Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 1:08 pm on 2 July 2026.
Jeremy Corbyn
Parliamentary Leader, Your Party
1:08,
2 July 2026
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I have given the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Mr Falconer, prior notice of this point of order. Yesterday, I asked him about Britain’s relationship with Israel in relation to its disgraceful expansion of illegal settlements. I emphasised that they are illegal and made the point that they are supported and facilitated by the Israeli Government. He did not answer my question about Britain’s military co-operation; instead, he misrepresented my words and implied that I was somehow or other making a statement about the views of the Jewish people in this country, which I absolutely was not. I seek your advice on how I can ensure the Minister comes back to the House, corrects the record and answers the question that I put to him.
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.
The Deputy speaker is in charge of proceedings of the House of Commons in the absence of the Speaker.
The deputy speaker's formal title is Chairman of Ways and Means, one of whose functions is to preside over the House of Commons when it is in a Committee of the Whole House.
The deputy speaker also presides over the Budget.
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.
