Commencement Date
389.Under section 59(2) of the Act, sections 42 and 43 (power to make regulations on information and consultation in Great Britain and Northern Ireland), 56 (interpretation) 58 (corresponding provision for Northern Ireland) and section 59 came into force on the day the Act achieved Royal Assent (16 September 2004).
390.Section 59(3) gives the Secretary of State a power, by order, to bring all the other provisions of the Act into force on such day as the Secretary of State may appoint, and to appoint different days for different purposes. It is envisaged that measures contained in the Act (except those mentioned above) will come into force between October 2004 and April 2005. Details on commencement will be made available at www.dti/gov/uk/er.
391.The following table sets out the dates and Hansard references for each stage of the Act’s passage through Parliament.
| STAGE | DATE | HANSARD REPORT |
|---|---|---|
| HOUSE OF COMMONS | ||
| Introduction | 02 December 2003 | Vol.415 Col. 371 |
| Second Reading | 14 January 2004 | Vol. 416 Col. 819-932 |
| Committee | 03 February 2004 | Standing Committee D |
| 05 February 2004 | ||
| 10 February 2004 | ||
| 24 February 2004 | ||
| 26 February 2004 | ||
| 03 March 2004 | ||
| Report & Third Reading | 29 March 2004 | Vol. 419 Col.1312-1392 |
| HOUSE OF LORDS | ||
| Introduction | 30 March 2004 | Vol. 659 Col. 1176 |
| Second Reading | 29 April 2004 | Vol. 660 Col. 901-932 |
| Committee | 7 June 2004 | Vol. 662 Col. GC1-GC62 |
| 9 June 2004 | Vol. 662 Col. GC63-GC128 | |
| 15 June 2004 | Vol. 662 Col. GC129-GC178 | |
| 16 June 2004 | Vol. 662 Col. GC179-GC214 | |
| Report | 8 July 2004 | Vol. 662 Col. 922-945 |
| Third Reading | 8 September 2004 | Vol. 664 Col. 639 |
| HOUSE OF COMMONS | ||
| Consideration of Lords amendments | 16 September 2004 | Vol. 664 Col. 1471 - 1485 |
| Royal Assent | 16 September 2004 | Vol. 664 Col. GC465 |
