Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Information. – in the House of Commons am ar 19 Rhagfyr 1941.
Sir Percy Hurd
, Devizes
asked the Minister of Information whether he is taking steps to revise the script of the series of plays on the life of Jesus, which are announced to be broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation from 21st December, in the children's hour, so as to avoid offence to Christian feeling?
Mr Ernest Thurtle
, Shoreditch
No, Sir. It is not the function of my right hon. Friend to exercise jurisdiction over religious plays by the B.B.C., but he has shown the hon Member's Question to the B.B.C., and they have referred the plays once more to their Religious Committee which meets under the chairmanship of the Bishop of Winchester and contains representatives of the principal Churches in this country.
Sir Percy Hurd
, Devizes
Are any steps being taken by the B.B.C. to prevent broadcasts, especially in the children's hour, that are offensive to Christian people?
Mr Ernest Thurtle
, Shoreditch
No doubt the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that this is a delicate question of good taste. I think the committee referred to ought to be able to give competent advice on the subject.
Mr William Gallacher
, Fife Western
Could not the Parliamentary Secretary, who is an expert on this subject, look through the manuscript?
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.
