Oral Answers to Questions — British Army – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 20 Mai 1947.
Mr David Jones
, Hartlepools, The
12:00,
20 Mai 1947
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the discontent which arises from the fact that men in this country on leave with only five or six weeks more to serve in the army are being sent back to Palestine; that in some cases, after a journey which normally takes nine days, the men find themselves with less than four weeks to serve before release date; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent men with such short remaining service from being sent overseas.
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
No, Sir, I am not aware that this is happening. Soldiers are not normally granted leave to the United Kingdom from Palestine unless they will have at least four months' service to complete after their return from leave.
Mr David Jones
, Hartlepools, The
Is the Minister aware that last week I received a letter from his Department seeking to justify the return of men with five weeks more to serve in Palestine, and indicating that the journey took only nine days, and that they would have at least four weeks more to serve after arrival in Palestine?
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
If that is so, it must be a rare exception, because it conflicts with the answer I have just given.
Mr David Jones
, Hartlepools, The
If I submit the letter to my right hon. Friend, will he give me the correct information?
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
I am always willing to give correct information.
Mr Jon Rankin
, Glasgow Tradeston
Is it not the case that men stationed in Palestine and proceeding on leave must first sign a document that they will return to Palestine at the end of their leave?
Mr Frederick Bellenger
, Bassetlaw
I do not know about that, but I should not think that it was unreasonable.
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.
