Part of Inquiries Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:30 am on 22 March 2005.
Terry Rooney
PPS (Rt Hon Keith Hill, Minister of State), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
10:30,
22 March 2005
Is the hon. Gentleman seriously suggesting that an inquiry has to be held every time there is an allegation? While we are on the subject, what about the proven cover-up for about eight years of BSE, pre-1997?
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.
