A draft law takes the form of a parliamentary Bill. It must go through
the necessary stages in both Houses of Parliament. The Queen must signify
her approval, which is a formality. The Bill then becomes an Act and enters
into force on the day the Bill receives the Royal Assent, unless the Act
provides for other dates. [ Making
New Law | Bill
procedure ]
Note: only one of the Child Support sections (section 24) of the 2000
Act entered into force immediately. The remaining sections are being entered
into force as a result of Commencement Orders.
| Dates |
Legislative stage |
References |
| 1998-03-23 |
Important brief debate in the Commons,
with the Cabinet Minister, Harriet Harman, identifying some of the
questions being considered for the reforms. |
Commons
Hansard |
|
1998-07-06
to
1998-11-30
|
Green Paper (consultation document) - period from issue to end
of consultation.
|
CHILDREN
FIRST: a new approach to child support |
| 1998-07-22 |
Social Security Select Committee
- Oral Evidence, after the Green Paper was issued |
SSSC
- Oral Evidence |
| 1999-07-01 |
White Paper (proposal/policy document)
issued. |
A
new contract for welfare: CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND PARENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES |
| 1999-11-10 |
Social Security Select Committee
- Tenth Report, The 1999 Child Support White Paper |
SSSC
- Tenth Report |
| 1999-12-01 |
Commons first reading. (The first
reading of a public bill is a formality. Once formally presented,
a bill is printed and proceeds to a second reading). |
Commons
Hansard |
| 1999-12-17 |
Government's Response to the Social
Security Committee's Report on The 1999 Child Support White Paper |
DSS
publications |
| 1999-12-20 |
Child Support provisions in the
Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill (PDF file). |
House
of Commons Library Research Papers |
| 2000-01-11 |
Commons second reading. (This provides
the first main occasion for debate on the general principles of a
bill). |
Commons
Hansard |
| 2000-01-19 |
Social Security Select Committee
- First Report, Power to Incur Expenditure under Section 82 of the
Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999: New Information Technology System
for the Child Support Agency (Further Report) |
Social
Security - Report |
|
2000-01-18
to
2000-03-07
|
Commons committee stage. (The committee
considers each bill clause by clause and may make amendments). |
Standing
Committee F |
| 2000-03-08 |
Social Security Select Committee
- Second Report Power to Incur Expenditure under Section 82 of the
Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999: New Information Technology System
for the Child Support Agency (Further Report) |
Social
Security - Report |
|
2000-03-29
2000-04-03
|
Commons report stage. (The report
stage is an opportunity for members not serving on the standing committee
to propose further amendments or new clauses to a bill). |
Commons
Hansard
Commons
Hansard
|
| 2000-04-03 |
Commons third reading. (At the third
reading a bill is reviewed in its final form including amendments
made at earlier stages). |
Commons
Hansard |
| 2000-04-05 |
Lords first reading. (The first
reading of a public bill is a formality. Once formally presented,
a bill is printed and proceeds to a second reading). |
Lords
Hansard |
| 2000-04-17 |
Lords second reading. (This provides
the first main occasion for debate on the general principles of a
bill). |
Lords
Hansard |
|
2000-04-19
|
Lords - motion for approval |
Lords
Hansard
|
|
2000-05-08
2000-05-15
2000-05-22
|
Lords committee stage. (The committee
considers each bill clause by clause and may make amendments). |
Lords
Hansard
Lords
Hansard
Lords
Hansard
|
|
2000-05-25
|
Lords - motion for approval |
Lords
Hansard
|
|
2000-06-22
2000-06-27
|
Lords report stage. (The report
stage is an opportunity for members not serving on the standing committee
to propose further amendments or new clauses to a bill). |
Lords
Hansard
Lords
Hansard
|
| 2000-07-19 |
Lords third reading. (At the third
reading a bill is reviewed in its final form including amendments
made at earlier stages). |
Lords
Hansard |
| 2000-07-24 |
Commons - Lords Amendments considered |
Commons
Hansard |
| 2000-07-25 |
Lords - Returned from the Commons |
Lords
Hansard |
| 2000-07-26 |
Lords - Commons reasons considered |
Lords
Hansard |
| 2000-07-28 |
Royal Assent. |
Lords
Hansard
|
| 2002-03-20 |
The Announcement of the delay to
the reformed scheme, plus subsequent discussion. |
Commons
Hansard |
| 2002-05-22 |
Work and Pensions Select Committee
- Minutes of Evidence, mostly about the delay to the reformed scheme. |
WPSC
- Minutes of evidence |
| 2003-01-27 |
Announcement that the new scheme
would start for new customers on 3rd March 2003. |
Commons
Hansard |
| |
|
|