Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister – in the House of Commons at 3:45 pm on 4 November 2009.
Michael Wills
Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice
3:45,
4 November 2009
I am sorry to interrupt the hon. Gentleman, but is he absolutely confident that he is comparing like with like? I think it important for the Committee to know the answer to that question.
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.
