Clause 19. — (Companies Doing "mutual" Business.)

Part of Orders of the Day — Finance Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 June 1964.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Sir John Hall Sir John Hall , Wycombe 12:00, 4 June 1964

In supporting the Amendment I want to draw attention to another aspect of the problem, namely, the extent to which the Clause affects provident associations. I hope that Amendment No. 93, in referring to social, recreational or educational facilities includes the provision of such things as medical benefits. Perhaps I may give an example of the way in which the Clause would affect a typical provident association. A non-profit-making association is generally limited by guarantee and by its articles surplus assets cannot be distributed to members. The board of governors is not allowed by the articles to receive any remuneration for services. If the provident association is wound up, the surplus assets cannot be distributed to the members, they have to be given to another organisation doing the same kind of work, or to charity—

Clause

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.

Amendment

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.