Part of Sexual Offences Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee am 9:10 pm ar 18 Medi 2003.
Dominic Grieve
Ceidwadwyr, Beaconsfield
9:10,
18 Medi 2003
Another thing that we ought to think about has just crossed my mind. One way or another, we are potentially sanctioning the bringing into circulation—admittedly at this stage just for private use—of pornographic photographs of young boys or girls. If subsequently, at the age of 18, consent were given, those photographs could easily go into general circulation. We are worried about the problem of child pornography, but we are providing a loophole for its production, because, as I understand it, its circulation can postdate by many years the date on which it was originally produced.
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.
