The third reading is the final stage in a bill’s passage through a House of Parliament. It represents a final opportunity for members to debate the contents of the bill, in its amended form.

The procedures for third reading differ between the House of Commons and the House of Lords, particularly regarding the ability to make further amendments to the bill.

Third reading follows a bill’s report stage.

Third reading in the House of Commons

In the House of Commons, the third reading is a final debate on the general principles and contents of the bill as a whole. The debate is limited to what is actually in the bill; it is not a wide-ranging debate like the one at second reading.

No amendments can be made to the bill at third reading in the House of Commons. The bill must be accepted or rejected as it stands following the conclusion of the report stage.

MPs can submit a “reasoned amendment” setting out their objections to the bill. But this does not change the content of the bill. The passage of any reasoned amendment amounts to the defeat of the bill. The speaker decides whether to select a reasoned amendment at third reading, which is rare.

For most government bills, the third reading debate takes place immediately after the report stage has concluded, usually on the same day. The debate is typically much shorter than the second reading debate (the first debate on the principles of the bill). It typically lasts for up to an hour.

Third reading in the House of Lords

Unlike in the House of Commons, report stage and third reading tend to take place on separate days. Peers can also make amendments to a bill at third reading.

In practice, peers resolve disagreements over a bill at report stage, leaving third reading for “tidying up” purposes. Any amendments aim to clarify specific points, refine the drafting or to follow up on undertakings given by the government at an earlier stage.

Amendments should not address issues that have been considered at previous stages (committee or report).

Major new policy changes are not supposed to be introduced at this late stage, and any amendment that is debated must not have been fully debated and voted on at a previous stage.

The final vote

At the end of the third reading debate in either House, a final vote is taken on the motion “That the bill be now read a third time”.

If this vote is passed, the bill has formally completed all its stages in that House.

What happens after third reading?

The bill’s journey after its third reading depends on where it started and what changes have been made.

• If a bill started in the commons and passes its third reading, it is sent to the House of Lords to begin its scrutiny there.
• If a bill started in the Lords and passes its third reading, it is sent to the House of Commons.
• If a bill has passed through both Houses but the second House has made amendments, it must return to the first House for those amendments to be considered (this process is referred to as “ping-pong”).
• If a bill has passed through both Houses with no amendments made by the second House, it is then prepared for royal assent.