– in the House of Commons at on 5 December 1939.
Mr Clement Attlee
, Stepney Limehouse
(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the request for a Secret Session?
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
I am prepared to agree to the right hon. Gentleman's request and give one day for a Secret Sitting of the House to consider those matters for which the Minister of Supply is specially responsible. The date of the Sitting will be for arrangement through the usual channels.
Mr Ernest Thurtle
, Shoreditch
Before the Prime Minister decided to take this course, did he satisfy himself that there are no longer any Trebitsch Lincolns in this House?
Mr Clement Attlee
, Stepney Limehouse
May I ask the Prime Minister whether he proposes that the Debate should take place on a particular Motion? He stated that we were to be restricted to the Ministry of Supply, but the points put forward embrace not only the Ministry of Supply, but general supplies of war materials and equipment.
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
The Debate will be on the Motion for the Adjournment.
Sir Archibald Sinclair
, Caithness and Sutherland
Will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that we shall be able to discuss the general question of supply, and that we shall not be limited to those measures of supply which ordinarily come under the Ministry of Supply?
Mr Alfred Denville
, Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Would it not be better to advertise all that takes place in the newspapers?
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
In reply to the right hon. Gentleman, the Debate will be on matters generally connected with the question of supply.
Sir William Davison
, Kensington South
May I ask whether the Ladies' Gallery will be open during the Secret Session as it is not directly a part of the House?
Mr John McGovern
, Glasgow Shettleston
No, the old ladies will be down here.
Commander Sir Archibald Southby
, Epsom
If during the course of the Debate it appears that a large number of Members desire to take part, will my right hon. Friend consider extending the Debate to another day?
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
I cannot give more than one day.
Rear-Admiral Tufton Beamish
, Lewes
On a point of Order. May I ask you, Sir, whether there is any Standing Order which controls Members of the House in regard to what takes place at the Secret Session? I ask that question because, in looking at Standing Order No. 89, it seems to me to be perfectly clear that, as long as a Member only gives information in the course of conversation, he is at liberty to say exactly what takes place at a Secret Session, and that it is only if he permits publication either in a public speech or in some form of printed publication that he can get into trouble with this House. I should like your Ruling as to whether I am at complete liberty to tell my constituents, which it is my intention to do unless there is a reason against it, as to what occurs at the Secret Session.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
There is no Standing Order dealing with a Secret Session, but the idea of a Secret Session is that it should be secret.
Lieut-Colonel Sir Gilbert Acland-Troyte
, Tiverton
Will the Prime Minister undertake to give away no secrets at the Secret Session?
Sir William Davison
, Kensington South
May I have a reply to my question whether the Ladies' Gallery will be unoccupied?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
It was in the last war.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
I understand that the Ladies' Gallery is not part of the House, and in the last war ladies were not admitted to it during a Secret Session.
Sir William Davison
, Kensington South
Will the hon. Lady withdraw what she said about my remark being an insult to women?
Mr Campbell Stephen
, Glasgow Camlachie
May I ask whether the proceedings of this Secret Session will be reported in the OFFICIAL REPORT as well as in the ordinary Press?
Miss Rathbone:
In my question I made it clear that I merely wanted to know whether the Ladies' Gallery was in any different position from any other gallery, but I understand from Mr. Speaker's answer that there is a difference, and that exonerates the hon. Member from any intention of insulting women.
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.
