The journey of the Charities Bill

The Charities Bill received Royal Assent on 8th November 2006 and became law.  The proposals for revising charity legislation were first published as a Draft Bill in May 2004. Following pre-legislative debate and scrutiny the Charities Bill itself was introduced into Parliament in December 2004 to be timed-out by the May 2005 general election. The Bill was re-introduced following the election on 18 May 2005 and completed its passage through the Lords in November 2005 and through the Commons in October 2006.  Its final debate was in the Lords on 7 November 2006.

The information below covers the Bill’s passage through Parliament:

Progress of the Bill after the general election in May 2005 to November 2006:

House of Lords	Date
Consideration of Commons Amendments	7 November 2006
House of Commons	Date
Report and Third Reading	25 October 2006
Committee Stage	4, 6, 11 and 13 July 2006
Second Reading	26 June 2006
First Reading	9 Nov 2005
House of Lords	Date (2005)
Third Reading	8 November
Report Stage (day 2)	18 October
Report Stage	12 October
Committee Stage	28 June & 12 July
Second Reading	7 June
First Reading	19 May

Information on the Bill’s journey during this period:

• Charities Act 2006 and explanatory notes
• Parliament’s webpage on the Charities Bill, can be found at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/pabills/200506/charities.htm
• Hansard transcript of the Consideration of Commons Amendments debate in the House of Lords on 7 November 2006, beginning column 689, can be found at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/text/61107-0007.htm#06110750000001
• Hansard transcript of the Report stage debate in the House of Commons on 25 October can be found, beginning column 1539, at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm061025/debindx/61025-x.htm
• Hansard transcript of the Committee's discussions can be found at:
  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmscchar.htm
• Hansard transcript of the Second Reading debate in the House of Commons on 26 June 2006 can be found at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmhansrd.htm
• Published text of the Charities Bill following Third Reading in House of Lords, printed on 9th November 2005
  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/083/2006083.htm
• Published text of the Charities Bill as amended in the House of Lords on Report on 18 October 2005
  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldbills/027/2006027.htm
• Hansard transcripts of the debates in the House of Lords (see above timetable for dates)
  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldhansrd/pdvn/allbills.htm
• Published text of the Charities Bill as amended in the House of Lords in Committee on 12 July 2005
  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldbills/016/2006016.htm
• Information about charity law and the Act from the Office of the Third Sector:
  http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/law_and_regulation/

Progress of the Charities Bill prior to the general election in May 2005

The Charities Bill was published on 21 December 2004 having been introduced in the House of Lords on 20 December. It was timed-out by the May 2005 general election.

The Commission welcomed the bill in its press release (December 2004):  
'New role for Charity Commission as it welcomes Bill’s publication'.

The following progress of the Bill was made until it was timed-out:

House of Lords	Date
First Reading	20 December 2004
Second Reading	20 January 2005
Grand Committee Sessions	13, 9, 10, 23 February 8, 14, 16, 21 March 2005

For information about the Bill during this period please follow the links below:

• Hansard transcripts of first debate in House of Lords (Second Reading) on 20 January and Grand Committee debates on 3, 9, 10, and 23 February, 8, 14, 16 and 21 March 2005
  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldhansrd/pdvn/allbills.htm
• Revised Charities Bill including amendments accepted by Grand Committee (21 March 2005)
  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldbills/049/2005049.htm

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