Oral Answers to Questions — Transport. – in the House of Commons at on 6 March 1935.
Mr. HASLAM:
(by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the recent announcement by the acting Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia regarding the proposals made by His Majesty's Government in Great Britain to His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth as to imports of meat into the United Kingdom, and whether he is prepared to make a statement on the subject?
The Secretary of State for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas):
Owing to a misunderstanding the suggestions as to future policy in regard to the importation of meat which His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom recently communicated to the Commonwealth Government and to the other Governments concerned have been interpreted by the Commonwealth Government as including the maintenance of the restrictions upon foreign imports of meat laid down in the Ottawa Agreements, whereas what His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom had desired to convey was that they were prepared to agree, by general consent of those Governments that all restrictions upon the importation of meat should be removed and the position of the United Kingdom producer should be safeguarded by a levy upon all imports of meat with a preference to the Dominions. It is regretted that a misunderstanding should have occurred, but I am sure it will be agreed that a, discussion as to the causes of that misunderstanding would be profitless. The important thing is that it has now been cleared up. In order that the House may be fully informed as to the suggestions now under consideration and as to the reasons which prompted His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to make them, a white paper on the subject will be laid before the House forthwith.
Sir Robert Hamilton
, Orkney and Shetland
When the right hon. Gentleman uses the word "levy" does he mean "duty"?
Mr. THOMAS:
My hon. Friend will be able to see the exact situation set out in detail in the white paper that will be available.
Mr William Thorne
, West Ham Plaistow
Does that statement come into conflict with the views of the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Agriculture?
Sir Percy Harris
, Bethnal Green South West
Has the right hon. Gentleman consulted the President of the Board of Trade about this levy; seeing that the President of the Board of Trade gave a pledge to the electors that he would not agree to a tax on meat?
Mr. THOMAS:
The white paper, which I am sure that the hon. Baronet will read with profit, includes the views of the President of the Board of Trade.
Sir Geoffrey Mander
, Wolverhampton East
Is it the same kind of unanimity as exists between the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary?
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.
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.
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
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.
