Part of Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:00 am on 13 January 2005.
Caroline Flint
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
11:00,
13 January 2005
The amendments ensure that the written agreements referred to in clauses 67 and 68 can only be between a specified prosecutor and the defendant. That has always been our intention, as we set out in the white paper. The clauses do not specify with whom the defendant can enter into an agreement, and I hope that the Committee will recognise that the amendments clarify the position. Specifically, they provide that the written agreements will be between the defendant and any prosecutor specified in Clause 65.
Amendment No. 169 removes the reference to custodial sentences and ensures that the court should be able to undertake a review of any sentence imposed by the Crown court.
Amendment agreed to.
Amendment made: No. 168, in clause 67, page 38, line 34, at end insert—
'(9) An agreement with a specified prosecutor may provide for assistance to be given to that prosecutor or to any other prosecutor.
(10) References to a specified prosecutor must be construed in accordance with section 65.'.—[Caroline Flint.]
Question proposed, That the clause, as amended, 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.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
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.
