Oral Answers to Questions — Transport. – in the House of Commons at on 6 December 1920.
Captain TUDOR-REES:
72.asked the Minister of Transport what is the exact connection between his Ministry and the railway companies; and whether any control is exercised by him over the railways?
Sir Eric Geddes
, Cambridge
My powers of control over the railways are contained in the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, to which I would refer the hon. and gallant Member.
Mr Noel Billing
, Hertford
If the right hon. Gentleman has no control over the railways, why should he take credit for all the improvements?
Sir Eric Geddes
, Cambridge
I said that my powers were all in the Act of 1919.
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.
