Preamble

Part of Orders of the Day — Expiring Laws Continuance Bill – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 31 Hydref 1947.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Osbert Peake Mr Osbert Peake , Leeds North 12:00, 31 Hydref 1947

I rise on the Third Reading of the Bill only to say that while we have not raised any points upon the inclusion of these various Measures in the Schedule, we note with satisfaction that Ministers have turned up in force to defend this procedure, even though it has often been criticised from the Socialist benches in days gone by when they formed the Opposition. I should like to repeat that we note with satisfaction the presence of so many Ministers, many of them new to their offices, to defend the various Measures in the Schedule. They have, no doubt, been well briefed, and I note that they are well supported by official experts, Who would have kept them on the straight and narrow path had they attempted to deviate from it. I only hope that they have not had sleepless nights in the preparation and study of their briefs, and that, in consequence of our not having points to make upon the Schedule, they will not suffer from that form of mental indigestion which so often follows an undelivered speech. I should like sincerely to congratulate them, many of whom, if I may say so, are hon. Friends of mine, on the offices to which they have been appointed.

Laws

Laws are the rules by which a country is governed. Britain has a long history of law making and the laws of this country can be divided into three types:- 1) Statute Laws are the laws that have been made by Parliament. 2) Case Law is law that has been established from cases tried in the courts - the laws arise from test cases. The result of the test case creates a precedent on which future cases are judged. 3) Common Law is a part of English Law, which has not come from Parliament. It consists of rules of law which have developed from customs or judgements made in courts over hundreds of years. For example until 1861 Parliament had never passed a law saying that murder was an offence. From the earliest times courts had judged that murder was a crime so there was no need to make a law.

Opposition

The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".