Equality Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 4:15 pm ar 18 Mehefin 2009.
This amendment removes the powers of Government to remove specific types of premises from the application of this protection.
We have some concerns that the provision will make the protection of premises open to the whims of the Government of the day. If a Government were to decide that they disagreed with protection in all its forms in all these premises, they could remove all types of proposed buildings and premises from the application of the protection. I am seeking reassurance from the Minister that she is not as worried about this as I am.
Vera Baird
Solicitor General, Attorney General's Office
I assure the hon. Lady that we have no sinister reason to exclude any particular premises. Property and housing legislation is complex and the provisions in the Clause are novel. They will take a bit of time to bed in and we will monitor how they work in practice. In time, there may be aspects of common parts, for instance, that mean that we have to exclude certain things from the provisions, so we have given ourselves the power to do so. There is nothing sinister at all in this. Of course, I cannot predict whether future Governments will have sinister motives, but it seems to us an important power to have in reserve.
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.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
Lynne Featherstone
Shadow Minister (Children, Schools and Families), Liberal Democrat Spokeperson (Children, Schools and Families)