Special Public Bill Procedure

HL Deb 14 January 2004 vol 657 cc84-5WA

Lord Brightman

asked the Leader of the House: Whether she will consider reviving the use of the Special Public Bill procedure (unused since 1995) in order to involve the public in suitable Bills. [HL604]

Baroness Amos

The option of referring a Bill to a Special Public Bill Committee remains open for use in appropriate cases. There are no plans at present to use it in this Session.

Another way to involve the public in scrutiny of suitable Bills is through pre-legislative scrutiny committees. The Government have published, or announced plans to publish, 10 draft Bills this Session in order to give Parliament the opportunity to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny.