Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 25 Gorffennaf 1922.
Mr George Balfour
, Hampstead
There is a series of Amendments to the Clause standing in my name on the Paper. I have no desire to adopt any tactics which may be regarded as in the slightest degree obstructive. I have made my remarks in connection with this Clause already on the Question "that the Clause be read a Second time," and they cover the greater part of the ground. With a view to saving time, I would ask my hon. Friend whether he is prepared to accept one or other of my Amendments to this Clause. By leave of the House, I will defer my remarks to the third and fourth Amendments. If my hon. Friend will accept either of those, I will be content. The third Amendment simply provides that, if a power company is able and willing to supply, it shall be allowed to do so. In other words, it shall he allowed to fulfil the definite binding obligation, given under Clause 15, and this allows the Government to fulfil the undertaking, which in my view, rightly or wrongly, they are attempting to evade by arranging in Committee a discussion upon an Amendment which was moved by the hon. Member for Whitechapel. Alternatively, will the Parliamentary Secretary accept the last of the Amendments on the Paper in my name? I feel certain that on reflection my hon. Friend is bound to agree that I am not asking him to make any concession, but simply to fulfil the obligations which he has already undertaken.
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.
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.
