§ Sir Edward Keeling (Twickenham)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide that in the event of the Speaker's death the Chairman of Ways and Means shall temporarily exercise the authority of the Speaker.I should like to begin, Mr. Speaker, by saying, although I am sure it is unnecessary, that the whole House earnestly prays that your arduous duties will not shorten your life, but that you will live to retire, when you are weary of those duties, to an old age of leisure. I think the House will agree that it is better to introduce such a Bill at a time when the Speaker is apparently in the best of health and is in the prime of life rather than when he is on a sick bed or in his declining years.As everybody knows, the death of the Speaker puts the House completely out of action until a new Speaker is elected. Without a Speaker the House is not properly constituted and the powers of the Deputy-Speaker lapse. During the last 300 years no fewer than four Speakers have died in office. The last occasion was ten years ago. As hon. and right hon. Members who were here then will remember, when Mr. Speaker FitzRoy died in March, 1943, the House rose immediately, in the middle of a speech, and did not sit again to do ordinary business for a whole week, in order to give time for consultation and for the formalities of electing a new Speaker.
At the time of Captain FitzRoy's death, no urgent business was before the House and, as far as I have been able to discover, on the death of the Speaker on the three previous occasions no great inconvenience of that sort was caused. It is possible, however, that a Speaker might die at a time when the disruption of business would be very serious—if, for example, he should die at a moment when a Budget Resolution had to be passed at once; or an act of aggression which had just been committed by a foreign country, or some other crisis, international or national, demanded an expression of the views of the House without delay; or when a dissolution or prorogation was im- 2096 minent. I am sure that every hon. Member could think of half a dozen other contingencies in which it would be most unfortunate, to say the least, for the House to be unable to sit.
From the point of view of the House itself, perhaps the strongest argument for keeping the House in existence is this. If the Speaker should die at a moment when it was imperative to sit quickly, the need to elect a new Speaker might cause the choice to be made with undue haste, and the House might then be saddled for years to come with a Speaker it would not have chosen if it had had proper time to consider the matter. This Bill would provide such a breathing space.
The Bill is a very simple one. It gives the Chairman of Ways and Means the authority of the Speaker until the House goes to another place to receive the Queen's direction for the election of a new Speaker. I would point out that the Bill does not require us to sit at once. It merely gives us power to do so. If there was nothing urgent to do, the House would probably not sit again between the death of a Speaker and the election of a new one.
The only objection I have heard to the Bill is that it will give an undue advantage to the Chairman of Ways and Means when the election of a Speaker takes place. But, as "The Times" pointed out last Monday, his fitness for election as Speaker would not be judged on his performance as temporary Speaker during a few days. It would be judged on his performance as Deputy-Speaker, probably for some years. In my view, if a Speaker died at a moment when it was necessary to elect a new Speaker within a few hours, the Chairman of Ways and Means would have a greater advantage under the present law than he would under this Bill.
The Bill is supported by Members on both sides of the House, including six Privy Councillors. I would only add that successive Governments and Oppositions have for many years been conscious of the need for Parliament to sit in an emergency. That is why Parliament now adjourns at the end of July instead of being prorogued. In 1938, at the time of Munich, the House was called together within 24 hours. We have plugged that hole in the power of Parliament to take 2097 prompt action. The death of the Speaker is another gap which we ought to fill. If the House gives leave for this Bill to be introduced, the Queen's consent will be necessary before Second Reading.
§ Mr. Jack Jones (Rotherham)What provision is there in the Bill in the event of the death of the Speaker bringing about the death of his Deputy on the same day?
§ Sir E. KeelingThe Bill does not provide for that.
§ Mr. Godfrey Nicholson (Farnham)I am sure the whole House is very glad to see you looking so well, Mr. Speaker, and I should first like to express the wish of the whole House for your immortality.
The chief objection to this Bill is that it alters the constitutional position of the Chairman of Ways and Means, who from being Deputy-Speaker will become Vice-Speaker. I think the House ought to think twice before giving leave to introduce a Bill which alters the constitutional position of the Speaker and the Chairman of Ways and Means in such a summary manner.
It is not a situation which is likely to arise very often. We are told it has happened four times in the last 300 years.
§ I doubt whether there can be a single emergency which cannot just as well be coped with by the Executive in the very few days that need elapse before a new Speaker is elected. There is no reason why as much as a week should elapse. A day or two is all that is needed. If there is a grave national emergency, when the House ought to be called together suddenly on something which the Executive could not do, the House could reassemble on the day after the demise of the Speaker, a new Speaker could be elected, and the Crown's assent given.
§ I think that this is an amusing, academic and slightly pedantic exercise, and I hope that the House will reject the Motion.
§ Mr. SpeakerBefore I put the Question, I ought to say to the hon. Member who has sought leave to bring in this Bill that it will be necessary for him, if the Bill is proceeded with, to obtain the Queen's Consent before the Second Reading.
§ Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 12.
§ The House divided: Ayes, 172; Noes, 149.
2099| Division No. 110.] | AYES | [3.45 p.m. |
| Albu, A. H. | Edwards, Rt. Hon. Ness (Caerphilly) | Hynd, H. (Accrington) |
| Alport, C. J. M. | Edwards, W. J. (Stepney) | Hynd, J. B. (Attercliffe) |
| Anderson, Alexander (Motherwell) | Elliot, Rt. Hon. W. E. | Jay, Rt. Hon. D. P. T. |
| Anderson, Frank (Whitehaven) | Evans, Edward (Lowestoft) | Johnson, Eric (Blackley) |
| Arbuthnot, John | Evans, Stanley (Wednesbury) | Johnson, James (Rugby) |
| Assheton, Rt. Hon. R. (Blackburn, W.) | Fell, A. | Jones, T. W. (Merioneth) |
| Awbery, S. S. | Fienburgh, W | Joynson-Hicks, Hon L. W |
| Barlow, Sir John | Fisher, Nigel | Kinley, J. |
| Bell, Ronald (Bucks, S.) | Fletcher-Cooke, C. | Legge-Bourke, Maj. E. A. H |
| Bence, C. R. | Follick, M. | Legh, Hon. Peter (Petersfield) |
| Benn, Hon. Wedgwood | Fraser, Hon. Hugh (Stone) | Linstead, H. N. |
| Beswick, F. | Fraser, Thomas (Hamilton) | Llewellyn, D. T. |
| Blenkinsop, A | Gammans, L. D. | Longden, Gilbert |
| Blyton, W. R. | Garner-Evans, E. H | McAdden, S. J. |
| Bossom, A C. | Godber, J. B | Mclnnes, J. |
| Bowden, H. W | Gomme-Duncan, Col. A | Maclay, Rt. Hon. John |
| Bowles, F. G. | Gooch, E. G. | McLeavy, F. |
| Braine, B. R | Gower, H. R. | MacPherson, Malcolm (Stirling) |
| Brockway, A. F. | Grenfell, Rt. Hon. D R | Macpherson, Niall (Dumfries) |
| Brooke, Henry (Hampstead) | Gridley, Sir Arnold | Maitland, Comdr. J. F. W. (Horncastle) |
| Brown, Rt. Hon. George (Belper) | Grimond, J. | Mallalieu, E. L. (Brigg) |
| Burton, Miss F. E. | Grimston, Sir Robert (Westbury) | Marlowe, A. A H |
| Campbell, Sir David | Hale, Leslie | Mayhew, C. P. |
| Carr, Robert | Hall, Rt. Hon. Glenvil (Colne Valley) | Morley, R. |
| Clarke, Brig. Terence (Portsmouth, W.) | Hannan, W | Morris, Percy (Swansea, W) |
| Cole, Norman | Harvey, Air Cdre, A. V. (Macclesfield) | Nabarro, G. D. N. |
| Collick, P. H. | Hay, John | Nally, W. |
| Conant, Maj. R. J. E. | Hayman, F H | Neal, Harold (Bolsover) |
| Crouch, R. F. | Heald, Sir Lionel | O'Neill, Phelim (Co. Antrim. N) |
| Darling, Sir William (Edinburgh, S.) | Holman, P. | Ormsby-Gore, Hon W D |
| Davidson, Viscountess | Holt, A. F. | Orr, Capt. L. P. S. |
| Davies, Ernest (Enfield, E.) | Howard, Hon. Greville (St. Ives) | Orr-Ewing, Charles Ian (Hendon, N.) |
| de Freitas, Geoffrey | Hughes, Cledwyn (Anglesey) | Oswald, T |
| Donaldson, Cmdr. C. E. McA. | Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) | Paget, R. T |
| Douglas-Hamilton, Lord Malcoln | Hutchinson, Sir Geoffrey (Ilford, N.) | Pannell, Charles |
| Driberg, T. E. N. | Hutchison, Lt.-Corn. Clark (E'b'rgh W.) | Parker, J |
| Duncan, Capt. J. A. L | Hyde, Lt.-Col H. M. | Paton, J |
| Ede, Rt. Hon. J. C. | Hylton-Foster, H. B. H | Pearson, A |
| Plummer, Sir Leslie | Soskice, Rt. Hon. Sir Frank | Watkinson, H. A |
| Popplewell, E. | Spearman, A C. M. | Webb, Rt. Hon. M. (Bradford, C.) |
| Price, Henry (Lewisham, W.) | Speir, R. M. | Wellwood, W |
| Price, Philips (Gloucestershire, W.) | Spence, H. R. (Aberdeenshire, W.) | West, D. G. |
| Pryde, D. J. | Stanley, Capt. Hon. Richard | Wheeldon, W E |
| Reeves, J. | Steele, T. | White, Mrs. Elrene (E. Flint) |
| Reid, Thomas (Swindon) | Stoddart-Scott, Col. M | Whiteley, Rt. Hon. W. |
| Remnant, Hon. P. | Stokes, Rt. Hon. R. R. | Wilkins, W. A. |
| Renton, D. L. M. | Strauss, Rt. Hon. George (Vauxhall) | Williams, David (Neath) |
| Robens, Rt. Hon. A. | Summers, G. S. | Williams, Gerald (Tonbridge) |
| Roberts, Albert (Normanton) | Summerskill, Rt. Hon. E. | Williams, Sir Herbert (Croydon, E.) |
| Roberts, Goronwy (Caernarvon) | Taylor, Bernard (Mansfield) | Williams, Ronald (Wigan) |
| Robertson, Sir David | Teeling, W. | Williams, W. R. (Droylsden) |
| Robinson, Kenneth (St. Pancras, N.) | Thomas, George (Cardiff) | Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro) |
| Rogers, George (Kensington, N.) | Thomas, lorwerth (Rhondda, W.) | Wood, Hon. R. |
| Roper, Sir Harold | Thonas Leslie (Canterbury) | Woodburn, Rt. Hon. A |
| Ropner, Col. Sir Leonard | Thomson, George (Dundee, E.) | |
| Russell, R. S. | Tinley, John | TELLERS FOR THE AYES: |
| Ryder, Capt. R. E. D. | Usborne, H. C. | Sir Edward Keeling and |
| Shinwell, Rt. Hon. E. | Walker-Smith, D. C. | Mr. Younger. |
| Simmons, C. J. (Brierley Hill) | Ward, Miss I. (Tynemouth) | |
| NOES | ||
| Allen, Arthur (Bosworth) | Hare, Hon. J. H. | Osborne, C. |
| Anstruther-Gray, Major W. J. | Hargreaves, A. | Padley, W. E. |
| Attlee, Rt. Hon. C. R. | Healy, Cahir (Fermanagh) | Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury) |
| Bacon, Miss Alice | Heath, Edward | Peyton, J. W. W. |
| Balfour, A. | Hobson, C. R | Porter, G. |
| Banks, Col. C. | Holmes, Horace (Hemsworth) | Price, Joseph T. (Westhoughton) |
| Barnes, Rt. Hon. A. J. | Holmes, Sir Stanley (Harwich) | Prior-Palmer, Brig. O. L. |
| Bartley, P. | Hope, Lord John | Rankin, John |
| Blackburn, F. | Hornsby-Smith, Miss M. P | Redmayne, M. |
| Boardman, H. | Houghton, Douglas | Reid, William (Camlachie) |
| Braddock, Mrs. Elizabeth | Hudson, James (Ealing, N.) | Rhodes, H. |
| Braithwaite, Sir Albert (Harrow, W.) | Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayrshire) | Richards, R. |
| Braithwaite, Lt.-Cdr. G. (Bristol, N.W.) | Irvine, A. J. (Edge Hill) | Robinson, Roland (Blackpool, S.) |
| Brook, Dryden (Halifax) | Isaacs, Rt. Hon. G. A. | Ross, William |
| Brooman-White, R. C. | Janner, B. | Savory, Prof. Sir Douglas |
| Buchan-Hepburn, Rt. Hon. P. G. T | Jeger, George (Goole) | Schofield, Lt.-Col W. (Rochdale) |
| Bullard, D. G. | Jennings, R. | Shepherd, William |
| Bullus, Wing Commander E. E. | Jones, Jack (Rotherham) | Short, E. W. |
| Butcher, Sir Herbert | Keenan, W. | Shurmer, P. L. E. |
| Callaghan, L. J. | Key, Rt. Hon. C. W. | Silverman, Julius (Erdington) |
| Cary, Sir Robert | King, Dr. H. M | Silverman, Sydney (Nelson) |
| Chetwynd, G. R. | Lambton, Viscount | Smith, Ellis (Stoke, S.) |
| Clunie, J. | Lee, Frederick (Newton) | Smith, Norman (Nottingham, S.) |
| Cooper, Sqn. Ldr. Albert | Lee, Miss Jennie (Cannock) | Smyth, Brig. J. G. (Norwood) |
| Craddock, George (Bradford, S.) | Lewis, Arthur | Snadden, W. McN. |
| Cranborne, Viscount | Lipton, Lt.-Col. M. | Stewart, Henderson (Fife, E.) |
| Crookshank, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. F. C. | Lloyd, Rt. Hon. G. (King's Norton) | Strauss, Henry (Norwich, S.) |
| Crowder, Sir John (Finchley) | Lucas, P. B. (Brentford) | Studholme, H. G. |
| Cullen, Mrs. A. | McGovern, J. | Taylor, John (West Lothian) |
| Daines, P. | McKibbin, A. J. | Taylor, Rt. Hon. Robert (Morpeth) |
| Davies, Stephen (Merthyr) | Macleod, Rt. Hon. lain (Enfield, W.) | Taylor, William (Bradford, N.) |
| Deer, G. | MacMillan, M. K. (Western Isles) | Thompson, Lt.-Cdr. R. (Croydon, W.) |
| Digby, S. Wingfield | Maitland, Patrick (Lanark) | Thorneycroft, Harry (Clayton) |
| Dodds-Parker, A. D. | Manningham-Buller, Sir R. E. | Thornton, E. |
| Drewe, C. | Manuel, A. C. | Thurtle, Ernest |
| Duthie, W. S. | Medlicott, Brig. F. | Tomney, F. |
| Edelman, M. | Molson, A. H. E. | Vosper, D. F |
| Edwards. John (Brighouse) | Monslow, W. | Wakefield, Edward (Derbyshire, W.) |
| Fernyhough, E. | Moore, Lt.-Col. Sir Thomas | Wallace, H. W. |
| Finch, H. J. | Morgan, Dr. H. B. W. | Watkins, T. E. |
| Fletcher, Eric (Islington, E.) | Morrison, Rt. Hon. H. (Lewisham, S.) | Wells, Percy (Faversham) |
| Foot, M. M. | Morrison, John (Salisbury) | White, Henry (Derbyshire, N.E.) |
| Fort, R. | Mort, D. L. | Willey, F. T. |
| Freeman, Peter (Newport) | Moyle, A. | Williams, Rev. Llywelyn (Abertillery) |
| Gordon-Walker, Rt. Hon. P. C. | Murray, J. D. | Winterbottom, Richard (Brightside) |
| Gough, C. F. H. | Nicolson, Nigel (Bournemouth, E.) | Yates, V. F. |
| Greenwood, Anthony (Rossendale) | Noel-Baker, Rt. Hon. P. J. | |
| Griffiths, David (Rother Valley) | Nugent, G. R. H. | TELLERS FOR THE NOES: |
| Griffiths, Rt. Hon. James (Llanelly) | Oakshott, H. D. | Sir Richard Acland and |
| Hall, John T. (Gateshead, W.) | Oldfield, W. H. | Mr. Nicholson. |
| Hamilton, W. W. | Orr-Ewing, Sir Ian (Weston-super-Mare) | |
| Hardy, E. A. |
Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill ordered to be brought in by Sir Edward Keeling, Mr. Assheton, Mr. Bowen, Mr. Ede, Lieut.-Colonel Elliot, Sir Ian Fraser, Mr. Grenfell, Sir Arnold Gridley, Sir Frank Soskice. Sir Lynn Ungoed-Thomas, Mr. Walker-Smith and Mr. Younger.