Oral Answers to Questions — Transport. – in the House of Commons at on 30 July 1934.
Mr Irving Albery
, Gravesend
asked the Minister of Transport whether any steps have recently been taken to ascertain what harmful effects are being suffered in crowded thoroughfares as a result of the exhaust fumes of motor vehicles?
Mr Leslie Hore-Belisha
, Plymouth, Devonport
This matter came under the consideration of a Home Office Departmental Committee a year ago. Their report did not suggest that there was any such evidence of injury being caused by exhaust fumes to the health of drivers and conductors or of persons using the highway as would justify legislative action. I may, however, add that the examiners appointed under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, and the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, are required to look for defects in exhaust pipes in the public service vehicles and goods vehicles which they examine.
Mr Irving Albery
, Gravesend
Has the Minister's attention been called to the fact that there is a very widespread belief that the recent bronchial troubles have arisen from this cause, and also that different kinds of fuel have been introduced in some cases?
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.
