Oral Answers to Questions — Public Building and Works – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 11 Chwefror 1964.
Mr Simon Digby
, West Dorset
12:00,
11 Chwefror 1964
asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what are his intentions for the future use of the Board Room at the Admiralty.
Mr Geoffrey Rippon
, Norwich South
It is proposed that the Board Room should remain in use for conference purposes in the Admiralty Building with which it is historically associated.
Mr Simon Digby
, West Dorset
Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that this very attractive room has many historic associations and that it would be a pity if an appropriate use could not be found for it? I am not sure that low-level conferences will necessarily be the right answer. Does my right hon. Friend mean that the new Admiralty Board will meet there, or that the Defence Council will meet there?
Mr Geoffrey Rippon
, Norwich South
The Admiralty will continue in occupation for some years, and if in time an agreeable proposal is made for transferring this Board Room we shall certainly consider it.
Mr Julian Snow
, Lichfield and Tamworth
Is the Minister aware that the sentiments expressed by the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby) will be echoed by many of my hon. Friends? This is an historically most interesting and architecturally extremely valuable room and it must not be allowed to degenerate into an ordinary conference room. Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that the accoutrements of this room, including the wind indicator, will be retained as an historic memento?
Mr Geoffrey Rippon
, Norwich South
I am not sure what is meant by the reference to the room degenerating into an ordinary conference room. Apart from that, I appreciate that this is a room of very great historic interest. I am in close touch with my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty to ensure that we make the best arrangements possible in all the circumstances.
Commander Sir Peter Agnew
, Worcestershire South
As it may well be that the tenure by the Navy Board, as we shall have to call the Admiralty after 1st April, may be only temporary, will my right hon. Friend consider transferring this historic room to a worthy permanent site, such as within the Royal Naval College at Greenwich, so greatly associated with the Royal Navy?
Mr Geoffrey Rippon
, Norwich South
I am certainly prepared to consider that and any other suggestion.
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.
