Oral Answers to Questions — Military Training. – in the House of Commons at on 5 June 1939.
Sir John Mellor
, Tamworth
asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the arrangements made between himself and the Secretary of State for War for consultation between county Territorial Associations and town planning authorities in connection with the selection of sites for Territorial Army purposes which arrangements were communicated to local authorities by Circular 1821, and, in view of the absence of any similar arrangements in relation to the selection of sites for the purposes of the Air Ministry, he will consult with the Secretary of State for Air in order to ensure, without prejudice to rapidity of action, such consultation between the Air Ministry and the town planning authorities as may be in the interest of all concerned?
Mr Walter Elliot
, Glasgow Kelvingrove
For some time arrangements for consultation between the Air Ministry and planning authorities have been in operation through my Department. My hon. Friend will appreciate that, owing to the various technical considerations involved in the requirements of the Air Ministry, it is desirable that consultation should in each case be effected through my Department in the first place.
Sir John Mellor
, Tamworth
Can my right hon. Friend say why this procedure was not followed in the recent instance of the acquisition of a site by the Air Ministry in the Solihull urban district?
Mr Walter Elliot
, Glasgow Kelvingrove
If my hon. Friend will give me details of that, I will look into it.
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.
