Part of Export Control Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:15 am on 18 October 2001.
Robert Key
Conservative, Salisbury
11:15,
18 October 2001
Mr. Benton, may I echo the words of the Minister and thank you and the Committee for your kind indulgence in allowing me such an easy passage, after I parachuted in unexpectedly to carry on what was nobly started by my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Hertfordshire (Mr. Page), and also my hon. Friend the Member for North Wiltshire, who has been translated elsewhere. May I also add the attendants to my long list of well deserved compliments? They gave us the runaround, in the best sense of the word, in helping us to carry out our duties.
I look forward to continuing our discussions on the Floor of the House when we may hear from hon. Members who did not have the privilege to be members of the Committee. The issue contained in the Bill is important. We said from the start that the Opposition would not oppose the Bill in principle. The Committee has scrutinised it well. I am sorry that we have not won on all our points, but we have had a useful and constructive Committee.
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.
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