Oral Answers to Questions — Overseas Information Services – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 7 Mai 1964.
Mr Christopher Mayhew
, Woolwich East
12:00,
7 Mai 1964
asked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation what facilities exist for the technical training of information officers in Commonwealth and foreign countries.
Mr Robert Carr
, Mitcham
The Central Office of Information has held courses for information officers of the Foreign Service and Commonwealth Relations Service since January, 1961. These courses include technical training in all information media and outlets currently used by our overseas missions.
Mr Christopher Mayhew
, Woolwich East
I am grateful for that reply, but will the Minister bear in mind that what the Plowden Committee recommended was that all information officers in future shall be career diplomats, and that this involves an extension of the training of such people?
Mr Robert Carr
, Mitcham
I recognise that that Plow-den recommendation will almost certainly increase the need for training, but since 1961 all new information officers have been given training before going to posts. I agree that the need may well increase.
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.
