Oral Answers to Questions — Post Office. – in the House of Commons at on 2 May 1923.
Colonel Sir Arthur Holbrook
, Basingstoke
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether injury is being caused to vegetation in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, by the emission of black smoke from factory shafts in Brentford; and, if so, whether he will take legal steps to abate the nuisance similar to those successfully taken by the First Commissioner of Works in 1902, when Brentford smoke was shown to be causing serious injury to plant-life in the Royal Botanic Gardens?
Sir Harry Barnston
, Eddisbury
My right hon. Friend's attention has been called to the injury being caused by smoke to vegetation in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the matter is at present receiving his careful consideration.
Lieut-Colonel Charles Howard-Bury
, Wolverhampton Bilston
In view of the pleasure that the gardens give to hundreds of thousands of people, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman take immediate and definite steps to see that the amenities of the gardens are preserved?
Sir Harry Barnston
, Eddisbury
I will convey that to my right hon. Friend.
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.
