Part of Children and Adoption Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee am 9:15 am ar 16 Mawrth 2006.
Maria Miller
Shadow Minister (Education)
9:15,
16 Mawrth 2006
The hon. Gentleman is surely aware that a concern about a child’s safety can be raised and will be investigated under other clauses. Perhaps he is concerned that the child’s safety is not adequately dealt with in contact orders. I was not aware of that before; it is something that is considered in great detail when contact orders are initially put in place. If further concerns come to light after the contact order is put in place, CAFCASS officers may be informed, and a risk assessment undertaken, which can then be taken into consideration. I am still striving to find where the problem is in the process.
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.