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47-538: The Railways Act 1921 ( 11 & 12 Geo. 5 . c. 55), also known as the Grouping Act , was an act of Parliament enacted by the British government, and was intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, by "grouping" them into four large companies, dubbed the " Big Four ". The intention was to reduce inefficient internal competition between railway companies, and retain some of

94-528: A bill by a member for first reading, a member of the cabinet may move a motion to appoint or to instruct a committee to prepare a bill. In the Oireachtas of Ireland, the first stage of a bill is by either of two methods: In the Israeli Knesset , the committee consideration occurs between first and second readings and (for private member bills ) between preliminary and first readings, and

141-553: A bill is read with all amendments and given final approval by a legislative body. In legislatures whose procedures are based on those of the Westminster system, the third reading occurs after the bill has been amended by committee and considered for amendment at report stage (or, in Israel's case, second reading). In most bicameral legislatures, a bill must separately pass the third reading in both chambers. Once that happens, it

188-461: A bill to be defeated on first reading if a member introduced it and no one seconded it, even if the first reading did not require a formal vote. However, the practice of requiring a seconder for a motion has since been removed, and thus an introduced bill cannot be defeated until the end of its first reading. In the Polish Sejm , the first reading comprises a debate on the general outlines of

235-470: A final vote on the bill as amended. In both Houses of the British Parliament, after a bill has been reported from the committee to which it was assigned, consideration of the proposal moves to the so-called "Report Stage", during which further amendments may be table and voted on. After Report Stage has ended, a debate is held on the final bill, as amended, followed by a vote on the motion "That

282-480: A second reading, it is now very rare for a bill to be considered clause-by-clause. In the Polish Sejm , the second reading comprises a consideration of the committee's report on the bill (as committee consideration between first and second readings), and an introduction of any proposed amendments, although the Sejm's standing orders do not provide for a clause by clause vote on the bill itself, or on any amendment, during

329-496: A single bloc. The starting point for the bill considered in second reading is its post-committee consideration text, which can vary widely from the bill voted on in first reading, even to the point of mergers and splits. In New Zealand, once a bill passes a second reading it is then considered clause-by-clause by the whole Parliament. If a majority of Parliament agree, the bill can be considered part-by-part, saving considerable time. Because most bills must have majority support to pass

376-456: A tribunal. Part 2 dealt with powers and regulation of the railway companies by the Railway and Canal Commission , part 3 dealt with railway rates, charges and conditions of carriage with powers given to a Railway Rates Tribunal , and part 4 with employee wages and conditions. Parts 5 and 6 dealt with light railways and general clauses respectively, with the general clauses of part 6 including

423-468: A vote on whether or not to send it to committee. In both Houses of the British Parliament , bills introduced by the government or by MPs and Lords who won the private members' ballot automatically receive a first reading without the need for the bill being discussed or voted on; the same applies for bills brought from the other House (for example, a bill which has completed all its stages in

470-415: Is carried. After a bill has been read a first time, it is ordered to be printed. A second reading is the stage of the legislative process where a draft of a bill is read a second time. In most Westminster-style legislatures, a vote is taken on the general outlines of the bill before being sent to committee. In most non-Westminster-style legislatures, the bill's detailed provisions are considered in

517-522: Is sent on for promulgation , such as royal assent in the Westminster system or signing by the president or governor in the U.S. model. In some bicameral legislatures, such as the Parliament of Poland or of the Czech Republic , a bill must pass three readings in the lower house, but only one reading in the upper house, at which the bill may be passed unchanged, amended, or rejected; and if

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564-652: The Anglo-Irish Treaty ). Reading (legislature)#Third reading A reading of a bill is a stage of debate on the bill held by a general body of a legislature . In the Westminster system , developed in the United Kingdom , there are generally three readings of a bill as it passes through the stages of becoming, or failing to become, legislation . Some of these readings may be formalities rather than actual debate. Legislative bodies in

611-645: The Ministerial Suitability Commission of Inquiry Bill 2021 (Cth), introduced by Greens Senator Larissa Waters in relation to the 1988 rape allegation against the Attorney-General Christian Porter , was narrowly negatived in a division . Similar arrangements are in place in the parliaments of the states and territories. In the House of Commons of Canada , in addition to the usual introduction of

658-857: The Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway (S&DJR), a joint LMS/ SR line in south-western England. The London suburban railway companies, such as the Underground Electric Railways Company of London and the Metropolitan Railway , were also excluded. Later, the London Passenger Transport Act 1933 amalgamated them, along with London area bus and tram operations, into the London Passenger Transport Board (see List of transport undertakings transferred to

705-540: The United States also have readings. The procedure dates back to the centuries before literacy was widespread. Since many members of Parliament were illiterate, the Clerk of Parliament would read aloud a bill to inform members of its contents. By the end of the 16th century, it was practice to have the bill read on three occasions before it was passed. In the Israeli Knesset , private member bills do not enter

752-487: The United States , the title of the bill is read and the bill is immediately assigned to a committee. The bill is then considered by committee between the first and second readings. In the United States Senate and most British-influenced legislatures, the committee consideration occurs between second and third readings. In most non Westminster-style legislatures, a vote is taken on the general outlines of

799-729: The 1920 white paper , Outline of Proposals as to the Future Organisation of Transport Undertakings in Great Britain and their Relation to the State ( Cmd. 787). That suggested the formation of six or seven regional companies, and suggested worker participation on the board of directors of the company. The white paper was opposed by the Railway Companies' Association (RCA) and by MPs representing railway companies' interests. The move to greater worker participation

846-481: The Calendar of Business after second reading. No vote is held on whether to read the bill a second time. In U.S. legislatures where consideration in committee precedes second reading, the procedure varies as to how a bill reaches second reading. In Illinois, for example, legislation is automatically read a second time, after which amendments are in order. A third reading is the stage of a legislative process in which

893-521: The House of Lords is immediately brought to the House of Commons, where it receives a first reading). Bills introduced under the Ten Minute Rule are subject to a debate lasting not more than ten minutes (equally divided between a supporter and an opponent), followed by a vote is held on the motion "That leave be granted to bring in" the bill; the latter receives a first reading only if the motion

940-477: The House of Representatives and may be voted on. Amendments to or debate on the first reading is not permitted, except for bills subject to section 53 of the Constitution (i.e. appropriation and money bills ), in which case debate is permitted. This exception is necessary because section 53 gives senators the right to move requests to the House of Representatives for amendments to a financial bill (to which

987-576: The London Passenger Transport Board ). Other exempted railways were light railways authorised under the Light Railways Act 1896 , and similar lines, although some of those lines still chose to join the groups. The lines which remained independent were principally those under the influence of Colonel Stephens , who had been instrumental in securing the necessary exemption. 11 %26 12 Geo. 5 Note that

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1034-731: The Parliament of Ireland . For acts of the devolved parliaments and assemblies in the United Kingdom, see the list of acts of the Scottish Parliament , the list of acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly , and the list of acts and measures of Senedd Cymru ; see also the list of acts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland . The number shown after each act's title is its chapter number. Acts passed before 1963 are cited using this number, preceded by

1081-806: The Scottish businesses. After consideration of the Railways Bill, it was decided that the Scottish companies, originally destined to be a separate group, would be included with the Midland/North Western and Eastern groups respectively, in order that the three main Anglo-Scottish trunk routes should each be owned by one company for their full length: the West Coast Main Line and the Midland Main Line by

1128-461: The Senate is not allowed to amend) at any stage of consideration of the bill, including on the first reading. The first readings of most ordinary bills are almost always a formality and are passed "on the voices". In extremely rare circumstances however, the Senate may vote against the first reading, which prevents the bill from proceeding further. This has happened as recently as June 2021, when

1175-535: The benefits which the country had derived from a government-controlled railway system during and after the Great War of 1914–1918. The provisions of the act took effect from the start of 1923. The British railway system had been built up by more than a hundred railway companies, large and small, and often, particularly locally, in competition with each other. The parallel railways of the East Midlands, and

1222-544: The bill before being sent to committee. In the Australian House of Representatives , a bill is automatically read a first time without any question being proposed upon presentation of the bill or it being received from the Senate. However, in the Australian Senate , the question on the first reading is always moved immediately after introduction (which is a separate motion altogether) or receipt from

1269-436: The bill is not passed unchanged by the upper house, it is returned to the lower house, which may impose its original version by a supermajority , and is sent to promulgation after passing both chambers. This "imperfect" procedure requires that all bills must be introduced to the lower house, although this may be mitigated by giving the upper house the right to submit bills to the lower. In a unicameral legislature, after passing

1316-481: The bill passes second stage it is referred to a select committee of that house or taken in committee stage by the whole house. In the Knesset , the bill's detailed provisions are considered in the second reading, and then voted on clause by clause. However, continuous stretches of clauses without any proposed amendments (which includes different wordings for the same clause written in the original bill), are voted as

1363-584: The bill, followed by a vote on the motion "that the Bill be now read a second time" (or sometimes on a wrecking amendment to that motion). If the motion is carried, the bill is then sent either to a standing committee or to a Committee of the Whole House , where it is considered and voted on clause by clause. In the United States Senate, a bill is either referred to committee or placed on

1410-482: The bill, it is sent to the President of Ireland to be signed into law. In the Polish Sejm , the third reading comprises a presentation of the amendments passed in second reading (or of a second committee report on the bill that was returned to committee after second reading), and a voting sequence: first on a motion to reject the bill (if one is introduced), then on the amendments introduced in second reading, and

1457-536: The bill. Notably, only constitutional amendment bills, money bills, electoral law bills, and law code bills have their first reading at a plenary session of the Sejm; all other bills have their first reading occur in committee, unless the Marshal of the Sejm decides to refer them to the plenum. In the Russian State Duma , the first reading includes a debate on the general outlines of the bill followed by

Railways Act 1921 - Misplaced Pages Continue

1504-418: The first parliament of the United Kingdom was held in 1801; parliaments between 1707 and 1800 were either parliaments of Great Britain or of Ireland ). For acts passed up until 1707, see the list of acts of the Parliament of England and the list of acts of the Parliament of Scotland . For acts passed from 1707 to 1800, see the list of acts of the Parliament of Great Britain . See also the list of acts of

1551-498: The first reading includes a debate on the general outlines of the bill followed by a vote on whether or not to send it to committee. In New Zealand , once a bill passes first reading it is normally referred to a select committee . However, the government can have a bill skip the select committee stage by a simple majority vote in Parliament. It was possible in the earliest years of the New Zealand Parliament for

1598-555: The former group, and the East Coast Main Line by the latter. The opening paragraph of the Railways Act 1921 states: Part 1 of the act dealt with the terms and procedure of the amalgamations of railway companies. The constituents and subsidiaries of the four groups were set out in the first schedule of the act. Companies that had not formed an amalgamation scheme by 1923 would be amalgamated under terms decided by

1645-467: The house at first reading. Instead, they are subject to a preliminary reading , where the members introducing the bill present it to the Knesset, followed by a debate on the general outlines of the bill followed by a vote on whether to send it to committee to be prepared for first reading or to remove it from the agenda. A first reading is when a bill is introduced to a legislature . Typically, in

1692-480: The last session of the Parliament of Great Britain and the first session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom are both cited as "41 Geo. 3". Acts passed from 1963 onwards are simply cited by calendar year and chapter number. The third session of the 31st Parliament of the United Kingdom , which met from 15 February 1921 until 10 November 1921. The fourth session, which met from 14 December 1921 until 19 December 1921, did not pass any acts (it met solely to consider

1739-570: The requirement of the railway companies to provide the Minister of Transport with statistic and financial reports. The third reading of the act in the House of Commons took place on 9 August 1921, and was passed with a majority of 237 to 62. The House of Lords made various amendments, which were accepted by the Commons on 19 August, and royal assent was given. The state control of the railways which began under war conditions during World War I

1786-608: The rivalry between the South Eastern Railway and the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway at Hastings, were two examples of such local competition. During the First World War the railways were under state control, which continued until 1921. Complete nationalisation had been considered, and the Railways Act 1921 is sometimes seen as a precursor to that, but the concept was rejected, and nationalisation

1833-603: The second reading, and then voted on clause by clause. In the Oireachtas, the second reading is referred to as "second stage", though the subheading "second reading" is used in Dáil standing orders, and the motion at second stage is still "that the Bill is to be read a second time". A bill introduced in one house enters the other house at second stage, except that the Seanad second stage is waived for Dáil consolidation bills . Once

1880-422: The second reading. If amendments are introduced to a bill, it is returned for further committee consideration between second and third readings unless the Sejm decides otherwise. In the Russian State Duma , the bill's detailed provisions are considered in the second reading, and then voted on clause by clause. In both Houses of the British Parliament the second reading includes a debate on the general outlines of

1927-603: The successor companies. They included the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway (M&GN), a London, Midland and Scottish Railway / London and North Eastern Railway joint line in eastern England, the largest of the joint railways in terms of route mileage; the Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC), LMS/LNER joint line in Lancashire and Cheshire , largest in terms of both passenger and freight traffic; and

Railways Act 1921 - Misplaced Pages Continue

1974-458: The third reading in the sole chamber, the bill goes on directly for promulgation. In the Oireachtas of Ireland, the equivalent of the third reading is referred to as the "fifth stage" or "final stage". The motion is "That the Bill do now pass", except that the Seanad motion for a money bill is "That the Bill be returned to the Dáil". When a bill passes one house, it is sent to the other house and enters at second stage. After both houses have passed

2021-497: The year(s) of the reign during which the relevant parliamentary session was held; thus the Union with Ireland Act 1800 is cited as "39 & 40 Geo. 3 c. 67", meaning the 67th act passed during the session that started in the 39th year of the reign of George III and which finished in the 40th year of that reign. Note that the modern convention is to use Arabic numerals in citations (thus "41 Geo. 3" rather than "41 Geo. III"). Acts of

2068-428: Was opposed to nationalisation, on the grounds that it led to poor management, as well as a mutually corrupting influence between railway and political interests. In his 9 March 1920 Cabinet paper, "Future Transport Policy", he proposed five English groups (Southern, Western, North Western, Eastern and North Eastern), a London passenger group, and separate single groupings for Scotland and Ireland. Geddes' proposals became

2115-556: Was strongly opposed by the RCA, but supported by the Labour Party . Worker-directors were not included in the final act, being replaced by agreed negotiating mechanisms. In 1921, the white paper, Memorandum on Railways Bill (Cmd. 1292), suggested four English regional groups and two Scottish groups. Scottish railway companies wanted to be incorporated into British groupings, and the RCA proposed five British regional monopolies including

2162-612: Was subsequently carried out after the Second World War , under the Transport Act 1947 . The form of the act was developed by the Minister of Transport , Eric Geddes , who was a former North Eastern Railway executive. Geddes favoured using amalgamations to create privately owned regional monopolies, and suggested increased worker participation from pre-war levels. Geddes viewed the pre-war competition as wasteful, but

2209-621: Was to continue for a further two years under the Ministry of Transport Act 1919 . The act took effect on 1 January 1923. On that date most of the mergers took place, although some had taken place during the previous year. The February 1923 issue of The Railway Magazine dubbed the new companies as " The Big Four of the New Railway Era". A number of joint railways remained outside the Big Four, continuing to be operated jointly by

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