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.
Labour's reforms of the UK's constitutional arrangements promise an overhaul of the constitution. A conference was held Cambridge University to discuss the legal and practical implications of the reforms. Papers given are reproduced in this volume.
A Bill to make provision for modifying the office of Lord Chancellor, and to make provision relating to the functions of that office; to establish a Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, and to abolish the appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords; to make provision about the jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and the judicial functions of the President of the Council; to make other provision about the judiciary, their appointment and discipline. Government bill introduced on 24th November 2004. Superseded by corrected version (ISBN 0108418898) issued on 29 November 2004
These notes refer to the Constitutional Reform Bill as amended by the Select Committee on the Bill and ordered to be printed 8th July 2004 (HL Bill 91, ISBN 0108418405)