Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 2:00 pm on 19 June 2008.
Duty to secure observance of Code of Practice
‘Where any local authority has been granted powers under Part 3 of this Act, the LBRO shall have the duty or reviewing and, if appropriate, certifying every three years whether local authorities are compliant with the provisions of any Code issued under Section 22 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006.’.—[Mr. Prisk.]
Division number 6
Nimrod Review — Statement — New Clause 3
Lorely Burt
Shadow Minister (Business, Innovation and Skills), Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party
On a point of order, Mr. Chope. I seek your guidance before we proceed. I was somewhat surprised to see new clauses 4 and 5 on today’s selection list. They were not originally chosen, but were both intended to be included with my amendments Nos. 58, 59 and 60, which would have replaced clauses 28, 29 and 30. I am ready, willing and able to go ahead with this discussion, but in view of the fact that we have already discussed clauses 28, 29 and 30, I ask your guidance. Do you consider this to be an appropriate time to discuss the new clauses, or do you feel that we should leave it to a subsequent stage of the Bill?
Christopher Chope
Conservative, Christchurch
I am in the hon. Lady’s hands. The new clauses are hers, so she can decide not to move them if she wants. The reason why they were not on the selection list for debate on the last occasion was that they were effectively starred. They were ruled out because sufficient notice of them had not been given before the Committee met. Now they are in order and in time. If she wants to discuss them, we can propose them and deal with them accordingly after she moves them. If she does not want to move them, that is her decision. I hope that that is helpful.
Lorely Burt
Shadow Minister (Business, Innovation and Skills), Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party
I am grateful for your guidance, Mr. Chope. I would therefore like to introduce the new clauses and explain why I wanted them included.
Christopher Chope
Conservative, Christchurch
Order. The hon. Lady must realise that new clauses are separate items. One cannot discuss them together. They are not grouped for debate, so they must be discussed seriatim.
Lorely Burt
Shadow Minister (Business, Innovation and Skills), Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party
I apologise if I was misleading in describing them.
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 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.
The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
