Part of Civil Contingencies Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:30 pm on 10 February 2004.
Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
4:30,
10 February 2004
On the basis of the shuffling of paper that I hear over my left shoulder, I undertake to write to the hon. Gentleman on that point.
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.
