Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Aviation – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 10 Rhagfyr 1947.
Sir Allan Noble
, Chelsea
12:00,
10 Rhagfyr 1947
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what meetings he has had during 1947 with the committee of foreign airlines' representatives in the United Kingdom.
Mr George Lindgren
, Wellingborough
None, Sir.
Sir Allan Noble
, Chelsea
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say why he and the Minister did not take the opportunity of such a meeting which was afforded by the luncheon at the Savoy Hotel recently?
Mr George Lindgren
, Wellingborough
Because I am a trade unionist, and I hope I shall always remember that fact.
Sir Godfrey Nicholson
, Farnham
Is not the hon. Member one of His Majesty's Ministers?
Mr George Lindgren
, Wellingborough
Yes, Sir, and there is no conflict between the two.
Viscount Turnour
, Horsham
In order to give greater elucidation to the House, will the Parliamentary Secretary state which he places first—his duty as one of His Majesty's Ministers, or his duty as a lesser trade unionist?
Mr George Lindgren
, Wellingborough
That conflict of interest never arises.
Flight Lieut Wavell Wakefield
, St Marylebone
In view of the fact that the T.U.C. did not recognise this strike, how comes it that the Minister refused to attend?
Mr George Lindgren
, Wellingborough
I am grateful to the hon. Member for that supplementary question, which enables me to say that the trade union Congress was not involved in my decision in any shape or form; and they took no part by giving advice, instructions, or any contact in any way.
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.
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