Part of Orders of the Day – in the House of Commons at 9:30 pm on 10 June 2008.
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.
Tony McNulty
Minister of State (Security, Counter-terrorism, Crime and Policing), Home Office