Oral Answers to Questions — India – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 23 August 1945.
Mr Alexander Sloan
, South Ayrshire
12:00,
23 August 1945
asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the prohibition in respect of the publication of the daily newspaper, "National Herald," will now be withdrawn, the printing plant restored, and compensation for damage and loss made to the owners.
Mr Arthur Henderson
, Kingswinford
This is a matter for the authorities in India; but I am ascertaining the facts from them and will inform the hon. Member of the result.
Mr Alexander Sloan
, South Ayrshire
Will the Minister impress upon the Government of India that now the war is over and there is no danger in regard to security, it is high time a fair measure of freedom was extended to India?
Mr Arthur Henderson
, Kingswinford
I think my hon. Friend may take it that the Government of India will take all relevant considerations into account.
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.
