A Bill to make provision relating to the civil service of the State; to make provision relating to the ratification of treaties; to amend section 2 of the House of Lords Act 1999 and make provision relating to the removal, suspension and resignation of members of the House of Lords; to repeal sections 132 to 138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 and to amend Part 2 of the Public Order Act 1986; to make provision relating to time limits for human rights claims against devolved administrations; to make provision relating to judges and similar office holders; to make provision relating to the Comptroller and Auditor General and to establish a body corporate called the National Audit Office; to amend the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 and to make corresponding provision in relation to Wales.
As introduced, this was a wide-ranging Bill covering a number of different policy areas. Many of the proposals had their origins in the 'Governance of Britain' Green Paper published in July 2007. The content of the Bill as introduced varied in some significant ways from its draft version. New chapters were added to the Bill and the clauses on the Attorney General which were in the draft Bill are not included. The Bill was greatly amended during its passage through Parliament, but many provisions were then removed during ‘wash-up’.
Key areas in the Bill as introduced
During the passage of the Bill a number of clauses were added to the Bill including:
However, during wash-up, the following were removed from the Bill: