Oral Answers to Questions — Naval and Military Pensions and Grants. – in the House of Commons at on 8 May 1924.
Mr Ernest Brown
, Rugby
asked the Minister of Pensions what changes are proposed in the relations between the Ministry and the areas in the country?
Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSON:
8.asked the Minister of Pensions how soon he will set up his new scheme of Regional Advisory Committees, and what will be their powers and constitution?
Mr. ROBERTS:
While no change is at present contemplated in the existing procedure between the headquarters of the Ministry and the local offices, I am making arrangements for bringing War Pensions Committees into closer relationship with the Ministry by providing for an improved system of representation for Committees, on Advisory Councils and of representation, in turn, of Advisory Councils on the Central Advisory Committee. I am sending my hon. Friends copies of a circular recently issued regarding the proposed changes—I may add that I am taking steps to obtain the views of War Pensions Committees before the powers and constitution of the new Councils are finally settled.
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.
