Equality Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 9:15 am ar 2 Gorffennaf 2009.
Tim Boswell
Ceidwadwyr, Daventry
I think that it would bore the Committee to tears to go into the detail of an interpretation Clause. However, I would like the Solicitor-General’s assurance that the list of categories of assistance dog is sufficiently comprehensive. It begins with specific types and goes on to mention prescribed charities. I think that that will cover all types.
I have a Constituency interest because a marvellous charity called Dogs for the Disabled, which does excellent work, is located at the edge of my constituency, near to Banbury in the neighbouring constituency. That charity provides dogs for people with wider disabilities than the conventional disabilities of deafness or blindness. Will the Solicitor-General assure me that she will nudge her colleagues in the relevant Department to ensure that the definition is sufficiently comprehensive, as I believe it is, so that any dog that is trained to help a person will be admitted?
Vera Baird
Solicitor General, Attorney General's Office
The category of assistance dog is widening all the time. The hon. Gentleman has put his finger on an important point, but the Clause allows the Secretary of State to provide for further categories of assistance dog as it becomes necessary.
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.
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.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
