– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 July 1964.
Sir Keith Joseph
, Leeds North East
I beg to move,
That the Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (Amendment) Order, 1964, dated 16th July, 1964, a copy of which was laid before this House on 16th July, be approved.
I suggest, Mr. Speaker, that it might be for the convenience of the House to take at the same time the second Order—
That the Huntingdon and Peterborough (Amendment) Order, 1964, dated 16th July, 1964, a copy of which was laid before this House on 16th July, be approved.
Sir Harry Hylton-Foster
, Cities of London and Westminster
Yes, if the House so pleases.
Sir Keith Joseph
, Leeds North East
The purpose of these two Orders is, at the request of the four counties concerned, to give them a slightly wider scope in the period during which they may have their new county elections. Hon. Members will recall that, by a recent decision of the House, the counties of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely and of Huntingdon and the Soke of Peterborough, respectively, are to be amalgamated as from April next year, into two new counties. The original Orders gave them power to have their elections for the new counties between 27th September and 22nd November, this year.
At the request of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, I was asked to consider whether they might be given a wider period during which to have their elections. I put the proposal to the other counties and they concurred.
The Orders therefore carry out the wishes of the four counties. They enable the returning officers for the two new counties to choose election dates which give them the maximum opportunity to organise their affairs as they wish before the Orders creating the two new counties come into effect. I hope that the House will see fit to pass both Orders.
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.
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.
