Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Supply – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 1 February 1954.
Mr Frank Beswick
, Uxbridge
12:00,
1 February 1954
asked the Minister of Supply what research is now being carried out, or is contemplated, in piloted super sonic flight.
Mr Duncan Sandys
, Wandsworth Streatham
A considerable programme of research into the problems of piloted supersonic flight is being undertaken and a number of different types of supersonic Service aircraft are in course of development. I am not, of course, free to give details.
Mr Frank Beswick
, Uxbridge
Are we now engaged upon research into piloted supersonic aircraft?
Mr Duncan Sandys
, Wandsworth Streatham
Certainly. That is what the Question was about.
Mr Frank Beswick
, Uxbridge
Will the Minister make it clear: are we now engaged in research on piloted supersonic aircraft?
Mr Duncan Sandys
, Wandsworth Streatham
Yes. That is what I said.
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.
