Hunger in Britain today

The conclusion of The report of the All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Hunger in the United Kingdom was published this week. It sets out a series of policy recommendations for the government.

United Nations Day 24th October

Celebrate United Nations Day There are some great UN research guides available on many topics including the Ebola Virus outbreak to help you with your research.

Award winning government website reaches major milestone of 1 billion site visits

Launched 2 years ago, GOV.UK brings together government services and information online. As the first ever single domain for government, it replaced DirectGov, Business Link and over 250 separate department and agency websites. The top 3 most visited pages are find a job, renew your vehicle tax, and calculate your state pension.

Scottish Independence Referendum: analysis of results

We have receive a couple of interesting House of Commons Library research papers into the National Library this week. An analysis of the results from the Scottish Independence, Referendum. HC Research paper 14/50 and Unemployment by constituency HC Research paper 14/49

The Smith Commission

You have an opportunity to have your say and respond to the Commission directly via their website from the 13th October 2014. The terms of reference for the Commission are: To convene cross-party talks and facilitate an inclusive engagement process across Scotland to produce, by 30 November 2014, Heads of Agreement with recommendations for further devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament. This process will be informed by a Command Paper, to be published by 31 October and will result in the publication of draft clauses by 25 January. The recommendations will deliver more financial, welfare and taxation powers, strengthening the Scottish Parliament within the United Kingdom.

Cold War intelligence

Now available through the National Library of Scotland. A full-text collection of 2,360 formerly classified U.S. government documents (most of them classified Top Secret or higher) which provides readers with the declassified documentary record about the successes and failures of the U.S. intelligence community in its efforts to spy on the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Details on how to access this resource can be found on the NLS Website

Father of the House

Winston Churchill resigned from the House of Commons 50 years ago. He started in the House of Commons in 1900 as a Conservative Member of Parliament for Oldham.  He was Prime Minister twice 1940-1945 and then 1951-1955.  In 1959 he was given the title Father of the House (the member with the longest continuous service).

On the 28^th July 1964 the then Prime Minister (Sir Alec Douglas-Home) said “ I beg to move, That this House desires to take this opportunity of marking the forthcoming retirement of the right honourable Gentleman the Member for Woodford by putting on record its unbounded admiration and gratitude for his services to Parliament, to the nation and to the world; remembers, above all, his inspiration of the British people when they stood alone, and his leadership until victory was won; and offers its grateful thanks to the right honourable Gentleman for these outstanding services to this House and to the nation.”

I thought I would check Hansard for some of his speeches from World War I and from World War II.  An example of one of the many hundreds of speeches he gave in the House of Commons is on the 27th November 1914 as the First Lord of the Admiralty where he states “But even if we were single-handed, as we were in the days of the Napoleonic wars, we should have no reason to despair of our capacity-no doubt we should suffer discomfort and privation and loss-but we should have no reason to despair of our capacity to go on indefinitely, drawing our supplies from wherever we needed them, and transporting our troops wherever we required them, and to continue this process with a strength which would grow stronger with each month the War continued until, in the end, and perhaps not at any very distant date, the purposes for which we are fighting are achieved.”

Obviously one of the most famous speeches he made to the House of Commons on the 20^th August 1940 was “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. All hearts go out to the fighter pilots, whose brilliant actions we see with our own eyes day after day....”

All the many speeches Winston Churchill gave to the House of Commons can be found via the  National Library of Scotland's website if you live in Scotland and you have a library card. It is listed under licensed digital collections and contained in the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers database.

What is an EDM?

In my last post I mentioned an EDM (Early Day Motion), EDMs are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons.  Actually very few will be debated but the EDM’s allow MPs to highlight an event or a cause.  MPs can register their support by signing the individual motions.

For more information and a list of EDMs see http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-papers/commons/early-day-motions/

Dr. Elsie Inglis a suffragist, a medical pioneer and a WWI heroine

There was an early day motion no. 341 submitted to parliament on the 12th September 2014 by Mike Crockart about Dr. Elsie Inglis and the Scottish Women’s hospitals.

“That this House celebrates the bravery, achievements and hard work of Dr Elsie Inglis and the other women who set up and served in the Scottish Women’s Hospitals; recognises that the Scottish Women’s Hospitals became one of the best medical initiatives of World War One; acknowledges that these hospitals were set up despite a severe lack of support from the British War Office; estimates that the hospitals saved the lives of tens of thousands of people all in countries such as Serbia, Belgium, France, Russia, Romania, Corsica, Corfu and Greece; notes that the 14 women’s hospitals with a staff of over 1,000 women make up a remarkable, yet unrecognised part of our history; further notes that whilst Dr Inglis and the other women who served in these hospitals are recognised as heroes in Serbia, their work and achievements are barely recognised in the UK outside of Dr Inglis’ adopted home of Edinburgh; welcomes the proposal by Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation to recognise the work of Dr Elsie Inglis and her compatriots by establishing a training fund in the name of Dr Elsie Inglis for staff to access courses which may not be available through NHS Lothian; further recognises 16 August 2014 will be the 150th anniversary of the birth of this medical pioneer, suffragist, and First World War heroine; and strongly believes that during the centenary year of the outbreak of the First World War, the work of the brave women who served in these hospitals should be properly recognised and celebrated.”

WWI

WWI

I was interested in reading what the House of Commons and Lords said in Hansard on the 5^th August 1914 about the European War as it was called.

House of Commons Hansard vol.65 1914

Prime Minister…Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs- a note of which the following is a literal translation: “Belgian Government regret to have to inform His Majesty's Government that this morning armed forces of Germany penetrated into Belgian territory in violation of engagements assumed by treaty.  Belgian Government are further resolved to resist by all means in their power. Belgium appeals to Great Britain and France and Russia to co-operate, as guarantors, in defence of her territory. There would be concerted and common action with the object of resisting the forcible measures employed by Germany against Belgium, and at the same time of guarding the maintenance for future of the independence and integrity of Belgium…”

The House of Lords Hansard vol. 17 1914

The Marquis of Crewe

He reiterated what the House of Commons said about Belgium but then carried on to say …That is all, my Lords, that I have to say at this moment upon the general situation. But on the particular points of the situation as it affects us here in our daily life and the financial situation in this country, I desire to say one or two words. During the last few days the Government have been conferring at great length with the most important representatives of finance and commerce in the country, including representatives of bankers, bill brokers, the Stock Exchange, discount houses, and also with an almost complete representation of all the great industries of the country-textile, iron, docks, and the rest; and I can say that we have found an absolutely universal desire among those representatives of great interests to combine so far as possible to meet the crisis which has arisen, in the interests of the country at large. … Our main object has been that the normal life of the country should be carried on with as little displacement as is possible in the unprecedented circumstances in which we are placed, more especially as they affect the wage-earning classes. We found that both the financiers, speaking in the widest sense, and the captains of industry have been absolutely of one mind in determining that so far as possible things shall pursue their normal course, and that, so far as they are able to ensure it, money shall be forthcoming to meet the ordinary needs and concerns of life. We found that the great manufacturers are steady in determination to keep their works open so far as is possible for them, contemplating, no doubt, that in some cases they would be on short time, but with the resolve that so far as possible men or women should not be altogether thrown out of employment. They are prepared to do this even at the risk of accumulating stocks for which there may be no obvious market at the moment, and I am sure the House will agree that that is a most honourable and a most helpful determination on their part.

To read both statements you can find them either at GHC.5 for the House of Commons Hansard and GHL.5 for the House of Lords Hansard or see the electronic versions online, if you are a registered reader, in our licensed digital resources.

The Hansard Society – an August day in 1944...

Seventy years ago the Hansard Society was founded amidst the turbulence of world war. With the country facing what our founder, Sir Stephen King-Hall MP, described as ‘a life and death struggle for the preservation of parliamentary democracy’, he established the organisation to ‘promote future knowledge of, and interest in, Parliament and parliamentary institutions’.

Anniversary of the D-Day landings 6th June 1944

June 6th 1944 Churchill addressed the House of Commons. He detailed successes in both Italy and the initial successes of the landings on Norman beaches by the huge allied liberating armies. His speech can be viewed on the TheyWorkForYou site You can also access Hansard from 1803-2005 via the National Library of Scotland's website if you live in Scotland and you have a library card. It is listed underlicensed digital collections and contained in the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers database.

State Opening of Parliament

Today is the State Opening of Parliament heralding the first day of a new parliamentary session at Westminster. More information can be found on the UK Parliament website. Compare todays event with this Pathe News footage from 1958.

Glasgow Women's Library

Earlier this week I visited the Glasgow Women’s Library in Bridgeton. GWL is a charity and relies heavily on the work and support of volunteers (87 of them at present!) to advance their many projects. It is the only resource of its kind in Scotland. As well as a lending library, they hold a wonderful treasure trove of historical and contemporary artifacts and archive materials that celebrate the lives, histories and achievements of women. From Suffragette memorabilia and 1930s dress making patterns to rare 1970s Scottish Women’s Liberation newsletters. They also support thousands of women across Scotland every year to improve their lives through their services and programmes, including support and activities that tackle a wide range of issues from poverty and women’s health, sexuality and surviving violence. Empowering women is one of their key aims. They have grown from a small grassroots project into the main hub for information by, for and about women in Scotland, offering specialized learning, collections and archives. GWL has always been a hotbed of ideas and is now growing into a pioneering women’s social enterprise. I was particularly interested in the Suffragette material that they hold as we have information within our Official Publications collections on Parliament's responses to the Suffragette movement This can be found in Hansard. Hansard can be accessed digitally via the NLS’s licensed digital collections. It is contained in the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers database. More information here. Alternatively Hansard is freely available back to 1935 here Watch a short podcast on finding more information on the suffragettes in our parliamentary collections here. GWL can be found on Facebook and you can follow @gwlkettle on twitter

European elections

Hansard Society News - Special European elections edition •Free virtual issue of Parliamentary Affairs •The 'Great EU Debate': the results •The EU Explained - a free toolkit for teachers •How can the Westminster Parliament work more effectively with the European Parliament?

Gretna Green Disaster 22nd May 1915

The Gretna Green disaster caused the greatest loss of life that has ever occurred in an accident on the railways in the UK. 224 passengers and 3 servants were killed. 242 passengers and 4 servants were injured. Most of the passengers on the train were territorial soldiers from the 1/7th Leith Battalion, The Royal Scots who were heading for Gallipoli. You can read the full details of the report by Lieutenant-Colonel Druitt into the double collision which occurred between passenger trains at Quintinshill, near Gretna in our Parliamentary Papers collection. The reference for the report is P.P. 1914-16 Cd 8114 Details of the numbers killed and injured are listed in a further report - 1916 [Cd. 8301] General report to the Board of Trade upon the accidents that have occurred on the railways of the United Kingdom during the year 1915. This collection is available digitally via our subscription to the Proquest House of Commons Parliamentary Papers database. This is freely available to readers in Scotland with a National Library of Scotland readers ticket.

Pancake race 2014

House of Lords Library

I was on a visit to the House of Lords Library on the same day that the pancake race took place.

It is annual event held in Victoria Tower Gardens near the Houses of Parliament.  It is set up to raise money for the Rehab charity, which helps people with physical and mental disabilities.

The race is against members from the House of Lords, the House of Commons and the press park.

It was highly entertaining to watch the race and as I was visiting the House of Lords Library I was pleased that the Lords won.

American Art

 Browsing through the American items in the Official Publications Collection, I am amazed at how many wonderful art books are held in this collection, although the book “The Charters of Freedom “A New World is at Hand”” is not from the obvious galleries such as the National Gallery of Art or the Smithsonian Institute, it is a lovely book with beautiful pictures in it. 

This book is based on an exhibition in the National Archives Rotund for the Charters of Freedom, the exhibition opened on September 17, 2003.
But what are the Charters of Freedom? They are the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights, these have guaranteed the rights and freedom of Americans for over 200 years.

The book gives glimpses of the story on how the Charters were created, plus the course of history in the United States and around the world.  The Declaration was announced to the world on July 4, 1776, and stated that the thirteen British colonies in North America were leaving Great Britain to form a separate nation, ”the Declaration articulates the highest ideals of the Revolution, beliefs in liberty, equality, and the right to self-determination.”  The Constitution drafted in 1787 was the practical scheme of the government to promote the welfare of all its citizens and the Bill of Rights in 1791 went on to explicitly protect the freedom of speech, of the press, of religion and of assembly among many other freedoms.

The book is full of wonderful pictures and snippets of information about these three documents.  I particularly love the pictures of the two murals that grace the curved walls of the Rotunda.

You can find the book at shelfmark F1/SE.4/220

American History

An Outline of American History

Delving further into the American collection held in the Official Publications I thought that I should start at the beginning of the collection and I found this lovely book.

It was published in 1953 and distributed by the United States Information Service.  In the introduction it states “This booklet is an attempt to supply some of the answers in a concise and convenient form and to trace some of the major currents of thought and development in the nation’s growth.”

It has 7 chapters: the Colonial period, the winning of independence, the formation of a National Government, Westward expansion and regional differences, sectional conflict, the era of expansion and reform and ending with America in the modern world.

The chapters are easy to read and have many interesting points.   In the chapter titled "Westward expansion and regional differences", there is a small section about women’s suffrage.  Interestingly the unmarried women in most respects apparently enjoyed the same legal rights as men, apart from voting, but as soon as she married (and the custom was to marry early) then it changed.  It states that “the awakening of women began with a visit to America of Frances Wright, a Scotswoman of advanced views.  Her appearance before audiences to deliver lectures on theology and women’s rights shocked the public.”

The biggest chapter is on the Sectional Conflict

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.  I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free” Abraham Lincoln.

There is a picture in black and white showing the Confederates firing upon Fort Sumter which began the Civil war on the 12^th April 1861.  There also is a small  map of the battle area of the Civil War.

This book is only 146 pages but full of very fascinating facts, and well worth a read.  You can find it at shelfmark F1/AA.4.24

 

Sanitation and War

The Sanitary Commission of the United States Army: a succinct narrative of its works and purpose.

I was admittedly quite fascinated with this title.   It was published in 1864 in New York for the benefit of the United States Sanitary Commission.

In reading the introduction it stated “The commission knew that the average annual death-rate in armies in our former wars had been exceedingly high, and that an army of volunteer forces is most liable to fatal diseases.  In our vast armies of volunteers, the problems of sanitary science were to be wrought out as a national and patriotic work….Can the average sickness-rate be kept at a minimum point? Can the average death-rate from disease be reduced to a fraction of that which was registered in the Mexican war?  This result the commission believed possible.”

This is a fascinating book about the Commission and what they achieved, they are harrowing descriptions such as from page 33 “At the time of which I am now writing (Monday afternoon), wounded men were arriving by every train….They were packed as closely as they could be stowed in the common freight-cars, without beds, without straw, at most with a wisp of hay under their heads.  Many of the lighter cases came on the roof of the cars.  They arrived dead and living together, in the same close box, many with awful wounds festering and swarming with maggots.”  The smell apparently reduced the men that cared for them to vomit.

But it also states on page 229

“The Brigadier-General commanding gratefully recalls to the recollection of the troops of this command, and the debt incurred by them during the recent movements, to the Sanitary Commission and its Agent Mr A. B. Day.  Much suffering has been alleviated and many inconveniencies removed by the energy and promptness with which the supplies of the Commission have been paced at the control of our medical officers…”

This book is well worth a read and can be found at shelfmark F1/DA-I.4/3.