Oral Answers to Questions — Royal Navy. – in the House of Commons at on 24 January 1940.
Mr Arthur Woodburn
, Clackmannan and Eastern
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what grounds George C. Price, of 7, Northfield Square, Edinburgh, born and bred in Edinburgh, was refused entry into the British Navy, in which his British West Indian father fought during the Great War; whether persons born and reared within the British Isles are subject in the recruiting regulations to caste or racial discriminations; and what steps he is taking to abolish colour prejudice in the ranks of the Navy?
Captain Hudson:
According to the information available at the Admiralty, George C. Price has never applied to join the Royal Navy. During the war men of colour may be considered for entry for hostilities only service in competition with other candidates on their merits, and without regard to their colour, provided they are British born and sons of British born parents.
Mr Arthur Woodburn
, Clackmannan and Eastern
Is the Minister aware that this young man appeared before the conscientious objectors' tribunal and that that tribunal expressed sympathy with him in the fact that before the war he had applied to join the Navy, and that vicariously he offered to join the Air Force, and that in both cases he was rejected because of his colour; and am I to understand that there is any test of alien blood that distinguishes the Admiralty from the army?
Captain Hudson:
I think I have given the position. I understand that this is rather an extraordinary case. The man's mother is Danish. Therefore he is not the son of British-born parents, but, if the hon. Member has any further particulars which he would like to bring to my notice, I shall be glad if he will do so. I understand that his brother applied in 1935 and mentioned this man, who himself has never applied. Perhaps the hon. Member would like to communicate with me further.
Mr Arthur Woodburn
, Clackmannan and Eastern
Is not the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware from the Question that this man's father served in the Navy during the last war, and, if his father was able to serve as a West Indian during the last war, it seems rather strange that his son cannot serve to-day?
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.
