Orders of the Day — Local Government (Scotland) Bill. – in the House of Commons at on 6 March 1929.
Mr William Watson
, Carlisle
I beg to move, in page 56, line 37, to leave out the words "a sum equal to one-half such aggregate after deducting therefrom," and to insert instead thereof the words "such additional sum as together with."
I would like to move this Amendment in somewhat different form from that in which it is on the Paper. This Amendment and the following one are really drafting Amendments. The purpose of paragraph (b, i) is to get at a sum for the purpose of making up the losses and gains of separate rating areas within one local authority's area towards which the Exchequer makes good half the loss and the other half has to be contributed by the winning or gaining authority. The words in the Bill are: "a sum equal to one-half such aggregate after deducting therefrom." The word "therefrom" means that the deduction must be taken from the one-half, but it might be suggested to mean deduction from the aggregate, and we attempted another draft which I am moving in the amended form. It is putting it the other way, and I will ask the House to take it on trust.
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.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
