Public Law - Statutes & Interpretation

Question 1

What are the stages to passing a bill in the UK?

Answer 1

First Reading - formality; the name of the Bill is read out.
Second Reading - main principles of the Bill is debated by MPs
Committee Stage - legislative committee scrutinise (and amend) the Bill
Report Stage - proposed amendments are debated
Third Reading - final debate and vote on the Bill.

Question 2

Can a bill be proposed in the House of Commons AND House of Lords?

Answer 2

Yes, both allow for this.

Question 3

What are 3 linguistic presumptions when interpreting legislation?

Answer 3

Expressio unius est exclusio alterius (“the expression of one thing is to the exclusion of another’)
- the sale of “goods, services and merchandise” does not say “shares”, so shares cannot be included.

Ejusdem generis (‘of the same kind’)
- “house, office, room or other place” could refer to more places but ONLY places indoors..

Noscitur a sociis (a word is known by its associates)
- “interest, annuities and other annual payments”.
The use of the words “annual payments” suggests that “interest” and “annuities” are also annual payments.