– in the House of Commons am ar 24 Gorffennaf 1925.
Mr John Gilmour
, Glasgow Pollok
I beg to move, in page 5, line 27, after the word "be" to insert the words
or, in any case where the special circumstances seem to the department to justify an extension of the said period, within such extended period as the department may fix.
I promised in Committee to consider whether it was possible to vest some discretionary power in the education authorities in the case of a teacher who had been suffering from ill-health, and this Amendment covers that problem.
Commander Hon. Joseph Kenworthy
, Kingston upon Hull Central
Now that the Secretary for Scotland is in the House, though he had not the courtesy to be here in time to answer my question—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]—I am in Order— I think that we might have a few words before this Bill goes through. Perhaps I might comment on the fact that, when we have a Bill of this importance to be discussed, there are very few hon. Members from Scotland present. There are only two hon. Gentlemen on the Labour benches representing Scottish constituencies.
Mr George Hardie
, Glasgow Springburn
There is none on yours.
Commander Hon. Joseph Kenworthy
, Kingston upon Hull Central
Well, I am here. I think it desirable that, before the Bill goes through the Secretary for Scotland should say something as to its scope, and that an opportunity should be given to have questions put.
Mr George Hardie
, Glasgow Springburn
We are not in this House for the purpose of making speeches, but in order to get work done. If we get the work done in this hot weather in the Committee as it has been done in this case, there is no reason for obstruction afterwards. While the Bill is not all we would like it to be, we are taking the best we can get in the circumstances. While we are making these provision for the teachers we would like to see similar provision made for everyone who gives service to the community. The Liberal benches do not show a single representative from Scotland. Anything which has been done in Committee has been done by Scottish Labour Members and not by Liberals, and it is too early in the morning to begin a row, even if my hon. and gallant Friend is ex-heavyweight champion for the Navy. This Bill might have been a greater measure so far as the teachers are concerned only that we have the dead weight of English education hanging on to us.
Commander Hon. Joseph Kenworthy
, Kingston upon Hull Central
I wish to make a personal explanation. I have no desire to stop the passage of this Bill, and only wish it known in Ireland, where certain people have strong feelings, that the Secretary for Scotland was present, and had not the courtesy to come in and answer my question.
In a normal session there are up to ten standing committees on bills. Each has a chair and from 16 to 50 members. Standing committee members on bills are appointed afresh for each new bill by the Committee of Selection which is required to take account of the composition of the House of Commons (ie. party proportions) as well as the qualification of members to be nominated. The committees are chaired by a member of the Chairmen's Panel (whose members are appointed by the Speaker). In standing committees the Chairman has much the same function as the Speaker in the House of Commons. Like the Speaker, a chairman votes only in the event of a tie, and then usually in accordance with precedent. The committees consider each bill clause by clause and may make amendments. There are no standing committees in the House of Lords.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
