Oral Answers to Questions — Transport. – in the House of Commons at on 6 March 1935.
Mr William Hutchison
, Romford
asked the Minister of Transport whether the decision of the railway companies serving East London against electrification on the ground that it would not be a profitable investment is accepted as final by the London Passenger Transport Board?
Mr Leslie Hore-Belisha
, Plymouth, Devonport
I am informed by the London Passenger Transport Board that while they are in agreement with the railway companies serving East London that owing to the great cost of widening the track, and the character of the traffic to be carried, it would not be a profiable investment to electrify the railways, the whole problem is having the careful consideration of the Standing Joint Committee.
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.
