Oral Answers to Questions — National War Effort – in the House of Commons at on 25 March 1943.
Mr Oliver Locker-Lampson
, Birmingham Handsworth
asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the world-wide importance of the service of the British Broadcasting Corporation, he will cease calling up men or women working at the British Broadcasting Corporation and call up all men and women working on the land who can be replaced by prisoners of war?
Mr Ernest Bevin
, Wandsworth Central
No. Sir. Adequate arrangements exist for the retention of essential staff by the British Broadcasting Corporation, and workers who can be spared from agriculture are called up.
Mr Oliver Locker-Lampson
, Birmingham Handsworth
May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the time has not come to call up a few more farmers to fight for England?
Mr Tom Driberg
, Maldon
Is it not essential to leave on the land as many skilled agricultural workers as possible?
Mr Oliver Locker-Lampson
, Birmingham Handsworth
Could the right hon. Gentleman not replace them by Italian prisoners?
Mr Herbert Williams
, Croydon South
Does the right hon. Gentleman think the B.B.C. can really live by eating their own words?
Mr Ernest Bevin
, Wandsworth Central
I have no doubt that my hon. Friend is experimenting.
Mr Oliver Locker-Lampson
, Birmingham Handsworth
asked the Minister of Labour whether he will return to the British Broadcasting Corporation Mr. Bruce Belfrage and Mr. Alvar Liddell, in view of the importance to the national war effort of their radio services?
Mr Ernest Bevin
, Wandsworth Central
Both these men are in the Forces, and my hon. and gallant Friend should address his request in the first instance to the Service Ministers concerned.
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.
