KTPP CAMPAIGN: POSTAL SERVICES BILL - TIMELINE

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches





No. 396/11
Ref: GS: 11.0
Date: 18/04/11



To All Branches


Dear Colleague

KEEP THE POST PUBLIC CAMPAIGN : POSTAL SERVICES BILL - TIMELINE

Further to LTB 363/11 the Postal Services Bill has now completed the committee stage in the House of Lords.  
 
The sittings of both House of Parliament are as follows:

Parliament is currently in recess. It will return on Wednesday April 27th.

Sitting on Thursday April 28th.

Friday April 29th is the day of the Royal Wedding and Parliament is not sitting.

Monday May 2nd is a Bank Holiday and Parliament is not sitting.

Tuesday May 3rd Parliament resumes.

It then sits Monday - Friday up until Tuesday May 24th and Parliament rises for Whitsun.

Parliament resumes on Tuesday June 7th and then sits each week until Tuesday July 19th.

As Branches will be aware, CWU Conference is from Sunday May 22nd until Thursday May 26th.

POSTAL SERVICES BILL - TIME LINE AND SIGNIFICANT DATES

MAY 2011
The Government has indicated that there will be two days of report stage.

The first day of Report is set for 4th May. Report stage in the Chamber gives all Members of the Lords further opportunity to consider all amendments (proposals for change) to the Bill. We are currently working hard and pushing to get cross bench support for these amendments.
 
The earliest the second day can be held is two weeks later – 18th May.
 
There then needs to be a Third Reading in the Lords (after 3 clear sitting days between). Third reading in the Chamber is the final chance for the Lords to debate and change the contents of the Bill.
 
Unlike the Commons, amendments can be made at this stage, provided the issue has not been fully considered and voted on at an earlier stage. This could not take place before 24th/25th May at the earliest.


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JUNE 2011
The Bill then needs to go to the Commons for 'Lords Amendments' vote before finally completing all its stages and later receiving Royal Assent.
 
Before a Bill can become an Act, both Houses must reach agreement on a single text. Any amendments made by the second House need to be agreed by the House where the Bill started; if there is no agreement, the Bill enters what is called "ping-pong", with further exchanges between the Houses until agreement is reached.

All the above with respect to the Postal Services Bill may be subject to change

Any enquiries on this LTB should be addressed to the General Secretaries office quoting the reference GS 11.0

Yours sincerely




BILLY HAYES DAVE WARD
General Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal)