Oral Answers to Questions — Southern Rhodesia – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 30 Ionawr 1964.
Mr Fenner Brockway
, Eton and Slough
12:00,
30 Ionawr 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what decisions were reached in the official discussions with Mr. Winston Field, Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, regarding the future of that territory.
Mr Duncan Sandys
, Wandsworth Streatham
My talks with Mr. Winston Field were confidential.
Mr Fenner Brockway
, Eton and Slough
I appreciate that, but is it not desirable that as a result of these discussions the Government should now declare their intention in relation to Southern Rhodesia? Is there not great danger in allowing the situation to drift on? Is it not important that we should make clear that sovereignty for Southern Rhodesia will not be recognised until a Majority of the population has the right to control the Parliament and the Government?
Mr Duncan Sandys
, Wandsworth Streatham
I will make a statement when I have something more to say.
Sir Harwood Harrison
, Eye
Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia is held in great regard by many people in that country for his common sense and sagacity? Will my right hon. Friend do everything he can to help him in this difficult matter?
Mr Duncan Sandys
, Wandsworth Streatham
As I have said, I have been having talks with the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia. This is obviously a most difficult and delicate subject, and I think that until any conclusion is reached it is better that I should not make partial statements about these matters.
Mr Arthur Bottomley
, Middlesbrough East
Can the Secretary of State give an assurance that, as the result of these discussions, no departure has been made from Government policy already stated in the House?
Mr Duncan Sandys
, Wandsworth Streatham
There has been no change.
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.
The term "majority" is used in two ways in Parliament. Firstly a Government cannot operate effectively unless it can command a majority in the House of Commons - a majority means winning more than 50% of the votes in a division. Should a Government fail to hold the confidence of the House, it has to hold a General Election. Secondly the term can also be used in an election, where it refers to the margin which the candidate with the most votes has over the candidate coming second. To win a seat a candidate need only have a majority of 1.
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.
