Proceeds of Crime Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:15 pm on 29 January 2002.
Division number 42
Adults Abused in Childhood — Clause 369 - Order to grant entry
Steve McCabe
Labour, Birmingham, Hall Green
On a point of order, Mr. Gale. As it is obvious that my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Pollok objects to the fact that the clauses relating specifically to Scotland have not been debated, and that is why he is voting against them, would it be possible to group those clauses together and vote on chapter 3?
Roger Gale
Vice-Chair, Conservative Party
Chairmen group those questions that can properly be grouped, but it is open to hon. Members to object to a Question that is being put and it is then up to the Chair to call a Division. That is because, on some occasions, the official Opposition wish to vote against amendments and clauses. Where I can read properly and with certainty the opinion of the Committee, I will endeavour to call the vote, but if a Member chooses to press a Clause or an Amendment to a Division, that is his right.
Ian Davidson
Labour/Co-operative, Glasgow Pollok
Further to that point of order, Mr. Gale. Perhaps it would be helpful if I said that although I intend to oppose everything in this part of the Bill, I would be perfectly happy for all the clauses
to be grouped to allow more time for debate on subsequent provisions.
Roger Gale
Vice-Chair, Conservative Party
For the convenience of the Committee, and certainly for the convenience of the Chair, I shall call the amendments as they come up, otherwise we shall descend into total confusion. I trust that that will not take a great deal longer. I respect the hon. Gentleman's point of view, and we will accommodate his wishes one way or the other.Clause 370 Further provisions
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.
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.
The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
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.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
