Part of Proceeds of Crime Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 12:15 pm ar 29 Ionawr 2002.
Mr Paul Stinchcombe
Llafur, Wellingborough
12:15,
29 Ionawr 2002
Is the Minister saying that the provision ensures that information is provided, or is he saying that someone could be compelled to produce
the material on which that information is provided? If the latter, is that material susceptible to, for example, forensic examination?
What kind of material does the Minister have in mind that contains only a name and address? Even a business card would normally contain fax and telephone numbers. Does he suggest that the provision requires material containing just the name and address, with no extra information on it? As it is unlikely that such material would be in the possession of a solicitor, does he suggest that the solicitor creates material containing that information and then furnishes it? What lies behind the reference to ''material'', other than the fact that it falls under a part of the Bill that deals with disclosure orders?
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.
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.
