Oral Answers to Questions — Housing. – in the House of Commons at on 2 May 1923.
Mr. DOYLE:
73.asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been built by the Newburn (Northumberland) Urban District Council; how long these houses have been completed; and why they remain unoccupied?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:
500 houses have been built by the Urban District Council in question. Of this number 232 were completed ready for occupation by August, 192[...], and were, I understand, let to tenants. The remaining houses were completed early in November, but owing to certain defects could not be let for occupation. Arrangements were made to remedy the defects, and I understand that it is estimated that the whole of the houses will be occupied at an early date.
Mr. DOYLE:
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reason why these houses are not occupied is because the doors cannot be opened; and that the reason the doors cannot be opened is because the doors are jammed; and the reason the doors are jammed is because they have been made of new wood imported from Sweden and once the doors are closed they cannot be opened?
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
The hon. Member is giving an answer to his own question.
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.
