Oral Answers to Questions — Aden – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 June 1964.
Mr Michael Foot
, Ebbw Vale
12:00,
16 June 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what restrictions are imposed on the grant of licences to publish a newspaper in Aden; and why such a licensing system is required.
Mr Nigel Fisher
, Surbiton
The grant of licences is at the discretion of the Chief Minister of Aden State. He has explained that among the factors he takes into account when considering applications are the financial, technical and literary capabilities of applicants, the supply and demand for publications in Aden and considerations of security.
Mr Michael Foot
, Ebbw Vale
After all that rigmarole, will the hon. Gentleman tell us why the People's Socialist Party in Aden is not allowed to publish a newspaper?
Mr Nigel Fisher
, Surbiton
I understand that the application of that party to do so is at present under consideration by the Aden Government.
Mr Emrys Hughes
, South Ayrshire
Will the hon. Gentleman tell us what qualification the Government have for judging the literary capabilities of the editors of a Socialist paper?
Mr Nigel Fisher
, Surbiton
That is not a question for me. It is a question for the Chief Minister of Aden State.
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.
