Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance. – in the House of Commons at on 17 September 1931.
Mr Irving Albery
, Gravesend
to ask the Minister of Health how many areas have now been cleared under the Housing Act, 1936; and how many houses have been constructed up to date under this Act?
27. Commander BELLAIRS to ask the Minister of Health the proportion of preservatives in the Soviet Russian fruit pulp sent to this country; and whether the Ministry is considering the prohibition of all imports of a deleterious character?
Mr Irving Albery
, Gravesend
On a point of Order. May I ask, Mr. Speaker, if you called Question 26?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
I called upon the hon. Member to ask Question 26 and also upon the hon. and gallant Member for Maidstone (Commander Bellairs) to ask Question 27, and, as there was no response, I was bound to call the next question on the Paper.
Mr Carlyon Bellairs
, Maidstone
May I point out, Sir, that it was quite impossible to hear, owing to the amount of noise in the House?
Mr Irving Albery
, Gravesend
On a point of Order. May I submit that if I missed the calling of my question it was due to the remarks of hon. Members opposite?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
Hon. Members must remember that the noise is not confined to one side of the House.
Mr Joseph Batey
, Spennymoor
On a point of Order. This question was addressed to the Prime Minister, and it appeared yesterday on the Order Paper as being put to the Prime Minister. Last night, I learned that the Prime Minister had given orders that the question was to be transferred to the Minister of Health. I wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether the Prime Minister can do that; and whether it is in order for a question, which has appeared on the Order Paper to be changed in that way?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
This is a very old story. Questions are always put down to the Minister, or at any rate are answered by the Minister to whose Department they relate.
Mr Joseph Batey
, Spennymoor
May I draw your attention, Sir, to the fact that this is not a Departmental question. It is one which I want the Prime Minister to answer. If I withdraw this question now, am I entitled to put it down again, addressed to the Prime Minister?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
It may not be answered by the Prime Minister. The hon. Member will get an answer from the Minister particularly responsible.
Mr Joseph Batey
, Spennymoor
I understand that the Minister responsible is the Prime Minister. He has still an interest in Durham.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
Is the hon. Member going to ask the question now?
Mr Joseph Batey
, Spennymoor
If you insist upon it, I will, but with all due respect to the Minister of Health, I desire an answer from the Prime Minister. I withdraw the question.
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
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.
