Orders of the Day — Government of India Bill. – in the House of Commons at on 6 March 1935.
Mr Donald Somervell
, Crewe
I beg to move, in page 11, line 7, after "under," to insert "Sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) of."
This is a purely drafting Amendment. As the Clause stands, it might have been suggested that Sub-section (5), which says that in the discharge of his functions under the Clause the Governor-General shall act in his discretion after consulting with his Ministers, applied to Sub-section (1), which refers to all executive actions of the Federal Government. It is only intended to apply to Sub-sections (2), (3) and (4), and this Amendment makes that clear.
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
I do not understand why there must be consultation with the Ministers with regard to the matters raised in Sub-section (2). It does not seem to arise in that way, though I understand the significance of the Amendment in respect to Sub-sections (3) and (4).
Mr Donald Somervell
, Crewe
Subsection (2) is, in a sense, a procedural matter dealing with the ordinary business of the department, namely, "orders and other instruments made and executed." I think it is in the same category as the other two Sub-sections in that it is a matter on which you should be quite clear that the Governor-General has the final discretionary power, after consulting with his ministers.
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
But these rules may relate to reserved business, and I do not see why in reserved business he must act after consultation with his ministers.
Mr Samuel Hoare
, Chelsea
I think it is inevitable that he should act in consultation with his ministers. After all, the business will not be in completely watertight compartments. It will be essential to consult with the Ministers as to how the rules should be drawn up. It does not in the least detract from the Governor-General's responsibility.
Sir Annesley Somerville
, Windsor
The words "in his discretion" usually mean that the Governor-General acts without consultation, but here it says "in his discretion after consultation."
Mr Samuel Hoare
, Chelsea
Certainly, for the reasons I have just given.
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.
