Part of Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 5:15 pm on 1 July 2008.
Annette Brooke
Shadow Spokesperson (Children, Schools and Families), Shadow Minister (Education)
5:15,
1 July 2008
I would like to place it on the record that the Liberal Democrats strongly support the Clause. We are pleased that it was included in the Bill, because there was considerable debate about whether it was necessary to place such a duty on the local authority. I am particularly pleased that Lord Adonis came to the view that it should be in the Bill.
I am not entirely convinced by the argument about the word “appropriate”, so I will listen to the Minister’s response to the Amendment. I appreciate that the Government have put considerable financial resources into short breaks. It is very welcome, but it is such a huge area that almost unlimited demands could be placed upon that relatively small pot. As I understand it, for the most part that money will go to children with the most severe disabilities. I find it difficult to believe that a local authority would go out of its way to offer inappropriate respite care. I realise that the Minister may have more to say about that. There is no suggestion that I do not want disabled children to have appropriate care, but I am not convinced about this amendment.
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.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
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.
