– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 9 December 1969.
Mr Arthur Davidson
, Accrington
12:00,
9 December 1969
asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his most recent meeting with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.
Mr Harold Wilson
, Huyton
I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend on 18th November.—[Vol. 791, c. 1112–14.]
Mr Arthur Davidson
, Accrington
In his discussions with the Ulster Prime Minister, did my right hon. Friend make it quite clear that if the Ulster Defence Regiment is to serve any useful purpose in maintaining law and order the Catholic population in Northern Ireland must have sufficient confidence in the way it is run as to want to join it and serve in it; and that if it is merely to be the discredited B Specials under another name it would be utterly unacceptable to the House?
Mr Harold Wilson
, Huyton
I do not think that the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland is in any doubt about our feelings on the question. They have been fully put to him by my right hon. Friends who have been dealing with the matter. And, of course, the Northern Ireland Government will be aware of the statements made by my right hon. Friends and by my hon. Friend the Minister of Defence for Administration during the passage of the Bill through the House.
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.
