The Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill completed its passage through the House of Lords yesterday when it received its third reading. As there were no Lords amendments to the bill it does not need to return to the Commons. It now awaits the Royal Assent and will come into force “on the day Parliament first meets following the first parliamentary general election after this Act is passed”.
David Pocklington of Law & Religion UK writes about this and precisely when Parliament “first meets”.
“first meets” is defined by the Royal Proclamation by which the new Parliament is summoned. This is codified in the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011 if not in other Acts regulating the summoning of Parliament.