Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 25 Gorffennaf 1922.
Mr Arthur Neal
, Sheffield, Hillsborough
I had not the good fortune to see my hon. Friend. In view of the explanation which I have given, I ask the House to give a Second Reading to the Clause.
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.
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.
