Orders of the Day — Local Government (Scotland) Bill. – in the House of Commons at on 6 March 1929.
Mr Thomas Johnston
, Dundee
On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. In regard to Clause 70, an Amendment was on the Order Paper which was never reached during the Committee stage. It has been on the Order Paper on the Report stage, and I should like to ask for your Ruling as to whether a Clause, which is a declaration of intention as to what should happen in future Parliaments under certain hypothetical conditions, should not be ruled out of order altogether?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
The Resolution which was come to in regard to the allocation of time allotted to this Bill precludes me from dealing with points of Order in regard to questions arising on certain Clauses.
Mr. BENN:
But, inasmuch as it is the function of the Chair to see that questions are not put which are out of order, would it not be right, under the Rules of Order and despite any Guillotine Resolution, for the Chair to see that no question is put from the Chair which infringes upon the Rules of the House?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
I am not putting any Question from the Chair, except Government Amendments, which the Resolution of the House lays it down that I am to do.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
I am putting no Motion from the Chair.
Mr George Garro-Jones
, Hackney South
I am entitled to put a point of Order.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
Is it the same point of Order or something different?
Mr George Garro-Jones
, Hackney South
I wish to put a different aspect of the same point of Order.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
I cannot deal with it.
Mr George Garro-Jones
, Hackney South
Then I wish to ask you a question.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
The hon. and gallant Member must remain seated when I am standing. I have already told him that I cannot deal with that point of Order. I am precluded from doing so by the Resolution that the House has passed.
Mr George Garro-Jones
, Hackney South
I wish to ask you a question on that point of Order. I am fully within my rights in doing so. I know what I have a right to do.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
I cannot deal with the point of Order now. Sir John Gilmour.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
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
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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.
