§ Lord Norton of Louthasked the Leader of the House:
What progress has been made to ensure that Bills carried over from one Session to another are subject to a specified time limit. [HL340]
§ Lord Williams of MostynIn the last parliamentary Session both Houses agreed a process whereby Bills26WA could be carried over from one Session to the next in order to provide greater time for legislative scrutiny and create a smoother flow of legislation throughout the year.
This House agreed on 24 July that if a Bill that has been carried over does not reach the statute book by the end of the Session following carry-over, it will fall. The House of Commons has also agreed that no Bill should be carried over for more than one Session (House of Commons temporary Standing Order on carry-over of Bills, para 4, agreed 29 October 2002. See also para 39, 2nd Report of the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons, Session 2001–02). Therefore any Bill that is carried over w' II be subject to a time limit of no more than one Session following the Session from which it has been carried over.
The House of Commons has also agreed that, if a Bill carried over in the Commons is not completed within 12 months after its First Reading in the House of Commons, then it should not be further proceeded with without a fresh Motion (House of Commons temporary Standing Order on carry-over of Bills, para 10, agreed 20 October 2002).