Part of European Parliament (Representation) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:15 am on 14 January 2003.
Bill Cash
Shadow Attorney General
10:15,
14 January 2003
I am grateful to the Minister for the constructive way, at last, in which we are beginning to make progress on some of the points that we have made. It is important to put on record that the Governor is the representative of the British monarch, by whom he is appointed, and is responsible for matters directly relating to external affairs, defence, internal security and other matters not specifically defined as domestic matters in Gibraltar's constitution. I made the point that elections are defined as a domestic matter under our constitution, so we were moving into territory that would have caused a direct conflict between the Gibraltar constitution and arrangements that arise under the Bill.
The Governor is the head of the Executive who administer Gibraltar, usually by acting on the advice of the Gibraltar Council. I am a bit mystified by the Gibraltar Council, on which I do not think that we need to elaborate, but I understand that it is not one of the most active bodies, although we may receive further information on that in due course. The Gibraltar Council includes the Chief Minister, who has been acknowledged in the Bill already, and the Governor's formal assent on behalf of the Crown is required for all legislation passed by the Gibraltar House of Assembly, although it is generally automatic.
That is all that I need to say. I am grateful to the Minister for her comments, and I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
The Chairman, being of the opinion that the principle of the Clause and any matters arising thereon
had been adequately discussed in the course of debate on the amendments proposed thereto, forthwith put the Question, pursuant to Standing Orders Nos. 68 and 89, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question agreed to.
Clause 9 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
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.
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.
