Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Information. – in the House of Commons at on 9 April 1941.
Captain Alec Cunningham-Reid
, St Marylebone
asked the Minister Information whether the heads of his Department that deals with photography are people of proved and long experience of publicity?
Captain Alec Cunningham-Reid
, St Marylebone
That being so, why is it that a photograph such as I am holding in my hand at the present moment, showing one German airman trying to carry a wounded comrade at a London railway station, has been allowed to be released? Does it not show to the world an apparent lack of humanity on our part, and that we cannot even supply a stretcher for a wounded airman in London; and, further, is it not the kind of propaganda that is calculated to lay our own prisoners of war open to reprisals?
Mr. Cooper:
I have not seen the photograph which the hon. and gallant Member holds in his hand, and therefore I cannot give an opinion concerning it, but I have no reason to suppose that it was a photograph which was issued by the Ministry of Information. We have no power to prevent publication of photographs unless they are likely to give information to the enemy.
Captain Alec Cunningham-Reid
, St Marylebone
Is there no censorship?
Mr. Deputy-Speaker:
The hon. and gallant Member has already asked three supplementary Questions in one.
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.
