Online public comments on proposed legislation to go ahead

A government trial of a new online "public reading stage" in which members of the public can comment on proposed legislation before it is debated in Parliament has been announced by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

The new procedure will take place between the formal "first reading" when a Bill is published, introduced in the Commons and officially printed, and the "second reading" when MPs debate and vote on the overall principle involved.

That will be followed, as under present procedure, by a "committee stage" – when MPs will debate the public's comments received through the new procedure and then examine it line by line – a "report stage" when any changes agreed in committee are reported back to the Commons, and a final "third reading" when the Bill as amended is voted on before being sent to the Lords.

Clegg said the Reform Committee had noted that so far there have been "very few individual submissions" made to public bill committees and that the public has not so far been positively invited to comment on details of the measure or propose amendments.

He announced the launch of a new website www.publicreadingstage.cabinetoffice.gov.uk where the public will be able to comment on the Protection of Freedom Bill online before further progress is made.

He told MPs: "The public's comments will be published in an appropriate form and made available to the House to assist and inform its debate and scrutiny of the bill."

He added: "This pilot will allow the technology to be tested that could, subject to the views of the House, facilitate the introduction of a 'public reading stage', as outlined in the coalition's programme for government."