Parliament

House of Commons Report stage briefing re requirement for youth rehabilitation order with intensive supervision and surveillance before a detention and training order can be made

House of Commons Report stage briefing re breach of a youth rehabilitation order: sentences available

House of Commons Report stage briefing re powers of the court in relation to breach of a youth rehabilitation order

House of Commons Report stage briefing re youth rehabilitation order: duty on responsible officer to give warnings, and initiate breach proceedings, for non-compliance

House of Commons Report stage briefing re powers of the court in relation to a youth rehabilitation order

House of Commons Report stage briefing re alternatives to prosecution: removing the proposed age restriction for conditional cautions

House of Commons Report stage briefing re violent offender orders

House of Commons Report stage briefing re decriminalisation of loitering or soliciting for under 18s

House of Commons Report stage briefing re referral orders: power for a second order

House of Commons Report stage briefing re referral orders: extensions

House of Commons Report stage briefing re youth rehabilitation orders

House of Commons Report stage briefing re purposes of sentencing

House of Commons Report stage briefing re purposes of sentencing: proportionate punishment

House of Commons Second Reading briefing

Counter Terrorism Bill (now Counter Terrorism Act 2008)

Briefing re notification requirements

Offender Management Bill (now Offender Management Act 2007)

House of Lords Committee stage briefing re Part 2 - contracted out prisons and secure training centres

House of Lords Committee stage briefing re escort arrangements

House of Lords Second Reading briefing

House of Commons Committee stage briefing re Part 2 - contracted out prisons and secure training centres

House of Commons Committee stage briefing re escort arrangements

House of Commons Committee stage briefing re detention and training orders: early release

House of Commons Second Reading briefing

Police and Justice Bill (now Police and Justice Act 2006)

House of Lords briefing re Part 4 - Inspectorate for Justice, Community Safety and Custody

House of Lords briefing re police bail

House of Lords briefing re parenting contracts and parenting orders

House of Lords briefing re parenting contracts and parenting orders: registered social landlords

House of Lords briefing re training of Community Support Officers

House of Lords Second Reading briefing

A Bill must go through several stages in both Houses of Parliament before it can receive Royal Assent and become law.

A Bill can start in the House of Lords or House of Commons but must pass through both Houses to become law. Most Bills start in the House of Commons.

In the House of Commons the stages are: First Reading (this is very quick); Second Reading (a general debate); Public Bill Committee (a small Committee of MPs can receive written and oral evidence on the Bill and consider it clause by clause, proposing amendments); Report stage (the whole House debates the Bill and considers amendments).

In the House of Lords the stages are: First Reading (again, quick); Second Reading (a general debate); Committee stage (usually a Committee of the whole House debates the Bill clause by clause and Peers can propose amendments); Report stage (a shorter stage at which amendments can also be considered).

After all this the Bill can receive Royal Assent and become an Act of Parliament.