Oral Answers to Questions — Unemployment. – in the House of Commons at on 1 February 1940.
Mr Robert Gibson
, Greenock
asked the Minister of Labour how many men belonging to the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry in the Greenock area were unemployed at the last available date; and what percentage that number represents of the total in said industry in that area?
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
I am having the available figures extracted and will forward them to the hon. Member in due course.
Mr Robert Gibson
, Greenock
Will the right hon. Gentleman also pass on the figures to the newly appointed Controller of Shipbuilding, together with the fact that the Caird Shipyard at Greenock is available for the employment of these men?
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
Certainly, I will do that.
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.
