– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 13 August 1947.
Mr Douglas Clifton Brown
, Hexham
12:00,
13 August 1947
Through the French Ambassador I have received the following communication, which I think I ought to read out to the House:
MR. Speaker,
The delegation of members of the National Assembly and the Council of the Republic which the British Parliament kindly invited to the United Kingdom have just returned.
They have been touched by the warm reception given them by the House of Lords and the House of Commons; by the kindness of the Franco-British Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in arranging a number of most interesting visits showing various aspects of British life; as well as by the many friendly demonstrations they have everywhere received.
Our members have particularly appreciated the honour which their Majesties were good enough to pay to the French Parliament in receiving them at Buckingham Palace.
The numerous friendly contacts which our members have made with their British colleagues and the mutual understanding with which various points of view have been discussed, will, without doubt, make our Parliamentary collaboration to which we all look for the future democracy and the welfare of our two countries, productive of happy results in the future.
We hope soon to resume this collaboration in Paris when we may, in our turn, be able to give a welcome to those of our British colleagues who would care to visit the French Parliament
May we offer you, Mr. Speaker, our warmest appreciation for your welcome and assure you of our gratitude and deep respect.
That is signed by M. G. Monnerville, President of the Council of the Republic and M. Herriot, President of the National Assembly.
The House of Commons is one of the houses of parliament. Here, elected MPs (elected by the "commons", i.e. the people) debate. In modern times, nearly all power resides in this house. In the commons are 650 MPs, as well as a speaker and three deputy speakers.
The house of Lords is the upper chamber of the Houses of Parliament. It is filled with Lords (I.E. Lords, Dukes, Baron/esses, Earls, Marquis/esses, Viscounts, Count/esses, etc.) The Lords consider proposals from the EU or from the commons. They can then reject a bill, accept it, or make amendments. If a bill is rejected, the commons can send it back to the lords for re-discussion. The Lords cannot stop a bill for longer than one parliamentary session. If a bill is accepted, it is forwarded to the Queen, who will then sign it and make it law. If a bill is amended, the amended bill is sent back to the House of Commons for discussion.
The Lords are not elected; they are appointed. Lords can take a "whip", that is to say, they can choose a party to represent. Currently, most Peers are Conservative.
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.
