Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 24 March 1943.
Sir Archibald Sinclair
, Caithness and Sutherland
The white paper contains the draft agreement to which I have referred and the Amendment which the Corporation proposed and which I was unable to accept. It also contains the letter which I received from the Chairman of the Corporation intimating his resignation and that of three of his colleagues, and the answer which I have sent him.
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
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.
