Oral Answers to Questions — Education – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 22 January 1959.
Mr John Biggs-Davison
, Chigwell
12:00,
22 January 1959
asked the Minister of Education what measures are contemplated to encourage the celebration of Commonwealth Day in all colleges and schools.
Sir Isaac Pitman
, Bath
asked the Minister of Education in view of the concurrence which the Prime Minister has obtained from other Commonwealth countries to the proposition that 24th May be generally known and celebrated as Commonwealth Day, what plans he has to announce for encouraging the celebration of that day within the schools of the United Kingdom and the Colonies.
Sir Edward Boyle
, Birmingham Handsworth
I am sure the schools and colleges will welcome the change. Many of them will wish to celebrate Commonwealth Day, and my right hon. Friend thinks the form these celebrations should take is best left to them and to local education authorities. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies that he has informed Colonial Governments of the attention being given to these matters in the United Kingdom and has asked them to let him know what is decided in each territory.
Mr John Biggs-Davison
, Chigwell
Will encouragement be given to the local education and other authorities concerned in the proper keeping of this family day? Has any consideration been given to the possibility of its being made a school holiday or half-holiday?
Sir Edward Boyle
, Birmingham Handsworth
That last matter, in particular, is one which must be left to local education authorities themselves. We recognise the importance of the due observance of this day in the schools, but the exact form that that observance takes is something for decision by local bodies.
Mr Michael Maitland Stewart
, Fulham
Is it not gratifying to see the Government in this respect following the lead given by the London County Council some twenty years ago?
Sir Edward Boyle
, Birmingham Handsworth
I would rather not get embroiled now in that sort of dispute.
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.
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.
