Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Supply. – in the House of Commons at on 31 January 1940.
Mr Walter Higgs
, Birmingham West
asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that his letters, dated 27th November and 9th December, 1939, Reference 279 (Gen.) 40 (SS 1B), were issued in order to secure men, who are below the respective ages of reservation, in occupations essential for the completion of Government contracts as long as possible; is he aware that these men are being called up in spite of the fact that their employers have filled in Form NS 88 as instructed; and what further action does he propose to take?
Mr John Llewellin
, Uxbridge
My right hon. Friend is not aware of any cases in which men have been called up in spite of the fact that their employers had filled in Form NS 88 in accordance with the arrangements. If the hon. Member has any specific cases in mind, I shall be glad to be informed of them.
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.
