– in the House of Commons at on 8 March 1939.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
asked the Prime Minister whether he is now able to give any further information with reference to the number of the Italian forces in Libya?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
The information in the possession of my Noble Friend indicates that the Italian Government are carrying out their decision to increase their forces in Libya by 30,000 men.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
Have the conditions become more normal in Libya?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
I have given the hon. Member the information for which I was asked, and I am afraid that I cannot do any more than that.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
Is it not the fact that the Foreign Minister in Italy said that when the conditions were normal they could reduce the forces?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
They are not reducing their forces, and I have just said that they have increased them.
Mr Reginald Fletcher
, Nuneaton
Is it not the case that these forces were reduced to a given figure in order to comply with the terms of the Anglo-Italian settlement, and that immediately thereafter they were reinforced again; and if that is the case, what is the exact value of this provision in the Anglo-Italian Agreement?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
As I have said on several occasions, and notably on 27th February, in answer to questions, the forces were reduced following on the agreement, and recently, we regret to hear, they have been increased.
Mr Reginald Fletcher
, Nuneaton
Is it not the case that there is no force or value in this provision in the Anglo-Italan Agreement?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
No, Sir, I cannot go as far as that.
Mr Philip Noel-Baker
, Derby
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Italian Government have indicated from what quarter they expect danger to Libya, whether from Egypt, Tunis or the Sudan?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
I cannot answer a question like that on a question on the Order Paper on this subject.
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
When this increase is finished, they will number approximately the same as they were before the signing of the agreement.
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
Double what it was.
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
About 60,000.
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.
The order paper is issued daily and lists the business which will be dealt with during that day's sitting of the House of Commons.
It provides MPs with details of what will be happening in the House throughout the day.
It also gives details of when and where the standing committees and select committees of the Commons will be meeting.
Written questions tabled to ministers by MPs on the previous day are listed at the back of the order paper.
The order paper forms one section of the daily vote bundle and is issued by the Vote Office
