– in the House of Commons at on 20 February 1940.
Sir Patrick Hannon
, Birmingham Moseley
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has given further consideration to the disparity which exists between allowances for de pendent children of serving soldiers, and those made to children evacuated under home defence regulations; and whether he contemplates comparable treatment for the soldier's child with the evacuee?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
I regret that I cannot add anything to the answer given by my predecessor to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall) on 21st November last.
Sir Patrick Hannon
, Birmingham Moseley
May I ask the Minister whether, in view of the change in circumstances, he will give consideration to this point as early as possible, in view of the discrepancies between the allowances for evacuees and the allowances for dependants of the fighting Services?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
This question was considered towards the end of last year and an increase was then granted.
Mr Jack Lawson
, Chester-le-Street
asked the Secretary of State for War when he will be able to make a statement on the question of allowances for widows and parents?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
I hope to have completed my examination of the question by the time Army Estimates are introduced.
Mr Jack Lawson
, Chester-le-Street
Will the right hon. Gentleman then be in a position to make a definite statement?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
I hope to do so.
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.
