– in the House of Commons at on 8 December 1920.
Sir Percy Hurd
, Frome
asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a preference on (British-Empire goods came into force in Malta on 13th March last, and was cancelled on 22nd November; and whether he can say what are the grounds for such cancellation after a period which was satisfactory to exporters of British goods?
Lieut-Colonel Leo Amery
, Birmingham Sparkbrook
A Bill providing inter alia for preference on British Empire goods was before the Legislative Council at Malta in the spring, but the preferential clauses were not favoured by the elected members, and were dropped. I am not able to say for what period, if any, the preference was in force.
Sir Percy Hurd
, Frome
How can preference be enforced pending the passing of a Bill?
Lieut-Colonel Leo Amery
, Birmingham Sparkbrook
I imagine that on the introduction of a Bill the Customs officials take steps on the assumption that the Bill will be passed. If any Clause is dropped out they arrange accordingly.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
