Dock Workers.

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Unemployment. – in the House of Commons at on 12 March 1924.

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Photo of Commander Hon. Joseph Kenworthy Commander Hon. Joseph Kenworthy , Kingston upon Hull Central

28.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt by dock workers at Hull and other ports at having to sign, as unemployed, twice instead of once daily; if he is aware that, because he must sign between the hours of 9 and 10 in the morning and between two and three in the afternoon, many a man may lose a tidal job, or, on the other hand, because he has waited for such a job or gone in search of it from one dock to another, he may miss the opportunity for signing, and so forfeit his benefit; if he is aware that, on account of the inconvenience involved, there are many hardworking men who never sign on as un employed; and whether he will consider reverting to the practice of signing only once daily and of stiffening up the penalty for men detected in fraud, or take other steps to remove this grievance?

Minister

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.