Oral Answers to Questions — Public Health. – in the House of Commons at on 17 September 1931.
Mr James Ede
, South Shields
asked the Minister of Health the total amount of the loans sanctioned to local authorities for the purposes of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts; the amount so sanctioned for the urban district council of Mitcham; and will he inform the House of the proposals he has to make whereby the situation with respect to the mortgages under these Acts may be eased for those who have experienced, or are to experience as a result of Government action, a, reduction in income accompanied by an increased tax on their income for last year?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:
The total amount of the loans sanctioned since 1919 to local authorities for the purpose of making advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts, together with direct advances made by the London County Council, is £47,560,750. The total amount so sanctioned for the urban district council of Mitcham is—2,109,876. No action in the direction suggested in the latter part of the question is under consideration.
Mr James Ede
, South Shields
Will the right hon. Gentleman consult the Chancellor of the exchequer as to whether it will be possible for these people to pay their mortgage instalments due on 31st December and their Income Tax on 1st January, under the altered conditions?
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.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
