Dr Patsy Richards gave a presentation on how the Commons Library Research Service briefs on bills being considered by Parliament. The library uses a variety of methods to learn about upcoming bills, such as monitoring white and green papers, pre-legislative scrutiny, contact with civil servants, and following the Queen's Speech. Bills mentioned in the recent Queen's Speech included the Energy Bill, Water Bill, and bills related to high-speed rail. Research papers and notes produced by the library on bills are publicly available online.

1. Public Bill Seminar 9 May ‘13
Dr Patsy Richards, Commons Library Research Service

2. Misconceptions

3. Why a Library briefing on a Bill?
• For Second
Reading
debate
• After
committee
stage
• Just generally!
Impartial, fair

5. New, flexible approach to briefing on Bills

6. How do we know what’s coming up?
• UK needs to implement European legislation
• White and Green Papers (e.g. EMR White Paper)
• Government commitment to pre-legislative scrutiny (PLS)
• On-going contact with civil servants and policy and Bill teams
• General awareness of policy area, contact with lobbyists,
constituents, journal reports
• If all else fails – we are always glued to the Queen’s Speech!

7. Queens Speech 2013 (yesterday)
My Government will continue to invest in infrastructure to deliver
jobs and growth for the economy.
Legislation will be introduced to enable the building of the ‘High
Speed Two’ railway line, providing further opportunities for
economic growth in many of Britain’s cities. [High Speed Rail
(Preparation) Bill and High Speed Two Hybrid Bill]
My Government will continue with legislation to update energy
infrastructure [Energy Bill – carried over from previous
session] and to improve the water industry. [Water Bill]
• https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-queens-
speech-2013-background-briefing-notes

9. Further information
Research Papers and Standard Notes are publically available
• The Library’s pages (RPs and SNs)-
– http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/
• Linked to from the ‘Bill pages’ (RPs only)-
– http://services.parliament.uk/bills/
• Comments can be sent to papers@parliament.uk
• Any questions?