Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce. – in the House of Commons at on 8 March 1939.
Sir Robert Perkins
, Stroud
asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the House any information as to the total number of Irish labourers that have arrived in this country during 1938 and 1939; and whether he will immediately introduce legislation to control the flow of Irish and other labourers into this country?
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.
