Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 5 December 1939.
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
I am prepared to agree to the right hon. Gentleman's request and give one day for a Secret Sitting of the House to consider those matters for which the Minister of Supply is specially responsible. The date of the Sitting will be for arrangement through the usual channels.
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.
