Before Introduction

The third video in the series "How Law is made in the UK". Excellent companions to this video include

Section A & Section B of The Cabinet Office's "Guide to Making Legislation"
The Hansard Society's "Law in the Making" - which sets out some case studies of legislation. (available from the Hansard Society here
Green Papers explained: http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/green-papers/
White Papers explained: http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/white-paper/

The Role of the Lord Chancellor

Lord Campbell of Alloway asked in the House of Lords yesterday - "what the role of the Lord Chancellor is in tendering advice to the Cabinet and to a Secretary of State about the presentation of Bills to Parliament"

Lord Bach replied that "the Lord Chancellor is a member of the Legislation Committee, which considers all Bills before they are introduced into Parliament." I later answers he added, "The Lord Chancellor now has a constitutional duty in relation to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law and, as an important member of what is commonly known as the L Committee, he has an important role to play in looking at whether Bills conform with the various treaties and other obligations which the UK Government have. "

Many of the supplementaries dealt with the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill which was considered by a joint committee last session. Lord Bach told the House of Lords that the Bill itself would be "as soon as parliamentary time allows. We expect that to be later this Session."