– in the House of Commons at 4:45 pm on 25 October 1989.
Gerald Howarth
, Cannock and Burntwood
4:45,
25 October 1989
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
On a completely different matter, please.
Gerald Howarth
, Cannock and Burntwood
Last night, the hon. Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Ilsley) referred to the alleged grievances of the so-called mining group of Members of Parliament who sought to prolong the debate on the Children Bill as part of their dispute with the Chairman of Ways and Means about the Associated British Ports Bill. May I point out to you, Sir, that that group consisted of——
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
Order. The hon. Gentleman is shooting himself in the foot. This is not the occasion to be pointing out matters to me. He is raising a point of order. I have already said that this is not a matter of order for the Chair. The hon. Gentleman has heard what the Leader of the House said about it. We have a very heavy day before us; let us see how we get on.
Gerald Howarth
, Cannock and Burntwood
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
No, I am not taking it. I shall take the point of order from the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice).
James Paice
, South East Cambridgeshire
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. In your earlier remarks on the happenings of last night, you specifically——
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
Order. I am not pursuing that matter. We have heard what the Leader of the House said about it, and as far as I am concerned, in terms of order, nothing more arises.
Mr Tony Marlow
, Northampton North
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
So long as it is not on the matters that we have already discussed.
Mr Tony Marlow
, Northampton North
It is not directly on it, but it is related. It is to do with the Statutory Instruments Committee. The point was made by my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor). I understand that some of this subject was covered by a meeting of a Statutory Instruments Committee yesterday at 4 o'clock. Is the report of that Committee available or not, because if it is not available, as my right hon. and learned Friend the Leader of the House is here, he might consider, in view of what you said and what my hon. Friend said, that it would be appropriate to delay any such debate until a later date, at which time that report may be available.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
The Committee did not draw the attention of the House to the statutory instrument. As to what the hon. Gentleman said, I am sure that it will have been heard by the Leader of the House.
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.
