Oral Answers to Questions — Aviation. – in the House of Commons at on 14 November 1934.
Mr Borras Whiteside
, Leeds South
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied that a sufficient number exists of illuminated emergency landing grounds in this country on the London-Paris air route?
Sir Philip Sassoon
, Hythe
Yes, Sir; I am satisfied that the lighting arrangements in this country on the London-Paris air route are adequate.
Mr Borras Whiteside
, Leeds South
Is the Minister aware that there is only one such aerodrome, namely Lympne, and there is a distance of 55 miles between Croydon and Lympne?
Sir Philip Sassoon
, Hythe
There are two alternative landing grounds and at least six illuminated beacons.
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.
