– in the House of Commons at on 20 February 1940.
Mr Reginald Sorensen
, Leyton West
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the limitation of free travelling warrants to two per year frequently imposes hard ship on soldiers granted leave on com passionate grounds to visit seriously ill near relatives; and whether he will consider granting extra free travelling warrants in such cases?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
I regret that I am unable to extend the existing concessions applying to travelling on leave.
Mr Reginald Sorensen
, Leyton West
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of unnecessary hardship on some soldiers who are suddenly being asked to see sick relatives, and in view of that will he not make another effort to consider this matter on compassionate grounds?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
Two free warrants are given during the year and the soldier can allocate them for whatever journey he desires. If, therefore, he is called back on grounds of illness and has to go a long journey he can use a free warrant for that purpose.
Mr Reginald Sorensen
, Leyton West
Is the Minister aware that the soldier might have used up his two free warrants when illness occurs and, therefore, might be put to considerable expense? Will the Minister look into it again?
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Westmorland
I will look into the matter again although I have already looked into it carefully and am afraid I can hold out little hope.
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.
