Part of Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:45 pm on 25 January 2005.
Elliot Morley
Minister of State (Environment and Agri-Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
4:45,
25 January 2005
I know that the hon. Gentleman has raised this point under various legislation, such as the Water Act 2003, so he will be aware that the problem of overlap of responsibility on border areas can be resolved through concordats and direct negotiation with the Welsh Assembly. Over the years, we have established a good, effective working relationship with the Welsh Assembly; we are always careful to involve them and to ensure that they are heard in the development of policy strategies and legislation. Together, we have been successful in clarifying the most appropriate way of dealing with those occasional areas about which there has been an element of doubt.
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.
