Oral Answers to Questions — Naval and Military Pensions and Grants. – in the House of Commons at on 31 July 1923.
Mr. W. JENKINS:
71.asked the Minister of Pensions if he contemplates vacating the hospital at Penrhiewtyn, Neath; whether he is aware that there is considerable resentment in the area at the idea of its being removed; will he state the number of wounded ex-service men now at the hospital, the number attending there for treatment, and the extent of the area it covers; and, before any step is taken, will he cause full inquiries to be made and give an opportunity to representatives of the wounded to be heard?
Hon. Charles Craig
, Antrim
It is proposed to vacate the hospital premises at Neath in the autumn when a more suitable institution at Chepstow will be available. My right hon. Friend is not aware of any objection to this change; on the contrary he has reason to believe that the ex-service men appreciate that it is to their advantage, in view of the better facilities for treatment which the new instituion will afford. There are a present 169 inpatients and 78 out-patients at Neath Hospital.
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.
