Commercial Payments Bill [HL]

What the bill does

A bill to make provision about payment terms in commercial contracts; to make provision about interest on late payment of commercial debts; to ban retention clauses in the construction sector; to expand the powers of the Small Business Commissioner in relation to payment disputes and poor payment practices; to amend the Enterprise Act 2016 in connection with other functions of the Small Business Commissioner; and for connected purposes.

Progress through Parliament

What 2nd reading means, and what happens next

Second reading is the first full debate on the principle of the bill. The House votes on whether it should proceed at all.

If it passes, the bill goes to committee stage, where it is examined line by line and amendments are considered.

Read the full guide to this stage: What happens at second reading of a bill

Questions about the Commercial Payments Bill [HL]

What stage is the Commercial Payments Bill [HL] at?

The Commercial Payments Bill [HL] is currently at 2nd reading in the UK Parliament.

Has the Commercial Payments Bill [HL] become law?

Not yet. A bill becomes law only when it has passed both Houses and received Royal Assent. The Commercial Payments Bill [HL] is currently at 2nd reading.

What happens next to the Commercial Payments Bill [HL]?

If it passes, the bill goes to committee stage, where it is examined line by line and amendments are considered.

Who sponsored the Commercial Payments Bill [HL]?

The Commercial Payments Bill [HL] was sponsored by Lord Leong.

When was the Commercial Payments Bill [HL] introduced?

It was introduced to Parliament on 19 May 2026, at first reading.

Other bills at 2nd reading

• Statutory Instruments Act 1946 (Amendment) Bill · Sir Christopher Chope
• Bank of England (Inflation Targets) Bill · Sir Christopher Chope
• Bailiffs (Warrants of Possession) Bill · Sir Christopher Chope
• Arm's-Length Bodies (Accountability to Parliament) Bill · Sir Christopher Chope
• Courts and Tribunals Bill · Mr David Lammy
• Wet Wipes (Labelling, Sale and Marketing) Bill · David Burton-Sampson

See every bill before Parliament