– in the House of Commons at 3:57 pm on 2 February 1993.
Mr Max Madden
, Bradford West
3:57,
2 February 1993
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You will confirm that, from time to time, all Secretaries of State exercise quasi-judicial duties, and that they are also responsible for allocating funds without partiality or prejudice. Today, when I accused the Secretary of State for Education of conducting a political vendetta against Bradford local education authority, he shouted from a sedentary position, "You haven't seen anything yet." For as long as that statement remains on the record, many of my constituents and others in Bradford will believe what they have suspected for a long time—that the Secretary of State for Education is greatly prejudiced against Bradford local education authority and its schools.
What I would like to ask you, Madam Speaker—
Miss Betty Boothroyd
Speaker of the House of Commons
Order. Points of order are now prefaced with such a long preamble that they are really an extension of Question Time. I hope that, from now on, every hon. Member who raises a point of order will come directly to the point of order itself. To do otherwise is to abuse the House's time.
Mr Max Madden
, Bradford West
What I would like to ask is this, Madam Speaker. Will you arrange for my concern to be conveyed to the Secretary of State for Education, and will you provide him with an opportunity to withdraw what he said earlier today?
Miss Betty Boothroyd
Speaker of the House of Commons
I fear that that is an extension of Question Time. Of course, the Secretary of State and other right hon. and hon. Members will see in Hansard tomorrow what has been said. I am sure that it will be brought to the Secretary of State's attention.
Mr Roy Hattersley
, Birmingham Sparkbrook
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. The procedural circumstances surrounding the Secretary of State's statement have changed; indeed, they changed as he was making it. During the statement, we discovered that the Government are not prepared under any circumstances to provide the rescue package which might keep Leyland DAF in business. The statement having been made in reply to a private notice question, the conditions are now ideal, indeed typical—even irresistible—for an Emergency Debate as the Leyland DAF case now fulfils the three qualifications of the Standing Order. If you were to allow me to make such an application, Madam Speaker, such a debate would also enable us to clarify some of the discrepancies between the statement made by the President of the Board of Trade and that made by DAF. Will you allow me to make such a submission, Madam Speaker?
Miss Betty Boothroyd
Speaker of the House of Commons
As the right hon. Gentleman and the House will know, all Secretaries of State, and hon. Members for that matter, are responsible for the statements that they make. It is not for the Speaker to comment on statements made by Secretaries of State. If the right hon. Gentleman cares to make an application to me, I shall of course consider it on its merits. I must not, as Speaker of the House, concern myself with the argument. As the right hon. Gentleman will understand, I must concern myself with the merits and I shall always look at applications purely in that light.
Mr Roy Hattersley
, Birmingham Sparkbrook
May I make an application?
Miss Betty Boothroyd
Speaker of the House of Commons
I must have it in writing.
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.
In the process of debate, members of parliament need to stand up in order to be recognised and given a turn to speak, and then they formally make a speech in the debate. "From a sedentary position" is Commons code for "heckling".
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.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
An emergency debate is a debate called at short notice on a subject of a "specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration". An MP may apply to the Speaker for an emergency debate under the rules of Standing Order No. 24. Many more MPs request emergency debates than are granted. The Speaker usually grants no more than one or two a year and limits them to matters of national importance. They take place within 24 hours of being granted.
