Part of Sexual Offences Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee am 9:10 pm ar 18 Medi 2003.
John Randall
Opposition Whip (Commons)
9:10,
18 Medi 2003
My only question for the Minister of State is on the last point about enduring family relationships. I offer a layman's point of view. We have been discussing some things that we can set out and let the courts decide on, but we have been saying that other things are too difficult for a court and they give too much leeway to the lawyers to argue. It might be possible to apply the phrase ''enduring family relationship'' to people over 18, but what about if it is applied to somebody of 16 and two months? It would be very difficult, either way, to prove that it is enduring.
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.
