Part of Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:00 am on 9 March 2010.
David Gauke
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
10:00,
9 March 2010
The hon. Gentleman is making a good point, and I say that not only because I also made that point on Second Reading. There is no equivalent of insolvency procedures for a country. Interfering with contractual rights is something that, by and large, we do not believe in doing in this country. However, we recognise that there are times when we have to do so in a case of bankrupt individuals and insolvent companies. He is making a helpful point; those are the narrow circumstances in which interfering with contractual rights can be accepted.
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 Second Reading is the most important stage for a Bill. It is when the main purpose of a Bill is discussed and voted on. If the Bill passes it moves on to the Committee Stage. Further information can be obtained from factsheet L1 on the UK Parliament website.
