Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 December 1957.
Miss Peggy Herbison
, Lanarkshire North
12:00,
10 December 1957
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now accede to the request of the Lanark County Council to have installation of street lighting at Dewshill, Salsburgh, accepted for contribution purposes.
Hon. John Maclay
, Renfrewshire West
I do not think that the scheme proposed by the county council would add to the safety of the road, but I should be prepared to consider a scheme which would provide group A standard of lighting between Dewshill and either of the existing installations at Harthill or Salsburgh.
Miss Peggy Herbison
, Lanarkshire North
In thanking the Minister for that reply, may I express the hope that he will consider very carefully the need for lighting in this area? Is he aware that this is now the black spot between Salsburgh and Harthill, which was considered to be the most dangerous road in the whole of Scotland? Will the right hon. Gentleman make certain that when the local authority does apply for this new type of grant, it will be given it?
Hon. John Maclay
, Renfrewshire West
As I said, I will certainly consider it; but it is a hypothetical matter until I receive the request. I know this stretch of road personally and I can understand the hon. Lady's concern about it.
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.
