Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance. – in the House of Commons at on 30 January 1940.
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence
, Edinburgh East
asked the Minister of Health whether, under the new scheme for old age pensions, the Excise officers will continue to perform their existing function with regard to non-contributory pensions; and who will deal with the applications of those pensioners for supplementary pensions?
Mr Walter Elliot
, Glasgow Kelvingrove
The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part I must ask the right hon. Member to await the terms of the Bill.
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.
