BRITISH CABINET CHANGES

Chronicle (Levin), 7 October 1946, Page 5

BRITISH CABINET CHANGES

BIG DEFENCE JOB FOR MR. ALEXANDER Received Sundav, 7 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 4. No. 10 Downing Street announces the following Ministerial ckanges: — Resignations. — Mr. L. L. Lawson, Secretary for War; Lord Stansgate, Secretary for Air; Lord Winster, Minister of Conimercial Aviation. New appoiutiuentK. — Minister witliout portfolio, Mr. A. V. Alexander, who will be appointed Minister of Defenee when the Ministry is formed; Colonies, Mr. Creech Jones; Admiralty, Mr. G. H. Hall; Secretary for AVar, Mr. F. J. Bellenger; Secretary for Air, Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker; Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Nathan; Minister of State, Sir Hector McNeill; Parliamentary UnderSecretary to the Foreign Office, Major C. P. Mayhew; Parliamentary Secretary to the Colonial Office, Mr. Jvor Tliomas; Parliamentary Secretary lo the War Office, Lord Pakonham; Finaneial Sec retary at the War Office, Air. ,T. Freeman; Parliamentary Seerolary for National Insurance, Mr. T. Sleele; Parlimentarv Secretary for Civil Aviation, Mr. G. S. Lindgren. The Iving has conferred a ATiscoun1y on "Mr. G. H. Hall and Privy Councillorship on Mr. Creech .Tones, Mr. Bellpnger, Lord Nathan, and Sir Hector McNeill. At the Prime Minister 's reqnest, Lord Stansgate is to continue as Mr. Bevin's deputy unt.il Ihe completion of the Hgyptian negotiations. Mr. Creech Jonos will he a Cabinet member. The designation of Mr. Alexander as Minister of Defenee, is the dominating feature of the ilrst major reconstruction which Mr. Attlee has made since the Government took office, says the Dailv Mail. Arr. Alexander will be charged with the tusk of securing a unilied defenee policy and with the vast responsihilities for national defenee as a whoie. The Prime Minister is retaining the supreme responsibilitv but Mr. Alexander is his right hand man. It m imderstood a Bill will be presented soon after Parliament resumes on October o. The decision that Service Ministers will no longer be Alembers of Cabinet, represents a reversion to the wartime practice when niany Alinisters hau Cabinet rank without actually bemg Members of Cabinet. Mr. Attlee has kept his promise to the Partv that he would review the Government periodically in order to givc younger backbenclier.s an opportunity. Mr. Lawson, who has been ill, told the Prime Minister last summer he wouio like to retire when the House rose for the recess.