Part of Sexual Offences Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee am 9:10 pm ar 18 Medi 2003.
Beverley Hughes
Minister of State (Citizenship and Immigration), Home Office, Minister of State (Home Office) (Citizenship, Immigration and Counter-Terrorism)
9:10,
18 Medi 2003
We are talking about activities being investigated by the police or Crown Prosecution Service that involve people who have taken part in a meaningful way in the production of photographs or pseudo-photographs without the consent of the child. A person who developed photographs could technically be liable, as is the case now, but it is unlikely that they would be prosecuted if they had simply developed the photographs. The focus of the police investigation and prosecution would be on the people who had perpetrated what was regarded as the core of the offence.
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.
