Oral Answers to Questions — British Army – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 13 May 1947.
Mr Hugh Fraser
, Stone
12:00,
13 May 1947
asked the Secretary of State for War whether in view of the immediate needs of both the Regular and Territorial Armies, he has any statement To make on training areas.
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
I am not at present in a position to add anything to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 25th February.
Mr Hugh Fraser
, Stone
Is not the Minister aware of the pressure, both by village communities and military authorities, that some definite decision should be made on this subject? It was promised on 4th February. Surely it is time that a decision was made?
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
Close and detailed consideration has been given to all the areas in the country, and I hope that the time is not far distant when a statement will be made.
Mr Daniel Lipson
, Cheltenham
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the intention to requisition land only for Territorial units?
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
That is part of the question to which, I hope, we shall give an answer very soon.
Viscount Hinchingbrooke
, Dorset Southern
Is the Minister aware that the decision to set up these local public inquiries was taken four months ago? What is the reason for the delay? Why are these inquiries not being constituted now?
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
Because His Majesty's Government wish to present a total picture to the House before going into details which will probably necessitate local inquiries.
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.
