Part of Proceeds of Crime Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 12:45 pm ar 20 Tachwedd 2001.
Ian Davidson
Labour/Co-operative, Glasgow Pollok
12:45,
20 Tachwedd 2001
That is true. However, difficulties will arise if the concept of interlocking transactions that the hon. Gentleman raises becomes a reality. Presumably, if that happens, the only transactions that will come to light are those that the criminal who is being convicted brings forward, and the balancing contracts might not be produced at all if villains were to lend each other money. That would be a deliberate attempt to distort, and it would be difficult to gainsay.
Given that we are dealing with people who are, in many cases, pillars of the community, and who have lent money and engaged in transactions with other—alleged—pillars of the community, the scope for obfuscation is considerable. The Amendment under discussion is almost certain to result in the opening up of an enormous number of loopholes—although I am sure that that is not the intention behind it.
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.
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.
