Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Defence. – in the House of Commons at on 1 February 1940.
Mr William Gallacher
, Fife Western
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to amend the Emergency Powers (Defence) Regulations, Nos. 12 to 15, concerning protected places, with a view to ensuring that nothing in these regulations shall be operated to prevent duly-accredited trade union officials from entering the protected places or their vicinity while engaged on trade union business, and that nothing in the regulations shall be used to make peaceful picketing in the vicinity of protected places an offence?
Sir John Anderson
, Combined Scottish Universities
The provisions in the Defence Regulations for the control of access to premises where special precautions are needed in time of war are directed to security objects; and it is well understood by those concerned that it would be entirely wrong to interpret them as if they were intended to interfere with legitimate trade union activities. I do not think any Amendment of the Regulations is called for, but if the hon. Member knows of any case in which it is suggested that such activities have been hampered, I shall be glad, on receipt of particulars, to look into the matter.
Mr William Gallacher
, Fife Western
Is the Minister aware of the fact that the Regulations, if interpreted in the way they are being interpreted, can prevent such activities from being carried out, and that there have beer certain complaints already as to the difficulties experienced in carrying on the work of trade unions?
A group of workers who have united to promote their common interests.
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.
A group of workers who have united to promote their common interests.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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.
