Captain William Benn
, Leith
Is the Chancellor of the exchequer aware that the Debate on the Second Reading of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions (Continuance) Bill may take some hours and, consequently, the Debate on the Housing Bill Money Resolution, Report stage, may not be reached much before the dinner hour and there is a Private Member's Motion down for 8.15? In view of the fact that this Money Resolution is really the essence of the Bill, and remonstrances have been made from many quarters of the House, not merely by those sitting on the Opposition side, does the right hon. Gentleman really propose to take the essential part of the Housing Bill after 11 o'clock at night?
Mr Stanley Baldwin
, Bewdley
I am afraid that it would be impossible to alter the business put down for to-day. I trust that my hon. and gallant Friend's anticipation about the first Order will not be realised. With regard to the Report of the Financial Resolution, I admit that it is one of great importance, but I think my hon. and gallant Friend will remember that we had a very full Debate during the Committee stage of that Resolution.
Captain William Benn
, Leith
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Health received from his own side, from a member of the late Cabinet, representations that he might reconsider his attitude on the Report stage of the Financial Resolution, and does he really think that twelve or one o'clock in the morning is a suitable time for arriving at decisions on matters of this kind?
Mr Stanley Baldwin
, Bewdley
Apart from suitability, unfortunately, that is sometimes necessary.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
The Second Reading is the most important stage for a Bill. It is when the main purpose of a Bill is discussed and voted on. If the Bill passes it moves on to the Committee Stage. Further information can be obtained from factsheet L1 on the UK Parliament website.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
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.
