HC Deb 02 August 1945 vol 413 cc15-38

The House met at a Quarter before Three of the Clock, and Mr. SPEAKER-ELECT (Colonel the Right Hon. Douglas Clifton Brown) having taken the Chair,

Message to attend the Lords Commissioners by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.

The House went, and having returned,

Mr. Speaker

I have to report to the House that, in the House of Peers, His Majesty, by his Royal Commissioners, has been pleased to approve the choice made of myself for the office of your Speaker, and that I have, in your name, and on your behalf, laid claim, by humble petition to His Majesty, to all your ancient and undoubted rights and privileges, particularly freedom of speech in Debate, freedom from arrest, freedom of access to His Majesty whenever occasion may require, and that the most favourable construction may be placed upon all your proceedings. All these, His Majesty, by his Commissioners, has been pleased to allow and confirm, in as ample a manner as they have ever been granted or confirmed by himself or any of his Royal predecessors.

My first duty to the House is to repeat my very respectful acknowledgment and grateful thanks for the great honour which you have conferred upon me in placing me again in the Chair.

I must now call upon the Members of the House, according to the usual custom, to take the Oath of Allegiance at the Table of the House, first doing so myself.

Thereupon Mr. Speaker first, alone, standing upon the upper step of the Chair, took and subscribed the Oath.

Mr. Speaker

I am now going to call on the Members on the two Front Benches to take the Oath, Members on the Government Bench first, and Members on the Opposition Front Bench second. After that, I shall call upon Privy Councillors and ex-Ministers; and then I shall call upon other Members, bench by bench, first from one side of the House and then from the other. Perhaps Members will be good enough to retain their seats, and remain in their benches until I have indicated what bench is being called.

The following Members took and subscribed the Oath, or made and subscribed the Affirmation required by Law:

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