Major Capital Contracts (Skills Training Requirements) – in the House of Commons at 9:02 pm on 2 March 2010.
Amendment made: 35, page 5, line 22, at end insert-
'(4A) Subject to subsection (4B), a special advisers code must provide that a special adviser may not-
(a) authorise the expenditure of public funds;
(b) exercise any power in relation to the management of any part of the civil service of the State;
(c) otherwise exercise any power conferred by or under this or any other Act or any power under Her Majesty's prerogative.
(4B) A special advisers code may permit a special adviser to exercise any power within subsection (4A)(b) in relation to another special adviser.
(4C) In subsection (4A)(c) "Act" includes-
(a) an Act of the Scottish Parliament;
(b) an Act or Measure of the National Assembly for Wales;
(c) Northern Ireland legislation.'.- (Mr. Wills.)
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.
