– in the House of Commons at on 18 March 1929.
Mr. COOKER:
26.asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, now that the Nanking Government has been recognised by Great Britain, any steps are being taken to give effect to the proposals relating to the China Indemnity Fund?
Mr Godfrey Locker-Lampson
, Wood Green
It is, of course, impossible to find time during the present Session to pass an amending Act, as was originally contemplated. My right hon. Friend has therefore been in communication with His Majesty's Minister at Peking in an endeavour to find means to expedite action so as to release some portion of the funds at an early date for purposes of mutual benefit to Great Britain and China, such as have been recommended by the Buxton Advisory Committee.
Mr Herbert Looker
, Essex South Eastern
Before any definite decision is arrived at, as to the steps to be taken in relation to the Boxer Indemnity Fund, will the right hon. Gentleman issue a white paper showing the proposals contemplated by the Government so that the House may have an opportunity of considering them before the Government are committed to them?
Mr Godfrey Locker-Lampson
, Wood Green
I should like to consider that matter in consultation with my right hon. Friend.
Captain CROOKSHANK:
If the right hon. Gentleman is issuing such a white paper, will he, at the same time, state the total expenditure in which this country has been involved in China since the passage of this Act?
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
