Part of Orders of the Day — Finance Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 30 June 1964.
Mr Maurice Macmillan
, Halifax
12:00,
30 June 1964
The representations the hon. Member has received concern the duty generally. This Amendment concerns one narrow section, the exclusion of ante-post betting in horse and dog races because they are advertised in a particular form of words which is becoming normal in the newspapers. It is a matter of preventing a newspaper advertisement from being classified as a coupon for the purpose of the Clause. It does not affect the provisions of the Clause itself.
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.
