Part of Orders of the Day — Czecho - Slovakia (Financial Claims and Refugees) Bill. – in the House of Commons at on 24 January 1940.
Major Henry Procter
, Accrington
I should like to know whether the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has come to any conclusion as to the interpretation of the Clause which I mentioned yesterday, when he said that he would consult his legal advisers. The reason I ask is that once this Bill is passed we can only rely upon the Order and the white paper. I shall be pleased to know if he has come to any conclusion.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
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.
