Oral Answers to Questions — West Indies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 March 1947.
Mr Hector Hughes
, Aberdeen North
12:00,
12 March 1947
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take steps to establish a public company in Trinidad to develop the manufacturing industries there.
Mr Arthur Jones
, Shipley
The Government of Trinidad attaches importance to the development of manufacturing industries, and a Standing Committee sits regularly to hear and report to the Government on applications for assistance. The Government have not so far thought it necessary to take action on the lines suggested by my hon. and learned Friend, though such a proposal is not excluded from consideration. I am informed, however, that a public company has been formed by local business men, to be known as the Caribbean Development Company Limited, which proposes to erect factories for the manufacture among other things of paper, glass, plywood, beer, nails and caustic soda.
Mr Hector Hughes
, Aberdeen North
Can the Minister tell us if any report will be made to this House with regard to the inauguration of these industries?
Mr Arthur Jones
, Shipley
Certainly, Sir, I am awaiting the report now, and it will include a section on industry in Trinidad.
Mr Hector Hughes
, Aberdeen North
Will it be published as a white paper?
Mr Arthur Jones
, Shipley
It will be made available to the House.
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.
In a normal session there are up to ten standing committees on bills. Each has a chair and from 16 to 50 members. Standing committee members on bills are appointed afresh for each new bill by the Committee of Selection which is required to take account of the composition of the House of Commons (ie. party proportions) as well as the qualification of members to be nominated. The committees are chaired by a member of the Chairmen's Panel (whose members are appointed by the Speaker). In standing committees the Chairman has much the same function as the Speaker in the House of Commons. Like the Speaker, a chairman votes only in the event of a tie, and then usually in accordance with precedent. The committees consider each bill clause by clause and may make amendments. There are no standing committees in the House of Lords.
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 document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
