Part of Orders of the Day — Part Ii – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 13 May 1947.
Mr Henry Strauss
, Combined English Universities
12:00,
13 May 1947
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for what he has said. I think the words I have proposed are all right, but I have no hope that I have been able to consider it with the skilled advice available to him. On the assurance he has given, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.
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.
