Part of Children and Adoption Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee am 9:15 am ar 16 Mawrth 2006.
Mike Hancock
Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol, Portsmouth South
9:15,
16 Mawrth 2006
The hon. Member for Luton, South indicated that she wanted to come back on that point and I thought that she wanted to clarify the position to make it easier for the Committee to understand. I hope that the Committee accepts that. She will, of course, have a chance to wind up after the Minister has spoken. I hope the Committee accepts that the hon. Member is trying to be helpful.
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.
