This Report Stage of a Bill occurs normally at least two weeks after the end of the committee stage of a Bill.
The Report Stage in the House of Commons lasts for a set number of hours, normally on one or two days.
The Report Stage is so named because MPs are in theory considering the report of the committee. Indeed, in Hansard, the stage is introduced with the word ‘report received; considered’.
Report Stages take place on the floor of the House. Any Member of Parliament can table and move amendments to the Bill, which are then considered in line with the programme motion. Divisions may be called. The Speaker selects those amendments that are to be discussed and only the affected clauses are considered.
If a Bill has been considered in a Committee of the Whole House and is reported unamended, the Report Stage is disposed of.
