Oral Answers to Questions — Transport. – in the House of Commons at on 14 September 1931.
Sir William Davison
, Kensington South
asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that the executive committee of the National Union of Railwaymen has instructed six Members of Parliament, whose election expenses had been paid by the union, to oppose and vote against the Government irrespective of the views of themselves or their constituents; and whether he will take legislative steps to prohibit interference with the actions of Members in this House by any association or body of persons?
Mr Henry Charleton
, Leeds South
I desire to ask your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, as to whether it is in order for an hon. Member to refer to other hon. Members in a question and to make statements which are not true. As one of the hon. Members referred to in the question, I desire to say that I have received no instructions from my executive committee to vote against this Government, nor have the other four or five hon. Members to whom reference is made.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald
, Seaham
I am afraid that I can only give a general answer on principle, not on detail.
Mr Henry Charleton
, Leeds South
I want a Ruling on the point. There are matters in this question which are not true. [Interruption.]
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
As a rule, an hon. Member asking a question, makes himself responsible for the truth, or otherwise, of what is in the question.
Mr Henry Charleton
, Leeds South
Would it not be in better form if the hon. Member making these statements communicated with the hon. Members concerned and tried to verify the statements before he makes them?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
The hon. Member cannot ask me to give him an opinion on a matter of form.
Mr Robert Taylor
, Lincoln
Is it not usual for an hon. Member to apologise when a mistake of this kind has been made?
Mr. MACLEAN:
Is it not customary in this House when statements are likely to be made regarding the bona fides of hon. Members that the hon. Member who intends to make them notifies the Members concerned? May I ask whether the hon. Member in whose name the question stands intimated to the hon. Members concerned that he intended to raise this question?
Sir William Davison
, Kensington South
I take full responsibility for the question. If it is not accurate in essence—[Interruption]—it is true in substance, and I wish to have an answer from the Prime Minister. [HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw!"]
Mr William Thorne
, West Ham Plaistow
May I ask whether it is not a fact that time and again, when hon. Members have taken questions to the Clerks at the Table, that a question sometimes is not allowed unless the Minister in question is responsible?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
It is quite true that we never allow questions where the Minister is not responsible —
Mr William Thorne
, West Ham Plaistow
Why was this question allowed?
Mr Ernest Thurtle
, Shoreditch
In view of the admission already made by the hon. Member for Kensington South (Sir W. Davison)—
Sir William Davison
, Kensington South
I made no admission —
Mr Ernest Thurtle
, Shoreditch
May we not leave him to the judgment of the House? [HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw!"]
Mr Ramsay Macdonald
, Seaham
The answer to the question of the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) is that this is not a matter for legislation.
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.
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.
