Part of Proceeds of Crime Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:45 pm on 18 December 2001.
Amendments made: No. 345, in page 163, line 42, leave out 'the High Court' and insert 'courts'.
No. 346, in page 163, line 43, leave out 'Chapter' and insert 'Part'.
No. 347, in page 164, line 1, leave out from 'court' to end of line 2.—[Mr. Bob Ainsworth.]
Clause 283, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Amendment made: No. 348, That Clause 283 be transferred to the end of line 21 on page 178.—[Mr. Bob Ainsworth.]
Clauses 284 to 287 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
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.
