Oral Answers to Questions — Transport – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 January 1970.
Mr Gwilym Roberts
, Bedfordshire South
12:00,
27 January 1970
asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to British Railways to relay early morning and tea-time radio programmes, including news bulletins and other items of interest, to commuter passengers travelling in and out of London and other major cities.
Mr Albert Murray
, Gravesend
No, Sir.
Mr Gwilym Roberts
, Bedfordshire South
Is my hon. Friend aware that if public transport is to flourish it must get away from the cattle truck era as quickly as possible? Is he further aware that broadcasts of this type would not need to be universal in that one could have broadcast and non-broadcast carriages?
Mr Albert Murray
, Gravesend
This is a matter for the day-to-day management of British Rail. I should have thought, however, that the main concern of commuters was getting to and from their destinations as quickly as possible in the maximum comfort without necessarily having to listen to broadcasts which, after all, might be telling them about faster forms of travel.
Mr Fred Blackburn
, Stalybridge and Hyde
I thank my hon. Friend for his comprehensive answer to the original Question. Is he aware, as I am sure he is, that some people like at times to be quiet?
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.
