Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:00 am on 9 March 2010.
David Gauke
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
I would be grateful if the Minister or the hon. Lady set out the types of judgment that override EU or international obligations, and that could provide an exception to what the Bill sets out generally.
Stephen Timms
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) (Digital Britain) (also HM Treasury), Financial Secretary (HM Treasury) (also in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills)
I support the Clause because it is necessary for the UK to fulfil some European and international obligations. Where we are entitled to refuse to enforce foreign judgments in full—for example if they go against UK public policy—it is consistent with the aims of the Bill to do so. None the less, there are some kinds of judgments and arbitration awards which the UK is obliged to enforce in full. It is right that the Bill should not apply to those, and clause 7 provides accordingly.
Sally Keeble
Labour, Northampton North
The only thing I would add is that the exceptions are set out in Clause 7(2).
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.
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.
