Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Information. – in the House of Commons at on 9 April 1941.
Mr Robert Gibson
, Greenock
asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that the work done by the Travellers' Censorship Office, in enabling ship's documents and Bills of lading to accompany a ship clearing with exports, is essential; whether he can assure the House that this essential work will continue; and whether he has any statement to make regarding the censorship of Icelandic and Faröes mails?
Mr. Cooper:
The scrutiny of the ship's documents is a matter for the senior naval officer at the port and not for the censorship. Bills of lading and similar papers not sent by post are a matter for the security officer at the port, who may consult the censorship if he considers it necessary. The importance of the work is fully realised. The reply to the last part of the Question is in the negative.
Mr Robert Gibson
, Greenock
Are we to understand that there will be speedy censorship of these documents and other letters which are necessary to accompany export consignments?
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.
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.
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.
