– in the House of Commons am ar 2 Gorffennaf 1925.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALL:
50.asked the Prime Minister whether the Government contemplate coming to some arrangement, if possible, with the Allies and other Governments which are affected by revolutionary Communist propaganda, with the object of adopting concerted measures to put a stop to seditious activities?
Mr Austen Chamberlain
, Birmingham West
No, Sir. The circumstances of different countries vary so much that it must be left to each country to take the measures appropriate to the defence of society in its own sphere.
Sir F. HALL:
51.asked the Prime Minister whether the statements made by the Secretary of State for India and the Attorney-General on the 27th June as to the intention of the Government to take action to put a stop to the Bolshevist intrigues against this country and against British interests in China and elsewhere were made with the authority of the Government; and if he will state what practical steps will be taken to give effect to these intentions?
Mr Austen Chamberlain
, Birmingham West
The speeches of my two colleagues were, of course, made with a full sense of the obligations of Cabinet responsibility, though they are, perhaps, rather inadequately summarised within the limits imposed by Parliamentary practice on the question of my hon. and gallant Friend. The Government are watching the situation, and will take from time to time whatever measures are required to protect British interests.
Commander Hon. Joseph Kenworthy
, Kingston upon Hull Central
Does that mean that the Secretary of State accepts the statement that Bolshevist intrigues—presumably meaning Russian intrigues—are responsible for the present disorders in China?
Mr Austen Chamberlain
, Birmingham West
I think I have already answered a question on that subject in this House, and I refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the answer which I gave.
Commander Hon. Joseph Kenworthy
, Kingston upon Hull Central
On a point of Order. The right hon. Gentleman mentioned a certain nation, but gave no nearer indication than that. I would like to ask him if he accepts the statement that it is presumably Russian action?
Mr Austen Chamberlain
, Birmingham West
I deliberately refrained from mentioning any particular nation, but said that foreign influence was being used to foment trouble. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman persists, I will say that I meant Soviet influence.
Mr John Jones
, West Ham Silvertown
Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to appoint a Select Committee of this House to inquire into the development of scarlet fever amongst his supporters?
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 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.
