In relation to bills and subordinate legislation, the practice of the House is governed by the principle that no proposal to reject or amend a bill or instrument in the form in which it is then before the House shall be agreed to unless there is a majority in favour of such rejection or amendment.

Similarly, no proposal to reject or amend any motion relating to the stages of a bill shall be agreed to unless there is a majority in favour of such rejection or amendment.

In relation to all other matters, the practice of the House is governed by the principle that the Question before the House shall be decided in the negative unless there is a majority in its favour.

In this Standing Order, “stages of a bill” means first reading, second reading, committee of the whole House, report, third reading, consideration of Commons amendments and consideration of Commons reasons.