An emergency business motion is expected to be put to MPs today to rush through as many as eight Bills in two days before Parliament is dissolved.
According to reports, deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman is also expected to say how she intends to deal with still unresolved reforms to the Commons designed to give backbenchers greater powers.
It has been suggested that MPs will today hold a second reading on the Digital Economy Bill and the Finance Bill, and will throw out most Lords amendments to the Equality Bill.
Over 20,000 voters have written to their MPs and raised thousands of pounds to take out adverts in two national newspapers opposing the Digital Economy Bill.
It has proved contentious across the technology world, most notably because of its proposals regarding the suspension of persistent illegal file-sharers' internet connections and also the measures that would allow politicians to block pirate websites without primary legislation.
The Open Rights Group has taken out adverts in the Guardian and Times newspapers demanding that MPs give the bill "proper" debate, warning against it becoming law "without full scrutiny".
The 'wash-up' is due to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, even if technically Parliament is still sitting until Monday.
The term describes the period between the calling of a general election and the dissolution of Parliament.
The early finish will shorten the Parliamentary year by around four months - even allowing for the lighter legislative programme this session the government would struggle to pass its Bills in time without resorting to the wash-up procedure.
How it works
In order to pass legislation in the time available the government must reach agreement with the opposition parties to dispense with debate on a Bill’s remaining stages.
This is achieved through negotiation between whips of each of the parties.
On the floor of either House Bills are subject to an accelerated consideration, with remaining stages taken in a single sitting.
Amendments granted in order to secure opposition support are accepted without being put to a vote, while others, such as probing amendments, are not moved at all.
And while it is possible to push a Bill through with the consent of only one of either the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives the unreconciled party could respond by drawing out the debate.
This could mean that the government could not pass all its business – even unrelated Bills – in the time remaining.
Parliamentary Procedure
During wash-up oral questions will take place as usual but other business will be replaced with consideration on the outstanding Bills.
The government will move a business motion in the Commons setting out the order in which the Bills will be considered.
In 2005 this also contained a guillotine clause restricting debate on each Bill to one hour and provision for a Friday sitting. Similar initiatives can be expected in next week’s motion.
In the Lords, peers will be asked to agree to a temporary suspension of several standing orders which will give the government control over the timetabling of business and allow two stages of a Bill to be taken on the same day.
Peers and MPs will be expected to remain in or around the Palace of Westminster in case they are needed to vote on legislation.
Impact on Bills this session
Of the remaining government Bills the following have completed or are scheduled to complete their consideration before Parliament is dissolved:
- Child Poverty Bill
- Equality Bill
- Personal Care at Home Bill
- Taxation (International and Other Provisions) Bill
- Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill
- Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Bill
- Northern Ireland Assembly Members Bill
In the case of these Bills the wash-up period will function little differently from the procedure at the end of any session.
Amendments will have to be agreed upon by both the Commons and the Lords, but debates on these are generally short in comparison to earlier stages.