– in the House of Commons at on 25 October 1939.
Mr Charles Ammon
, Camberwell North
I beg to move, in page 12, line 10, to leave out from "fit," to "and," in line 11, and to insert "request the Lord Advocate to institute proceedings accordingly."
In the absence of my hon. Friend the Member for Maryhill (Mr. Davidson), and in order to give the Government an opportunity of accepting the Amendment, I am formally moving it on my hon. Friend's behalf.
Mr James Reid
, Glasgow Hillhead
We have no objection to accepting the alteration of phraseology. I do not think it is any more than that, because it merely makes explicit what was previously implicit.
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.
