Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 9 Rhagfyr 1947.
Mr Charles Williams
, Torquay
12:00,
9 Rhagfyr 1947
I quite appreciate that this is an enabling Bill, and I regret that the right hon. Gentleman took that tone with me. I know this type of Bill, and, if I may say so with respect, I knew about it long before the right hon. Gentleman came to this House of Commons, or had anything to do with the place. Quite frankly, I am objecting to the Financial Secretary asking for a sum of money in an enabling Bill, and, at the same time, not knowing why that sum of money is asked for.
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.
The House of Commons is one of the houses of parliament. Here, elected MPs (elected by the "commons", i.e. the people) debate. In modern times, nearly all power resides in this house. In the commons are 650 MPs, as well as a speaker and three deputy speakers.
