Oral Answers to Questions — Public Health. – in the House of Commons at on 17 September 1931.
Mr William Brown
, Wolverhampton West
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether he is able to make arrangements to permit of civil servants being able to spread over a longer period the increased Income Tax payments due under the new Budget instead of being obliged to find three-quarters of the whole year's tax by 1st January?
Mr Philip Snowden
, Colne Valley
I will look into the matter.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
Mr. Campbell.
Mr William Brown
, Wolverhampton West
May I have an answer to number 51.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
The answer was given.
Mr William Brown
, Wolverhampton West
I am very sorry—
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
There was a great deal of noise going on and the hon. Member could not have heard the reply.
Mr William Brown
, Wolverhampton West
I have received no reply whatever, and no reply has been given since I rose in my place to put Question 51. I desire to ask that that Question should be answered.
Mr. HARDIE:
The same thing applied when the Chancellor was making a reply to me. I could not hear. Did I understand him to say that he was going to look into the matter?
Mr William Brown
, Wolverhampton West
On a point of Order. I wish to put it to you, Mr. Speaker, that from the moment that I rose in my place to put Question 51, which I did in a perfectly audible voice, there has been no reply of any kind from the Chancellor, and I ask you to see that the question is answered.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
The Chancellor of the exchequer replied—[Interruption.]
Mr William Brown
, Wolverhampton West
On a point of fact—[Interruption.] We will fetch the Navy to you fellows before you are done.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
I will invite the Chancellor of the exchequer to reply again, but I do not think that the hon. Member can ask any more questions.
Mr Philip Snowden
, Colne Valley
I will refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I have given already.
Sir Edward Campbell
, Bromley
I wish to ask No. 52, Sir.
Mr William Brown
, Wolverhampton West
On a point of Order. I desire to submit to you that the latest observation of the Chancellor in referring me to an earlier reply, which either has not been given at all or, if given, was inaudible, implies disrespect to the Chair. I ask you to request the Chancellor of the exchequer to give the reply to Question 51 in terms which are intelligible and audible.
Mr Irving Albery
, Gravesend
Arising from that point of Order. Is it not a fact that the hon. Member has little more cause for complaint than I have, because I did not hear the answer?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
It would he very much better if we got on with Questions.
Mr William Brown
, Wolverhampton West
On a point of Order. I understood you to request a few moments ago that the Chancellor of the exchequer should repeat the reply which he says he gave. His answer to that was to refer to his previous reply which, if made, was quite inaudible. I do not desire to occupy the time of the House—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]—but I respectfully, but firmly, request that there should be a reply to Question 51.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
The Chancellor gave a reply.
Mr William Brown
, Wolverhampton West
On a point of Order. I desire to submit to you that it is the right of Members of the House to put questions on the Paper with due notice, and to receive a reply. Question No. 51 was given with due notice. I rose in my place to ask the question as soon as I understood you to call upon me, and I have not yet received an answer. I beg that you will exercise your authority and request that an answer be given.
Mr Campbell Stephen
, Glasgow Camlachie
I would like to submit that the confusion has arisen from the fact that when the Chancellor of the exchequer was answering this question he was thought by hon. Members over here, owing to the noise, to be answering supplementary questions to the previous question. Would it not be ordinary courtesy for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in these circumstances, to repeat the answer?
Mr. ARTHUR HENDERSON:
May I say that I heard what the Chancellor of the exchequer said, but that I thought he was replying to the supplementary question of the hon. Member for Spring-burn (Mr. G. Hardie)? In the circumstances, I think the matter would be cleared up by the Chancellor of the Exchequer repeating the answer.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
I have said before that when the question was asked originally the Chancellor of the exchequer replied. I saw it myself. Whether the hon. Member heard it or not is another matter. I did not hear it myself, but that was not my fault; it was because the noise in the House was so great. Hon. Members themselves are really their worst enemies. If they did not make so much noise, they would hear the answers. It seems to be a very small thing about which to make a fuss.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
I will finish what I am saying. The hour for questions will be concluded shortly, and I am sure that if it be the wish of the House that he should do so, the Chancellor of the exchequer will repeat the answer.
Mr Philip Snowden
, Colne Valley
Out of respect for you, Mr. Speaker—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]—I do so. The answer is that the matter is under consideration.
Mr William Brown
, Wolverhampton West
I am much obliged for the reply.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
The Chancellor - also known as "Chancellor of the Exchequer" is responsible as a Minister for the treasury, and for the country's economy. For Example, the Chancellor set taxes and tax rates. The Chancellor is the only MP allowed to drink Alcohol in the House of Commons; s/he is permitted an alcoholic drink while delivering the budget.
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.
