Part of Ways and Means. – in the House of Commons at on 1 October 1941.
Mr George Garro-Jones
, Aberdeen North
My hon. and learned Friend is really begging the question. The whole point is upon whom the onus of proof should be cast, and it is a principle of English law, without any exception so far as I am aware—except in the criminal law—that the onus of proving guilt should rest upon the prosecutor. In this case the onus of proof is shifted, but only for the benefit of solicitors, to protect the profession of solicitors; and it seems to me that to make this exception in favour of solicitors will raise a great many charges of partiality. If one of the persons to whom I have referred, a chartered accountant or estate agent, prepares a legal document for fee or reward he can be sued under this Act without this Subsection, and a penalty can be imposed.
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.
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.
