Part of Equine Welfare (Ragwort Control) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 9:45 am on 15 May 2003.
Alun Michael
Minister of State (Rural Affairs), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
9:45,
15 May 2003
I join the hon. Gentleman in his welcome for the stage that we have reached today. I thank my hon. Friends for their attendance, which was necessary for the Committee to do its work and to make progress with the Bill: they also serve who only sit and vote. In traditional fashion, I thank you, Mr. Illsley, as well as the other members of the Committee, the Clerk, the Hansard Reporters and the police. None of them has been called upon to exercise their talents unduly, but they have been present to serve the Committee, and I am sure that the Hansard Reporters will join me in thanking everyone for keeping today's proceedings brief.
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.
