Business of the House

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 20 October 1949.

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Photo of Mr Herbert Morrison Mr Herbert Morrison , Lewisham East 12:00, 20 October 1949

I confess that, as the House of Commons has, I had such thoughts when I was questioned the other day. I thought the reaction of the Opposition then was that we ought to take it fairly soon. My own feeling is that the interval will give time for the House to appreciate the points that are made in the Prime Minister's statement, the nature of the statement, and so on. I think it will be all right from that point of view. There is something to be said, on reflection, for the viewpoint that when the statement is made there ought not to be material time between that statement and the Debate. I really think it will be better to take it on the Wednesday and Thursday as proposed.

House of Commons

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.

Prime Minister

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom

Opposition

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".