Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:45 am on 9 September 2014.
Shailesh Vara
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
Clause 5 provides for the clause to come into force on the day on which the Act is passed and for the other provisions, including any transitional provisions that are appropriate, to come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may appoint by regulations made by statutory instrument. The clause also indicates that the provisions extend to England and Wales only.
Shailesh Vara
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
11:00,
9 September 2014
On a point of order, Mr Sanders, I want to be absolutely clear that three sittings remain to us if necessary. I want to be confident that no one in Committee feels that there has not been enough time for debate on everything. I am pleased that we have come to a rapid conclusion, but if more time is required, it is available.
If, however, there is to be no more debate, I take the opportunity to thank all members of the Committee for their diligence in attendance and for their contributions. I also thank you, Mr Sanders, and your co-Chair, who I suppose is happy that he does not have to chair any sittings. I also thank the Clerk and all the assistants, my own officials and all those who gave evidence in the oral evidence sessions.
Andrew Slaughter
Shadow Minister (Justice)
Further to that point of order, Mr Sanders, I thank you for chairing proceedings and the evidence sessions. It might be your first chairing of a Public Bill Committee, so I hope that it has been a sensible and rational introduction—unusual, I have to say, for the Justice and Shadow Justice teams, but we will put on a better show next time.
For having finished in one sitting, I ask for credit points for when we next consider a Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders-style Bill—there were 154 clauses in the LASPO Bill in the end. The Minister was a Whip at the time, and we have been through many Bills. Perhaps this is an indication of the trend for the Government’s legislative programme that we have gone from a 154-Clause Bill which, whatever else one thinks about it, has changed the face of legal services, legal aid and other matters, to a Bill that we can get through in two hours and which I think, and indeed hope, will change virtually nothing at all in the law of negligence. But we will see. That is a matter that we can now leave. I am satisfied that we have had sufficient time today for what is in the Bill.
We should all be grateful not only to everyone who has assisted here today, but to the witnesses who attended and who were of great assistance. When the Bill reaches the other place, we will endeavour, perhaps with others to help us, to make some improvements, which we failed to do today.
Adrian Sanders
Liberal Democrat, Torbay
We have gone through the Bill line by line, so there is no further debate. I am still waiting to hear an answer to the question posed about the surgeon who cut off the wrong leg—whether the patient would have a leg to stand on.
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.
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.
The House of Lords. When used in the House of Lords, this phrase refers to the House of Commons.
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.
The shadow cabinet is the name given to the group of senior members from the chief opposition party who would form the cabinet if they were to come to power after a General Election. Each member of the shadow cabinet is allocated responsibility for `shadowing' the work of one of the members of the real cabinet.
The Party Leader assigns specific portfolios according to the ability, seniority and popularity of the shadow cabinet's members.
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.
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.
