– in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 16 Mawrth 1964.
Mr Frank Allaun
, Salford East
12:00,
16 Mawrth 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what study he has made of recent developments of techniques for detecting underground nuclear test explosions, with a view to making new proposals for an agreement to ban such tests.
Mr Robert Mathew
, Honiton
We have a research programme which is pursuing all aspects of the detection and identification of underground tests. However, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 12th March, there are no developments in the technique of detecting and indentifying underground nuclear explosions which would justify changing the Western position with respect to on-site inspections.
Mr Frank Allaun
, Salford East
In view of the seven months' delay since the August agreement to ban atmospheric tests, will the hon. Gentleman deny categorically that there is any tacit understanding among the three Governments to "knock into touch", to withhold any search for an agreement, until after the presidential elections in November?
Mr Robert Mathew
, Honiton
I think that the hon. Gentleman has in mind certain Press reports. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science explained to the House on 10th March, those reports are misleading—
Mr Frank Allaun
, Salford East
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I did not refer to any Press reports about detection tests. I was referring to something quite different.
Sir Harry Hylton-Foster
, Cities of London and Westminster
That does not raise a point of order. If the Minister presumes that the hon. Gentleman has something in mind, I cannot stop him.
Mr Frank Allaun
, Salford East
There is no relation.
Mr Marcus Lipton
, Lambeth Brixton
The Minister has got to read his brief.
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.
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.
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.
