Part of Enterprise Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:30 pm on 23 April 2002.
Miss Melanie Johnson
Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry
6:30,
23 April 2002
The safeguard prevents statements that have been obtained under compulsion in a civil
investigation under the Competition Act being used against the person who made them for the purpose of prosecuting the new offence. It is common practice in criminal law for persons to lose that protection where they make inconsistent statements or voluntarily provide information. Our approach is entirely consistent with sections 2(8) and (8AA) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987. We therefore resist the Amendment. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will withdraw it.
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.
