– in the House of Commons at on 29 June 1939.
Mr David Logan
, Liverpool Scotland
May I draw your attention, Mr. Speaker, to Questions 77 and 79 on the Order Paper to-day—
Colonel Josiah Wedgwood
, Newcastle-under-Lyme
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the persistence of the Irish Republican Army outrages, he will now consider deporting Irish Republican Army-suspects who are also Irish citizens, and treating would-be immigrants from Eire as in the Dominions?
Colonel Josiah Wedgwood
, Newcastle-under-Lyme
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the Metropolitan Police were born in Eire, and whether he can obtain similar figures for the police forces in Manchester and Liverpool?
The questions have not been answered, but I want to ask for your Ruling in regard to the impropriety of putting such questions on the Order Paper of this House. There is the word "suspects" in Question 77, which I think should never have appeared, and in Question 79 there is a suggestion which, I think, should never have been made. I cannot say anything in regard to whether Irishmen should be in the Manchester, Liverpool or Metropolitan forces, but I want to ask you whether such questions should be put in regard to such a contented and well-deserving body?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
I do not think there is anything out of order in the questions.
Mr David Logan
, Liverpool Scotland
My point is that, owing to the delicacy of things at the present time, there are Irish people in this country who deserve the protection of the House, and I consider that no imputation whatever should be made in a question by any hon. Member which he is not able to substantiate by facts.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
That is not a point of Order.
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
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.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
