Oral Answers to Questions — British Army – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 15 Gorffennaf 1947.
Mr Reginald Sorensen
, Leyton West
12:00,
15 Gorffennaf 1947
asked the Secretary of State for War the reason for the detention or imprisonment of Haji Farah Omer at Karasam Island, Aden Colony; and whether he has considered the representations made by the League of Somali People on behalf of this man.
Mr John Freeman
, Watford
During the occupation of British Somaliland, Haji Farah Omer was accorded special privileges by the enemy and broadcast anti-British propaganda. From his activities he was known to the British military authorities as an enemy agent, and on the re-occupation of the Protectorate by our Forces he was detained in the interests of public safety and defence. He was released in 1945 and is now at liberty in Aden.
Mr Reginald Sorensen
, Leyton West
Can the Minister answer the latter part of the Question?
Mr John Freeman
, Watford
On that point I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given recently, although I have not the date with me, to my hon. Friend the Member for East Harrow (Mr. Skinnard).
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.
