Oral Answers to Questions — Germany – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 3 Chwefror 1964.
Mr John Stonehouse
, Wednesbury
12:00,
3 Chwefror 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
I would refer the hon. Member to the joint communique issued on 16th January at the end of the visit of Chancellor Erhard and Dr. Schroeder to this country.
Mr John Stonehouse
, Wednesbury
Is not the Foreign Secretary aware that that was a purely formal statement? Is it not unfortunate that there has been a fuller report on German television than that provided to this House? Is the Foreign Secretary aware of the widespread concern that an understanding was reached with Dr. Erhard and Herr Schroeder that a Conservative Administration would resume negotiations to join the European Economic Community on the orginal terms? In view of the concern which exists, will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that that did not take place?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
Yes, Sir. I am very ready to make perfectly clear that that did not take place.
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.
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