Oral Answers to Questions — Post Office – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 March 1947.
Sir Arthur Harvey
, Macclesfield
12:00,
19 March 1947
asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what quantity of air mail was carried by British and U.S. aircraft, respectively, from this country to North America during 1946.
Mr Wilfrid Burke
, Burnley
The weights of British mails carried from this country to North America during 1946 by British and U.S. aircraft were 342,738 lbs. and 26,884 lbs. respectively. In addition 102,011 lbs. of British mails were carried by Canadian aircraft. The comparable figures of foreign transit mails re-forwarded from this country were: British aircraft 12,702 lbs., U.S. aircraft 189,071 lbs., Canadian aircraft 11,620 lbs.
Sir Arthur Harvey
, Macclesfield
While appreciating the shortage of British aircraft, may I ask the Minister what steps he is taking to see that this country gets its share of this valuable freight on the Atlantic service?
Mr Wilfrid Burke
, Burnley
We use British aircraft right up to total capacity at present and only use other aircraft when necessary.
Sir Arthur Harvey
, Macclesfield
Will the Minister give an assurance that, when we get the aircraft, we shall be able to carry our fair share of the load?
Mr Wilfrid Burke
, Burnley
Yes, Sir. We always take British aircraft first, up to their available capacity.
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.
