Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 November 1964.
Mr Carol Johnson
, Lewisham South
12:00,
19 November 1964
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether all the members of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have now been appointed; what are the terms and conditions of their appointments; and if he will make a statement on the operation of the scheme.
Miss Alice Bacon
, Leeds South East
The Chairman and the five members who form the initial complement of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board have all been appointed. They give their services on a part-time basis, and, except for the Chairman—who holds a full-time judicial appointment—they receive fees of 20 guineas a day. I am informed that the scheme is operating smoothly so far.
Mr Carol Johnson
, Lewisham South
I thank my hon. Friend for that information. As this is the first Question that she has answered in the House, perhaps I may preface my supplementary question by offering to her—I am sure on behalf of the whole House—our congratulations on her appointment. With regard to her reply, may I ask three questions? Can she give any indication of the number of claims that have been submitted since the scheme came into operation? Is she satisfied that adequate publicity has been given about the establishment of this scheme? Can she say what steps the Board has taken to publicise it? Lastly—
Mr. Deputy-Speaker:
Order. The supplementary questions are getting very long.
Mr Carol Johnson
, Lewisham South
I am sorry, Mr. Deputy Speaker, but these are important matters turning on the new scheme.
Can my hon. Friend arrange with the Board for it to make available to her, so that it can be available to hon. Members in the Library of the House, any publicity on individual cases?
Mr. Deputy-Speaker:
I must ask the House to remember that supplementary questions have doubled in length during the last 10 years. I would ask hon. Members to frame their questions briefly.
Miss Alice Bacon
, Leeds South East
I thank my hon. Friend for his remarks. Between 1st August, 1964, when the scheme started operating, and 12th November, 81 applications were made for compensation. Applications are now being made at the rate of nine a week. I think this shows that the public at large realise that this scheme is in operation, but if there is need for any more publicity I will bring this matter to the attention of the Board.
Mr Richard Sharples
, Sutton and Cheam
Were the names of the members of the Board published? If not, is it intended to publish them?
Miss Alice Bacon
, Leeds South East
I could not answer that question without notice, but I will endeavour to ensure that it is answered later.
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.
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.
See "placed in the library".
The Deputy speaker is in charge of proceedings of the House of Commons in the absence of the Speaker.
The deputy speaker's formal title is Chairman of Ways and Means, one of whose functions is to preside over the House of Commons when it is in a Committee of the Whole House.
The deputy speaker also presides over the Budget.
