Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:34 pm on 10 November 2009.
John Bercow
Chair, Members Estimate Committee, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Members Estimate Committee, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
3:34,
10 November 2009
I do not think that we need to hear from the Secretary of State. It is always a pleasure to hear his mellifluous tones, but I do not think that we need to do so again at this point. The hon. and learned Member for Beaconsfield has raised an important point, upon which I am happy to reflect. He is a very fair-minded Member of the House, and he will know that I regard as being of the utmost importance proper conduct by Members on the Treasury Bench, and as pre-eminent the rights of Back-Bench Members. That has always been my approach, and it will continue to be. In that spirit, I will reflect on what the hon. and learned Gentleman has said.
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.
