Britain: An official handbook > 1977

32
BRITAIN 19771 AN OFFICIAL HANDBOOK
elected may support or oppose the Government according to their party s or
their own view of the policy being debated at any given time. On occasions
*
TABLE 4: Percentages of Votes Cast, and Members Elected,® in the October
1974 General Election
Party % of Votes
Cast
Labour 39-3
Conservative 35-8
Liberal 18-3
Others 6-6
100-0
Party Members
Elected
Labour 319
Conservative 276
Liberal 13
Scottish National 11
United Ulster Unionist 10
Plaid Cymru
(Welsh Nationalist) 3
Social Democratic
and Labour (Northern
Ireland) 1
Independent (Northern
Ireland) 1
The Speaker 1
635
“ By-elections and other developments have since changed party strengths.
no party succeeds in winning an overall majority of seats in the House of
Commons; then a minority government or a coalition might be formed.
The effectiveness of the party system in Parliament largely rests on the
relationship between the Government and the Opposition. Depending on
the relative voting strengths of the parties in the House of Commons, the
Opposition might seek to overthrow the Government by securing a sufficiently
large adverse vote on a major policy issue. In general, however, its aims are
(a) to contribute to the formulation of policy and its expression in legislation
by constructive criticism of the Government’s approach; (b) to oppose specific
government proposals that it considers objectionable; (c) to secure concessions
on government Bills; and (d) to increase support outside Parliament and
enhance its chances of success in by-elections or at the next general election.
The detailed arrangements of government business are settled, under the
direction of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the House, by the Govern¬
ment Chief 'Whip in consultation with the Opposition Chief Whip. The
Chief Whips together constitute the ‘usual channels’ often referred to in the
House of Commons when the question of the possibility of finding time for
debating some particular issue is discussed. The direction of the business of
the House is primarily the responsibility of the Leader of the House, and it is
his duty to provide all reasonable facilities for the House to debate matters
about which it is concerned.
Outside Parliament, party control is exercised by the national and local
organisations. Inside Parliament, it is exercised by the Chief Whips and their
assistants (chosen within the party) whose duties include keeping members
informed of forthcoming parliamentary business, maintaining the voting
strength of their parties by ensuring the attendance of members at important
debates, and conveying up wards to the party leadership the opinions of their
back-bench members. The Government Chief Whip in the House of Com¬
mons is Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury; of the other Government