Constitutional Reform Bill PDF Download

The Constitutional Reform Bill would abolish the office of the Lord Chancellor; establish a new Supreme Court for the United Kingdom and abolish the appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords; establish a Judicial Appointments Commission for England and Wales; and introduce new arrangements for judicial discipline. During the Second Reading Debate it was decided that, because there had been no opportunity for pre legislative scrutiny, the Bill should be examined by a Select Committee rather than a Committee of the Whole House. In this report the clauses that raise issues are identified and the disagreements within the Committees are presented. Although over 400 amendments are made they do not affect the substance of the Bill, even though opinion was divided on two core issues: the abolition of the office of the Lord Chancellor and the establishment of a Supreme Court.