Mr Stanley Baldwin
, Bewdley
May I ask what will be the business for next week?
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
On Monday, the Local Authorities (Emergency Provisions) Bill, and Poor Law Emergency Provisions Continuance (Scotland) Bill—Report and Third Reading; Supplementary Estimate for the League of Nations, in Committee of Supply; Friendly Societies Bill, Second Reading; Report stage of Budget Resolutions.
Tuesday: Motion on New Import Duties, by the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition.
Wednesday: British Empire Exhibition (Guarantee)—Money Resolution in Committee of the Whole House; War Charges (Validity) (No. 2) Bill, Committee.
Thursday: Supply—Home Office Vote.
Sir Archibald Sinclair
, Caithness and Sutherland
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Motion on Tuesday is a Vote of Censure—whether the Opposition stick to their guns?
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
Although the Motion is not cast in the customary terms, the Government do regard it as a Vote of Censure.
Mr Isaac Foot
, Bodmin
Should I be in order in asking at what time the Government intend introducing the Administration of Justice Bill, having regard to the fact that, until this Bill has been dealt with ill this House, the work of the Supreme Court is held up?
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
I cannot make a definite statement on that matter, but will look into it.
The clause by clause consideration of a parliamentary bill takes place at its committee stage.
In the Commons this usually takes place in a standing committee, outside the Chamber, but occasionally a bill will be considered in a committee of the Whole House in the main chamber.
This means the bill is discussed in detail on the floor of the House by all MPs.
Any bill can be committed to a Committee of the Whole House but the procedure is normally reserved for finance bills and other important, controversial legislation.
The Chairman of Ways and Means presides over these Committees and the mace is placed on a bracket underneath the Table.
The "Leader of the Opposition" is head of "Her Majesty's Official Opposition". This position is taken by the Leader of the party with the 2nd largest number of MPs in the Commons.
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".
