Legislation (Territorial Extent) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 9:45 am on 30 March 2011.
Harriett Baldwin
Conservative, West Worcestershire
I appreciate your wisdom in this matter, Mr Gale. I was speaking in prelude to that discussion, and I wished to point out that, on Second Reading, the Minister said that if the Bill were to go into Committee, he looked forward to working constructively with me to improve it. In addition, the hon. Member for Rhondda said that if the Bill passed its Second Reading, the Opposition would wish to scrutinise it robustly and seek to amend it. As the hon. Gentleman noted earlier, no one has tabled any amendments. I suggest that before we discuss Clause 1—
Chris Bryant
Shadow Minister (Justice) (Political and Constitutional Reform)
On a point of order, Mr Gale. I thought that we were discussing Clause 1 now.
Roger Gale
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Substitute Member)
Technically, the hon. Gentleman is right. It is a formality and I have proposed the question on Clause 1. The hon. Lady has the floor and if she wishes to make a proposition to the Committee in the course of her remarks, she may do so.
Chris Bryant
Shadow Minister (Justice) (Political and Constitutional Reform)
I am not questioning your view, Mr Gale, but I would like some clarity. I presume that it would now not be possible to table any amendments to Clause 1 as we have started consideration of it.
Roger Gale
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (Substitute Member)
That rather depends on what happens in the next few minutes, and I cannot advise on that at this stage. It would not be possible, were the Committee to continue to sit, to table amendments to Clause 1 for debate this morning unless the Chair decided to take a manuscript Amendment. But that is hypothetical, because no manuscript amendment has been submitted to me. I cannot adjudicate on something that has not happened. We have to let the hon. Lady have her say and see where we go from there. Leave it in my safe hands.
Harriett Baldwin
Conservative, West Worcestershire
Probably the safest thing that I can do now is seek to adjourn the Committee.
I beg to move, That the debate be now adjourned.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
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 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.
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.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
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.
