6.1.5 Third reading

This reading considers the amended Bill: no changes may be undertaken during the third reading in the House of Commons. There is then a vote and if the majority of MPs vote in favour of the Bill it is passed to the House of Lords for its first reading: it then follows a similar process as outlined above.

Once there is mutual agreement by both Houses the final version of the Bill can receive Royal Assent. It is only upon receiving Royal Assent that the Bill will become an Act of the Westminster Parliament. The Act (statute) will either become law immediately or a date will be set for when the Act will come into force. Occasionally, the House of Lords will not agree the final amendments, and the Bill falls. However, the Parliament Acts may be utilised and this will allow the House of Commons to pass the Bill without needing the House of Lords’ consent.