Part of Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:15 pm on 24 April 2007.
Lorely Burt
Shadow Minister (Business, Innovation and Skills), Shadow Spokesperson (Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
12:15,
24 April 2007
I beg to move Amendment No. 23, in schedule 6, page 62, line 29, leave out ‘may’ and insert ‘shall’.
The amendment is another rehearsal of discussions that we have previously had and would strengthen the demand upon the Secretary of State, who is not required to do any of the things in the schedule. The argument is in a sense tautological: we wish him to be required to undertake the matters referred to.
Stephen Pound rose—
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.
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.
