About the Scottish Parliament

Guidance on Private Bills

This Guidance has been prepared by the Parliament’s Non-Government Bills Unit, mainly to assist:

• people wishing to promote a Private Bill in the Scottish Parliament
• anyone seeking to object to such a Bill
• MSPs involved in the scrutiny of such a Bill.

The Guidance describes the procedures and requirements for the progress of a Private Bill through the Parliament, and aims to do so in as clear and understandable a way as possible. So far as possible, the Guidance follows the chronological order of events in the preparation and Parliamentary scrutiny of a Private Bill.  

Read the Guidance on Private Bills (1MB, pdf) posted 22 February 2023

A more general introduction to Private Bills is available in the About Bills section.

About Private Bills