Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Works – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 March 1958.
Sir Hamilton Kerr
, Cambridge
12:00,
4 March 1958
asked the Minister of Works whether he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding the erection of a statue to Sir Walter Raleigh in London in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Mr Arthur Molson
, High Peak
Yes, Sir. A bronze statue of Sir Walter Raleigh is to be erected in front of the National Gallery in the position at present occupied by the statue of James II which will be moved to the lawn in front of the Foreign Office facing St. James's Park.
The statue of Raleigh is being provided by a group which has commissioned Mr. William McMillan as the sculptor. I am sure the House will wish to join me in paying tribute to the public spirit of this group for its imaginative gift.
Sir Hamilton Kerr
, Cambridge
Is my right hon. Friend aware that his announcement will cause the greatest pleasure, both in Virginia and in this country?
Mr Emrys Hughes
, South Ayrshire
Is the Minister aware that the Stuarts have already been insulted enough by this Government? Is this another?
Colonel Sir Alan Gomme-Duncan
, Perth and East Perthshire
Is my right hon. Friend aware that this man Raleigh introduced the abominable habit of tobacco-smoking into this country? Would it not be much better to erect a statue of James VI and I, who cut his head off?
Mr Arthur Molson
, High Peak
As a non-smoker, I have a good deal of sympathy with what my hon. and gallant Friend has said, but Raleigh was a most interesting character and also, I believe, he introduced the potato.
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.
