Oral Answers to Questions — Jamaica. – in the House of Commons at on 29 March 1939.
Mr William Gallacher
, Fife Western
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that on 21st February a squad of police invaded the village in Jamaica known as the Dungle, drove out the inhabitants and set fire to their dwellings, and cut down the trees which had served as hammock rests; what were the reasons for this action; where the inhabitants, thus rendered homeless, have been lodged; and whether it is proposed to compensate them for the loss of their possessions?
Mr Thomas Inskip
, Fareham
I have been asked to reply. The following report has been received from the Governor of Jamaica:
Dungle is not a village: it is an open plot of land where the city refuse is deposited and it is owned by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation. This land has for some time been the haunt of habitual criminals and drug takers, and early this year the corporation attempted to take down the hovels which had been erected without authority by these people, and to clear the site, but were met with violence. The corporation then requested police protection for the performance of the work, and on the 21st of February this was afforded. Without adequate protection it is certain that the criminals would have again resorted to violence, and even as it was the workmen carting away the debris were threatened and attempts made to molest them, and additional police had to be provided.
Mr William Gallacher
, Fife Western
The Minister is, I suppose, aware that whenever action is taken against any specially poor section of the population they are always criminals?
Mr William Gallacher
, Fife Western
May I not ask the Minister a supplementary question?
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.
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry