Committee of the Whole House (United Kingdom)

In the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Committee of the Whole House is a committee of the whole of one of the two Houses.

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In the House of Commons, the Committee of the Whole House is used instead of a standing committee for the committee stage (clause-by-clause debate) of important or contentious bills.[1] The Finance Bill is always sent to a Committee of the Whole House in the Commons,[2] The sitting is presided over by the Chairman of Ways and Means, rather than the Speaker of the House.[3] sitting in the clerk's chair rather than the Speaker's chair normally occupied by the presiding officer.[4]

In the House of Lords, the Committee of the Whole House examines the majority of bills.