A service from mySociety A service from mySociety

TheyWorkForYou

Dewislen

Balloon Barrage.

Oral Answers to Questions — National Service. – in the House of Commons am ar 14 Mehefin 1939.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Walter Green Mr Walter Green , Deptford

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that in the recent call up of Territorials for balloon barrage service only a few days' notice was given; and, in view of the inconvenience caused to both the Territorial and his employer, will longer notice in future be given?

Captain Balfour:

In accordance with the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on16th May, formal calling up notices for the anti-aircraft units of the Territorial Army and for the balloon barrage units of the Auxiliary Air Force were issued as soon as the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Bill became law. In view of defence needs longer formal notice than 16 days was not practicable in this instance. It is intended whenever possible to give longer notice in future. In any individual case of special difficulty in which a replacement could be arranged the calling up date was deferred.

Secretary of 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.

Minister

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.