Oral Answers to Questions — Housing. – in the House of Commons at on 2 May 1923.
Mr Frederick Linfield
, Mid Bedfordshire
asked the Minister of Health whether the interest demanded by the Public Works Loan Board when lending to public utility societies and others for constructing houses in the future is still 5½ per cent.; and if he has considered the advisability, in view of the necessity for encouraging house construction on economical lines, of arranging that the interest charge shall be reduced to the lowest limit at which the Government itself can borrow?
Major Sir Archibald Boyd-Carpenter
, Bradford North
I have been asked to reply. The hon. Member will find a full statement of the present rates for advances from the Local Loans Fund in yesterday's "Gazette." These rates which have been recently reduced are the lowest at which loans can be made without loss to the fund. The main rate is 4¾ per cent.
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.
