Part of Criminal Justice Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:15 am on 28 January 2003.
Sylvia Hermon
Shadow Spokesperson (Women), Shadow Spokesperson (Trade and Industry), Shadow Spokesperson (Culture, Media and Sport), Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs)
11:15,
28 January 2003
I draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that parts of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 are more or less repeated in Clause 100. Since 1988, statements have been admissible if the person is dead, unfit through mental incapacity or outside the United Kingdom. Interestingly, statements made in fear or made by a person who is being kept out of the way are entitled to be taken, provided that they were given to a police officer or some other person charged with the duty of investigating offences or charging offenders. The difference between that and clause 100—I hope that the Minister will deal with it—is that statements given through fear no longer have to be given to a police officer or someone investigating a crime but could be given to a print journalist, a biographer and goodness knows who else.
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.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
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.
