Malta (Reconstruction) Bill – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 31 Ionawr 1947.
Mr Francis Bowles
, Nuneaton
Although it is not unusual I should like at this stage, if I may, to call attention to the fact that whereas the present Measure is to be entitled the Malta (Reconstruction) Act, 1946, it is now 1947. I have been wondering whether in future the Parliamentary draftsmen might take notice that when a Bill is laid as late, for example, as nth December, 1946, it is very unlikely to pass through the House of Commons by the end of the year, and I would suggest that in those circumstances the date should be left blank. There must be some Standing Order or other instruction given to the draftsmen or the printer after the Bill has passed both Houses to enable him to alter its form as it leaves this House. I therefore wished to say these few words because, although I know it has been quite common practice in the past, I feel that in future this obvious absurdity might cease.
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.
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