– in the House of Commons am ar 12 Mai 1924.
Mr John Sturrock
, Montrose District of Burghs
asked the Prime Minister whether he is taking steps to secure the election to this House of at least one of the two Scottish Law Officers?
Sir Henry Craik
, Combined Scottish Universities
On a point of Order. May I, Mr. Speaker, call you attention to the phraseology of the question, which seems to imply that the representation of constituencies in this matter is a thing which may be secured in the direction of preference to Ministers?
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
I do not take responsibility for the implication.
Sir Henry Craik
, Combined Scottish Universities
On a point of Order. Ought such a question to be put down?
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
It would be imposing too severe a task upon me to censor questions in that way.
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
The answer is in the negative.
Mr John Sturrock
, Montrose District of Burghs
In view of the vacancy in the Kelvingrove Division of Glasgow, has any effort been made to nominate one of the Scottish Law Officers?
Sir Harry Brittain
, Acton
In the meantime, are these gentlemen drawing full trade union wages?
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
I understand the work is being done, and, therefore, the proper rate of wages is being paid. The reply to the first supplementary question is in the negative.
Mr James Hope
, Sheffield Central
Have the Government no generous followers in Scotland who would gladly surrender their seats, and whose departure they would have the fortitude to survive?
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
That question, I am afraid, is meant to be sarcastic.
Captain TUDOR REES:
28.asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to fix a limit of time within which Ministers at present without seats in this House must either be returned as Members or vacate their respective offices?
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
No such time limit could be imposed without legislation, which the Government at present do not propose to bring before the House.
Sir Kingsley Wood
, Woolwich West
Is it intended to continue the full remuneration of Minister, whether or not they are able to attend the House; do not the salaries include their attendance?
Mr John Remer
, Macclesfield
Has not the House—and the work in Committee A—suffered severely from the absence of the Attorney-General, and is it not vitally necessary that the Solicitor-General should be found a seat in the House?
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.
The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
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