Oral Answers to Questions — Education. – in the House of Commons at on 8 February 1940.
Mr. De la Bère:
asked the Prime Minister whether he will find time for a Debate for the purpose of considering what steps can be taken to encourage the return of businesses and their staffs to London?
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
No, Sir. There has been no change in the general situation which would warrant any reversal of the policy which led some of the business houses established in London to transfer their staff to remoter areas at the outbreak of war.
Mr. De la Bère:
Is the Prime Minister aware that Government guidance on this matter would be appreciated in many quarters, but owing to the fact that I stand solidly behind the Prime Minister I shall not press the subject and embarrass 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.
