Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Information – in the House of Commons at on 17 March 1943.
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that when it is desired to send to a unit of His Majesty's Forces in Northern Ireland gifts of a recreational nature the Postal and Telegraphic Censorship Department of his Ministry require, in duplicate, an undertaking of a character which has not been required in connection with similar gifts to serving members of His Majesty's Forces in any other part of the world; and the reason for this discrimination against His Majesty's Forces in Northern Ireland?
Mr Brendan Bracken
, Paddington North
No censorship permit is required for sending gifts to a member of His Majesty's Forces serving outside Great Britain provided that they are addressed to his unit. If a private address in Northern Ireland is used, the regulations applying to packets for civilians must be observed.
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the case of a registered war charity, properly addressed, it was required to fill in a most elaborate document?
Mr Brendan Bracken
, Paddington North
No, Sir; I am not aware of these new facts.
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
If I bring them to my right hon. Friend's attention, will he look into the matter further?
Mr Brendan Bracken
, Paddington North
Certainly.
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.
