Hybrid Bills
Hybrid bills mix the characteristics of public and private bills. Changes to the law proposed by a hybrid bill would affect the general public but would also have a more significant impact on specific individuals, areas or groups.
Examples of hybrid bills include those which led to the construction of the Channel Tunnel and Crossrail, and those which made provision for the HS2 rail network.
View a list of hybrid bills currently before Parliament.
Hybrid bills are usually introduced by the government. If they are judged to be hybrid, they become subject to certain of the Private Business Standing Orders, which outline a number of conditions that promoters of the bill must comply with, such as advertising the bill in certain places. During its passage through Parliament, a hybrid bill will undergo the same stages as normal public bills, but with some additional requirements. This includes a select committee stage where petitions against the bill are considered.
Find out more about hybrid bill stages.
Petitioning and hybrid bills
Like private bills, hybrid bills are subject to a petitioning period, during which time people who believe they will be affected by the provisions of the bill can submit a petition to Parliament, outlining their opposition to the bill.
Some petitioners may have the opportunity to appear before the select committee on the bill to make their case, and this can result in changes being made to the bill or concessions being made by the bill’s promoters.
The MPs’ Guide to Procedure provides more detail on petitioning against hybrid bills.
Because of the size and complexity of the projects provided for by hybrid bills, they can take a long time to get through all stages in the two Houses - the first HS2 bill, covering the phase from London to the West Midlands, was introduced in November 2013 and gained Royal Assent in February 2017.
Review of petitioning procedures on hybrid bills
In 2016 the Private Bill Offices of the House of Commons and the House of Lords initiated a review of procedures relating to hybrid bills in order to update, clarify and simplify processes. The most recent report on this review was released in September 2022. Find out more here.
Further information on hybrid bills can be found in the Commons Library briefing paper: Hybrid Bills and in Erskine May, Chapter 30, Paras 57–74.
Guidance on submitting your petition published by the Private Bill Office for petitioners against the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill.