Part of Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:22 pm on 5 February 2002.
Sylvia Hermon
Shadow Spokesperson (Women), Shadow Spokesperson (Trade and Industry), Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs)
6:22,
5 February 2002
I am glad to be able to record that the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh and I have found ourselves in agreement this afternoon.
However, the agreement was, alas, only in part, and I should not want to build up false hopes. I shall give the good news first, and then come to the bad news.
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.
