Oral Answers to Questions — Naval and Military Pensions and Grants. – in the House of Commons at on 14 February 1924.
Mr James Erskine
, Westminster St George's
asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to threats of strikes in more than one important industry; and whether he proposes setting up machinery to deal with trade disputes at their inception with the view of avoiding recurrent menaces to a revival of enterprise and securing a return to normal business conditions?
Sir Frederick Penny
, Kingston upon Thames
asked the Prime. Minister, whether, in view of the loss to the country and the inconvenience to many sections of the community, and resultant unemployment in other industries caused by the recent strike of a particular group of railway engineers, he will revive the provisions of the Defence of the Realm Act making such acts illegal; and whether he will introduce legislation making it compulsory upon all parties concerned in any industrial dispute to accept an unanimous decision of a representative arbitration board or court of inquiry, and making the act of striking after such decision has been given punishable by law?
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
The Government do not propose to introduce legislation on the lines suggested. With regard to compulsory arbitration, this question was considered by the Committee of Employers and Employed, over which Mr. Speaker presided and after full consideration, was rejected. I think that the consensus of industrial opinion is that compulsion in this matter is impracticable. I am of opinion that, apart from compulsory arbitration, the Industrial Courts Act provides the necessary powers for dealing with industrial disputes.
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.
The Speaker is an MP who has been elected to act as Chairman during debates in the House of Commons. He or she is responsible for ensuring that the rules laid down by the House for the carrying out of its business are observed. It is the Speaker who calls MPs to speak, and maintains order in the House. He or she acts as the House's representative in its relations with outside bodies and the other elements of Parliament such as the Lords and the Monarch. The Speaker is also responsible for protecting the interests of minorities in the House. He or she must ensure that the holders of an opinion, however unpopular, are allowed to put across their view without undue obstruction. It is also the Speaker who reprimands, on behalf of the House, an MP brought to the Bar of the House. In the case of disobedience the Speaker can 'name' an MP which results in their suspension from the House for a period. The Speaker must be impartial in all matters. He or she is elected by MPs in the House of Commons but then ceases to be involved in party politics. All sides in the House rely on the Speaker's disinterest. Even after retirement a former Speaker will not take part in political issues. Taking on the office means losing close contact with old colleagues and keeping apart from all groups and interests, even avoiding using the House of Commons dining rooms or bars. The Speaker continues as a Member of Parliament dealing with constituent's letters and problems. By tradition other candidates from the major parties do not contest the Speaker's seat at a General Election. The Speakership dates back to 1377 when Sir Thomas Hungerford was appointed to the role. The title Speaker comes from the fact that the Speaker was the official spokesman of the House of Commons to the Monarch. In the early years of the office, several Speakers suffered violent deaths when they presented unwelcome news to the King. Further information can be obtained from factsheet M2 on the UK Parliament website.
