Oral Answers to Questions — Leader of the House – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 18 October 2005.
Sally Keeble
Labour, Northampton North
2:30,
18 October 2005
If he will bring forward proposals to implement the Procedure Committee's recommendations on the sub judice rule.
Nigel Griffiths
Parliamentary Secretary
The Procedure Committee published its report on the House's sub judice rule in April this year. The conclusions and recommendations are largely matters for you, Mr. Speaker, and the House authorities to consider in the first instance. We are, of course, ready to respond to any points that come out of that process. That applies particularly to the recommendations concerning the application of the rule to coroners' courts, which I know are of concern to my hon. Friend, who gave both written and oral evidence to the Committee during its inquiry.
Sally Keeble
Labour, Northampton North
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he have any comment in particular about the recommendation that when an inquest is adjourned for a long time, there should be some consideration of what happens to the sub judice rule? He will be aware that 18 months have elapsed since the adjournment of an inquest that affects a matter of great public concern, not just to my Constituency but more widely. It is wrong that we should be completely unable to ask questions or to call the Government to account on the matter during that period.
Nigel Griffiths
Parliamentary Secretary
Of course I am not indifferent to the mental anguish experienced by my hon. Friend's constituents; but while coroners' courts do not determine the guilt or innocence of individuals, their findings can be very important and serious, and are obviously important to the discharging of our obligations under the European convention on human rights. Their proceedings risk being prejudiced through statements in the House. The Attorney-General said in evidence to the Procedure Committee that there might be a case for some relaxation in relation to the timing.
Nicholas Winterton
Conservative, Macclesfield
Ms Keeble gave excellent evidence to the Procedure Committee. I suggest that Members read the Committee's report on the sub judice rule.
The Speaker who presides over our affairs in the House has an important role. He can often make it easier for Members to ask the questions when there is a danger that, without advice, the sub judice rule would be breached. I respect the Speaker's role very much. He can be very helpful to Members in such circumstances.
Nigel Griffiths
Parliamentary Secretary
I was grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Procedure Committee under the distinguished chairmanship of the hon. Gentleman, and I am grateful to him for telling my hon. Friend Ms Keeble something that you know already, Mr. Speaker, but that other Members will have wanted to know.
David Heath
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Shadow Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
I agree that the Procedure Committee's report is extremely good, and rightly recognises your discretion, Mr. Speaker, to give advice on the sub judice rule. There is an issue relating to coroners' courts, however. May I ask the Leader of the House, through his right hon. Friend the Deputy Leader, to make it clear to Cabinet Ministers in particular that sub judice rules apply to them as well, and that they are much more likely to prejudice the outcome of a court case than any Member raising an issue on the Floor of the House?
Nigel Griffiths
Parliamentary Secretary
I am sure that Ministers are well aware of their obligations. I do not think that there have been too many examples of breaches of that kind.
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/procedure_committee.cfm
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.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
