Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:00 am on 9 March 2010.
David Gauke
Shadow Minister (Treasury)
I do not know whether I can match the brevity of my hon. Friend the Member for Worthing, West. I simply ask why there is two months between the passing of the Bill and its commencement. Why not commence it immediately?
Sally Keeble
Labour, Northampton North
I understand that that is standard.
Gerald Kaufman
Labour, Manchester, Gorton
If it is in order, Mr. Chope, will you allow me to say how sorry I am that my hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Gwynne) is not here today owing to serious illness, and how grateful we are to him for carrying on the Bill after my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North initiated it? I pay great tribute to my hon. Friend for the knowledge, persistence and dedication she has shown in bringing the Bill forward and getting it to this stage.
Christopher Chope
Conservative, Christchurch
Obviously, what the right hon. Gentleman has said is in order, but it is slightly premature because we still have two new clauses to deal with.
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.
