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 |
| |
|
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