UK Parliament — House of Commons

After any public bill has been first printed, the Speaker shall, if of the opinion that its provisions relate exclusively to Scotland, give a certificate to that effect: Provided that a certificate shall not be withheld by reason only that the bill-

makes minor consequential amendments of enactments which extend to England and Wales or Northern Ireland; or

amends Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 or Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975.

On the order being read for the second reading of a bill so certified, a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown (or in the case of a private Member's bill, by the Member in charge of the bill), 'That the bill be referred to the Scottish Grand Committee'; and the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed: Provided that such a motion may be made by a private Member only with the leave of the House.

A bill so referred to the Scottish Grand Committee shall be considered on a motion, 'That the Committee has considered the bill in relation to its principle'; and, when the committee has considered that question for a total of two and half hours (whether on one or more than one day), the chair shall put the question necessary to dispose of the motion, and shall then report accordingly to the House (or shall report that the committee has come to no resolution), without any further question being put thereon: Provided that a Minister of the Crown may, immediately before the motion 'That the Committee has considered the bill in relation to its principle', is made, make without notice a motion to extend the time-limit specified in this paragraph; and the question on such motion shall be put forthwith.

A bill in respect of which a report has been made under paragraph (3) above shall be ordered to be read a second time on a future day.

On the order being read for the second reading of a bill to which paragraph (4) above applies, a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown (or, in the case of a private Member's bill, by the Member in charge of the bill), 'That the bill be committed to a Scottish public bill committee'; and the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed.

If a motion made under the preceding paragraph be agreed to, the bill shall be deemed to have been read a second time, and shall stand committed to a Scottish public bill committee.

At the conclusion of proceedings on consideration on report of a bill in respect of which a report has been made under paragraph (3) above, or on the order being read for the third reading of such a bill, a motion may be made by a Minister of the Crown (or in the case of a private Member's bill, by the Member in charge of the bill), 'That the Bill be referred again to the Scottish Grand Committee'; and the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed: Provided that such a motion may be made by a private Member only with the leave of the House.

A bill so referred again to the Scottish Grand Committee shall be considered on a motion, 'That the Committee has further considered the bill in relation to its principle'; and, when the committee has considered that question for a total of one and a half hours (whether on one or more than one day), the chair shall put the question necessary to dispose of the motion, and shall then report accordingly to the House (or shall report that the committee has come to no resolution), without any further question being put thereon: Provided that a Minister of the Crown may, immediately before the motion 'That the Committee has further considered the bill in relation to its principle' is made, make without notice a motion to extend the time-limit specified in this paragraph; and the question on such motion shall be put forthwith.

A bill in respect of which a report has been made under paragraph (8) above shall be ordered to be read the third time on a future day.

When a motion shall have been made for the third reading of a bill to which paragraph (9) above applies, the question thereon shall be put forthwith and may be decided at any hour, though opposed.

If, after any public bill has been printed, whether introduced in this House or brought from the House of Lords, Mr. Speaker is of opinion that its provisions relate exclusively to Scotland, he shall give a certificate to that effect.

On the order for the second reading of any such bill being read, a motion, to be decided without amendment or debate, may be made by a minister of the crown, ' That the bill be referred to the standing committee on Scottish bills', provided that if the motion shall have been objected to by not less than ten members, it shall pass in the negative.

A bill so referred to the standing committee shall be considered in relation to the principle of the bill, and shall be reported as having been so considered to the House and shall be ordered to be read a second time upon a future day.

When the order of the day for the second reading of any such bill has been read, a motion to be decided without amendment or debate may be made by a minister of the crown 'That the bill be committed to the standing committee on Scottish bills': Provided that this paragraph shall not apply in the case of any bill to the second reading of which notice of an amendment has been given by not less than six members.

If such a motion shall have been agreed to, the bill shall be deemed to have been read a second time, and shall be committed to the standing committee on Scottish bills, and shall proceed through its remaining stages according to the ordinary practice of the House.