Oral Answers to Questions — Post Office. – in the House of Commons at on 4 March 1935.
Mr John Wilmot
, Fulham East
asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to give some indication to the House when he will be able to implement the promise made on 23rd March last year to bring in a Bill to amend the Rating and Valuation Act of 1869 under which London is still being administered?
Mr Geoffrey Shakespeare
, Norwich
My right hon. 'Friend is in communication with the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee, the City Corporation and the London County Council on this subject, but in view of the pressure of Public Business he is not in a position to indicate the date of possible legislation.
Mr John Wilmot
, Fulham East
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the information he has just given me differs not at all from the information given exactly a year ago?
Mr Geoffrey Shakespeare
, Norwich
That shows how consistent we are.
Mr John Wilmot
, Fulham East
Does the hon. Gentleman regard it as a virtue to be consistent in doing nothing?
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.
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