Part of Communications Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 9:30 am on 28 January 2003.
John Whittingdale
Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
9:30,
28 January 2003
As my hon. Friend suggests, Mr. Atkinson, it may be the heavy regulatory touch that caused me to call you Mr. ofcom. I do apologise.
I was addressing Amendment No. 650, which has been included in the group of amendments for this Clause and which deals with procedural safeguards, including rights of appeal. The matter is dealt with in both clauses 304 and 305, and I assure you, Mr. Atkinson, that if I am allowed to consider these matters in the current debate on clause 304, I am less likely to speak at such length when I outline the case in favour of the amendments to clause 305.
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.
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.
Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.
Ofcom Web Site http://www.ofcom.org.uk
