Bills Presented. – in the House of Commons at on 16 May 1924.
Major Sir Richard Barnett
, St Pancras South West
I wish to ask your ruling, Sir, on a question of Order arising out of a Motion standing on the Paper to-day in the name of the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. Mardy Jones)—
That the growing practice of the Chairmen of Standing Committees in allowing practically unlimited and irrelevant debate on Bills promoted by private Members is to be deprecated as being subversive of private Members' rights, and that in this respect the conduct of the hon. Member for South-West St. Pancras, as Chairman of Standing Committee A, in respect of the Rent Restrictions Bill, has been particularly reprehensible.
The point of order on which I wish to ask your ruling, Sir, is this: Is there a censorship of the Notices of Motion which are handed in at the Table, and, if so, is it in Order to place upon the Paper a Notice of Motion charging the Chairman of a Standing Committee with conduct of a particularly reprehensible kind?
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
There is no censorship of Motions, provided they are within the rules of the House, and this Motion, I think, is within the Rules of the House. As I said last week, it is quite wrong that any criticism of any Chairman of a Standing Committee, or of the whole House, or of the Speaker, should take place outside the House. The proper method is to table a Motion in such a case.
Mr John Remer
, Macclesfield
As I understand it, as it appears on the Order Paper, this notice may be appearing for several days, and probably months, as it is simply put down for an early day. In these circumstances, should it not be debated on the floor of the House at the earliest possible moment?
Major Sir Richard Barnett
, St Pancras South West
May I say, in view of your ruling, Sir, that I wish to request the protection of the House, and to ask the Government for the earliest possible day to debate the Motion.
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
That is quite a correct course to take.
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.
In a normal session there are up to ten standing committees on bills. Each has a chair and from 16 to 50 members. Standing committee members on bills are appointed afresh for each new bill by the Committee of Selection which is required to take account of the composition of the House of Commons (ie. party proportions) as well as the qualification of members to be nominated. The committees are chaired by a member of the Chairmen's Panel (whose members are appointed by the Speaker). In standing committees the Chairman has much the same function as the Speaker in the House of Commons. Like the Speaker, a chairman votes only in the event of a tie, and then usually in accordance with precedent. The committees consider each bill clause by clause and may make amendments. There are no standing committees in the House of Lords.
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.
The order paper is issued daily and lists the business which will be dealt with during that day's sitting of the House of Commons.
It provides MPs with details of what will be happening in the House throughout the day.
It also gives details of when and where the standing committees and select committees of the Commons will be meeting.
Written questions tabled to ministers by MPs on the previous day are listed at the back of the order paper.
The order paper forms one section of the daily vote bundle and is issued by the Vote Office
