– in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 23 Mawrth 1964.
Mr Archibald Manuel
, Central Ayrshire
12:00,
23 Mawrth 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has had from the three Scandinavian Governments regarding S.A.S. flights to be allowed through Prestwick Airport; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Peter Thomas
, Conway
The Ambassadors of Norway, Denmark and Sweden called on my right hon. Friend on 9th March to urge that discussions on the Scandinavian Airlines System's traffic rights at Prestwick should be reopened. He is at present considering these representations in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation.
Mr Archibald Manuel
, Central Ayrshire
The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the great concern in Scotland and among all Scottish Members of Parliament. Is he aware that Prestwick Airport is the second International Airport of the United Kingdom and that any action that reduces the frequency or the numbers of international flights through Prestwick, or debars any airline because of imposed conditions from using Prestwick, decreases the stature and lowers the prestige of Prestwick? May I take it that the Foreign Secretary is prepared to do everything he can to make certain that we hold S.A.S. flights through Prestwick?
Mr Peter Thomas
, Conway
I can assure the hon. Member that Her Majesty's Government are taking full account of all the matters he mentioned in deciding what action should be taken about S.A.S. services.
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.
