– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 17 March 1947.
Mr Robert Young
, Newton
12:00,
17 March 1947
asked the Prime Minister whether the last Report of the Select Committee on Parliamentary Procedure has now been considered; and when a statement regarding its recommendations will be made.
Mr Arthur Greenwood
, Wakefield
I have been asked to reply. The Government have given careful consideration to the Report, for which the House is greatly indebted to the Chairman and Members of the Select Committee. The Government are in general agreement, subject to certain modifications, with the recommendations of the Select Committee for the reorganisation of Supply procedure; they are favourably disposed to the new scheme for Private Members' time for use when such time can be restored, and they accept the proposal for making up time spent on Adjournment Motions under Standing Order No. 8. The Government have also reviewed, in the light of the Report, the suggestions which they themselves submitted to the Select Committee and have decided to put to the House three of these, of which the most important is the formalisation of the Report stage of the Budget Resolutions. It is the Government's intention to afford time for a Debate on the Select Committee's Report before the end of this Session, so that those changes in procedure which are accepted by the House may be brought into operation at the beginning of next Session. With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed statement of the Government's conclusions.
Mr Robert Young
, Newton
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether that means in a month or two months' time before the new Session?
Mr Arthur Greenwood
, Wakefield
It is very difficult to say. When I did suggest that we might rise fairly early this Session, it was received with disapproval by the House. What I think is important is that we cannot at this stage in the Session have new Sessional Orders. Well before the time we meet next Session, when it is intended to apply the new procedure, there will be an opportunity for discussion with a good deal of time before the actual Sessional Orders are made.
Viscount Hinchingbrooke
, Dorset Southern
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has made no reference to the very important proposal on the constitution of the Public Expenditure Committee, and is that referred to in the detailed statement that is to be circulated?
Mr Arthur Greenwood
, Wakefield
I have already said that the proposals of the Government will be in the white paper. The answer to that question is. "No. Sir."
Captain Harry Crookshank
, Gainsborough
Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is rather disappointing, in view of the fact that this Report was signed in the last Session of Parliament, that no action is apparently being taken this Session, and that it is problematical in the next Session, in spite of the fact that when the House got up, the Committee, without precedent, was asked to sit during the Recess? I hope, therefore, that the right hon. Gentleman will at least speed up the Debate upon this subject.
Mr Arthur Greenwood
, Wakefield
We accepted some Sessional Orders last Session, which we began to operate this Session, and the Opposition did not like them.
Mr Samuel Silverman
, Nelson and Colne
May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the House is to infer, from the fact that no step has been taken this Session to continue the existing Select Committee on Procedure, that the Government think the whole scope of the reform of the procedure of this House has already been covered in the Report of the Select Committee? If not, will he say whether it is contemplated that such a Committee should again be set up?
Mr Arthur Greenwood
, Wakefield
That is a matter for further consideration. If I gathered from the right hon. and gallant Gentleman that we should implement a Report which we have not had time to consider, that is a matter for the future. As I pointed out, we must discuss these Rules before they come into operation.
In their Third Report (H.C. 189, presented on 31st October, 1946), the Select Committee made five main recommendations, the Government's views on which are summarised below:
The Select Committee also considered, but did not accept, seven suggestion by the Government. In view of the Select Committee's objections, the Government are prepared to drop four of their proposals, but propose to put the following to the House:—
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
Delegated legislation is law made by ministers under powers deriving from Acts of Parliament.
Thousands of pieces of delegated legislation, commonly known as statutory instruments, are passed by Parliament each year.
They enable the government to make minor, technical changes to the law without having to introduce a whole new Act of Parliament.
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.
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.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
