Overview

This bill, the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill, amends the existing legislation governing the length of parliamentary terms in the UK. The core disagreement between the Commons and the Lords centers around whether the bill's provisions should automatically continue or require periodic renewal by parliamentary resolution.

Description

The bill initially aimed to establish fixed-term parliaments. However, amendments introduced a key change: the duration of the fixed-term provisions will now depend on parliamentary approval. Specifically, Clause 5, as amended, states that sections 2, 3, and 4(3) of the bill (relating to the fixed-term parliament provisions) will only remain in effect until after the next general election. Parliament can then choose to renew these sections for its term through a resolution passed by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. A crucial further amendment establishes a review committee to assess the bill's operation and recommend repeal or amendment by June 30th, 2020. This committee will have a Commons majority.

Government Spending

The bill itself doesn't directly allocate new government spending. However, the costs of establishing and running the review committee, as mandated in the final version, will represent an additional government expenditure, the exact amount of which is not specified in the bill.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• Parliamentarians: Their legislative term length and the process for determining it is directly impacted.
• The Executive (Prime Minister): The Prime Minister is responsible for establishing the review committee.
• The Public: The bill influences the length of time between general elections.
• The Review Committee: Members will be tasked with evaluating the bill’s performance and making recommendations.

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