A service from mySociety A service from mySociety

TheyWorkForYou

Menu

Italians

Oral Answers to Questions — Employment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 March 1947.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr William Shepherd Mr William Shepherd , Bucklow 12:00, 4 March 1947

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now prepared to grant permits to Italians to undertake agricultural and mining work, where they desire to return to this country for the purpose of marrying English women.

Photo of Mr Ness Edwards Mr Ness Edwards , Caerphilly

Subject to the usual safeguards, sympathetic consideration will be given to individual cases.

Photo of Mr William Shepherd Mr William Shepherd , Bucklow

Does the hon. Gentleman's answer indicate a change of policy? Are we to take it that, henceforth, cases can be submitted with a reasonable prospect of success?

Photo of Mr Ness Edwards Mr Ness Edwards , Caerphilly

I do not think that I can do more than reiterate what I have said in the answer. Sympathetic consideration will be given to individual cases, and in that sense it represents a widening of the door.

Photo of Mr Ernest Marples Mr Ernest Marples , Wallasey

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of a case which I recently sent to him, of an English girl who had a child by an Italian, that the Italian wished to return to this country to work as an agricultural labourer, and to marry the girl, but was not given permission by his Department?

Photo of Mr Ness Edwards Mr Ness Edwards , Caerphilly

I should be obliged if the hon. Gentleman would refer that case to my Department again.

Minister

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.