– in the House of Commons at on 22 May 1941.
Reverend Dr James Little
, Down
asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the approaching holiday season and the desire expressed on all sides for definite information, he will make it clear that Northern Ireland people resident in Great Britain are entitled to visit their friends in Ulster once every six months?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
As a result of the relaxation of the restrictions on travel between the two countries in November last, exit permits are now granted to enable persons to travel to their homes in either country not more than once in any period of six months. Exit permits are not granted, however, to enable persons to visit their friends in either country.
Reverend Dr James Little
, Down
Will the right hon. Gentleman definitely remove certain hampering and hindering restrictions, which are causing great vexation, at the earliest possible moment?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
I am very sympathetic to the point that the hon. Member puts, but travel between Northern Ireland and this country has to be controlled, both for shipping and for security reasons, and I cannot hold out a prospect of a material relaxation.
Reverend Dr James Little
, Down
asked the Minister of Information whether, in view of the uncertainty regarding travel permits that prevails, he will arrange that speakers who are crossing from Britain to Northern Ireland to address meetings at conventions, conduct seaside services and perform other like duties, will receive the required permits to enable them to fulfil their engagements?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
It continues to be necessary to restrict travel between this country and Ireland, and I should not feel justified in authorising the general grant of exit permits to enable persons to travel to either country for the purpose of fulfilling engagements of the kind mentioned. Exit permits are, however, granted to enable clergymen to travel to either country to take up an appointment for a period of not less than three months.
Reverend Dr James Little
, Down
There are conventions and seaside services that have been held in Ulster for more than a quarter of a century unbroken, and may I ask my right hon. Friend to look into this matter and grant permits to these friends who have gone there year after year?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
I appreciate my hon. Friend's point and I am not unsympathetic to it, but in addition to the things he has mentioned there is a war on, which involves a lot of other considerations.
Mr Reginald Sorensen
, Leyton West
Will the right hon. Gentleman see that no preferential treatment is given to one type of Speaker as compared with others?
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Hackney South
That is precisely one of the difficulties which I should be landed into if I listened to my hon. Friend's plea.
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.
