Oral Answers to Questions — Public Health. – in the House of Commons at on 30 July 1934.
Sir Francis Fremantle
, St Albans
asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the representations from the Standing Joint Committee of the Metropolitan Borough Councils in reference to the proposal of the London County Council to provide institutional treatment for all tuberculous persons at the expense of the ratepayers, without regard to the circumstances of patients who have hitherto been assessed for contributions according to their means; and whether he has any statement to make?
Mr Geoffrey Shakespeare
, Norwich
My right hon. Friend does not find that he has received any such representations as are mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend.
Dr Alfred Howitt
, Reading
Is the hon. Member aware that, if the proposals are accepted, it will mean a definite blow at the present system in this country, and does he think it fair that the poorest people in the district should have to pay for the treatment of their better-to-do neighbours?
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.
