Committee of the Whole House

Any member of the House can participate when a committee of the whole House debates a bill. The members sit in the Chamber but the Speaker does not take the chair. The debate is less formal than other debates, but is no less important.

Members have many chances to make short speeches and debate the provisions of a bill. These debates are a chance to examine the bill in detail. Ministers and members can propose changes. These changes may be published before the debate in a supplementary order paper (SOP).

There is no time limit on these debates. Large or controversial bills may be before a committee of the whole House for several days.

Once the final form of a bill is agreed, it is reprinted to show what changes have been made. The bill is then ready for third reading.