Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 13 Rhagfyr 1973.
Mr George Thomas
, Gorllewin Caerdydd
12:00,
13 Rhagfyr 1973
Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. May we be assured that you will indicate your decision within a short while, because it is part of the tradition of this House that all the public, not just a part of it, shall hear us.
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.
The Deputy speaker is in charge of proceedings of the House of Commons in the absence of the Speaker.
The deputy speaker's formal title is Chairman of Ways and Means, one of whose functions is to preside over the House of Commons when it is in a Committee of the Whole House.
The deputy speaker also presides over the Budget.
