Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance. – in the House of Commons at on 30 January 1940.
Mr Robert Morrison
, Tottenham North
asked the Minister of Supply whether it is proposed to compensate owners of property damaged in the recent explosion at Waltham?
Mr Edward Burgin
, Luton
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Lyons) on the 25th January, in which it was stated that reasonable compensation would be paid in respect of damage to property sustained by persons outside the Royal Gunpowder Factory at Waltham Abbey.
Mr Robert Morrison
, Tottenham North
Have any steps been taken to advise those people whose property has been damaged to whom they should apply?
Mr Edward Burgin
, Luton
Yes, Sir. There is a Question on this subject on the Paper for Written Answer to-day, and perhaps the hon. Member will take up the point again if that answer is not satisfactory to him.
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.
