Oral Answers to Questions — British Army. – in the House of Commons at on 30 January 1940.
Mr Robert Gibson
, Greenock
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider with the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland the provision of medical treatment to the dependants of men on military service?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Roan to the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Mr. Kennedy) on 18th January last. I am discussing the matter with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland, but I must point out that to undertake at the expense of Army funds the medical treatment of dependants of all men who join the army for the duration of the war would involve serious difficulties.
Mr Robert Gibson
, Greenock
Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind the fact that this matter is creating the gravest concern in very wide circles, and in particular is causing great concern to National Health insurance committees?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
I am discussing this question with the Minister of Health, and I will bear the hon. and learned Member's Question in mind.
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.
