Orders of the Day — Appropriation Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 7 February 1974.
Rear-Admiral Morgan Morgan-Giles
, Winchester
As the House has not copies of the Bill, would it not be possible for the Clause to be read out?
Mr George Thomas
, Cardiff West
I understand that copies are available in the Vote Office and, much as I should like to oblige the hon. and gallant Member for Winchester (Rear-Admiral Morgan-Giles), I think I had better keep to the normal rule.
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.
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.
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.
