– in the House of Commons at on 9 March 1939.
Sir Richard Pilkington
, Widnes
asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps so that in future the nationality of all persons on the employed register is shown?
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on this subject on 22nd February.
Sir Richard Pilkington
, Widnes
Does not the right hon. Gentleman think the taxpayers have a right to know how many alien people they are supporting?
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
The hon. Member will understand that the step he is asking me to take would involve asking over 12,000,000 insured persons their nationality.
Mr Edward Williams
, Ogmore
Is the right hon. Gentleman taking steps to see that people are not being brought into the country by employers?
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
That is a separate question entirely. I gave an answer on that. If the hon. Member has any further questions, perhaps he will put them down.
Mr Edward Williams
, Ogmore
Are not foreigners being admitted into the country?
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
The issue would depend on whether or not they come in on the application of an employer. If that is the case, they have to get a permit from the Ministry of Labour. If they come in as refugees the matter is one for the Home Office.
Mr Henry White
, Birkenhead East
Does the right hon. Gentleman agree with the suggestion that people receive unemployment benefit who are not entitled to it?
Sir Richard Pilkington
, Widnes
In view of the widespread feeling, will not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision?
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.
