Part of Orders of the Day — Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 23 April 1948.
Mr Ralph Assheton
, City of London
12:00,
23 April 1948
Like the hon. Member for West Woolwich (Mr. Berry), I am glad that this Amendment has been moved by the Government. It meets some of the difficulties we foresaw during the Committee stage. There was certainly a gap in the Clause which needed filling, and we are now quite satisfied with the Clause as amended.
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.
