Oral Answers to Questions — Government Departments. – in the House of Commons at on 30 November 1927.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
asked the Minister of Labour whether overtime is being worked at present in any of the Departments under his control; and, if so, to what extent?
Sir Henry Betterton
, Rushcliffe
In the period of 10 weeks ending 21st November, 1927, the average amount of overtime worked weekly by officers in the Employment Exchange service was 4,165 hours and the average number of such officers in post during the period was 9,063. No overtime was worked at the Kew Office and at the other offices of the Department overtime was worked in a few isolated cases only.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
In view of the great amount of unemployment, would it not be possible to get unemployed men to do this work?
Sir Henry Betterton
, Rushcliffe
The question relates to the general policy of the Department, and it is the policy of the Department not to permit overtime wherever it can be avoided. Where there is a large number of Exchanges, such as we have, and where the work fluctuates, it is sometimes un avoidable, but in a case like Kew where the whole of the work is collected in one place, no overtime is worked at all.
Mr Wilfred Paling
, Doncaster
Is this overtime being worked in order to provide schemes similar to those mentioned in the reply to the last question?
Mr Walter Baker
, Bristol East
asked the Minister of Labour the number of temporary officers in the employ of his Department who are under notice of dismissal; and what steps have been taken in consultation with other Government Departments in the endeavour to retain the services of these men?
Sir Henry Betterton
, Rushcliffe
Eighty five temporary officers (76 men and nine women) in the employ of the Ministry of Labour are under notice of termination of appointment. Of these, 74 are in the Employment Exchange service in which staff requirements are largely dependent upon the fluctuations in the numbers of unemployed workpeople being dealt with at the various Employment Exchanges. Particulars of men about to be discharged are in every case submitted to the Joint Substitution Board with a view to their consideration for any vacancies that may exist or arise in other Government Departments.
Mr Walter Baker
, Bristol East
Will the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of suspending these notices, in view of the prospect that the number of unemployed persons will rapidly increase?
Sir Henry Betterton
, Rushcliffe
No, Sir; I do not contemplate that possibility.
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.
