Divorce (Religious Marriages) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:45 am on 7 November 2001.
Andrew Dismore
Labour, Hendon
The Clause deals with the mechanism to bring the law into effect. The date on which the Bill would come into effect would be appointed by the Lord Chancellor, but we have to deal with some of the loose ends mentioned by the hon. Member for Torridge and West Devon. The Act does not apply to Scotland because of devolution, but I understand that there are moves in the Scottish Parliament to introduce a similar measure.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Bill to be reported, without Amendment.
Committee rose at two minutes to Eleven o'clock.
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.
