– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 August 1947.
Mr Evelyn King
, Penryn and Falmouth
12:00,
11 August 1947
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the U.S.S.R. has now exercised its veto in the Security Council of U.N.O. for the eleventh time, he will urge amendments to its constitution.
Mr Christopher Mayhew
, Norfolk Southern
I share my hon. Friend's regret that the Soviet representative should have seen fit to exercise his right of veto on the occasion in question and thereby prevented the Security Council from taking action of which nine of the 11 States represented on the Council approved to bring about a settlement of the present dangerous situation on the Greek Frontier.
His Majesty's Government have frequently made it clear that in their view the use of the right of veto in this manner tends to nullify the usefulness of the Security Council, and I can assure my hon. Friend that they will continue to work to restore the original intention of the Authors of the Charter in this matter.
Mr Evelyn King
, Penryn and Falmouth
Would my hon. Friend agree that the only real hope for the peace of the world lies in the merging or diminution of national sovereignty, and will he urge that on every practicable occasion?
Mr Christopher Mayhew
, Norfolk Southern
Yes, Sir. I think the solution to this veto problem, as with other things, depends on greater international understanding.
Mr Edward Fleming
, Manchester, Withington
Has the Foreign Secretary ever suggested any Amendment on the lines suggested in this Question?
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
Can the hon. Gentleman state how it is possible to play lawn tennis with a man who will not send the ball back?
Mr Henry Harris
, Cambridge University
Is it not the case that an Amendment to the constitution sent to all the permanent members of the Council, including the U.S.S.R., is required?
Mr Christopher Mayhew
, Norfolk Southern
Yes, Sir.
Mr Henry Harris
, Cambridge University
Are we not therefore somewhat stymied?
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.
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.
