Part of Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 4:45 pm ar 29 Ionawr 2002.
Crispin Blunt
Shadow Spokesperson (Northern Ireland)
4:45,
29 Ionawr 2002
I welcome you to the Chair for this afternoon's sitting, Mr. Pike. However, I somewhat regret the fact that the Minister had the opportunity for a break because I am more confused now than I was before, although I thought that I understood the position before lunch.
I shall set out the official Opposition's position on devolution and related matters. We agree with the review and with the Government on the recommendations. It is appropriate for judges of the High Court to fall within the devolved structure and within the remit of the Judicial Appointments Commission. Therefore, they should be covered by the concomitant recommendations about tenure and the ability to remove them from office. Later in our proceedings, we will come to the issue that is slightly confusing—and on which I have tabled amendments to Clause 4—the appointment of judges to the High Court, Her Majesty's involvement in appointments
and the consequences for the role of this House and Another place. I agree with the Minister that that will be the most appropriate time to deal with those issues.
I agree with the Minister—in fact, I was delighted to hear him say this—that there is merit in promoting consistency across the devolved structures in the United Kingdom, as that will make it much easier for people to understand exactly which functions are exercised by the devolved administrations and which are reserved for what my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) called Whitehall appointments in respect of the judiciary.
The Minister explained the purpose of Amendment No. 128 before lunch, and I agree with the way in which he defined that. I just thought that it was appropriate to put on record the principle that underlies the Opposition's approach, a principle that also guides us in relation to other amendments that we shall discuss later.
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.
During a debate members of the House of Commons traditionally refer to the House of Lords as 'another place' or 'the other place'.
Peers return the gesture when they speak of the Commons in the same way.
This arcane form of address is something the Labour Government has been reviewing as part of its programme to modernise the Houses of Parliament.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
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.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
Whitehall is a wide road that runs through the heart of Westminster, starting at Trafalgar square and ending at Parliament. It is most often found in Hansard as a way of referring to the combined mass of central government departments, although many of them no longer have buildings on Whitehall itself.
