Oral Answers to Questions — Unemployment. – in the House of Commons at on 25 February 1930.
Lieut-Colonel Hon. Cuthbert James
, Bromley
asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has received the Report upon colonisation and employment opportunities in British Columbia which, as a result of his visit to Canada, he was to receive from the Premier of British Columbia; and whether he proposes to publish this Report now or when received?
Lieut-Colonel Hon. Cuthbert James
, Bromley
May I have an answer to the last part of the question, as to whether the right hon. Gentleman proposes to publish the Report?
Mr Arthur Steel-Maitland
, Tamworth
Has the Lord Privy Seal any information as to the placing of the contract for five ships for the Canadian trade?
Mr. THOMAS:
I informed the House, when I was last questioned, that I had received a letter from the builder, who informed me that they had reached the stage of completing a final contract. The right hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that since that—in fact, this morning—I have received the first definite information of an order for 40,000 tons of coal to be shipped immediately from this country when the St. Lawrence is open. That is soft coal, in addition to the hard coal.
Mr Arthur Steel-Maitland
, Tamworth
Would the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to reply to my question, which was as to whether the contract for these ships had been placed?
Mr. THOMAS:
I have informed the right hon. Gentleman precisely as to the position, and I have nothing to add. The right hon. Gentleman, I think, was not in the House when I made my first intimation. I then informed the House that it was dependent upon definite contracts being obtained. This is the first time, although it has taken months to complete the negotiations, that I am in a position to say definitely that 40,000 tons, as a start, have been ordered.
Mr Joseph Batey
, Spennymoor
Could the right hon. Gentleman tell us from which district the 40,000 tons of coal are to be taken?
Lieut-General Edward Fitzroy
, Daventry
Mr. Somerville.
Mr Joseph Batey
, Spennymoor
On a point of Order. I have asked a simple supplementary question, cannot I have an answer?
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.
