In this area you will find information on changes to the law that relate to our work and objectives, and the briefings we issue as legislation is debated. Visit 'Our views' for our statements and responses.
You can jump to the relevant section using the links below:
- Scotland Bill
- Fixed-term Parliaments Act
- Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act
- Localism Act
- Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act
- Political Parties and Elections Act
- European Union Act
For information on how a Bill becomes law, visit Parliament's website.
Scotland Bill
The Scotland Bill was introduced to Parliament on 30 November. The Bill proposes to implement recommendations of the Final Report of the Commission on Scottish Devolution (the Calman Commission). It would make changes to the finances of the Scottish Parliament, including a new Scottish rate of income tax, and make a number of adjustments to the boundary of devolved responsibilities.
In advance of its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 27 January 2011, we issued a briefing paper outlining our views on key aspects of the Bill.
Fixed-term Parliaments Act
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act (FTP) received Royal Assent on 15 September 2011, and is now law. The Act fixes the date of the next UK general election at 7 May 2015, and provides for five-year fixed terms.
We issued several briefing papers outlining our views on key aspects of the Bill during its debate in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
View the briefings we issued during debate of the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill...
- Briefing on the Second Reading of the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill (13 September 2010) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Report Stage and Third Reading of the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill (18 January 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Second Reading in the House of Lords of the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill (1 March 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Committee Stage in the House of Lords of the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill - Day 1 (15 March 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Committee Stage in the House of Lords of the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill - Day 2 (21 March 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Committee Stage in the House of Lords of the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill - Day 3 (29 March 2011) (PDF)
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act became law on 15 September 2011. The Act replaces police authorities with directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners, with the aim of improving police accountability. The first set of elections will take place on 15 November 2012.
We issued the following briefing papers outlining our views on key aspects of the Bill during its debate in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
View the briefings we issued during debate of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill...
- Briefing on the Second Reading in the House of Commons of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (13 December 2010) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Second Reading in the House of Lords of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (27 April 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Committee Stage in the House of Lords (Day 1) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (11 May 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on Report Stage in the House of Lords of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (29 June 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on House of Lords Third Reading of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (20 July 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on Commons Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (12 September 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on Lords Consideration of Commons Amendments of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (14 September 2011) (PDF)
Localism Act
The Localism Act received Royal Assent on 15 November 2011, and is now law. The Act includes measures for local referendums to be held on a range of issues, including directly elected mayors, council tax increases and certain planning decisions.
We issued the following briefings during debate of the Localism Bill in the House of Commons and House of Lords:
View the briefings we have issued during debate of the Localism Bill...
- Briefing on the Second Reading of the Localism Bill (17 January 2011)(PDF)
- Briefing on Remaining Stages of the Localism Bill (17 May 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Second Reading in the House of Lords of the Localism Bill (7 June 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Report Stage in the House of Lords of the Localism Bill (5 September 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on days 5, 6 and 7 of Report Stage in the House of Lords of the Localism Bill (10, 12 and 17 October 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Third Reading in the House of Lords of the Localism Bill (31 October 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on House of Commons consideration of Lords amendments of the Localism Bill (7 November 2011) (PDF)
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act
The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies (PVSC) Act provided for a referendum to be held on the voting system for UK Parliamentary elections on 5 May 2011. This was the same day as scheduled elections were taking place in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and some parts of England.
View the briefings we issued during debate of the PVSC Bill...
House of Commons stages
We issued the following briefing papers to MPs outlining our views on key aspects of the PVSC Bill during its debate in the House of Commons.
- Briefing on the Second Reading of the PVSC Bill (6 September 2010) (PDF)
- Briefing on Report Stage and Third Reading of the PVSC Bill (1 and 2 November 2010) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Committee Stage of the PVSC Bill - Day one (PDF)
- Briefing on the Committee Stage of the PVSC Bill - Days two to four (PDF)
- Briefing on the Committee Stage of the PVSC Bill - Day five (PDF)
House of Lords stages
The PVSC Bill entered the House of Lords on Monday 15 November. We issued the following briefings to Peers in advance of each debate.
- Briefing on the Second Reading of the PVSC Bill in the House of Lords (PDF)
- Briefing on the Committee Stage of the PVSC Bill in the House of Lords - Day one (30 November 2010) (PDF)
During the second day of Committee Stage consideration of the PVSC Bill in the House of Lords on 6 December 2010, an amendment was accepted which removed the date previously specified for the proposed referendum. Instead, the Bill as amended now provides for the referendum to be held before 31 October 2011, but does not provide a specific date for the poll to be held.
- Our statement on the PVSC Bill amendment (date of the referendum) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Committee Stage of the PVSC Bill in the House of Lords - Days four and five (13 and 15 December 2010) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Committee Stage of the PVSC Bill in the House of Lords - Day five (15 December 2010) (PDF)
The PVSC Bill has now started Report Stage in the House of Lords. We have issued a briefing paper to all Peers in advance of the debates on 7, 8 and 9 February.
The PVSC Bill received its Third Reading in the House of Lords on Monday 14 February. Below is the briefing we issued to Parliament in advance.
Consideration of amendments
The PVSC Bill has now returned to the House of Commons for their consideration of the amendments made by the House of Lords. We issued a briefing paper to all MPs before this debate.
The PVSC Bill has now returned to the House of Lords for their consideration of the latest House of Commons amendments to the Bill. We issued a briefing paper to all Peers before this debate.
Political Parties and Elections (PPE) Act
The Political Parties and Elections Act became law in July 2009. It introduced a range of significant changes to how political parties are regulated. The Act provides us with new powers and sanctions relating to our enforcement provisions and investigative work. These new powers came into effect on 1 December 2010.
European Union Act
The European Union Bill received Royal Assent on 19 July, which means that it is now an Act of Parliament. The Bill, introduced to Parliament on 11 November 2010, proposed enabling the UK to ratify a protocol to allow additional European Parliament seats for the UK and 11 other Member States during the current European Parliament term, and to legislate for the extra UK MEP.
We issued the following briefing papers outlining our views on key aspects of the Bill during its debate in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
View the briefings we issued during debate of the European Union Bill...
- Briefing on the Second Reading of the European Union Bill (7 December 2010) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Second Reading in the House of Lords of the European Union Bill (22 March 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Committee Stage in the House of Lords of the European Union Bill - Day 1 (5 April 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on House of Lords Report stage of the European Union Bill (15 June 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Third Reading in the House of Lords of the European Union Bill (23 June 2011) (PDF)
- Briefing on the Commons Consideration of Lords Amendments of the European Union Bill (7 July 2011) (PDF)
