A green paper may be circulated to chosen consultees for commentary, amendemnets etc. A White Paper is agreed within government across departments such as the Treasury and may form the basis of a proposed Bill. The White Paper allows for further consultation and amendment before reaching a final version of a Bill.
According to the site whereyoustand.org,
A Bill is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to change an existing law, that is presented for debate before Parliament. Bills are introduced in either the House of Commons or House of Lords for examination, discussion and amendment. When both Houses have agreed on the content of a Bill it is then presented to the reigning monarch for approval (known as Royal Assent). Once Royal Assent is given a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament and is law. All pass through the following stages before they can become Law.
First Reading authorises the printing of a Bill. The public may buy copies of all Common Bills published by The Stationery Office (TSO) either online from the
TSO Online Bookshop Bookshop, www.tsoshop.co.uk
or
Blackwell Bookshop,
Cardiff University Union,
Senghennydd Road, Cardiff, CF24 4AZ
Tel: 029 2034 0673
Email: cardiff@blackwell.co.ukSecond Reading: Main opportunity to debate the Bill.
Committee Stage: Various Committees undertake a clause by clause analysis of the Bill
with powers to make amendments.
Report Stage: A further chance to consider amendments and other changes may be made.
Third Reading: Final form of the Bill has to be agreed by the House before going to:
House of Lords: Here the Bill passes through the same stages mentioned above, except that a A Committee of the whole House of Lords is almost invariably involved in the
Committee Stage.
All amendments are considered and may be moved at third reading.
Amendments Passed By The Lords have to be mutually agreed by both Houses of Parliament.
Following this agreement, Royal Assent is obtained and the Bill becomes an Act in force on a date specified in one of its clauses, or subject to regulations issued by the Secretary of State at a later date.
If this is correct, quite some time elapses between the publication of a White Paper and an Act coming into law. And when the Act has entered into law, it comes into force on a date specified in one of its clauses, or subject to regulations issued by the Secretary of State at a later date.
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