Sunday Working (Scotland) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:00 am on 26 March 2003.
Anne McGuire
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
I wonder whether I could reassure my hon. Friend so that he does not have to seek legal opinion on its compatibility with the European convention on human rights. Section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998 is not applicable, as this is not a Government Bill. The hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland was correct; there is a slightly different procedure. We are considering a private Member's Bill and although we all feel that it is compatible with the 1998 Act, the hon. Member for Greenock and Inverclyde does not need to make a specific statement to that effect.
David Cairns
Labour, Greenock and Inverclyde
I am extremely grateful to the Minister and I trust that that answers the question.
Clause 2 is a standard clause conferring a power on the Secretary of State to make by order transitory transitional saving provisions that may be required to give full effect to any provision of the legislation. Mindful of the consultation that was under way, I was keen that the clause be inserted. It may have been clear as a result of the consultation that there were either sectoral or geographical circumstances that would have required some sort of transitional power. I am not aware that that has come out so far.
The hon. Member for Bridgwater mentioned pensions. I cannot think of any obvious implications for pensions. It is important to remember that for those who opt out of Sunday working, employers are not obliged to provide another day's work. The cost to the employer in relation to salary and pensions should be neutral. I am not entirely sure that there are implications in that respect. The Bill must travel through Another place, which has a great deal of business and trade union experience and something may emerge there. Although I am not anticipating what the orders may be, it is prudent at this stage that clause 2 should stand part of the Bill.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 3 and 4 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Bill to be reported, without Amendment.
Committee rose at six minutes past Ten o'clock.
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.
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.
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Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
A group of workers who have united to promote their common interests.
During a debate members of the House of Commons traditionally refer to the House of Lords as 'another place' or 'the other place'.
Peers return the gesture when they speak of the Commons in the same way.
This arcane form of address is something the Labour Government has been reviewing as part of its programme to modernise the Houses of Parliament.
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.
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