– in a Public Bill Committee am ar 2 Rhagfyr 2015.
Sir David Amess
Ceidwadwyr, Southend West
2:00,
2 Rhagfyr 2015
Good afternoon, colleagues. I am in the happy position of saying that I do not think these proceedings will take too long.
Two factors make these proceedings unusual. First, this is a private Member’s Bill, and therefore we will proceed, in time-honoured fashion, without a programme motion, and with our business governed by my groupings and decisions—colleagues should have the selection list in front of them. Secondly, there is no Amendment paper as no amendments were tabled. The Questions before us will be whether clauses 1 to 6 and schedules 1 and 2 should stand part of the Bill. Those Questions will be proposed from the Chair and debated, if necessary, in the usual way. If we are not able to complete our consideration today, I will invite the Member in charge to move a sittings motion to enable debate on how the Committee should take its work forward.
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.
