– in the Northern Ireland Assembly am 2:30 pm ar 11 Mawrth 2025.
Colin McGrath
Social Democratic and Labour Party
2:30,
11 Mawrth 2025
On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I ask the Speaker to reflect on the importance for a democracy of having an Opposition. Given the procedures that we have, is it proper order to silence the Opposition in the middle of their question and move on rather than allow the question put thus far to be answered? Saying a simple "Sit down" and letting the Minister answer the question might have been better for openness and transparency. It would be appreciated if the Speaker could review that matter.
Steve Aiken
UUP
Thank you, Mr McGrath. Your comment is noted and will be suitably reviewed. We gave a degree of latitude, as you are fully aware.
Ms Bradshaw, do you want to make a comment?
Paula Bradshaw
Alliance
I apologise, Deputy Speaker. I did not think that we would get to the last topical question.
Steve Aiken
UUP
Your apology is accepted. If you could find Mr Stewart anywhere to enable him to do that as well, that would be equally helpful
[Laughter.]
What are Members giggling about?
Before we return to questions on the Minister of Justice's oral statement, I advise the House that I have been notified that Mr Doug Beattie will not speak to his Adjournment Debate on concerns around the road infrastructure leading up to Craigavon Area Hospital. In light of the amount of plenary business today, the Business Committee has agreed that the topic will be postponed until Tuesday 25 March.
Mr Chambers?
Alan Chambers
UUP
[Inaudible.]
Steve Aiken
UUP
Sorry. Since everybody else has indulged in raising a point of order, I thought that you would like to do so as well. Thank you, Mr Chambers.
The Deputy speaker is in charge of proceedings of the House of Commons in the absence of the Speaker.
The deputy speaker's formal title is Chairman of Ways and Means, one of whose functions is to preside over the House of Commons when it is in a Committee of the Whole House.
The deputy speaker also presides over the Budget.
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.
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".
An adjournment debate is a short half hour debate that is introduced by a backbencher at the end of each day's business in the House of Commons.
Adjournment debates are also held in the side chamber of Westminster Hall.
This technical procedure of debating a motion that the House should adjourn gives backbench members the opportunity to discuss issues of concern to them, and to have a minister respond to the points they raise.
The speaker holds a weekly ballot in order to decide which backbench members will get to choose the subject for each daily debate.
Backbenchers normally use this as an opportunity to debate issues related to their constituency.
An all-day adjournment debate is normally held on the final day before each parliamentary recess begins. On these occasions MPs do not have to give advance notice of the subjects which they intend to raise.
The leader of the House replies at the end of the debate to all of the issues raised.
