Part of Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:45 pm on 31 January 2002.
Mr Peter Pike
Labour, Burnley
4:45,
31 January 2002
The Chairman certainly understands.
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.
