In the Second World War Hughes was Dundee's civil defense controller until 1943, when he joined the armed forces.
[3][4] Hughes resigned as councillor in March 1961, as he felt that 'he could not guarantee to be a fully effective member' of the body following his appointment to the House of Lords.
[6] Hughes chaired both the Glenrothes and East Kilbride development corporations, and was also chairman of a royal commission on reforming Scottish legal services.
[1] After leaving ministerial office he remained an active peer and was noted for his attacks on the Thatcher and Major governments, on issues such as the introduction of the Poll Tax in Scotland, and Conservative claims about the possible economic impact of Scottish home rule.
[7] His honours included the OBE in 1942, raised to a CBE in 1956,[8] receiving the Légion d'honneur (Chevalier) in 1958 and becoming a Privy Counsellor in 1970.