Treasury written statement – made at on 20 November 2006.
Edward Balls
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury
Items on the agenda are as follows:
Preliminary Draft Amending Budget Number 6 for 2006—Ministers will be invited to adopt Preliminary Draft Amending Budget 6. This would amend the 2006 budget to reflect latest implementation capacity.
Letters of Amendment Number 2 and 3 to the Preliminary Draft Budget for 2007—Ministers will be invited to adopt amending letters 2 and 3 to the Preliminary Draft Budget for 2007. The letters reflect latest information on agricultural prices and other developments.
Draft Budget for 2007—The Council will look to agree their Second Reading of the 2007 Draft Budget and finalise figures for compulsory expenditure (agriculture), in preparation for the subsequent conciliation with the European Parliament. The UK will seek a budget that is affordable, reflects realistic forecasts of agriculture and structural funds spending and bears down on administration.
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.
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.
