House of Commons
Wednesday 14 May 1997
The House met at twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock
PRAYERS
[Madam Speaker in the Chair]
Message to attend Her Majesty:
The House went; and having returned:
The sitting was suspended until fifteen minutes past Two o'clock, and then resumed.
The following Members took and subscribed the Oath, or made and subscribed the Affirmation required by Law:
John Robert Greenway, esquire, Ryedale
Tam Dalyell, esquire, Linlithgow
Kenneth Maginnis, esquire, Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Robert Law McCartney, esquire, QC, North Down
Nicholas Barton Harvey, esquire, North Devon
Douglas John Henderson, esquire, Newcastle upon Tyne, North
Calum Alasdair Macdonald, esquire, Western Isles
James Mackay Cousins, esquire, Newcastle upon Tyne, Central
Austin Vernon Mitchell, esquire, Great Grimsby
Alan John Simpson, esquire, Nottingham, South
Sylvia Lloyd, Mrs. Heal, Halesowen and Rowley Regis
Michael O'Brien, esquire, North Warwickshire
Lorna Fitzsimons, Rochdale
Dr. John Douglas Naysmith, Bristol, North-West
Dan Norris, esquire, Wansdyke
On resuming--
Ordered,
Resolved,
Ordered,
Ordered,
Madam Speaker:
I wish to make a statement about the availability of services in the House for those who do not take their seats after being returned here as Members.
This House has traditionally accommodated great extremes of opinion. I am sure therefore that the House would not wish to put any unnecessary obstacle in the way of Members wishing to fulfil their democratic mandate by attending, speaking and voting in this House. Equally, I feel certain that those who choose not to take their seats should not have access to the many benefits and facilities that are now available in the House without also taking up their responsibilities as Members.
The present position is that, under the terms of the Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866, any Member who fails to take the oath or to make the affirmation that is required by law and who then votes or sits during any debate after the election of the Speaker is subject to a penalty of £500 on each occasion and his or her seat is automatically vacated. In 1924, one of my predecessors ruled that any such Member could not receive a salary, and this regulation also applies to allowances.
In the interests of the House, and making use of the power vested in the office of the Speaker to control the accommodation and services in the Commons parts of the Palace of Westminster and the precincts, I have decided to extend these restrictions. As from the date of the end of the debate on the Queen's Speech, the services that are available to all other Members from the six Departments of the House and beyond will not be open for use by Members who have not taken their seats by swearing or by affirmation.
For the avoidance of doubt, a schedule listing these various services will be appended to this statement in the Official Report. One of the purposes of this will, of course, be to enable officers and servants of the House and others to administer these new regulations with clarity and precision.
Of course, I accept that there may be occasional cases where an elected Member, for reasons of health or for other good reasons, cannot attend to take his or her seat immediately after election, but, nevertheless, desires to do so at the earliest possible moment. Provided such a Member sends me a letter informing me of his or her
inability to attend and signifying his or her intention to attend to swear or affirm at the earliest possible time, I will give instructions that these new regulations should not be applied. This should be done not later than the date of the end of the debate on the Queen's Speech or, in the case of a by-election, after 10 sitting days.
The House will have noted that the date which I have set for the introduction of these regulations is the end of the debate on the Queen's Speech. That is not an ideal date, but the House needs notice of these changes. In a future Parliament, the effective date both for the cessation of services and for the deadline for the sending of the letter requesting excusal will be the date of the Queen's Speech itself.
The services to which the new regulations apply include:
Mr. Alan Clark (Kensington and Chelsea):
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. To what extent have you assented to, or been consulted about, the edict, issuing apparently from the Prime Minister's office, that curtails the length, content, duration and timing of Prime Minister's Question Time? Already, the Table Office is refusing to take questions except for once a week on Wednesdays. Surely this matter should be debated in the Chamber. It jeopardises the rights of Back Benchers on both sides of the Chamber and affects the accountability of the Executive to the electorate as a whole. Furthermore, it is exactly the kind of encroachment on the rights of Members by Governments to which we look to you for protection.
2.22 pm
That all Members who are returned for two or more places in any part of the United Kingdom do make their Election for which of the places they will serve, within one week after it shall appear that there is no question upon the Return for that place; and if anything shall come in question touching the Return or Election of any Member, he is to withdraw during the time the matter is in debate; and that all Members returned upon double Returns do withdraw till their Returns are determined.
14 May 1997 : Column 34
Resolved,
That no Peer of the Realm, except a Peer of Ireland, hath any right to give his vote in the Election of any Member to serve in Parliament.
Resolved,
That if it shall appear that any person hath been elected or returned a Member of this House, or endeavoured so to be, by Bribery or any other corrupt practices, this House will proceed with the utmost severity against all such persons as shall have been wilfully concerned in such Bribery or other corrupt practices.
That if it shall appear that any person hath been tampering with any Witness, in respect of his evidence to be given to this House, or any Committee thereof, or directly or indirectly hath endeavoured to deter or hinder any person from appearing or giving evidence the same is declared to be a high crime and misdemeanour; and this House will proceed with the utmost severity against such offender.
Resolved,
That if it shall appear that any person hath given false evidence in any case before this House, or any Committee thereof, this House will proceed with the utmost severity against such offender.
That the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis do take care that during the Session of Parliament the passages through the streets leading to the House be kept free and open and that no obstruction be permitted to hinder the passage of Members to and from this House, and that no disorder be allowed in Westminster Hall, or in the passages leading to this House, during the Sitting of Parliament, and that there be no annoyance therein or thereabouts; and that the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do communicate this Order to the Commissioner aforesaid.
Ordered,
That the Votes and Proceedings of this House be printed, being first perused by Madam Speaker; and that she do appoint the printing thereof; and that no person but such as she shall appoint do presume to print the same.
Bill for the more effectual preventing Clandestine Outlawries; read the First time; to be read a Second time.
That the Journal of this House, from the end of the last Session to the end of the present Session, with an index thereto, be printed.
Ordered,
That the said Journal and Index be printed by the appointment and under the direction of Donald William Limon, Esq, CB, the Clerk of this House.
Ordered,
That the said Journal and Index be printed by such person as shall be licensed by Madam Speaker, and that no other person do presume to print the same.
14 May 1997 : Column 35
Legal services
Procedural services, including the tabling of questions, motions and amendments, and public petitions
Broadcasting services
Vote Office services
Services available from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
The provision of passes, special permits and car parking facilities
Access to those areas within the parliamentary precincts which are open only to pass holders
The booking of Committee Rooms, conference rooms and interview rooms
Office accommodation services for Members and their staff
Computer services, except those available to the public
The allocation of Gallery tickets
The sponsoring of exhibitions in the Upper Waiting Hall
Members' medical services
Library and research services, except for those services of the Public Information Office generally available to the public
Services provided by the Official Report
Payroll and other financial services provided to Members and their staff
Insurance services
Catering services provided for Members and their staff, including the sponsoring of banqueting services
Police and security advice available within the precincts
Services in the Members' post offices
14 May 1997 : Column 37
Travel services
2.38 pm
| Next Section
| Index | Home Page |