons should begin to computerise standing committee papers and provide on-screen access to papers in committee rooms. There should be a more flexible approach to the timing of bills to allow for longer second reading debates on some bills and shorter debates on others as required. Parliament should improve the quality of its information provision, using a series of 'legislation gateways' on its internet site to provide a single source of information for each bill, and there should be greater use of information currently available, such as the Government's Regulation Impact Assessments.

How Our Laws are Made

How Our Laws are Made PDF Author: John V. Sullivan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Government publications
Languages : en
Pages : 72

Get Book Here

Book Description


Congressional Record

Congressional Record PDF Author: United States. Congress
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 1316

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873. Debates for sessions prior to 1873 are recorded in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (1789-1824), the Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873)

Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill

Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Procedure Committee
Publisher: Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215028020
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 55

Get Book Here

Book Description
The central provisions of part 1 of the Bill introduce a new power under which ministers may make orders which amend primary legislation, but this power is not subject to the constraints and restrictions which apply to the existing system of regulatory reform orders. This report's purpose is to assist the House of Commons in its consideration of the Bill at report stage and third reading. The Regulatory Reform Committee (RRC) had earlier reported on the Bill (HC 878, session 2004-05, ISBN 0215027361), and made many recommendations which the Government accepted. The Committee regrets that promised Government amendments to the Bill accepting the RRC recommendations have not been presented. The Government chose not to commit consideration of Part 1 to a committee of the whole House, which the Committee finds unusual in a Bill of such major constitutional importance. And the time allowed for report and third reading stages is insufficient. The Committee does not believe that the fundamental concerns over the powers in the Bill can be addressed by ministerial assurances. The merits of any legislation must be judged by what its provisions state. The provisions of this Bill, as reported from the standing committee, do not provide adequate levels of parliamentary scrutiny over, or safeguards against the misuse of, the order making powers they contain.

Revitalising the Chamber

Revitalising the Chamber PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215034678
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 212

Get Book Here

Book Description
This report makes recommendations to improve the process by which Members learn and develop their careers. If implemented the recommendations would mean: extending the period between a General Election and the date of first sitting, to allow for a longer period of induction; allocating part of most question times to topical questions; extra debates on topical matters on a weekly basis; shorter debates on most general issues and some legislation; a weekly half-hour slot for debating Select Committee Reports; more comprehensible motions; shorter speeches; greater flexibility on time limits on speeches; and the reintroduction, on a trial basis, of Private Members' Motions in Westminster Hall.

Scrutiny of the draft legislative programme

Scrutiny of the draft legislative programme PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215038234
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 64

Get Book Here

Book Description
This report, from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons, presents the first inquiry into the Governance of Britain, all issued as Command Papers and published in 2007: (Cm. 7170, ISBN 9780101717021; Cm. 7175, ISBN 9780101717526; Cm. 7192, ISBN 9780101719223; Cm. 7210, ISBN 9780101721028; Cm. 7231, ISBN 9780101723121; Cm. 7235, ISBN 9780101723527; Cm. 7239, ISBN 9780101723923). It considers Parliament's role in scrutinising the proposed legislative programme, including arrangements for publication and debate as well as wider consultative strategies. The Committee has set out a number of conclusions and recommendations, including: the Committee believes that the use of plain English in the Draft Legislative Programme is to be commended, and the Government should consider extending the approach to programmed Bills on a trial basis; that the Government's main non-legislative plans should be included in the Draft Legislative Programme, alongside the list of proposed bills, in order that a full programme of government is available for scrutiny; that there is a benefit to be derived from the presentation of the Government's legislative programme as a whole and that the Draft Legislative Programme should be published earlier in the year, preferably before Easter, so that select committee scrutiny and public consultation can be carried out more effectively; that the Draft Legislative Programme should be the subject of a separate debate in Parliament.

European Financial Services Regulation

European Financial Services Regulation PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Treasury Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215029171
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 148

Get Book Here

Book Description
The EU's ambitious Financial Services Action Plan, started in 1999, is drawing to an end. A single market in wholesale financial services exists. Many retail financial services institutions are expanding through acquisitions of banks and insurers across Europe, though the prospect of a single market in such services, with comparable products and services available to consumers direct across borders, is not a realistic proposition in the near future. The Commission has set out its policy objectives for 2005-2010, attaching greater importance to consistent and workable implementation of existing legislation. The Committee welcomes this, and the commitment to ensure that any new regulation will have a clear benefit to the European economy. The Committee examined three specific case studies: implementation of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), the consideration of a Clearing and Settlement Directive, and consideration of mortgage credit in the context of the development of a single market in retail financial services. In all the Commission will need to demonstrate its commitment to "better regulation", and its new focus on implementation and enforcement. The Committee is concerned that MiFID will not be implemented consistently across Europe. It finds that the case for a new mortgage directive remains unproven, and that there is a clear need to reduce the additional costs associated with clearing and settlement across borders.

Re-licensing

Re-licensing PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: ODPM: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215027870
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 112

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Licensing Act 2003 brought ten existing licensing schemes administered by local authorities into one new regime, and created more flexible licensing hours. This report concentrates on the technicalities of licensing: all those applying for a licence for the first time or needing a new licence under the Act had to submit applications by a certain date. The transition period was in 2005, and it soon became apparent that people involved in the 're-licensing' process were encountering difficulties. The Committee finds that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has failed to administer the transition period effectively. Despite a two-year gap between the passing of the legislation and the implementation of the Act, regulations and guidance were issued late, and proved to be contradictory and confusing. Local authorities were unable to train staff or prepare application materials in good time. There was inadequate support from central government for local authorities. Many licensing fees rose dramatically, leading to concerns that some small businesses might abandon their licensable activities. The regulatory burden on residents, licensees and local authorities appears to have increased. The government does not appear to recognise some of the issues hindering the smooth operation of the Act. Overly-prescriptive regulations and unhelpful constraints on local government structure are both causing difficulties.

The Sewel Convention

The Sewel Convention PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215029249
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 88

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Sewel Convention seeks to ensure that the UK Parliament legislates on devolved matters only with the express agreement of the Scottish Parliament, and consent is also required for legislation on reserved matters if it alters the powers of the Scottish Parliament or Scottish Ministers. Following on from a report by the Scottish Parliament Procedures Committee on the operation of the Convention (SP paper 428, 7th report, session 2 (2005) (ISBN 1406113220) published in October 2005), the Committee's report focuses on ways of improving the communications procedure between the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments, and how MPs could be better alerted that a particular Bill before Parliament had been subject to a Sewel motion in the Scottish Parliament. Recommendations made include: the introduction of a formal process whereby the Scottish Parliament notifies Westminster when a Sewel motion has been passed and the 'tagging' of all relevant public Bills; and the need for an explicit statement on explanatory notes to Bills as to which parts of the UK the provisions will affect. The report also recommends the further consideration of the need to establish a 'Super' Scottish Grand Committee, composed of Scottish MPs, MSPs and Scottish MEPs, to discuss matters of mutual interest.

The Courts

The Courts PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Constitutional Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215026438
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 104

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Committee's report examines the small claims system in the county court, focusing on the following issues: provision of IT facilities and listing procedures, enforcement of judgements, limits on claims for personal injury and housing disrepair, and proposals for a European Small Claims Procedure to cover cross-border cases. The Committee finds that the small claims system generally works well in providing a low cost, good quality procedure for large numbers of litigants which is more informal and quicker than ordinary proceedings. However, the report also identifies a number of areas for improvement, including the need to introduce electronic document management and listing software to increase work efficiency; to improve enforceability of judgements; and to review financial limits for claims relating to personal injury and housing disrepair.