New clauses

28.115New clauses are considered after the clauses of the bill have been disposed of, unless the committee has ordered otherwise. New clauses, subject to any motion for considering them in a different order (see para 28.93 ), are considered in the order in which they stand on the amendment paper, that is, the order in which they have been handed in, except that clauses offered by the Member in charge of the bill are placed first1 and may be arranged in any order that Member wishes.

The procedure on a new clause gives an opportunity for a debate on its principle and then for the proposal of amendments before its incorporation in the bill. The Member in whose name it stands, or another Member,1A on being called by the Chair, ‘brings up’ the clause in a speech, explaining its merits. Under the provisions of Standing Order No 69, a new clause is read the first time without question put, and the reading of the title by the clerk is taken as complying with the Standing Order. The question, that the clause be read a second time, is then proposed and debate proceeds on this question. If this is agreed to, amendments may be moved in the ordinary manner. Finally, the question is put that the clause, or the clause as amended, be added to the bill. This question is often not debated, particularly if the clause is unamended (because in such a case the scope of debate is virtually identical to that on the question for second reading).

At the Chair's discretion, new clauses may be grouped together for discussion along with amendments, clause stand part motions or other new clauses in the same way as amendments (see para 28.102 ).

A new clause may be ruled to be out of order for many of the same reasons as an amendment (see paras 28.105 –28.113 ).2

The decision on where in the bill a new clause, if agreed, is to be inserted is not a decision for the committee, but is left to be settled between the Member in charge of the bill and the Public Bill Office, which is responsible for reprinting the bill as amended.