– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 23 November 1989.
Mr Barry Field
, Isle of Wight
12:00,
23 November 1989
May I respectfully raise a point of order with you, Mr. Speaker, about the message from the other place on the Order Paper? When you took part in the Prorogation of Parliament, you went to the other place and heard Norman French used: "La Reyne Le Veult." In the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, the 1581 Gallicism in Norman French of the word "concur" is a competitor. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word "concur" as
to come into collision, to collide.
It was first used by—
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
Order. I will look it all up and read about it but what has this to do with a point of order for me?
Mr Barry Field
, Isle of Wight
The doctrine of concurrency with the other place has never been tested in this House. The definition of the word "concur" is to collide. Therefore, in this House we cannot—
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
Order. Does the hon. Gentleman concur with the motion that I am about to put or not? If he does not, he must object to it and I will take his objection, but we cannot have a debate on it. I do not think that I can help the hon. Gentleman.
Mr Dale Campbell-Savours
, Workington
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
David Winnick
, Walsall North
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
I hope that we are not going to have points of order like this every day.
Mr Dale Campbell-Savours
, Workington
I want to raise a matter of which I have given you notice, Mr. Speaker, and which you know that I raised earlier this year: the position of Privy Councillors in this Chamber.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
Order. I know that the hon. Gentleman gave me notice of this. I told him that I would hear points or order in their proper place, which today is after the Standing Order No. 20 application.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
Order. I shall be pleased to hear about that too, but at the proper time.
The order paper is issued daily and lists the business which will be dealt with during that day's sitting of the House of Commons.
It provides MPs with details of what will be happening in the House throughout the day.
It also gives details of when and where the standing committees and select committees of the Commons will be meeting.
Written questions tabled to ministers by MPs on the previous day are listed at the back of the order paper.
The order paper forms one section of the daily vote bundle and is issued by the Vote Office
The House of Lords. When used in the House of Lords, this phrase refers to the House of Commons.
Prorogation takes the form of an announcement on behalf of the Queen by the Lord Chancellor in which he reviews the session's work.
Prorogation brings to an end parliamentary business for that sitting. There are some excpetions as to what Bills can be carried over to the next parliamentary session.
House of Parliament 'Major Parliamentary Occasions - http://www.parliament.uk/works/occasion.cfm#prorog
BBC News A-Z Parliament - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/a-z_of_parliament/p-q/82524.stm
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.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
