Part of Criminal Justice Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:00 pm on 9 January 2003.
Hilary Benn
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office) (Minister for Prisons and Probation)
6:00,
9 January 2003
I do not know the answer to the hon. Gentleman's question, but I undertake to consider it, and to write to him if that is helpful.
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.
