Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 July 1963.
Mr Harold Macmillan
, Bromley
12:00,
4 July 1963
As the right hon. Gentleman knows, it became so for the first time, as a recognised one, at the time of King Edward VII.
The office of Deputy Prime Minister is one that has only existed occasionally in the history of the United Kingdom. Unlike analogous offices in other nations, the Deputy Prime Minister does not have any of the powers of the Prime Minister in the latter's absence and there is no presumption that the Deputy Prime Minister will succeed the Prime Minister.
The post has existed intermittently and there have been a number of disputed occasions as to whether or not the title has actually been conferred.
More from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deputy_Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom
