Part of Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 9:15 am on 19 June 2008.
Mark Prisk
Shadow Minister (Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
9:15,
19 June 2008
I am fascinated. At least two lawyers from different organisations told me that there was a significant omission in the Bill and that it was important to have a provision to deal with that. In response to their comments, I felt that it was important to table the Amendment. However, if the Minister is happy to confirm firmly on the record that there is a provision in the law, we have scored a goal without even starting the game. I am very happy if that is the case, not least because the Minister’s words are now firmly on the record. Although I suspect that we would all like the opportunity to divide the Committee to ensure that the issue is dealt with, there is no need. Therefore, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the 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.
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.
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.
