Ways and Means. – in the House of Commons at on 1 October 1941.
Mr James Milner
, Leeds South East
I beg to move, in page 19, line 33, after "Sections," to insert:
Provided that Section one shall not come into operation until after the termination of the period during which the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939, is in force.
Clause 1, which is the operative Clause, relates to the proposed delivery of accountants' certificates and to the examination of solicitors' books, accounts and documents. The solicitors' profession would have preferred this Bill to come into force at once. Originally the Bill was drawn up to enable it to be brought into force when the Lord Chancellor thought fit, but it was the almost unanimous opinion at a meeting of solicitors that the matter should not be delayed but should be brought into force at once. Unfortunately that is not possible, because it would require the employment of a number of accountants and others who are not available because many of them are serving in His Majesty's Forces. It is a matter of regret that the operative Clause cannot be brought into operation at the present time, and therefore I hope the Committee will agree that it shall not be brought into force until after the termination of the period during which the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act is in force. Accountants will then be available, solicitors will have been able to pick up their practice and everything will be done properly.
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.
