– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 9 December 1969.
Mrs Renée Short
, Wolverhampton North East
12:00,
9 December 1969
asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his discussions with Mr. Maurer, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Roumania.
Mr Harold Wilson
, Huyton
I had cordial and constructive discussions with Mr. Maurer about East-West relations, in particular security in Europe, and the state of our bilateral relations in all major fields. I would refer my hon. Friend to the communiqué issued on 29th November, which is available in the Library.
Mrs Renée Short
, Wolverhampton North East
I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. In addition to the problem of the security conference and the acceptance of post-war frontiers in which all of us are interested, would not my right hon. Friend agree that the Middle East is another area where the Roumanian Government could help us? They have managed to remain friends with both sides in this conflict, and are well placed to act as mediators. Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that he will maintain very friendly and close relations with the Roumanian Government on these two problems?
Mr Harold Wilson
, Huyton
My hon. Friend will have seen in the communiqué the constructive references to a European security conference, on which it is possible that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary may, if he catches your eye, Mr. Speaker, have one or two words to address to the House. The Middle East did come up in discussion, though I would not have felt that the Roumanian Government were in a particularly decisive position to influence what is an extremely, as we all recognise, difficult situation. A good deal of our time was spent discussing trade, and my hon. Friend will be extremely gratified to know that there was a substantial increase in trade over the last five years between ourselves and Roumania.
Mr Gilbert Longden
, South West Hertfordshire
In view of the success of the Roumanian visit, will the Prime Minister consider inviting the Prime Ministers of Bulgaria and Hungary to visit this country?
Mr Harold Wilson
, Huyton
All these questions are matters for consideration. The hon. Gentleman will be aware of a fairly substantial series of Prime Ministerial visits immediately ahead of us, but certainly the names he has mentioned are those of countries with whom we would like discussions.
Lieut-Colonel Dick Crawshaw
, Liverpool Toxteth
Would not my right hon. Friend agree that the independent attitude of the Roumanian Government in difficult circumstances in the last few years deserves the respect of the House; and that while we ought to use every means possible to improve cultural and economic relations, on the long-term view it would be wrong to try to involve them politically with the West?
Mr Harold Wilson
, Huyton
The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is "Yes, Sir". The answer to the second part is that we had very full discussions with them on all East-West problems. I think that these are matters that can be safely left to the wisdom and judgment of the Roumanian Government.
Mr Robin Maxwell-Hyslop
, Tiverton
Did the Prime Minister explain to Mr. Maurer that it was the United Kingdom Government's policy to increase production of home- produced food and that we did not therefore need increased imports of temperate foodstuffs from Roumania?
Mr Harold Wilson
, Huyton
That seems a rather churlish kind of supplementary question in respect of a guest whose visit, I am sure, all hon. Member's welcomed. We explained the difficulties in the importation of certain things that he would like to supply us—for example, butter: the whole world is trying to throw butter at us—and we have taken what I think is a strict and sensible line. But I certainly did not speak to him in the language of the hon. Gentleman.
An informal reference to the Council of the European Union.
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.
