A Public Bill Committee
After the general principles
of a Bill have been debated by Members of Parliament in the House of Commons
Chamber, the Bill proceeds to the Committee stage where each clause is examined
and could either be agreed or thrown out.
Committee stage most often
takes place in Public Bill Committees; groups of MPs in the House of Commons
who meet to consider a Bill clause by clause, the most detailed review of
proposed legislation in the Parliamentary process. They also have the power to
consult and hear evidence from experts outside Parliament.
After
Committee stage the Bill is republished, as amended, for the House to consider.
Discussions in committee are reported in Hansard in a report called the 'Report of
Proceedings'. .
See a full list of
Public Bill
Committees.
Until the 2006-2007 parliamentary session, Public Bill
Committees were known as "Standing Committees on Bills".